Adi had read enough books to know the most common motives for murder: jealousy, love, revenge, fear.
Money.
Sierra seemed pretty hell-bent on that cash prize. But surely it was easier to win a round of the show than murder someone.
Fitzy hopped onto the stage, composed, as the director called for action. His sleeves were rolled up, the top buttons of his shirt undone, playing to the fans who cared more about his charisma than any of the Game Master’s puzzles. “It’s time to get to know this season’s roster of brainiacs!”
Fitzy approached Jarius’s team first. They chatted about the snag round—the elements in the jars, the Dmitri Mendeleev quote, the padlock numbers coming from the periodic table of elements.
That damn periodic table. Adi still couldn’t shake the feeling he was missing something.
Jarius claimed the role of team leader, and they’d indeed gone with Dread as their team name. Predictable.
Fitzy moved to the next team. Nadia was chosen as the leader. Their name: Mind Hack.
After that, a team full of people Adi hadn’t bothered to meet yet called themselves the Crown Jewels. Then there was Team Illuminati.
Finally, Fitzy approached Adi’s riser. “Our last team consists of Aditya Parvesh, Beck Matheson, the lovely Carter Kelly”—he turned to the camera—“though that’sKick It Carterto you.And for the first time inEscape Gamehistory, the return of a past contestant . . . the one, the only . . . Alicia Ange—oh!” Fitzy’s eyes widened. There was a second in which he stared, speechless, into the camera lens. “I mean, Sierra—”
“Cut!” yelled the director in their earpieces.
“I’m sorry,” Fitzy said. “It just came out. I didn’t mean . . .” He turned to Sierra with a wince. “I’m so sorry.”
“Speak her name two more times, Fitzy,” Sierra said, deadpan. “They say it’ll bring her back from beyond the grave.” She wiggled her fingers like a witch over a cauldron.
Beck edged away.
The director ordered Fitzy to start at the top with their introductions.
Sending one more uncomfortable glance at Sierra, Fitzy tried to regain his composure as the cameras started filming again. But this time, Adi didn’t hear their introductions. He stared into midair, the gears in his brain turning faster than the giant fake ones behind him.
Alicia Angelos.
Alicia Angelos.
He pictured the letters from the periodic table that had been swirling in his brain for twenty-four hours.
Li Si O Ca Ne Ag Al.
He watched the invisible letters rearrange themselves.
ALICIA ANGELOS.
“It wasn’t a word,” he whispered. “It was a name.”
Carter glanced back at him.
“So, Sierra,” said Fitzy, rocking back on his heels, “is this season about redemption for you?”
“Redemption can bite me,” said Sierra, and the vitriol in her tone shook Adi from his daze. “This season is about winning.”
“I’ve missed your spirit,” said Fitzy, seemingly genuine. “If you’re in it to win it this time, who’s the leader that’s going to take your team to the finale?”
“I am, obviously,” said Sierra.
Carter tensed, almost imperceptibly. Her mouth puckered as if she tasted something sour and, a moment later, smoothed out. So fast even the editors weren’t likely to pick up on it.
But Adi did.
