The Challenge: Fire & Fate

06

The announcement comes just after breakfast.

"Challenge Arena in one hour. Gear up."

A collective groan rolls through the house. Kam looks at me over her coffee. "Guess nap time's over."

I stretch my shoulders. "Here we go again."

Cory grins. "Ready to teach the class how it's done, Teach?"

"Always," I say. "I just hope the syllabus doesn't include near-death experiences this time."

Spoiler: it does.

🎥 Confessional — Sienna
"The day after elimination is always worse. Your body hurts, your brain's fried, and T.J. looks like he just discovered a new way to ruin your self-esteem."

The arena looks like a construction site from a disaster movie — slabs of concrete, rope bridges, and massive metal beams suspended over trenches of dirt.

T.J. stands in the center, smiling that "I'm about to destroy your morale" smile.

"Welcome to your next challenge," he says. "This one's called Fault Lines.

Each team must move heavy stone blocks across uneven terrain and build a structure that represents the four elements. Balance, coordination, and communication are everything."

He pauses — which means something bad is coming.

"But halfway through the challenge, there's a twist."

Of course there is.

"At the midpoint, two players from different teams will be randomly paired to stabilize the center structure together. If they can't cooperate, both their teams will fail."

Groans. Laughter. Some nervous swearing.

"Let's find out who's working together," T.J. says, tapping his tablet.

The screen flickers.

"From Team Earth... Sienna Vale.
And from Team Water... Jackson Lewis."

The crowd erupts.

Kam mutters, "Oh, this is about to be reality TV gold."

🎥 Confessional — Jackson
"You've gotta be kidding me. Out of everyone here, I get her. The girl I threw into elimination. The one who beat my pick.

Cool. Awesome. Love that for me."

🎥 Confessional — Sienna
"Paired with Jackson. The guy who literally tested me by throwing me into fire.

Sure. What could possibly go wrong?"

We line up at the starting point. The horn blares, and chaos erupts.

Earth works like a machine — Kam calling directions, Leroy hauling blocks like they're Styrofoam. Across the field, Team Air's shouting over each other, and Team Fire's already arguing.

Water moves with brutal efficiency — Jordan and Laurel leading, Jackson scanning everything like he's running simulations in his head.

We meet in the center — the stabilization point.

He nods at the ropes. "We need to anchor both sides evenly."

"I know."

"Then stop looking confused."

"I teach physics, you seaweed enthusiast. Don't test me."

He smirks. "Physics? Good. Then you understand leverage. Pull!"

The structure groans as we tighten ropes from opposite sides. My muscles scream. The ground shifts under my boots.

Jackson calls out, "Ten degrees right!"

I grit my teeth. "It's already at ten!"

"It's not!"

"It literally is!"

He laughs. "You're insufferable!"

"And you're loud!"

🎥 Confessional — Laurel (Team Water)
"I don't know what's happening between them, but the sexual tension is louder than T.J.'s megaphone."

The structure starts to wobble. Instinct kicks in — I grab a secondary rope, shift my stance, and counterbalance.

Jackson's eyes widen. "Nice adjustment."

"Thanks. Try not to drop your end."

He grins, sweat dripping down his temple. "Yes, ma'am."

We hold it together long enough for Kam and Leroy to finish the puzzle base.

Then—

Horn blast.

"TEAM EARTH WINS!"

We drop the ropes, gasping, covered in dust and sweat. Kam's jumping, Cory's whooping, Marcus bear-hugs me off the ground.

Across the pit, Jackson just stands there, catching his breath — and for once, not smiling.

Then he nods at me. Small. Real. Respectful.

🎥 Confessional — Sienna
"I don't know if that was teamwork or pure stubbornness, but we did it.
He listens when it counts. I hate that I noticed."

🎥 Confessional — Jackson
"She's good under pressure. Scary good. And when she stops arguing long enough to actually work with you? It's... impressive.

Still annoying. But impressive."

Back at the house, everyone's celebrating Earth's win. Kam raises her glass. "To my rookie — the smartest person here!"

"Second smartest," Cory adds, winking.

I laugh, but my mind's still back in the arena — that moment where Jackson and I weren't rivals or enemies, just two competitors in sync.

It shouldn't have felt good. But it did.

Then, as if summoned by bad timing, the intercom crackles.

"Tomorrow night — elimination. Team Fire, you're headed back into the pit. Earth — you're naming the three potential opponents."

The room goes quiet.

Kam mutters, "And just like that, your ex-lab partner's back in power."

Across the room, Jackson's watching me again — unreadable expression, drink in hand.

He raises his glass. That same infuriating smirk.

Your move, Teach.