Page 64 of Wicked Games

I was about to reply when our phones pinged. It was as if Maverick saying ‘Game Master’ out loud had summoned his presence into our space, like a damn demon.

“Sorry, players,” I read aloud, heart pounding. “I tricked you when I said there were no more games today. It wasn’t a total bald-faced lie, for technical reasons that you’ll understand in a second, but I’m sure you still feel a little miffed. Oops! Anyway, please get dressed and meet in the drawing room at 11:30. The next game begins at midnight.”

Carey

At eleven-thirty, all ten remaining players were gathered in the drawing room.

Maverick and I had agreed to come separately, partly because of the ten o’clock curfew, and also figuring we might raise suspicions if we suddenly arrived together arm-in-arm after despising each other for so long. However, he hadn’t let me leave his room without a lingering, passionate kiss first. Ever since, my entire body had been enveloped in a comforting warmth. It was almost enough to drown out the fear of what our next game might entail… but not quite.

Nothing could trump that terror.

April smothered a yawn and spoke up. “I’m glad those phones are automatically set to loud, because I was already asleep when the game was announced,” she said. “Imagine if I slept through it. I could die for failing to take part.”

“I guess that’s why the phones are set up like that,” Brooke said, absentmindedly rubbing her nose. “I only got half an hour of sleep. I feel totally fucked.”

“I didn’t get any at all. This place is too fucking stressful for me to fall asleep before midnight.” Zach glanced at me. “How about you, Carey? Manage to get any shuteye?”

A hot flush instantly went up my neck and face. I was sure everyone would see the redness in my cheeks and sense what I’d spent half the night doing, but they stared at me blankly instead, awaiting my answer.

I shook my head. “No sleep. Same as Zach.”

I felt bad for lying to my friends, but I knew that Maverick and I were right earlier—if we revealed our sudden lust and affection for each other to anyone here, they might begin to suspect that something else was up with the two of us. They’d probably never believe we made up so fast, given our previous bad blood, and then they’d start to wonder if we were secretly together all along and totally faking the hatred.

From there, they’d wonder what else we’d been hiding and lying about, and then it was only a short step until wild accusations were thrown at us about our potential association with the Game Master.

A familiar robotic voice rang out from a nearby speaker. “Thank you for arriving so promptly, players. Please exit the drawing room and head into the foyer. Arrows will guide you from there to Gaming Room 4.”

As if drawn by a magnet, my eyes locked with Maverick’s from across the room. He dipped his chin in the briefest of nods, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. That small expression, coupled with the intensity of his gaze, told me that he’d do his best to protect me tonight, no matter what happened in the upcoming game.

The ten of us exited the room and marched toward the foyer. All the lights in the space were off, and a series of purple glow-in-the-dark arrows marked out a path through a newly opened hallway on the left.

The narrow hall led to a steep set of concrete stairs that descended downward. The air on the lower level was cooler, and I had to rub my arms to stop myself from shivering.

“I didn’t even know Babylon had a basement level,” Jasmine grumbled, rubbing her arms as well. “It’s fucking freezing.”

“All the buildings at school have basement levels. That’s where the cleaning equipment and maintenance stuff is kept,” Rhys replied from up ahead. “So it makes sense that Icarus Hall had one built in too.”

“How do you know that?” Kiara asked in a sharp tone.

“I’d love to know the answer to that too,” Jasmine said. “I mean, why would you need to know everything about the exact layout of all the Babylon buildings unless you planned this whole thing?”

Rhys sighed. “I occasionally help the janitors after nightly curfew for some extra money. The school doesn’t know about it, obviously, but the cleaners are glad for the help, and it’s tax-free for me because it’s cash. Sothat’show I know about it. Not because I’m the Game Master and set all this shit up for you guys.”

Jasmine scoffed. “Wow. You reallyarepoor.”

“Shut the fuck up,” April snapped. “I actually think it’s admirable that Rhys manages to work on top of studying, unlike your lazy ass.”

Jasmine turned and glared at her. “Yeah? How much work doyoudo, April? Or do Mommy and Daddy pay for everything?”

April’s lips tightened. “I’m fortunate, but at least I’m willing to admit it,” she said. “It wouldn’t kill you to acknowledge that you’re lucky too, instead of tearing people down for having less than you.”

“Okay, Little Miss Social Justice Warrior.” Jasmine turned back to face the front. “Jesus, how far does this basement level go? We’ve been walking for ages.”

Zach lifted a shaky finger. “It ends down there, where the arrows stop.”

“Is that a door?” I squinted into the darkness ahead. “I can’t tell. It’s too dark.”

Rhys ran up ahead to see what lay at the end of the frigid passage. “Yup, it’s a door,” he called back to the rest of us. He rapped on it, producing a clanging sound. “Seems like reinforced steel.”

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