Page 19 of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10

A loud clap of thunder punctuates her point. The rain comes down harder.

She seems to steel herself, puts a hand to her forehead. “But I’m here, and you guys know I don’t give up. So—come with me while I find my hiding place.”

The camera turns back to the path ahead.

“We can hide anywhere on the property,” she says, off camera now. “Not just in the hotel. So, I’ve already done my research, and I have a few ideas.”

The sound of jogging footfalls continues, the path bouncing.

“During my recon, I found the perfect place. I’m going to cover the camera for a moment. Maverick and the Extreme team are not supposed to be watching our feeds. But you never know who is and who isn’t playing by the rules.”

The camera goes dark. When she uncovers it again, Malinka is moving through a creaking door. Inside, the space is trashed, debris on the floor, furniture toppled, graffiti on the walls. The room is cast in a ghostly white as Malinka shines her light around the deserted structure.

“In here,” she says softly, panning the recording. “I’m glad you guys are here with me. I couldn’t do this alone.”

She walks slowly into a small room and closes the door behind her, turns the camera back to her face.

“I shouldn’t have come here. I see that now,” she says, taking a shuddering breath, “now that it’s too late. Maybe I always knew it, though.”

She sinks against the wall, comes to a crouch.

“My dad used to say that certain places on the planet don’t want you. The depths of the ocean will crush you. The tops of mountains will steal the oxygen from your blood, make you so ill that you’ll wish for death. And I can promise you that’s true. You feel it. How nature tells you in no uncertain terms that you don’t belong, that you’re selfish and arrogant to even try to push the limits.”

She shivers. There’s a loud crash of thunder. Rain drums on the roof, creating an ambient hiss.

“But that never stopped my father. There was no place that he felt was sacred or off-limits. Even as he lay dying, he was ready to forge into that final, forbidden place. I swear his eyes were gleaming.”

She shakes her head, her own eyes glassy, remembering, then looks back at the camera.

“Maybe that’s why I came here. Not for the money. Not for the views. Not for the game. But because I knew that it was another one of those places. Guys, this is how Chloe Miranda disappeared. She hid and was never found. Not here, but during a challenge just like this. What was supposed to be a game became real for her.”

A loud crash startles Malinka, her blue eyes going even wider.

“The storm is raging, guys.” A tear trails from her eye. “I don’t know if I’m going to make it through the night.”

Another sound outside the closed door. Malinka puts her hand to her mouth, her breathing coming in sighs.

“Oh, my god. What was that?”

The camera feed goes dark.

Wingedkitty:Malinka, you hot grrl

Mel333:You’re my hero

Buttons&bows:You changed my life

Ellalove99:I paid $285 for that hoodie and it’s fraying at the seams like some cheap p-o-s. Your clothes are a rip-off. And you’re a poser.

Minecraftguru:You go, grrl. U gonna win this

MavIsALiar:Yes I Can is being investigated for fraud

MavIsALiar:Extreme too

Badmonkey21:You’re all liars and losers

Hellokitten444:Love you, Malinka

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