Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty Three
Landon
Chaos ensues, Noah quickly rushing to Mason’s side while Savannah drops down beside Angel. She tries to staunch the bleeding, but it’s too late. Angel is gone in seconds, and her movements stop altogether before Savannah cries, throwing her head up to the sky.
Luna is curled in Shane’s arms absolutely horrified, and I wrap my arms protectively around Courtney. I know I can’t save us from this living hell we’ve entered, but I’m ready to do anything and everything possible to keep her safe.
Alex steps out from the corner and addresses us all with a tight smile. “Well, it looks like Cupid certainly missed the mark. With Mason and Angel only collecting two points, I’m afraid they come in last place and are unfortunately locked out.”
“Locked out? They’re fucking dead!” Noah snaps, jumping to his feet.
Alex nods thoughtfully. “Their purpose on the island had been fulfilled.”
“So they had to die?” Noah shouts in Alex’s face.
I watch Alex’s expression carefully, waiting for some kind of outburst in return. Instead, he stays poised, his head raised high as he meets each of our gazes in turn.
“I believe most of you are aware by now that this isn’t just any ordinary reality TV show. Locked In is unlike anything else out there. It’s a testament of love, endurance, sacrifice and victory.”
I do my best not to outwardly react; instead, I quietly take in any and every bit of information they provide. At least the bullshit is over and they’re openly admitting to killing us now.
“So you’re going to kill us all?” Savannah sniffles, still sitting beside her dead friend’s body.
“No, of course not.” Alex laughs like the very idea is ridiculous. “We have to have a winning couple. It wouldn’t be a show without it! Don’t tell me you forgot about our exciting grand prizes!”
“So one of the couples here will survive?” Shane asks. “They’ll go home unharmed?”
“Of course. Five million dollars richer too, and married to their soulmate. After all, there’s nothing quite as strong as a trauma bond, am I right?” Alex laughs again.
We all stare at him, digesting this information.
“Okay, now what?” I finally ask when no one speaks up.
He turns to face me. “Now we need each of you to do one more confessional. Then we’ll be moving you all to the next location. Congratulations to our top three for making the semifinals!” He smiles, holding out his arms wide as confetti cannons blast from either side of him.
It flutters through the air, particularly sticking to the bloody bodies that used to be Angel and Mason, and I can’t help but feel an odd sense of disassociation.
I glance from Luna and Shane to Noah and Savannah as unease settles in me like lead.
Congratulations to us?
“Landon, how does it feel to be in the top three?” the woman asks from behind the camera.
I stare straight into the lens for a moment, then shake my head.
“What are you feeling right now?” she probes again.
“Maybe we should start with Courtney. You may be more willing to chat with us after we meet with her?” the woman asks, her tone sharper this time and her intention clear.
“You want to know how I’m feeling?” I snarl. “I’m pissed, I’m confused and I want off this goddamn island.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then she nods. “You’re angry.”
A laugh that holds absolutely no humor escapes me. “Absolutely.”
“What would you say if we were to offer you an out? A onetime chance for you to be on the first plane out of here. Zero strings attached.”
I frown. “I’d say it sounds too good to be true. Courtney and I can just leave?”
“Just yourself.”
I’m taken aback. Is she seriously offering me this?
Does she seriously think I’d take it? Dolores pops into my head, and something in my heart stings at the idea of potentially never seeing her again.
It doesn’t hurt as bad as the thought of leaving the woman I’ve fallen for behind to fucking die, though. Who the hell would take that deal?
“Can this deal apply to just Courtney? Can you guarantee me you’ll get her home, completely unharmed?”
The woman looks caught off guard. “You want to… trade your place for her?”
I nod tersely.
“Interesting,” she says as someone beside her begins aggressively writing down notes.
“So, can she leave?” I ask.
If I can’t make it out of this, at least Courtney can. She can go home, take care of Lily. Live a long, beautiful life, and I can live out my final moments knowing I did everything in my power to protect her.
“Oh, that wasn’t a real offer. More of a hypothetical to get the conversation going. Thank you so much, this is great stuff.”
Just like that, it feels like the floor has given way beneath my feet.
When she flicks her wrist, dismissing me, I push up from my seat and throw open the door, slamming it so hard behind me, the wall shakes.
I don’t make it more than twenty feet before I see a man escorting Courtney to the confessional room.
She gives me a nervous look, and I reach for her, but another man stops me.
I look at him in surprise before attempting to shrug him off. He’s a lot stronger than he appears, and it’s actually quite difficult.
“Courtney, wait!” I shout as she’s funneled into the room, the door shut behind her.