Page 13 of The Chosen Fae

"I'll continue later."

"See you later then. Please turn off the ignition and exit the car."

She did, and checked to see if Stone was going to continue driving. He glanced at her and smiled. Then he shut off his engine and left the truck.

"That was an experience and a half," he said.

"I know. I nearly hit someone in the parking lot. I missed a deer too."

"I'll have to do a few more lessons before I feel comfortable driving a real car on a real road," Stone admitted.

"For sure. I hope that's not one of the challenges. If the others have been driving vehicles for a while, they'll be better than us."

"Yeah. I hope we won't have to do a race!" Stone said.

"They can't be doing that." At least she sure hoped not.

4

After breakfast the next morning, all the competitors were called to the commons area, and the Game Master pointed to a computerized board. "You will see the mission on this board sometimes, and other times, you'll be transported to a place where the games will begin, and then I will announce the game."

Stone wished they would all be listed on the board before they left the facility, but he guessed that was part of the suspense of the challenges.

The Game Master said, "Also, as a safety precaution, I need to tell you that if anyone finds themselves in real trouble, they can push an alert button that you will always wear on your person. It is only sensitive to your touch, so if another fae pushes it in a retaliatory way, it won't work. If another fae pushes the button to save you, this will alert us immediately, so if the person truly does need help, we’ll be there."

Stone touched the button on his shirt, hoping it wouldn't go off at the slightest touch!

"As far as the leaderboard goes, at the end of the task, you will see where you stand against everyone else. That board will remain visible for the whole time that you're here. Since you can't transport yourself anywhere while you're involved in the games, unless we determine your life is in danger and you need to vanish in the fae way, you will have to get to the mission any way that you can."

Stone glanced at Rune. She was frowning.

"In some cases, we will take you to the mission because it's too far away to reach it on your own."

Stone wondered which one they faced this time.

The Game Master cleared her throat. "The first game involves taking a baby at 101 Sunshine Street, and then you must turn him into a changeling. You'll have to figure out a way to reach the house and get inside without alerting the police or the parents."

"We're all going after the same baby?" Maeve asked, sounding as though she didn't think that was fair.

"Yep. And no fae travel. You have until midnight to snatch the baby who will become a changeling."

Stone was imagining a free-for-all as the other fae tried to grab the baby and turn it into a changeling. The changeling would be bound to the fae who turned the baby into one. He wasn't about to win this challenge.

But he was curious how it would play out, and he wanted to know who would win. So reaching the baby's room first was his goal so he could see what happened.

“You will have free time to do what you want until it’s time to do the mission at eleven tonight.” Then the Game Master vanished.

“What do you want to do?” Stone asked Rune. Seeing her frown at him, he smiled. “Separately?”

“Car simulation and weapon training. We need all that we can get.”

They did the car simulation. No one was in there, and they practiced in their own vehicles until lunch, then ate separately. Then they went to weapon training and practiced their sword fighting again with two different instructors this time. Stone noticed no one was there either, which made him think that he and Rune were the only two who still needed lots of training.

He did wonder what everyone else was doing in the meantime.

After dinner, he and Rune retired to their own rooms until it was time to start the first of the games.

At eleven, he met her in the commons where all the other fae competitors arrived, and the Game Master said, “You know the rules. Go!”