Selena
Cass finally came to and I fed her the last of the berries from both of our packs. She had no signs of injury, but fatigue had set in. She must have been running around this forest longer than I had.
“How'd you make it here?” she asked when she woke.
I wanted to hide the fact that I'd killed Marie. But Cass had been through enough that I didn't want to keep secrets from her. When I told her what had happened, she didn't glare at me or walk away, she hugged me, wrapping me in her limber arms.
“It wasn't your fault,” she said. “The mist must have been poisoned. I kept seeing things...”
Tears slid down my cheeks, reality finally settling in. I'd murdered another person. She may not have been entirely innocent, considering her past, but she'd had a good heart. And killing her boyfriend hadn't been any more noble than me killing my stepfather.
“I'm so sorry I left you,” Cass said, a single tear escaping her eye.
“I understand,” I breathed.
“I want to get out of this forest,” Cass whispered, glancing toward the cave exit. “We could make it to the checkpoint within hours. It's close.”
I nodded, clutching onto her a moment longer, knowing the pain at what I'd done would never leave me.
As we gathered up our things, I became aware of how little I really knew about Cass. She never spoke about her past and I was sure there was more to her than met the eye. A survivor like her wasn't born this way, she was made. But how, I wasn't sure.
As we gathered up our things and headed into the eternal night, I plucked up the courage to ask her. “Who were you before all of this?”
Cass glanced at me, before her gaze fell to the ground. “I told you. I was in for arson.”
“Why did they send you to a maximum security prison? No one died, did they? You said you only tried to burn down your ex's place.”
She nodded, digging her teeth into her lower lip. As we crossed over the river, tiptoeing across protruding rocks in the stream, she turned to me.
“I hurt a lot of people, Selena.” She shook her head.
My foot slipped on the rock and she steadied me, holding me in place. “You're a good person. You hurt someone that hurt you. You shouldn't be here with the rest of us.”
I untangled her fingers from my cloak. “I'm not, Cass. No more so than you or anyone else. You've saved me more than once. I wouldn't be standing here without you.”
Cass choked out a dry laugh. “You don't understand.”
“Then help me to,” I demanded. “What does it matter now? We'll most likely be dead before tomorrow.”
She sighed, making her way across the rocks and I followed her onto the dry ground.
“My ex's home was in a block of flats. The one I set light to.” She stopped walking, keeping her gaze fixed on a tree ahead of us. “Families died, Selena. Couples. Teenagers. Kids.” She covered her face, a rattling sob rolling up from her throat. “I was so angry. I never thought about the consequences. And that bastard wasn't even in the flat.”
I touched her arm, anguish flaring through me. “You didn't know.”
“I did know!” She cupped her hand to her mouth, horrified by herself. “I knew other people lived close by, that should have been enough. But I wasn't myself. I was a wreck after I found out he cheated on me. I acted stupidly. I wasn't thinking.”
I gripped her arm. She'd forgiven me of everything I'd done. I needed to offer her the same courtesy.
“Are you sorry?” I asked quietly.
“So sorry...I'd do anything to take it back.” She wrenched her arm from my hold. “I tried to kill myself. But the police found me swallowing the pills. Had my stomach pumped before they arrested me.”
I sucked in a breath, eyeing the bunched muscles in her shoulders. I could see how much pain she was in. I'd admired her strength so much through this game, but clearly she was broken inside. She'd made mistakes that had cost people their lives. But now I had too. So how could I be angry with her?
I reached for her again and she shrank from my touch, spinning around. “I want you to survive this, Selena. You're the only one that deserves to.”
“Don't say that,” I bit back. “I'm as guilty as you are.”
“No...” She stepped forward, squeezing my arm. “You're not like us. You're a survivor, not a killer. That's why you're still here. Whereas the rest of us...” She sighed.
“There's no difference. People have died at my hand, it equates to the same thing.”
She shook her head, pressing her lips together.
“Stop it,” I demanded. “We're here, still standing. And that's all that matters now. We can go home, start fresh-”
“There's nothing for me back in England.” Cass moved away from me, heading on.
“Then why are you still walking toward the checkpoint?” My question hung in the air and she didn't answer, continuing to weave through the trees.
I huffed, heading after her. We moved on in tense silence, not even the birds daring to make a noise between us as we walked.
It was so quiet that it didn't seem natural. Fear crept up my spine as some sense warned me that we weren't alone. I twisted around, suddenly sure that we were being watched. My heart started thumping faster and my palms grew slick as I tightened my grip on my stake.
Movement caught my eye ahead of us as a V suddenly charged out of the undergrowth, a feral shriek escaping it. I froze but Cass started running, sprinting straight toward the V with a cry of her own.
She collided with the Vampire, shouting out with effort as she brought it down, sticking her stake deep into its chest. The starved V fell to the ground, but Cass didn't stop there. She started stabbing and stabbing and I stood, watching in horror as she took out her rage on the fallen V.
Cass finally stood, dripping in blood, a grimace on her face. She wiped a splash from her cheek and set her jaw. “I may not deserve to be here, and I sure as hell don't know what surviving this game means for me. But I do know I don't wanna die any more.”
I nodded, wide-eyed. “You're not going to die.”
She thrust up her chin. “Correction: we're not going to die.”
She stomped off into the woods and I hurried to follow her. Christ, Cass was formidable. Together, maybe we really did stand a chance.
We finally passed the tree line and a steep downhill descent led us toward a beach. At the edge of it was a large cabin. Smoke pumped out of a chimney, the scent of burning coal reaching to us on the wind.
“That's it,” Cass sighed, checking the map on her cuff.
It was quiet. Too quiet. The waves lapped against the shore. All we had to do was walk a hundred metres to the cabin and we'd be safe.
I moved forward but Cass caught my arm. “Wait,” she hissed, pointing past me.
My neck prickled as I followed her finger, finding a row of Vs lined up along the tree line. They were gazing at us, hungrily licking their lips, but none of them made a move.
“What are they doing?” I breathed, clutching Cass's arm as I stumbled backwards.
Before she could answer, a flash of purple shot past us as Sakura sprinted down the beach. Other girls, evidently hiding amongst the boughs, followed her lead, making a dash for it.
The Vs' ever-watching eyes made me nervous, but as they started in our direction, Cass and I followed the other girls.
I spotted Kite and Angelina stumbling over the rocks, splitting apart to make their own way to the cabin. Briony was just ahead of us and a girl I didn't know with short, strawberry blonde hair sprinted after her.
I shot a glance over my shoulder, expecting the pursuit of the Vs, but they remained sentinel, standing in rows, just watching us. As if they were waiting for-
A scream tore through the air and I flung around, trying to place it. The girl with short hair had disappeared, but I couldn't figure out where to until Briony dropped out of sight, too.
My heart plummeted and I dug my heels in, forcing myself to a halt.
Cass wheeled around. “What are you doing?” But I was already heading toward where I'd last seen Briony. The Vs were moving at last, circling around an area where the blonde girl had been running. I spurred my legs on, desperate to find her. After what I'd done to Marie, I couldn't leave her.
I reached the place where the blonde girl had disappeared and gasped, finding her in a deep pit, laid across a bed of spikes, her body torn and broken.
“No.” I backed away in horror. My head snapped up as something moved in my periphery; Briony was clambering out of a ditch several feet away. I sprang into action, running to help her.
Something clicked beneath my feet and suddenly the ground disappeared.
I acted on instinct, thinking of the spikes. Of the blonde girl's unseeing eyes, her body speared on the wooden spikes. I threw out my arms, reaching for the stony wall as it rushed past me. I managed to dig my fingers in, stopping my fall with a jerk.
Glancing down, I saw the first of the spikes just inches from my feet. I dug in my toes, desperately clawing my way upwards. The top of the pit was a few feet above me, too high to reach on my own.
Vs came into sight, leering down at me with hungry grins on their faces.
I grunted my frustration. I was too damn close to the checkpoint to go out of the game like this. I grabbed my stake and used it to heave myself up the wall.
A V flew through the air with a scream as it landed on the spikes. It hadn't been killed, but was evidently stuck on the sharp poles, unable to get free. More fell and I ducked my head as reaching fingers swept past me.
“Selena! Grab my hand!”
I reached upwards toward my unexpected saviour and Kite took hold of my fingers. More hands found me and I was heaved out of the hole, planted on my feet and forced to run again.
Kite, Cass and Sakura were my rescuers. Sakura, who had already reached the checkpoint had actually come back for me. And Kite who had despised me since day one. I had no time to think about it as we ran as a tight group toward the cabin where Briony was already darting inside.
We stumbled onto the beach, rushing through the door which was open and waiting for us.
Heat flooded over us from a nearby fire; it was like being dragged out of a horror movie and dropped into a romance. Champagne awaited us on the table beside a bowl of strawberries and cosy blankets were laid over the plush chairs. We collapsed around the room, exhausted, drained and filthy, but alive.
Varick sat in an armchair, plucking stalks from strawberries.
My mouth fell open. “Comfortable?”
Varick's mouth hooked up at the corner as he took me in. “Very.” He gestured to the hall beyond the lounge. “Wash. Sleep. Drink. Kill yourselves. Whatever you feel like.”
Cass took a purposeful step toward him, her stake raised. “How about I off you? 'Cause that's what I feel like doing right now.”
He opened his arms invitingly. “Have at it, sweetheart. I could use a laugh.”
I pressed Cass's arm down. “Come on, let's get changed.”
She glowered at Varick as we walked past him, finding seven bedrooms. Enough for each of us and more, like they knew no more than seven of us would make it here. I cursed the Helsings under my breath, picking a room at random and shedding my filthy clothes. An en-suite led to a small bathroom where I stood under the shower for an age.
When I was dressed in the warm jumpsuit that was folded at the end of my single bed, I pulled on a pair of woollen socks and headed back to the lounge, my stomach growling with hunger.
The other girls were already present, sitting around the room, some sipping on champagne.
Varick turned the projector off; it had been running highlights from today's round.
“Do you have to watch the game or do you just enjoy it?” Sakura addressed Varick with a scowl.
He was sat on the only spare sofa and no one seemed keen to join him. “Well how else would I know how many glasses of champagne to pour?”
A grumble of contempt passed round the room. Figuring there was nowhere else to sit, I joined him on the two-seater, snatching a handful of strawberries from the bowl.
“Do we get a real dinner, or is this it?” Angelina demanded, turning her nose up at the strawberries.
“Cook's not brought it yet.” Varick shrugged, eyeing me as I ate strawberry after strawberry. Cass avoided the bowl, evidently having had enough berries to last her a lifetime. I, on the other hand, was famished and wasn't about to turn down free food.
“So you don't make the meals?” I questioned, raising a brow.
A small smile pulled at his mouth. “I haven't cooked in three centuries, sweetheart. I think you'd rather eat mud.”
“How long until the next round?” Kite asked, perching on the edge of an armchair that Angelina was sat in.
“You have twenty four hours,” he replied.
“That long?” I murmured and he nodded.
“Get as much rest as you can. You're not at the finishing line yet.”
“Noted,” Cass muttered, marching from the room.
The girls slowly trickled after her, none of them seeming too keen on Varick's company. As Kite filed out, I caught her eye and mumbled, “Thank you.”
“For what?” she spat, quickening her pace as she exited the room. I frowned, having no idea why she was pretending she hadn't helped me today.
I lifted my knees to my chest, hiding my face in them, thinking of Marie. What would Briony do if she found out what I'd done?
“You did well,” Varick said quietly.
“I killed someone. I don't classify that as doing well.”
“The Helsings are responsible for this, not you. You're only trying to survive.”
“I'm sick of people saying that to me. I make the choices out there.” I pointed to the door. “Choices that are turning me into someone I never wanted to be.”
“You're still you. You're just being pushed to your limits.”
“Well I don't like my limits!” I snapped, my pulse rising. What did he care? He was a blood sucking V. This kind of stuff was a daily occurrence for him.
The room fell quiet and guilt stabbed at me for lashing out at Varick. It wasn't his fault. He was only doing what the Helsings ordered him to do.
I sighed, voicing what was at the root of my agony. “They didn't deserve to die that way,” I muttered, an ache in my heart at witnessing so many deaths.
“It's not so bad,” he said softly. “Death is silent. Death is peace.”
“Oh what do you know?” I hissed. “Your death is eternal. And you don't look much at peace to me, Varick.”
His jaw hardened as his eyes locked with mine. “Well maybe you should be grateful they aren't cursed with an eternity in hell, Selena.”
“Grateful?” I snarled. “You want me to be grateful?” I stood, my rage rising too high.
He shook his head with a weary sigh. “That's not what I meant.”
The door opened and my head whipped up. A team of people in white uniforms walked in, carrying tray after tray of food. They said nothing to me or Varick, heading straight through the cabin.
“Food.” Varick stood, leading the way to the feast they were laying out in a small dining room. Five places were set with silverware and crystal glasses. A decanter of red wine sat at the heart of it all. When the table was laid, the Helsings' staff exited without a word.
Varick fetched the other girls and left us alone to eat together.
Cass stood, taking the wine and pouring us all a glass. “Screw sobriety, girls. We all deserve a reward.”
We clinked our glasses together, but no one said anything. Everyone seemed deep in their own thoughts as they sipped moodily on her drink and dished out helpings of stew and freshly baked rolls.
Sakura sat at my side, having polished off one glass already.
The wine was dry on my tongue but warmth spread through my body as it sank into my stomach, providing me with some sorely needed peace of mind.
“How many of us do you think are going to make it over the finish line?” Kite asked casually, sipping on her wine.
“Do we have to talk about that?” Sakura muttered. “We get a few hours away from the games in here.”
“Pah,” Kite spat a laugh. “We aren't away from the games, Sakura. Giving us food, soft beds. It's just another way to screw with us.”
“Why don't we make a break for it?” Angelina hissed, leaning in closer.
“And go where?” I asked, shaking my head. “We have chips in the back of our heads.”
Angelina huffed. “I'm just making a suggestion. Why don't we cut them out?”
Briony stood. “That's not a bad idea.” She picked up a sharp knife.
Cass nodded keenly, standing too.
I folded my arms, watching this madness play out. “Come on, that won't work. You're more likely to bleed out.”
“Do it.” Kite moved the food aside and bent over the table. Briony hurried to her side and Cass held Kite's hair back. Briony felt for the bump on the back of Kite's neck, just above her spiderweb tattoo.
“This is crazy.” I stood, panic fleeing through me.
Angelina shook her head. “It's genius.”
Briony poised the blade above Kite's neck – a bread knife no less. Just as the tip pressed against skin, the door flew open.
“Out. Now,” Varick demanded, snatching the knife from Briony's hand in a blindingly fast movement.
Kite straightened, glaring at him. “Why don't you help us, Vampire? What fun is this for you?”
Varick pointed toward the door, a deadly look on his face. “Get out!”
Before I left, he caught my arm, giving me a look that said he wanted to talk to me. The other girls were already disappearing around the corner.
“Meet me outside,” he said.
“I'll wait till everyone's asleep,” I breathed, slipping away.
I didn't know why, but I wanted to spend some alone time with Varick. The other girls hated him, but I couldn't shake the feeling he was just like us. Stuck here on this island, playing games.
I lay on my bed, my heart hammering in my ears as I waited for the minutes to pass. Maybe I was crazy, but the brief moments I'd spent with Varick outside of the game gave me something to focus on other than all the death I had to face daily. Which was ironic, considering he was death reincarnated.
I managed to doze off for a while, feeling physically exhausted from the last few days. When I woke, I was certain everyone must be asleep and pulled on the spare boots that sat by the door. Creeping out of my room, I listened for any sound of the other girls, but all was quiet. I hated feeling like I was betraying Cass as I walked down the hall. She despised Varick and would judge me heavily if she knew what I was doing. But I couldn't stop myself.
I crept out into the night, heading across the pebbly shore. The moon hung low over the sea, casting silver across the calm waves. The snow had passed on, leaving the sky clear of clouds and a bitterly cold wind.
Varick was sitting on a boulder in a small cove. I glanced back at the light streaming from the cabin windows and moved on. Perhaps it was Varick's superior strength to the other Vs that made me feel safe out here. Whatever the reason, I wasn't worried about an ambush. Even though I could easily imagine Vs waiting in the trees that clung to the hill leading up from the beach.
“I wasn't sure you'd come,” he said, moving to meet me.
“I fell asleep.”
“Thought as much. You had a hard few days.”
I nodded, wrapping my arms around myself against the cold.
“Come. Let's walk,” he instructed and I followed him down the beach, moving to a more secluded area where plants protruded from the pebbles.
“Is everything alright?” I asked, sensing something off in his demeanour.
“Yes...and no.”
I waited for further explanation, but he didn't give me one.
When we reached a small inlet, he led me into a seclusion of trees. It was dark and my skin prickled all over from the cold.
“I'm in trouble, Selena,” he growled, moving toward me.
I instinctively backed up, my spine pressing against a tree trunk. “Trouble?” I questioned, my tone too high.
“One of the Helsing's knows I helped you through the third round.”
“Oh,” I breathed. “What are they going to do about it?”
Varick sighed, shifting from foot to foot, moving closer. My mouth went dry, but still I wasn't scared.
“They've asked me to undo what I did.”
Had I been so foolish to trust him? Coming out here alone in the dark, it wasn't exactly sensible of me. But what was the point in being sensible, when tomorrow a V could be feasting on my neck?
He moved closer and I knew there was no point in running. He'd outpace me in seconds. And after everything I'd been through, I wasn't going to die like a coward.
He bared his teeth, his milky fangs glistening at me in the lambent moonlight.
I fell still, my heartbeat slowing. It had only been a matter of time before I ended up here. And a small part of me was relieved. There were worse deaths than this, much worse.
I tilted my chin up, baring my throat, my rampant pulse no doubt visible to him.
“Make it quick,” I panted, the adrenaline subsiding from my veins.
I'd put up a good fight in the games. I'd never go out without one. I'd beaten a superior opponent before. But not this time.
As Varick closed in on me, I recalled the last man who had me cowering in this way, at his mercy.
My stepfather.
After everything, here I was again. Perhaps it was my fate to die this way after all.
He pulled a knife from his jacket and I shuddered. “No teeth?” I questioned.
“I'm supposed to make it look like one of the girls did it.”
I nodded, a tear leaking from my eye. I hated myself for it, but death wasn't something I embraced easily.
Varick chucked the knife and it flew out into the sea, disappearing with a splash.
“I won't do it,” he said firmly and my heartbeat slowed a fraction.
“Why not?” I gasped.
He moved closer and I wasn't sure whether to be frightened or not any more.
“I can't. Selena I-” He shook his head, moving closer still. “You've given something back to me. Something I thought I'd lost.”
“What?” I breathed as he closed the distance between us. My feelings were split down the middle. Strangely wanting him closer and equalling wanting to push him away.
“I feel hopeful again. I can't explain it...it's not just you. It's everything lately. I feel more like my old self. Who I was before I was turned. Who I want to be again.”
I nodded, trying to understand. He looked pained, his expression dark.
“We might not meet again after today,” he said in a low tone.
A weight pulled at my chest. Did he not believe I was capable of making it through the final round? “Why not?”
“I've disobeyed the Helsings...” He lifted a hand, cupping my chin and tilting it upwards. “Do you hate me like the other girls do?”
I shook my head. “Perhaps I should.”
“The fact that you don't is enough to change the whole world, Selena.”
I frowned, not understanding. But before I could question him further, he kissed me.
I was frozen in place and yet warmed to the bone. His kiss was slow and hesitant; he knew I wasn't prepared for this. But suddenly we were just two people, trying to find something to live for on this godforsaken island. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pressed flush against me, knotting his hands in my hair.
My veins were charged with energy, my thoughts scattered, leaving me abandoned to this crazy, beautiful moment. I didn't want it to end; I didn't want to deal with the realities of what this meant. His kiss became more fervent, his hands sliding down to my waist. I was certain he knew as well as I did that this kiss would be both our first and our last. Nothing could come of this. It was a brief moment of light in an eternity of darkness.
When he finally released me, I was breathless. He of course, wasn't, which simply made my cheeks scorch with embarrassment.
“Why did you do that?” I breathed, his body so close all I could do was stare into his eyes.
“I wanted to feel human again. Why did you let me?”
I considered my answer for a moment then admitted, “Same reason.”
“Hm.” His mouth pulled up at the corner as he drew away from me.
There were tiny threads forming between us, like a spider spinning our fates, entwining us with one another. I couldn't understand the pull I felt toward someone whose intentions were far from noble. And yet, if I ignored all logic and reason, all that remained was the calmness of his presence and the quiet, unwavering certainty that we were supposed to have met.
“The real world is waiting for us,” he growled.
I sighed, letting him draw me away from the tree and back toward the cabin. There was something hanging in the air, something neither of us were saying. And I was pretty sure it was goodbye.
◐☼◐
I woke early, teeming with all the things I should have said to Varick last night. Funny how I could never think of the right words in the moment. But when the time had passed, suddenly I had a hundred things to say.
I should have asked him more questions. I should have offered solutions.
I slipped out of my room, hunting for a glass of water in the small kitchen. As I searched the cupboards, I noticed all of the sharp knives had been removed. Evidently Varick didn't trust us not to start cutting the devices out of our heads. I could hardly blame the girls. It had been a reasonable enough idea if I wasn't fairly sure the Helsings would have taken that into account. I bet those things would explode the second I could touch one with a knife tip, like the ones in the Vs' heads.
I poured myself a glass of water, tipping the cool liquid down my throat and gazing out of the small window across the beach.
“Morning.”
Varick's voice made me jump and I nearly dropped the glass. I turned to him and his dark expression brightened a fraction as he met my eye.
“What's going to happen to you?” I blurted. Perhaps I could have chosen my timing better, maybe eased into this conversation a little. But I felt we were on borrowed time as it was.
Varick sighed, moving toward me. “I've lived for a very long time, Selena.”
I started shaking my head, a knot of terror tightening in my chest. I knew what he was saying and some part of me couldn't bear it. It was more than his death that angered me. It was the Helsings' absolute power on this island. Who were they to decide his fate? Or mine, or any of the other girls forced to play their game?
I moved toward him, resting a hand on his chest. He gazed down at me with uncertainty. I knew I had to explain. So I had to find the words, and fast.
“Why don't we stop playing along?” I whispered and Varick's brow lowered. “What if we refused?”
“They'd start killing you off until the rest of you continued the game.” Varick took my hand in his, squeezing softly. The action did strange things to my heart.
“You can't surrender to them,” I demanded, my pulse rising. I knew from my entire upbringing, that if you let cruel people have their way, they would continue to push boundaries. To find new ways to break you. The only way to stop them was to refuse to give in, no matter what the consequences.
Varick tilted his head to the side, looking at me like I was a riddle he needed to solve.
“Selena, I've been a part of the terrible things here. I've stood at the sidelines and done the Helsings' bidding for too many years, feeling nothing inside me but a hollow void.” He reached out, cupping my cheek and gently grazing his thumb across it. “You've reminded me of who I am, but that doesn't change what I've done.”
“We've all done terrible things,” I said, breathless as tears pooled in my eyes. Varick had become something of a guiding star to me. Maybe I was experiencing Stockholm syndrome. Maybe I'd formed this attachment to give myself some kind of relief from the game. Whatever it was, I couldn't shake it. “You can make things right again.”
Varick shook his head. “I let this happen.”
He turned away from me and I caught his arm. “Then stop letting it.”
He glanced back at me and pain lanced through his eyes. He was trapped by his captors and I knew what that felt like. I knew how lonely it was, how empty.
Cass walked through the door and I made the conscious decision not to release Varick. I wasn't going to hide my alliance with him. If I was going to ask him to stand up to the Helsings, then I had to start by standing up for my own beliefs.
Cass's eyes slid from Varick's arm to my hand. “Morning,” she said tersely.
I nodded and Varick walked away, heading out of the kitchen. I hung my head, knowing the fight Varick needed could only come from him.
“What's with you and the V?” Cass asked, making herself a cup of tea.
“Oh, lay off me, will you?” I snapped, my anger spilling over.
Cass looked affronted, pausing as she poured hot water onto a tea bag. “I just don't think you should be hanging around with it.”
“Him,” I corrected. “And if you actually took the time to talk to Varick, maybe you'd realise he's not all bad. And maybe you'd start to realise that those Vs out on the island are forced to be here as much as we are.”
“Are you actually defending them?” she asked in disbelief.
“I'm just saying. Sometimes, it doesn't do any harm to see things from both sides.”
“So what? You want us to make friends with the Vs now?”
I huffed, walking away from her, but as I stepped out of the kitchen, I realised her suggestion wasn't all that crazy. Okay, so I couldn't exactly have a rational conversation with a V whilst it was hunting me down on the island. But maybe Varick could. We all had a common enemy, after all.
I went to find him, but found the living room filling with people. Men and women in white overalls were moving through the front door, carrying large metal boxes.
“What's going on?”
None of them answered, but continued to set up whatever equipment they'd brought with them.
Varick appeared, leading the girls into the room.
“Today you'll be prepared for the final round,” he announced.
“Prepared how?” Sakura demanded, eyeing the newcomers with suspicion.
“You'll be pampered,” Varick said, not managing to hide the note of disgust in his tone.
The men and women laid out massage tables across the room, pushing the furniture aside to make room for them. One of them placed a speaker down which started playing ethereal, classical music.
I folded my arms, surveying them.
“Why?” I snapped and Varick shot me a glare.
“Just play along,” he demanded, striding from the room and locking the door.
Angelina was the first to strip out of her clothes, laying down on a table as one of the women gestured for her to do so. Slowly, one by one, all of the girls followed. Everyone but me.
Cass gave me a look that said she agreed with Varick for once. Play along.
The girls started to receive massages from the surrounding beauty crew. I resisted a moment longer before stripping off and laying face down on the final table. I was in desperate need of a massage, so I wasn't going to pass one up. And I supposed if we were going to spend the entire day here at the cabin, I might as well take the opportunity to try and relax.
When every inch of us were massaged and my body felt like jelly, the beauty therapists started waxing our legs, filing our nails, washing our hair in sweet-smelling soap. It soon became apparent that the crew were not permitted to speak to us. So the other girls and I proceeded to ignore them.
“Why do I feel like I'm being made pretty just to get torn apart by Vampires?” Sakura asked as one of the women dyed her hair, restoring it to its bright colour.
“Who cares?” Kite drawled; she was half way through a foot massage and didn't seem to have any qualms about bossing the therapists about.
“We're the final six,” Briony said in a quiet voice. “What if we've already won? What if they're getting us ready to attend some victory ball?”
I shook my head, causing the woman brushing my hair to drop her comb. “Varick said there's another round.”
“So?” Briony chipped in hopefully. “Maybe the final round is eating cake and celebrating.”
“Yeah right,” I muttered.
“Well what do you think this is all about then?” Angelina demanded. She already looked twice as radiant as she had before. Her skin was glowing with a tinted moisturiser and her eyes had been painted in golden shadows.
I considered it and could only come to one conclusion. “I think the Helsings are putting on a show for their spectators. The prettier we look, the more money they'll bet on us.”
“Why? What does being pretty have to do with it?” Angelina demanded.
I sighed, sinking back into the head massage my therapist was giving me. “They're men, Angelina. It has everything to do with it.” At least, those were certainly the type of men who'd attend a sick show like this.
“Not all men are pigs,” Sakura said quietly.
The other girls, me included, scoffed.
“Never met a good one myself,” Kite said. “Killed a lot of bad ones though.” A smug grin settled on her features and a pang of curiosity went through me. Is that what Kite had gone to prison for?
“Well I have,” Sakura said proudly. “In fact, he's waiting for me back in Finland.”
Cass rolled her eyes, but I couldn't fight my intrigue.
“You have a boyfriend?” I asked and she nodded.
“His name's Rico. We met in school.” A dreamy look filled her eyes.
“And he's never hit you?” Briony narrowed her eyes and Sakura shook her head.
“Or cheated on you?” Cass asked and Sakura declined again, a smile growing on her face.
“Well he probably will,” Kite sang. “He's probably off screwing your best friend while you're here-”
“Shut up,” Sakura growled. “He loves me. He would never hurt me.”
Silence fell over the room. I guessed I had more in common with some of the girls than I'd realised. We'd all been hurt in some way or other by men. But maybe Sakura was right, maybe there were good men left in the world.
By the time the beauty team were finished with us, everyone was practically sparkling. The effect was lost on us a little as we were helped into our ball gowns, ready for another round.
Varick returned, his gaze immediately turning to me. He stilled for a moment, then cleared his throat. “You first.” He nodded to me and I frowned with curiosity, following him out of the room.
“What's going on?” I whispered as he guided me down the hall. I caught sight of myself in a long mirror hanging on the wall and barely recognised myself. My lips were painted red, my eyes powdered with greys and blacks. My skin seemed to glow and my cheekbones were much higher than I recalled them being before.
“The Helsings like to create profiles on the last girls. To help the spectators choose who to place their final bids on.”
I nodded, my belly swimming with nerves as he led me into the kitchen. He opened the small back door that led onto the beach, and I was immediately out of my depth.
A huge green screen was erected before me and a camera crew stood before it, being bossed about by a woman in high heels – not appropriate for the pebbled beach – and blonde hair that flowed effortlessly around her in the wind.
She rushed forward when she spotted me, her bright blue eyes piercing through me. Her features were small and her mouth sticky with pink lip gloss.
“This is Dawn,” Varick introduced her. “She's a cousin of the Helsings.”
“Oh my, what wonderful work they've done on you, Selena.” She patted my cheek and I felt the sting of her patronising tone. She was perhaps in her forties but it was hard to tell through all the make-up she was wearing.
“Stand over there for your photo shoot.” She pressed me toward the green screen and I gritted my teeth, stomping toward it, with half a mind to refuse.
I stepped into place, feeling like a lemon as several cameras glared at me.
Varick leant back against the cabin wall, watching me, making me unbelievably self-conscious.
“Smile, cherry pie,” Dawn encouraged, painting a smile either side of her cheeks to try and encourage me.
I glowered at her, at the cameras, having no intention of pretending I was at all happy about being paraded like an idiot. “I haven't got much to smile about.”
“Nonsense!” She waved a hand. “You could be a winner of the V Games soon. That's no easy task.”
“Still not smiling,” I said through my teeth as camera bulbs flashed at me.
Varick caught my eye, grinning at my stubbornness and I tried to fight back the urge to return it. A tiny smile pulled at one corner of my mouth and a hundred flashes blinded me.
“Perfect,” Dawn announced with a satisfied grin. She gestured to someone beyond the green screen and a moment later a girl appeared, pushing a V forward on a restraining pole.
I backed up, glancing to Varick for reassurance. He gave me a small nod, but his eyes were dark.
Someone placed a stake in my hand and directed the V in my direction. He was skin and bones, barely human beneath his long hair and anorexic body.
“Kill it,” Dawn instructed, wafting me toward the Vampire.
I shuddered in horror, taking a step back. “No,” I demanded.
“Oh why must you be so difficult?” Dawn muttered. “It's all for show. This one's weak. It'll only take a quick stab.”
My upper lip curled back in disgust. “I'm not going to kill some chained up V. It's not a fair fight.”
Cameras were rolling now, capturing every second of my defiance.
“Do cooperate, Selena,” Dawn pleaded. “I have five more girls to get through today.”
I folded my arms as the V snapped and snarled at me from a few a feet away. “I'm not doing it.”
Dawn's light-hearted expression became cold. “If you don't kill it willingly, I will make you do so.”
I stood my ground, glaring at this vile woman who so boldly tried to control me.
I chucked the stake at my feet. “Then make me,” I snarled, my hands beginning to tremble with rage. I was done being told what to do. Forced into killing when I never had a choice in being here.
Dawn gave a brief nod to the girl holding the V at the end of the pole and, with a wide-eyed look, she released it.
The V ran at me.
I gasped, dropping to the floor, scrambling for the stake on the ground. I had no choice. It was kill or be killed again.
Before it reached me, Varick bolted into its path, snapping its neck in seconds. Bending low, he helped me to my feet, his eyes flitting between mine.
My cheeks grew hot from the intensity of his gaze and even hotter as I realised the cameras were still rolling.
“Perfect,” Dawn announced smugly.
I sensed something deadly in her tone. I felt some secret had been revealed between Varick and I. And dread slid through me as I realised the whole of the Helsing family were going to watch that footage.
Varick evidently felt as nervous as I did about it, his expression cold as he moved swiftly away from me, trying to cover his tracks. “Shoot that scene again. I'm sure Selena will comply this time.”
“No need,” Dawn said lightly.
“There is need,” Varick growled.
“Not the way I see it.” Dawn took out her lip gloss, painting the thick gloop onto her mouth. “On to the interview.”
“Interview?” I breathed, looking to Varick, but he was striding purposefully away from me, not looking back.
I pictured what they might superimpose behind me on the green screen.
My heartbeat stuttered and my legs became shaky as Dawn gestured for me to return inside.
“Not to worry, there are no cameras for this part. I'm just going to ask you a few questions.”
We sat opposite each other at the small kitchen table and Dawn took out a notepad.
“So Selena.” Dawn was suddenly all business, her pen poised above a list of questions already printed out on a sheet in front of her. “Do you have anyone waiting for you back home? A boyfriend perhaps?”
I shook my head. “Just my mother.” I shifted in my seat then added, “She's probably missing me terribly.” Perhaps I could win some sympathy points with the spectators. Though I'm not sure what good it would do me. And I'm pretty sure Dawn didn't write that part down.
She tilted her head. “And would you define yourself as heterosexual? That is, you desire men, not women?”
“What kind of question is that?” I blurted.
She wound her pen through the air, trying to encourage me to answer. “I just need a yes or no answer.”
I gaped at her, but she simply waited for my answer.
I sighed, giving in. “Yes...I'm into men.”
“And are you a virgin, Selena?”
I stood up, glaring at the woman in fury. “That's none of your business.” Why on earth was she asking me that?
She pressed her sticky lips together, eyeing me. “Just a yes or no answer will suffice.”
“You have no right to ask me that.” What kind of interview was this?
“You are being very difficult,” she sighed. “Some of the men think virgins are more desired by Vampires. Old wives tales, that's all. But it effects their betting strategies all the same.”
I gritted my teeth and spat, “Fine. Yes, I'm a virgin.”
She clucked her tongue, writing down my answer. Her interview descended into a probing questionnaire about my life, much of which I refused to answer and gave short, yes or no responses to. I didn't see what difference this would make to my survival. So what was the point? This was all about the spectators, trying to pick their winner. And I didn't want them betting on me, even though I wanted to survive. I didn't want them making money off of my misery.
When Dawn dismissed me, I gladly slipped away, returning to my room before Varick fetched one of the other girls. I felt torn apart. Like this was all some plan to rip into the last ounces of who I was and lay me bare for the Helsings. It made me hope they'd all bet on me, then I could kill myself just to spite them. But that went against my nature. Really what I wanted, was to survive the game then cut down every last one of the Helsings before sailing home to England and never looking back.
My options were limited. Like I was being squeezed through a tube of toothpaste, with only one possible way out. If I tried to leave, I'd die. If I refused to play, I'd die. The only way that equalled my survival was reaching the final checkpoint unharmed.
I screamed into my pillow – something I used to do to relieve my frustration when I heard my stepfather beating my mother. The memories fuelled me now. I'd been too young to do anything about her pain then. Now I was old enough and big enough to fight back, but my nemesis had grown too.
A knock came at my door and I looked up as Cass walked in. Blood was splattered across her arms and a dark look swam in her eyes. She didn't have to say anything, I simply lifted an arm and she joined me on the bed, hugging me close.
“I want them dead,” she breathed and I knew she meant the Helsings.
I squeezed her tighter, knowing what she had just been through. “We cross the finish line, then we find a way to kill them.”
“Promise?” she whispered.
“Promise.”
◐☼◐
I gazed at myself in the full length mirror hanging on the wall. What would my school friends think of me now? So many of them judged me when I was arrested. I supposed I couldn't blame them. The press had torn me apart, painted me as some kind of manipulative witch. It didn't matter what I said after that. Mum had told me, “People will believe what they want to believe.”
But why, after eighteen years of school and a handful of friends I'd known most of my life, did they want to believe that about me?
I laced up my boots, determination filling me. It didn't matter any more. The only way to prove who I really was, was to prove it to the whole god-damn world.
A knock came at the door and I found all five of the other girls standing there, dressed for the final round. Before I could say a word, they filed into my room, surrounding me.
“We've decided to team up,” Cass announced and my brows lifted.
“We can all win if we stick together,” Sakura said with a small smile.
Briony looked on at me hopefully.
“Are you in?” Kite demanded, folding her arms.
Angelina gazed out of the window, not seeming onboard with this idea in the slightest.
A grin broke across my features. “Of course.”
Everyone visibly relaxed at my agreement and that seemed odd to me. Why wouldn't I want to team up? Surely that would give us all a better chance at surviving?
I had no time to question it, however, as Kite led the way out of the room toward the lounge.
As usual, Varick was waiting for us before the screen. It was strange to be sat around with so few of us for his presentation.
Before he said a word, he sighed, sinking down onto the edge of an armchair. “Look, I know you all hate me.” I noted he included me in that scenario, though after last night I was fairly certain he knew that wasn't the case. “But I think this whole game is as screwed up as you do.”
“Oh no, you're not growing a conscience are you?” Kite teased, smirking.
Varick threw her a smile that made my stomach tighten. “Apparently.”
“And what are you going to do about it?” Cass demanded, narrowing her eyes at him.
“What would you like me to do? If I try to help you, we'll all die. If I try to take on the Helsings, they'll kill me, then kill all of you. So the only chance you have of walking off of this island, is surviving the game.”
A tense silence filled the room as the truth settled over us. We had to finish this round. We had no choice.
“So how can we survive today?” I asked.
Varick seemed to be avoiding my eye as he stood, gesturing to the screen. A map illuminated across it in blue tones, pinpointing us at the cabin and, just under a mile away, the checkpoint.
Varick pointed to it. “Today's round will last four hours.”
“That's it?” Brony gasped and he nodded firmly.
“You have one task.” He tapped the red dot that marked the checkpoint. “Get to this tower and reach the top of it before the timer runs out.”
“Let me guess, it won't be that easy?” Cass snipped.
Varick nodded, looking grim. “Not even a little.”
“Great,” Angelina sighed, her gaze focused on the window. I followed her line of sight toward the lapping sea. Perhaps she was trying to soak up one, final calm view before all hell broke loose.
“But if we get to the top, we can leave the island?” Sakura asked hopefully and everyone drew their attention to Varick, eager for his answer.
“Yes,” he said, lifting his chin.
“Today?” Kite asked hopefully.
Varick's expression grew sour. “Not today. But soon.”
“You swear it?” Cass snarled, thrusting out a hand to him.
Hesitantly, he took it. “I swear.”
“The word of a V's not much to go on,” Angelina muttered.
“Why would he lie?” I snapped, my neck heating up irrationally.
Angelina turned to me, raising her brows with a I-know-you-have-a-thing-for-him expression. “Give over, Selena. Has he really got into your head that much?”
“He's telling the truth,” I insisted.
“We're not leaving this island,” she muttered and I stood up.
“Then stay here and wait for the capsule to blow in your head if you really believe that.”
She pursed her lips, saying nothing.
“Are we quite done?” Varick stared me down until I dropped back into my seat, but there was a flash of admiration in his eyes too.
“So if we reach the top in time, we all get to go home?” Briony's small voice filled the room.
“Yes,” Varick said in a softer tone. “Any number of you can reach the finish line. But only the first there will be crowned the winner.”
“What difference does it make?” I asked and Varick's eyes swam with some emotion I couldn't place.
“It's just for the sake of the spectators,” he muttered.
He turned to the trolley behind him, taking our stakes and passing them out, ending the conversation. No bags. I guessed we didn't need any supplies for the sake of four hours. But it would be strange travelling without one.
When we'd pulled on our cloaks, Varick led us onto the beach where the icy air caused goosebumps to rise on my skin. As we lined up in a row, I glanced back at him. Before I could think of anything to say - a goodbye or a thank you, perhaps - he mouthed something to me that made my blood run cold.
“Don't win.”