Plan of attack

The crowd looked around in astonishment at the sea of plant life around them. Rows of vibrant flora lined the narrow paths, their leaves brushing against one another in hushed whispers. The smell surrounding them was a rich amalgamation of damp earth, blooming flowers, and the subtle musk of growth. High above them, sunlight wove through the glass ceiling, painting kaleidoscopic patterns on every surface.

"Wow, it's bigger on the inside," Sophia joked, before being disappointed that no one else got her reference.

Olivia, less interested in the greenery and more in Alison, walked up to the maid. "Why'd you change your clothes back? The getup we made ticked Azure off."

"It served its purpose," she replied.

"Here's a good spot for our meeting," Ji-Woo called out to the others after everyone had explored for a few minutes.

The rest of the group followed Ji-Woo's voice to a circle of weathered wooden chairs arranged deliberately around a sturdy, unassuming table. A lush tapestry of greenery surrounded the entire meeting area. On an opposite wall was a simple score monitor, looking out of place among the natural beauty. However, vines were already in the slow process of covering it, as if trying to snuff out the presence of modern technology.

Ji-Woo sat at the table first, followed by Tomoko, Elena, Sophia, and Kaitlyn. The latter of whom looked at her sister to join them. After thinking of reasons not to, Lauren sighed and sat beside her sister, though at the edge of her seat so she could make a quick escape if needed.

Meanwhile, Olivia watched and listened from afar, her arms crossed.

Ji-Woo, sitting upright in her chair with an air of professionalism, produced a pocket notebook and pencil from her jacket. "Thank you all for coming."

Kaitlyn pointed at Alison, who was staring at the group a few feet away with unblinking eyes. "I'm not sure we should talk when Azure's minion is here."

"Not an accurate title," Alison replied before adding, "and in any case, I am needed elsewhere."

"Oh really?" Tomoko asked, lounging lazily in her chair. "Where?"

"A wedding," Alison dropped causally.

"What?!" the contestants asked in unison.

Alison tilted her head. "Yes, Azure and I will be leaving for a few hours to attend the wedding of another season's master."

The color drained from Kaitlyn's face. "Other masters?"

"We're not the only ones?" Elena asked, equally horrified.

Meanwhile, Olivia had a different question. "So we'll all be unattended for a few hours?" she asked, unable to suppress a grin at the thoughts of how to take advantage of this.

Alison shook her head. "Azure will likely freeze time in the castle, so you won't notice."

Sophia's eyes went wide. "Wild!"

"Just how powerful are these people?" Kaitlyn trembled, slumping in her chair.

Alison expressed nothing, instead simply turning and walking out of the greenhouse.

Ji-Woo cleared her throat. “Alright, she’s gone. As I was saying, thank you all for meeting with me today.”

“Of course,” Elena chirped, as she adjusted her dress to avoid the floors dirt.

Tomoko pumped her fist. “We’re, like, in this together”

“And regardless, it’s not like we’re in direct competition,” Kaitlyn added diplomatically. “So there’s no reason not to help each other.”

“Well that’s not entirely right,” Sophia interjected, while also fidgeting in her seat, uncomfortable due to her chair having a short leg that made it rock. “Avoiding elimination and getting remembered is the priority, but don’t forget that the one who ends with the most points gets a wish.”

Kaitlyn crossed her arms. “I don’t trust any wish if it comes from Azure.”

“Fair,” Sophia shrugged. “She totally seems like the person to go all evil-genie-monkey-paw.”

“Regardless, the final results won’t be relevant for a few weeks, so let’s put a pin in that,” Ji-Woo explained, not wanting them to get off track. “Our first concern is how to get past all the walls Levi’s putting up.”

Sophia, who was trying in vain to get her chair to balance, asked “I don't know the guy, but it seems talking to folks is hard for him. Do you think he's on the spectrum or something?"

"Hey, no need for insults," Tomoko said without thinking.

Sophia looked offended. "How would that be an insult?"

"Oh, sorry, that's not what I meant," Tomoko said awkwardly in a rare instance of self-awareness.

Kaitlyn sighed, massaging her temple. "You guys are overthinking this. Levi’s just being selfish. That's all."

"That's a bit harsh," Elena countered.

Lauren sneered. "No, it's right. He's a spoiled brat who loves playing the victim."

“Azure is helping him with that, too," Kaitlyn articulated as she leaned forward. "She spent the entire opening ceremony telling him we ruined his life.”

"Which is bullshit. It's his fault he's unhappy, not us," Lauren added, finally getting engaged with the meeting.

"He's had a hard life," Elena voiced defensively. "I mean, he's been constantly bullied, and his dad left his mom for some-" Elena stopped when she remembered who Ji-Woo was, the latter of whom was glaring at her.

Olivia rolled her eyes. 'Oh, his parents split. Cry me a river,' she thought to herself.

Ji-Woo, noticing they were once again getting off track, tried to steer the conversation somewhere more productive. "Regardless, he's not taking the situation seriously."

"None of us are taking this seriously," Sophia spoke bluntly as she moved to another chair, unable to handle her current one anymore.

"Speak for yourself," Kaitlyn countered.

The bespectacled girl shook her head as she sat down. "No, I mean, I think somethings keeping us from reacting the way we should towards all this magic stuff."

Tomoko raised an eyebrow. "What ya mean?"

Sophia adjusted her glasses. "A couple of weeks ago, I got on the wrong bus and didn't notice until I was an hour away in the wrong direction. I didn’t know where I was, and almost had a panic attack."

"The hell does any of that have to do with anything?" Lauren snapped.

The girl ignored her. "Yet, in less than 24 hours, I've been teleported here, witnessed space getting warped, and watched people transform before my eyes. Yet, not only have I not had a single meltdown, but I've also totally gone along with it. As have the rest of you."

"I mean, I still freak out from all of this," Kaitlyn argued, shivering slightly.

"But you accept it. I believe our brains are being manipulated in ways we aren't aware of."

Ji-Woo leaned back in her chair as she jotted down a note. “That is an interesting hypothesis but out of the scope of this meeting," she repeated. "We need to settle our focus on the immediate problem of getting points from Levi."

"I'm not sleeping with him!" Lauren yelled as she jumped to her feet.

"No one says you have to," Elena explained, adjusting her dress again. "I didn't. But I still got 27 points last night."

"The first thing we should do is get you two out of the negatives," Tomoko added, leaning forward and pointing to Lauren and Ji-Woo.

Elena massaged the back of her neck. "That may not be enough. Remember, you can lose points in the Challenge."

"Or gain them," Lauren countered. "Maybe I could just win whatever game they have tomorrow and pass without getting near Levi."

Kaitlyn wasn't convinced. "It's better to be safe though. We don't know how many points are at stake, so that might not be enough."

Sophia snapped her fingers as she was hit by a realization. "Oh, I bet that's why Azure keeps the Challenge value a secret. So we don't get complacent."

"Right, so it’s critical we take up any opportunities for points," Ji-Woo said. "As his secretary, I can manage his schedule. I want to go around and discuss activities we could set up."

There was a brief pause as all of the contestants, sans Lauren and Olivia, silently brainstormed.

"Maybe we can invite him to a pool party," Tomoko suggested, as she stretched her legs out. "I wanna try it out anyway."

"That's a great start," Elena beamed, having had similar thoughts herself.

Tomoko added. "Plus, I'm sure the shops got something skimpy,"

"Disgusting," Lauren gibed, still standing and seriously considering leaving.

Ji-Woo jotted down notes. "Regardless of attire, I think it's a good idea. Perhaps we can pair it with lunch to make him feel at ease.”

"Not interested," Olivia interjected, giving her input for the first time.

Elena, who had her chair back toward Olivia, craned her neck to look at her. "You have a better idea?"

Olivia looked up at the ceiling. "Nah, your ideas are fine. I won't stand in your way. But I'm not interested in teaming up with some teenagers to seduce another one."

"Hey! I'm an adult," Tomoko contended.

“I've heard the way you talk. You are not an adult."

"Rude!"

Olivia shrugged and turned her back on the group. "I work better on my own. I'll find my way to handle this and you find yours. Good luck, though."

And without another word, Olivia left them.

"She thinks she's better than us," Kaitlyn scoffed. Unfortunately, her traitorous mouth added, "I wish that dommy mommy would crush me between her legs." A moment later, the cheerleader swore to herself as she regained control.

"Unfortunate," Ji-Woo sighed in reference to Olivia. "But in any case, what other ideas do people have besides-"

The secretary was interrupted as Lauren pounded her hand on the table.

"Hold on! Before we go any further, there's something more important we have to clear up!"

"What?" Ji-Woo asked, slightly alarmed.

"Which one of you put my name on the waitlist?!"

There was a long pause.

"Are you still on that?" Tomoko asked, breaking the silence.

Lauren looked offended that she even asked. "Of course I am! How can I work with any of you when I know somebody stabbed me in the back."

Kaitlyn put a put a hand on twin's wrist, gesturing for her to sit down. "Sis, we should just drop it."

"I will not!" Lauren snapped, pulling her wrist out of her sister's grip. She then pointed at Elena. "It was you, I bet! You and Levi probably worked together, so you get all the points and sabotage the rest of us."

"How dare you. I'm trying to help!"

She moved her finger towards Tomoko. "Or maybe it's you. You probably meant to write your name but were too stupid to spell it right!"

"No, you're stupid!" Tomoko yelled back like a child.

"This is not relevant!" Ji-Woo growled in frustration.

"It's completely relevant!" Lauren looked over to Kaitlyn. "Back me up on this!"

"Seriously, sis, it doesn't matter," Kaitlyn voiced weakly, getting to her feet to be on level with Lauren.

"Why are you trying to stop me? This-"

Lauren froze as a horrifying thought popped into her head. She looked over at the scoreboard again, the pieces falling into place.

"You had ten BP to start and got thirteen at breakfast," Lauren whispered to herself. "You should have twenty-three, but you're missing one. And the cost to put a name down is-"

With eyes wide with horror and disbelief, she slowly turned to look at her sister. "It wasn't you... was it?" she asked, a hint of pleading to be proven wrong in her voice.

"I... well... that is to say..." Kaitlyn stammered, eyes darting as she tried to find the words. But she didn't need to say anything. Her expression confirmed Lauren's worst fears.

"IT WAS YOU!" Lauren screamed!

"I'm sorry..."

"You traitor! Why?! Why would you do this to me?"

"I'm... just trying to help you..."

Lauren shoved Kailyn hard, knocking her back onto her seat. The **** of the impact then caused her chair, and the girl along with it, to fall backwards onto the hard ground.

“Are you ok?” Sophia asked in alarm.

"Leave her alone!" Elena shouted, getting to her feet.

"I hate you! I hate all of you!" Lauren yelled, tears welling in her eyes as she marched out of the greenhouse.

"Wait, sis!" Kailyn shouted, getting up and running after her.

There was a long, uncomfortable silence.

"Maybe we can give him a massage too," Tomoko said out of nowhere, once again breaking the silence. No one responded.

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