“Only eight minutes left,” I say after checking my phone. “Let’s get them ready, and figure out our plan.”

Spending the next five minutes helping kids go potty and trying to brainstorm, Ren and I come up with a tentative game plan. Well, really, we’re going to hide and wait until the challenge starts, so we can find more information. I knew it wasn’t the most cunning plan, but it would be the safest. Hopefully.

We gather the kids into the back storage room, trying to keep them focused while we explained what was going to happen. I knew they were getting tired but I pushed the thought to the side. If we made it past this, we could find some time to sleep. Right now, what mattered was surviving.

“Hey!” I say sharply, causing a few of the kids to flinch. Theo’s hand freezes, on its way to Kena’s hair, before falling slowly back into his lap.

“It’s time to use our listening ears,” I look at each kid, making sure they nod before letting Ren begin.

“Remember how we’re playing a game right now?” He asks. Six little heads bob up and down. “The next part of the game is going to start. We aren’t sure exactly what to do yet, so for now it’s like a puzzle. When the time comes, I need you all to listen really well, okay? No running off, keep our friends together, and listen to Ms. Maisy and I. That way, we can win the game, alright?”

*Ding*

*You have received the buff Good Luck!*

*You have received the buff Follow the Leader! While moving in a group, you gain 5% hp every 1 minute and have increased movement speed*

“Hmm,” I look at the first, wondering why it doesn’t have a description. I’m not left with much time to wonder, though, because a second notification follows the first.

*Ding*

Ready yourselves, Warriors!

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Level One of End of Earth has begun!

Complete the Zone Challenge to receive exclusive prizes and skills related to your Zone!

Zone Challenge 273: Collectibles

There are 10 collectibles scattered throughout the Zone. Each individual must have one collectible to complete the Zone Challenge. Any individuals unable to find a collectible fail the challenge. Once a collectible has been touched, it will be claimed by the individual who found it.

Rewards: Collectibles found will be kept by individuals after Zone Challenge

Penalty: Failure to complete Zone Challenge will result in death.

Good luck, Warriors!

Zone Challenge Time: 2 hours 59 minutes

Ren and I quickly read the message before looking at each other in relief. In theory, this could be easy, even beneficial for us. If we could find the collectibles, we’d let the kids grab them and earn their safety. We even had three hours. From what I’d seen, the zones weren’t that big. As long as the so called collectibles weren’t the size of a marble or anything, it should be fine, right?

“Do you think we should split up again?” Ren asks me and I pause, thinking. We would be able to cover more ground, but I was nervous risking it.

“If you take Theo, you’ll have a backup safety plan,” he suggests and I frown. Isn’t he putting too much on a five year old?

“Or a back up disaster,” I mutter out loud and Ren tries to convince me.

“Come on, we have to work with what we have, Maisy. Put a little trust in him. I’m not saying use him like a weapon, but if things start to go bad, he can come over and meet up with us, or maybe help one of the others.”

“This challenge seems pretty safe, as long as we all complete it,” I say to myself, chewing on my lip. “There’s eight of us, and ten collectibles. As long as there’s no one else in the zone, it should be okay?”

“That’s the spirit,” Ren says optimistically and I roll my eyes.

“Fine. Same groups as before?” I ask and he nods in agreement. I turn to tell the kids the plan, hoping we aren’t about to go down in flames, both metaphorically and physically.

“We’re going to split up again like last time,” I tell them. “Same teams. For this game, it’s like a scavenger hunt. We have to find special objects before the time runs out. Easy, right?”

“What do the special thingies look like?” Kena asks curiously and Ren and I share a look.

“It’s going to be a surprise for all of us,” Ren fills in, “but we’ll know once we find them. Now, if you find one, don’t touch it until Ms. Maisy or I say it’s okay. We all have to get one to win the game. Next, no running off. This is a teamwork game still, and we all want to win, right?”

“Yeah!” the kids chorus, nodding emphatically.

“Okay, Ren, do you want to explore the same way as before?” I ask him. He shrugs. “I don’t think it matters much anyways, so that works.”

“Alright, Theo, Cassidy, Benny, let’s go, friends!” I say with determination. I feel like this is a challenge we might actually do well in. Not only that, but everyone would definitely receive something as a reward afterwards. Feeling in high spirits, my team heads out the door first, Theo in the lead as usual.

“Good luck, Ren!” I holler, feeling optimistic for the first time since the chaos started.

“You too! We’ll meet back here in an hour,” he replies, Greyson and Kena waving at me as we headed down the road.