《The Holiday Competition ✔️》chapter thirteen

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I feel panicked as Spencer hands us another dossier each. We're sat our tables again, ready to start the second round.

There's seven of us, all gripping our folders. Spencer has also given us access to computers, which will allow us to search up authors and titles of books.

'Okay. You may begin.'

I anxiously open the folder and read the first riddle.

Relief floods through as I realise they are dingbats. Imagery riddles rather than written ones.

(I got the following images of a website, they're not mine)

The first one is easy and makes me smile.

I rush to find the Fault inOur Stars by John Green. When I pull out the book from the shelf and open it, apiece of paper slides out and onto the floor.

I look at the next riddle.

Catch 22 is next. Nestledunder the front cover, I find the next clue.

The Lion, the Witch and theWardrobe gives me the next riddle.

This one makes me laugh.

Fifty shades of Grey wasn'tone that I was expecting.

The answer to the next riddle makes me sad.

As much as I enjoyed readingWatership Down, it's a sad book.

The fifth riddle is tucked into the book cover.

20,000 leagues under the seais harder to find. It's right on the top shelf and I have to bring over aladder to get at it.

The sixth riddle is easy:

Black Beauty, another bookthat made me cry.

The riddle that falls out this time, is a load of words in small font: señorita, madam, sheila, lady, dame, broad.

It takes me a moment, but I work out the answer to be Little Women.

The next riddle is this:

THE

LILAC

ROSE

LILY

ATTIC

I smile as I realise it is hinting at Flowers In The Attic by V. C. Andrews. One of my favourites.

The next riddle is harder. It is a proper riddle, word play.

This thing all things devours;

Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;

Gnaws iron, bites steel;

Grinds hard stones to meal;

Slays king, ruins town,

And beats mountain down.

As I read the quote, I find myself reading it in Gollum's voice and I remember that it is from The Hobbit. I rush to find Tolkien's shelf.

It isn't a riddle, it's a test to see if I know which book it comes from.

The next riddle is one of the easiest.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

Alice in Wonderland takes me a few minutes to find. I'm out of breath when the paper falls out of the pages.

I've passed the girls many times on my way around. I can hear their footsteps on the floors above and below me as I read the next clue.

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First think of the person who lives in disguise,

Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies,

Next tell me what's always the last thing to mend,

The middle of middle and end of the end?

And finally give me the sound often heard,

During the search for a hard-to-find word.

Now string them together, and answer me this,

Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?

It takes me a minute to remember. The quote rings a very distant bell. I close my eyes and concentrate.

Harry Potter. Definitely. But which one?

The Goblet of Fire included riddles. I run up the stairs to find J.K. Rowling's shelf.

I let out a sigh of relief when I read the final scrap of paper.

THIS IS YOUR LAST BOOK. TAKE THIS NOTE TO SPENCER.

I run down the corridor, brushing past Florie on the way. I hand the note to Spencer and he notes my name down.

Finally done, I collapse into one of the library chairs and wait for the others to finish.

Kira is the slowest. She is sent back to the chambers, leaving only six of us.

'Final task, ladies. This might seem like an odd one. You have fifteen minutes to choose one book. One single book out of this entire library. The bachelor of your choice will be presented with the books and they will have to choose which book choice they like most, and therefore who will be joining them on the dates this evening.'

I glance at Saffron and Winnie, who look equally as dumbfounded as I feel.

This is so random.

'Fifteen minutes to find one book that is your favourite. One that embodies you, that speaks to you, one that you couldn't live without reading again.'

Spencer starts the timer and I stumble down the aisles, wondering which one I should pick.

I've always loved Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier. I loved the Fallen series by Lauren Kate.

How am I supposed to choose?

Spencer shouts that there is five minutes left and my heart rate skyrockets as panic sets in. I don't know what to choose.

Should I choose one that I love or one that I think Bain will like?

I wish one of the other girls were around so that I could ask them, but we all seem to have gone in different directions.

As I'm scanning along the shelves for inspiration, something catches my eye.

Dracula by Bram Stoker.

That gives me an idea.

It's a long shot, but I decide to see if the library really is as extensive as Spencer brags it to be. I search the shelves, trying to find the author I'm looking for.

I smile triumphantly as I find her.

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(A/N This author is from Wattpad, therefore I do not know her real name, and she has not published her works as printed books that I know of. But for the sake of my long-winded plot-line, let's pretend she has)

by Misguided.

This is one of the first vampire novels I read growing up. This and Twilight are the ones that made me fall in love with creatures of the night.

It's one I come back to again and again. It's so beautifully written.

Grasping the book in both hands, I head back over to Spencer.

The other five girls are waiting for me. I'm the last to choose. I place the book on the pile for Spencer.

'Thank you, ladies. I will take you back to your chambers.'

I walk with Saff and Florie at the back.

'You won't believe what Saffron chose,' Florie whispers to us.

Saff smirks smugly, obviously proud of her choice.

'What?' I ask.

'How to Seduce a Billionaire by Portia Da Costa,' Florie replies.

I burst out laughing and Saffron grins.

'What? I'm not trying to win this thing.'

Spencer lets us into the communal area and corrals the other three women. We sit down on the sofas to face him.

'I will return later, to let you know which three will be going on dates tonight. I have some more bad news, I'm afraid. Tomorrow, two of you will be sent home.'

He leaves us alone with that bombshell.

Winnie and Saff share a worried look.

'I think it will be me,' Saffron says.

Winnie shakes her head. 'No, it will be me.'

'Or both of us,' Saff adds glumly.

Winnie shrugs. 'I'm not bothered. It's not like I fancy any of these guys. I'll be happy to continue my holiday without them.'

I shove her playfully.

'And what about us? Are you happy to continue your holiday without us?' I ask her, pretending to be hurt.

She rolls her eyes at me. 'No, obviously I'd want you two to be sent home ASAP so we could continue our holiday together.'

Saff snorts. 'Not likely with Bain about. Have you seen the way he looks at Amity? Like he could eat her.'

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Spencer interrupts our movie an hour and a half later.

'I'm pleased to announce that the winners are; Florie, Amity and Lula.'

I breathe a sigh of relief. Winnie and Saff pat me on the back.

Spencer leaves and they take my hands, practically dragging me to my room to get ready.

Just as I'm adding the final touches to my make-up, Florie knocks on my door and enters my bedroom.

She joins Saffron and Winnie on my bed. She looks wonderful in her sapphire-coloured dress. We exchange compliments.

'You won't believe what I just overheard in the kitchen,' Florie tells us conspiratorially.

Saff immediately sits up straighter.

'Tell us, I love gossip,' she comments.

Winnie rolls her eyes, but looks curious.

'Apparently, Helene lied on her questionnaire about poets that she liked. She put famous names down but had never read their works, that's why it took her so long on the first task, because she had no idea what poem the message was from.'

I refrain from making a mean comment, but hey, you know what they say about karma...

'I honestly don't know what Bain sees in her. It must be for her figure,' Florie says with distaste and I pull a face at myself in the mirror.

'He's watched her be nasty to you, tripping you over and making jibes. He can't enjoy her throwing herself at him 24/7 and now, she's been lying to try and seem better than she is. The girl is fake and I don't like it.'

I love Florie. She seems so sweet and quiet, but when there's something she's passionate about, she gets all outspoken.

Time moves quickly and soon enough, Spencer is collecting us again. I see him more than I do my own reflection at this point.

He takes the three of us downstairs. One by one, he drops off Florie and Lula to the other bachelors. I'm last.

'Bain requested this room specifically,' Spencer tells me as he opens the door.

I gasp as I take in the high ceilings in the palatial room.

'Wow,' I whisper.

'I thought you'd like it.'

Bain's voice reaches me from across the room.

How did he hear my whisper?

He's stood by a beautifully laid table again. He looks unbearable handsome in a suit again. He grins as I approach him. Spencer closes the door behind me.

'This is the throne room. I told you that you had to see it. Magnificent, isn't it?'

I nod, lost for words as I take in the stunning room.

Bain pushes in my chair for me and sits down. He shuffles his chair around so that we're sat close to one another.

We cheers our glasses and take a sip of the deliciously chilled champagne.

'You know,' I muse aloud. 'I don't think I could live in a castle.'

Bain's eyes narrow at me.

'And why is that?' He asks cautiously.

'It's far too big. I would get lost all of the time.'

He laughs at my words and the tenseness leaves his shoulders.

What was that about?

I don't have time to question it anymore, because the first course is served.

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