Meanwhile, Karin had her hands full in the house. She checked the upstairs, and started for downstairs when she heard someone come in. “That flag has got to be somewhere.” She heard Tricia say.

“I’ll check the upstairs, and you take downstairs.” Karin quickly went to the bath room, found a rope and escaped outside. With a group of two, she didn’t want to chance taking a hostage. She turned and went toward the basement door, but just as she turned the corner, Dan grabbed her. One down B.

Noah and Hannah split up to cover more ground. Noah decided to go through the trees and scanned the ground below. Seeing something moving, he lunged out of the tree, and landed on top of it. He managed to get Andy, who had makeup on. Blind folding him, he returned to the jail. He checked to see that no one was watching, and then he entered the game. Once inside, he set him in the sand, and exited the game. Andy eventually got loose, but not knowing where he was, he decided to get directions from the Lifeguard. She kept true to her disguise, and said that he was a long way away from home, and told him to enjoy the beach. Andy walked for a while, looking for an exit. One down A.

Hannah scanned the trees and brushes on the one side. It was getting near noon, so she returned to the command center. Noah, on the other hand, went to the pond, and saw that there was a group of people near it. Finding this out, he too returned to the command center.

I had found nothing. I went back to the CC, and met Jacie with the food on the way. We all met and discussed what we had seen. “Computer says that Karin has been captured, but all the rest of us are accounted for.”

“How do we trade hostages?” Hannah asked.

“Well, we send a message on our computer. But Dan is probably feeling too powerful, and would set a trap. Karin is better where she is, for the time being.” I said. We started to eat. “I’ll go feed Marie.” I said, leaving.

When I came back, I asked Noah, “You said you found someone by the pond?”

“Yes.”

“Take Hannah and check it out. I’ll take Jacie and scan the house.”

“Okay.” Hannah said. They both left the room and went to the pond.

“Jacie.” I said.

“Yes?”

“Put on that extra swim suit.”

“What for?”

“I think they might have hidden it in the pool. Put a jacket on over top.”

“Oh.” She put on the swim suit and a jacket, and we headed for the house. Once there, we went directly to the basement. Inside, I saw the pool. “I don’t see it.” She said.

“I know, but they could have covered it up. Can you go down and feel around the walls for it?”

“Sure can.” I took her jacket, and she went for a dive.

Five, four, three, two, one, the whistle blew. Teams A and B dashed out of the house. I led Team B to the control room of the game, and we quickly got inside. I covered the door and turned on the lights. I hit the ‘6′ key. Immediately the game turned to the beach. The flag was out on that island in a high tree.

“Where is that?” Jacie asked.

“It’s from the present sequence in the mind game. I had to beat a bully there. But, if we use the beach as our jail, no one will ever figure how to get out! Only the guard and I will know how to get in or out.”

“Brilliant.” Noah exclaimed. “Meanwhile, we have to work on finding Team A’s flag.”

“Right. First, let’s nominate officers.”

“Officers, why?” Marie asked.

“Because, we need to have a chain of command in order to pull this off.”

“Okay. I nominate Adam as leader.” Jacie said. They agreed.

“All right, next we need someone to do the most difficult job of being the guard for the jail.”

“I nominate Marie.” Noah said.

“Okay, Marie. Here is a swim suit and Lifeguard’s uniform in brown. Please put that on.”

“Now!!?”

“Go on, right over there, our backs are turned.” She went over to the corner while we continued to make plans. “Karin, you know the house better than I. I want you to sneak back into the house and see if the flag’s there, then come back here.”

“Yes sir.” Karin responded. I helped her out and she snuck away. Marie was taking forever to change, but we still didn’t look.

“Noah, you and Hannah are to split up and search the area surrounding us for the flag.”

“What are you going to do?” He asked.

“I’m going to look for their HQ and jail.” I said. Marie came over, pulling at the suit, trying to get a better fit.

“How do I look?” She asked.

“Great. I’ll help you into the game. Jacie, you can get the food.”

“Gotcha boss.” Jacie said. We all left the room and recovered it. Noah and Hannah left, and Marie and I went into the game. We walked over to the Lifeguard’s chair, and I helped her climb up it.

“Here is a pair of sunglasses, a hat, and a remote for the game’s door opening.”

“And if someone starts drowning?”

“Save them. It will keep with your cover.”

“Thanks,” she replied, sarcastically. I left the game, and went to look for Team A’s command center.

“I have a question.”

“Yes?”

“How do we tell sides?” Marie asked.

“In your rooms there will be uniforms of many sizes. Some are green and some are brown. Team A, which color do you want?”

“Green.” They agreed on.

“You’re in the dining room, then. Team B, we’re in here. All the shades will be closed until the whistle.”

“Can you reenter the house?” David asked.

“Yes, once you have left. If there are no more questions. . .,” I looked, “Then, let the game begin.” The two groups went to their stations and got to work on their flag. I was in Team B.

“Adam, got any ideas where to hide this flag?” Noah asked.

“Yes, Noah. Right under their noses.” I replied.

“Where’s that?” Marie asked.

“Don’t worry. When it comes time to hide the flag, I’ll go. When it comes time to hide, all of you follow me, I have the perfect place to be our command center and jail.” I commented. We designed our flag. It was a picture of a sunset on a pond. It was almost as pretty as the real thing. An half an hour rolled by and Team A went and hid their flag. Fifteen minutes went by, and I went to hide ours. I went to the mind game, quickly slipping in and putting it in the back of the game. Then I came back and went into the house. The game was about to begin.