Page 49

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

I stumbled out of the shed holding my injured arm, my heart pounding and my lungs fighting for air, only to stop dead in my tracks. Akiko and Kenji were standing just a few feet away. Bright floodlights had snapped on, illuminating the compound like broad daylight.

Akiko stared at me, frozen in place, but not out of fear. I sensed anger and disappointment on her face. And Kenji—something about the way he looked at me was off as well. What was going on?

“I told you, Akiko!” Kenji’s voice rang with vindication. “I told you Jiro was lying all along.”

“Huh? What are you talking about?” I asked between breaths.

“Oh my God.” Akiko’s gaze was fixed behind me. “Did you…did you kill Iron Face?”

I turned, realizing too late that the glass-walled chamber was still visible outside. Inside, Iron Face’s lifeless body lay on the floor, foam on his lips and gas still swirling around him.

“He gassed Iron Face!” Kenji shouted, his words cutting through the night.

“No! That’s not what happened!” I spun back toward them. “This is a setup!”

“What were you planning next?” Kenji asked. “You wanted to sacrifice me! Akiko told me. You said you don’t need me.”

Reina appeared from the shadows, her face a mask of feigned horror. Behind her, Chef Sakamoto followed.

“Jiro, how could you?” she gasped, clutching her chest as if on cue.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “This is a setup!” I yelled. “Iron Face tried to kill me! He attacked me! I had no choice but to defend myself. This was Reina’s doing.” I pointed at her. “She wanted Kenji dead. She wanted me to do it, but I didn’t want to.”

“How could you, Jiro? I trusted you.” Akiko’s voice cut through the chaotic moment.

I realized right then that it sounded like I was confessing. “No, wait. I can explain, Akiko. I only told you about getting rid of Kenji because Reina wanted me to kill him. I needed her to think I was on her side because I came here for—for…”

“For what, Jiro? Why did you really come here?”

“I—I…came here for you. To save you.”

Akiko’s face twisted in disgust as she shook her head. “What do you mean you came here to save me?”

“Don’t listen to his bullshit,” Kenji interrupted. “He wanted the alliance so he could gain our trust and turn on us both during the last challenge. You’re pathetic.”

“That’s not true. Akiko, please, you have to believe me!” I pleaded. “I didn’t lie about anything! Reina’s been manipulating everyone from the start. She wants you dead, Akiko. She hates you.”

Reina’s theatrical gasp grabbed our attention. “Jiro, is there no limit to the lies you’ll tell to save yourself? My husband was right. We never should’ve let your father bully us into accepting you into this program.”

Akiko’s eyes widened. “Your father got you in here?”

“He can’t even cook,” Reina added, her voice sharp and cutting. “I never understood why you wanted to be here, Jiro. But now I see. In your mind, it was some sick, twisted way to get Akiko back.”

“It’s true! I used my father to gain entrance to the program,” I shouted, my voice cracking. “But it was so that I could protect you. I knew this program was sick and twisted. You would never be privy to information like that. You could never have known what you were getting yourself into. Once you were here, there would be only one way out: to survive all six challenges. I couldn’t let you willingly sign your life away. That’s why I came here—to help and save you. I was given no special treatment. I was also risking the dangers when I accepted. That’s something Reina doesn’t tell you. Not even my father could help me after walking through the front doors of the compound.” I clasped my hands together, holding them in front of me. “Please, you have to believe me!”

“Such colorful lies this privileged and entitled boy tells,” Reina sang out. “Jiro, you should write a children’s book instead. I’m sure your father would buy a publishing company to see that it happens.”

Kenji wrapped a protective arm around Akiko. “Reina’s right. Don’t listen to Jiro,” he warned. “He’s a liar and has lied to you since day one. I’m sure he was returning to the dorms just now to throw me into the chamber.”

As Kenji’s arm tightened around Akiko, a devilish grin spread across his face. And then I saw it. The same smirk mirrored on Reina’s lips. My stomach dropped. They were working together. They had planned this.

Before I could react, two masked men appeared and restrained me.

“What are you doing? Let me go!” I thrashed against them, but it was no use. I was run down and injured from my fight with Iron Face.

“You will watch,” Reina said coldly.

“Watch what?” I demanded, my voice trembling with rage.

Reina turned to Akiko and Kenji, her expression shifting to glee. “There’s still one challenge left,” she announced. “It must be completed.”

“Wait, what?” The color in Akiko’s face drained. “Why? I don’t want any part of this. Kenji can have the apprenticeship. I don’t care. I just want to go home.”

“That’s not how the rules work, Akiko.” Reina’s voice had dropped to a sinister whisper. “When you agreed to join this program, you agreed to see it through. Jiro is right about that part.”

“I’m forfeiting!” Akiko shouted. “Give the apprenticeship to Kenji. I don’t care!”

A maniacal smile spread across Reina’s face. “What fun would that be? No, Akiko, I want you to suffer.”

“What? I don’t understand?—”

“You really think you can be the chef to rival my husband…or even your father? How quaint. You don’t have what it takes. You never did. All your cooking has done is lead you straight to your own demise. You should see the pathetic look on your face. You actually thought you were good enough to get this far? The final challenge? It has nothing to do with your skills or effort. You’re here because I wanted you here, to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget. Stay. In. Your. Own. Lane!”

“Stop!” Chef Sakamoto cried out. “This must stop!” He turned to Reina. “I cannot allow this to continue. You must stop. You’ve taken this program too far. I can’t let you hurt anyone else.”

“You stupid old man. Do you honestly think you’re in control?” Two additional masked men appeared and secured Chef Sakamoto.

“What is going on here?” Akiko cried out. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s Reina,” I said. “She controls everything, even the challenges. She’s the brains and the evil behind it all.”

“I am, and we will continue.” Reina’s laughter echoed through the compound like a madwoman’s. “The final Kage Ryu challenge,” she declared, “is Hi no Odori, Dance of Fire!”

“Run, Akiko!” I shouted, struggling against the masked men. “Run! The challenge is rigged! You’re not meant to survive it!”

But Kenji’s arms locked around Akiko, trapping her. “You’re staying right here,” he hissed.

“Kenji, what are you doing?” Akiko screamed, struggling against him. “Let me go!”

“No,” Kenji growled. “You will compete with me in the next challenge. I will win, and you will lose. Because I was meant to be the next great chef.”

“This is insane!” Akiko cried, her voice breaking. “What is happening here?”

“I told you, Akiko,” I said, my voice hoarse and desperate. “This is all a setup.”

But as I looked at her, all I saw was utter fear in her eyes. And for the first time, I wasn’t sure if I could save her.