The judges get personal when they announce the first of the four individual challenges that will establish the game's finalists. Past and present collide in the unexpected exposure of our player's motivations--and enmities. The sheriff gets closer to making an arrest, and Heather has her heart broken.

Someone is dead set on making sure that Joust, the final challenge, ends with the right winner—and Heather realizes that for at least one person, Panic isn't a game anymore. An explosive conclusion brings the game to a permanent end…or so, at least, it seems. This year's players may be finished with the game. But it may not be finished with them.