Inside Straight

In the middle of the island stood a safe, a two-by two-foot square of heavy steel with a handle on the front, and on top of the safe rested a round red buoy, its flag tipped sideways and dripping.

All of them were standing in water now, but no one complained.

Ana sighed, opened her eyes, and looked on what she’d wrought. She tried to be surprised, and found only a sense of resignation. This was what she was. Earth Witch.

“Holy fucking shit,” Hardhat said. His jaw hung open.

A hand touched her shoulder, and she looked up, startled. Kate stood there, frowning with concern. Ana sat back, relaxed, and her arms hung limp.

“You okay?”

Ana smiled. “Yeah. I’ll be okay.”

Wild Fox tried to cross the mud bridge, but his feet sank to above his ankles almost immediately. His tail stiffened and twitched, and he hurriedly backed away. He had lost a shoe and had to reach back for it. “Okay, not cool.”

Gardener already held a handful of seeds.

She tossed them, and they rained down to the start of the bridge—and grew. Giant lily pads opened and spread like carpets across the length of the bridge, digging roots into the mud, solidifying it.

They crossed the bridge, walking on the squishing green carpet, and discovered

they still weren’t finished, because they had to break the thing open. Without a word DB tackled it, wrenching at the handle, pulling at the crack that marked the door, pounding at the steel sides. He could bend steel bars, but he couldn’t dent this. He glared at the thing as if it had offered a personal insult.

He went at it for five minutes before Kate cut in. “Let me try. Please?” Her tone was flat.

Six arms loose at his sides, DB stepped back.

Kate already had her missile in hand, cupped to her chest in preparation for her pitch. “Everyone stand clear,” she said, and she herself backed onto the edge of the bridge, with the others fanned out behind her.

We’re a team, Ana thought. We really are.

Kate snapped her pitch, and Ana never even saw the marble leave her hand. Only a streak of light blazed—a shooting star—and the streak swerved, slamming straight into the combination knob and locking mechanism. The thing sparked and shattered, pieces zipping in all directions. The safe’s door swung open.

They’d done it. No numbing failure this time. No sense of shame. For a long moment, they didn’t seem to believe it.

Then Wild Fox cheered. “Yes!”

Miniature fireworks flew around him, red and gold light bursting, flowering, and falling. That was a cue, and they all let loose, a cathartic release. Hardhat hugged Earth Witch, Wild Fox grabbed Gardener’s hands and spun her in a circle—and Kate hugged Drummer Boy. He lifted her clear off the ground, and they were both smiling.

They settled down long enough for DB to gesture at the safe and say to Kate, “You want to do the honors?”

Curveball retrieved their prize: a hand-sized velvet box with a gold heart inside.

~ ~ ~

Hardhat parked Hearts’ Humvee in its spot outside the American Hero studio and cameras captured every move. They were still soaked and dirty from the challenge, but their mood was high—electric. Wild Fox couldn’t sit still. His tail twitched manically. “We’re going to win. We’re totally going to win. They totally can’t rag on us this time.”

“We still don’t know how the other teams did,” Kate said. “If the others got into their safes, then the judges get to call it.”

Secretly, Ana thought Wild Fox was right. They had to win, after all that. She was still wrung out after rearranging the entire arena, and even that was a new feeling. She couldn’t tell if the fatigue was physical—or simple mental shock at what she had done. You can move the world, Roberto had said. What if he was right?

They were the first to arrive. The other three parking spaces were empty. That could only be a good thing.

John Fortune met the group at the stage entrance, swinging the door out and holding it open for them. “Hey! Welcome back,” he said.

“Hi, John,” Kate said.

“I just watched the playback. You guys were awesome. Really awesome.”

“Really?” Kate said, smiling, blushing a little. She turned almost shy.

“Thanks.”

DB hissed at Kate, “That guy’s just kissing your ass.” Everybody heard the mock whisper.

John ignored him. “I know I’m not supposed to tell you how you did beforehand, but I have to say, the look on Digger’s face when he saw what Ana did? Unbelievable.”

Ana felt herself blush.

The door pushed open wider and Berman shoved himself into the group. He spared the slightest of glances for John. “Hey kid, why don’t you find me a donut and coffee or something.”

“Actually, I’m supposed—”

“It’ll only take a minute. Go,” Berman said, smiling over gritted teeth.

“I’ll see you guys later,” John said, squeezing past Berman to reenter the soundstage.

DB laughed. “Captain Cruller’s on a mission.”

“Michael, shut up!” Kate glared at him.

“You don’t have to stick up for him like that,” he said.

“I’m not—”