Page 18 of Nothing to Lose

“So, I’m going to do the opposite. I’m going to finish my breakfast and go about my day.”

“And when your target lets their guard down . . .”

I wink at him. “Yep.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a menace?”

“I prefer patient. The best things are worth waiting for.”

Eli blushes that pretty color I love seeing on him so much, and I smile devilishly at him, tossing a piece of sausage across the table.

“You’re so mature.”

“You like it.”

“You wish.”

“You know I do.”

Eli shakes his head before getting up and dumping his tray. I watch as he walks away from me, stopping just shy of the door and looking back over his shoulder.

“May the best man win.”

“See you later, little brother,” I tease.

Eli rolls his eyes before jogging out the door to go find his first victim. I take my time, finishing up my breakfast and then cleaning up the cafeteria from everyone leaving their trays of half-eaten food and drinks. Then I saunter outside, the fall air filling my lungs, sunlight trickling through the skeletal remains of the Veritas Tree that sits in the center of the quad.

No one has me, so I’m not worried about getting caught, and I’m the only person who has Eli, so I’m not worried about him being kicked from the game. But Eli doesn’t know that, and I don’t plan to end this quickly or easily. Eli likes the chase, the hunt, so I’m going to tap into that and see what it’s all about. Today, I’m the hunter and Eli’s my prey, and I’m going to make sure he feels the weight of it every single moment.

Chapter 12

Eli

I’ve got to give it to Hunter, Assassin was the perfect game for the forced team bonding. Even if it has pitted us all against each other, not knowing who we can trust at any given moment, it’s been way more fun than any of us expected it to be.

The forest seems to swallow the sounds from campus the moment I cross the tree line. I could hear the team’s laughter and voices echoing across the quad, but now, all that exists is the crunch of dead leaves beneath my sneakers as I run and the steady cadence of my breathing. I dart through the woods, the rattle of spoons in my bag reminding me how close I am to winning. All I need to do is make sure I don’t get caught.

I duck beneath a low-hanging branch, damp ivy snagging on the fabric of my T-shirt. The Corvus woods stretch in front of me like they’ve been waiting centuries for me to wander into them. Towering oaks filter the sunlight through their limbs and the colorful leaves that are still holding on, bathing everything below them in bruised shadows.

The clear sound of a twig snapping from behind me stops me in my tracks, a cold sweat breaking out across my brow. I listen through the eerie drip of yesterday’s rain, the restless whisper of leaves as the wind rustles them, but I don’t hear anything else.

My pulse thunders rapidly, and I pull out my phone to check for updates, reading a text from Dean. Three players remain. Me. Silas. And . . . a smile breaks out across my face, and I snort.

Hunter.

Because of course.

I haven’t seen a glimpse of him the entire day, and each time I eliminated someone, disappointment washed over me when I collected their spoon and didn’t find his name staring back at me. Which means Silas must have him. And if I get to him first, that means I could get the jump on Hunter.

I’m lost in my own plans for a moment when I hear it again. A low, distinct snap of a branch. A prickling sensation slithers down my spine.

I spin around, waiting, watching with unmistakable certainty that someone is standing just beyond where I can see. There’s nothing but rows of ancient trees stretching into fading darkness, their trunks caked with a layer of moisture, branches knitting together overhead like vaulted ceilings.

“Fuck,” I curse. I know someone’s out there, and I need to get to them first. Another crack, and I spin around in the opposite direction. Adrenaline slams through me, and I respond with the first thing that comes to mind.

I run.

Roots reach across my path like tripwires, wet leaves slipping beneath my feet as I sprint between the trees, my heart hammering loud enough it should drown out everything else. Footsteps match my pace, getting closer and closer.