Sierra didn’t bother to hide an exaggerated eye roll, knowing it would make it onto the aired footage.
“If Madame Clara Voyance were here,” Fitzy continued, growing serious, “she’d be telling us that the fate of one of these teams is about to be changed forever. Tonight, one team will be eliminated.”
“A real shame. I’ve been genuinely impressed by the skills and strategies put forward by our teams this season. I would love to see them all go through to the next round.”
“Me too. But that’s not how the show works.” Fitzy turned toward the teams, poised on their risers. “Leaders, come forward, please.”
Sierra sauntered between Beck and Carter, moving to the front of the stage with the four other leaders of her rival teams.
“How are we feeling?” Fitzy asked them.
Jarius crossed his arms. “Ready to seal our victory. Let’s get on with it!”
“The swagger!” said Fitzy.
“I said we were here to win, and that hasn’t changed. We’re taking this all the way to the finale.”
Sierra barely registered his peacock posing. There was so much riding on this moment. She’d known it would be intense—she recalled this feeling well—but the weight of possible failure was like a sword dangling over her head. She couldn’t leave. She hadn’t managed to get to the terrace yet. She had to find whatever her sister had left for her.
But she kept her expression neutral—callous, even, hiding the storm of emotions inside.
The music swelled to a crescendo, then stopped. The screen on the wall flashed the name of the fastest team.
“Well, Jarius,” said Fitzy, “it’s no surprise you’re confident, because Team Dread came in first, at twenty-four minutes and thirty-seven seconds!”
Jarius pumped a fist in the air as his team whooped from their riser.
Sierra wanted to hit something. She wished the rest of her team was up here, standing by her side.
Which was unexpected. Nothing like nearly dying of hypothermia to bring people closer together.
Fitzy turned to the remaining four leaders. “In second place, finishing at twenty-five minutes and eleven seconds, is . . .”
An agonizing pause.
“Team Mind Hack!”
Nadia gave a satisfied sigh and beamed at her teammates.
“Third place, at twenty-six minutes, fourteen seconds, is . . .”
Another brutal pause.
“Team Crown Jewels!”
Emma squealed and jumped up and down.
Sierra’s teeth ground.Crap, crap, crap.
“Which means,” Fitzy continued, “Ollie, Sierra—one of you is going to have to lead your team right on home.” His gaze darted past Sierra, and she scowled, certain he was looking at Carter. He needed to find someone else to feed his ego. “Team Helsing, you completed the escape room in twenty-eight minutes, two seconds.”
Louis whistled. Almost two full minutes behind third place. That did not bode well. This couldn’t be happening.
“While the Illuminati,” Fitzy said, turning his attention to Ollie, “came in at . . .”
Pause.
“Twenty-eight minutes, thirty seconds.” His voice lifted triumphantly. “Which means Team Helsing still has their name on the board!”
