Page 62 of Knight Moves

“Knowing and accepting that are two different things. But you’re right. Again.”

“Of course I’m right. Again. Good night, Angel. Don’t worry. You’ll be awesome tomorrow.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Good night, Frankie. So will you.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

ANGEL SINCLAIR

“For today’s trial, we’ll be grading you on physical fitness, mental toughness, and mobility, as well as evaluating your problem-solving skills,” Mr. Donovan told us as we sat in Room 101 as part of the briefing before the trial. We were dressed in our usual camouflage outfits, but today we’d been told to bring sunglasses. We’d also been instructed to put on sunblock, which was a strong indicator we’d be outside for the trial.

“The trial will be an obstacle course of sorts. Some are straightforward physical obstacles; others require teamwork and puzzle solving. There will be instructions for what you should do at each obstacle.”

What little breakfast I’d eaten churned in my stomach, ready to come back up. I’d known a physical test of some kind would be coming, but I’d been in denial it would be an entire trial. I’dneverpass something like this. I was about to get a giant boot out of the compound.

“The fastest person to finish gets a bonus,” Mr. Donovan explained. “However,everyonefails if evenoneof you doesn’t finish in the time allotted, which is exactly two hours.Everyonemust completeeverychallenge. No exceptions. Plan your strategy accordingly.”

Well, that totally threw a wrench into things. I considered the implications. If I had to finish for all of us to win, it meant, I would probably get assistance of some kind. That was reassuring, at least to a point.

“One more item,” Mr. Donovan said. “You, as a group, get one question, and one question only. One of you may ask it during the obstacle course, but everyone must agree on the question and who will ask it. I will observe you at each obstacle but will not interfere or speak unless it is in response to your one question.”

“Are there any other rules?” I asked.

He smiled at me. “None, Ms. Sinclair. So, everyone, please follow me to the grassy area in back of the compound, where the obstacle course has been set up. The clock starts in five minutes.”

The minute we arrived at the first obstacle, the clock started. Bo quickly assembled us. It was clear we’d have to work together to help those of us who were physically challenged, myself included, if we were to finish the course as a group.

The October air had a cool tinge to it, but the sun was warm on our head and shoulders. Autumn colors of gold, red, and orange burst from the trees around us. The grassy area had been transformed into an obstacle course as far as the eye could see. Monkey bars, nets, mud pits, the whole thing. Mr. Donovan stood under a tree, his arms crossed against his chest, watching us without expression. My stomach twisted with anxiety, wondering how I would finish this course.

If I failed, everyone failed.

“Okay, everyone, let’s talk about how to do this.”

I glanced over at Wally. He was holding his stomach, his face deathly pale. I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. The White Knights were the weak link in this operation, and we could easily take everyone down with us. Somehow, this possibility didn’t occur to Frankie, or if it did, she didn’t seem bothered by it. She chatted animatedly with Mike, appearing not to have a care in the world.

How did she do that?

While everyone was circling around Bo, I studied the first obstacle. It seemed straightforward, not that I thought I had any chance of completing it. Monkey bars over a mud pit.

“Walk in the park, baby,” Mike said, following my gaze. “They don’t call me Mike the Monkey for nothing.”

“They call you the Mike the Monkey?” I asked.

Mike’s cheeks got red. “Well, they did in elementary school. I’ve always been good at jumping, climbing, swinging, the monkey bars—you know, that kind of stuff.” He made a chattering sound like a monkey, and I laughed, easing my anxiety slightly.

Seeing we were all assembled and listening, Bo got started. “My suggestion for this trial is we stick together. We help each other finish, and at the end, we vote which one of us gets to cross first. We all have to help each other or we won’t make it. Agreed?”

We all nodded our heads, so he turned to Mike. “I heard you tell Angel you could cross. You go first. Kira, can you make it across?”

She shielded her eyes and looked at the bars. “Sure. Shouldn’t be a problem for me.”

“Good. You follow Mike.”

“I can do it, too,” Hala said. “I’ll go after Kira.”

“Wally?” Bo looked hopefully at him.

Wally sighed. “The odds that I can cross that without falling into the mud pit are a million to one.”

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