“Well,someonespiked Carter’s drink,” Beck said. “We were with her, and she definitely didn’t have any alcohol.”
Ranielle’s fury wavered. She stared at Beck, but it was more with contemplation than fury. Sierra recognized that expression. Ranielle Russell was about to turn things in her favor.
“Are you saying,” Ranielle said slowly, “that one of the other competitors tried to sabotage you?”
Beck looked alarmed. “I— No, I didn’t mean—”
“A vicious attack on an opposing team.” Ranielle practically breathed it. “A jealous rival desperate to win the cash—desperate enough to poison the fandom’s beloved Kick It Carter.”
“Beloved?” Adi said. “A second ago, you were calling her a filthy little influencer.”
“That’s show business,” Ranielle said without a hint of remorse. “Carter, clean yourself up and shoot a video explaining what happened. No—better yet, stay a mess. Do it now, while those big brown eyes are still filled with tears. Really sell how violated you feel, and make sure you finish with a statement that you’re going to win this season no matter what. Send it to me for review before you post.”
Carter looked horrified. “If my parents find out, they’ll freak.”
“As will our viewers,” said Ranielle, smirking. “What are you waiting for? Go!”
Carter pulled herself from the table and trudged back into the bedroom. Satisfied, Ranielle turned back toward the door, where Sierra was still standing.
“And you,” she said. “Keep my crew out of it.”
“I don’t take orders from you, Ranielle.”
“You do now, if you want that prize money. I can boot you from the show as quickly as I rubber-stamped your return.” Ranielle Russell stalked to the door, leaning close before whispering, “And believe me, if I’d had my way, you wouldn’t have been rubber-stamped at all.”
“Please. I’m the best thing that could have happened to you this season. Watch the viewer numbers soar when the first episode drops this weekend.”
“You are a liability and a huge pain in my neck. But Hitflix thought you’d make for great entertainment. ‘The Sister Slayer, back for redemption, or back for revenge?’ ” She rolled her eyes, like such clickbait was beneath her, even though Sierra knew she lived for precisely that sort of manufactured drama. “But I’m warning you, Sierra. You want to be in the finale? Then you’d better play the game.”
16
Adi
Adi fumbled with the combination lock. The symbols didn’t makesense. They weren’t numbers or letters, just squiggles. How was he supposed to escape the room if he couldn’t read them?
“Come on!” Beck cried on his left. “Work it out, Adi!”
“What’s taking so long?” barked Sierra. “We’d be better off without you.”
Carter, in a short dress and knee-high boots, took off her glasses and wailed.
“It would be nice if you helped,” he said through his teeth. He spun the combination lock, only to find the door was a coffin. The lid opened, and inside was a girl with golden, kinky hair and dark roots, her eyes milky white, a trickle of blood running down her nose—
BEEP BEEP BEEP
Red lights flashed. Time was up, he’d failed to escape—
BEEP BEEP BEEP
Adi’s eyes snapped open. He wasn’t in an escape room. He was in the villa.
Beck sat up in the bed across from Adi’s. “Oh god. Ash,” he muttered.“Yuck.”
“Ash?” asked Adi.
“Nothing. What time is it?”
Adi’s phone said four a.m.
