Page 190 of Deviant

However, before I can even attempt to process that loaded question, we hear the lock to our door click open. We both jumpfrom our seat and dash toward the door, my hand at the knob swinging it open in record time.

But the second I swing the door open, Rowen falls to her knees in hysterical wails and tears.

Because before us is Andy, leaning against the door with Harper’s blood all over him.

Chapter 34

Rowen

I was only friends with Harper for a little over two weeks, and yet I suffered her loss as hard as I suffered Nora’s. In that short space of time, I grew to care for her just as deeply as I had my childhood best friend.

This is whatThe Scourgedoes to us.

It makes us tap into these deep meaningful emotions, coaxing us to create bonds and friendships, only to steal them from us.

And though my suffering feels unbearable, Andy’s misery is far greater than my own.

So far, he’s refused to tell us what happened in the white room, and if I’m honest, it’s a blessing that he hasn’t. I don’t want my last memory of my friend to be the image of how she died.

Harper’s gone, and nothing anyone says or does will change that.

These past few days, Elias has split his time vigilantly watching over me and Andy, fearing that one, if not both of us, will do something tragically stupid in our grief.

I want to tell him that he shouldn’t worry about me.

That this time… things are different.

I wouldn’t dream of doing something I can’t take back… not when I have him now.

But words fail me becauseThe Scourgedoesn’t allow time outs to grieve a loved one, much less allow us time to talk about matters of the heart.

Like clockwork, after three days, we are all expected to attend yet another twisted game by our hosts.

“Do you think Henry made Andy the same proposition he did Lucy?”

“If he did, then Abbie would turn him away. She wouldn’t be able to hurt a fly, much less Andy, who she knew Harper loved.”

“I’m not as convinced,” Elias mumbles mistrustingly.

“Even if for some weird reason you don’t trust Abbie, then at least trust that she loved Harper. There is no way she would ever hurt Andy. Not even forThe Scourge’ssake.”

“Fair enough,” he retorts, placing a kiss on the top of my head. “But that leaves Ruby.”

“Yes, that leaves Ruby.” My shoulders slump at the reminder.

If Elias doesn’t trust Abbie, then I can say the same thing of Ruby. I don’t trust her as far as I can throw her. We already know she isn’t above emotional blackmail. I wouldn’t be surprised if she used Andy’s frail state of mind against him, just so she could get ahead of the game.

Out of all of us, she has been left unscathed byThe Scourge,having never been to the basement and only attending one group trial where Abbie gave her a little pinprick. We all have gone tohell and back, and yet Ruby has managed to not be tainted by any of it.

When our watches start buzzing, my body immediately goes to fight or flight mode.

“It’s time. Henry is waiting to take us to the boardroom,” I announce, pulling myself away from Elias’s embrace, only to have him pull me back on his lap.

“Just give me a few more seconds,” he says, needing my warmth to get him through this next stage inThe Scourge.

Once he feels he can handle what’s about to happen, he turns my face to his and presses a chaste kiss to my lips.

Hand in hand, neither of us says anything as we walk downstairs, finding Henry and the rest of the group waiting for us in the large entry hall.

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