𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 | 18+

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟕

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ARES
EMERSON
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This game was fucked. I always enjoyed it—loved it, even—when I played it with other girls and guys. The thrill of the hunt, the adrenaline of prying on my prey, knowing they were somewhere out there, hidden, waiting. But this time? This time it was different.

This time, Rose and Ada were the prey.

And I hated it.

I'd always protect Ada. Selfishly, more than any girl in my friendgroup. Even when I had the biggest cowardly crush on Rose, my priority was Ada.

I watched as the world burned around me, each flame a reflection of my chaos and destruction. I caused chaos. But I—never letting a single burn or chaos drift close to her. She stood untouched, a silhouette against the fire, I would let the fire consume everything else. I destroyed everything, but for her, I kept the darkness at arm's length. The violence was given to everyone besides her, but she was mine to protect, even if it meant being scorched by my own hell.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: wow this paragraph sent chills down my spine when i wrote it (got inspired on Pinterest) like wow I'm definitely using it for my other books!!??)

It was  fucked game.

Two girls who had no business being part of this game. Two girls I didn't want to chase through the dark. Rose could handle it—she lived for this kind of thrill. She fucking reads about it.

But Ada? Fuck. She was fragile in ways she didn't even realize. She was the last person who should be out there.

They'd gotten a two-minute head start, enough time to vanish into the thick, tangled woods behind my home. A place I knew like the back of my hand. It would be easy to find them, too easy. The thought of them stumbling around in the dark, clueless about the real rules of this game, was making my stomach twist.

"You lied to them," I said, voice low as I pulled the cold, black mask over my face. The material was tight against my skin, a symbol of the predator I was supposed to be. "You said it was like a chase. It's more than that."

Luca, already wearing his mask, turned to me with a grin. It wasn't friendly. It was the kind of smile that reminded you why he was the one to be wary of. The edge to him was palpable, something dark and hungry. "Yeah, so what? Makes it more fun if they don't know what's coming. The masks make it scarier. That's the whole point, Ares—more fear, more thrill."

I clenched my fists, trying to steady the uneasy feeling gnawing at me. "You know Ada doesn't like this shit. She'll panic."

"Then let her panic," Luca said dismissively. "Rose will love it. She likes being chased, you know that. And Ada?" He shrugged like it didn't matter. "She'll figure it out. She'll be fine. Stop acting like you're not into this. You've got the same predatory instincts. You've just been trying to hide it."

My blood turned cold.

"Come on, man," he continued, that sick grin plastered on his face. "You've been dying to let loose. Stop pretending you're the good guy here. They'll enjoy the chase in the end. It's just a game. Be the predator. They're our prey for the night, and we're gonna hunt them down. They'll like it. Trust me."

Rose might like it. She lived for attention, for the thrill. But Ada? Hell no. Ada didn't like being chased, didn't like the dark. I could already imagine the look on her face—the way her wide eyes would dart around in fear, the trembling in her small frame, her hands clutching at whatever hope she had of not being caught. I could name a thousand things about this game that would mess with her head.