Page 218 of Deviant

Numb, I look at my watch and follow the coordinates through the forest.

My mind is a chaotic mess, my soul withered, as I take one step at a time, followingThe Scourge’sinstructions one last time. Hours pass by as one foot follows the other out of the forest and onto a road. I follow the cement pavement until I see a limo parked just a few feet away from a sign that says‘You are now leaving Blackwater Falls’.

The back door of the limo opens the second I reach it, Henry stepping out of the back seat.

“Lady Hawthorne,” he greets.

“Henry,” I mutter, holding my shaking form in place.

“I must say that you have disappointed many people with your win.”

“I didn’t have much say in the matter,” I retort sadly.

“Yes, so I’ve heard. My deepest condolences in regard to Master Larsen’s passing. He was one of the good ones.”

“Thank you,” I retort on autopilot. “So what now?”

“Now… you receive your prize,” he says, handing me a backpack. “Inside you will find all the details of you’re bank account number in the Cayman Islands. You also have a passport, a plane ticket and fifty thousand dollars spending money to get you started on your journey. The chauffeur will drive you to whichever destination you’d like to go. But if I may, I’d suggest you find somewhere discreet to clean up first. There is a truck stop and gas station just a few miles down. You canclean yourself up there and change. Five made sure to pack up some clothes for you and put them in your bag.”

“You thought of everything, huh?”

“It is my job, Lady Hawthorne. It is my job.”

“Well, your job sucks, Henry.”

“Some times more than others.” His mouth dips to a frown.

“So, this is it? I get to just leave and no one will come after me?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t buy it.”

“It is the truth. As long as you keep our secrets, we’ll make sure to keep yours.”

My mind immediately goes to the video footage of all the deaths I’m responsible for.

“Mutual assured self-destruction. That’s how they keep us quiet.”

“It’s one of the ways. My employers also have other ways to ensure that there is no discussion about what happens in Blackwater Falls. Should they be tipped off that someone has leaked something, then they take more assertive steps to makeitandthat persongo away.”

“So basically, I’ll be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life?”

Henry bridges the small gap between us and grabs my wrist, taking the watch off me and the camera, and throwing both to the other side of the road.

“There have been players who have found a way to evade my employers,” he says, keeping his voice barely above a whisper.

“How?” I ask, realizing the watches must have also been bugged, hearing all our conversations.

“You’d be surprised what money can buy, Rowen. It can turn anyone into a ghost if they so desire it.”

“Just how much money are we talking about?” I ask, since I was under the idea that the prize money was only a million dollars. Hardly enough to go on the run for the rest of your life.

“A hundred million.”

“That much?”

“Well, you have yourself to thank for that. You were a long shot. No one expected you to win.”

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