possibly (definitely) the least likely word to be used to describe Persey. “Failure” or “lazy” would have been her dad’s choices. But genius? No way.
It wasn’t that she was necessarily stupid—she knew, deep down, that she wasn’t—but tests in school were so long. Excruciating. It was difficult (impossible) to focus on the questions, the letters and words swirling together before her eyes, so even though she usually knew the material backward and forward, she’d never finished an exam in her entire life.
“What do you say, Persephone?” Leah prompted.
Persey’s head snapped up from where her eyes had unconsciously drifted to the floor. The guy with the camera had it pointed directly at her face. There was nowhere to hide, no time to turn away, and she flinched when she heard the shutter sound effect indicating that he’d taken her picture at close range.
“I…” I don’t want to do this.
“You’re not really going to say no, are you?” Kevin said. “I mean, you’re here because you wanted this, right?”
Persey pressed her lips together. “I guess.”
“You guess?” Kevin snorted again. “So it’s just about the money, huh?”
Persey flinched again. The camera was still fixed on her, as were the eyes of everyone in the room, and she desperately wanted to crawl into a cave, pull a giant boulder across the opening, and hide from the entire world. “I really appreciate the offer,” she began, “but—”
“Are you insane?” Sheryl said, eyes wide while the lime-green brigade gasped in unison. “This is like the greatest honor. Ever.”
Persey was tired of the Rohners interrupting her. “I can’t.”
“Can’t?” Kevin said. “Or won’t?”
That was inappropriate. “What are you, my dad?”
“Ouch.” Kevin cringed. “Maybe, like, an older brother or something.”
“I already have one of those.”
“Yeah?” Kevin laughed, but Persey could tell it was forced. “I bet he’s a cool dude.”
He’s definitely cold. “You’re a lot like him.”
“Handsome?” Kevin smiled. “Wicked smart? Life of the party?”
“Smug,” Persey replied, matching his grin.
Sheryl cleared her throat. “Get a room, you two.”
Ew. “I should be getting home.” Yeah, like you have a home anymore…
“Hold on, Persephone,” Leah said, stepping in front of her as Persey started for the secret door. “You haven’t even heard what the grand prize is.”
Persey sighed. I don’t want to do this. “Yeah, okay. What is it?”
“The grand winner will receive a cash prize of ten million dollars.”
Kevin’s jaw dropped. “Holy shit.”
“That’s ten times what they offered for the Prison Break escape room last year,” Sheryl said. “And that bankrupted the company.” She side-eyed Leah. “Do you even have that kind of money anymore? The Hidden Library hasn’t been that popular.”
Leah stiffened. Clearly Persey wasn’t the only one who was weary of the Rohners. “Escape-Capades has rebounded nicely since the tragic events of last year, due to our new private investors….”
Professor Rohner cleared his throat. “Two spots left,” he said, directing Leah back to her offer. “If she doesn’t want one of them, my wife and I would be more than happy to fill out your roster.”
Leah caught her breath, as if she’d just had a brilliant, groundbreaking idea. “Actually…Persephone—”
“Persey.” The nickname was easier.
“Persey, what if I offered you both of the last two spots?”
“Both?”
Leah nodded, casting her eyes at Kevin. “One for you and one for your friend.”
“Oh, we’re not friends,” Kevin said quickly. “At least not yet.”
Ugh.
“I’m in,” Kevin said, extending his hand to Leah. “All in.”
“That’s nice,” Leah said, “but you’re only in if Persey is too.”
“Oh, so he gets special treatment but we don’t?” Sheryl huffed, then grabbed her husband’s arm. “That’s it. CNN is going to hear about this!”
Persey eyed the Rohners as they stormed out through the bookcase door, but Leah ignored them. She was focused on Persey. “Well?”
Persey sighed. Ten million dollars. She’d never have to worry about where she’d sleep or how she’d feed herself. She could get her own place or…Persey pressed her lips together to keep them from quivering. I could disappear.
Unconsciously, her eyes drifted to Kevin’s face. His blond hair flopped over one eye and his hazel eyes practically twinkled as he beamed at her, willing an answer.
“I really don’t want to do this,” she said softly, finally voicing the refrain that had been running endlessly through her mind all day.
“Please?” Kevin took a step toward her, a devil’s grin on his face. “I mean, who the hell turns down a chance to win ten million bucks, huh? You’ll never get this opportunity again.”
Ugh, again. “Fine.”
“Wonderful!” Leah cried. Behind her, the gathered Escape-Capades employees burst into cheers and