"What do we need to do?" May asked. She couldn't see what they were talking about.
"One of us is going to have to get wet." Fitz said as Skye groaned and Ward started playing with the hem of his t-shirt.
"What do I need to do?" Ward asked.
"Aren't you hauling the cage up?" Simmons asked, pretending not to notice the look of sheer horror on Skye's face.
"I was going to, but there's no point in anyone else getting wet through. Coulson and May will manage just fine." Ward pointed out, looking Skye straight in the eyes.
"At least if they drop me I'll land on you." She said with a smile.
"So what's the plan?" Coulson asked as he and May worked their way around to the rope and pulley system.
"Fitz and I use the wheels here to move Skye around in the cage. You and May will need to lower her as and when to reach all of those buckets, but the pulley system will only allow you to get to one bucket, so Skye will have to change over the 'D' links while Ward wraps the ropes onto the correct pulley."
"How will I know which one is correct?" Ward asked.
"They appear to be numbered." Simmons pointed out.
"And where are these pulley wheels that I'm connecting the rope to?" he asked, fearing that he both knew and didn't want to hear the answer.
"Naturally the sadistic idiot who is making us do this put them under the water!" Fitz told him, shuddering at the thought.
"Can we please get this done? This cage is totally not a good look for me" Skye asked, eager to be out of the cage.
"Skye's right. We're losing daylight." May reasoned, wrapping her hands around the rope.
Ward jumped back into the water and gasped. It had dropped from just being cold to being icy. Fitz stood next to the wheels that would direct Skye around the maze above them while Simmons got into a better position to direct him. Coulson stood behind May and took the length of rope she had left him. He wrapped his hands in it the same way May had.
"Heave on three." Coulson said.
"One" May breathed
"Two" Coulson said, the rope already burning into his hands.
"Three." May said.
When she said three, both May and Coulson pulled on the rope sending Skye's cage into mid air, earning a small scream from Skye. She clearly wasn't expecting it to be so fast.
"Ok Fitz, Left a little, forward a little. Stop! Back up a little. A little more." Simmons ordered Fitz as he spun the wheels to move Skye.
They continued in this way until Skye reached the first bucket.
"Alright Skye, you need to stick your hand in there and get whatever you find out." Simmons shouted up to her.
Skye reached into the bucket in front of her and quickly withdrew her hand.
"OH MY GOD!" she screamed.
"What?" Fitz, Simmons May and Coulson all asked together. Ward was so cold he couldn't utter a word.
"It's full of maggots!" Skye squealed in response.
"Just get it over with" Fitz instructed her.
Sticking her hand back in the bucket she felt around for the item she was looking for.
Ward tried to laugh as he was pretty sure he was the only one who heard her say:
"Get over it. I'd like to see you get over me throwing you in the river."
Suddenly Skye's hand brushed up against something cold and smooth. She closed her hand around it and pulled it out of the bucket. She tucked it into her pocket and made a move to hook herself onto the next pulley rig. Until she had done this she Ward wouldn't be able to change the rope.
Simmons guided Fitz and Skye to the next bucket where Skye put her hand in yet another bucket of maggots. AS she pulled her hand out there was a loud gong sound through the woods, making everyone jump and nearly causing May and Coulson to drop Skye.
Knowing that they were now on the clock Skye made to change the 'D' link as quickly as she could and Ward was ready and waiting to change the ropes over. The sun was setting lower and lower by the second so he was left no choice to do it by memory. The second he had fastened it he stuck his arm in the air to indicate to go, so Simmons guided them to the last bucket. Fitz managed to get Skye there as Ward made it to the platform. Simmons helped drag the shivering man from the river while Skye quickly inspected the items she held in her hand. It was three parts to a key.
"I have the key, but it's in pieces!" Skye yelled from the cage.
"how do we get her back?" Simmons asked. They clearly hadn't thought about it.
Ward looked at Coulson and May and jumped back in the water. As they lowered Skye to the water Ward arrived at the cage to let her out. To keep her as dry as possible, and the fact that the water would be up to Skye's forehead, Ward carried Skye back to the platform on his shoulders, meaning only her legs got wet. As they moved Skye managed to put the key back together.
"I've done it! I have the key!" She whooped as Coulson and May picked her off Ward before dragging him out of the water again.
The gong sounded again, followed by the crackle of the tannoy.
"Congratulations. You certainly have first rate logical minds. You have an 85 metre head start. Choose who will run against the dogs. Pick wisely because they will not be able to run again. You have thirty seconds."