We pushed deeper into the wilderness, ducking beneath low branches and stepping over twisted roots. My shirt was soaked through. My throat burned.
Beside me, Nomi was muttering curses under her breath, sweat glistening on her forehead. Carter stumbled a little, catching himself on a tree trunk, his breathing ragged.
Then…
"Oouch! Fuck!" Nomi screeched.
We both spun around. She was hopping on one foot, clutching the other, her face twisted in pain.
"Oh my god, ouch!" she gasped, glaring down at the ground. "What the hell was that?"
Blood dripped from a tiny puncture in the sole of her boot. She crouched, wincing, and pried a thin, glimmering shard from between the roots. It was barely the size of a matchstick, but it pulsed faintly with a silvery glow.
"Congratulations, Contestant 021," came the voice from the speakers. "You have found the Time Keeper artifact."
Nomi froze, holding the shard between two fingers. She blinked, then scoffed.
