Page 120 of The Wishing Game

"What are you doing..." I hiss as he all but drags me toward the door.

"The western forest is a good distance away from here. We need to depart now if we want to make it in time."

"Fine," I exhale deeply. Wrenching my hand from his grasp, I follow behind as he leads the way.

Thirteen days.

In thirteen days, I will be dead if we don't find those plants.

A shiver goes down my spine as I realize just how precarious the situation I'm in is. And it's not evenjustabout me anymore, or Nikki. It's about my teammates too. If anything happens to me, not only will I cease to exist. So will they.

Maybe Nikki was right. Maybe thisistoo dangerous. But what is the alternative? Living without him for the rest of my days? Taking my own life so I could see him faster? But even then, who's to say we'll even meet again in the next life?

Icannotcontinue on without him. The only reason I've managed to do it so far has been because I refused to give in to my grief. I chose to focus on my goal to bring him back instead. But until now, I haven't let myself think of the possibility of failure. I couldnoteven entertain the thought that I might lose.

But what if...

No! I shake myself the moment that thought enters my mind.

I can't let myself get distracted.

Gazing up ahead at Ze's broad back that radiates with strength, I get a renewed burst of confidence.

"Ze?"

He half turns toward me.

"I'm glad we're on the same team." I smile tentatively.

His brows shoot up, his expression one of surprise. His cheeks heat up before he suddenly looks away.

"As you should," he grumbles—but his tone isn't as biting as before.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what I call progress.

TWENTY-NINE

It's night when Ze finally suggests we take a break. The soles of my feet ache, and my muscles are so tense, it takes Herculean strength for me to continue forward. Yet in all this time, I haven't complained—not when everything rests on this journey and successfully finding the third plant. Ze already considers me the weakest link of our team. I don't want to give him more reason to look down on me.

We've probably walked for close to ten hours now. The road was a mixture of desolate desert and steppe before we finally spotted a hint of tall, green trees.

"We shall rest here for the night," he declares as he stops in the middle of a patch of grass nestled among towering foliage and sprawling trees.

He doesn't need to say it twice as I plop myself on the ground, the soft grass cushioning my ungraceful fall. I take a deep breath, a whimper escaping me as I bring my fist against my thighs and calves, hoping to unknot some of the residual tension.

Ze takes one look at me and shakes his head. But he makes himself useful as he gathers some stones, twigs, and dry grass to make a fire. His movements are swift and confident, and a spark bursts to life from the first attempt.

I drag myself closer, letting the heat from the flame caress my skin. Although the temperature was warm during daytime, the moment it got dark, it started getting chillier. I made a good decision to wear my hoodie, but even with it, a shiver goes down my back.

He drops our small bag with supplies by my side before joining me next to the fire. Despite our sudden departure, I was surprised by his comprehensive planning. By the time he dragged me out of our apartment, he already had a bag packed with snacks and water to last us a couple of days. Even more surprising had been the fact that he'd packedonlynon-meat options.

He sits cross-legged, his palms on his knees, his expression blank. His clothes are in perfect order, not one drop of sweat on his forehead, whereas I'm almost drowning in mine. Even his features are as fresh as if he just woke up from a nap.

"I'm surprised you know how to make a fire," I mention.

"Huh?" He raises an arrogant brow.

"That right there." I point at him, my lips quirking up. "You're such a snob I didn't think you'd know basic skills like the rest of us."

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