Page 76 of Playing with Fire

No one caught our interest, yet we kept walking and doing what we pleased.

One hour after we began wandering, I found myself stopped while Hazel clutched my arm and her face was absorbed by her phone screen. She showed me the screen with laughter after saying

"Look at this."

It was a text from Felix.

Could you help me?

Please.

I turned my head towards Hazel and saw her expression remained completely unaffected.

"Are you going to respond?" I asked.

She gives a shrug before taking her phone back. "I'm mad at him, remember?" she says, referring to Kylie's earlier words.

I smile. "Look at you," I pushed her shoulder. "Growing some thick skin."

She laughs, and another notification chimes.

Hazel. Please.

I'm begging you.

We're

"Who's we're?" I ask, hovering over her phone.

I heard my phone ring in an unexpected tone before she could say anything. A Facetime? I laugh while observing the person on the other end of the call.

My murder victim.

I'm at a loss about what drove me to press the accept button. My screen reveals his face which appears as much as the view allows when the call connects.

"Hello?" My voice carries some excitement as I ask.

"Emerson, help us." His words come out so quietly that he needs to be right next to the speaker to talk.

Their voices around him blast through the screen in a way that is both obnoxiously loud and excruciating to listen to.

I wonder if you guys can help us escape from this place? He asks, his lips barely move.

Hazel sits beside me with a slight smile on her face. She urges me to ask him about the special word. I raised my brow at her. Bold Hazel. I like it.

"What's the special word, Rowan?" I give him a taunting response.

The sound of his groan makes my smile stretch wider. "Seriously?"

"Does it look like I'm joking?" The girls pry into their business as I chew through the camera.

"Who is that?" One of them asks.

"No one." he deadpans.

"Oh, so I guess I'm nobody then. You can kiss our help goodbye, asshole!" I raise my voice.

"Emerson, stop." He sounds almost desperate for our help. "Please, please just help us." He says the words, and Hazel giggles.

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