Page 89 of Bleeding Hearts
“It’s not!” I yell. “I love her!”
“And I love you! You’re my baby sister, and I almost lost you, and I didn’t even know it.” We stare at each other for a moment before Evan interrupts.
“All those accidents and deaths . . . they were because of Risk?” I turn to him and nod hesitantly. “And Lally knew?”
“She saw. We both did. Last night was the final game. She saved me and lost, but she was angry at them for getting away with it. I’m worried.” I glance between Evan and Alek. I have no right to ask this after I lied to them, but they are my family. “I know you’re mad, and we can talk about it later, but I can’t lose her. What if she does something stupid? You don’t know these people. They will do anything to protect the game, and they have. It would be so easy to make her disappear. Please, you have to help me find her before it’s too late.”
“She wouldn’t put you in danger,” Evan whispers, “but she asked me to protect you . . . . Alice is right. Lally wouldn’t stand by and do nothing. It isn’t who she is. If what Alice said actually happened, then Lally would want them to pay. We have to find her.”
“I think I did,” comes a breathless voice, and we all turn to see Bones in the doorway, drenched from the rain, showing me his phone. We were so focused on our conversation, we didn’t even hear him come in. “Alice, she’s exposing it all. Silent Rose just found out. I swear we didn’t know.”
Grabbing his phone, I turn up the volume, my heart pounding as we gather around it.
“Now that more people are watching, I’ll begin for real. I don’t have long until they find me, so I need to move quickly. Along with this live broadcast, clips will be uploaded to prove the validity of my story. You will see people who have recently been declared deceased from Pine Valley College. These weren’t accidents. Those who have heard of Risk or played it know this is true. Risk is a game sweeping through the city, offering people money in exchange for playing, but once you have signed up, there’s no going back, and so many have lost their lives while trying to win their sadistic survival game. I was almost one of them.”
I cover my mouth, fear filling me.
“The people who run this game don’t want this to get out, but by keeping it a secret, we are allowing them to murder innocents. Right now, the truth is circulating. I couldn’t have gotten this out any other way. They have bought everyone, even the police. I can’t trust anyone, so I’m trusting all of you to get the truth out there. This is not a hoax. This is real. Risk is real, and people have died. My name is Lally Stewart, and I was a player. Spread the news and use it to find them. Attached to the videos is the wire transfer a friend managed to find connected to the winner of Risk. It shows exactly who is behind this.” She looks into the camera. “Senator Kellen, it’s nice to finally put a name to the man responsible for all those deaths. You can’t hide anymore. You aren’t safe. I might not be able to stop you alone, but a tidal wave of others can, and that makes it worthit. You can’t hide behind masks anymore. We will find everyone involved and make you pay. You asked us over and over what we were willing to risk, but you should ask yourself the same question because we are coming for you.”
She stares right into the camera for a moment then taps her smiling lips, and I break.
I love you.
She’s telling me she loves me.
“To those behind it, you know where I am. I’m waiting.”
I’m on my feet before she can finish. I saw enough. I know where she is.
She’s going to die in the same place Tommy did.
Another sacrifice to save lives.
They will kill her.
Rushing out of the front door on bare feet, I sprint into the pouring rain. I don’t even think as I run. My name is screamed behind me before the storm swallows the voices. The sidewalk is too crowded, so I race into the road, veering around cars as I sprint down Main Street. The pavement cuts my feet, but I ignore the pain, moving faster.
The acceptance in her eyes on that video haunts me. She knew they would kill her, but she did it anyway. She left me in bed to keep me safe while she risked her life to do the right thing.
I can’t lose her.
Tears stream down my cheeks as I scream and push myself faster.
She made me a promise and broke it.
She promised to be a coward, so why did she have to be a hero?
Cars honk and swerve, but I ignore them as I reach the road to campus.
I can feel it just like I did that night.
I’m going to be too late.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
When I planned this, I knew there was only one place where I wanted to do it. Dropping my phone to the floor, I glance at Tommy’s smiling face and smile back. My conscience is clear for the first time in a long time. “I said I would see you soon, and I meant it.”
“Lally,” Leo whispers from the darkness.
