Page 139 of Deviant

“I will keep this short as it has been a long day and even longer night for all of us,” Henry says, eyeing Lucas and David in distaste. “Tomorrow, you will be divided into two separate groups,” he starts.

“Looks like we already are,” I say out loud, gaining a smirk from David.

“Of the hosts’ choosing,” Henry corrects, ignoring my remark. “This year, our hosts have also decided that you will face your challenges in pairs.”

“Challenges?” Ruby questions.

“Pairs?” Mackenzie chimes in.

“Does that mean this is the first time they decided to do such a thing?” Rowen adds her question to the mix.

Bombarded with questions from every direction, Henry remains eerily silent, refusing to respond to any of them. Realizing he will only continue when everyone has shut their traps, the room falls quiet so that the one man who actually holds all the answers can finally speak.

“As I was saying,” he clears his throat. “This year, each challenge will be tackled by couples—one man and one woman—chosen by you. Tomorrow, only six of you will participate in the games, while the remaining six must wait their turn in three days’ time. After those games have come to a conclusion, you will all be given three days of rest, so that you are ready for the group challenge. Those are the only instructions I am at liberty to inform you of, until tomorrow’s first challenge.” He then pauses, as if taking a second for himself, before continuing on. “Tonight, as you choose the person who will be by your side to face such trials and tribulations, I make one final caution—choose carefully and wisely. As the white room showed you, not everyone here is who you think they are.”

Chapter 26

Rowen

After Henry leaves, an uncomfortable silence stretches through the room, as we continue to stare at each other, wondering which title belongs to who.

Murderer.

Murderer.

Murderer.

I feel as if that one word is tattooed on my forehead for everyone to read. I can still see it in bright neon red written on the wall, taunting me. If anyone here finds out what I did to Nora… Elias might not get his chance to kill me after all. Ruby immediately comes to mind as the one who wouldn’t think twice to end my life.

But then again, they all have secrets too.

Deep, dark, disturbing secrets.

‘Every person chosen…every last one selected…has a secret they don’t want anyone to know about.’

Those had been Joe’s exact words when we discussedThe Scourgeall those weeks ago. If only I could see my friend again just to tell him how right he was.

“Fine! I’ll fess up. Since no one is going to be the first to do it, might as well be me who gets the ball rolling,” Andy says, stepping into the center of the den, everyone’s eyes on him. “I’m not proud of it,” he begins, looking honestly ashamed for whatever he’s done, “But I was the one who burned down the gym three years back.”

“That was you?!” Harper’s eyes widen in surprise.

“The fuck, Scott!” David shouts like Andy’s confession is the worst thing he’s ever heard.

“I knew that he had some skeletons in his closet. Never trust a nice guy.” Ruby shakes her head.

Everyone shouts all at once, but the only question he actually responds to, is Harper’s.

“Andy… why?” she asks, confusion and distrust starting to mar her pretty features.

He sits next to her on the sofa, looking deeply ashamed for what he’s done.

“It was just supposed to be a joke,” he starts, his voice trembling slightly. “I set up some firecrackers around the gym for a laugh, but one of them hit a wire and caused a fuse to blow. I swear I looked for a fire extinguisher, but by the time I realized I was in over my head, the bleachers were already engulfed in flames. Panic took over, and instead of owning up to my mistake, I just ran away. This secret has been eating away at me and haunting me ever since.”

“Oh, Andy,” Harper coos, cradling her head on his shoulder. “I wish you had come clean earlier. That must have been weighing on your heart forever. Thank you for telling me the truth.”

“Are you for real, Harper? Are you just going to let that shit slide?” Ruby chastises. “The whole school could have burned down, and with us in it!”

“But it didn’t burn down, now did it?” Harper snaps at Ruby.

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