Page 55 of Rat Race

"Only PKer here is you, Aubrey," Ella interrupted hotly, glaring at the blonde. "Don't think I didn't catch all those red lights."

"And what about it? They would've happily killed you too! Just as a reminder, you stupid bitch, if anything, I saved your life. You should be thanking me instead of giving this high-and-fucking-mighty lecture." Ella rolled her eyes and flicked her hair over her shoulder. "You chose to be here like the rest of us, leech."

Her viciousness had my stomach flipping.

She’s talking back again, the voice in my head warned.Making trouble.

The last lesson hadn’t been enough.

Next time, I'd have to be more thorough.

There was a pause, Ella’s dark eyes shifting to me before she huffed, then asked, "Do you want me gone?"

"W-what—?" I spluttered, shakin’ my head to clear the filthy image of Aubrey bent over my knee, screamin’ for me to stop as I struck her reddened bottom. "No, I think we need to stick together at this point… Things are gonna get more difficult now.The midpoint ain’t the time to turn on each other." I said the last bit mostly for Aubrey's benefit, my voice holdin’ a sharp edge.

I was startin’ to think Aubrey’d never watched this event before. We could shove Ella behind us and step onto the podium together… but PKing a teammate? Splitting up and letting Ella potentially get ahead on a few lucky turns? Fuck that. This wasourgame.

There was no way I was going to let a player I'd carried this far beat me because the girl I liked was jealous. Peaches was just going to have to fuckin’ deal, and I’d show her the consequences after.

Aubrey rolled her eyes, Ella meetin’ her with a furious scowl. The two of them were angier than a couple cats in a pillowcase, but wereallydidn’t have time for no more bickerin’.

“You know—” Ella started, lip curled in disgust as she looked down her nose at Aubrey, the blonde reactin’ immediately by movin’ towards her.

"Enough,” I said, puttin’ a hand out to catch Aubrey. “We need to pick a door." My tone didn’t hold room to arguin’, forcing Ella into silence.

And thank fuck for that, I was gettin’ tired of her voice.

With a glance at my watch, I could see from the compass we were pointing northwest, neither of the doors giving any real hint as to what direction they would ultimately lead or what fresh fucking horrors we'd find inside.

Totally unassuming.

I was one step away from either winning this thing or sending myself to an early grave.

A more bloodthirsty player would make their companions go first, only to follow after they were sure it was safe. It was true I didn't want to kill Ella outright, but I also didn't have much of an urge to protect her either.

But Aubrey?

"Go on, Peaches," I murmured, nudging Aubrey's shoulder. "Take a pick."

I was just as likely to save her life as I was my own.

“Only 'cause you asked so nicely,” she said, offering a flirty little wink before turning her attention back to the doors.

“We’re fucking doomed,” Ella muttered under her breath. “She’ll probably pick it on feeling alone.”

“They're called vibes, rat. Get it right," Aubrey snarked, rolling her eyes. "Besides, you always go left, right?" She turned to look at me for confirmation.

"Perceptive. Good girl," I praised, not even trying to smother my smile.

Ella let out an offended scoff, her bare arms crossing over her chest.

Aubrey reached a manicured hand forward, grasping onto the doorknob on the leftmost side and turning. She pushed the door open to total and complete darkness. I'd expected the same plain gray walls and low light of the rest of the maze, but the blackness beyond the doorframe was a bit jarring in contrast.

The three of us waited, a second passing by with nothing but squeaking meeting our ears.

No trap?

Vibes. Right. Okay. Not at all what I had trained my entire fucking life for, but sure, whatever worked. I could get with it.

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