Page 28 of The Wild Zone

Silena nodded. “So far, he’s almost untouchable. Incredible coordination. Makes me wonder how he got so beat up last night, coming back to the cabin all covered in bloody scratches and mud.”

My stomach dropped when I realized what was happening.

She was trying to press me for information.

My smile thinned out. “Mm-hmm. I don’t know how he got scratched up,” I said, which was true.

Silena cocked her head. “Really? Because I was told you all were together when the harpies caught you. Seems like you would have seen what happened.”

I laughed nervously. I glanced around for something to draw Silena’s attention away from me—like a monster, or a camper on fire. Then I noticed Harper had come to a dead stop in front of the final hurdle in the obstacle course—a slimy drainage pipe he’d have to crawl through to reach the finish line. He stood frozen, staring at the tunnel entrance.

“What is he doing?” I squinted at him.

Silena frowned. “Go on, Harper! You’re almost home!”

Harper laced his hands behind his head, breathing deep like he was trying to steel his nerves. After chasms, barbed wire, and Li’l Tartarus, the drainage pipe looked like a walk in the park to me. I wondered if Harper was worried about getting slimy, but being dipped in mud last night hadn’t seemed to bother him.

Silena shook her head, clearly mystified. “Excuse me.” She hurried to the edge of the obstacle course to give Harper a pep talk.

I should have been relieved that her focus was no longer on me. I should’ve fled the scene as fast as possible. Instead, I was transfixed by whatever was happening with Harper.

His cabinmates started to catch up. They passed him like he was just another obstacle, dove headlong into the tunnel, and belly-crawled to the other side, crossing the finish line.

Harper continued to eye the drainpipe like it was his worst enemy.

“Harper!” Silena called. “You’ve got less than a minute to beat the record.”

“Oh—I…” Harper gestured vaguely in front of him. “I’m pretty sure everyone else already beat me.”

Silena tapped her stopwatch. “No, this time I’m talking about the record for the slowest time. Let’s go!”

Harper’s expression reminded me of a cornered animal’s. Finally, he leaped on top of the drainpipe and ran across it to the finish line.

Some of his cabinmates laughed. Others teased him and booed.

Silena looked like she wanted to pull her hair out, except that would’ve ruined her perfect butterfly cut. “You have to go through for it to count!”

“I…uh…wanted to think outside the box,” Harper offered.

If he was trying to charmspeak, it didn’t seem to work on anyone—not even me.

“Next time, try thinking inside the tunnel!” Silena blew her gold whistle. “Okay, everybody, reset. One more time!”

While the Aphrodite kids groaned and complained, I continued on my way, but I was still wondering what had happened to Harper. Why had that drainpipe challenge shaken him so badly?

The obstacle course ended a few hundred meters before the archery range—which would have added quite a few more interesting obstacles, per a sign that said warning: arrows fly everywhere.

Zuri was lined up with several of her cabinmates, firing at targets across a field. Except she was bent over backward, shooting upside down. Despite the odd angle, Zuri nailed her shot—a perfect bull’s-eye—and the rest of the campers applauded.

“Do another one!” said a blond boy, jumping up and down with excitement.

Zuri rolled her eyes. “Will, trick shots are just for show. They won’t help you in a battle.”

“Pleeeease?”

“Hmph.” Zuri scowled, but I got the sense she couldn’t say no to her younger cabinmate. She lay on her back in the grass, again looking at the target upside down, and nocked another arrow. This time she drew the bow with her feet.

I’d bet Mom would adopt her in a heartbeat. Finally, Olivia would have a sibling who could keep up with her in trophies and medals.