Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 102335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Why?” I ask, even though I have no idea what the fuck he’s talking about, but if Poppy is in danger, I want to make sure she has my help, and to help her, I need to know whatever bullshit he’s talking about. Even if I can’t walk without his assistance right now. The drugs are starting to wear off as seconds pass, but whatever it was, felt familiar. “Why would you need to hide things from her in a place you both lived for so long?”
The blades of grass whip my ankles as we finally get to the bottom of the mountain and he spins around to face me. “Because this life wasn’t one we chose. It was one we were thrown into.”
Doors slam closed in the distance, and I whip my head up to see windows shutting and blinds closing. The wind whistles around me and I shiver as I watch the tree branches behind the asylum bend with the wind.
“What’s happening?” I ask through chattering teeth, watching as door by door, window by window, close and cover. That isn’t the warning sign, though. It is the silence. The mere silence. There’s a built wooden playground to the back of the little cabins, where sandcastles are half made. A chicken coop behind that, and beside the coop is a wooden gate where goats stroll aimlessly around the little paddock.
Wicked backs up on me, reaching for my hand. “We’ve got to run…”
“What?” I ask, looking over his shoulder. “What is it?”
Crows squawk from the trees behind the cabins as Wicked continues to back up on me. Only this time, instead of yanking me toward him by my wrist, his fingers intertwine with mine. “We’ve got to run…” he repeats.
Fire breaks through the tree clearing and bright ember flecks dance up in the sky as the sun sets in the distance.
“Wicked…” I tense his fingers with mine. I should be angry with him. I am angry with him. But right now, I know that whatever is happening is out of his control. Is he going to hurt me while I’m in the maze? Yes. Most likely.
My head pounds as I fall backward and the trees in the distance start to bleed into the bright orange embers. “Wic—” I rest my hand on my forehead, closing my eyes. My brain turns to static as blood rushes to my head.
“Hey!” Wicked catches me with his arm. “Fuck.”
“What’s going on?” Sweat pools down the side of my head. He scoops me up and carries me toward the back of one of the little houses. He comes in clearer now, but the piercing vibrations inside my head are almost too much to handle.
“Look at me. You’re coming down from the drugs I gave you.”
“Such a fucking gentleman…” I push off him, swiping the dust off my clothes.
“Listen to me!” His hand covers my mouth, his body towering over me. “I brought you here because it was my job to do that. If I don’t do my job? Poppy dies. Now—” He peeks around the corner of the house but keeps his hand covering my mouth. Wood scrapes against my back but my breathing calms at the proximity of his body against mine. He comes back to me. “Something is wrong with Poppy. Do I need to lock you away somewhere so I can find her, or are you good?”
I nod and he slowly releases his hand from around my mouth. “Good.”
“Wait—” My hand goes to his arm again. “Why don’t you just kill me?”
“I still might,” he growls, grabbing my hand and yanking me behind another cabin. Soft mumbles start drifting through the space, and Wicked’s finger presses against my lips.
I stare up at him. “What?” I mouth, only my lips press against his fingers.
He leans down, resting his forehead against mine, his eyes closed. “They killed her.”
I pause. My blood turns cold as I bring my hand to his cheek. “What? Who did? Who killed who?”
He grips me by the throat, forcing my eyes onto his. There’s no anger, no sadness, no—emotion. Void empty pits of nothing stare back at me. “You need to run. Now. And don’t look back.”
“Wicked—” He tightens his grip around my throat.
“You need to run because if I don’t kill you, they sure as fuck will.” I blink back the tears but my hands fall to the side.
“I’m not going anywher—” A dark shadow falls over his face, but before he can open his mouth to say anything else, the chanting gets louder, and I can almost feel the flames against my face.
“Well, isn’t this unfortunate…” Another voice comes from behind Wicked’s body, and he freezes. His whole body turns to stone, but he shifts closer to me. Whether it was on purpose or coincidental, I notice it.
Slowly, he turns around, his back now against my face. “What have you done?”