“I don’t know even half of what you’ve been through since POP took you,” she says, her eyes open and earnest. “But I swear to you, we’re not with them. You know we’re not. And I also promise we’ll do everything in our power to get you away from here.”
Reece begins to tremble, though he doesn’t pull his eyes away from hers, flicking them across her face, as if he can detect any sign of insincerity or deceit. Ellie continues to stare at him, an open book, and I literally see the moment the asshole falls a little bit in love with her.
I just pray Zane doesn’t see what I do. He’ll kill him within seconds. Hopefully, he’s too distracted by?—
Zane licks his lips and stares intently at his bedazzled dagger, still embedded in the wall, then focuses on the pulse in Reece’s neck, as if he’s envisioning slicing the blade through the sensitive skin there.
He saw the look of adoration too.
Fuck.
“Put the damn clothes on.” Beckett moves slightly to stand in front of Ellie, blocking her from view. Smart thinking, considering Reece Whipers is still very, very naked, every inch of his gaunt, frail body on display.
Reece gives a jerky nod and immediately dons the robe and mask. All of us release a collective breath as soon as he’s dressed.
“Come on,” Ellie whispers. “We need to find a way out of here. Or protect you until the time ends.”
“Do you really think The Divine One will let us go once the hour is up?” Reece asks, huffing out a disbelieving breath.
“No,” Ellie answers simply. “Which is why we need to find a way out of here.”
Reece moves to follow Ellie, and Zane takes the opportunity to slide his dagger out of the wall. Before he can take a step in their direction, I grab his arm, pulling him to a stop. “No stabbing.”
He pouts, resembling a recalcitrant child. “But?—”
“No stabbing,” I repeat. “You can stab POP members and The Divine One. Not the people we’re trying to save.”
“But—”
“You can’t seriously tell me you’re jealous over a guy who’s been tortured, assaulted, and starved?” I demand.
Instead of appearing chastised, as I intended, Zane simply arches a brow. “You’re telling me you aren’t?”
I shove his shoulder. “No stabbing.”
Zane makes a face, but I know he won’t hurt Reece, despite his teasing. None of us will. We’ll do exactly as we promised—get him the fuck away from POP and The Divine One once and for all.
Then, if he continues giving Ellie googly eyes, we’ll stab him.
But only once he’s free.
The five us race down hall after hall, pausing at every fork and listening for any sound. When we hear voices—or footsteps—we move in the opposite direction.
Ellie’s right. Even if we protect Reece until the end of the game, there’s no guarantee he’ll be allowed to live. The Divine One doesn’t play fair. This is just a game to her, after all. A fucked-up, sadistic game with no rules that don’t benefit her.
Ellie pauses abruptly, determination stamped across her features. She glances in both directions, then pulls her head all the way up, until she’s staring at the ceiling.
“Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?” Zane asks, sidling up beside her.
“That we’ve been running in circles and haven’t found a single way out of this maze? That the only place we haven’t searched is the ceiling? Then, yes.” Ellie nods resolutely.
Zane blows out a breath. “Okay, because that wasn’t entirely clear?—”
Beckett shoves Zane out of the way and moves to claim the spot beside her. “I don’t think the ceiling will hold our weight, even if we lie down flat and distribute it evenly.”
“Maybe not your weight…” She allows the words to taper off, and all of us turn to stare at Reece, who stands slightly to the side, looking out of place in the oversized cloak and mask.
He takes a single step backward, his hands raised placatingly. “And what do you suppose I do once I’m up there? Wiggle around like a worm until I find an exit? Wait until everyone leaves and then sneak out? That’s fucking crazy.”