Page 93 of Drop His Mask

Wouldn’t that just end the game?

The realization struck me, he didn’t even need to make it to the end. He just needed to kill me and he would be done with this game. He would win and be able to live another day.

Attempting to break free from the shock that had frozen me, I jumped to the next platform, staying along the side of the game as best I could. An idea struck me.

Why do I need to keep to this area at all?

With new instilled determination, I used the last reserves of my energy to make the large hop to the thin hallway beside me.

When I landed and nothing happened, happiness skittered across my nerves.

But it was short-lived.

Dres threw himself onto me, landing us haphazardly onto the ground, my face hovering inches over the deadly acid.

With my breath knocked out of me, and my body digging into the concrete ground, I could do nothing as he wrapped his body around mine.

His words were hot and slimy as they crawled into my ear. “The least I can do is take you with me. But maybe I don’t need to even do that at all. You’re injured aren’t you?” His hand reaching up and tangling into my hair.

“Let her go!” The panic in Oleks’s voice was unmistakable, but Dres didn’t even acknowledge him.

Nearby was a loud crash, but I couldn’t move to look. Even if it were Griffin and Oleks releasing from their restraints, they were too far away. They wouldn’t make it in time. Dres’s hand was pushing my face closer and closer to an acid death.

Wriggling and bucking, I needed to save myself, to get this man off of me. But all it did was serve to egg him on. His disgusting length poking into me.

This is turning him on. A monster just like Ivan.

“Fuck. Stop riling me up, you useless woman. It didn’t have to go this way, but then you came around.”

My panic and anxiety sky-rocketed. He was done playing games. He was ready.

It was in his voice, in his muscles, the way his hand tightened in my hair.

What am I supposed to do now?

Chapter 50

Drop His Mask

The Host

Present Day

“She knows who you are. That’s going to be a problem,” Sharon griped condescendingly in his ear. “We thought you were ready, but you clearly aren’t. I will speak with Harold on this matter. Let’s do away with the girl first, and when we return, we may need to discuss your abilities to continue in your position.”

The Host winced, remembering how the knife felt when Sharon stabbed it into his leg. He imagined if the Creators were currently on the island, he would have had to deal with them in person. But luckily, and as planned, they were both gone, along with most of the Sponsors. Off at a yearlyfunction held in Luscinia. The one where they would agree on the next round of players.

The Host leaned back further into his chair. Instead of his typical spot in the control room, he had been permitted to stay in his home due to hisweaknesses.For the last week, he had been confined to this space. The Creators thought he had fallen apart, but it was a ruse. Instead, he was laying the last of his plans. Preparing for today.

It was time.

Griffin had understood the message. The Host knew he would be ready.

“Miko, go get her. Bring her to me. I don’t care if the game is finished or not. I can’t wait any longer. Donotreturn here without her. They’ll expect a guard. I can’t go myself.” The Host wanted more than anything to see Raven. She had recognized him, knew who he was. But he was afraid, terrified that when she looked into his eyes, she would only find the remnants of the man she knew.

Miko cast a worried glance between the remaining men in the room. “Yes, sir.”

Felix stepped forward. “I will retrieve our other ally.”

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