Page 103 of Paper Thin Love

Jared?

NotmyJared.

I squeeze my leg muscles to ensure I stay standing. Yet there, my dance partner stands in the front line with a group of students eager to see bloodshed.He steps forward, into the ring like he’s claimed victory over it.

Jared confidently curls his lips, snarling at Dash, causing me to stagger back into Dante’s hard chest.

“This can’t be happening,” I mumble as Dante’s hands envelop me, keeping me upright.“Scholarship kids don’t participate in The Cleansing.”

“Maybe he’s not a scholarship kid,” Dante whispers in acceptance.

I shake my head.

This is wrong. I know Jared; we dated for a while. Jared is a foster kid. One of his foster parents was a retired dancer, and that’s how he got started dancing. He’s a hard shell from years of foster care, not because he was raised like Dash.

Jared isn’t one of us.

“Dante, we have to do something. Jared can’t fight.”But he can, and you know it.He’s a good fighter. I’ve witnessed it. His quickness, perfect balance, and anticipation of his partner’s moves make him an exceptional ballet partner. All characteristics that will act as obstacles for Dash.

“The look in his eyes tells me he can.”

“Jared is a ballet dancer, Dante. He can’t fight. Dash will kill him.” Each word I speak grows less confident.

Has Jared been hiding his true nature?

His cruelty, the way he lashed out when I ended things with him, tells me he could be a monster. I disregarded all those little clues as mere signs of an angry teenager who was envious and jealous of his wealthy classmates.

Why didn’t I see it?

“Mila,” Dante’s voice, firm yet gentle, resembles that of a doctor coercing me to accept a dreadful destiny. “People in our world are never who you think they are at first. Each of us is like a canvas, with layers of deception meant to make others value and appreciate us. Remember that. Don’t fully trust until you’ve met the artist, not just their artwork.”

The cloaked figure bows, nods, and then leaves the ring, leaving only Dash and Jared in the center. Dante’s arms lock around me, bolting me back to his chest. I was unaware that my torso was getting closer to the ring. I see Dash and Jared talking; the sadistic smirk on Jared’s face has my stomach in a knot so tight no master sailor could free it.

“What are they saying?” I plead desperately, hoping Dante can answer me.

Then it happens: Jared says something that shatters all of Dash’s control. Dash lunges forward while simultaneously swinging his arm back. I can see Dash’s move, which means Jared turn predicted it as well.

Shit!

Dash can’t react this way; he can’t allow Jared to win, which means Jared has to die. Either way, this night will affect me much more than I ever anticipated. I always feared how the outcome would change Dash, but I should have considered how it would forever change me as well.

Jared steps to the side, mimicking lightning. One blink, and you missed it. He grabs Dash’s shoulders, spinning him off balance. Dash’s heels dig in the dirt, trying to find purchase again, but Jared shoves Dash to the ground. Then Jared is on top of Dash, swinging his fist and landing two hard punches to Dash’s cheek before Dash jerks his hips up, knocking Jared to the side and rolling free.

“Fuck!” Dante growls, then his hands disappear, and he’s rushing down the hillside toward the fighting pit.

My feet stumble in a desperate frenzy to get down as well. I tumble down a few feet as sharp gasps, and cheers cause me to fall on the angled hill, my knees hitting the ground. The students draw near, causing me to feel almost crushed. I find my footing and resume running, maneuvering past other students to reach the bottom.

I see Dante, his body leaning forward, but his feet don’t pass a white chalk line, which forms a circle in the fighting pit. His mouth screams in anger as he shouts demands for Dash. Once I reach Dante’s side, his eyes glance down, blinking in shock as they remember that he left me behind. He grabs me again, forcing me to his side.“If you enter, they will shoot you. No help is allowed.” He snarls in my ear.

I spot Cillian on the other side. Next to him is one of the cloaked figures with a gun in hand.

“No,” I cry. I look towards the pity to find Dash and Jared in constant motion. They move like shooting stars, bright, fast, and on fire. I see streaks of red on their flesh and know it’s blood, but whose?

Each move, swing, and punch landed has my stomach inching up, up, up, choking my airway.

“Yes!” Dante shouts. His body roars and shakes against mine.

Blinking, I try to clear my eyes. Jared’s body twist from the impact. It’s like I’m watching some horrid ballet as Dash steps closer, going in for his second move. I want Dash to win, but at the same time, knowing Jared will die isn’t something I can grasp. Even though Jared hurt me and clearly lied to me, I still don’t want him to die.

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