Chapter 31

“Remind me again how this is supposed to be fun?” Allie gripped her seat as the helicopter lurched and she was suddenly looking down into the choppy water below. “Enough with the tricks, Jin! Fly this thing straight!”

“Buck up, red.” Liam stood to address his team. As captain of the red team, he would lead Jin, Daniel, Imogen, Darius, Quinn, Sasha, Allie, and Aidan. Ming Lao would lead the opposing blue team, and Gregg was head of the judges.

Allie contemplated jumping from the helicopter and taking her chances with the frigid lake below, but she was pretty sure they’d just fish her out, dry her off, and put her back in the game. She was just going to have to suck it up.

How bad could it really be?

When they landed on the small island, she couldn’t help but notice how much it had changed since the last time they were there. It was almost unrecognizable, more like a jungle than a forest.

“Hélène, you’ve been busy.” Gregg admired the new landscaping.

“Yeah, awesome job, Sis, but let’s get this thing started already,” Quinn said eagerly.

I’m so not ready for this! Allie was nearly frantic when the judges piled into their jeeps and Gregg turned to address the group. “On Chloe’s count, the game will begin. Follow your respective paths to find your first clue. Play smart and have fun!”

“All right, guys, let’s do this!” Chloe sounded her whistle, and everyone surged forward. Allie shuffled unsteadily beside Liam.

“There!” Sasha pointed down the narrow path. A large frozen pool was just barely visible with their first clue trapped inside.

“Can you manage it?” Allie asked. The others were already circling the pool, chattering away with different ideas.

“Sure, if I had a few hours and a pizza.” Aidan rolled up his sleeves to give it a shot.

He carefully placed his hands on the ice and tiny beads of water puddled on the surface.

“This could take all day,” Quinn said impatiently.

“Give him some space,” Allie snapped. “Let him concentrate.”

Aidan pushed himself too hard, the color draining from his face. He was demanding far too much of his gift.

She placed her hands at his back, and he tensed, resisting her influence.

“Let me help you.” She gently massaged his shoulders until he relaxed, finally allowing her to revitalize him with her peculiar gift.

“Is she helping him?” Imogen gasped when the ice began to melt faster.

“She’s lending him strength,” Daniel said proudly.

“They’re so young and so very extraordinary already,” she whispered in awe.

They worked together silently until Aidan managed to reach the large wooden block.

“What is it?” Allie asked.

“No idea.”

“Is it Norse?” she asked Liam.

“Yes, but it’s a dead dialect. My mother spoke it when I was very young.” He paced as he puzzled over the translation.

Finally, he gathered everyone around. “These are the rules of the game, people! It’s simple; we need to capture the majority of seven flags. Each side will have an opportunity to earn two flags, but we will be competing against blue for the remaining three later in the game. Our first challenge is up ahead, which I’m certain will be an ambush.” He grinned in anticipation. “I’m guessing we’ll earn our first flag when we’ve beaten the judges.”

Allie’s panic surged to new heights. She carefully stuck to Liam’s side while Imogen and Darius moved ahead, taking point.

“Stop freaking, little one. I got your back. But you might want to draw your weapon.”

“What’s happening?”

“You see that flag up there?” He pointed into the vine-covered trees. “We’re going to need that, but I’m thinking the judges will be attacking any second now.” His piercing blue eyes searched the trail for the enemy.

“Aw, crap.” She took another step closer to his side.

The forest grew darker and more menacing the further they ventured along the path. Allie felt like she was back in the Amazon.

Just as the path began to widen, Gregg and George materialized from the trees above, attacking Imogen and Darius, who reacted without breaking stride.

Liam shoved Allie behind him when Hélène attacked, wielding a wicked two-handed sword. He reacted in a flash, pulling a double-edged Jian from the sheath at his back.

Quinn was already battling Scott while Aidan and his namesake uncle eagerly grappled in hand-to-hand combat, both grinning like they were having the time of their lives.

Sasha was engaged in a fencing match with Emma, and Allie suddenly found herself on the ground with her knee throbbing. She looked up just as a quarterstaff came whistling at her head. She rolled aside and leapt to her feet with her own quarterstaff unsheathed and extended to block the attack.

“Nice one!” Chloe called. “You think you might actually beat me this time?”

“Cheap shot, Chlo!” During their shared sessions, Allie tried very hard not to hurt her little friend, but she wasn’t feeling quite so benevolent at the moment.

“I knew it; you’ve been holding back!” Chloe glowered when Allie pinned her to the ground in record time. “But I hope you win.” She hopped up to retreat to the sidelines.

“Now what?” Allie turned to face the melee. Sasha was fighting a losing battle against Emma while Quinn and Aidan were working together against Aide, who was bleeding but seemed happy about it. She winced as uncle struck nephew with a loud crunching blow and Aidan spat several bloody teeth to the ground. His raucous laughter didn’t fit the situation at all.

“This isn’t a spectator sport!” Sasha shrieked. “Get your butt over here!”

Allie recoiled as Emma laid Sasha’s cheek open with a slash of her sabre. Allie stepped in to deflect another jab and suddenly had her mentor’s undivided attention.

Uh oh!

She countered her advance, but Emma was relentless, and Allie quickly sustained several injuries of her own.

“Don’t let the violence of the fight get to you,” Emma said. “This is just like training.”

“This is not like training!”

“Shut everything out. Focus on helping Sasha win this fight. Don’t look at me as the mentor you love but as an enemy who would take her from you. This isn’t just a game! What would you do if she were really attacked? Would you cringe at the thought of hurting someone, or would you protect your friend—your sister?” she pressed ruthlessly, slashing into Allie’s shoulder with a flick of her sharp blade.

“This isn’t about fun! You need practical experience so when this is real, you’ll have a fighting chance!”

Allie knew if it was real, she wouldn’t hesitate; but this wasn’t real.

I have to disarm her!

She frantically blocked Emma’s advance. When Sasha moved in to help, Allie noticed a glint of silver at her wrist. She reached for her whip and gave a slight nod to Sasha, who adjusted her stance, allowing Allie the opportunity to make her move. She cracked her whip just as Sasha did, and together they managed to disarm and restrain Emma, bringing a swift end to the match.

“Dad made me one too,” Sasha said.

“I’m going to need one of those, Gregg,” Emma said. “I didn’t even see that coming.”

The applause startled Allie. The challenge was over, and her team had won their first flag. When she looked around, she didn’t like what she saw. Everyone was nursing various injuries, and Aidan was busy helping Quinn with a rather nasty looking eye.

“All this for a silly game?” She threw her weapon to the ground in disgust.

“You did well,” Emma said kindly, “but you must think we’re monsters for enjoying this.”

“It’s difficult to understand how this is supposed to be fun, but I get why it’s important.”

“You’re bleeding.” Aidan offered to tend her slower healing wounds until they could mend on their own.

“Thanks,” she murmured. His gentle touch reminded her how much she missed him, but his eyes were so cold and distant. When he finished patching her up, he turned away without a word.

“Red team, gather round,” Gregg called, delivering the hard-earned flag to Sasha. “That was nicely done. You’ll find your next clue along the path ahead. Good luck.”

“Let’s move!” Liam barked. They darted up the narrow path that rapidly became a steep, almost vertical incline. The way was littered with loose rock and large stones that slipped and rolled down the hill as they scrambled to the top. The trail ended at the base of a sheer cliff with a narrow cave opening. Their next clue waited for them at the entrance.

You face a potentially game-changing choice. To earn your next flag, you must make your way to the top of the cliffs. Do you risk the height of the climb or the dark tunnels within? One route will mean almost certain defeat while the other might earn you great rewards.

“Climbing would be the quickest route, but is it the right choice?” Liam asked.

“It’s too obvious,” Jin sighed. “Give me a minute before we make our decision.”

Allie watched how he perused the cliff side from every angle, shaking his head in frustration. He disappeared into the mouth of the cave for several moments before returning, covered in muck and wearing a look of grim determination.

“My wife had something to do with this. I’m afraid climbing is out of the question. Ming designed this challenge to appear easy, but there’s simply no way we could all make it to the top safely without gear. The probability of falling is too great, and we’ll lose for sure if you kids suffer any major broken bones. Going through the caves will take hours, and it’s going to be tight. We’ll be crawling almost immediately.”

“I’m out.” Allie threw her hands up. “Not crawling through that cave for a stupid game.”

“Allie, please,” Quinn begged.

“I’m with her,” Imogen agreed. “I don’t do small spaces.”

“Me either,” Jin said. “But I’m not letting my wife’s shameless exploitation of my fears stop me. She wants us to climb because she knows I’d do just about anything to avoid going into that cave, but I mean to prove her wrong.”

“We’ll be fine, Allie,” Sasha insisted.

“I can’t do this, guys.”

“Yes you can.” Aidan rolled his eyes. “The Allie I know doesn’t understand the meaning of ‘I can’t.’”

“You pick now to speak to me like I’m a person?” She returned his glare. He’d been a complete jerk for weeks, and now he was giving her a pep talk?

“You’re not a quitter,” he muttered.

“Just remember this is a test,” Liam said, “not just a game. There may come a time when you’ll be grateful for this experience.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.” She stormed past him. “Come on. Aidan’s right; I’m not a quitter. Let’s just do this.”

The cave was dark and wet as it sloped downward. Even Allie had to duck her head, trying very hard not to totally freak when the walls started to shrink around her.

“Okay, we’re going to start crawling now, but there’s plenty of room.” Liam’s voice echoed in the darkness ahead.

The ceiling continued to slope until Allie had to drop down to her elbows to squeeze through the tight space.

“I don’t like this.” Her hands were covered in grime, and her nostrils filled with the scent of rot. She heard Jin swear softly behind her and breathed a sigh of relief when the mud quickly dried to soft sand beneath her.

“Thanks, Jin.”

“Keep moving, sweetheart,” Liam said. “Stay on my heels, and you’ll be fine.”

“What if I get stuck?” She was very close to a total freak out as she inched forward.

“You won’t, I promise,” Aidan said just behind her.

“Nope. I have to go back.” She couldn’t get a deep breath, but it was impossible to turn around. She had to keep going, but Allie wasn’t sure she could force herself to move. It was so dark she could barely see Liam’s shoes in front of her face. She was terrified they might actually get stuck in this cave that was more like a fissure. The damp earth surrounded her, constricting her movement. “I can’t do this!” She just wanted to curl into a ball and forget where she was.

Aidan’s warm hand gently squeezed her ankle. She wanted to resist him, but the lure of his comforting touch was too tempting.

“Are you sure we’re going the right way?” she asked when she began to move again.

“Pretty sure.” Liam sounded amused. “Just follow me.”

After what felt like hours of inching along at a snail’s pace, Allie was forced to a belly crawl, her face drenched with silent tears, although she wasn’t sure how “silent” they’d actually been.

“It’s too tight.”

“Allie, I’m six-four and two hundred pounds. I could fit you in my pocket. If anyone’s getting stuck, it’s gonna be me.”

“Do you have boobs, Liam? And from my current view, I’m not seeing much of a butt either.”

“Sweetheart, I’ll drag you out of here if I have to, but you will make it. I promise.” She could practically hear his stupid grin.

The rough stone pressed against the small of her back, and she had to lie flat on her belly just to get a breath. This was far worse than anything she could have imagined. She had to dig her toes into the loose rock just to get enough leverage to push herself up the steep incline a few inches at a time.

“There’s a small cavern up here,” Liam announced.

“Oh, thank God!” She surged ahead as the ceiling began to rise. She scrambled into the room, but her relief was short-lived. She choked on embarrassed sobs, wanting nothing more than to go home.

Familiar arms wrapped around her, and as much as she wanted to curl against his chest and accept the comfort he offered, she fought his influence.

“Lex, calm down.” Aidan forced her to meet his gaze in the darkness.

She fell apart at the seams, utterly heartbroken when she caught a tiny glimpse of her best friend.

“I’m sorry!” She was humiliated by the pathetic whimper that escaped her.

Aidan held her close, and his familiar earthy scent calmed her more than his gift could have.

“You have to stop forgetting you’re Immortal. There’s nothing for you to fear down here.”

“Aidan, she just found out who she is,” Imogen reproached. “Don’t force her; she needs time.”

“It’s getting hard to breathe, guys,” Liam said. “We better keep moving.”

“Ming sealed this up tight,” Jin said. “It isn’t natural for the air to be so thin.”

“Oh, I think she’s trying to teach me something,” Quinn said. “She wants me to pull oxygen into the cave.”

“Give it a shot, son.” Daniel’s face was sweaty, and his voice shook from the effort to breathe.

As Quinn concentrated, Allie focused on not freaking out. She knew this was hard for him. Finally, the air stirred, and she felt a cool, oxygen-rich breeze flood their cramped quarters.

“Thank you.” She breathed deeply.

“That’s why we do this,” Daniel said. “When we’re in the safety of our training sessions, it’s often difficult to get results, but when we’re faced with a challenge, we can make astounding progress. Quinn’s been trying for weeks to manipulate gasses and liquids and hasn’t been able to do it until now.”

Allie nodded. She understood, but it didn’t make this any less terrifying.

“Come on.” Liam urged her toward the tunnel.

“No. I live here now.”

“We’re almost there, sweetheart.”

“Liar.” She reluctantly crawled away from what felt like freedom into the cold blackness of her worst nightmare.

All too soon, Allie was belly crawling through the darkness. She found it difficult to breathe with the pressure of a mountain at her back. Still she inched forward, following the sound of Liam’s voice. Allie was hardly aware of anything but the crushing weight above them. She couldn’t stop thinking about what it might be like to be trapped. Unable to move and, worse, unable to die.

“Allie,” Liam said. “The path gets quite narrow up here just before it turns into a deep shaft. We’ll be climbing soon.”

She continued to slither through the most difficult passage yet. The rock shelf slanted sharply to the floor, leaving only a few inches to maneuver. With her arms stretched above her, she moved her head and shoulders through the narrow gap and saw the larger tunnel above. The air was fresher, and she gulped deeply, but the tight bands of stone constricted her lungs, and she couldn’t move. She sobbed as stars danced in her vision. She was going to pass out.

“Little one,” Liam murmured. “You must calm down. We’ll get you out. Aidan’s going to push, and I’m going to pull, but I need you to slow your breath.”

Allie did as he said, stifling her sobs. As Aidan pushed and Liam pulled, the shifting rock tore at her body until she was bloody but free. Liam dragged her into the vertical chute where she was finally able to stand and take a few deep breaths. She trembled so violently she wasn’t sure she could go on.

“All right, Allie. Climb up to me so we can keep moving.”

She grasped his hand and braced her back against one side of the shaft and her feet against the other, making her way up to him.

“Lex, how did you do this?” Aidan struggled through the tight space.

“How many times do I have to tell you, don’t call me Lex!” She reached for his hand to help him up.

“Nephew, it’s been my experience if a woman doesn’t like a certain nickname, you’d better not use it.”

“Ahh, who asked you, Liam?” Aidan grumbled as they inched their way up the shaft to make room for the others.

“Looks like one more tight squeeze and we’re through.”

Allie watched in the dim light as Liam disappeared. She was suddenly alone at the top with nothing above her but the stone ceiling. She couldn’t see where he had gone and started to panic. She frantically searched for an opening. Aidan grabbed her hands, gently tracing her palms with the pad of his thumb, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze.

“Why are you doing this to me?” She felt tears prick her eyes.

When he looked up at her, she could feel his pain. “Allie, I—”

But Liam reappeared, and she realized what she thought was the ceiling was just a ledge. How he got through by himself, she had no idea.

“Come on, I’ll pull you through. This one might hurt.”

With her arms over her head, she maneuvered into the awkward space, crying out when her left ear ripped away from her scalp. With head and shoulders through the narrow gap, she continued to struggle and wiggle to no avail. She was stuck and couldn’t catch her breath. Liam pulled until her lower ribs snapped like toothpicks, and she scrambled out. She winced, desperately trying to draw a breath.

“Almost there, little one.” Liam pulled her into a careful hug. The cave wasn’t as narrow here, and she was able to slip past him. “The worst is over. Go on and rest. I have to go help the others. Will you be okay?”

“Go,” she whispered hoarsely. “I’ll be fine.”

Allie crawled until she felt soft green grass beneath her and warm sunshine at her back. She curled into a ball and shook with relief. Aidan eased up beside her and pulled her into his arms.

“No!” She pushed him away. “Not if you’re going to go back to hating me.”

“I don’t hate you. I just can’t. It hurts too much. Here, let me help.” He offered. “I can’t heal you, but I can alleviate the pain. If you’ll allow me.”

She nodded as he pressed her ribs with his cool hands. She sensed his power seeping into her bones. It went against the grain to allow it, but with the odd sensation of her ribs slipping back into place, the burning ache diminished.

“There. Now, let me look at that ear.”

She cringed as he prodded her mangled ear, but the pain vanished at the touch of his gift.

“Aidan!” A small trickle of blood oozed from his nose. “Don’t push yourself so hard.”

“I don’t mind the challenge.”

“Thanks.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Don’t cry, Allie. I’m not worth it.”

Jin stumbled onto the lawn with Imogen close behind, and soon everyone was out. Allie wasn’t the only one with broken ribs, scrapes, and bruises. Aidan was busy tending Sasha and Quinn too. She finally took her first tentative steps, relishing the sun’s rays that were like a balm to her ragged emotions.

Liam was laughing with the boys and drinking ice-cold water left for them at the checkpoint with their second flag. She was so thirsty and her throat so dry, she snatched the bottle and drained it in three long gulps.

“Allie, no!” Sasha cried.

“What?” She stared down at the empty bottle with the odd yellow label stuck to the plastic.

“How much did you drink, Liam?” Imogen asked.

“Nearly half.”

“What’d I do this time?” Allie sighed.

“You should be writhing in agony.” Liam gave her a look that chilled her blood.

“I can’t believe we all forgot to tell her,” Jin said.

“No one drinks after me. That’s why I keep the yellow stickers on everything,” Liam said. “Allie, you can’t get close to me unless I’m prepared, you cannot be near me if I’m upset, and you most certainly cannot eat or drink after me. Most Immortals instinctively keep their distance! What’s wrong with you?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“I’m poisonous, Allie,” he said gently, taking a moment to get his temper in check. “I’m fatal to mortals when I choose, and Immortals become violently ill for days when they get too close. How are you not affected? You’re a powerful girl, but you should have seized before you finished the first sip.”

“I didn’t know.”

“He isn’t mad at you, kid,” Jin said. “He’s confused. You’re either extremely lucky, or you’re an anomaly and have thwarted two thousand years of his experience.”

“Liam, take a walk and calm down,” Darius said. “We need a break anyway.”

Liam stalked away from the group, and Allie felt a pang of sympathy for him. She knew what it was like to have the whole world cringed at your touch. She knew what it was like to get used to that—to expect a life alone. And she understood how it felt to meet someone who changed all that.

“Here, sit. Eat. I’ll explain.” Darius shoved a few protein bars and a bottle of water into Allie’s hands. She sank to the ground beside him.

“Most Immortals sense he’s dangerous. But he marks everything with those yellow dots, so we’ll know to stay away. His poison is potent, and I’m pretty sure we’ve all been affected at some point or another.”

“But I was just behind him all through the tunnels, and he even hugged me when we reached the end.”

“He has perfect control, but he has to concentrate every waking moment. Liam’s had a hard life. He blames himself when something like this happens, and right now, he’s probably just freaking about scaring you. He needs to regain his composure before he can come back to us.”

“So, how am I not sick?”

“I have no idea,” Liam said, standing at the edge of the grassy slope, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. “I have always thought one person would be immune to my poison.” He ventured a little closer. “I have long hoped that my Complement would be someone I could finally connect with. I said when we first met there was something familiar about you…” Liam trailed off uncertainly.

“Dude, you cannot be serious!” Aidan roared, anger blazing in his eyes.

“Liam, what exactly are you saying?” Imogen asked.

“Whoa, back up!” Allie jumped to her feet when she realized what was happening.

“Oh, no!” Liam laughed. “That’s impossible. My Complement was born two centuries ago.”

Allie collapsed in relief, and Aidan managed an irritable grunt.

“Shall I clarify?” he asked in amusement. “I’ve always hoped my Complement would be immune, but I never dreamed anyone else could be. It must be your power. Or it could just be a fluke and you got lucky.” He shrugged. “We will have to experiment. I’m sorry I scared you, little one,” he said softly, “but heaven help the man who is your Complement. He’ll certainly have his hands full.” He winked.

“Come on, guys, we’re losing time and we only have two flags!” Darius clapped loudly, urging them to get their minds back on the game.

“Right, our next challenge will take place at the bottom of the hill. Let’s go team!” Liam called. They ran swiftly down the path to the clearing, where the judges waited for them in a small dirt arena.

“All right, red team!” Gregg roared with a huge grin. “You’re all looking a little rougher than the last time I saw you.”

“Are we?” Allie sneered. “Are we really? I can’t imagine why.” She watched as the blue team stumbled into the arena, looking only marginally better.

“Okay, guys, this one’s simple.” Aide stood to address the group. “You’ll compete in a one-on-one challenge. Winner gets the flag, and the loser gets a disadvantage. You will decide as a team who will compete. You may send your oldest or strongest, your youngest or your smartest; it’s up to you. My only suggestion is to send me your best boxer.”

“Not it.” Allie glared, daring anyone to pick her.

“You’re easily the best among us,” Jin insisted.

“How is that remotely possible?”

“I’ve never even trained as a boxer.” Hélène took a step back from the group.

“Neither have I,” Liam added.

“You’re two thousand freaking years old! How have you not trained in everything?”

“Never found the time.” He gave her a playful nudge. “You’ll do fine, little one.”

“Sorry, I’m afraid I’m no help on this one either.” Darius winked. “Go get em, killer.’”

“No, Jin, please!”

“You’ve trained with Ming. Sorry, kid, but you’re the best by far. I’m confident you’ll do well if you don’t let your head get in the way. And for God’s sake, don’t be afraid to actually hit your opponent.”

She stepped forward, unable to fathom how she could be the best they had to offer.

Aidan’s cousin Erin joined her to represent the blue team, and Allie was only slightly relieved she wouldn’t have to face someone a hundred times older. As they took their places at the center of the dirt ring, she noticed Erin was trembling.

I’m so not scary. She smiled at the irony.

Erin was the first to strike with an impulsive roundhouse kick that caught Allie’s shoulder with a painful jolt.

She watched her opponent’s confidence grow. She thinks she’s got me. Allie regrouped, moving into a defensive crouch. She thwarted Erin’s rear-crossing jab and took a step back, hoping for a moment’s respite, but she didn’t get it. Allie attempted a fast uppercut but didn’t put much force behind it. She didn’t want to hurt the girl. She didn’t even know her.

When she sparred with Aidan, it was different. He was her equal, but Erin wasn’t in the same league, and it just didn’t seem right. But she was ruthless—and fast! Erin landed an unexpected blow to her face, and Allie felt cartilage snap. Pain blossomed behind her eyes as blood poured from her nose.

“Attack!” Jin barked. “She’ll recover!”

Allie blocked Erin’s low roundhouse and managed a few piston kicks and even an uppercut jab but refused to advance. She knew she could win if she tired her opponent. Allie held back, moving swiftly to avoid Erin’s powerful kicks. The match seemed to go on forever until both girls were exhausted. Their teammates anxiously watched with bated breath.

She knew she had to end this now if she had a prayer of winning. Catching Erin’s shoulder with a solid crossing jab, Allie ended with a low sweep that she hoped would take Erin out of the fight without hurting her.

She wasn’t prepared for Allie’s sudden advance, but she recovered and retaliated in an instant.

The jolt of Erin’s last strike caught her squarely in the face. She lost her balance and fell to the ground in a heap. Her head swimming in a dizzy haze, Allie vaguely heard the sound of a whistle ending the match. The blue team cheered loudly for their win.

She felt like a failure as she tried to stand.

“Careful.” Aidan bent to help her up.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s just a game.” He forced a smile. “Now, let me look at that nose.”

She winced as he examined her injuries.

“The cartilage has already started to fuse. If you want me to fix it, it’s going to hurt, but if I don’t, you’ll have hump—”

“Fix it!”

“You realize that means I have to break it again?”

“Just do it.” She steeled herself for the pain.

Aidan pinched her nose tightly and pulled until she heard a snap, and a blinding flash of pain filled her head. He moved the cartilage back into place, and she felt the warmth of his healing flood her face, and the throbbing subsided.

“There, that should do it,” he said stiffly and walked away. His cold demeanor was worse than if he’d kicked her in the face. Apparently, their truce ended at the cave, and they were back to not speaking.

“Congratulations, Erin!” Gregg exclaimed. “As reward, I have your clue, which should give you an advantage. You’ll take the path to the left. Liam, take your group to the right. You’ll find your next clue shortly. From here on, it’s a race to the finish, and right now blue is up by one.”

Allie and her team made their way down the path until they found the next checkpoint with their clue.

Your challenge awaits on the small outlying island at the northwestern shore. You must reach the location through any means available to you. There, you must successfully navigate the maze to capture the flag as a team.

“Let’s move!” Liam called. And they were off, flying along the trail. Following their captain’s lead, they quickly made up time. When they reached the shore, Naeemah and Ming Lao were working together to bring up boulders and mud from the lake bottom, creating a narrow jetty.

“We’re going to lose!” Sasha wailed.

“Why didn’t they take the boat?” Quinn pointed to the old boat just big enough for them all.

“There’s a note. We can only take it if we can start it, but the ignition isn’t working,” Aidan said.

“Everybody in, now,” Allie cried. “I’ve got this!”

“Are you sure?” Darius asked.

“Positive.” She scrambled on board.

Within seconds, she hot-wired the engine, and everyone cheered as she guided them to the smaller island.

“Where did you learn that?” Sasha asked.

“Dad taught me.”

“Nice job, kid!” Jin paused to blow a kiss at his wife as they passed.

The maze was made up of trees and thick vines, and the path was dark in the dim light of the evening. Liam and Allie rushed headlong down a path, with the others trailing behind. The way was complicated with obstacles at every interval.

“Liam, can you just locate the flag?” Quinn asked.

“I can only follow people, not objects, so unless someone I’ve met is holding that flag, I’m useless.”

“Guys, we have to stay together!” Allie called frantically to her scattering teammates. “The best way through a maze is to pick a wall and follow it through wherever it goes and eventually it will lead you out.”

“Will it be fast enough?” Quinn asked.

“If we don’t have to think about where we’re going and just run like hell, it might be,” Liam said, and they all set off like a shot.

The island was small, but the maze ran in a snarled mass of twists and turns leading back to the center where the flag waited for them. The blue team was nowhere in sight, but they still had to navigate their way back out with the flag. They continued to run as the last light faded over the horizon. When they made it back to the beginning, their opponents were trailing in the distance.

“We’ve got this,” Aidan said. They filed out of the boat, back on the main island, where Chloe greeted them.

“You’re almost there,” she cheered. “There’s a small pond to the northwest where your last challenge awaits.”

They ran along the narrow icy path, but the blue team was quickly gaining and resorting to dirty tricks to hinder the red team.

“Move faster!” Liam roared.

Little by little, Allie’s group pulled further ahead, and they were the first to arrive at the small pond.

“Congratulations, everyone! It seems this will come down to the very last challenge.” Gregg watched in amusement as both sides fidgeted nervously.

“Your last task is simple. You and your team must cross this pond by any means available to you, but you must remain dry while doing so.” He grinned mischievously.

“Jin, can you part the water on our side?” Quinn asked in a rush.

Naeemah had already taken a running leap with Graham on her back, sailing effortlessly across the pond, immediately returning for her next passenger.

“We have to hurry!” Sasha cried as they scrambled to find a way across.

“You guys are making this way too hard.” Allie rolled her eyes. She walked to the nearest tree, pulling the serrated dagger from the sheath at her hip. In the time it took her teammates to suggest a dozen ridiculous ways to cross the pond using their gifts, Allie cut down the tree, creating a perfect bridge for them to cross with minimal effort.

“Hey, guys!” She snapped her fingers to get their attention. “Care to join me on the other side?” Allie quickly tiptoed across to the finish line and the others raced to join her.

“Red wins!” Gregg roared as he presented Allie with the final flag. “Leave it to you to see the practical solution.” He winked.