Page 138 of Deviant

“Why? Are you scared they might reveal some dirty little secret of yours?” David chuckles. “Whatever it is, I doubt it will be that interesting. Ruby, do it now! Turn the lights off!”

“Wait!” Abigail shouts, but it’s too late.

The second Ruby flips the switch, it dawns on all of us what the hosts meant by us being enlightened.

In bright neon, a group of words have been scribbled all over the white walls in the room. Words like liar, thief, and drug dealer, taunt their respective owners, while uglier words like cheater and narcissist find theirs. But there are more words that pop out in vibrant colors, pulling our attention to them. Words like arsonist, manipulator, and blackmailer also color its walls. But as we spin around the room, those words aren’t even the worst ones.

Murderer.

Killer.

Rapist.

Psychopath.

Hmm.

I guess this band of misfits is more interesting than I gave them credit for.

“Turn the light back on! Turn it on!” Lucy screams, completely freaking out.

I feel Rowen’s hand slide into mine, fear finally seeping its way inside her. Suddenly, someone rushes past me, and within seconds, my eyes are blinking, trying to adjust to the bright light overhead. Everyone stares at each other like we’re all complete strangers. But before anyone can open their mouths to say anything—or, more importantly, accuse anyone—we receive another text message from our hosts.

Now you know.

We’re all still trying to make sense of all of this when Henry unlocks the door to step inside the room, Seven right at his heel.

“Now that our hosts have conveyed why you have been selected, please follow me into the den so I may offer you their next batch of introductions.”

Not having to be told twice, everyone rushes out of the room, like they can’t get away fast enough from it.

But while Henry walks completely carefree down the hallway, the rest of us aren’t as untroubled.

“The fuck was that?!” Ruby shouts, losing her cool.

“Looks to me like our hosts just showed us who everyone really is,” Lucas exclaims, giving David a mean glare.

“Oh yeah, and who am I?” David snaps at him, going as far as pushing Lucas to the wall.

“Don’t worry. Yours was easy to figure out. I’m thinking… Narcissist.” Lucas pushes back.

David is about to swing his arm back to punch Lucas in the face, but Seven stops him by putting herself in harm’s way. She shakes her head and points to Henry.

“No harm can be done to the dozen unless the hosts precisely indicate it. Those who don’t follow the rules will be punished.Severely,” he explains, putting extra emphasis on the word severely.

“I didn’t like the sound of that, did you?” Rowen whispers beside me.

I give her a curt nod before barking at the two idiots, who still look like they want to fight, in front of me. “Move,” I demand, pushing both boys to follow what looks to be a very annoyed Henry.

The man hasn’t shown much emotion since we arrived at his doorstep, but apparently breaking one of his bosses’ rules is enough to put us on his bad side.

Once we are all in the den—surprise, surprise, another lavish room—we either sit or stand as far away as we can from each other, sticking only to the people we feel safe with. Oddly enough, this creates two separate groups.

In my corner of the room are Rowen, Andy, Harper, Lucy, Lucas, and young Abigail.

Opposed to us are David, Mackenzie, Big Mike, Chris, and Ruby.

I guess we’ve chosen our alliances, after all.

---