Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty Five
Landon
Idon’t want to get up. As soon as we do, reality will set in, and I’m not sure I’m prepared for that.
Christ, how did this become our reality?
How is any of this real? I don’t know what the hell is waiting for us on the other side of that door, but I can promise, I don’t think any of us are ready for it.
I press a kiss to the top of Courtney’s head, and she lets out a heavy sigh as she curls further into my chest. Growing up, I always dreamed of having a family one day.
Having people in my life that wanted me, chose me, loved me.
God. I don’t think she understands how many candles I blew on wishing for her.
“I don’t want to leave the room,” she mutters.
I nod.
As if they were listening… oh wait, they are, a knock sounds on the door.
“Now that you two are finished, we need you to get dressed,” a voice says through the door.
I blow out a breath. They can’t even pretend to give us privacy.
Together, Courtney and I get out of bed. We grab a fresh set of clothes, dress and open the door to find a guy standing there.
“Perfect, let’s go,” he says, then begins walking down the hallway.
Courtney looks up at me nervously, and I do my best to give her a reassuring nod as I slip my hand into hers. She laces her fingers through mine and squeezes as we follow the crew member through the house.
They lead us outside to three golf carts. Savannah and Noah are already in one; Shane and Luna in another. Courtney and I slide into the last one, and the instant we do, they all take off through the woods.
We drive along a path, similar to the one Courtney and I walked down, but this way doesn’t lead to a beautiful waterfall.
Instead, we head deeper and deeper into what I can confidently describe as a jungle.
The brush around us grows thicker, the trees closer together, and after several miles, it becomes clear to me how deep in the forest we’re going.
Finally, we pull up at our destination. Three huts look to have been built for this very occasion in the middle of a clearing.
My gaze moves to the sky, barely visible because of the thick canopy, and I look around to see that every direction beyond the clearing looks the same.
We’re quite literally being dropped in the middle of the forest.
The guy that Courtney calls Daryll hops off one of the carts and addresses us.
“Inside each hut is a meal for the night and morning, water and a spare outfit. Get some rest. We’ll see you all soon.”
With that, we’re all practically shoved off the carts before they head back the way we came, leaving us effectively stranded. Courtney and I exchange a look before heading towards the hut with the pink heart on it. I guess that one is ours.
Courtney pushes the door open, and I’m shocked to find it almost completely bare.
The floor and walls are raw wood, there’s just one small window and the only furniture is a bed in the middle of the room.
At least there is a bed, I guess. Everything has been so extravagant since we arrived, it feels like a stark difference. My guess is that’s the point.
Stepping back outside, I spot Luna and Shane sitting at a picnic table in the middle of the clearing, talking, and we go over to join them.
Savannah stomps out of her and Noah’s hut, over to us, and folds her arms. “Have any of you found the bathroom yet? Toilet paper? Literally anything?” she whines.
Luna gives her a dry look before bending down to pick up a large leaf. She hands it to Savannah, who takes the leaf with a frown.
“What’s this?”
“Toilet paper,” Luna says flatly. “The entire forest is your toilet. Go nuts,” she adds before facing the table once more.
Savannah scoffs like that very idea is ridiculous before she looks to Noah.
“Well, come with me,” she snaps. “There could be bears or something out here.”
Noah sighs and shakes his head like he’s physically and mentally drained. “Pretty sure there are no bears on this tropical island.”
“Whatever,” she huffs, then stomps off towards the tree line.
“Hey, maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll stumble off a cliff,” Luna mutters, a pitiful smile on her face as she picks at the table.
“Luna,” Courtney sighs.
She looks to Courtney. “Like you’re not thinking the same? We know they are. You heard the douche host. One couple walks out of here alive. There are three couples left. I’m just casting my vote for who I think should go next.”
“And then what?” I ask, a sharp edge to my tone.
Luna’s eyes flick to me as she tucks a piece of her purple hair behind her ear. “I don’t know,” she admits softly.
None of us do. Because if Savannah and Noah are the next to go, that leaves the four of us. I know no one wants to say it, but all of us want to live, and if it comes down to it, I’m seeing Courtney and myself through this thing, no matter the cost.
The sun sets quicker than I expected, and Savannah goes to bed while Luna and Courtney are hanging out in our hut. That leaves me, Shane and Noah outside. I gathered enough wood and foliage to rustle up a small fire. Without an ax, it was more than a little difficult, but it’s better than nothing.
“You’re just a regular Boy Scout, aren’t you?” Shane mutters, laughing softly.
“Something like that,” I reply as I throw more wood onto the fire.
Noah stands opposite me, warming his hands, his eyes fixed on the flames. He’s been quiet since we got here, and it more than unnerves me.
“How you holding up?” I ask, waiting for Noah to recognize that I’m speaking to him.
Slowly, his eyes lift, then he shrugs. “It’s crazy, man. I definitely didn’t sign up for this.”
Shane scoffs. “Trust me, none of us did.”
Noah frowns. “Do you think they’re really going to kill us?”
Shane and I exchange a look.
“I mean, yeah,” I reply. “They’ve done it right in our faces.”
Noah is silent for a moment as he looks back down at the fire. “Yeah, I guess so.”
I don’t like the ominous tone his voice has taken on. Like he’s settling on a decision in his mind. Looking to my left, I see Shane watching him with an equally concerned look.
Without a word, Noah turns on his heel and heads back to his hut, closing the door behind him. The instant he does, Shane looks at me.
“Well, that was unsettling as fuck.”
I nod. “I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on him.”
Silence falls before Shane finally speaks again.
“I get his denial. Sometimes it’s easier than accepting your reality.”
“Which is?” I ask.
His eyes meet mine, dark and hopeless. “That only two of us are walking out of here, and we all want to be one of those two.”
“So they say,” I challenge. “Nothing is ever certain—the game could always change. The rules could always change.”
Shane doesn’t respond for a moment as his eyes move back to the fire.
“Not if they have anything to say about it.”