Page 67 (2/2)

“No, it’s not that”

“You wanna talk about it?” He chuckled “Before Wiggles returns and starts yanking his snake”

I couldn’t even force a laugh “Not really”

“Okay I respect that”

Numbness settled in my chest

When it was time, I shuffled to the shoith everyone else Like a zoht routine, then crawled into my bunk

Eraser skipped the guided visualization Griff’s departure had hit hi the bed for once

A few minutes or maybe an hour later, I was so out of it I didn’t know, someone shook me awake

“We need you tonight” Ollie’s foul breath washed over my face

“No” I rolled away

Searing pain singed h my hair and yanked me out of my bunk I landed with a painful thump on the cold tile

“What the fuck, Ollie?” Eraser’s harsh whisper both comforted me and added to my humiliation

“Shut yourtoo”

Eraser didn’t need to be told twice Careful to avoid Ollie, he slid out of his bed and knelt next to me “Come on,” he whispered

“I’m ready” After Juliet’s letter, I really didn’t care what happened to me anymore Or maybe that’s what I told myself to survive an impossible situation

I grabbed my sneakers and shoved them on Ollie yanked us to our feet and pushed us out the door Another guard, Danny, aiting in the hallith two other kids They were new and I hadn’t bothered to learn their names yet We sized each other up carefully

Danny’s hand landed in the htmarch down to the basement The haze of sleep vanished I was hyper-alert Aware of everything aroundfor an avenue of escape or so to use as a weapon

“Maintain your balance,” Eraser re as you can Keep your hands up Clench your teeth Tighten your stomach and shift so any body shots land on your obliques instead of your kidneys”

Sweat rolled down my forehead Eraser’s last minute, desperate instructions sunk into

Whether I wanted to or not, tonight it was

Chapter Forty-Two

Roman

The fear left as soon as we entered the basement Cold detachment took its place Acceptance My whole life had been leading to this No one was cooal noas to make it out of here alive and with my body in one piece

To do that, I’d have to win

“You’ve got this, Roman” Eraser clasped ,” he pointed to a tall, stocky kid stalking the opposite side of the ring, “he’s big, but no endurance He hasn’t completed a run yet”