Let the Games Begin // Dodge Mason

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ Chapter Twenty-two ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

     I was sitting on Natalie's bed; this is our first time hanging out since I found out that she ratted Dodge and me out to the judges- also the first time hanging out since I found out that she's a judge.

     Heather ran up the stairs and into Natalie's room, obviously panicked.

     "Ray's going to throw the game tomorrow." She told us.

     Natalie quickly shut her bedroom door behind Heather, not wanting anyone to overhear us.

     "What?" She asked.

     "He said that what happened to Luke is a warning and he doesn't want anyone else getting hurt." heather explained.

     "Okay, that means Cortez will do anything to make sure his bets are paid off." Natalie nodded.

     "But without proof..."

     "We have proof." Heather interrupted.

     "We have the betting slips,"

     "And we know he lied to Dodge." I added.

     The past couple days I've learned that Natalie and Heather have known about all of this way longer than me and just never cared to inform me. 

     "he'll just say we're lying, that the betting slip was fake." Natalie shook her head. 

     "So, let's talk to your dad," Heather shrugged.

    "That's my dad's word against the sheriffs, I don't like that." 

     "So, we just let him win?" Heather was obviously growing more anxious by the second.

     "No Heather, we shouldn't just let him win, we have to." 

     "He outplayed us." Natalie was at a crossroads.

     "That's what happens when you get to write the rules."

     "Thanks for coming over so quick." Dayna said as she led me back to Dodge's bedroom.

     "His phone kept going off in his bedroom, and I thought it was weird that he left it behind. And then I... I saw the rope." She explained as we entered his room.

     His phone was laying on his bed, next to the bull rope. 

     "It was our dad's favorite bull rope... I wanted to burn it." You could tell how distraught she was from her voice.

     "Dodge told me about him." I nodded, walking over to the bed.

     "Dodge was the one who found him, you know. After he killed himself." Dayna's voice shook.

     "This is a message." 

     What's he trying to say?" My voice was just above a whisper, but I just Dayna could still hear me.

     "Dodge said he was going to meet up with Ray tonight to figure things out. He won't let Cortez win, but... I'm worried he's planning something awful." She held back tears.

     "Lil, are you at Joust?" Heather asked me over the phone.

      "No, I'm actually at Ray's." I sighed. 

     "What? Why?" 

     "I'm looking for Dodge. I was worried about him." I told her.

     "Where's Dodge?"