Page 28 of Drop His Mask

I was becoming too soft and it had almost gotten me killed.

I didn’t speak to Jayce as the guards lugged me away, didn’t meet anyone’s gaze, didn’t let my mind settle on anything.

So wrapped in my cloud, I didn’t process how many organs Jayce and I had managed to secure.

Chapter 14

Nightingale Returns

The Prisoner

Four Years - Five Months Ago

The Prisoner leaned against the cold brick wall. He was shirtless, bruised,bloodied, but he was alive.

A loud creaking noise drew his attention, and he slowly raised his head to the door as it was pushed in.

“Oh Julian. You don’t look too good,” the familiar woman’s voice echoed around the space.

For a moment, The Prisoner thought he was seeing a miracle, but then the person stepped fully into the room. Moonlight shone on them through a single, lone barred window above his head.

“Nightingale,” he acknowledged.

Anadil—Nightingale—leaned her head back and laughed. “Yes, you stubborn man, that is me. All the others believe your story. That the child is yours. That my sister is truly dead. I think we both know that to be a lie. Although I suppose not too many knew myinnocentsister was pregnant with Jayce’s child.”

“They promised they would keep her safe!” The Prisoner bellowed as he attempted to lunge forward. He wanted nothing more than to kill the woman that stood before him, but the shackles held him back.

“And they will. That is, if you do me a favor.” Nightingale cocked a hand on her hip before flourishing dramatically. “Well I guess you don’t have a choice.”

The Prisoner growled, “How could you join the Government? How could you become what you despise?”

Nightingale’s fierce blue eyes darkened. She narrowed them on him. “Do not assume to comprehend anything about me. You don’t even understand what all is at stake. I learned. I know better now,” she huffed, bending down until they were eye level, her hands on her knees.

The Prisoner refrained from spitting on her face. It wouldn’t help anything, and they had Sparrow. They had the child he had promised to protect.

“You are going to be in the second annual game this year. I am going to Sponsor you and you are going to kill every last contestant until you are the only one that remains. And if you manage to do that, if you win it? Your life will be much easier, you’ll get to see Sparrow, you’ll be free to do as you wish.”

“How can you call it a game? It was a massacre!” The Prisoner barked, his heart beating painfully up his throat. He remembered the first show, remembered the slaughter as the captives fought and killed each other.

Nightingale cocked an eyebrow but didn’t respond.

“What’s the catch?” He fell back against the cold wall. Preferring to be as far from the woman in front of him as he could be.

“The catch?” Nightingale stood back up to her full height, brushing off her pants and turning away, her charcoal hair fluttering behind her. “Yoursoul.”

Chapter 15

Player 195

Player 195

Present Day

195’s attention traced Raven’s every movement. His obsession was slowly encapsulating him, taking up every piece of his waking moments. His mouth on her soft skin had been a beacon in the darkness that shrouded his world.

He doubted she remembered him. Doubted she would recognize him even without the mask in place.

But a piece of him wished she did.

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