Page 122 of Alice Chen's Reality Check

Leah gets someone to inspect my equipment, then fastens my helmet for me. When she’s done, she pulls me into a tight hug. “Good luck, Alice,” she says. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she’s a little misty-eyed. “I’m rooting for you.”

The producers give us a few minutes to stretch and say some last words before the challenge. I leave Chase to give the soundbites and sidle up to Lex.

“Psst, Lex,” I hiss, switching off my mic pack.

Lex says quietly, “What now? I can’t believe you’re still here after what happened during the Fraud Challenge. You should’ve left with Daniel.”

“And leave you to fend for yourself? Never,” I say, and Lex rolls their eyes. “Anyway, check this out. I found the key to Anton’s crew locker!” I palm the key into Lex’s hand.

“Where did you find it?” Lex frowns, examining the key. “Never mind. Not important. I’ve got a moment, so I’ll head there right now. Just stay safe, okay?”

“I will. You stay safe, too,” I say.

“I’m not the one with a target on my back,” Lex says. “See you at the finish line. Good luck.” They make a subtle shooing motion at me, then slip back to join the small army of camera crew filming B-roll. I switch my mic on and make my way over to Chase.

“There you are,” he says, squeezing my hand. “One of the PAs wasasking for you. I told her you were probably peeing in the woods.”

“Yep,” I say distractedly. “Just answering nature’s call.” I’ve wasted precious time handing off the key to Lex, and now I’ve got barely any time at all to study the Treachery Challenge course.

The crew has outfitted this giant fake volcano with a rock-climbing wall. All the way up the volcano face are handholds and footholds in red, blue, and green at varying heights. About one-third and two-thirds of the way up, there are narrow platforms that it looks like we’re meant to climb onto. Each of the platforms has a console with levers, buttons, and a wheel.

That’s all I manage to gather before Leah signals us to face Dawn Taylor. The cameras sweep across us, and then we’re filming one last time.

“Get ready. Get set. Get the hell up there!” Dawn Taylor cheers, and we’re off.

Ava and Noah rocket forward, their legs pumping in tandem. I’m still studying the wall, trying to figure out what’s the best route for us.

“Come on, babe! Don’t get left in the dust!” Chase yells. He’s picked a handhold at random and is hoisting himself up easily. Damn it. I have no choice but to follow Chase’s ascent.

About two feet up, I glimpse a small warning label on the wall with a red radioactive symbol. It makes the volcano look like it’s a toy made for kids and not a Godzilla-sized TV set.

I test my weight on the next toehold. When I go to reach for the corresponding handhold, I notice that it’s bright red, just like the warning label. At the last second, I swerve for a blue handhold instead, straining my arm to grab it.

“Chase!” I yell up at him. “I think something bad happens if you touch the red handholds!”

“What?” Chase yells down at me—just as he steps on a red foothold. Gooey lava explodes out of a nearby vent. Chase yelps as his foot slips, but he manages to use his weight to swing onto another foothold. It looks like his climbing harness holds, and I pray that mine will, too,if I slip.

I try to dodge, but a shower of lava—which is really just gelatinous red glop—hits me in the face with a horrible splat. Ugh. I don’t think I’ll be able to eat Jell-O ever again.

“Sorry, babe!” Chase shouts. “Don’t touch the red handholds!”

We continue to make slow progress upward. My muscles are screaming at me, but I ignore the pain and focus on pushing myself to keep going.

Ava and Noah are just above us, and before long, they reach a narrow platform jutting out from the volcano, marked by a colorful green flag. As soon as both Ava and Noah set foot on the platform, a confetti cannon goes off.

“Ava and Noah have reached the first milestone!” Dawn Taylor’s voice rings out from speakers somewhere nearby. “For those following along at home, that means Chase and Alice need to watch out! Every milestone gives our intrepid couples a chance to make it harder for their competition to keep climbing.”

On the platform, Ava and Noah have taken hold of what looks the wheel of a ship, and they’re turning it counterclockwise.

A rumble reverberates through the volcano. Oh, shit.

The green handholds on our route retract, disappearing into the wall. I scramble to push off of the green ledge I’m on and just barely manage to clamber up onto our own platform. There’s no confetti for us, and when I try our wheel, it does nothing.

I look up to chart our next move and my stomach sinks. With the green handholds gone, it’s going to be that much harder to scale the volcano.

“Ready to keep going?” Chase asks. “Or do you need a break?” I’m hunched over, trying to catch my breath as I assess the situation.

“No time,” I say, squaring my shoulders.

---