Chapter 3

Before consciousness slipped into darkness, I gathered that faint warmth and tucked it into the deepest part of my chest, guarding it with everything I had left.

I stayed under until muffled voices drifted to the edge of my hearing.

"Cedric's friends are here. They say they want to visit Carrick and help him shake off the bad luck."

"Shake off the bad luck? What kind of thing is that to say?" Mom's voice cut in, sharp and panicked.

"Charlotte, Carrick cannot handle any more. Do not let them in."

"They have already seen the video. It is all over the internet. There is no hiding it. Carrick is going to have to face them sooner or later."

Mom fell silent, then let out a long breath. "Maybe you are right."

I heard something inside my chest crumble to dust.

The footsteps and laughter outside the door grew closer.

"You guys bring everything? Let us see what this whole Beast Hunt felt like in person."

"Relax. Firecrackers, bottle rockets, cherry bombs. We have plenty. We are giving him the full treatment today."

I wanted to fold myself into nothing, to disappear through the floor, yet my body was dead weight. I could not so much as flutter an eyelash.

The door swung open. Dexter Langford walked in with a group of trust-fund boys behind him, carrying a bulging bag of fireworks.

"Well, well. Look who it is.

"Isn't this the Selwyn family's long-lost golden boy? What happened? You look like you crawled out of a gutter.

"Probably picked up some bad mojo out there."

Another one pulled out a firecracker with a grin that was all teeth and no humor. "Here. Let us start at the feet and blast the bad luck right out of him."

They laughed and shoved a lit firecracker under my foot.

"No..." The sound that came out of my throat was barely a breath. I tried to pull away, yet they held me down.

"Where do you think you are going? Did you not love playing the Beast? We came all this way just for you. The least you could do is get on your knees and say thank you."

Dexter lit a sparkler and jabbed the sparking end straight into the exposed skin above my bandages.

My skin sizzled where it burned.

"Ha. Get that on camera. He flinched."

"Do a louder one."

Someone lit a cherry bomb and dropped it into the collar of my hospital gown, which they had already ripped open.

The muffled blast went off against my chest and my whole body seized. They held up their phones, lenses hungry, capturing every inch of my humiliation and every tremor of pain.

"Great expression. That is pure despair right there."

"Get more. Post it online so everyone can see what a pathetic waste he is."

The shame poured over me like cold tar, sealing off every sense from the outside world. I closed my eyes and let the cutting laughter and the flash of phone screens drown me.

The hospital room door was kicked open so hard it slammed against the wall.

Mom charged in, her eyes blazing red. "Get out. Every last one of you, get out."

She took my hand, her voice cracking. "It was my fault. I did not protect you. We waited 20 years to get you back, and all we have done is let you suffer."

Dad's eyes were red too. He leaned down and touched my forehead with a rough, careful palm.

"Carrick, I swear, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it runs, I will get you better. My son is going to be healthy and whole again, the way he was before."

"There is an exclusive auction tonight at the Belvedere Club. The final lot is supposedly a rare regenerative compound called Ostevive. It is said to work wonders on severe burns and tissue damage.

"If we can win the bid, there is real hope for Carrick's face and the rest of his injuries."

Dad nodded without hesitation. "I do not care what it goes for. We are getting it. I will arrange the funds and get a team together right now. Carrick, hang on. I am bringing it back for you."