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And them winning is the worst possible outcome. They are so obnoxious.

We have one more clue to get, then we can disarm our bomb, and I can finally get a nap in.

“Say hello to my very big friend,” the woman who raised me announces. I look up to see her on the second floor with her weapon pointed at me.

In an effort to save me, Caleb tackles me to the ground and rolls us so she can’t get another shot. But it’s too late. The low beep coming from my vest lets me know that I’m dead and have to go get revived.

“Caleb, run before they lock in on our location,” I murmur, trying to ignore how he feels pressed on top of me. I can feel every inch of him on me, and it’s taking every bit of willpower not to lose it.

He shakes his head. “I can’t leave you.” You would think we are at war and my actual life is at stake.

“You must.” I fake cough. “Avenge me.” How did I get to this point? I’m supposed to be the sane one. He’s rubbing off on me.

“I’ll never forget your sacrifice,” he whispers, then with one last look, he stands and runs off.

I jump up and run towards our home base to revive. He’s going to need backup. When I turn the corner, I come to a complete halt.

My lips curl in disgust. “We meet again… Mother.” There stands a replica of me, only older and more vicious.

“Where’s your little man? He left you alone? Pity.” She’s blocking my way to my territory. Rookie mistake. There’s more than one way to get there.

“Is it worth it? Betraying your daughter?”

She smirks. “I taught you this, my baby girl. Winning isn’t everything—”

“It’s the only thing,” I finish for her. “But you’ve miscalculated.”

Her head slightly tilts in confusion. “How?”

I smile. “You’re so focused on me that you forgot there is more than one way into our territory.”

“Stop him!” my dad shouts from a distance. Her head whips around just in time to see Caleb type in the last number we needed to disarm the bomb. She raises her gun to shoot him, but alas, she’s too late.

The timer on the box stops, and a congratulatory noise erupts from it, signaling the game is over.

The lights in the room turn on, causing me to squint my eyes and the flash of pain from it. I run over to Caleb and jump in his arms. He swings me around before letting me go so we can face my parents.

Any sense of humility escapes us as we do our signature dance and song, forcing my parents to bask in our victory.

They stare at us with crossed arms, annoyance all over their faces. “Say it!” Caleb and I shout at the same time.

With a defeated sigh, they concede. “You two are the winners.”

“Top two and we ain’t number two!” Caleb yells knowing they hate when he says that.

My dad mumbles, “Whatever,” and stomps out the room with my mom and us in tow. We drop off our gear to the staff, my dad pouting the whole time.

He has always been such a sore loser. Good thing I’m nothing like him.

After turning in our gear, we all walk towards the parking lot, discussing football as usual. Well, my dad and Caleb are. My mom and I are walking arm in arm.

“We will see you two for Sunday dinner, yes?” my mom asks.

Caleb hugs her. “I don’t know about JJ, but I’m not missing your cooking.”

She laughs. “Of course, you aren’t. I have to make sure my boy is fueled and ready for the season to begin.”

My dad bumps his fist. “Yeah, we need to plan the vacation for when you win the Super Bowl again. Switzerland was a lot of fun, but I’m thinking somewhere tropical for us all.”