Treasure Hunt

by Nikki Shannon Smith

  Copyright © 2019 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

  All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

  Darby Creek

  A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.

  241 First Avenue North

  Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA

  For reading levels and more information, look up this title at www.lernerbooks.com.

  Cover photographs: Goran Bogicevic/Shutterstock.com (key); Dr. Norbert Lange/Shutterstock.com (maze).

  Main body text set in Janson Text LT Std 12/17.5. Typeface provided by Adobe Systems.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Smith, Nikki Shannon, 1971– author.

  Title: Treasure Hunt / by Nikki Shannon Smith.

  Description: Minneapolis : Darby Creek, [2019] | Summary: Told from separate viewpoints, combative siblings Jazmine, seventeen, and Jason, fifteen, must learn to work together to succeed in a popular television show, Treasure Hunt.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2018011860 (print) | LCCN 2018018434 (ebook) | ISBN 9781541541870 (eb pdf) | ISBN 9781541540248 (lb : alk. paper)

  Subjects: | CYAC: Reality television programs—Fiction. | Television—Production and direction—Fiction. | Treasure hunt (Game)—Fiction. | Competition (Psychology)—Fiction. | Brothers and sisters—Fiction. | African Americans—Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.S6566 (ebook) | LCC PZ7.S6566 Tre 2019 (print) | DDC [Fic]—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018011860

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  1-45229-36611-8/9/2018

  To “Team Smithereens”

  Chapter

  1

  Jazmine

  I stared at the pile of textbooks on my desk, then at the list of college application essays I still needed to write. I’d been working non-stop for all of senior year, but I wasn’t done yet. College applications were due in two weeks. There’s no way I’m going to get all this done and still have time to study for Friday’s chemistry test, I thought, panicking. I’ll just have to focus on—

  Suddenly the TV turned on, interrupting my thoughts. Jason had flopped down on the couch and started flipping through channels.

  “Seriously, Jason? Can’t you see I’m doing homework?”

  “But Treasure Hunt is starting!” Jason whined. “Come watch it with me!”

  I rolled my eyes. He was always in my space, pestering me to hang out with him. “Go watch it somewhere else. I’ve got too much to do.”

  “But Jaz, we always watch it together!”

  “That’s because you never leave me alone!” I snapped.

  Before Jason could respond, our other brother, Brian, walked in. He sniffled, wiping at his eyes.

  “Hey, bud, what’s wrong?” Jason asked, jumping up.

  Between sniffles, Brian told us that his brand new bike had been stolen. And that Mom and Dad wouldn’t buy him another one because it was too expensive. Jason and I just looked at each other, our argument already forgotten. We can’t stand it when Brian cries. It’s the saddest thing in the world because he’s always grinning.

  I couldn’t figure out what to say. The TV was on so loud that all I could hear was some over-enthusiastic announcer telling viewers to apply for the next season of Treasure Hunt. I’d never admit it to Jason, but the show was actually pretty good. Five teams of two competed against one another in a two-day race across America. They had to solve puzzles and finish a physical challenge to get to the $20,000 treasure.

  “We should just go on Treasure Hunt,” I said before I could stop myself. “When we win the money, we could buy you a new bike.”

  “That’s brilliant!” cried Jason.

  “No, Jason, I didn’t mean it—” I tried to take it back, but one look at Brian stopped me. He was back to his normal self, grinning again. I couldn’t disappoint him.

  “All right, fine,” I said, resigned. “Let’s do it.” It’s not like we’ll be picked, anyway.

  Jason went straight to the computer and printed out all the information. He sat there for what felt like a million years reading through everything.

  The first line asked for our team name. That’s when the problems really started—we couldn’t even agree on a name. Jason’s only fifteen, so his name suggestions were dumb. He seriously wanted to write Team Smack Down on the form. I suggested Team Brainiac, but Jason shook his head. We went back and forth with names.

  Jason said, “Team Ferrari.”

  “That’s random. Team IQ.”

  “Team Nike.” Jason held out his foot to show me his new Nikes.

  I was about to lose it. “That doesn’t even make any sense!”

  My voice got louder and louder as I listed more ideas, but Jason just kept shaking his head. Finally, I walked over to the table where he was sitting and told him to move. I would just write in something myself.

  Jason stood up, but he didn’t get out of the way. Even though I’m two years older than him, he’s about three inches taller than me. And a lot stronger.

  “Move!” I tried to reach the table.

  Jason stood in front of me and said, “We need to agree.”

  I tried to get around him again. Jason planted his feet and crossed his arms.

  “This is ridiculous!” I yelled. “Just let me choose the name. Your ideas are horrible.”

  Just as our dad came into the family room to intervene, Brian said, “How about Team Williams?” He smiled sweetly at us.

  Jason just sat back down and wrote it in. It was pitiful that we needed our little brother to solve our arguments, but that’s what usually happened.

  Jason gets on my last nerve. He’s just always there. Every time I turn around he’s in my face trying to tell me something. He’s always inviting me to do something with him, like watch TV or walk to the store or play a game. But I don’t have time for that. I have too much homework. Not to mention college applications.

  Anyway, we got the show’s application done, recorded the video introducing ourselves, and mailed it in. I forgot all about it after that.

  Chapter

  2

  Jason

  Brian was really upset when his bike got stolen. It was special to him. He earned it by getting good grades. The bike was the exact model he wanted, and it cost my parents a lot of money.

  Bri deserved a new bike. I liked Jaz’s idea to go on Treasure Hunt and use the prize money to buy him a new one. That’s why I said I’d go too.

  I read all the directions on the application twice. I didn’t skip anything. Jaz may have been joking, but I wanted them to pick us. I didn’t like the name Team Williams, and I didn’t like Jaz’s weird attitude, but I’d do anything for my little brother. If I did a good job on the paperwork, maybe we’d actually get picked.

  It took twenty-six days for the show to get back to us. I was the one who picked up the phone when they called. Jaz was doing homework. My mom was outside playing catch with Brian. My dad was cooking dinner. He looked at me like I was losing my mind when I started hollering.

  When Brian found out we were going on the show, all you could see were his teeth. When he threw his arms around my waist and hugged me so tight it hurt, I knew we had to win.

  Chapter

  3

  Jazmine

  When Jason started screaming, I raced downstairs to see what was going on. At first I couldn’t understand what he was talking about because he was talking really fa
st. My dad’s pasta was boiling over, and my mom had a concerned expression on her face.

  Brian ran up to me and gave me a big hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

  His little face hadn’t been that happy since the day he got his bike. That’s when I figured out what was going on—we’d been picked for Treasure Hunt.

  I started to panic as a million thoughts ran through my mind at once. First of all, we weren’t supposed to get picked. Second of all, I didn’t want to miss school. I also didn’t want to deal with Jason for two days without my parents. And I really don’t want to be on TV.

  Brian was dancing and singing the Mr. Beefy Burger jingle from his favorite commercial. He spun and yelled, “Fannnnn-taste-ic!” I really didn’t want to do the show, but after seeing him so happy it made me realize what I had to do. I would go on the show, and I would be the best. I’d solve all their riddles, complete their challenges, and find the treasure. And I’ll buy you that bike, Brian, I thought.

  Then another thought came to me: if I won this, I was going to be rich. That bike wasn’t $20,000. I’d have a lot of money left. I could pay out of state college fees with that. I wouldn’t be stuck close to home after all!

  My last thought was about my hair. I needed to get it braided. I didn’t want to end up with my hair all over my head by the second day of the show. That was not a good look.

  Chapter

  4

  Jason

  After my parents, Jaz, and I signed the Treasure Hunt contract, the show’s producers sent us an information packet. It didn’t come until the day before the show started filming. Jaz said she read it, but I know she just skimmed it before she went back to her homework. Nobody can read that fast—not even Jaz.

  But I read the whole thing. If we were going to win, one of us needed to be ready. The packet said we couldn’t bring anything except socks and underwear. No cell phones. No tablets. No snacks. No money. They would give us a backpack with supplies, and that was all we could have. We couldn’t even call our family. There would be a chaperone for every team, but we wouldn’t know who they were or where they were. They would only step in if there was a problem.

  I couldn’t wait for this. Maybe Jaz would actually talk to me, since she wouldn’t be busy worrying about homework or college.

  The night before we started the show, my mom came into my room and sat on my bed. She gave me a serious look and said, “I need you to keep the peace, Jason.” I knew exactly what she was talking about too. I promised her I would try, but keeping the peace with Jaz wasn’t easy. I only slept about two hours that night.

  A limo picked up the whole family early the next morning. Brian looked like one of the kids in the Mr. Beefy Burger commercial—his eyes bulged and he had a huge smile on his face. My parents stared out the window, and Jaz read a book. I didn’t know how she could focus on homework at a time like this—I couldn’t stop thinking about what they were going to make us do to find the treasure.

  Four hours later, we got to a town with a lot of trees. I knew we were still in California, but this small town didn’t look like the California I knew. A big crowd of people stood on the sidewalks, waving at us like we were NBA players or something. A huge banner read, “Welcome to Lindale, Treasure Hunters!” The limo stopped in front of an old brick building that said Chamber of Commerce over the door. Other limos were already there, and another one was pulling up.

  A woman wearing a suit opened the limo door. “Hello, Team Williams!” she said, smiling. “My name is Sonia, and I’m here to get you started. Jason and Jazmine, please follow me!” We followed her down a long hallway.

  After we passed door after door, Sonia said, “This is your prep room, Jason.” She opened the door and told me to go in and change.

  Jaz looked nervous, so I held up my hand for a high five. “This is gonna be fun,” I promised her. She gave me a small smile and a weak pat on my palm. Sonia shut the door behind them.

  A few seconds later, I heard Sonia say, “And this is your room, Jazmine.” Then a door slammed closed. That was probably Jazmine, I thought, shaking my head.

  The room I was in was somebody’s office. I wondered if they knew some dude was changing clothes in it. There was a red warm up suit laid out on the desk. I put it on and sat down in the big office chair, wondering where Treasure Hunt would take us.

  Chapter

  5

  Jazmine

  After I was dressed, Sonia came back to get me, and Jason was already with her. I froze when I saw we were wearing identical outfits. We were going to look like complete idiots. Everyone at school was going to see us like this.

  Jason didn’t seem to mind. He chatted away with Sonia as we walked. I gritted my teeth, reminding myself to focus on the money to make it through this ordeal.

  Sonia gathered the rest of the teams, and we stood in line until the doors swung open. I was happy to see they were wearing matching clothes too. My body was shivering with nerves—it was the first time in my life I was glad to be at the end of a line. The moment we stepped outside, my thoughts were drowned out by noise. We were surrounded by crowds of screaming people. There were at least fifteen cameras looking at us from every angle—there was even one behind us. I tried to find my parents, but there were too many people. I practically jumped out of my skin when a loud voice blasted out of the speakers: “Here they are, folks! Let’s hear it for our treasure hunterrrrrrrrs!”

  We followed an escort through the crowd. My heart was pounding and my legs felt like I had twenty-pound weights around my ankles, but Jason acted like he was famous. He clapped and fake jogged like basketball players do when they come out onto the court.

  That’s when I spotted Brian. He jumped up and down, clapping. When our eyes met, he gave me a thumbs-up. I grinned, elbowed Jason, and pointed to Brian. We gave him a thumbs-up at the same time, which I know looked dorky, but I didn’t care. One of the cameras swung around and aimed at Brian. He busted some dance moves and made faces. I couldn’t help but laugh. I definitely needed something to distract me from my nerves.

  Finally the crowd parted as we reached an open clearing. There were ropes blocking it off so people would stay out. We were in the middle of a big city park that had a whole bunch of different activities—sports fields, a playground, a skateboard area, and a little amusement park. There was a big stage with five small platforms on it.

  When all five teams reached their platforms, we were introduced to the crowd and the cameras. You could tell who everybody’s families were because they whooped for their own kids. Jason nodded and smiled at everyone, including our competitors, but I took the opportunity to size up the other teams.

  First, there was Team Double Trouble. They were identical twin girls with matching afro puffs. They looked a little stuck up. Both of them gazed out at the crowd like they’d already won. I picked out their parents and almost laughed out loud. They were dressed alike too—they both had on Harvard hoodies. We’ll see if the Harvard Twins can beat Team Williams, I thought.

  The next team was Team Touchdown, two guys who were obviously varsity football players. It seemed like their entire team had come to give them a big send off. I wasn’t too worried about this team either—they looked like they had more muscles than brains. But one of them was pretty cute. When he caught me looking at him, I quickly looked the other way.

  Team Heartbeat’s two members were apparently from the same marching band. They were the only other boy/girl team. The girl looked nervous—the boy just looked bored.

  The last team was Team Red Ponytail, whatever that meant. They had matching red bows in their ponytails and matching scowls on their faces.

  Out of all the contestants on Treasure Hunt, I was the smallest. But I was always the smallest. I hoped the other teams were underestimating me. Then I could take them by surprise when I kicked their butts. And I would kick their butts.

  Chapter

  6

  Jason

  To me, it looked like the
show selected all different kinds of kids so you couldn’t guess who would win. But none of the teams seemed better than the others. Some kids looked strong. Some looked smart. The girls with the ribbons in their hair looked mean. Some kids, like me and Jaz, seemed normal. All I knew was we promised Brian we’d buy him a new bike, so we had to win. I had an idea for the rest of that money too. I wanted to buy a new home theater for our family room—a big flat screen TV, surround sound, and recliners with cup holders. I already researched it, and we’d have enough prize money to buy it all. So I had two reasons to win.

  The assistants brought each team a backpack that matched the color of their tracksuits. Another man stood in front of us with a fake gun pointed at the sky. When that gun cracked, it would be game on. We watched Treasure Hunt all the time, so I knew what to expect. And I had a strategy.

  As soon as the gun went off, the other teams took off running in different directions. Jaz tried to run, but I grabbed her arm. “Hang on,” I whispered.

  “We’re wasting time!” she snapped, trying to yank her arm away.

  I bent down and opened the backpack. “Everyone always takes off when they hear the gun, but they don’t know where they’re going. Let’s see what’s in the backpack first.”

  Jaz was furious. “You can’t be serious. You want to rummage through a bag of stuff? Right now?”

  I pulled out an envelope that said Treasure Hunt: Clue One. Jaz’s eyes widened, and she snatched the envelope from my hands and tore it open to read the clue.

  As I hurried to zip up the bag, I heard Brian through the crowd. “Goooo, Team Williams! Gooooooo.”

  While one of the camera people filmed us, Jaz read the clue out loud:

  Hickory, dickory, dock.

  We hope you beat the clock.

  To find a clue, just work as two.

  We’re watching like a hawk.

  Twinkle, twinkle little star,