Page 53 of Edge of Wonder

Duck

The word turned over in my mind. It was vaguely familiar. I’d heard it recently—no! I’d read it on Shire’s arm. There had been symbols, too. A full circle and a half circle that made no sense, but in this context, the symbols resembled a croquet ball and a wicket. If the symbols represented the first part of the challenge, then the words that followed might relate to the second part.

“Alice, I think I know how to get through this course. Shire had clues written on her arm. I remember there were three words. The first one was duck. I think that’s what we’re supposed to do when we step over the tile.”

“Okay,” Alice visibly swallowed. “Want me to go first?”

I glared at her from the side of my eyes. “In what world do you think that’s happening?”

“Clearly, not this one,” she grumbled. “Just be careful.”

Scarface watched us from the sidelines. He leaned against the rock with his arms crossed as I took my first step through the tunnel. I hated he was going to benefit while we took all the risk, but what choice did we have?

Above me, the crowd waited with bated breath. This had to be the right answer, or I was as good as dead.You don’t survive impalement from a spiked ball.At least, I hoped you didn’t.

I looked back at Alice. Emotions filtered across her features: fear, trust, and something else that made my chest tighten. We would not be exploring that feeling later or my entire life might blow up in my face. I exhaled a breath and faced the tile. Planting my foot over the edge, I rotated my upper body in one smooth motion, ducking low as the ball whistled over my head. On its upswing, I took another step, making it through to the other side.

The crowd roared to life.

Alice dropped her head back in relief and stepped toward the tile. She mimicked my action, sliding beneath the ball. More cheers resonated through the stands. Once we were all through, I studied the next obstacle.

“This clue should be stuck.”

Alice pointed to the flat surface of the stone. “Look over there. There are small holes in the wall.”

She was right. The holes were only an inch in diameter and ran the width of about ten feet, extending to the top of the wall.

“Nice work. If you’re stuck, you can’t move. So I’m assuming we’ll need to stand in place somewhere.”

“Yeah, but where?”

More tiles lined the floor, creating a pattern. This time there were twelve squares, but instead of being nearly invisible, they were freshly painted. Six white and six colored.

“Sebastian, the colors match the croquet balls, and there were six players. Maybe we have to stand on our color. I was red. You were green.”

That was true, but something felt off. It seemed too easy. What were we missing?

“Okay, let’s say the colored squares match the players, and the white squares represent the wickets. It’s almost as if it’s simulating the field.”

“You’re right,” Alice said, chewing on the corner of her lip. “The white squares are in line with where the wickets were placed. But remember, the field itself wasn’t a safe place. There was nowhere to hide from the vines—” Her gaze tracked to where Scarface was resting against the wall. “Or the players. So if that’s the case, then it’s possible none of these tiles are safe.”

“Oh, come on! Pick one and get it over with,” Scarface barked from the sidelines. “I’m bleeding over here.”

I ignored him and followed her logic. “So if we can’t step on any of the tiles, then where can we stand?”

Alice tapped her foot while she studied the ground. Her eyes lit with excitement. “Right there. Do you see that?” She pointed to the far right of the floor where there was another tile, just like the first that nearly blended in with the floor. “It’s the finish platform. Just like the field. The only place where we were safe.”

Without waiting for me to answer, she ran for the off-color tile, leaping onto it and planting her feet. A gasp sounded from the crowd above as bolts shot from the holes in the wall. Hundreds of them sliced through the air. They smacked into the wall behind her, burying themselves into their matching counterparts.

I froze, waiting in livid terror for her to collapse onto the ground, filled with one-inch holes. Her life’s blood seeping into the dirt. I couldn’t move, even after the cheers subsided. I just kept visualizing the same scenario over and over.

“See! The bolts missed. They don’t cover this space. I was right.” Her elation faded beneath my ballistic stare. “What’s wrong with you? I solved it. That’s universally considered a good thing. Just ask them.” She gestured toward the audience.

“Alice…” I closed my fists to keep my hands from rage-shaking. “I swear, on my entire profession, if you ever do anything like that again, I will make it my life’s mission to find every single obnoxious spirit and make them haunt you until your dying day. You will have no peace.”

Like me at this moment.

She rolled her eyes. “Really, Sebastian? You don’t get to hog all the glory. Besides, it was my turn.” She jumped to the other side of the obstacle, took a bow, and lifted her hand, waving to the crowd.

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