Page 188 of Deviant

“So, are we doing this or what?” I blurt out, pissed, gaining a peculiar stare from the group.

But when Henry doesn’t pull out the sticks that will determine who chooses which door, my already frayed nerves take a nosedive.

“Henry? Aren’t you forgetting something?” David asks, but just as the question slips his tongue, our watches start to ding.

One quick glance at my watch, and I see that both Rowen and I are in the black room. Any other day that would have been music to my ears. But not today. Not when I knowThe Scourgeloves a good mindfuck.

“We got the black room,” Rowen tells the others, her gaze fixed on Harper.

“Damn it, we got the red room,” David announces, less than overjoyed.

My hands ball into fists when Andy shows me his watch.

“That leaves us with the white room.”

“Fuck no!” I yell. “They get the black room, and Rowen and I will take the white!” I order, staring at Henry.

“I’m sorry, Master Larsen—”

“Don’t fucking sorry me, Henry! I gave you an order. They take our room, and we take theirs.”

“Is it possible, Henry?” Rowen backs me up, her voice strangled from the tears she’s trying not to shed. “Can we switch?”

Of course, Rowen would be fine putting herself in harm’s way for her friends. Our statistics as a pair aren’t the greatest, but as long as we follow whatever rules they want, I’m sure I can beat them at their own game.

Andy and Harper, on the other hand, don’t stand a chance.

“I’m sorry, Master Larsen, Lady Hawthorne. My hands are tied. Those are the rules.”

“Fuck your rules! What’s to stop us from walking out of here right now?!” I shout, anger fueling my every word.

“You have your free will to do what you feel you must,” Henry explains. “Just as long as you know that every action has its consequences. The games must continue, and I must remind you that there are still three candidates upstairs that our Hosts could replace you with.”

“Abbie,” Rowen whispers under her breath.

“No!” Harper shouts. “Not Abbie. She’s been through enough as it is. Rowen, look at me,” she urges, grabbing Rowen’s arms to pull her closer. “We all knew this day would come. The minute they selected us as The Harvest Dozen, we knew what that meant. It’s okay. I promise you,” Harper says, no longer able to keep her tears at bay. “And who knows, maybe Andy and I will make it. But even if we don’t, I want you to know that being your friend these last two weeks has been one of the best gifts I’ve ever had. And I’m just sorry that we didn’t get to know each other sooner. I love you, Rowen.” Rowen lets out a loud sob as she wraps her arms around Harper, both girls crying their hearts out.

“God, you are such girls. Let’s get on with it,” Mackenzie utters, bored.

“Mackenzie, if you say another word, what awaits you behind that door will seem like child’s play compared to what I will do to you.”

“Rawr!” she teases, pretending to be a cat with her claws out to scratch me.

I ignore the psycho and focus my attention on saying goodbye to my friends. Harper then comes over to me while Rowen clings to Andy, sobbing her goodbye.

“Listen, I love that girl with all my heart. But if you ever hurt her, alive or dead, I’ll come looking for you.”

“I’ll take care of her. I promise.”

“Good.” She relaxes, but then whispers in my ear, “Keep her and Abbie away from Big Mike, okay?”

I don’t have too much time to process her meaning because Andy comes over to me next.

“So,” he starts nervously, while kicking the air at his feet. “I guess since you’re all alpha and shit, this means all we say is ‘see ya’, huh?”

I pull him into a bear hug, his scrawny chest hitting mine.

“I’m not fucking good at this, so if I fuck it up, don’t hold it against me,” I start, before taking a deep breath. “I never liked my brother. He was a prick, just like our father. To me, it always felt like we were more competition than brothers. But here, when we’re actually competing for our lives, I found a kid who has been more of a brother to me than my own flesh and blood.”

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