Chapter 10: A game of wits

"Should we find the tigers' owner, then?" May suggested, looking at the big cats playing. She still held a leash.

"Or should we investigate the whole fire situation first?" Cheryl didn't want to agree with May's plan. She sensed that May wanted to hide something, and going against her plans was the best strategy Cheryl could come up with at the moment.

"But Rach… Kid," Vlad decided to call Cheryl "kid" a long time ago, as he was not really good with all the disguise plans she introduced back then.

"We can't just leave the tigers unattended," he finished his thought.

"Let's just bring them along!" Cheryl insisted.

"That's an option, I guess," Vlad agreed.

"But how do you plan to investigate?" May joined the discussion. "The ship is huge, where would we even start?"

"The command room, of course," Cheryl said, looking at May without blinking.

May's expression stayed neutral. Impressive, Cheryl thought, no sign of any emotion.

"Not to question your planning, Cheryl," May started gently, "But why there? Are there any leads?"

Cheryl saw someone there and really wanted to check if, by any chance, May was connected to it. She, although, wasn't completely sure if it was best to drop this information right at the moment.

"I've heard personnel saying that they suspected it as a place where the fire started," she said.

Vlad looked at Cheryl in suspicion. He knew that she saw the command room with her own eyes while looking for the source of the fire. He, however, didn't know that she saw a mysterious figure leaving the room through the smoke. Normally, he would prefer a more direct approach, but he also trusted Cheryl and her scheming, so he didn't say anything.

Vlad, Cheryl, and May moved toward the command room, the mama tiger on the leash, and the baby tiger following behind. Apparently, May had some treats, and that was possibly why the animals were following them with such willingness.

"It's probably one of the tasks, so it must be possible to solve it," Cheryl started thinking out loud.

"Yes, it's unlikely that they would start a fire without a backstory," May agreed.

Cheryl knew she wasn't lying: she believed that it was unlikely. Yet, she had a feeling that something was wrong.

The smoke still wasn't gone from the deck, and the tigers started resisting their attempts to move forward. The group had to stop. People around were staring at them. Not every day one sees a group of people with polar tigers on a leash, especially on a deck of a passenger ship.

The attention from the onlookers only added to the tension in the air. Clearly, their peculiar entourage had become the center of curiosity and speculation among the passengers. Whispers and hushed conversations rippled through the crowd, creating an atmosphere of intrigue.

Cheryl exchanged a concerned glance with Vlad and May, silently communicating the need for caution and discretion. They were not sure if they could afford to draw any more attention to themselves than necessary. With a gentle hand gesture, Cheryl urged the group to take a few steps back, away from the prying eyes of the onlookers.

"We should find a more secluded area to regroup and discuss our next move," Cheryl suggested, her voice barely above a whisper. "We don't want to attract unnecessary attention or reveal our intentions prematurely."

Vlad nodded in agreement, acknowledging the importance of maintaining a low profile. He scanned the surroundings, searching for a suitable location where they could gather without arousing suspicion.

"There," Vlad pointed to a nearby door leading to a secluded corridor. "It seems like a quieter area."

The group cautiously made their way toward the designated spot, ensuring the tigers remained calm and compliant. As they entered the secluded corridor, a sense of relief washed over them. The silence enveloped them, providing a respite from the curious gazes and whispers that had trailed their every step.

Cheryl leaned against the wall, her mind racing with thoughts and possibilities. She felt a sense of urgency to uncover the truth behind the fire and the mysterious figure she had witnessed in the command room. But there was also an underlying concern about the secrets May was hiding, which disturbed her from concentrating on the fire case. Cheryl couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her companion than met the eye.

"May," Cheryl began, her voice tinged with caution. "I can't help but wonder why you decided to join the contest..."

"Cheryl, I understand your reservations," May responded softly. "It was my brother's wish, not mine. One can say that he really likes winning." Mister mysterious brother again? Cheryl's skepticism lingered, but she couldn't deny the sincerity in May's voice.

"It's the same for us, you know," said Vlad. "We just like to have fun."

"Although, it's a bit weird to me that your brother is the one who likes competitions, and you're the one participating... Anyway, should we leave the tigers here with one of us, then the other two split and look around?"

"But who wants to stay watching tigers instead of going into action..." Vlad started.

"Actually, I wouldn't mind," said May softly.

Suspicious. She was so eager to participate in the whole 'saving operation' in the beginning, and now she's okay with just staying with the tigers... Moreover, that's not how you win the competition. Cheryl felt that she was one step closer to understanding May's secrets.

"Oh, no, that would be unfair... Let's play some game to decide who's staying," Cheryl suggested. She couldn't let May stay, so she had to come up with something to leave Vlad with the tigers.

"A game? Sounds fair, I'm in!" Vlad was absolutely clueless.

Cheryl couldn't help but smile inwardly at Vlad's enthusiasm. She knew she had to come up with a game that would give her an advantage and allow her to investigate further, closely watching May at the same time. She needed Vlad to lose. After a moment of contemplation, an idea sparked in Cheryl's mind.

"I have just the game in mind," Cheryl said, her voice brimming with excitement. "How about a game of riddles? We'll take turns asking riddles, and the first one to stump the other two wins."

May's eyes lit up with anticipation, while Vlad looked slightly puzzled but intrigued. Cheryl knew that riddles were her forte, and she could use her skills to outwit her companions.

"Sounds intriguing," May replied, a hint of curiosity lacing her words. "I'm up for the challenge."

"I'm the youngest, so I start," Cheryl decided. "May goes second, Vlad is the last. Each of us introduces three riddles, and whoever answers the least loses."

Cheryl and May positioned themselves across from each other, ready to engage in their intellectual duel. Vlad took a step back, his gaze shifting between the two, clearly excited to witness the battle of wits.

Cheryl began with her first riddle, her voice laced with mystery. "I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?"

May furrowed her brows, contemplating the riddle for a moment before she seemed to realise the answer.

"It's an echo," she declared with confidence.

Vlad was still watching from one step behind.

Cheryl couldn't help but be impressed by May's quick thinking. She knew that May was good at controlling her emotions, but now it was clear that May possessed a sharp mind, which only deepened Cheryl's curiosity about her true motives.

Undeterred, Cheryl fired another riddle. "I can fly without wings. I can cry without eyes. Wherever I go, darkness follows me. What am I?"

Vlad scratched his head, clearly stumped by the riddle. May, however, maintained a composed demeanor as she pondered the answer.

"It's a cloud," May stated, her voice calm and certain.

As the game progressed, all three of Cheryl's riddles got answered by May. Now it was time for May's turn.

"You know, I'm kinda ready to admit my defeat," Vlad said quietly. He didn't enjoy the game much.

"No, we have to continue," said both of the girls, who were definitely into the game.

Vlad, however, was right: he had already lost this game. The first two riddles by May were solved by Cheryl in a few seconds, while he couldn't even think of where to start. Now it was clear that he was the one staying, but May still decided to voice her last riddle.

"I am the beginning of the end and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?"

Cheryl furrowed her brow, deep in thought. The weight of the riddle's implications hung in the air, adding a layer of intensity to the moment. After a few moments of contemplation, Cheryl's eyes widened as understanding dawned upon her.

"It's the letter 'E'," Cheryl exclaimed with a mix of triumph and realization.

With a gracious smile, Cheryl concluded, "Well done, May. You have proven yourself to be an exceptional riddle solver."

May returned the smile, her gaze steady.

"Thank you, Cheryl. It was an enjoyable challenge."

"Vlad, you stay with the cats," said Cheryl with a smile.

With a shared glance and a silent understanding, May and Cheryl took their first step toward the command room. The echoes of their riddles still resonated in their minds, reminding them that sometimes the answers lie hidden within the most enigmatic of puzzles.

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