Page 291 of The Wishing Game

Panic swells in my breast as I pace around the room with the letter in my hand. Barely conscious of my actions, I say the name of the only person who can help me.

"Ze?" I call out. "Can you please come here? I need you," I murmur, doing my best not to let myself be overcome by anxiety.

My limbs are weak and wobbly, my brain fogging up as I think of the worst scenarios.

I need him. Ze. I know he'll have answers.

But even as I continue calling him, he's nowhere to be found.

My eyes drop to the letter once more.

You must quit The Wishing Game.

If what A.S.L. has said so far is true, then could this be true as well? Could I be in danger if I continue in the game? Could Nikki be in danger?

I swallow hard. Confusion swirls in my brain, making me dizzy. I've never been more disoriented in my life. How do I know which is the best choice to make? Because if I quit now... I won't be able to participate again and my wish for getting Nikki back will never materialize.

But there's also the reverse. If A.S.L. is right, and so far everything they've saidhasbeen right, then the only way to get Nikki back is to quit.

My hands tremble as I hold the yellowed piece of paper. I stare and stare at it, truly at a crossroads.

"Where are you, Ze? I need you," I call out again, walking around my room like a zombie.

What should I do? God, what's the best decision in this case?

I inhale and exhale as I attempt to center myself in the present. I can only make a decision with the facts I have, and based on the empirical evidence at hand, there's only one right answer.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath.

"I wish to withdraw from The Wishing Game," I speak before I lose the courage.

"Are you sure you wish to give up?" The wraith appears before me, startling me and making me lose my balance.

"Y-yes," I stammer.

"Your decision has been noted. You are officially withdrawn from The Wishing Game. As you were part of a team, the entire team has been disqualified," she tells me in a mechanical voice. "Good day and good luck," she says before she disappears.

Shit! Thea! She wanted this, didn't she?

Damn! Did I just ruin everything for her, too?

Right at that moment, a strong pulsation erupts from the center of the mark, heat surrounding the entire area. I fall to my ass as I moan in distress. I cover the symbol with my hand, rubbing it as my breathing grows labored.

Tears fall down my cheeks as my mind explodes into a thousand little pieces until I can barely make sense of anything—of who I am or what my purpose is.

A screeching sound reverberates in the air. Belatedly, I realize that's me.

I taste the saltiness of my tears as an elusive memory knocks at the door of my subconsciousness. The feeling is there, almost as if I was supposed to know something, but I cannot put it into words.

The door to my room bursts open and Thea barges in, a worried expression on her face.

"Luce, are you all right?" she asks, her eyes widening as she spots me on the floor, naked and tear-streaked.

"I-I don't know," I reply honestly. "I think I fucked up, Thea," I add in a whisper.

"If you mean the Game, don't worry about it. I should have quit before, too." She sighs.

"You...know?"

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