Page 56 of They're Watching You

“What? I thought we were going to search for Polly and Jane. Everyone else is gone. We have all night to find them.”

It’s too convenient. How did he find me? This place is enormous, sinuous, and convoluted. The only way I got this far was by using my map to eliminate sections.

“Remington, we’re going back. This is the wrong way.” He can’t call my bluff without giving himself away as a traitor.

“No, it’s not. We’re almost there.”

I spider-crawl back a few inches. “How do you know that?”

“Because Annabelle gave me a new map for winning tonight’s game, and it led me here. Just let me—” He reaches toward me, and I jerk back, a tiny squeal escaping my lips.

“Maren? Are you okay?” He tries for my hand this time, and it takes everything in me not to wrench it away. “You’re like ice. Let’s get out of here, so I can take off my coat.”

“Stop pretending you care if I die!” I snap.Oops. How did I beat Annabelle at Texas Hold’em with zero poker face or poker voice or poker anything? The lack of oxygen is getting to me. I can’t catch my breath. I crawl backward the remaining few yards until I’m out in the corridor, where I scramble to my feet, using the wall to steady myself.

My flashlight is still on, but everything is black. I inhale. Exhale. It’s no better. I fall forward, resting my hands on my knees until finally, I slump to the ground.

I can’t believe I let Remington play me again. I knew he couldn’t be trusted—I had Gavin on the phone and I declined his help.

Remington emerges, rushing to me, reaching for me. I cringe, remembering the last time his hands were on me. When I wanted them on me. When I wanted his lips on mine.

But his heart was Annabelle’s the whole time.

He drapes his coat over my shoulders and pushes a water at me, holding it there until I take it. Hustling away, he drags one of the torches back across the stone to place it beside us. He lights it, crouches down again, and rubs my hands as he presses his rough cheek against mine. And I hate myself, because he’s strong and warm, and some sick part of me wants to unravel in his arms.

“Stop,” I say, my teeth chattering, from fear or from the cold—I don’t know anymore.

His head draws back. “Maren, do you need—”

“Just stop.” I jostle my arms and scoot back until I hit the wall.

“Look, I’m sorry I took so long, but—”

A clomp resounds at the mouth of the tunnel. In the flickering light, a shadow unfolds over the wall to tower over both of us. Footsteps now. They pound the stone as the shadow moves to envelop us.

“She saidstop.” At the voice, my muscles relax, and I squint up to find Gavin standing in the corridor.

“You—” Remington’s features distort as he pushes to his feet. “You followed me?”

“Of course I followed you. You really thought I’d forget about Maren, after she warned me you were after her?”

Remington’s shoulder sink, and slowly, he turns to me, eyes soft and glossy. “Is that true, Maren? You thought I was after you?”

“No—I mean,yes, I was worried about our task. I thought you might try to sabotage me. But after we spoke behind my dorm…” After we did other things behind my dorm. “I trusted you. I was wrong, though. To trust you.”

I rifle through my pack, tossing the envelope at Remington’s feet. He lowers to the ground, removing the photos beneath the torch light. Gavin brushes past him to check on me.

“What were you thinking coming down here by yourself?” he says, his voice rough with concern as he settles down next to me. He reaches beneath the coat for my hand, trying to rub some warmth back into it.

“I wanted to search for Polly. And Jane,” I add, resting my head against Gavin’s shoulder, “even though I’m not sure Jane exists anymore.”

Remington tosses the photos to the ground, stomping them. “She exists. And she’s down here somewhere. These are—” He motions to the images scattering the stone floor. “When you asked what my task was the night you had to lure Jordan into the society? I didn’t answer because I didn’t want you to know about this. Because it wasmeaningless. She tasked me to kiss her. I didn’t know why she wanted me to do it. And I didn’t know someone was taking photos.” He grabs both temples. “I didn’t think I was hurting anyone. I never thought that you and I would…”

That he and I wouldwhat? Would kiss behind my dormitory? Would develop feelings for each other? Would become entangled in this game of cross and double-cross over and over again until we both ended up broken?

“Even if that’s all true,” I say, “you should’ve told me. I deserved to know about you and Annabelle.”

“There is nome and Annabelle! Don’t you see?” He looks up, biting his bottom lip. “There never was. There’s only you and me.”

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