Page 44 of Rat Race

To the lovely Aubrey from your sponsors at LadyPink,

For you and your friends! Inside is our newest, fat-reducing energy bars and electrolyte water for you to enjoy!

With a big smile, I looked out into the empty space of the hallway as the robot retracted, knowing the cameras would catch every moment.

“Thank you, LadyPink, for these delicious treats!”

I made a show of putting the bag on the ground, digging through it, then ripping into one of the snack bars and taking a huge bite.

It was mediocre at best.

I was interrupted by the rat reaching forward and digging into the bag herself. She looked at me with a smile before pulling out a small water bottle and a protein bar. I wanted to pull on that ponytail and bash her face in. My hand clutched the bloodied metal bat I’d stolen from the group.

I frowned when she took a sip and Cam looked at her expectantly. She looked at me and back at them.

“Do you want some?” Ella asked, tilting the bottle to Cam.

“Thanks for offering,” they said and reached forward to grab it.

Seriously? Without hesitation?

They were going to put their mouth on something that rat did?They are practically kissing at this point!

Anger and something else rose in me so fast I couldn’t stop my hand from reaching out and slapping the water bottle out of their hands before it could touch their lips.

Cam was silent for what felt like an eternity. The water bottle fell to the ground, rolling away and spilling out some of the liquid.

Ella was just as shocked, but quickly, anger started seeping into her expression.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ella asked and reached for it again. “We have no idea how long we’re going to be in here, and you want to waste our water? For what? A one-sided grudge?”

“I don’t have grudges,” I spat. “I don't fucking trust a rat like you. You’re a fucking cunt. I’m not even sure why Cam?—”

“Okay, that’s enough of that,” Cam said, their hand finding my arm. “It’swater. We need it. I’m sure if you had asked, she would have shared with you too.”

This time it was my turn for shocked silence.

What the—did they just?—

Even my thoughts skidded to a halt.

I had no words. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Cam was just staring at me with that innocent-looking face of theirs.

“We need to talk,” I finally managed to say and grabbed their arm, forcing them up.

They hesitantly followed me as I took them back down the hallway and around the corner to where the rat couldn’t see us.

“Don’t let the water?—”

“I don’t give a shit about the water,” I said and spun around so we were both facing each other. “We don’t need them. She’s slowing us down. Remember why you’re here? You have a goal. She wants us to stop so you won’t reach your goal.”

They looked back over their shoulder—toward the rat—before looking back at me.

“So this is about her stopping me from reaching my goal?” they asked.

I nodded.

“I said I’d help you. Let me help you.”

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