BooksBarbecue
Back The Wishing Game Save as PDF
Chapters (66)
  1. PREFACE
  2. Full Page Image
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. One week ago
  6. THREE
  7. Present day
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. THIRTY-EIGHT
  43. THIRTY-NINE
  44. FORTY
  45. FORTY-ONE
  46. FORTY-TWO
  47. FORTY-THREE
  48. FORTY-FOUR
  49. FORTY-FIVE
  50. FORTY-SIX
  51. FORTY-SEVEN
  52. FORTY-EIGHT
  53. FORTY-NINE
  54. FIFTY
  55. FIFTY-ONE
  56. FIFTY-TWO
  57. FIFTY-THREE
  58. FIFTY-FOUR
  59. FIFTY-FIVE
  60. FIFTY-SIX
  61. FIFTY-SEVEN
  62. FIFTY-EIGHT
  63. FIFTY-NINE
  64. SIXTY
  65. SIXTY-ONE
  66. SIXTY-TWO

The writing on your skin—it is a promise. There is nothing evil about it, nor is it something to be afraid of. It is a vow written in blood, and in a matter of days, that vow will be fulfilled. When that happens, the mark of a new beginning will arise.

What vow? How was it fulfilled?

And the new mark...what new beginning does it signify?

I read and reread the lines until I know them by heart. But still, I'm no closer to figuring out an answer except that whoever A.S.L. was, he or she knew about my marks. And against all odds, they predicted the future. But is it any wonder they did? After all, they had left a letter in a secret place hundreds of years ago, knowing it would somehow end up in my hands.

Who are you? And what are you trying to tell me?

The fact that I'm convinced that A.S.L. speaks the truth now is beside the point as I worry about this new mark and its potential meaning.

Panic swells in my breast as I pace around the room with the letter in my hand. Barely conscious of my actions, I say the name of the only person who can help me.

"Ze?" I call out. "Can you please come here? I need you," I murmur, doing my best not to let myself be overcome by anxiety.

My limbs are weak and wobbly, my brain fogging up as I think of the worst scenarios.

I need him. Ze. I know he'll have answers.

But even as I continue calling him, he's nowhere to be found.

My eyes drop to the letter once more.

You must quit The Wishing Game.

If what A.S.L. has said so far is true, then could this be true as well? Could I be in danger if I continue in the game? Could Nikki be in danger?

I swallow hard. Confusion swirls in my brain, making me dizzy. I've never been more disoriented in my life. How do I know which is the best choice to make? Because if I quit now... I won't be able to participate again and my wish for getting Nikki back will never materialize.

But there's also the reverse. If A.S.L. is right, and so far everything they've said has been right, then the only way to get Nikki back is to quit.

My hands tremble as I hold the yellowed piece of paper. I stare and stare at it, truly at a crossroads.

"Where are you, Ze? I need you," I call out again, walking around my room like a zombie.

What should I do? God, what's the best decision in this case?

I inhale and exhale as I attempt to center myself in the present. I can only make a decision with the facts I have, and based on the empirical evidence at hand, there's only one right answer.