Unwritten Rules (Rules 1)

We’re now in the reception room, both tied to chairs with our hands behind our back. Of course, they made sure to place Haze’s chair and mine in opposite directions so that we can’t see each other’s faces or do anything that would allow us to find comfort in one another.

Finding out that Blake was a traitor felt like getting my heart ripped out of my chest at first, but then, the answers to every question I ever asked myself about him came to me. Things started to add up and make sense. Like the first time a gang tried to kill me at the party and Blake mysteriously disappeared without an explanation. He wanted me to die. Or the time he busted me for spending time with Haze and I just happened to receive a message from the unknown number at the exact same time. It was him all along. Working on both sides.

I guess I trusted him to the point of overlooking these gigantic red flags. Shame on me for believing in him.

Tanner’s guys went out of the room several minutes ago to make some calls. Something about needing backup in case we pull a stunt like that again and actually succeed.

“Can you untie yourself like you did earlier?” I ask.

“I wish. They learned their lesson. I don’t know how to get out of handcuffs.”

I sigh, throwing my head back. “Awesome.”

“We need to get to the microphone and turn it on.”

I look to my left to see Haze’s jacket on a table a couple of feet away. I can’t even begin to imagine how many people trespass here. Must be why Tanner was so worried about the noise. The neighbors probably have 911 on speed dial.

“From there, all we have to do is hope the connection isn’t broken and tell the East Side where we are.”

“How’d you even know we were in the hotel, by the way?”

“I came here as a kid before it closed. It used to look good, believe it or not.”

The ripped curtains, stained carpet, multiple cigarettes butts, and empty beer bottles scattered all over the floors make it near impossible to imagine. I’m sure it was marvelous once upon a time, but now… it’s the definition of a dump.

“Bring your chair closer,” he says.

I do as I’m told, desperately trying to move the piece of furniture without falling backward.

“I can reach you. Don’t move.” I feel his fingers grazing mine as he works his magic behind me.

A couple of seconds is all he needs.

“It’s done. Go!”

The searing pain of the ropes on my wrists fades away, and I know that if we ever get out of here, I’ll have to ask him to show me how he does it. Realizing there’s just one slight problem, I look down to my feet that are still tied together.

This is great.

Jumping like a rabbit it is.

I can hear Haze hold back a chuckle when I begin the most ridiculous “walk” of my life toward the jacket on the table.

“Turn it on.”

“How?” I ask, examining the tiny microphone that fits in the palm of my hand carefully. It’s no wonder that Tanner’s guys didn’t find it.

“The switch’s on the side. It’s easy.”

When I see a gleaming green light blinking, any trace of shame I might’ve felt when I was leaping ridiculously vanishes.

&nbsp

; It was worth it.

“We have no confirmation that the connection is strong enough. They might not hear us, but we have to try.”

“Kendrick, it’s me, Winter. I’m alive and with Haze in the abandoned hotel on Route 9. Tanner did it and he’s got backup. A lot of backup. Including Blake—yes, he’s a traitor. I wish I didn’t have to tell you like this. Bring as many guys from the East Side as you can.” I repeat the message as many times as possible in case they didn’t catch it.