Transcendent by Laren Ruby

Author:Laren Ruby [Ruby, Laren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Virgo Rising Publishing
Published: 2021-10-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“That last column on the scoreboard signifies how much money your killer will get, or—if you somehow manage to defeat everyone who comes at you—how much money you walk away with.” Sergeant Krim’s eyes are cold. He needs to maintain some kind of distance, even though I know he’s determined to see each of us succeed.

But he’s not explaining it clearly enough, I’m afraid.

We’re all gathered in the Purple section of the dormitory after lights out, Blue Bloods perched beside Purples on their cots, leaning against the walls between the beds, or sitting cross-legged on the floor. Krim is leaning up against the windowsill, arms folded across his chest, trying to offer us final words of advice for tomorrow.

I stand up from my bed and move into the narrow aisle between the rows of cots.

No one has been left out of this meeting, not even the four Purples who have proved untrustworthy, eager to toe the line and play the game as the original instigators intended. Sergeant Krim didn’t like it, but I was adamant.

“What the Sergeant means is that whoever kills me,” I look around at everyone, “will walk away with over a million and a half. Now, you saw how I performed today. Do any of you think you can take me down?” The dropped eyes tell me all I need to know about their belief in their prospects. They know they can’t take me, and probably none of the adults can, either. “If today had been the real thing, I would be as rich as Prince Hern right now.” I glance over at Sergeant Krim again. He knows what I’m getting at, although none of my fellow Sixteens ever will. “Not only would I have that million and a half for surviving the Hunt. I would also have all of the money for defeating each of you. That’s what I want you to focus on, those people betting on us today.”

Krim’s eyes narrow. I haven’t had a chance to tell him about my plan before. He probably had his suspicions, but he’s about to find out just how devious I can be.

“Everyone who was in the stadium today thinks that I am the one to beat. To kill. I made sure they’d all be coming after me. Or most of them, anyway. But if we work together, we can all survive.”

River has been sitting on the farthest bed from the door, near Krim, his head sunken into his chest. He’s exhausted. But now he raises his head, shaking the shaggy hair back out of his eyes, and stares at me in shock. “So that’s why you were so…so…”

“Indomitable is the word you’re looking for, River,” the sarge says. “I was wondering.” He steps away from the window and stares directly at me. “What is your plan, Corporal Kairyn?”

Corporal Kairyn. I’ve gained in rank, even if it’s not official.

I look at the four Purples who haven’t been brought over to our side until now, knowing the others will be ready to follow my lead.

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