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“The stone was hollow?” I said in shock.

“The stone wasn’t a stone.” He grinned and handed the disc over to me. “Just a fake rock with a hollow center big enough to hide this golden baby.”

After a moment, I leaped to my feet and hugged Tito. Everyone started cheering and congratulating each other.

“We haven’t won yet,” I reminded them. “We have to return the disc to the veranda and get out of the maze.” I checked my watch. “And we have six minutes to do that, so let’s get going.”

Once we got out of the hedge, I worried we’d never figure out a route back through the maze in time. I paused, trying to figure out how to proceed. My dad must have realized my dilemma because he put a hand on my arm.

“We can take the side exit near the stone marker with the X on it and get out more quickly,” he suggested.

“Great idea, Dad,” I agreed. “Brando didn’t say we had to go out of the maze the way we went in, so let’s do it. Can you lead us out?”

“Of course.”

We ran now, following him as quickly as we could. I was acutely aware of the time ticking past until my dad suddenly stopped at a stone marker with an X on it. “The exit,” he said, bowing and sweeping his hand out.

“You did it, Dad,” I cried. “Come on, everyone, let’s run back to the castle.”

Collectively we raced as fast as we could around the outside of the maze toward the castle. I tried to calculate how much time it would take us to get there and had a sinking feeling we wouldn’t make it in time. No way I could push my parents or Oscar to run any faster.

My mom stopped and waved me forward. “Go on without us, Lexi. Run as fast as you can and give the gamemaster the disc. Hurry.”

I didn’t waste time arguing or answering. I just started running as hard as I could, pumping my legs. For the twelfth time in the last three months, I reminded myself that I needed to develop a consistent exercise routine, especially since my life with Slash always seemed to involve running away from, or toward, something dangerous. If I intended to survive that lifestyle, I wasreallygoing to have to up my exercise game.

About halfway back to the castle, I realized I should have handed off the disc to Tito, who was in much better shape than I, but it was too late now. I wasn’t going to stop now.

I made it to the veranda, raced up the steps, and skidded to a halt right in front of the table where the gamemaster sat having a cup of tea. A quick check of my watch indicated I had less than a minute to spare. Pausing to breathe, I placed the golden disc on the table next to his teacup.

“The number is 509, and we’ve solved the challenge,” I said, gasping for breath. “We did it.”

He glanced over my shoulder. “Where’s everyone else?”

“On their way.”

Brando clucked his tongue. “Ah, but one of the puzzle requirements was that you all had to be here. If not, then even though you’ve solved the puzzle, you can’t win.”

I considered for a moment, then shook my head. “Actually, that’snotwhat you said. I happen to have an eidetic memory. You didn’t specify that everyone had to be on the veranda, only that we had to be out of the maze, and that you had the disc. We are all out of the maze, and you have the disc.”

Turning, I pointed into the distance, where these rest of the team appeared along the side of the maze. “As you can see, we are all accounted for and out of the maze, as instructed.”

Brando stared at me for a moment thoughtfully and then smiled. “Well played, Miss Carmichael. You and your team have successfully met this challenge.” He slid the disc back toward me. “Keep it. You may need it later.”

He stood and disappeared into the house. Releasing a tight breath, I headed back toward the group to fill them in. When they saw me walking toward them, Mia and Tito broke away from the others, running ahead to greet me.

Tito reached me first, followed by Mia a couple of seconds later. “Did we win?” Mia asked, skidding to a stop next to me, panting. “Please, tell me we won.”

“We won,” I said, grinning. “One challenge down, and who knows how many more to go?”

“Hurrah!” Tito pumped his fist in the air and then lifted me off my feet, spinning me around until I was dizzy. “We’re going to slay this escape room thing.”

“One puzzle at a time,” I cautioned, wobbly on my feet. Still, I couldn’t help but smile as I was mobbed by the rest of our team.

We were one step closer to funding the orphanage in Salerno. Now it was up to Slash to get his team through.

Chapter Nineteen

Slash