The three remaining teams are on the roof waiting. Brooke got her wish since Micah isn’t drunk, and Ivy seems steady enough.
“Where is he?” Brooke asks.
I’m wondering the same thing because it’s an hour past our arrival deadline.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Garrett says as I hear the same whirling sound of a helicopter approaching before it lands on the helipad.
Brooke yells, “Being that the hospital is abandoned, I’m pretty sure it’s here for us.”
Decider exits the aircraft and motions us over.
I don’t like this. They have a whole-ass chopper for a challenge.
We all head over and climb on board. Since choppers are usually used to haul offshore workers to rigs, that’s my presumption on where we’re going.
But right now, I can’t see anything. Outside the window, everything is black. We’ve been flying for about an hour whenlights appear in the distance. That’s exactly what we are landing on—an offshore drilling platform. The rig looks like a mini city sitting inside a dark void. But there’s no one else here. No workers or crew in sight.
“Are they going to leave us here?” Brooke asks.
If they do, we’re trapped with no way back to shore. But I’m not thinking that way until I know for certain what the challenge is. Mainly because being trapped in the middle of the Gulf is as bad as being buried alive.
Once we bail out and the chopper’s engine powers down, I have a slight sense of relief.
“Time for a swim.” Remy acts like he’s about to jump off but doesn’t.
“It’s at least a three-hundred-foot drop. The impact alone would kill your dumb ass,” Garrett shudders as he continues, “And if not, I’m sure there’re plenty of sharks waiting beneath the surface. My cousin said they drop food in the water, and it takes seconds for the marine life to consume it. Even though this rig appears abandoned, I bet they associate the structure with meals.”
“Bon appetite,” Remy laughs.
Decider states, “Trust is difficult to earn yet easily broken. If you don’t trust your partner by now, you never will. And this night will test your bond.” He points to a catwalk that extends over the water to connect to another platform. The spotlight focused on it reveals rusted holes in the metal gratings, eroded by years of salty air, sun damage, and neglect. “Both players will walk across. The invitee will instruct every step of their ally because that player must be blindfolded until you make it to the other side. Once you both reach the other platform, remove the covering and tie it to the structure then return here. We’ll depart once each team has taken a turn. And no chatter during this challenge. All focus must be on the task. The order has beenselected by the Deceiver. Luca and Ivy first, Micah and Brooke next, then Remy and Garrett last.
“Someone’s not a fan of us,” Ivy mumbles.
“First isn’t a disadvantage.” I hold out the blindfold.
She doesn’t take it as she starts towards the catwalk. Her hands clasp her forearms as she peeks over the side of the platform. I don’t. There’s no use. The water is barely visible. If we fall, we’re dead. Garrett is spot-on. No one will survive the impact alone, much less whatever is looming below the surface.
“You can trust me.” I stare into her eyes before I cover them with a blindfold. I don’t want to do this. I want to haul her away from here. Keep her safe and shielded from this. “Please listen to me. I swear I’ll get us out of this alive. Just have faith in me.”
“I don’t have a choice.” There’s more frustration in her than fear. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.
“Ivy, hear me, feel me, trust me. We’re one in this. There’s no room for mistakes or doubts.”
“Okay,” she exhales.
“One step at a time,” I reassure her as she hesitatingly places her foot on the catwalk before shifting her weight onto it. “Just like that.”
“Great.”
“There’s a gap in front of you. Hold on tight to the railings and stay on the left side.”
She does then takes another step. When I pass the same spot, I can feel the condensation on the slick railing from the heavy, humid air. The wind has picked up, the waves splashing against the legs of the rig. But the structure feels solid despite the conditions.
“There’s another opening coming up. Stay to the right and keep your footing steady and you’ll be fine. ”
“And avoid the death trap beneath us,” she utters. “I am guessing it’s more like a four- hundred-foot fall.”
Me too. “We’re not thinking about that right now.”
