Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Unable to help myself, I glanced back at the second and third targets.
No. . .
Now both of those targets were dripping red too.
No. No. No.
My stomach churned and a cold sweat broke out along my neck.
This wasn’t paint.
This wasn’t some sick illusion Leo had set up.
It looked too real.
Too much like blood.
But how can this be possible?
Song spoke. “Focus.”
Shivering, I shot the seventh target, the force of the gunshot vibrating through my arms.
So off my game, I missed.
I blinked and shot again.
The bullet didn’t even hit the target.
Alright. Stop thinking about the blood and just hit the circle. You can do it.
I only got three shots. If I couldn’t get this gold point then it didn’t matter that I had hit the earlier ones.
The game would be over.
You can do it.
I cleared my mind and aimed.
The bullet hit the mark this time, creating another jolt of vibration along my arms but the satisfaction I had felt before had faded.
The red liquid on the first three targets gnawed at my mind, distracting me.
I knew that seventh had fucked up my good time.
In seconds, I was in front of the eighth target.
Alright. Focus. You knew these were going to give you trouble.
I missed the first one.
Goddamn it. Stop fucking up!
I closed my eyes and steadied my breath.
Leo kept his voice low. “Keep your head in the game, no matter what you see.”
My bottom lip quivered. “Why is there red liquid dripping down the targets?”
“Do you have the time to hear that answer?”
“Maybe I should make the time.”
“Then, you will lose the opportunity to check on Lei and your sisters. Are they truly okay? Couldn’t a call from you be powerful for them tonight?”
My hands shook.
“Tick tock, Monique.”
I aimed at the target.
The sight blurred as tears welled in my eyes.
I fired.
The bullet hit just below the point.
Still, I watched in horror as red liquid trickled from the hole I had created.
No.
It was blood.
I was sure of it now.
I have to. . .do this. . .right? I need to call Lei. Not just for him, but. . .m-me.
I told myself that it had to be an illusion. There was no way it could be anything else.
In fact, my mind wouldn’t accept another option.
I shot again.
The bullet slammed into the target and the wood jerked violently under the impact.
Leo's voice came again, smooth as ever. “Keep it up, Monique. You're doing so well.”
His words didn't reassure me at all.
In fact, they made my unease grow stronger. There was a twisted excitement in his voice that sent a shiver down my back.
I was now pretty sure that the reasoning for why those targets were dripping red was also the third purpose of why he wanted me to play the game.
The ninth target went down easily.
At this point, I was barely aware of my own actions.
“You are still making good time.”
I shouldn’t have but I turned to face the first few targets again.
More red liquid was pooling around them, now more than could possibly be produced by a simple trick.
As the wind blew my way, the scent of iron filled the air and realization crashed over me like a cold wave.
It is blood. No, Leo. What the fuck?
I lowered the guns and just shook like a monster was racing my way.
Song got closer. “Focus.”
“W-why are they dripping like that?”
“You’ve almost won.” Song kept his voice calm. “Shoot the tenth target and you’ll get all the answers.”
Leo jumped in. “Don’t stop now, Monique. Remember Lei and your sisters.”
His words cut through my panic like a blade.
I had to finish.
I had to get that call.
Yet, the thought of what I was seeing, the blood seeping from the targets, made me want to drop the guns and run.
I was terrified of what I might have already done.
I fucking hate this.
A simple game had now turned into a horror film but what else could I have expected with Leo.
Come on. You’re almost done.
I aimed at the tenth target and pulled the trigger without thinking.
The gunshot echoed through the quiet night once more mingling with Leo's ominous laughter.
The bullet hit the point.
Song clapped.
I gazed back at the other targets.
More blood seeped from those holes like before, dark and vicious, pooling at the base of the targets like some grotesque offerings.
Now I was shaking so hard that I almost couldn’t remain standing.
My breath came in short, sharp gasps.
The weight of what I’d possibly done came crushing down on me.
Leo walked over. “You’ve won your phone call.”
I didn’t feel like I had won.
My heart hammered in my chest while my throat grew tight with fear and confusion.
The air around me shifted to thick and suffocating.
I lowered the guns, and my hands were shaking violently. “Why. . .why are the targets dripping red like that?”
Leo’s smile was slow and deliberate. “Go see.”
“I don’t want to.” I shook my head. “Just tell me.”