“Julip is completely captivated by the Firelight. It’s the most beautiful, shining thing he’s ever seen. But remember, it’s magical, so when he gets close to the Firelight it starts to talk to him. It convinces him that it’s wrong to steal, and they come up with a plan together to save everyone. After talking to the leader, he has to prove himself by fighting for the right for his people to live there with them and wins. At the end of the story, they all gather around the Firelight that brought them together. You’re like that in your videos. You’re the Firelight that draws everyone else in.”

For a startled, freezing moment, Nicole didn’t know what to do with that. Was he messing with her? She’d gotten more than her fair share of compliments (and insults) in her life, but never anything quite so earnest and disarming. He sounded so genuine. Serious, even.

He had called her Firelight. Captivating and shining Firelight.

Nicole smiled, and the cold hit her teeth so fast it gave her an instant headache.

“Thank fuck,” Francis exclaimed, standing up and hurrying to her. Standing so close to him, she could see how he was shaking too, how hard he was breathing and trying to blink away the cold. “Here.” He handed her a white key with a fox-head bow and star-shaped tip. Fake snow clung to his hair and the tops of his shoulders. His nose and cheeks had turned a dull red. “It’s your arctic fox to unlock your iron box.”

“There you go again,” Nicole said as the air conditioners audibly turned off. “Making rhymes just like Jewel.”

FRIDAY, 11:13 A.M.

A Message from Jewel

Hello, hello! You all aced your challenges! Huzzah!

I expected nothing less, and therefore am not pleasantly surprised. If I may offer some constructive criticism: Feel free to move quicker next time.

Nonetheless, I do miss your brilliant faces, so how about lunch at 12:30 P.M. to celebrate? I’m sure this morning’s search has left you all ravenous with hunger.

Please proceed to the Wardrobe Room for dress. Dazzle me, darlings, because the theme is twisted tea party. I can’t wait to see what you all come up with.

See you then in the backyard at Tea & Croquet!

Oh, and as a reminder:

A Nonsensical Recipe for Winning

Preheat oven to 314 degrees.

Mix all colors until batter is smooth.

Pour into sweet companion molds. Set aside all but three key ingredients.

Whip two partridges until a psychopomp and circumstance forms.

Share and cut the Baker’s dozen chocolate bar into quadragrams.

In a pressure cooker, separate the royal flush with red herrings wild. Bake for seven minutes.

Serve the chocolate concoction scrambled atop a pie on a cloudy white day under a winner’s cursed crown.

CUT THEM ALL LOOSE

FRIDAY, 11:23 A.M.