“Time to go, lovebirds.” Rachel calls to us.
***
Walking into the challenge area, with it still raining, I take a look around me. There are eight stations set up. All of which are different colors. There is a painted strip of wood on the ground, with a tower holding a bucket behind it. Hanging down from the bucket is a chain with a colored piece of fabric connected. I have a feeling this challenge, is going to be rough.
I think I have seen this challenge before. Last season, post merge, but I could be wrong. I don’t know if Ari can participate. It would be awesome if she could, but I don’t know. She said she isn’t supposed to participate in two challenges, todays being the second. But it would be awesome and would totally throw everyone off their game to have Ari suddenly playing.
Even though I have my plan in place with Caleb and Rachel, I still feel nervous. What if one of them changes their mind. What if the plan doesn’t work? I didn’t tell Ari to use her idol. I wish I had, because then I know at least she would be safe tonight. But I can’t tell her now. She’s standing beside me, waiting for Chris to make his appearance and get this challenge started.
Almost like my thoughts conjured him up, Chris appears with a large smile on his face. Beside him is a chair, for Ari to sit in. In the background, I can see someone, someone I don’t recognize, maybe one of the doctors. I wonder if they want to take a look at Ari’s hands again.
“Welcome to today’s elimination challenge.” Chris says. “In today’s challenge, you will be standing on a piece of wood, just wide enough for your foot. You will have one arm raised about your head and attached to a bucket. If at any time you fall off your piece of wood, or you pull too hard on your chain, the bucket will spill its surprise, and you will be out of the challenge. Only one person can win immunity from tonight’s elimination.” He smiles before turning his attention to Ari. “The doctor wants to take a look at that foot again. You will not be participating and should be back in time for the elimination.”
Ari nods, and is quickly led off to the side, where the doctor is waiting. I watch as she is led out of sight and turn my now distracted attention back to Chris.
“We randomly assigned spots. Let’s get you settled.” Chris calls.
One by one, we are led to our own tower, placed on the wood, and one of our wrists are tied to the chain. It is super uncomfortable, because like Chris said, the piece of wood is just wide enough for one foot. So, we have to stand either sideways, to have all of both feet, one in front of the other, or facing out, with only part of both of our feet on the wood. Its super uncomfortable having one arm in the air like that. Thankfully, we are allowed to use our other hand to hold our arm. Thankfully, Chris, on camera, announces the challenge is live and we are off.
I don’t look around. I just look down at a spot on the ground and take deep breaths. I need to win this one. I need to win immunity. I need to win it for Ari. Just thinking of Ari makes me wonder how her hands are doing, is she being sent home? Is she healing properly? What is it? What made the doctor want to take a look at her ankle again? I hope she is fine. I hope the doctor says she will be fine to continue the game.
I try to think back to see if Ari showed any signs of it hurting worse than it had been, but I can’t think of any. I mean, she could have been keeping it a secret, as to not worry me or Caleb. But if that’s the case, I wish she had told me, so that I could have done something to make it better.
I know that if the doctor says she needs to be medically removed from the game, it’s because it is what is best for her health. It’s because they feel like her remaining here would be more harm than good. I just hope that isn’t the case.
The longer the challenge goes on, I find myself looking at the chair that was set up for Ari. Why isn’t she back yet? What is taking them so long?
Chris’s voice makes me jump. “Sandra falls off her perch. Sandra is the first one out of this challenge. We are down to six.”
Sandra falling out, is the best thing for my plan. She doesn’t have the idol because I know Ari does. She isn’t in the running to win immunity. I find it hard to hide my smile as I look to where she is standing, on the mat, she is soaking wet. She angrily wipes water from her face and sends glares around to the cameras, Chris, and even me.
Movement catches my eye. Coming back into the clearing, is Ari, wearing some new bandages, on her hands. Not the normal white gauze wrappings she was wearing yesterday, but lots and lots of band-aids. I frown, why band-aids? Does that mean she can start competing tomorrow? I have so many questions I want to ask her, but she is sitting across the clearing from me.
I hear a splash beside me, and I look over, Rachel is dripping wet.
“Rachel pulled too hard on her chain. You are out of the running for immunity.” Chris calls out. “We are down to five.”
Another splash comes and I frown, I can’t see who is eliminated, but I cross my fingers hoping it isn’t Caleb. Our plan hinges on one us winning this elimination.
“Zach falls off his perch. He is out of this game.” Chris calls as another splash comes from my other side. “Brad let his arm drop too far. He is out of this game.” Chris motions for Brad to leave the area. “Just like that we are down to three.”
I take a deep breath and focus on the ground again. I don’t want to get distracted and loose this challenge. I mean, at least while William is still in this challenge. I don’t know if he is still with Sandra and Brad and Zach, or if he is the one who we got to defect. But still, I want to make sure that at least Caleb or I win this immunity.
We don’t know how this elimination is going to work. Will the jury be the ones to vote? Will we be voting? Will we draw rocks? Will Chris pull some other twist out of his hat? I don’t know but this whole not knowing thing is starting to get to me.
Now I know how Ari feels not knowing anything about this game. Because the producers liked that she didn’t know anything and wanted her to keep that up throughout the whole game. It would bother me not knowing anything, but I understand why she came along. Caleb really wanted to be on the show, he convinced her that he needed her support, but what he really did was trick her into auditioning for the show. Which ended in her getting on the show. I don’t know if Ari knows this or not, but I know she said she came here because it was Caleb’s dream.
A splash pulls me out of my thoughts.
“William is out of this challenge.” Chris says. “That leaves just Ryder and Caleb. Who is going to win the first individual immunity?”
I inwardly sigh in relief. Now it doesn’t matter who wins. Now it doesn’t matter if I win or not. Though, I want to win, just like everyone else would. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to win.
My feet start hurt, and I shift around trying to make it more comfortable, but my foot slips and I get covered in water. I thankfully moved fast enough that only my arm and one side of me got covered.
“Caleb wins immunity.” Chris calls.
I move over to the mat and watch as a production assistant unties Caleb. Lucky for him he didn’t get covered with water. He gets to stay mostly dry. Since its starting to rain again. But unlike the rest of us, he won’t be as wet or cold.
Caleb joins us all at the mat and Chris steps forward and hands everyone, including Ari, a chalkboard and chalk.
“This is how eliminations are going to go. The rocks are done with, unless there is a tie, in the event of a tie, the people with votes will draw rocks and one will be eliminated.” Chris says. “You will write down the name of the person you want eliminated from this game. They will join the jury and be present at each elimination.” He nods toward the production assistant who leads in the jury.
Farrah, Quintin, Meredith, and Abby all file in, looking clean and healthy. They are wearing rain gear, as it is still raining. More like sprinkling, but still its rain. It will wash off some of the paint at least.
“I will give you a few moments to cast your votes and bring them up and drop them in th
is bucket.” Chris says. “I will then draw at random to reveal the votes.”
Once he gives us the signal, I look down at my board. I know who I am going to write down. Carefully, I write down Sandra and wait for the perfect time to deliver my vote, so that I am not the first one to deliver my vote. That goes to Sandra. She delivered her vote first. I was second, only because I waited for someone else to go first.
One by one, the rest of us deliver our votes and we wait for Chris to look at them. To read them and tell us who is going to be eliminated.
“Before I read the votes, does anyone have an immunity idol?” Chris asks.
I look down the line, toward Ari, but not making it obvious that I am looking at her. She shakes her head. I hope she is right. I hope our plan works because I don’t want to see her go home with an idol in her hands.
“Alright. Let’s get to the votes.” Chris says. He grabs the first board out. “First vote, Sandra.” He draws another, “Sandra.” Another. “Ari… Ari. We are tied two votes Sandra and two votes Ari.” He draws another. “Sandra… Ari. Still tied between Ari and Sandra.” He pulls out another board. “Sandra. That’s four votes Sandra, and three votes Ari. One vote left.” He grabs it out and looks at it. “Fifth member of our jury is Sandra.”
Inside I am jumping up and down and celebrating. Outside, I am standing there, calm as a cucumber and expressionless. This couldn’t have gone better. I can’t help but wonder who flipped on Sandra. The look on her face when the last vote was read, and it was her name. I know she is wondering who flipped on her too.
“Sandra, please leave the challenge area.” Chris says. “Jury you are dismissed.”
The jury files out. That was amazing. Getting Sandra out. That was totally amazing.
“You may head back to camp. I will see you day after tomorrow for our next reward challenge.” Chris tells us.
He doesn’t have to tell us twice. We all file out of the challenge area, led by William. Tonight, couldn’t have gone any better.
TWENTY
Ari
“Yes, our plan worked. Sandra left and Ari is still in the game… But why do I feel like this isn’t over?”
Ryder Holt
Day twenty interview
Day Twenty
Eliminating Sandra felt so good. It was like a weight was lifted off my chest. With the ringleader gone, the others desperately wanted to get in with us. Which Caleb and Rachel gladly allowed. I wasn’t happy about that. Those three wanted me out. They were conspiring with Sandra to get me out. Why would I want them in our alliance, possibly tainting the thoughts of my alliance? Possibly tainting the thoughts of Caleb and Ryder.
I was so angry at that. I mean, how could I not be. My brother went against my wishes and allowed them in without a second thought. But instead of fighting the issue, like I should have, I just ignored the situation and let it go. Why? Because I didn’t want to paint a bigger target on my back than what was already there.
Following that, Brad was eliminated. We eliminated him because not only was he close with Sandra, but he was being combative. Saying things like we didn’t deserve to be in the games. I was injured and should have been taken out. If I had been taken out, Sandra would still be in the game. He also decided to go through people’s bags, in front of them. Causing arguments and almost coming to blows with Caleb.
Caleb is the type of person who doesn’t like when people do things against others. He isn’t the type of person to just sit back and ignore it. He is the type of person who will stand up for himself and he doesn’t care if it pisses anyone off in the process. Caleb will get into a fight over something as small as going through his bag. He doesn’t like people who do things just get a rise out of people. Just like Brad was doing.
So, when Brad went through the bags, Caleb had to stand up. He had to put him in his place because you don’t go through people’s bags. You don’t do it. Even if you are playing a game where there are secrets. You just don’t do it.
Not only that, but my hands were cleared by the doctor to start playing in the games. I was so excited that I could finally participate in a challenge. So was Ryder, he still can’t get over the fact that he couldn’t give me his shower reward, which would have been nice. But now that I can participate, I will have a chance to win a reward and that makes this all worth it.
That brings me to today. Today is a reward challenge day. But unlike other reward days, we woke up to big boxes with our names on them strewn all over camp. Carefully one by one we open our boxes.
But inside each of the boxes is sticks, yarn, cloth, paint, string, and beads. Along with a note.
“Use these items to make a doll of yourselves. When the time comes, bring them to the reward challenge, and you will find out what they are for.” William reads.
“Make dolls of ourselves. That sounds super strange.” Caleb says.
“In season one, they did what they called a voodoo doll challenge. Sort of like hang man, only different. Each player had to take a turn guessing what a word puzzle was. If they were wrong, one piece of their doll was ripped off. if they won, they chose someone else’s doll to rip apart off of.” Rachel says.
“That’s insane. Make us work just to destroy our efforts.” I say.
“Well, you do want the million dollars, don’t you?” William asks smugly.
That comment makes my blood boil. Ever since his friends, Brad and Sandra were eliminated, William has not held back his distaste for me. He constantly talks about me, in front of me. He doesn’t care who he talks to
If I had my way, I would be eliminating him next. He is the last of that group to go. But Caleb wants to get Zach out first. Why? I have no clue, but I will certainly be pushing for William to go next.
***
After giving us two hours to work on our dolls, we are called from camp into a clearing. We are instructed to leave our dolls at one end of the clearing and take our spots in the front of the clearing. Behind us are six pedestals, each have a rope tied to the front of them, leading away from them and across the clearing to the smaller pedestals behind us. There are three knots of rope on the pedestal nearest us. In the air above the clearing are logs with spikes drove into them. Each doll is placed on a pedestal with one of those above it. I frown. What in the world kind of challenge is this?
Chris comes in with a smile on his face. He places a machete on a block next to the contraptions. He moves in front of us and gives us a smile. What has him so happy today?
“Welcome to today’s reward challenge. Today will not be a physical challenge. It will not be a mental challenge. It will be a chance challenge.” He says. “Today, you will each be given a questionnaire. You will answer each of the questions with who you think the statement best suits. When you are all finished, we will tally up the answers and compile a list. We will then ask you who you think was the person with the most votes. The ones with the right answers will get the chance to cut someone’s rope.” He points to the contraption. “Once all three knots are severed your doll will be destroyed and you will not be in the running for the reward.”
I frown, I don’t know if it’s because I am tired, or hungry, but I don’t know if I followed anything of what Chris just said. A questionnaire, destroying dolls. It all is a jumbled mess in my mind, right now.
I mean who can blame me for being foggy? We have been out here for twenty days. That’s three weeks. Three weeks without proper meals, outside of rewards, without proper beds, except for the one Ryder built the camp. Don’t get me started on the fact that I haven’t had a soda since the reward picnic Ryder, and I won before the merge. I used to rely on the caffeine from an ice-cold Pepsi to get me going in the morning, but it’s been three weeks since I had one. Plus, the three weeks without some form of shower. I mean, the least the show could do was let us shower once in a while right.
“The last one standing with their doll intact wins the reward.” Chris says. “Today’s reward is a private villa with a hot meal, a nig
ht in a real bed, and a hot shower. Fresh clothes are included, and this reward is a sharable reward.”
Chris hands us each a clip board and pen and then tells us to disperse around the clearing, but away from each other, so that our answers are not the same. I read over the questionnaire and want to laugh out loud. It’s a freaking who is most likely to, who is more, and who does the most type of questions. It almost reads like a yearbook questionnaire. The one where seniors fill it out and vote for who is most likely to do something.
Even though I find the questions funny, I still answer the questions. I want to win that reward. I want the night in a real bed. I want a shower and hot meal. I want clean clothes. I want to win. I desperately want that shower.
“Time to hand in your answers.” Chris calls to us.
We return to the mat and hand a production assistant our boards. Then the waiting begins. We have to wait while the answers are tallied up and compiled into cards for Chris. But while we wait, we are handed a chalkboard and chalk. I am assuming to write down our answers.
After what feels like forever, Chris comes back out and we turn our attention to the contraptions behind us. Chris stands off to the side, beside the machete, with large note cards in his hands.
“Remember, you are answering with what you think everyone else said, not what you said.” Chris reminds us. “The first question is, who is most likely to get hangry?”
I shake my head and write down my answer, William. If he doesn’t eat, he gets so snippy and short with everyone.
“Time to reveal your answers.” Chris calls.
I flip my board over and look at Chris. We are not allowed to see the other’s answers. Something about the show needing to be first reactions or something like that.
“We have three votes for William, two votes for Caleb, and one for Ari.” Chris says. “The correct answer is… William. That means, Ari, Rachel, and Ryder have the answer correct. Ari. Step forward and make your first cut.”
Playing For Keeps (Romancing The Games Book 1) Page 13