Chapter 5 "I'm afraid of everything staying the same or worsening So what's the point of finding calm, when calm to me is unsettling?"
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THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL who stood taller than the clouds that rested on her shoulders. Some said she was a goddess, some said she was simply the tallest person alive. Although she was clearly not afraid of heights, she stood ground in the same place every day until the roots under her feet began to grow along her legs. When she finally decided she wanted to take that first step into the unknown, she couldn't. There, she died with no fears but one of further growth.
That's how Hana felt the night of her second challenge. She knew she wasn't frightened as her eyes beheld the sight before her. It was just the fact of taking that first step towards it. In those hours of darkness, the people of Panic crowded around the granary to watch the events unfold atop what looked like a high bridge, tiny in width and long in length.
As Hana and Kelsey sat in lawn chairs, Diggins began to hype up the crowd of people surrounding them. An excited grin unfurled across her lips as she began to clap, letting out a few yells herself.
"Alright, boys and girls, chicks and dicks, Ray," Diggins yelled in his megaphone as he motioned to the man sitting several feet away from Hana, "Welcome to challenge numero dos, Walk the Plank!"
Everyone began to cheer again, Hana raising a fist to pump it in the air as she cheered along with everyone else. Kelsey glanced over at her friend with a light laugh before joining in.
"And reminder, we have twenty-three players in the competition. All players receive one hundred points for joining except for Dodge Mason and Hana Donovan who both get an extra twenty-five,"
Kelsey reached over to place her hand on Hana's shoulder to shake it giddily. "That's my girl!"
"And Heather Nill, who gets an extra fifty points and immunity in a challenge of her choice."
Both Kelsey and Hana exchanged a look at the mention of Heather, who was now in the lead. Of course, Heather was their friend but this was a challenge. One where Hana could potentially win the big fifty grand. In Panic, Heather had become her enemy.
"Helping me keep records is the ravishing Summer Calvo," Diggins continued as the woman stood there with a big smile, the people cheering once again.
"I'd hit it."
Hana glanced over to see who said this. It wasn't a surprise when she realized it was Ray, but as she rolled her eyes and looked back to Diggins she couldn't help but feel a weird sensation in the pit of her stomach. It couldn't be jealousy, right? Ray was Ray; her friend who had turned into something she didn't recognize.
"What did I say?" Kelsey pointed out with a shake of her head as she looked at her friend.
Ignoring her comment, Hana tried to get her head in the game. She needed to push away any unwanted feelings and focus.
