Adi huffed a breath through his nose.
“At least this time we’ve called it tit for tat,” said Sierra. “We’re using our snag againstthemthis round. Jarius and Delphi will be competing in handcuffs.” She looked into the camera. “You’re welcome.”
“Oof, that’s gonna be rough. Maybe they deserve it after keeping youtied upall season.” Fitzy winked at the camera. “But that’s how the game is played. Today, Team Dread gets to choose your challenger.” An envelope was handed to him by one of the set assistants. He opened it, reading slowly to keep them in suspense. “Unfortunately, they have not gone with Beck.” Fitzy gestured at Carter with the corner of the envelope. “Carter Kelly, they’ve chosen you!”
Horror curled around Carter’s spine. She was the girl who was all elbows and knees, who had the upper body strength of a ramen noodle.
She tried to think back to the dexterity challenges from past seasons, but in that moment, all she could remember was Alicia Angelos in a helmet and protective gear racing through an obstacle course.
A hand on her shoulder gently shook her from her trance.
“It’s okay,” whispered Beck. “You’ve got this.”
She definitely did not have this. This was a disaster.
“Carter,” said Sierra. “Relax. We don’t even know what the challenge is yet. It could be anything.”
Memories of the other seasons trickled through Carter’s fog of panic. The episode where competitors had to sneak through a maze of lasers like superspies. The one where they had to mimic breakdance maneuvers. The one where they had to build a tower out of giant wooden blocks.
She wasn’t sure about breakdancing or contorting her body around lasers, but she could play Jenga.
Maybe this would be okay.
“Let’s find out about the room you’re about to enter,” said Fitzy. “Years ago, the carnival was a favorite family destination.”
Carter glanced down at her striped vest.Ah, they were carnies!
Fitzy continued, “But when the town fell on hard times and tourists stopped coming, the carnival had to shut its gates. Decades passed, with the abandoned rides and tents becoming a haven for crime and vandalism. Now rumors have begun to circulate that one member of the carnival family, a mischievous clown, never left at all. In fact, they say the fun house is possessed by the clown’s spirit, and while many curious souls have dared to enter the fun house . . . none have ever returned. You, Team Helsing, represent a new carnival empire that wants to take over the old grounds and restore them to their former glory. But before you can do that, you must break the clown’s curse by escaping the fun house . . . if you dare.”
Fitzy punctuated this last sentence with an over-the-top evil laugh. Despite Carter’s mounting anxiety, she found it adorable and hilarious and why couldn’t she stop staring at his mouth?
“Carter, as the starting challenger,” said Fitzy, “come stand by me for today’s clue.”
Beck gave her arm a squeeze as she joined Fitzy in front of the cameras.
“Unfortunately, Louis—” said Fitzy, but then he paused, his breath catching. It was like watching the facade ripple away. Gone was the lively, untouchable show host, replaced by . . . a guy. Just a guy. He adjusted his stance, blinking through shining eyes.
“Get it together, Fitzy,” the director barked in their earpieces.
“Right. Yep. Hang on.” Fitzy cleared his throat, still shuffling.
Carter’s hand itched to reach for him. There had been countless interviews in which Fitzy had called Louis a father figure. They’d been so close. Ever since finding Alicia’s note and learning that the Game Master wasn’t the stand-up guy she’d imagined him to be, Carter had seethed with anger, as though his misdeeds were a personal betrayal. And maybe they were, given her spiked drink. She’d hardly mourned his death at all. But Fitzy didn’t know any of that. To him, a dear friend and mentor was gone.
“Let me try that again.” Fitzy drew a breath and arranged his features into a sad smile. He turned back to Carter. “Unfortunately, I’ll have to be the one giving today’s clue, in honor of our genius Game Master. Carter, are you ready?”
“I’m ready, Fitzy.”
“Right. Your clue is: It’s all fun and games at the carnival, so don’t be afraid. This game should be easy as pie.” He paused, then laughed. “What does that mean? I have no idea! I’m just the host. Now then, let’s put on those blindfolds!”
“Wait . . . that’s it?” said Carter, sure she’d missed something. “That was the clue?”
Fun and games. Easy as pie.
Oh god—what if the challenge was a pie-eating contest? She’d become a meme for sure!
Mortified, Carter put on her blindfold and let herself be led into the next studio, taking comfort in the sounds of her teammates’ footsteps around her, at least until they vanished into the distance. She’d have to do this part alone.
She tried to shut down her niggling doubts, but they invaded her mind all the same. She was going to fail. They were going to lose in the semifinals and it would be her fault.
