The Recall Trials
Chapter 48: Jojo’s Gambit

Chapter 48: Jojo’s Gambit

Zaara didn’t move. She just stared at jojo, crossing her arms.

"I need a distraction," she said quietly. "Just a few seconds. Long enough to make one of the guards step into the room... and turn his back."

I frowned. "And then what? You’re gonna—?"

She nodded. "Knock him out. Take his clothes. His mask. Whatever keys or passcode he’s got on him."

I stared at her. "You serious?"

Jojo nodded once. "Dead serious."

I stared at her like she’d grown a second head. "And then what? You just walk around dressed like one of them?"

Zaara whispered. "And what are you hoping to find out there?"

"I find where they go when they leave. I find where they’re watching us from..how they run this whole thing. Maybe I even find a way to shut it down." She said calmly.

Jojo’s answer was immediate. "Then I go down fighting. Not like some pawn in their little circus."

The silence that followed was thick. One of the overhead bulbs flickered and let out a low buzzing sound, like even the walls were nervous.

"I’m not asking you to say yes right now. Just think about it. We’ve got 48-hrs left. This has to happen before they name the Wildcard. After that, it’s too late. This is the only window."

She paused, eyes flicking between us. "If I pull this off, we might finally understand what we’re really up against."

"I don’t know," zaara whispered. "Marla... she warned you. She said you’re the spark, remember? And......"

Jojo rolled her eyes. "That woman’s lost it. She’s been talking to the walls since day one. Don’t let her voodoo freak you out."

Zaara didn’t answer. She just slowly reached for my hand. Her warm fingers slid between mine.

Jojo looked at us one last time. "Please. Don’t tell anyone where I’ve gone. Just cover for me, that’s all I’m asking."

I hesitated... then nodded.

"We’ve got you," I whispered.

"Thank you," she said.

Jojo gave one last look, and then turned and disappeared down the corridor, swallowed by the dim shadows. Her footsteps faded fast. And then it was just me and Zaara, alone again.

The truth was, I didn’t know what scared me more...Jojo’s plan, or how easy it was to believe it might actually work.

Zaara was still gripping my hands tight. I could feel the tension in her fingers.

"I don’t like this, I have a bad feeling about this," she whispered.

"I know," I said. And I meant it. Every part of me was screaming that this was insane...this was dangerous. But then again, wasn’t everything here insane and dangerous?

"What if something goes wrong?" Zaara asked. "What if she gets caught? What if they punish us for helping her?"

I didn’t have an answer.

I glanced back down the corridor where Jojo had vanished.

"She made her choice," I said. "Now we have to protect her while she’s out there."

Zaara looked at me. "Do you think she’ll find anything?"

I swallowed hard. "If there’s anything out there to find... Jojo’s the kind of person who’ll find it."

We slowly made our way back to the main room. Everyone else was asleep. Theo was snoring like a faulty machine. Carter was curled up in the corner. Nomi was lying flat on her back, staring at the ceiling. I climbed on my bed and dozed off.

....

The Next Night—

It had been twenty-four hours.

Twenty-four hours since Jojo had pulled us aside and whispered her plan..the one that sounded so impossible, so reckless, that I’d barely slept since. The plan that could either save us or get us all killed. And Zaara and I... we had to help. No matter the cost.

Now, it was the night before the wildcard announcement. The night Jojo had officially planned to make her move. And Zaara and I... we had to help. No matter the cost.

Time had moved weird all day. Like the room itself could sense what was coming. Too fast and too slow, like we were stuck in some invisible current we couldn’t swim against. No one spoke more than they had to. Conversations were short. Glances were sharper. Everyone was on edge. Maybe it was paranoia or tension for tomorrow’s announcement and voting.

The lights dimmed earlier than usual.

Dinner came late. It was cold. No one asked questions.

Even the guards who brought the trays looked like something was off about them... They just shoved the metal plate into the room and turned around like they couldn’t stand being near us a second longer.

And then... Jojo made eye contact.

It was subtle. Just a glance from across the room. She gave the smallest nod and brushed her hand along her arm. That was the signal.

Zaara turned to me. "It’s time," she whispered.

I nodded once. "Let’s do this."

We walked slowly to the far wall of the room, farthest from the hallway Jojo would be sneaking through. We had to draw attention. Enough to pull the eyes of every contestant and every camera.

This was it.

I stopped. Zaara stood opposite me. Our backs to the room. Then I took a sharp breath...and let it snap.

"You just never listen, do you? What the hell is your problem?" I shouted, loud enough for the whole room to hear.

Zaara flinched but played along perfectly.

Her voice trembled. "Excuse me?"

"My problem? You’re the one who thinks you’re in charge of everything!" she snapped.

We were drawing attention now. Bunks creaked as people sat up.

"I said you’re reckless!" I shouted. "You think you’re smarter than everyone here, but you’re not. You’re gonna get yourself killed!"

She stepped forward. "Oh, that’s rich coming from you. Mr. Trust No One. Mr. I’ll Decide For Everyone!"

"Because I’m trying to keep you safe!" I yelled, louder now, throwing my hands in the air. "But you don’t get it, do you? You never listen!"

People were gasping and whispering. Nomi started smiling like she was enjoying the show. Carter was watching us like a hawk. Theo had already stood.

"I never asked you to!" she shouted.

"Don’t touch me!" Zaara shouted, shoving me hard in the chest. "I swear to God, if you ever talk to me like that again—!"

Theo was already halfway to us when he barked, "Hey! Back off, Vincent!"

"Stay out of it," I snapped.

Zaara shoved me again, this time rougher. "I said don’t touch me!"

The heat behind it was real. Fear made it real.

Theo didn’t wait.

He lunged straight at me.

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