Page 81 of Forsaken Oath

“What? No.” I shake my head. “I’m not ashamed of that. That night goes down as a top five for me, bro. But to call me out in front of everyone like that?” I shake my head again. “Not fucking cool.”

He shrugs and crosses his arms over his chest. “It wasn’t fucking cool to fuck around in my pool without telling me.”

I nod a few times. “Okay, I’m sorry I didn’t give you a heads-up. But I want to remind you that you did tell me I’m welcome there whenever.”

Coraline returns with a purple-colored cheesecake and sets it in the middle of the table. “Ube cheesecake with a coconut graham cookie crust.”

“Looks amazing, baby,” Jagger murmurs, throwing his arm around Cora and tugging her into his side.

“Any, uh, hidden ingredients we should know about?” Ma asks with a small grimace.

Cora’s jaw flexes for a second before she forces a smile. “Nah, I used all the dairy and the gluten in this one, Mom.”

“Well, I, for one, think it looks delicious, Cora. Save me an extra slice, will ya? I’ve never seen something quite so vibrant before,” Dad says.

“It looks amazing,” I agree.

For a few minutes, the world narrows to family, food, and the warmth of home.

But as I take my first bite of cheesecake, my mind drifts to Eloise. I wonder what she’s doing, if she’s thinking about me too. The thought makes my chest tighten, a strange mix of longing and anticipation.

I don’t know what this thing with her is yet, but I know one thing for sure. It’s not nothing.

It’s everything.

35

ELOISE

I takea left and arrive at my destination. The Gauntlet text with the coordinates arrived last night, bringing me to Stonefield tonight.

My heart beats a staccato rhythm against my ribs as I make my way toward the designated meeting point. The Gauntlet’s second round. After making the top twenty-five cut, I knew things would only get more intense from here. But standing at the precipice, staring into the unknown, sends a thrill of trepidation and excitement through my veins.

The coordinates led me to a closed strip mall on the outskirts of town. Graffiti tags cover one of the crumbling brick facade and weeds sprout through cracks in the sidewalk. A street lamp flickers overhead, and it only adds to my anxiety.

Stonefield is bigger than Avalon Falls, but not as big as the main cities on the other side of the state. I crack my window, letting in the cool night air. The faint scent of gasoline and old cigarettes lingers on the warm breeze. This part of town feels like a place that’s been forgotten, left to crumble while the rest of the world moves on.

Unlike the first race, there are no other cars around. I let the engine idle, tapping my fingers against the steering wheel to combat my nerves.

I glance at my phone, double-checking the coordinates are right. They are. Stonefield’s shopping district sprawls around me in an L-shape. Random retail stores and what looks like a cafe or two and a giant parking lot. The place feels both too big and too empty. I drum my fingers against the steering wheel again, anxiety flaring in the uncertainty.

My phone vibrates in the cupholder, startling me enough that I jump a little. I press a hand to my chest and see it’s from an unknown number.

Unknown Number: Turn your radio to 88.9 FM

My heart skips a beat. “Time to go.”

I dial the radio to the right station with trembling fingers. Static hisses through the speakers, fading to the smooth, robotic voice I’ve come to associate with the Gauntlet.

“Welcome to the Gauntlet. Congratulations on advancing to the next round. The first race starts in fifteen minutes. In the next five minutes, your GPS device will turn red. Keep this device in your car at all times. This is your guide and tracking system. Tampering will result in disqualification. Attaching it to another vehicle will result in disqualification. Attempting to hack it will result in disqualification. The first twenty drivers to complete the four-hour endurance without disruption will advance. Disruptions include: leaving Stonefield city limits, receiving a citation, being arrested. This message will repeat for the next ten minutes.”

The message begins to repeat, but I turn the volume down and let out a slow breath. Evade law enforcement? My stomach twists at the thought. I’ve been cautious about stepping too far over the line before. Even running jobs for Seven Pines, I’ve always had an escape plan. A safety net. But this?

This feels like throwing myself into the fire without a second thought.

My shoulders slump as the weight of this challenge sinks in. Four hours of evading the police, risking arrest, all for a chance at some prize and bragging rights. Is it worth it? Am I really willing to go this far?

I close my eyes, Vivie’s and Margot’s smiling face flashing behind my lids.

---