Helsing
24:09
Adi’s chest tightened. After the elation of winning a snag, it was like being struck in the gut all over again.
Last place. A screwup that almost cost his team everything.
He couldn’t impress his father if they failed.
“But wait,” said Fitzy. “We need to make one correction.” He turned toward the teams, his face tight with sympathy. “Crown Jewels, you failed to guess Dr. Theery’s formula correctly, which means that while your time was faster than Team Helsing, you technically . . . did not escape.”
The scoreboard changed, crossing out the Crown Jewels’ time and replacing it with the words, bolded,DID NOT ESCAPE.
The scores rearranged, putting Helsing in fourth. The Crown Jewels looked disappointed but stoic. “Not a problem,” said their leader, Emma. “We’re warmed up now and ready for the next round. As long as it doesn’t involve chemistry.”
Fitzy chuckled. “I’ve got no idea what the Game Master’s going to throw at you next, but one thing I do know—it’s going to be a blast watching you puzzle your way through it.” He turned to the main camera. “That makes Team Dread our big winner for the snag round. For being the fastest team to escape the laboratory, you can choose which member of a competing team must complete the semifinal’s infamous dexterity challenge!”
“Damn,” muttered Sierra. “That’d be a good one to have.”
“They’d all be good to have,” said Adi.
“One is better than nothing,” said Beck. “And we didn’t come in last place.”
“On a technicality,” said both Carter and Adi in unison. They glanced at each other in surprise.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Sierra. “We don’t need the snags. We just need to be better.”
Adi smirked. “And here I was starting to think you didn’t know how to give a decent pep talk.”
13
Carter
“But I don’twantto go to a party,” said Carter, unable to fullyeliminate the whine from her voice. “Can’t we go back to the villa?”
“Hear, hear,” said Sierra, leaning against the dressing room wall. “Let’s blow this joint and go get wasted.”
Carter shot her a bewildered look. “That’s not what I said.”
“I improved upon your suggestion.”
An intern knocked at the door. “Limo’s waiting.”
“A limo!” said Beck, hopping off the counter.
Carter groaned. No one, in all the Domain posts, had ever mentioned there being a season kickoff party for the cast and crew.
