Going off first impressions, Adah couldn’t even hazard a guess at what today’s challenge would be.
The set for the Challenge phase consisted of seven long tubes, only slightly wider than those of a slide at a waterpark, which stretched in parallel from one end of the set to the other. At the far side of the room was a raised platform atop which three pedestals stood. Each of these pedestals was crowned by a silver dome with a cupped handle, which reminded Adah of how a fancy restaurant might cover a plate of food when presenting it to a table. Compared to the library set, this was a much simpler setup, yet somehow more confounding.
Locke had accompanied the cast members to the next set, so he indeed had some role to play in today’s challenge. The question was what that role could be.
As the victor of last week, Ciel would sit out, so that left seven pipes—or maybe tunnels?—for seven competitors. That suggested they’d be competing individually this week, or at least in a way that didn’t lend itself to cooperation as much as last week. Hopefully that fact could balance out whatever sabotage mechanic Adah would have to endure. Still, the nature of the challenge was a mystery to her. A race, maybe?
After capturing their initial reactions to the set on camera, Arthur lined the girls up with one competitor in front of each tunnel. That confirmed part of Adah’s hypothesis, at least. Perhaps by luck or perhaps thanks to the invisible hands of Arthur and Jay, Adah and Ren were positioned at adjacent tunnels at the left side of the set. If there were any chances for cooperation today, being close in proximity would help.
“Today’s challenge is Finders Keepers!” Arthur announced. “Last week, we asked you to use your eyes to scour the endless bookshelves of the great library. This week, we’ll be sending you on a treasure hunt during which you cannot use your eyes at all! For the most part.”
Adah glanced at the pipe in front of her. Even someone of her stature would have to navigate it on her hands and knees. If she dipped her head, maybe she’d be able to sit on the ground in there.
Cramped tunnels. Not using their eyes. She had a sinking feeling about this challenge already.
“Our generous guest Locke has hidden three gifts inside each of these pipes,” Arthur explained. “The goal of today’s challenge is simple: search the pipes and retrieve each of the gifts. However, you may not find it so simple in practice. With three gifts comes three complications. First, there is no light inside these pipes, so you will have to rely on your sense of touch to identify the three objects you must retrieve. Second, the pipes are also full of decoy objects that you are not searching for. And third, Locke will describe each of his gifts in the form of a riddle. You must solve the riddle, find the gift in the dark, and carry it with you out into the light.”
With the basics out of the way, Arthur went on to explain the scoring of the challenge. The girls would compete across three rounds, starting each in the antechamber of their tunnel—a mock airlock that allowed for the interior of the pipes to be pitch black. At the start of each round, Locke would speak one riddle over a loudspeaker that all the girls could hear, then they would be allowed into their tunnels. They’d all search until they found the corresponding “gift,” then bring it back to the antechamber. Based on the order they returned with the correct object, they’d earn a certain number of points for that round.
1st
10
2nd
8
3rd
6
4th
4
5th
2
6th
1
7th
0