39
As soon as he read the clue out I knew I was going to be spending time at the bottom of the fucking river.
There was no way around it.
Evelyn and I needed to sink because Thorun is the strongest swimmer. She’ll be able to hold her breath long enough to free us. Sona is the puzzle queen, or so she claims, so we have to hope that she can crack the puzzle quickly, allowing Thorun time to get us off the riverbed before we drown.
“And it won’t just be Thorun,” Evelyn says quickly as we’re chained up, “because Sona can swim down and help free us too once she’s figured out the puzzle.”
“Yes,” Sona nods. “We’re fortunate there are four of us.”
“Just solve that puzzle quickly,” I scowl. “I can’t hold my breath longer than any normal person.”
“Of course,” Evelyn snaps, “because you are a normal person. You’re not a superhero just because you killed your only friend.”
“Shut up,” I hiss, aware of my slip-up.
I don’t have time to say any more as the timer runs out and we’re unceremoniously pushed into the water. Thorun, giving me a thumbs up and mouthing ‘bless bless,’ her annoying way of saying goodbye, is the last thing I see.
The weights draw us down immediately, and we hit the bottom of the riverbed with a thud.
All around us are camera crew in wetsuits and scuba equipment, and other crew members who swim to us and tie on our clues.
One by one other competitors sink down to settle all around me.
Immediately I notice the Iranian, Mahsa, panicking and losing bubbles.
As she opens her mouth to scream I close my eyes.
Killing people may be a natural part of life, and part of The Game, but I don’t want to see someone die slowly.
‘Well, I do, but not this person.’
I try to imagine myself elsewhere as I lie, eyes closed, in the cold water. The catsuit is certainly not waterproof or offering any protection against the chill of a nighttime submersion, but that’s the least of my problems.
‘I’m running out of time. I can’t hold my breath much longer. Madonna Santa, please hurry, Sona. Please hurry.’