Jacky’s POV
Trapped inside the maze, it became a game of survival-not just against the maze, but against the two girls standing beside me. Malia and Jessy. Of all people, they’d stuck me with.
We stood in silence for a beat, each of us taking stock of the others. Jessy, shuffling nervously, glancing from me to Malia and then back again, as if trying to size us up. Malia, on the other hand, looked annoyingly self-assured, as though this was some game she already knew she’d win. Her smirk-half sneer, half challenge-set my teeth on edge.
“So, what’s the plan?” I broke the silence first, forcing calm into my voice. I’d be damned if I let them see the uncertainty brewing under my skin.
Malia snorted, rolling her eyes. “Oh, now you want a plan?” she drawled. “Since when does Jacky play by anyone’s rules but her own?”
I shot her a glare. “Since when did Malia care about teamwork?” I shot back. “Or are you just here to stir trouble like you did in the ring?”
She flashed a grin, all teeth, and took a step closer. “Touchy, aren’t we? You seem a little… paranoid, Jacky. Makes you look guilty.”
“I’m not the one challenging people to fights to the death for fun,” I countered. “Why should I trust you aren’t the one who’s been picked to mess with us? Stirring trouble just seems like something the Alpha would think suits you.”
“Or maybe it’s the perfect cover for you to be the traitor,” Malia retorted, her voice mocking. “Make me look like the obvious one, while you lie in wait.”
“Oh, please,” Jessy interrupted, her voice higher-pitched than usual. She seemed jittery, her eyes darting between us like a child watching two parents argue. “You’re both insane. Everyone knows Jacky’s the one who’s likely to kill us all. I mean-she practically promised to kill me back at the ring!” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she took a small, unsteady step back from me.
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Jessy, if I was going to kill you, I’d have done it already. And maybe if you were less annoying, I wouldn’t have had to make that promise.” I muttered the last part under my breath, though it seemed to land perfectly in Jessy’s ears. Her eyes went wide, and she pressed her lips together as if holding back a scream.
“See!” Jessy squeaked. “She even admits it! If we’re going to survive this, we need to keep our eyes on her. We both know Jacky’s the traitor.”
“Right,” I said, deadpan, rolling my eyes. “Because if I were, I’d definitely admit it.”
“You would if you wanted us to trust you,” Jessy snapped. “Which, by the way, I don’t.”
I sighed. This was going to be a long night.
“Fine,” I said, crossing my arms. “How about we start by doing something actually useful-like setting up a camp?”
Malia raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. “And what, exactly, do you suggest, oh great leader?” she mocked.
I ignored her jab, keeping my tone even. “We’ll need firewood, and something to use as kindling. Jessy, you can gather small branches and leaves to start the fire. Malia and I can get the larger pieces of wood.”
Jessy looked offended, crossing her arms. “Why do I have to go alone? What if one of you is the traitor and just wants me out of the way?”
Malia rolled her eyes. “Maybe because you’re too fragile to lift anything that isn’t a twig? Or is that too complicated for you to understand?”
Jessy’s face turned red, her mouth opening and closing as she searched for a comeback. “I’m not fragile! I just-fine. But don’t blame me when I come back and you’re the ones who need help.”
With one last indignant look, Jessy stomped off into the maze to gather kindling, mumbling curses under her breath.
Malia watched her go, shaking her head. “That girl’s as useful as a wet match.”
“Yeah, well, we don’t exactly have options,” I said. I paused, searching Malia’s face for any hint of what she might be hiding. “You know, you act like this is all just a game, Malia. But let’s say you’re right. What if I am the traitor?” I took a step closer, forcing her to look me in the eyes. “What’s stopping me from taking you out right now?”
Malia’s smile didn’t waver. “Go ahead. Give it a try,” she whispered, her tone dripping with challenge. “But if you’re the traitor, you’d better hope you’re faster than me. Because I’ll make sure you don’t get the chance.”
The tension between us was a living thing, twisting tighter as we stared each other down. Neither of us moved, each of us waiting for the other to flinch first.
“Why do you think he chose you?” I asked finally, my voice low. “If you’re so sure I’m the traitor, what makes you think the Alpha trusted you to be here?”
Malia laughed-a dark, humorless sound. “Why? Because I’m the one he can count on to clean up any mess. Including you, if I have to.”
“Big talk,” I shot back, though there was a part of me that believed her. Malia was ruthless, capable of anything if it meant winning. If anyone was likely to betray her teammates, it was her.
We heard Jessy’s footsteps approaching again, snapping us out of our silent standoff. She returned, clutching a pile of dried leaves and sticks, looking from Malia to me with suspicion.
“Did I miss something?” Jessy asked, eyes narrowing.
“Just a friendly chat,” Malia replied smoothly. She picked up a few of the larger sticks Jessy had brought and started arranging them into a rough pile. “Let’s get this fire going.”
We worked in silence, each of us hyper-aware of the others’ movements. I kept a close eye on both of them, unwilling to let either out of my sight for too long. Every time Jessy looked over at me, her eyes were wide with fear. She really did believe I was the traitor, didn’t she?
As we settled around the fire, the crackling flames casting long shadows on our faces, the silence grew heavier. Jessy was fidgeting, picking at her nails, glancing between us like she was caught between two wild animals ready to pounce.
Finally, she broke the silence. “This whole thing is crazy, you know? I mean, they just… throw us in here, expecting us to kill each other? Don’t you think that’s a bit… extreme?”
“Welcome to the mate trials,” Malia said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “If you wanted a peaceful, friendly game, you’re in the wrong place.”
Jessy frowned, looking down at her hands. “It’s just… I don’t want to die.”
“Then don’t,” I said, shrugging. “Or better yet, don’t trust the wrong person.”
Malia’s gaze was fixed on me, a small smirk playing on her lips. “You’re awfully quick to give advice, Jacky. Almost as if you’re trying to keep the spotlight off yourself.”
“Or maybe I just don’t trust you not to stab me in the back the second I look away,” I retorted.
Jessy looked between us, eyes wide. “You… you both sound like you’re already planning something. What if… what if both of you are traitors?”
Malia laughed. “Please, like they’d put two traitors on the same team. That’d make this too easy.” She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “But let me tell you, Jessy… if I find out it’s you, I won’t hesitate.”
Jessy paled, swallowing hard. “It’s not… it’s not me. I swear!”
“Then prove it,” I said, my tone hard. “If neither of you is the traitor, then work with me to figure out who it really is. But if you can’t trust me, we’re never going to get out of this maze.”
They both stared at me, each one searching my face for signs of deception. Malia’s smirk faded, her expression turning cold and calculating. Jessy, meanwhile, was trembling, eyes wide with a mixture of fear and uncertainty.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. This wasn’t going to be easy, but I couldn’t let paranoia tear us apart. Not yet. The real danger was somewhere in the shadows, watching and waiting for the moment we turned on each other.
And that was the scariest part of all.