“When I say so, you’ll climb three-quarters of the way up your vines,” Basurto says. “And when I say go, you’ll move as fast as you can to the far end of the courtyard. The first person in each group to reach the other side wins. Those of you at the back of your lines can only advance if you catch the person in front of you. Being the first has its advantages but also means everyone is after you. Hence the chase. If you get tagged, you’re out. Likewise, if you fall to the ground, you’re out. We will do this more than once, changing the order each time we go.”

Kiku is in front of me, then Charles; Nyx is in the first position. Behind me, I hear Matteo crack his knuckles. I wipe my hands on my pants to make sure they’re dry and grab hold of the knobby vine. I can feel my pulse through my fingertips.

“You may start climbing,” Basurto says.

The second my feet lift off the ground I feel the familiar rush of excitement. Unfortunately, it’s coupled with my dread of having Matteo directly behind me. All I want to do is look over at him, but Layla’s warning about showing fear rings in my head.

“Go!” Basurto yells unexpectedly before we’re even halfway to the trees.

I book it up my vine to the first available branch and swing my legs up. Two branches away from me, Kiku is just getting a grip. I stabilize myself and jump to the next branch, but Kiku’s branch is too far to reach. I spot a vine and quickly sidestep to my left to grab it. Kiku has gotten her balance, but she’s still gauging her next move, and while she does, I swing over to her branch, keeping the vine in my hand for safety. She jumps as my feet make contact, but not before I graze her elbow with my fingertips. Gotcha.

She gives me a death stare.

I glance back to find that Matteo is only one branch away and my heart starts pounding. If I hesitate, he’ll catch me for sure.

Still holding the vine, I yank it more firmly toward me and hook it securely around a nub on the trunk, effectively pulling it out of Matteo’s reach. That should buy me some time. Then I start to climb, looking for Charles as I maneuver through the branches. When I spy him, he and Nyx are about six feet above me in the trees and heading for the middle of the courtyard, where the branches are thinner. I watch as Nyx makes a daring leap, just managing to stabilize herself as she lands. Charles isn’t far behind.