Would every girl she’d meet that weekend be inhumanly attractive in some way? Or in Luna’s case, criminally cute as a button? Which reminded Stella— “Where are Luna and Alex? We waited for them in the Wardrobe Room for as long as we could, but they never showed.”

Olive’s entire being changed into a picture-perfect example of discomfort. Ethan’s expression mirrored hers. Conversely, Jewel remained stoic as she said, “Luna had an accident.”

“Accident? Hmm, don’t like the sound of that,” Stella said, surprising herself.

“Is she okay?” Nicole asked, sounding worried. Francis began to switch sides, standing closer to her, eyes throwing daggers at Jewel.

“She will be,” Jewel said. “You all signed the waiver and Olive gave you several chances to opt out. I’m not forcing anyone to do anything. Choices have consequences.”

“Wow. Okay. No.” Nicole scoffed. “Luna is basically a naive little kid who’s extremely excited to be here. You need to remember that in whatever it is you’re planning.”

“I don’t need to remember anything,” Jewel said. “And the last thing I need to do is take advice from you. I know what I’m doing here. Do you? Because Luna does.”

Olive looked confused. “Did you know Luna before you came here?”

“I don’t need to know someone to care about them. What is wrong with you people?” Nicole seemed truly astounded. “Agreeing to be here doesn’t give you the right to hurt anyone.”

“I’m shocked you care so much,” Jewel said, looking anything but. “Maybe you should spend less time worrying about Luna and more time on the competition.”

“I refuse to think of a fourteen-year-old kid as my competition.”

“She’s fifteen, and that’s not what I said.”

“Why don’t we go check on her?” Olive volunteered, grabbing Ethan. “We’ll be back.”

No time like the present; Stella kicked the second part of her plan into second gear. She didn’t like thinking about their second challenge. It had taken almost fifteen minutes to get all the dirt from under her fingernails so she wouldn’t have to see it. It upset her, and then she got mad at herself for being upset.

But it was time. It had to be now.

“Well,” Stella said with perfect theatrical calm. “I know I’m worried about the competition. After spending the last part of my afternoon digging Harlow out of a dirt hole in the ground because you buried her alive in a glass coffin, I’m downright terrified for tomorrow. I think she might be traumatized.”

Bombshell dropped, so did Nicole’s jaw. “I’m sorry, you did what?”

Jewel said, “Oh, it was only three feet deep.”

“My lower back and arms would like a word with you about that only,” Stella said.