Chapter 2

Edward asked, "So this is the first task? How many are there total, and when do we get out of here?"

Shadow replied, "Every game comes with three tasks. Time in the black room runs like it does out in the real world. If you don't want your actual life thrown into complete chaos, I suggest you two get moving.

"Task one: Link your fingers together and turn on the lights at the same time."

Edward's voice stayed calm as he felt his way toward me through the dark, trying to reason with me.

Edward's voice stayed calm as he felt his way toward me through the dark, trying to reason with me.

Every inch of me bristled. Who in their right mind would want to hold hands with him? Honestly, I'd rather have my fingers wrapped around his throat than laced through his.

I stayed silent, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response. It was after hours and everyone had already cleared out of the office.

Nobody would notice if I disappeared for a while. I had plenty of time to figure out if there was another way around this.

Edward picked up on my silent resistance, and his voice dropped to something cold. "Once we finish the task, I'll pay you a generous sum.

"Don't waste my time. If you keep fighting me on this, don't blame me for what happens next."

I thought back to that scrawny little kid from years ago and nearly snorted out loud.

He was threatening to get physical? Please.

Sure, he looked decent enough on TV, but I knew for a fact Edward had spent years hunched over a computer, coding around the clock. The guy had never set foot in a gym.

Underneath that tailored suit, he had to be a total string bean.

I kept ignoring him and backed up a few steps, just wanting to put some distance between us.

Without warning, he closed the gap and lunged. "Nothing personal," he said.

I didn't only talk about working out, I actually did it. The second I heard him move behind me, I sidestepped and threw a kick straight at him.

My foot landed with a satisfying thud, and the sound of him grunting in pain was pure music to my ears.

The tight space made it hard to really move, but I kept pressing the attack as best I could.

Even though I managed to land a solid kick on Edward, he caught my ankle, and before I knew what was happening, I was straddling him.

We locked eyes for what felt like forever, but then Edward suddenly tightened his grip on my ankle. A sharp jolt of pain shot through me, and my body instinctively went slack.

He seized the opening, flipping me over and pinning me flat against the floor.

His legs clamped around my waist like a vise, locking me in place, and he twisted my arms behind my back, then slid his hands up to press my palms down.

Edward let out a short, sharp breath. "You couldn't do this the easy way, could you?" His breath was hot and ragged right against my face.

I turned my head away, completely grossed out. He was way too close. Disgusting.

I had totally misjudged his physical condition, and I had no one to blame but myself. Silently, I was kicking myself and already decided I'd be adding an extra hour to my gym routine starting tomorrow.

I was not the type who couldn't take a loss. If I lost, I owed it and dealt with the consequences.

So I stopped struggling, and with all my strength, shoved my fingers between his, locking them tight.

The room flooded with light all at once, so blindingly bright I had to squeeze my eyes shut. Instinctively, I turned and pressed myself into the shadow Edward's body cast.

In the dead silence, I felt the person on top of me suddenly go rigid. His voice came out shaky, almost too sweet, like honey laced with nerves. "Jamie, is that you? It's me, Edward."

In that tiny nine-by-nine room, I slumped against the left wall and made him stay crouched in the far right corner.

I kept my eyes down, refusing to engage, but he was practically bouncing with excitement, desperate to talk to me.

"Jamie, I got back from overseas. I've been trying to catch you, but you were always tied up and I could never pin you down. Who would've thought we'd end up meeting like this?" Edward said.

His eyes were sparkling like a kid who walked into a candy store.

As a card-carrying awkward introvert, I was completely out of my depth. I gave him vague, half-hearted replies, barely even engaging.

Edward's expression flickered with something like guilt. "Jamie, it's my fault for being gone so long.

"If we'd spent more time together, you would've recognized my voice, and we wouldn't have ended up fighting like that."

I offered him a tight, polite smile, thinking to myself, 'Is he seriously calling me out right now?'

I remembered exactly how he was as a kid. No matter what competition I entered, he'd always jump in to go head to head with me, and somehow, he'd always snatch first place while I got stuck with second.

Back then, he'd flash me that same smug little innocent smile and say, "Wow, I can't believe I got first place! But honestly, Jamie, you'll always be number one to me."

No decent guy pulled stunts like that. He was such a smarmy little snake.

And the more he pulled those moves, the deeper my grudge against him grew.