The Recall Trials Chapter 33: Heat in the Wrong Hands

A few contestants drifted away in silence, slipping into the restrooms or disappearing into the locker room. Maybe they needed to rinse the dried blood from their skin. Or maybe they were just trying to scrub the nightmare out of their heads.

I think I saw Zaara’s silhouette disappear behind one of the curtain flaps, but everything was foggy....like I was watching the world through frosted glass.

I sat down on the edge of my bunk, hunched forward, hands hanging between my knees. My body felt heavy. My mind even heavier. I couldn’t think, couldn’t move, couldn’t process what we’d just lived through. I stared at the floor like it might open up and swallow whole, and I wouldn’t have minded if it did.

Then, suddenly soone touched .

I felt it, cold hands on my arm.

The contact sent a jolt through my body like I’d been unplugged from reality and suddenly slamd back in. For a second, I didn’t know how to react. My brain short-circuited. It was the first real human touch I’d felt in hours, and it startled .

"Nomi?"

She gave a small, relieved smile. "Vincent, I was scared...I’m just... I’m really glad you made it."

Before I could say anything, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around .

I stood there frozen.

Her head pressed softly against my chest. I didn’t hug back. I couldn’t. My arms hovered for a second, then I gently peeled her off , keeping my expression blank.

"I’m glad you also made it too," I said quietly.

She smiled again, but this ti... there was sothing behind it. Sothing more.

"Honestly," she whispered, "even if I died right now... I think I’d go happy."

That made turn.

"What? Why would you say sothing like that?"

She blinked her eyes several tis and looked up at , searching my face like she was looking for confirmation. "Because of last night. What we shared. The way you opened up to . You made feel safe, Vincent... in the middle of all this madness."

I stared, trying to make sense of what I was hearing. My chest tightened.

She continued. "I thought maybe you had sothing with Zaara. I really did. But then... you kissed . You told things that felt real. And I haven’t stopped thinking about it since."

My stomach dropped.

Kissed her?

What the hell...?

My brain started playing back everything from last night. But it was all so foggy...had I really kissed her? Had I really said those things?

I couldn’t even speak.

And her voice just kept echoing in my head.

You kissed , Vincent.

You said it felt real.

You made feel safe.

My heart was pounding now....but not for the reason it should’ve been.

She spoke fast, like the words had been locked inside her too long and now they were spilling out without a filter.

"Sorry it’s coming out like this," she said, "but I have to say it now, because I don’t know if we’ll even make it after the next trial."

Her breath brushed my cheek as she leaned in, and whispered.

"I really like you, Vincent," she murmured. "And I an it...I’m ready to do whatever you want."

"I’d make you feel good. I’ll make you forget everything, this nightmare. Trust .... I have what you need, and I know how to use it. Just give the chance.."

She bit her bottom lip slowly.

I froze.

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know what I was feeling.

"At least now you know," she added. "Even if one of us doesn’t make it... at least I said it."

My mouth opened, but no words ca out. My brain felt scrambled....like it couldn’t process what just happened.

She sat there, staring at , waiting for a response. Waiting for a move.

With that, her fingers moved to the zipper of her jumpsuit. She slowly pulled it down, just enough to reveal the soft curve of her cleavage beneath the grey fabric.

I instinctively turned to glance around the room. It was dimly lit. Most of the others were on their bunks, probably asleep.

My heart pounded.

Then she moved in....way too close. Her hand slipped between my thighs, fingers trailing down until they closed around my crotch.

My whole body tensed.

I’m not gonna lie...that mont, I forgot how to breathe.

I jerked back so fast I nearly fell over the edge of the tal bunk behind . "What the hell, Nomi!" I snapped. "Get a hold of yourself!"

She just tilted her head and gave this smug little smirk... This was a ga she was playing...and she thought she was winning

I caught her wrist before she could do it again...before her fingers wandered any further.

Leaning in, I whispered, "You don’t have to try so hard. It’s never going to turn on."

My words ca out colder than I expected. But I ant every single one of them. Her smirk faltered for a second, but I didn’t give her a chance to say a word.

I turned and walked straight out of the room, my heart was racing. My skin felt hot, like her touch had left sothing behind I couldn’t scrub off. The hallway outside was dim, lit only by pale, bluish lights sunk into the ceiling..

I just needed to breathe. To get my head right.

I rounded the corner toward the restrooms, and nearly collided with soone.

Zaara.

She instinctively stepped back.

She blinked in surprise, steadying herself with a hand against the wall. Her eyes scanned instantly taking in everything

"Vincent... are you okay?" she asked cautiously. "You’re sweating."

I wiped the back of my hand across my forehead, only now realizing how damp my skin had gotten.

She tilted her head, staring into my eyes. "You look like you’ve seen a ghost.

"I..." I started, then stopped.

Zaara stepped closer, placing her hand on my forehead. "What happened? Are you okay?"