Chapter 53 Beck
Beck
For the rest of his life, Beck would credit Sierra’s chocolate chip cookies for bringing him back.
Her gift, freshly baked, had been delivered the morning he came out of the coma. It had been like crawling out of a dark hole, guided only by his watering mouth. It was the orange zest. It had to be.
There had been a stream of gifts ever since. A T-shirt from Carter and a stack of classic fantasy novels from Adi. Countless bouquets of flowers from his aunts and uncles and cousins. He’d even received gifts from the Clue Master community—alien stuffies and lollipops shaped like chemistry beakers.
But it was one card in particular that held Beck’s interest the most. The only card in all the bunch that did not tell him to get well soon.
The moment Beck’s parents went to grab a snack from the cafeteria, he reached for the black envelope on his nightstand. The card inside was linen cardstock. The words printed in shimmering gold.
Team Helsing,
Though it may not have been easy to find you, the search has been well worth the effort.
It seems we all lost a great deal in the aftermath of the Escape Game fiasco, but the keys to success lie in our persistence and courage.
Therefore, as the founder of Victory Escapades, it is my pleasure to extend this invitation.
Yours,
Victor Cunningham
Behind the note was a postcard depicting a glossy image of Sweetbrier Resort. On the back, handwritten in thick marker, were the words
Are you ready to play?
Beck leaned against the hospital bed and twirled the Escape Game–branded USB in his fingers.
He grinned.
“Game on.”