Page 118 of Alice Chen's Reality Check

“Someone pushed me over the Video Village balcony,” I say, and it still doesn’t feel quite real. Someone just tried to kill me. “Thank you, by the way. For saving me. How did you find me? I thought you were asleep.”

“I woke up when Leah knocked on our door to get us for filming,” Daniel says. “But you were gone. I was headed to the kitchen to check if you were there when I heard you yelling.”

“Good thing you did,” I say.

“I ran, Alice,” Daniel says. “I ran faster than I’ve ever run in my life. If I’d gotten to you just a few seconds later…” He takes a long,shuddering breath. “You could’ve died.”

I don’t want to think about that. If I do, I’ll fall apart, and I can’t afford to, not now. We’re so close to the finish line in this competition. And I have Anton’s key. I’m closer to finding out the truth than ever before. I had a plan to solve Anton’s murder, and I’m going to follow it to the end.

“I’m fine, Daniel,” I say gently.

Daniel rubs his hands over his face. “We can’t keep going like this. Whoever killed Anton, they aren’t going to just let us waltz in and out of this place alive. You’re being targeted, Alice. Yesterday, your bungee cord broke, and today I find you dangling from a balcony. Someone wants you dead.”

“And we can catch them,” I insist. “I have the key now. We just have to get it to Lex—”

“No, Alice,” Daniel says harshly. His voice softens. “Please, we have to drop out of the competition.”

“What? No!” I take Daniel’s hands. “I know it’s dangerous. But I’ll be careful.”

“Careful isn’t enough!” Daniel looks away for a moment, and I’m struck by how tense his shoulders are. He says, his voice ragged, “Do you know how scared I was when I realized you’d disappeared? This isn’t a fair fight, Alice. We have no idea who we’re up against. You aren’t safe here, and I can’t protect you.”

“I don’t need you to protect me,” I snap. “I can handle things just fine by myself.”

“Seriously?” Daniel huffs out a laugh. “What happened to all that talk about working together and looking out for each other when we were with Lex? This isn’t a solo mission, Alice. I’m here, too.”

“I know,” I say, frustrated. “But we’re so close to the end. And my mom needs this.”

He shakes his head. “Your mom needsyou.Alive and with her.”

“She’s going to have that and a million dollars.”

“Alice, look at me,” Daniel says, taking my hands in his. “Wouldyour mom really want you to do this? To risk your life for a chance at winning?”

“You have no idea what my mom would want,” I say, shaking him off. My expression hardens. “I’m not quitting.”

I’m furious now, that he would seriously suggest leaving the show, when I have Anton’s key in my hand and a million dollars just out of reach.

And the worst part is that I know he’s right. My mom wouldn’t want me to do this. She doesn’t even like the idea of me walking home at night by myself. If she knew what I was doing, she’d order me to leave right away and then scold me for hours while angrily cooking me a feast.

But I owe everything to my mother. If I can’t do this for her, then what use am I? All the terror from today is thrumming in my veins, and I need to do something about it. I need to regain control of what’s happening. I need answers.

“Daniel, I—” I’m about to promise Daniel I’ll be careful and convince him that we should stay when the door swings open. Light floods in from the hallway.

“There’smy star couple,” Leah says. “I’ve been looking for you guys everywhere. We’re five minutes late for call time.”

“Now’s not a good time,” Daniel says tersely. “We need a minute.”

“We don’t have a minute! You two need to be down at the beach ten minutes ago,” Leah says. “This finale is extremely time-sensitive. You guys need to go, go, go.”

“We’re not going to be in the finale,” he says, standing.

I clamber to my feet after him. I just need time to reassure Daniel that we can make this work. But instead of time, I’ve got Leah and a camera crew in my face.

“Can you just give us a moment?” I say. “We’ll be right with you. We’re doing the finale, don’t worry.”

“No.” Daniel steps away from me. “I have something I have to say.” In an instant, I know exactly what’s going to happen. I’ve competedagainst him too many times to not recognize the calculating expression on his face. I’ve left him exactly one way to get what he wants, and he’s going to take it.

Once, before my dad left, we went to Great America as a family. It was my first time, and I only had eyes for the biggest roller coaster. I had no idea what to expect, but for a fraction of a second before the first big drop, I felt my stomach tighten and my breath catch in my chest before I was screaming in gut-wrenching terror.

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