The next morning, the class buzzed with speculation. The problem-solving challenge had captured everyone's imagination, and theories about what it would entail were flying around.
"It's definitely going to be math-heavy," Priya said, her voice tinged with both excitement and nervousness. "Or maybe riddles. They'll want to test how fast we can think on our feet."
"Escape rooms are about puzzles, not equations," Nisha countered, twirling a pen between her fingers. "It'll probably be a mix of logic and observation. You know, spotting patterns and hidden clues."
"Doesn't matter what it is," Karan interrupted, his tone dismissive. "We just need to stay focused and win."
I leaned back in my chair, half-listening as I skimmed through a book. While the others speculated, I was more interested in the dynamics at play. Karan's confidence, Priya's meticulous nature, Nisha's impulsiveness—they were all pieces of the puzzle.
Ms. Kapoor entered the classroom, silencing the chatter instantly. She carried a clipboard, her expression calm but firm.
"Good morning, everyone," she began. "The problem-solving challenge will take place this afternoon. It will involve teamwork, observation, and logical reasoning. You'll be divided into groups of five, which I'll announce now."
A wave of anticipation swept through the room. The groups were critical—team chemistry could make or break the outcome.
She began reading out names, pausing briefly between each group.
"Karan, Rohit, Priya, Nisha, Aarav."
I felt a flicker of amusement. Of course, I'd been grouped with them. It was almost as if fate—or Ms. Kapoor—wanted to see how we'd handle the friction that was already bubbling beneath the surface.
"You have until lunch to strategize with your teams," Ms. Kapoor concluded. "Use your time wisely."
The five of us gathered in a corner of the classroom. Karan took charge immediately, his tone authoritative.
"Alright, here's the plan," he said, crossing his arms. "I'll lead the team. Priya and Nisha, you focus on finding clues. Rohit and Aarav can handle the logic puzzles."
"Why do you get to lead?" Rohit snapped, his frustration finally spilling over.
"Because I know how to get things done," Karan shot back, his eyes narrowing.
"And what if your 'leadership' backfires?" Rohit retorted. "You're not exactly a team player, Karan."
The tension between them was palpable, and I could see Priya shifting uncomfortably. Nisha, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the drama, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
"Enough," I said quietly, my voice cutting through the argument.
They all turned to look at me, surprised. I rarely spoke up in these situations, preferring to stay in the background.
"Arguing won't help us win," I continued, keeping my tone neutral. "We need to divide roles based on strengths, not egos. Karan, you're good at staying composed under pressure, so you can handle coordination. Rohit, you're analytical—focus on solving the harder puzzles. Priya and Nisha, you're observant, so work together to spot clues. I'll step in wherever there's a gap."
There was a moment of silence as they processed my words.
"Fine," Karan muttered grudgingly. "Let's just get this over with."
The challenge was set up in one of the school's unused wings, which had been converted into a maze of rooms. Each team started in a different room, and the goal was to solve the puzzles in each one to unlock the next. The team that completed the maze in the shortest time would win.
Our first room was dimly lit, with walls covered in strange symbols and a locked chest in the center. A timer on the wall displayed 20 minutes.
"Let's get to work," Karan said, clapping his hands.
Priya and Nisha began examining the walls, their fingers tracing over the symbols. Rohit crouched near the chest, inspecting the lock. Karan stood in the middle, trying to keep an eye on everyone.
I hung back, observing.
The key to winning wasn't just solving the puzzles—it was managing the team. Karan's need for control, Rohit's simmering resentment, Priya's perfectionism, Nisha's impulsiveness… these were the real obstacles.
"I think these symbols form a pattern," Priya said, her voice hesitant. "Maybe they're a code for the lock."
"Or maybe they're a distraction," Nisha countered, tapping her chin. "What if the real clue is hidden somewhere else?"
"Can you two stop guessing and focus?" Karan snapped.
"Why don't you do something useful for once?" Rohit shot back.
"Enough," I said calmly, stepping forward. "Priya, keep working on the pattern. Nisha, check for hidden compartments. Rohit, see if the lock reacts to anything. We don't have time to argue."
They hesitated, then nodded, returning to their tasks.
As the timer ticked down, we began making progress. Priya's pattern led to a combination, which Nisha used to find a hidden key. Rohit unlocked the chest, revealing a puzzle box inside.
Karan took the box, his fingers fumbling as he tried to solve it.
"Let me," I said, taking it from him.
He looked like he wanted to argue but stepped back.
The puzzle box was intricate, its mechanism designed to mislead. I rotated it carefully, feeling for subtle shifts. Within moments, the lid clicked open, revealing a card with the next clue.
"Let's move," I said, handing the card to Karan.
We unlocked the door and stepped into the next room, the timer resetting.
The challenge continued, each room testing a different skill—logic, observation, communication. The cracks in our team dynamic became more pronounced, but with careful nudges, I kept things from falling apart.
By the time we reached the final room, we were neck-and-neck with another team. The tension was suffocating.
The last puzzle was a riddle, scrawled on the wall in elegant handwriting:
I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?
"An echo," I said immediately, without waiting for the others to debate.
The door clicked open, and we sprinted through, crossing the finish line just seconds before the other team.
Back in the classroom, the atmosphere was electric as Ms. Kapoor announced the results.
"Congratulations to Team 3 for completing the challenge in record time!"
Our class erupted into cheers, but I noticed the tension lingering in my teammates' expressions. Winning hadn't resolved anything—it had only magnified the fractures.
As the others celebrated, I slipped away, my mind already analyzing the day's events. The tournament was far from over, and the real games were just beginning.
Let them think I was just another piece on the board. The truth was, I was the one moving the pieces.
End of chapter 6