Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
“Kenzie, we had like three classes with her,” Aisha murmured, trying not to laugh.
I eyed the girl’s auburn hair pulled into a tight bun and the scatter of freckles across her cheeks, and recognition suddenly hit me.
“Oh, goodness, Janelle. I’m terribly sorry for not recognizing you sooner,” I implored with exaggerated remorse. “Now it all makes sense. Your boyfriend might not be the poster boy for good looks, but you’ve stuck by him loyally. That’s really admirable, Janice.”
“My name isn’t—”
“Personally, I value both high aesthetic and deep qualities—much like Hael, Aisha, and, naturally, myself,” I continued, smoothly talking over her unwanted correction.
Her friend scowled at me and mumbled something under her breath, too low for me to catch this time.
“For what it’s worth, I actually agree with you,” a new voice chimed in. “Attraction is natural. It’s all about holistic compatibility.”
I turned toward the source of the comment, my interest piqued by his insightful input. The speaker, a guy with sharp features and thoughtful eyes that hinted at depth beyond his casual facade, met my gaze with a reserved smile.
“See, this guy gets it. What’s your name?”
“Liam,” he replied, his tone friendly yet measured.
“Nice to meet you, Liam. I’m Kennedy.” I offered him a smile. “And would you look at that? You’re quite handsome yourself.”
His laughter echoed softly in the tense air, a clear sign he appreciated the compliment.
“Seems a bit shallow and childish to dwell on looks in a situation like this.”
“Shallow, or hitting too close to home, Darrel?” Hael retorted sharply.
“How about we save this energy for the challenges ahead, shall we? There’s going to be enough trying to tear us apart in this game without us doing it to ourselves over a bit of banter,” Raphael interjected, attempting to shift the atmosphere to camaraderie.
Another voice from someone I hadn’t bothered to learn the name of chimed in. “Honestly, we shouldn’t even be worrying about any of this right now.”
I sighed. The conversation was veering into dull, and I wasn’t here for that. “You’re right,” I drawled. “Why worry about love and beauty when half of you aren’t making it out of here alive? Obviously, I don’t share those concerns—I am a Vetis, after all.”
An immediate silence descended, followed only by a low, knowing chuckle from Eryx behind me, his amusement a welcome note in the monotonous drone.
Liam did a subtle double-take as if only then realizing who I was. Bless his adorable heart. I was inwardly ecstatic that my family name carried its due weight. I knew my brothers and father would love that bit, assuming they had tuned in already. Mom would probably be on the verge of prideful tears. I missed them all already.
As we continued down the corridor, my mind raced with thoughts of the elaborate setup around us, each detail a piece of a larger, more unnerving puzzle. Holding the ticket in my hand, I wondered what awaited us as we found our way into a dimly lit theater, where a solemn, almost sacred silence enveloped the room once the doors clicked shut. The space was expansive, and I quickly located my designated seat in Row B.
“Looks like I’m in B14,” I announced, checking in with Aisha and Hael for theirs.
“B12 for me,” Aisha responded, just two seats away.
“Different row, A7,” Hael noted with a slight frown.
We navigated through the rows to our seats, passing the unsettlingly still masked clowns scattered among us. Their grotesque expressions were frozen, none acknowledging our arrival—quite rude, really. I settled into my seat, the plush fabric feeling oddly comforting against the backdrop of potential chaos. Aisha was only two seats away, separated by a clown whose sinister grin seemed almost too real under the dim lights. I kept a watchful eye on it, ready at a moment’s notice.
I flicked Aisha a reassuring thumbs-up. The tension in her posture was unmistakable. It was unfair she had to be here, all because of her cunt sister’s machinations, using me as bait. She would regret this. I’d personally see to it. I glanced over my shoulder to see how Hael was settling into his seat. Catching my look, he nodded reassuringly. Another clown was perched close to him, adding an edge to our separation. My focus shifted abruptly as the seat beside me dipped. The subtle scent of spicy cologne wafted over, heralding Raphael’s arrival.
“Keeping a close watch on our stoic friends?” he murmured, nodding towards the motionless clown a few seats from Hael.
“Pretty much,” I replied, keeping my voice low. “Making sure they’re here for ambiance and not part of the entertainment.” My eyes darted to the hourglass spinning relentlessly on the screen, its sand slipping away as if counting down to something inevitable.
What were we waiting for?
My gaze inadvertently crossed Eryx Draven’s as I turned my head. He was seated almost diagonally from me and had an easy view of the whole theater. His eyes, piercing and direct, locked with mine.