very convinced. He stood up, motioning for Hydra to do so, too.
âFor now, work your hardest in the training Pit. Become the best Balance Keepers you can be.â
âWe will,â Albert, Birdie, and Leroy promised together.
They turned, ready to leave. But before they were out of earshot, Professor Flynn called out.
âAlbert?â
Albert turned. âYeah, Dad?â
âDonât worry about your mom and siblings. Your momâs a smart woman. Sheâll get them out of there safely.â
âI hope so,â Albert said.
His dad lowered his voice. âWatch your back, kiddo. If thereâs a traitor in our midst, a Tile like yours might be the very thing that person wants to seize for their own.â
Albert nodded.
He turned and followed his friends out of the room, a chill running up and down his spine.
CHAPTER 7
Return to the Pit
W hen Petra saw the looks on his three friendsâ faces, he frowned.
âThat bad, huh?â
âWorse,â Albert sighed.
Leroy patted Albert on the back. Birdieâs shoulders drooped, and Farnsworth sang out a mournful howl.
âThen I guess this is a bad time to tell you that youâre due in the Pit, like, now?â Petra said. He was looking at Hydra like theyâd be seriously disturbed.
But Albertâs face broke into a smile.
âNo, Petra,â he said, walking a little bit faster. âThatâs the best news Iâve heard all day!â
âLetâs go!â Birdie clapped her hands.
âI never thought Iâd say this,â Leroy sighed. âBut letâs do this, dudes.â
Farnsworth yipped and sprinted down the tunnel with Albert, Birdie, and Leroy fresh on his heels.
They didnât see the worried look on Petraâs face as they left him behind.
The pathway to the Pit was the most welcome sight Albert had seen since his return to the Core. Being a Balance Keeper made Albert crave danger, the same way Leroy craved cake.
âFirst one to the top wins!â Albert shouted as they burst through the old wooden door that led to the pathway to the Pit.
âThen thatâll be me!â Birdie giggled, shoving past the boys.
Inside was a massive, towering cavern, and an uneven pathway that zigzagged left and right, higher and higher. Leroy groanedâno doubt at the lack of railings. Waterfalls fell at random over the path, creating a misty, dreamlike atmosphere.
Albert sprinted forward. Farnsworth wiggled past him and raced up the narrow pathway, barking and howling.
Birdie was fast and light on her feet.
But Albert had been secretly training while he was back in New York, running on his stepdadâs treadmill every night. He pulled ahead, the soles of his boots just barely hanging over the edge of the path.
âOh, no way!â Birdie yelled behind him.
Albert could hear her breathing, so he really laid on the speed.
Left, right.
Through a waterfall, then skidding to a near stop as the pathway went left again.
Albert reached the top and dove onto the orange platform where Farnsworth was already waiting. The little dog howled as if to announce Albert as the winner.
Birdie came up just a few seconds behind him.
âYou were using your Master Tile!â she groaned, wiping sweat from her forehead.
Albert shook his head. âNope. Just plain old Albert magic, nothing extra added on.â
âRematch next time, then,â Birdie said, bending to stretch her legs. âHey, whereâs Leroy?â
Together, Albert and Birdie looked down. Far below, Leroy was inching his way up the path, as slow as a worm in the mud.
âItâll probably take him a day or two to settle back into the way things are here,â Albert said. He cupped his hands over his mouth and yelled down. âCome on, Leroy! Letâs go!â
âWeâre gonna be late, Leroy!â Birdie shouted. âPick up the pace!â
âHavenât you read any books, you
Pierre V. Comtois, Charlie Krank, Nick Nacario