Page 18 of Rat Race

“Think he can feel the eyes on him?” A light, feminine voice asked from my left.

“Like being in the lion’s den,” I replied. There wasn’t a single predator in this room that wouldn’t be enticed by Vic’s bounty.

Not to mention… free rein to kill an Architect? Even if he was disgraced there had to be a few Runners who would, well,killfor the chance. What a way to make a name for yourself.

Vic was a fucking genius. She could’ve let this play out with no interference; the likelihood of a man his age making it out of the maze was already statistically destitute. But to turn his own players against him?

To make the game he designed his prison?

I could fuckingcomefrom the cruelty of it.

Hiram’s entire body was rigid, eyes scanning the crowd every few seconds like he really thought they’d kill him while he waited to be let into the maze.

A paranoid bastard if I ever saw one.

To be fair, maybe someonewouldtake a swing on the way in. Vic wanted a laugh after all.

I could smell the stench of fear on him even from yards away.Fuckingpathetic.

The timer hit zero, and lot three ran in there, desperation starting to show as Runners sprinted the length of the catwalk to disappear through the gates and into the maze.

I pushed forward with the crowd, breaking out to the front as the timer reset, waiting for my moment now.

“Aubrey! Aubrey! Aubrey!!!” I could hear my supporters chanting over the casual screaming now, earning a big smile and a wave as I turned on the spot, making sure to show off the logos on my jacket.

The clips of this moment would be all over every social media platform for the rest of my life, so I might as well take the time to play it up for the audience.

Electricity buzzed through the stadium. The remaining Runners with anxiety as their time drew closer. The watchers with excitement for the game to really begin.

Screams for favorite players. Curses for those they hated.

Ilovedit.

The seconds weighed on me, our waiting period feeling like hours instead of minutes. My heart pounded in my chest, blood rushing through my ears, making everything sound far away and tinny.

This was it.

My big opportunity.

All eyes were on the large interlocking doors as they opened, giving a sneak peek into the maze, even if it was only for a few feet. It was pitch black beyond the doorway, covered on all sides.

The only way out was through.

After the last lot, the doors would shut permanently, locking us in until we found our way to the other side or time ran out.

Well, unless we were being removed in a body bag. Not that I’d let that happen—black had never been my color.

As the numbers got smaller, I bent slightly at the knees, making sure to breathe deeply before I pushed off. My mind was in a flurry, thinking of every possible way I could run into her. How I would finally get the revenge that I craved so deeply.

If I was lucky, I’d find a weapon on the inside. But I wasn’t above using my bare hands to choke the cunt to death if I had to.

I forced myself to quiet down, counting with the crowd, trying to match the numbers with my breathing.

My body tensed as my turn got closer and closer.

The crowd.

The players.

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