Page 85 of Rat Race

The knife embedded itself into his eye socket, the man, hardly much older than a boy, crumplin’ to the ground with a thud drowned by the roar of flames. I heard a buzz, but it didn’t register either. It seemed too far away.

The weight of my decision threatened to pull me into madness, my mind heavy with the reality that I’d just betrayed my entire family.

All for a woman.

Naw, not a woman, anangel.

I turned, hardly able to see her through the blaze.

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head, Peaches. I’m comin’, sweetheart!”

The wall was entirely smooth, save for the gaps where the flames were comin’ from, the metal glowing red with heat. But I knew there had to be… somethin’. A valve. A puzzle. A way to turn it off.

Aubrey coughed out of my sight, the smoke and heat long since overwhelmed her. The noise made my brain rattle in my skull, panic makin’ my movements jerky as I felt over the walls and floor desperately for somethin’, anythin’.

Like a fuckin’ raccoon digging for garbage.

And then I heard it. My watch came to life, and I knew now the last buzz I’d heard was my PK... But now? It’d gotta be somethin’ else.

Ping!

Vic_Official:look up!

My eyes traveled upwards, spotting the metal hook hangin’ from the ceiling above the center of the blaze.

I’d only have one shot at this. If I missed, my rope would fall into the flames, and Aubrey would be burned to a crisp.

I unhooked the lasso from my side, rotating the rope a few times before aimin’ it straight for the hook.

Seconds slowed into hours as I watched my throw fly, the fibers catchin’ around the metal. I pulled hard, and water exploded from the ceiling, rainin’ down and extinguishin’ the flames.

Lord be DAMNED, I am sick of being wet!

Butit didn’t mean shit the moment Aubrey came into view, singed and curled into a ball in the middle of the floor, deep black marks on the hot, cracked stones. The soles of my boots stuck slightly to the floor where they’d begun to melt as I lifted her into my arms in a sort of bridal carry, careful not to jostle her too hard.

“Peaches? You hang in there for me angel. Cam’s got you now.”

She groaned, and I thanked my lucky stars for the noise as she begun to stir, the thick drops of water clearing the soot from her face in streaks.

“Cam?” she whispered softly, her hand fistin’ in the fabric of my soggy tank top.

“Right here,” I murmured, heading for the exit, the cool air and noise floodin’ back with every step.

Camera flashes were damn near blinding as I turned sideways, ensuring that Aubrey and I stepped through into the winners circle at the same time to a roar of cheers and applause.The people were ravenous. Hands reached out to try and touch us. Paparazzi were screaming our names evey which direction.

A fucking madhouse.I had been on the other side, watching my siblings make it through, but never had I imagined it bethatjarring.

After the relative quiet of the arena it was overwhelming. The sights and sounds a dizzyin’ array of sensations that left me feelin’ off-kilter. I squeezed my eyes shut briefly, taking a deep breath and focusin’ on the fragile body in my arms.

“Cam?” My head turned at Pa’s familiar southern drawl, his thick moustache practically quivering with rage as our eyes locked. Luckily there was a small fence and about a thousand cameras or he might just teach me a lesson right then and there. “What in Heaven have you done?”

My lip curled, the anger that’d been bubblin’ since the moment I’d seen Elijah boiling over the blackened kettle of my emotions. Pa choosing to send him in gave a message, and I read it loud and fucking clear.

He never trusted me.He never thought I’d live up to the family name.

I hadn’t realized until that moment. Where Pa stood behind that fence, eyes enraged, jaw tight, fists clenched, that he had instilled so much hatred in me.

I used to look up to him. To the family. But that changed ever since enterin’ the maze. Ever since he sent Elijah in with me.

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