Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51038 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 255(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51038 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 255(@200wpm)___ 204(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
They are all mine.
23 - QUAID
Ipoint at Declan. “Should I ask about the ear wings?”
“Probably not,” Star replies in a whisper. “He’s touchy about it.”
Declan sighs. “I’m not touchy, I just think it’s an insult.”
I point to myself. “Do I need this information? Because if not, I’d rather not have to process the story. I’ve got enough going on without Declan’s wing-size insecurities.”
Declan scoffs, offended. But Star laughs, getting my sarcasm.
I think I like her. I mean, she’s fuckable for sure. But there’s a difference between doing things with someone and actually enjoying their company. I can see myself enjoying her company in our future Paradise.
Hell, even Aric gives off a huff at my joke, implying that he sorta gets me. I don’t need to like him, but he’s not as much of an asshole as I first thought back in the jail. Maybe he’s a good guy, maybe he’s not. But one thing’s for sure, I’d rather have him as a friend than an enemy.
“I’m kidding, Declan. Your wings are cute.”
Which makes Star chortle and Aric say, “Enough joking. This is a serious situation. We’re about to go into the maze.” He lets out a long breath. “You guys need to be in top form. The Minotaur is nothing to take lightly. It’s a monster. It’s evil, It’s—”
But I cut him off here. “It’s a program, Aric. This whole place is nothing but… a virtual reality or a simulation.” It’s probably not either of those things, actually. It’s probably something dimensional. Time is definitely a variable and I would not be surprised to find out that it all comes down to zero-point energy. But these three aren’t in to technical details like that, so this definition will suffice. “It’s not real, that’s my point.”
“It’s real enough that we’ll die,” Aric says.
“Well, that’s not technically true,” I say. “Yes, we could die. But if your experience here is any indication of what one can expect when they run the maze, we’ll come back to life and have to do it again.”
Aric is shaking his head no before I’m even done talking. “You don’t know that. We can’t count on that. One shot, guys.” He pauses here to look concerned and serious, meeting each of our gazes one at a time. “We get one shot. If we play like we can’t lose, we’ll lose for sure.” Now he lets out a long sigh, as his eyes lock with Star’s. “I like you. I don’t wanna lose you. Please,” now he looks at me. “Please tell me you’ll all do your best.” He ends this little speech looking at Declan.
Declan nods. “Hey, I’m here for it. I’m all in. I’ll get us to Paradise, don’t worry.” Then he winks at me. “My wings might be little, but they are mighty.”
I smile, picturing the scenario that Star put in my head of me controlling the two of them.
He will play my game.
The thought of controlling a man has never been a desire of mine. Still isn’t. But the thought of controlling Declan and Star together—now that’s a fantasy worth fighting for.
“Right,” I say. “So here’s the plan—we go into the maze, I manipulate the code while Aric guides us towards the center. Once we get there, I do something with the glowing symbols while Star sings the song, and Declan transports us to Paradise.”
“OK,” Star says. “But… how do you know what to do with the symbols?”
“I don’t,” I admit. “I can’t. Not until I actually interact with the system.”
“I don’t like this,” Aric says. “I feel like we need more preparation.”
“More fucking?” I ask. “I mean, hell, I’m up for trying.” I wink at Star here, trying to lighten the mood. Because it’s very obvious that Aric is worried. And if he’s worried, we should all be worried. But worry isn’t a helpful emotion. Action is. And that’s what my plan is. Action. “But I think it was a onetime thing, guys. I don’t know why we’re here or who or what is sending us clues on how to beat the maze in the form of sex dreams, but we’re not gonna get any more answers until we actually do something.”
Star is nodding.
Declan is nodding.
Aric is… shaking his head.
Which is frustrating. So I’m just about to put on my Mr. Controlling hat and shake some fucking sense in to him, when Star walks over to Aric and places her hands on his cheeks.
“Look at me,” she says. With a long sigh, he does this. “You’re not alone this time. You’ll never be alone again. We’re together now. I’m gonna be with you for the whole run.”
Which can’t be true. Not if the sex dreams were showing us reality because Star was with me when I was manipulating the lights.
But I don’t say that. Instead I say, “And me, Aric. I’m gonna be with you the whole time as well.”