The Gender Lie (The Gender Game #3) by Bella Forrest (i have read the book a hundred times .txt) 📕

Viggo glanced back at the miles of forest between us and the building, and sighed. “It’s gone, Vi. We can’t go back for it.”

I nodded, having come to that conclusion myself. “I know,” I said. “Sorry… it just feels weird not having it.”

He nodded, his expression pensive. “Okay… We need to keep going. Time’s running out.”

Letting the egg go in my mind, I turned and we continued moving.

It was hard to gauge how long we had been traveling so far, but I knew we were running short on time—we must have passed the three-hour mark.

I could feel the seconds ticking by, each one more tense than the last. I kept a wary eye out, looking for anything unusual in the underbrush.

Which was how I noticed some rustling in the trees to the left of us that seemed to be keeping pace and then some. At first I thought we might have attracted the attention of some other predator, but through a break in the trees, I saw what clearly looked like legs and shoes. I felt a moment of alarm and had opened my mouth to warn everyone of it when it suddenly burst through the foliage just in front of Viggo and rushed right toward us.

37

Viggo

The cramp in my side had been intensifying over the last few miles and it felt like my chest was about to come apart, but I sucked it up and pressed on. I had no choice but to keep running—if it killed me, it killed me. I would be dead soon if I stopped anyway.

I had been keeping a wary eye on our surroundings, when a boy crashed through the brush, rushing toward us.

I slid to a stop and turned to face him fully, my mind instantly working to figure out how to disable him without harming him. I didn’t recognize him—he was moving too fast for me to pick out any key features or characteristics—but it didn’t matter, so long as I could get him under control.

I curled my hands up into fists and assumed a fighting stance, watching the boy as he barreled headlong toward us. I braced for impact, intent on using his momentum against him by rolling him over my back, when Tim darted between us, turning to face me.

“Don’t!” he pleaded, his eyes wide with fear.

I froze and watched as the boy behind Tim slid to a stop as well, panting hard. He leaned over and coughed, sucking in air. It was obvious he had been running for a long time in an attempt to catch up. As he straightened, I recognized him.

“Oh. Hello, Jay,” I said and he offered a wave, still wheezing. I looked at Tim. “What’s going on?”

Tim shifted nervously and looked at Violet. “Didn’t go to Ms. Dale first,” he said, addressing his sister. “Went to Jay. Asked for help.”

“So… Jay’s here to help us?” Violet asked, looking relieved.

“I didn’t want to stay with her,” Jay said from behind Tim, looking both uncomfortable and disturbed. “When they brought you upstairs, I stayed below and grabbed some things that I thought you might need.” He shrugged off the large backpack he was wearing and held it out. The bag was over-packed, and I could see the seams straining.

I accepted the bulging bag with a grateful smile. “I’m glad to see you here with us, Jay.” Jay flushed, a dark red spreading across his cheeks. I patted his back and handed the bag to Violet. “Any chance any of the other boys being with us?” I asked hopefully.

Jay’s embarrassment turned into deep sadness, and my heart ached for him. It was clear from his reaction that they had all chosen Desmond, not me, and my heart constricted again in pain thinking about the boys and how they saw me now. It made me beyond angry that they were yet again being used for someone else’s aim.

Jay had taken a step back from me, his eyes wide in alarm, and I realized that my feelings regarding the situation were currently on my face. Sighing, I squatted down, bringing myself lower than him to make him feel more secure. “I’m sorry, Jay—I’m not angry at you. I’m angry at Desmond for using the boys like this.”

Jay nodded slowly, his eyes downcast. “My mom isn’t a good person,” he whispered, and I felt my chest tighten further. No child should have to feel that way about his mother.

“Come here,” I said softly, holding an arm out to him. He stepped closer and I pulled him in for a hug. I rubbed his back as I felt him shake a little bit, tears falling from his eyes. “It’s going to be okay, Jay. I promise.” It was the only solace I could offer to the boy, but it was one I meant. I didn’t know how yet, but I was going to make it right for him. I was going to do more than that—I was going to protect him.

Violet let out a gasp and I reluctantly let go of Jay and turned toward her. Violet had been busy during my chat with Jay. All the items from the bag were laid out in an orderly fashion. Jay had done well—he had grabbed three pistols with several magazines of ammunition and two boxes of ammo. He had also grabbed five of the aerosol canisters that helped keep the vicious creatures of The Green at bay, as well as several tins of food, a few pieces of fresh fruit, two lightweight blankets, a knife, three flashlights, a compass, and three canteens.

Yet Violet’s attention was completely on the two identical silver cases sitting in front of her, gleaming in the muted light. “How did you know to grab these?” she whispered, her eyes coming up to stare at Jay.

Jay looked up at Tim, who flushed and ran a hand over his hair. “I told him—they’re important.”

She