The Crowns Gambit

❦ Chapter Four: Atlas ❦

I wake up to the faint sound of wind rustling through leaves. The air smells fresh, but something about it is off—too still, too quiet. I blink my eyes open, only to be greeted by towering hedges in every direction, their sharp edges casting long shadows in the early morning light.

A maze.

"Crap," I mutter, sitting up. My head throbs, the events of the previous night coming back in fragments. Charlotte missing. The dimming lights. King Rhys's announcement that the trials were starting. And now...this.

I pull myself to my feet, brushing dirt off my clothes, and that's when I see it—a small piece of parchment pinned to a nearby hedge. I snatch it up, already dreading what it might say.

"Welcome to the Trials. One will win, the rest will fall. Find your way or be forgotten."

"Insert something cool," I mutter aloud, rolling my eyes. Whoever wrote this must think they're clever. Great. They were going to make us fight for her—for Charlotte.

My hands clench involuntarily at the thought, a surge of frustration coursing through me. Why is it always like this? Why does everything have to be a game to them? I crumple the note and shove it into my pocket.

The realization hits me: the trials have already begun.

I scan the area, taking in my surroundings. The hedges tower above me, impossibly high, blocking out any view of what lies ahead. The only sounds are the distant chirping of birds and the occasional rustle of branches. But beyond that, I can feel it—eyes watching. I glance around, spotting a glint of metal tucked within the leaves. Cameras. Of course.

They're monitoring us, watching our every move. Whoever's behind this wants to see how we'll handle ourselves, how we'll react under pressure. The thought makes my skin crawl.

And then there's the nagging reality: the other four boys are in this maze too. Somewhere. Oliver, Alexander, Sebastian...and Damon.

Damon. I let out a humorless chuckle, knowing full well that wherever he is, he's probably plotting my downfall. The guy's had it out for me since day one. And now, with everything on the line, I wouldn't put it past him to pull something underhanded.

"Alright," I mutter to myself. "Time to figure this out."

The maze stretches out in front of me, paths splitting off in every direction. I have no idea which way to go, but standing here won't help. I pick a direction at random and start walking. Each step feels heavier, the weight of the trial settling over me.

Charlotte's face flashes in my mind. Her sharp gaze, the way she always seemed a little too clever for her own good. It gnaws at me, the not knowing. Is she safe?

I shake my head, trying to focus. I can't think about that right now. If I'm going to get through this trial, I need to be sharp. I need to be smarter than whatever trap they've laid out for us.

But still...my mind drifts back. If I had just acted faster—if I'd run after her that night instead of hesitating—would things have been different? Could I have prevented this? Could I have protected her?

There's a knot in my chest that tightens every time I think about it. My fists clench at my sides as I replay the moment in my head. I was right there, close enough to reach out. But I hesitated. What if I hadn't?

The what-ifs tear at me, making it impossible to focus, and for a second, I almost lose track of where I am. I stumble over a twisted root, cursing under my breath as I catch myself.