Grimm Games

Chapter 22: Spilling the Beans

The overhead lights shone like the sun during golden hour, highlighting the yellow barrels of hay that were stacked next to the towering mountains of straw. The rustling inside the loose straw made me pause, but my curiosity overpowered it.

How dangerous were those massive rats and who were responsible for summoning them?

I instinctively intertwined my fingers with Jade's as we trailed the Jeffrey brothers, maintaining a respectable distance. "Stick with me, alright?" Our eyes met, and she nodded, the once-upturned corners of her lips now downturned. "I'm not letting anyone take you from me."

She squeezed my palm twice. "They're gonna have to pry you out of my cold, dead arms for that to happen."

Millie huffed, following us a few feet behind. "They'll love to do nothing more."

I successfully kept myself from rolling my eyes or reacting to her negativity and continued to move as far away from the well of murky water as possible.

"It'll be smart to find a safe zone before that beast comes sniffing around again," Millie whispered, mindful of our surroundings.

"Safe zone?" Jade glanced over her shoulder.

I nodded. "They built small, enclosed structures to protect us from the roaming threats and they sometimes contain a few necessities."

"That's perfect!" Jade suggested, her eyes wide with hope. "That's where I can hang out until all this is over."

"Safe zones aren't always harmless, despite what they call them," I said, a note of caution in my voice.

"I'll make it work." Her self-assurance was apparent.

"Sshh." My pace slowed to a halt and I shook my head. "They could hear everything. Even when you think they're not watching or filming, they are. They're observing every move and will use anything you do or say against you. Why do you think you're here?"

"It seems like your confidence pissed someone off while we were at headquarters, especially that Mother Holle woman." Jade lifted my arm to examine the blade and cuff attached to it. "Heard a lot about an aeroblade too. Now I see why they made sure you put it to good use."

"Where'd you even get that?" Millie asked.

"During a challenge to kill the Witch." I noted the terrified look in Jade's eyes. "We succeeded."

"Whoa." Her fingertips caressed my cuffed arm, sending care, love, and maybe a bit of admiration through her touch.

"I—" Trying to allow the words off my tongue without tears ruining it, I sighed. "I could've saved that man. Instead, I just let him drown." I bowed my head, unable to lift it. "And it just proved to everyone watching that I care nothing about our community."

"That's not true." Jade gently tugged my arm to pull me a bit closer. "They set that game up for you to fail but instead you bested them. You proved that you would do whatever it takes to prevent senseless death. Our deaths."

Millie stopped beside Jade. "They killed that man. Remember that."

With her acknowledgement, I couldn't hold back the hot stream of tears that rolled over my lids. I finally looked up and locked eyes with Millie, thankful that she truly didn't blame me for the predicament we found ourselves in. "You understand why I'm here, right? I entered the Games because I love you, Millie."

It was painfully silent for a second too long.

She finally opened up. "I just wish you would've shown your love outside of the Games, sis." Her soggy shoulders rose and fell with the weight she must've been carrying for so long. "But you're so busy showing up for the credit and the cameras, that you forgot what sisterhood is really about."