Page 57 of Mercy & Malice

Decider stands in front of each person, asking if they agree to an oath of silence. When they do, the Keeper behind them releases their restraints.

Once it’s my turn, the gag is removed, and I agree to silence. What other choice do I have? However, I don’t agree with how this fucking game played out. So, I stay for the rest, watching as they ask Brooke, Ivy, then my brother, leaving the four of us in the room with the Keepers.

I keep my watch on Brooke as she helps Ivy who’s trying to balance on her one good leg. “Guess no one thought to grab my crutches when y’all kidnapped me.”

When Luca goes towards her, she shrieks, “Don’t you dare fucking touch me. I’ll crawl out of here if I have to.”

I let the scene play out, cringing as Brooke says to Ivy, “Let me help you.”

Help? Is that what she does for others? I call it betrayal.

“The remaining team is not permitted to leave until Mercy has concluded.” Decider flashes daggers before he drops them on the table. “The final challenge—sacrifice. Only one person wins Mercy. That person must sacrifice the other.”

Ivy searches around the room before she asks, “You really want one of us to murder someone to win Mercy?”

Decider replies, “Yes. Without sacrifice, our nature remains selfish.”

Ivy snickers, “Selfish. Selfish is killing people for entertainment. No one wins this fucking game.”

My brother is focused on the table as he mutters, “Three daggers.”

Decider reveals, “The Deceiver is still eligible.”

I see the panic spread on Luca’s face, his body immediately tensing up as he goes to move towards her. “Ivy, come here.”

I can’t lose. This can’t happen. He can’t defeat me again.

Grabbing the dagger, I loop an arm around Ivy’s waist, hauling her to me as I place the blade at her throat.

Luca halts for a second before he inches towards us. A frenzy grows inside me. How did I get here?

But it’s Brooke’s voice that sends me into a rage as she speaks. “Micah, stop. What are you doing?”

She knows exactly what the fuck I’m doing and how we got here.

I point the blade at her as she cowers back. “You did this.”

Luca takes a step closer. “Get your hands off of her.”

My fingers instinctively tighten on the dagger, keeping the blade to Ivy. Luca stops, his palms in the air. “You’re out of the game. There’s no reason for you to hurt her.”

No, no. I’m not out. I should be here. The final one standing with my brother. But I didn’t even make it there. My father’s voice sounds in my head as I recall when he predicted, “It’ll come down to you and your brother in the final round. Don’t hold back. Don’t let him defeat you again.”

I cling to Ivy, unsure what to do as I yell, “It’s supposed to be me. I’m supposed to win, not you.” I don’t even have a chance. I never did. How could Brooke do this to me? My father is right, I’m weak. And I didn’t even get as far as he expected.

My brother’s voice is steady and calm as he tells me, “If she doesn’t walk out of this fucking room, no one does.”

How is he so fucking calm? Why doesn’t he get it? He didn’t even want to win anymore. He said it days ago. I need to win.

I shout, “Fuck you.”

Brooke starts crying. “Micah, please⁠—”

All my fury boils to the surface as I yell, “It’s your fault. Tell him you’re responsible for her being in this position.”

She flinches, the fear in her infuriating me further. “Tell him. You’re the Deceiver. You’ve been playing me all along. All of us.”

Guilt is clear and evident as she shakes her head, denying what I know is true.