Page 78 of Shattered Souls

“I’m not sure who that is.” My voice stays strong despite the tremble in my legs.

“Hmm, but I think you’re just the woman we’re looking for. Aren’t you, Rayvn?” The leader of the group, the man with the familiar eyes, the one that killed the janitor, steps forward, matching me beat for beat as I try and inch away from them.

“Who are you? What do you want?” My back collides with the side of the Dollmaker house. I move my eyes away from the men momentarily to side step away from the building. That’s all it takes, they sprint towards me.

My body doesn’t even have time to process the danger before I turn and throw myself toward the maze. I’ve had weeks to learn the ins and outs of the hedge maze. If I want to get out of this—I have to trust the maze.

“You can’t run, Mae!” I hear the leader of the pack command his minions to split up around the maze. I’m panicking, my movements becoming sloppy as a result. I turn, certain this will lead me to the false wall, but come face to face with a dead end, and no fake door in sight.

“Fuck,” I mumble under my breath. I turn, ready to sprint once more, when I come face to face with Maverick.

“Rayvn,” He holds out a hand. “Let me get you out.” Everything in my bones tells me to run past him, to not trust a word out of his mouth. But instead, I nod and place my hand in his.

He yanks me to him. Spinning me and pinning my back to him with an arm lace around my throat.

“Got her!” His voice booms next to my ear. I scream, thrashing in his hold.

“Let me go!”

“Shut the fuck up, bitch.” He clamps his other hand over my mouth, bringing his lips too close to my face. “I need the money that your pretty little head is going to bring.”

I don’t think, I just sink my teeth into the fleshy bit on his hand, between his thumb and forefinger. Hot, thick liquid gushes into my mouth, and it takes everything in me not to spit the vile blood out.

“Fuck!” He releases me, cupping his hand to his chest. I bolt.

The maze betrays me. The different branches mix and shift into never before seen patterns. I throw myself around a corner, my feet failing to keep purchase with the snow covered earth.

“Here she is!” There’s a man in front of me, a large rifle dangling at his side.

His hand swats out for me, but I roll to dodge it. He grumbles something under his breath and slings the rifle off of his shoulder. The barrel points at my chest, and as if sensing the impending danger, a voice calls out from within the maze.

“Remember, boys,” It’s the leader’s voice. “She needs to be alive!”

“Stand up.” The man in front of me doesn’t lower the weapon. He keeps it trained between my eyes the entire time as I push to my feet.

“You’re going to walk out of this maze, and get on your knees with your hands behind your head.” I gulp and nod. Is this how my father felt as I had the gun point between his brows? Did he fear me in his last breaths as I fear the man in front of me?

“Move!” He advances, gun pressing into my forehead. I suck in a breath and with my hands raised, start walking.

I’m lost.

Turned around is an understatement. I cannot find my way out, and the man behind me is making his annoyance loud and clear.

“You know your way, you’re just being a bit—” There’s a sickening wet sound from behind me. I have to force the bile down my throat as I slowly turn, hands still raised in the air.

“Synn!” I rush over to him, ignoring the crumpled version of the man that just had a gun to my head, and throw my arms around his neck and bury my face into him.

“Are you hurt?” He pulls me back, giving my body a once over. His machete is lodged in the skull of the man that was following me, blood seeping between the blade and the man’s skull.

“No, but there’s more of them. And Maverick’s here.” He swears under his breath and reaches behind him. He produces a small handgun and extends it towards me.

“You need to get out, Rayvn. Hayze should be back any second.” I take the gun nervously, the last time I held one being the night I took my dad’s life.

“I can’t, Synn. Let me stay with you.”

“No,” He cups my cheeks, bringing his face level with mine. “You need to run, Rayvn. Run like we’re chasing you. Only this time, you make it to the exit.” He kisses me. His lips are hard and nervous against my trembling ones.

“Okay,” Get to the exit—find Hayze.