Chapter Twenty-Two Hell Is Mud Wrestling with Your Ex
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hell Is Mud Wrestling with Your Ex
Leah keeps a close eye on us for the rest of the day. She claims that she’s just looking out for her favorite couple, especially since Daniel is still recovering from his injury, but I overheard Dawn Taylor’s voice on Leah’s walkie-talkie telling her to watch us like a hawk.
Still, we manage to get a moment to ourselves when Leah heads off to “take a fuckin’ shower and lie face down in bed.” Lex swings by the moment our producer’s gone.
“Thought she’d never leave,” Lex says, glancing back at the hallway before shutting the door. “You two are really on Dawn Taylor’s shit list now, aren’t you? What the hell happened?”
We quickly update Lex on the Seth situation.
Lex lets their head tip back against the wall. As they contemplate the ceiling of the suite, they say, “Let me get this straight. Anton was blackmailing Seth and Mikayla. Seth punched Anton during the Wrath Challenge…but we don’t actually know who killed him.”
“Correct,” I say. “Whoever the murderer is, they’re still out there.”
“What a nightmare.” Lex casts a sidelong glance at me. “Are you sure you want to keep looking into this? It sounds like Dawn Taylor wants to keep this show going no matter what. She won’t appreciate you stirring up trouble. And if she’s fine with her producers poisoning the cast, there’s no telling what she’ll do.”
“We’ll manage,” I say firmly. “So how’s the crew taking everything?”
“I think everyone agrees that we’re not being paid enough to deal with this shit,” Lex says. “But what else is new? Oh, and I heard that some of the PAs had to clear out Anton’s stuff from his room. Apparently it was a ‘disgusting rathole.’ They’re missing his work laptop, though, and they can’t get into his crew locker.”
At my puzzled look, Lex explains, “The crew lockers are where we stash our valuables. It’s all underground. Not remotely convenient to get to, so I don’t bother.”
“Wait a sec. What do you mean, underground?” Daniel asks.
“Oh, right, they never gave you the tour.” Lex points at the floor. “There’s a whole underground bunker beneath the beach. Part of what makes this island a prime location for filming reality shows.”
“Why can’t the crew get into his locker?” I ask.
“They didn’t find the key in his stuff. But they’re not searching very hard. Filming is still our top priority.”
“We need that key,” I say. “I bet Seth and Mikayla weren’t the only people Anton was blackmailing. If we can get into Anton’s locker, we might find more information on who might have wanted him dead.”
Lex laughs. “Or we just find his stash of edibles.”
“It’s worth a try,” I insist. Searching the labyrinth was a dead end, but the crew locker sounds like a promising lead.
“I’ll ask around,” Lex says. “But you two need to lay low. Act like you’re just happy to still be on this show.”
“We are still happy to be on the show,” I say.
“Uh-huh,” Lex says. “Try to act normal. Daniel, if anyone starts getting suspicious of you two, just do that thing where you look completely in love with Alice. You’re good at that.”
“Roger roger,” Daniel says, his ears reddening. I wonder if it’s that embarrassing for him to pretend to like me. I resolve to make it up to him if—no, when—we get out of here.
—
Around noon the next day, the remaining couples—me and Daniel, Selena and Chase, Trevor and Mikayla, and Ava and Noah—are led out of the villa. Seth is nowhere in sight. I wonder if he’s been packed off to wherever the losers are or sent off in a small dinghy to fend for himself in the ocean.
We’re escorted past the tree line and into the jungle. Even though we can still catch glimpses of the ocean from here, we’re not on the beach anymore. We pick our way past fallen branches and knobby roots erupting from the earth before ending up in a clearing. At the center of the clearing is a series of mud pits dug into the dirt. Narrow beams just barely wider than my thigh are suspended above the mud pits, like a tic-tac-toe grid. Oh, god, we’re going to have to balance on those and fight above the mud pits, aren’t we?
“At least it’s not slime this time,” Daniel murmurs to me.
We’re kept waiting for what feels like an eternity in the stifling humidity, until even the producers start looking worried and whip out their phones to tap out messages. My fingers twitch, just itching to get my hands on one of those phones. I would give anything to hear my mom scold me about not wearing enough layers, or to tell Cindy about everything that’s happened on the island. Being completely cut off from the rest of the world has only made this strange experience even stranger.
Just when Trevor asks if he can go piss in the trees, Dawn Taylor arrives, clutching a latte in one hand and a bottle of aspirin in the other. She’s wearing a white leather romper with a backless top for this challenge, which seems like a bad idea given the mud pits. The moment the cameras train on her, she hands off the latte and aspirin to Leah and turns to the rest of us.
“Well, well, well,” Dawn Taylor says, eyeing us. There’s something about her delivery today that’s a little bit stiffer, like she’s reading from a script instead of gossiping over brunch with her friends. “It looks like we’re down to four couples now, and babes, it’s only going to get harder from here. Today, we’ll be putting your relationship to the test with another fiery challenge. I hope you’re ready for violence !”
Bryan points at us, cueing us to cheer like we’re super pumped for violence. It’s clear who’s picking up the slack now that Seth and Anton are gone.
“For this particular circle of hell, you’ll be fighting for your lives in a mud pit, gladiator style. The only rule is no head shots. Other than that, anything goes in my battle royale from hell. The first couple to fall is eliminated. The last person or couple standing wins five thousand dollars cash ! Now, get ready for the fight of your lives!”
We’re each given a helmet, kneepads, and elbow pads, as well as a huge wooden staff that has padded orbs at each end. Our safety equipment comes in cardboard boxes with one of our names hastily scrawled on each one. Everything is gleaming and new, and exactly my size. I pull the kneepads and elbow pads on, then reach for the helmet.
I’m half thinking about the challenge, so I don’t see it until the helmet is in my hands. A snake slithers out from between the helmet straps, its yellow and black bands clearly a bright warning sign against predators and prey alike.
“Shit!” I chuck the helmet. When it lands with a soft thump in the grass, the snake slithers out and makes its way toward the tree line.
Leah comes sprinting over. “What’s going on?”
“There was a snake,” I say, pointing into the jungle. By the time Leah glances over, the snake is long gone.
“I don’t see it,” she says.
“I saw it,” Daniel cuts in, his voice serious. “I want to know what the hell a snake was doing in the safety gear.”
“I’m sure it was an accident, but I’ll let production know,” Leah says briskly, and then she’s off, barking orders at a PA.
Daniel retrieves my helmet and turns it over and over in his hands, checking it everywhere.
“All clear,” he says. His fingers brush mine as he hands the helmet back to me.
When everyone’s geared up, the producers position us around the mud pit.
I tap Daniel’s shoulder. “Our best strategy is to hang back and let the first wave fight it out themselves. Stay out of the way and stay alert. Got it?”
“Got it.” He bumps his shoulder against mine.
I’m not feeling all that confident about my chances. The staff is heavy in my hands, almost too heavy for me to lift and swing effectively. And having to balance on the beam while holding the staff does not sound like a walk in the park.
Dawn Taylor raises a hand. “Babes, square up! Ready, set… fight !”
Trevor darts out first, moving to put himself between Mikayla and the others. Noah takes the bait, charging forward to sweep his staff at Trevor’s legs.
“Agh!” Trevor loses his balance and pitches forward. He just barely manages to grab onto the beam.
Then Ava nimbly leaps past him to get to Mikayla. She whacks Mikayla in the stomach with the padded end of the staff.
“Trevor, help!” Mikayla shrieks, seemingly unaware that Trevor is dangling over the mud pit. “Trevor!”
Trevor swings himself up and is immediately forced to raise his staff to keep Noah from knocking him over again. As they grapple, Ava goes after Mikayla hard, lunging forward and causing the other woman to fall on her butt.
Mikayla scrambles backward on the beam, screaming, “Trevor, help!”
Trevor grits his teeth and shoves Noah back, long enough to turn and dive for Ava instead. He throws his staff at her, catching her feet and sending her tumbling into the mud pit below.
Before Noah can get back to Trevor, Chase and Selena join the fray, both going straight for him. They launch a well-coordinated attack, Selena going high as Chase goes low, and Noah goes flying.
One couple down. I lock eyes with Daniel and nod. Time to get off the sidelines. Daniel and I charge out together. Trevor and Mikayla are the closest to us, and already winded from the fight, so we go after them.
Daniel takes a swing at Trevor that clips him in the shoulder, but Trevor manages to maintain his balance and return the favor.
Daniel dodges, almost losing his balance. I dart over and steady him.
“Thanks, Slayer.”
“You’re welcome,” I say. I really could get used to being on the same team as Daniel. We work well together, and that knowledge makes me almost giddy, confidence bubbling up in me like a fizzy soda. I look around for Selena.
“Secret alliance?” I mouth at her. Selena winks at me. Together the two of us turn on Mikayla, swinging our staffs at her.
“Trevor, stop them!” Mikayla squeals as I jab at her. “Why aren’t you helping me?”
But Trevor is busy grappling with Daniel and Chase. He yells, “I’m a little busy right now, Mikayla!”
“Well, hurry up!” she yells back as Selena and I close in on her.
“Goddamnit,” Trevor grinds out. He’s on the defensive now, his staff raised to block blows from Daniel and Chase. “Did you see how Alice helped Daniel? Did you ever consider trying to help me instead of just needing me to bail you out?”
Ducking, Trevor dodges out of Chase’s reach, elbows past Daniel, and in two bounds he’s on us. But instead of saving Mikayla, he gently bops her foot, sending her sprawling into the mud pit.
Selena and I gape at Trevor.
“That still counts, right?” Daniel asks no one in particular.
“What the hell!” Mikayla wades over, wiping the mud out of her eyes. “Trevor, why would you do that to me?”
“Why would I do that to you? Why would you cheat on me?” Trevor shouts down at her. “After everything I did for you! Remember the Barbie-themed picnic I set up for your birthday with the pink ombré balloon arch and the backyard movie projector? What about when I woke up at five in the morning to make you cotton-candy-flavored rolled ice cream from scratch on Valentine’s Day or when I planned an entire beach weekend for you as a surprise anniversary trip? I was the perfect boyfriend! I raised the bar for perfect boyfriends!”
“Ohmygod,” Mikayla says. “Be real for once, Trevor! You didn’t do any of that for me. You did it for the views, for the likes, and for the engagement. You totally got off on people saying what an amazing boyfriend you are and how lucky I am to have you. And you know what, I don’t even like Barbie!”
“It was a sponsored post! That’s how we paid for our kitchen renovations!” Trevor says, throwing his hands in the air. “Of course everything I did was to build our brand, but that was still for you, too. For us. Because we’re Trekayla.”
“I don’t think I want to be Trekayla anymore,” Mikayla says, tears starting to well up in her eyes. “I think I just want to be Mikayla.”
Trevor sinks to his knees, like she’s mortally wounded him. Daniel takes advantage of this moment to swoop in and smack Trevor in the chest.
Trevor makes a “gahhh” sound as the wind gets knocked out of him, and he tumbles down into the pit next to Mikayla.
The producers are loving every second of this. I can see multiple members of the film crew vying to get the best angle as Mikayla reaches for Trevor and he shrugs her off. They’re both completely covered in mud now, and watching them split apart from each other is kind of like watching the tragic breakup of two swamp monsters. Still, I feel for them. Their whole brand was their relationship, but now they’ll be known for how they broke up.
Now it’s down to Selena and Chase versus Daniel and me.
“Looks like it’s the battle of the exes!” Dawn Taylor calls out.
It’s time to end the secret alliance. Chase turns his staff on Daniel as Selena pivots to face me. Taking the initiative, Daniel swipes at Chase, trying to sweep his legs out from under him—but Chase jumps back, his own staff swinging wildly.
“Ow!” Selena yells as one of Chase’s haphazard swings bops her, nearly knocking her off. Getting his balance back, Chase lunges to make a swing at Daniel that misses, and in the process, the back of his staff hits Selena in the face.
“Sorry!” Chase yells, ducking out of range. He stumbles back—which brings him level with me.
He locks eyes with me, and for a split second, I wonder if he’s going to go easy on me. If seeing me reminds him of all our times together. When he watched a viral video about roof running, and then broke his leg trying to do parkour, and I had to leave fourth period to take him to the hospital. When I made him his favorite Jell-O cake, which was literally just Jell-O shaped like a cake, for his birthday. When he proposed to me in an Arby’s.
But it turns out, Chase isn’t experiencing a montage of our past together. His deep-green eyes don’t reveal even a flicker of conflict as he drops to his knees and swings at my legs, screaming, “Witness meeeee!”
I leap over his staff, then pivot back to face him. I swing my hardest at him, whacking him firmly in the chest. He pinwheels for a moment, dropping his staff to keep his balance.
“Nice one, babe,” Chase says.
And then, without missing a beat, his hand snakes out, and he yanks on my outstretched staff, throwing me off-balance.
I can’t help the undignified yelp that escapes me as I plunge off the beam and into the mud. I take some small consolation in the fact that Chase ends up in the mud right after me, thanks to Daniel.
“Oh, hey,” Chase says casually, like he hangs out in mud pits all the time. “No hard feelings?”
I scoop up a handful of mud and chuck it at him, which makes me feel a lot better. Moments later, Daniel lands in the mud next to me with a huge splat. Above us, Selena lets out a victorious cheer.
“ Selena got you?” I ask incredulously.
“Nah, I just thought I could use a facial,” Daniel jokes, and smears a handful of mud over his cheek. “But hey, good work. We stayed in.”
I close my eyes, ignoring the sensation of mud squelching all around me, and let the relief wash over me. We made it. We’re still in the game. Hell, we came in second. Now if only we could catch the murderer loose on the set.
—
After we’ve showered back in Villa Paradiso, Leah orders us to put on our swimsuits and come outside for our belated Wrath Challenge prize.
“We didn’t have time to do this after, well, you know,” Leah says. “But better late than never, right?
She leads us over to a gorgeous, secluded spot on the beach where a wood-paneled tub sits nestled in an oasis of greenery. Vines of beautiful tropical blooms twine around the trees surrounding us, and there’s a view of the glimmering ocean in the distance.
The tub itself resembles a gigantic wine barrel. There are two glasses of champagne and half a dozen chocolate-dipped strawberries set out on a tray nearby. My mouth starts to water at the sight of it all.
It’s the picture of a perfect romantic getaway—except for the film crew stationed all around us. I try to ignore everyone, and that goes about as well as imagining everyone in their underwear during a public speech—which is to say, terribly.
We get the go-ahead from Leah and step into the hot tub. Sinking into the water is pure bliss, the heat soothing my aching muscles. Before I started preparing for this show, the most exercise I did on a daily basis was going out for what Tara likes to call “a load-bearing mental health walk.” These physical challenges have been hell on me, and I’ve been so sore.
Daniel hands me a glass of champagne, but before I can take a sip, Leah stops us. “Let’s get a shot of you two clinking glasses and giving a toast.”
“Sure.” Daniel lifts his glass. “To love.”
“To winning,” I add.
“Alice, why don’t you feed Daniel a strawberry?” Leah says. It’s really more of a command than a suggestion.
I pluck a strawberry from the tray. “Come here,” I say. Daniel is a polite distance from me. “Why are you so far away?”
The water sloshes in the hot tub as Daniel scoots closer. I slide the strawberry into his mouth, my fingers brushing his lips.
“Delicious,” Daniel says. He’s starting to turn red, from either the sun or the heat of the water.
“Did you put on sunblock?” I ask him.
He gives me a strange look. “Of course.”
“Good, just checking,” I say, popping a strawberry into my own mouth. Damn, these are good. The tangy bite of the strawberry cuts perfectly through the creamy dark chocolate. I could eat ten of these, easy.
“Okay, enough talking. Let’s get some shots of you making out,” Leah says—a very normal thing to expect people to do on command.
I lean in to kiss Daniel, and Leah makes a displeased noise.
“That’s not going to convince anyone,” she says. “This is your moment to really sell this. Are you in love or not?”
I couldn’t even be convincingly in love with Chase when I was in love with Chase. How can I possibly pull this off with Daniel?
But just as I’m starting to panic, Daniel gives me an encouraging smile. He clearly thinks he’s got this, and if he can handle this, surely I can, too.
At my nod, Daniel’s hands find my hips, and he pulls me fully into his lap, my thighs straddling his as the water laps against us. I expect him to kiss me, but instead he rests his forehead against mine.
“Relax, Slayer.” His voice is quiet, low, just for the two of us. “We practiced for this, remember? Albeit, I did have the upper hand back in our room.”
I know what he’s doing. He’s trying to bait me into being so competitive that I forget my awkwardness.
And it’s working.
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in, my fingers tipping his face so his mouth meets mine. It’s a different angle from our other kisses, and I’m pleased by the leverage I have on Daniel. And then he gasps and leans into the kiss, stoking the heat between us, sucking the taste of the strawberries right off my lips. We press closer together until there’s no space left between us, and there’s only his skin against mine, and the slosh of the water against the tub as we move.
I’m not sure how much time goes by. It could be seconds or hours, but there’s nothing I care to think about more than Daniel’s hold on me, tethering me to our moment.
“Damn,” Leah says, and I jerk out of the kiss so abruptly, I push off Daniel’s lap, sending a wave of water slopping over the edge of the tub. “Shawna’s going to be thrilled with this footage.”
Daniel doesn’t move to pull me back, and it feels like a bucket of cold water falling over me. I’m disoriented, having completely forgotten about the cameras. But Daniel doesn’t look even remotely frazzled. Was it all just for the cameras for him? Of course it was. But part of me wishes we could have kept going.
“That looked cozy,” someone says, and the thought of doing more with Daniel flies out of my head.
It’s Dawn Taylor, and she’s handing me and Daniel luxuriously fluffy waffle-knit robes like she’s a PA. Freya hovers behind her, clutching a clipboard.
“Leah told me about the snake,” Dawn Taylor continues, making a face like I’d just complained there was a fly in my champagne, or something equally trivial. “I’m so sorry.”
“There’s been a lot of safety issues on set,” Daniel says.
“And I apologize for that,” Dawn Taylor says, sounding not one bit apologetic. “It won’t happen again, I guarantee it.”
“Thank you,” I say, tugging on the robe and stepping out of the tub. I really don’t feel like being half naked in front of Dawn Taylor.
“Anyway, I wanted to personally tell the two of you that I’m so impressed by how well you’re doing, especially for such a new couple,” Dawn Taylor says. “I think you have a real chance at winning.”
Dawn Taylor takes my hands. “So my advice, and I hope you take it seriously, is that you just focus on the competition. Don’t worry about anything else. No more getting into fights with my producers or playing detective, mmkay?”
I can feel the tips of her manicured nails dig ever so slightly into my palms.
She says with a sweet smile, “I’d hate to see any of the contestants get hurt.”
Dawn Taylor Interview Debacle Resurfaces
BY MAXINE DEAN, GLAMGOSSIP.COM
Hollywood, CA. Internet sleuths have resurfaced footage of an interview Dawn Taylor gave fifteen years ago while promoting her indie film flop Women of Power. The interview begins with Dawn Taylor sitting down with Kyle Wesgrave for his podcast, Among the Stars. Wesgrave first compliments Dawn Taylor on her sundress, which makes Dawn Taylor visibly uncomfortable. Wesgrave then transitions into talking about the fashion in Dawn Taylor’s upcoming film, which focuses on one of the first female chefs to earn a Michelin star.
Wesgrave proceeds to ask Dawn Taylor why she didn’t stick to chick flicks and reality TV, areas where she’s seen a lot of success. “Clearly, your fans aren’t interested in this recent career pivot. The box office is speaking, and it’s saying that people want to see you in a bikini getting wasted.”
At that point, Dawn Taylor removes her microphone and hurls it at Wesgrave, nailing him directly in the forehead with the battery pack and breaking his glasses.
The video continues as Dawn Taylor leaves the frame, but we see Wesgrave’s assistants rushing in as Wesgrave clutches his head. The podcast host goes on to label Dawn Taylor a “crazy bitch” who “is out of control.”
Viewers have since weighed in on this resurfaced clip. One fan posted on a forum, “I don’t support violence, but Kyle was being a total ass.”
Another more critical take pointed out that Wesgrave was indeed correct about the film’s performance: “Dawn Taylor’s film flopped. She can’t just assault everyone who points that out!”
RELATED ARTICLES
REALITY TV: Where to Watch Dawn Tay’s Inferno
REALITY TV: 10 Shows Like Dawn Tay’s Inferno to Watch After Season 1 Ends
REALITY TV: Dawn Taylor or Selena Rivera: Who Wore It Better?
CELEbrITY INTROS: Meet Selena Rivera, the Star Lighting Up the Reality TV Space
CELEbrITY GOSSIP: Social Media Explodes as Dawn Tay’s Inferno ’s Dominic Ross Leaks Storm Videos, ‘Something Is Way Off Here’
POLL: Dawn Tay’s Inferno : Which Couple Will Make It Through Hell?
Selena and Chase - 83%
Ava and Noah - 14%
Alice and Daniel - 3%