(Third POV – Midnight Courtyard Setup)
By the time the arguing died down and everyone stopped staring at each other like time bombs, the courtyard had shifted again.
Music lowered.
Lanterns dimmed.
Employees wheeled in tall metal stands draped in black fabric, strange glowing spheres, and projector equipment that looked too fancy for a simple party game.
Andy Peng stood at the center of it all.
Coat glittering under the lights.
Gloves in hand.
Eyes sharp and bright.
The illusionist in full command of his stage.
He raised the mic effortlessly.
"Alright," he announced, voice carrying smoothly across the courtyard, "since the scavenger hunt almost killed half of you—especially Team Blaze—"
Vince shouted, "HEY!!" but no one dignified him with a glance.
"—it's now time for the last event. The real finale."
Everyone straightened.
Even Michelle forgot how hard her heart had been pounding five minutes ago.
Andy gestured dramatically to the covered stands.
