Pawn by Aimée Carter Page B

resisted the urge to squeeze my eyes shut, and instead I watched as he steered us out of the building, past the clearing, and into the forest.
    The faster we went, the higher the platform floated, giving me a view of the surrounding forest. We had plenty of run-down parks in the Heights, but they were nothing like this. Thick with autumn foliage, the trees were colorful and the moss on the ground was the most vivid green I’d ever seen. The air here was cleaner, too, and everything seemed brighter.
    The driver weaved between the trees expertly, and the bitter wind made me grateful Celia had bundled me up. Once I was positive I wasn’t going to fall off or lose my balance, I loosened my grip on the railing. I could see why Daxton enjoyed it so much. Besides the chill, it was almost fun.
    After nearly fifteen minutes, we reached a massive chain-link fence guarded by dozens of Shields with guns that looked even more deadly than the one Daxton held. The gate opened for us, and I frowned.
    “To sort the game I requested,” said Daxton, answering my unspoken question. “Wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt, would we?”
    He flashed me a dazzling smile, and I looked away, keeping my eyes peeled for any signs of movement on the ground.
    A minute later, Daxton raised his rifle and aimed. As I craned my neck to see what it was, he pulled the trigger, and the sound was deafening. I clamped my hands over my ears, but the noise didn’t seem to bother Daxton. Cursing to himself, he lowered his rifle and instructed the driver to slow down.
    Shortly after, he raised his rifle again, and this time I was ready. I covered my ears as something pale flashed in the distance. A rabbit, maybe, or a light-colored deer. I couldn’t see well enough to be sure.
    “You should watch,” said Daxton, his eyes shining. “You’ll like this.”
    I obediently leaned against the rail to get a better look. He held his gun at the ready, his finger on the trigger as he waited, but nothing appeared.
    “What—” I said, but Daxton shook his head, and I fell silent. We’d all but stopped now, and the hum of the platform was barely audible. I noticed something out of the corner of my eye, but by the time I turned my head, it was gone.
    “Aha,” said Daxton. “There!”
    The driver pulled the platform around, and finally I saw what had caused the flash of something pale.
    Crouched in the bushes, her face dirty and her clothes torn, was a woman.
    I blinked. Was that—
    It couldn’t be.
    “Nina?”
    Without thinking, I sprang forward. I was halfway over the railing when Daxton grabbed my wrist and pulled me back onto the platform. “Don’t move.”
    I struggled against his bruising grip, and when he let go, cold metal bit into my skin. He’d handcuffed me to the railing.
    “Nina!” I shouted, yanking against the chain. “Over here!”
    Instead of running toward us, she froze in fear, her eyes wide as she stared at us. As she stared at me.
    “Please don’t,” she cried as tears streamed down her face. “I’ll do anything.”
    For a moment our eyes locked, and all the air left my lungs. Desperation and fear were written all over her face, and she clung to the tree beside her as if it would protect her.
    I didn’t understand. Why wasn’t she coming toward us?
    “Lila,” she choked. “Please.”
    “Nina,” I said, stretching my free hand out toward her. “It’s safe up here, come on—”
    “Keep watching, Lila,” said Daxton as he aimed. “I want you to remember this moment.”
    “But—”
    And then it dawned on me.
    I launched myself toward Daxton, but the cuff bit into my skin and nearly wrenched my shoulder out of place. “Stop!” I cried. “She’s—”
    Bang.
    The tree behind her splattered red with blood, and Nina crumpled to the ground.
    She was dead.
    “Got it,” he said, smirking as he started to reload. The world spun around me, and I leaned over the railing and retched.
    “Welcome,” said Daxton, “to