I had an idea what they wanted. The lust was shining in their eyes.
“It's all in fun,” Jacob said. His hand fell away, leaving a hollow itch where he'd been touching me. The cold air was a useful tool with them both around. “The threat of losing is just a motivator.”
“If I win, you'll really let me have anything?” I asked.
They were both adjusting their equipment, one mind shared by two different people. “Whatever your mind can conjure,” Jacob chuckled.
That was when I knew. They don't think I have a chance at beating them.
People like this, they didn't promise riches when it was obvious I'd ask for the moon. In a real wager, I would have demanded they promise—promise beyond a shadow of a doubt—that they would never hurt me.
Those skilled hands that made me moan, I didn't want them around my throat.
No bullets, no barrels, nothing. I didn't want to rely on my letter to keep them in check.
I wanted...
I wanted to trust them.
“You alright?” Jacob asked, his goggles hiding away the icy gaze I found so thrilling.
Lifting the gun, I nodded briskly. “I'm ready. Let's do this.”
We faced off in the middle of the clearing. Around us, the buzz of forest life was drowned out by my pumping blood. Jacob tapped his watch. “I'll count to five minutes. You should go and run, Marina. Hide from us. What you do after that is up to you.”
“You're giving me a head start?”
Kite was grinning, rocking from one foot to the next. “Sure. This is our handicap.”
I scrunched my forehead. “Isn't me only needing to hit you guys twice your handicap?”
Jacob's laugh was soft as velvet. “No, that's just us being fair.”
Remember, I told myself. They think this will be easy. I can see it in their smiles. My finger brushed the trigger of my gun. I hated being underestimated. I was a realist, but smugness—justified or not—fueled my determination.
My voice was flat, as emotionless as I could get it. “Good luck, boys.” Turning, I sprinted into the bushes without looking back.
Slinking through a dark forest while they chased me down was a nightmare in the making. I hadn't been killing in secret for years. I didn't have tons of practice under my belt like they did. But it didn't matter what outcome they predicted.
I refused to go down easy.
****
Leaning against the tree, I held the gun tight to my chest. Acid tore through my throat, my lungs. I kept seeing things move on the edges of my vision, shadows that played with me and taunted me. I wondered incessantly about where they were.
My jacket was heavy, it forced clammy sweat from my pores. The plastic of my goggles kept fogging up, I wiped the smudges away so I could see. How much time did I have left?
Peeking over my shoulder, I snuggled the rough tree bark and thought of my next move. If I was good at anything, it was hiding. I needed a place that would protect me from them, somewhere I could take aim and fire.
The pine trees were big, but unreliable. If I got too high up, I'd be trapped. Looking around, I checked my options; some boulders, lots of bushes, and a sloping hill on one side.
Heading towards the dipping ground, I got low and stretched on my belly. It wasn't perfect, but with the leaves and branches around me, I was hidden enough that they might not see me.
Breathing in tiny bursts, I stared fixedly off into the woods. My ears were on overdrive, trying to spot a single cracking twig. How sneaky were they? The idea of them prowling around in search of me was making my belly convulse.
Then again, was this so different from last night?
Together, they had hunted me down on the dance floor, attacked me with their seductive eyes and silky hands. I'd lost to them, though the results had been delicious.
I didn't want to lose again, not so quickly.
Movement; it was brief and in the distance. Every muscle knotted up in my body.
Crushing the gun, I stared at the area and watched for more. There, again, just a flicker, but reddish hair danced between the leaves. Kite was yards away, a rough shot to take.
Wait till he gets closer, I told myself. Aiming the paintball gun, I squinted and closed my left eye. Kite froze, as if he had heard my thoughts. Impossible, but it still made my brain tingle nervously. Wait longer. Just wait. You're fine, Marina, just wait.
I should have been more patient.
Pulling the trigger, the gun shook—the ball of red exploding from the canister. I knew it would miss, yet still, I prayed.
Kite stood tall, startling as the crimson splattered on the tree near his head. His eyes landed directly on my hiding spot.
Thudding with adrenaline, I tucked sideways, scrambling down the slope and bolting. Pain exploded behind my knee. It was brief, like a rubber band snapping. Wetness speckled my hand as another explosion hit me.