Chapters (66)
- PREFACE
- Full Page Image
- ONE
- TWO
- One week ago
- THREE
- Present day
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
As I think about the way my marks lit up when Ze touched them, I can't stop my thoughts from straying to him and consequently remembering the deep disappointment I felt at his betrayal.
I trusted him, and he took advantage of that. And if what Thea's saying is true, he's been doing this from the beginning.
Just what was his goal with this competition?
Why was he so nice to me, only to turn around and be...not so nice?
I just cannot understand any of it. His behavior is contradictory, his words even more so.
"Why did you make me care for you, Ze?" I sigh to myself as I turn to the side, hugging the pillow to my chest.
My chest is heavy with hurt, my heart aching when I think of all the vile things he said to me.
I do not want to see you win.
Why? Why would he say something like that when he knows how important this game is to me? Why would he help me during this trial, saving me repeatedly if he didn't want me to win? I just cannot make sense of any of it.
"Ugh!" I cry out, banging my fist against my chest.
It's not worth it. Stop thinking about it, Luce. Just focus on Nikki.
Unfortunately, it's easier said than done. As I close my eyes and drift off to sleep, it's not Nikki that I dream about. It's Ze and those precious moments we shared on our trip.
FORTY
"I'm so excited to show you my home, Luce." Thea clasps her hands together as she gushes about her sister and their home, describing all the things we can do together and all the places we should visit. The way she's talking about it makes it seem like we're going on a vacation, not embarking on a potentially deadly trial.
I nod as I put on my shoes, signaling I'm ready to head to the courtyard. We head out of the apartment, walking alongside the other teams who qualified for the third trial. To my great surprise, there are quite a few people—at least half of those who were present at the inauguration. And that tells me one thing—these people are strong.
A shiver goes down my back as I wonder how we'll fare in this trial without Ze and Cer. We don't even know what the trial will entail, but if it's something to do with strength, then I'm already at a disadvantage.
"There's this place in the city that I think you'll love," Thea continues in a sing-song voice, barely minding the glances she's getting from the other contestants.
"This is as far as I can accompany you," Cer interjects. "I will see you in Aperion." He turns to his sister. "Until then, you should come up with an excuse for our parents. They will want to know where their precious daughter has been," he says with the hint of a smile.