Episode 17
Today has been one of the longest of my life and it’s not even over yet.
I’ve been sitting alone by the water attempting to fit two broken pieces of seashell back into one.
Another failure to add to today’s list. I already know that fire puzzle will haunt me for the rest of my life.
In less than five hours someone is getting voted out.
I toss them to the side and see Saffron rushing in my direction, Cluck hot on her heels. Let the scrambling begin.
She peeks over her shoulder, dropping her voice even though no one else is around. “Raina found a relic two nights ago. She just told me.”
“No way.” My eyes go wide. The news jolts me back to life. That must be the real relic since Blair’s was fake. “So…what are you thinking? Flush it out?”
She hesitates. “I think I can convince her to give it to me.”
I yank my head back. “What? You do?” I’m not sure what’s more surprising, the fact that Raina has been holding a real relic under Saffron’s nose or that Saffron is willing to execute a ruthless move against her camp girlfriend.
Could I do something like that against Celeste so easily?
I push the thought away. Lying to her about being a show plant is hard enough.
The weight of Saffron’s stare brings me back to the present.
“Look, there’s only nine players left in the game. There has to be something big coming. A merge. A team swap. Something. I can feel it. Besides, if we’re going to make a move, doing so now makes more sense. I can’t have Raina on the jury.”
She’s not wrong. Our alliance is strong and we have the numbers.
Tonight’s vote would’ve been four-to-one Jeida.
Even Jeida’s no longer fighting the fact that she’s going home.
She’s already made her exit speech to the team.
Obtaining Raina’s relic right before voting her out would be quite the statement.
I tally the wins in my mind. My alliance gets a relic.
Plus, breaking up the obvious showmance benefits my game.
Those can get dangerous if left unchecked.
“Okay. I’m in. We keep Jeida in the dark and vote for Raina. ”
“I mean, sure, Raina’s gorgeous and likeable.
And, so what if we’re sexually compatible, or that she’s so damn adorable when she sleeps.
” Saffron squeezes her eyes shut and exhales a deep breath, seemingly convincing herself.
“We’re on The Final Summit, Paya. I think she needs to go tonight.
Then we can come up with a plan to strengthen our numbers if there’s a merge. ”
I speed up my words, keeping my voice down. “I’ve been thinking about that, actually. What if we bring Beya into our alliance? I think Arlie may like that too.”
“Sure. That could work. I trust you.” She grabs my hand and starts pulling me toward camp. “Come on. Let’s go tell Arlie the good news and see what she thinks. This might be our last chance to make a big move ahead of whatever’s coming.”
When we’re near camp, I hear Raina’s full of life laughter from the distance. She’s probably teaching Jeida and Arlie how to tie knots again. I halt my footsteps, forcing Saffron to still. “Are you sure about this?”
Distracted by the sound of Raina’s voice, Saffron chews on her bottom lip for a beat. Eventually, she nods her head, but the debate written all over her face isn’t fooling me. “Yes. I’m sure.”
“Okay, then. Let’s do this.” Next stop. Arlie. Then Raina.
Later that afternoon, after a plan is set in motion, Arlie, Saffron and I locate Raina. Thankfully, she’s alone near Cluck’s house.
Raina lights up with genuine warmth when she sees Saffron. “Hey, baby. I was working on Cluck’s spin.” She holds a small piece of fruit between her thumb and forefinger, lowering it to Cluck’s eye level. “Watch this. Spin, Cluck.”
She moves a closed fist full of rice in a slow, careful circle around Cluck’s head. We watch in awe as he obediently follows with his whole body, his little talons stepping in a deliberate shuffle until he’s made a full rotation. Raina opens her palm in front of his beak with a grin. “Good boy.”
Cluck eagerly takes the reward, ruffles his feathers, and looks up at her for more.
Saffron melts. “He’s getting so good.”
“I know.” Raina beams, adoration etched all over her face. “Three more days and I bet he’ll be doing it on the verbal cue alone.”
I exchange a quick glance with Arlie. Her expression doesn’t shift, but I can feel the weight of it. Three days from now, Raina might not be here to find out. Then again, our team is going to The Summit which means any one of us might not see tomorrow.
Saffron’s gone quiet, now fidgeting with the frays of her wrap tied around her bicep. This is worse than I thought. I swallow the lump in my throat and step forward, before Saffron gets cold feet.
“Hey, Raina. Got a minute? We actually wanted to talk to you about something.” I take the lead, keeping my voice casual.
Raina brushes a stray grain of rice from her palm and looks up, her bright expression faltering slightly as she takes in the three of us standing together. “Yeah, sure. What’s up?”
“We know about the relic,” I state plainly, breaking character.
Raina stiffens. Her gaze instantly darts to Saffron, a flash of hurt crossing her eyes before she forces a nervous laugh. “Oh. Right. Saffron told you guys?”
“She had to. We’re in an alliance,” I reply, hoping to take the pressure off Saffron. “There are only nine of us left in the game. We want to work with you and we want to take you to the Final Five with us. We really do…”
She bites. “But?”
“But an unplayed relic makes everyone paranoid. It creates a lot of doubt.”
Arlie is serious when she faces Raina. “Your loyalty isn’t optional. Either submit or you’re a target.”
Saffron releases a nervous laugh and slides in front of Arlie. “What she meant to say is, we need to know that our group is solid heading into whatever is coming next.”
I lean in and sweeten the deal. “If you give the relic to Saffron, you’re proving you are really one of us and then we’ll lock you into our Final Five.”
Raina looks deep in thought for a moment. She paces a short line in the sand, running a hand through her hair, looking between the three of us. “You all want me to just give my relic up? Right before the vote?”
“It’s about obtaining trust.” Saffron steadies her cracked voice, before she takes a step closer, looking at Raina with convincing sincerity. “If you give it to me, it shows the alliance you aren’t playing both sides. It proves your loyalty is here, with me. I’ll hold onto it just for tonight.”
Raina’s been searching Saffron’s face for two minutes, as if to be weighing the strategic risk against the emotional bond she thinks she has built.
I’d feel bad if it weren’t for Saffron who pitched the move to me.
Raina’s eyes look so vulnerable compared to the bravado she first displayed back on day one.
Saffron’s charm more than succeeded. Raina’s wrapped around Saffron’s finger.
“You know, I’ve wanted to make an official alliance move with you for a while now, Saffron.
” Raina softens. Her words sound more like a marriage proposal than a strategy.
“To show you I’m not coasting. So, if doing this is what it takes for you all to believe I’m in your corner, then okay. I’ll do it.”
I hold my breath when Raina takes off her captain’s hat and carefully pulls back the fabric layer of the inner lining.
She reaches into the hidden pocket and draws out a small, intricately carved wooden effigy bound by weathered cord.
She holds up the relic. It is even more beautiful in person than it is on TV.
Raina places the token directly into Saffron’s waiting palm.
Saffron’s fingers close around the relic tightly and she pockets it. She steps in, wrapping her arms around Raina’s neck. “Thank you, baby.” She plants a tender kiss on her lips. “Don’t forget, Jeida’s going home tonight.”
Tonight’s vote will be interesting.
By the time we march into the torch-lit arena of The Summit, the heavy tropical air feels thick with impending storm clouds. The embers from our torches crackle against the dark jungle backdrop. Steph stands, her sharp eyes scanning our faces as we take our seats on the wooden benches.
The discussion circles the predictable points for once. We speak about camp life. We talk about how Cluck never had a chance to get eaten, keeping the narrative entirely focused on the old feud. Jeida sits with her chin held high, looking entirely resigned to her fate.
“Does anyone want to play anything that might change their odds?” Steph announces.
I casually glance at Saffron, then Arlie, receiving subtle nods of confirmation of the current plan.
Silence.
Steph makes her final remarks about loyalty, a dangerous smile playing on her lips. “It’s time to vote. Saffron, you’re up first.”
One by one, we approach the voting table and drop our papers into the chest. I write down the name I promised to write. Once everyone has returned, Steph taps her fingers against the top of the wooden chest, her Summit stick in the other hand.
Smiling toward Saffron, Raina sits comfortably, the same serenity on her face she had earlier at camp. Meanwhile Jeida’s sight is fixed on her shoes.
“Time to count the votes.” Steph stabs the ground with her Summit stick and stands as she usually does. She opens the lid of the chest. “Does anyone have anything to add before I read the votes?”
No one responds.
Steph pulls out the first parchment. “First vote. Jeida.”
Jeida doesn’t even blink.
“Second vote. Raina.”
“Third vote. Raina.”
Raina’s head snaps up, her smile vanishing from her entire demeanor.
“Fourth vote. Raina.”
“Oh my god. What is this timeline?” Jeida gasps, her jaw dropping as she looks around, seemingly still stunned that her torch wasn’t the one being flung off the summit tonight.
Raina’s skin goes paler than it was before when Steph speaks again.
“Fifth vote and the third person voted out of The Final Summit…” Steph turns the parchment around to the black letters staring back. “Raina. Please bring me your torch.”
The entire arena freezes when Raina stands and swings around, her eyes storming with a mixture of disbelief, anger, and sadness as she looks directly at Saffron.
“I can’t believe you really did this to me. I loved—” She halts mid-sentence, toward her partner’s wobbly chin.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” Saffron frantically pleads when she finally breaks, her voice desperate in a way I’ve never seen before. She tries to grab Raina’s hand, but gets rejected.
Raina marches straight to Steph without looking back. “Raina. Your team has chosen. Your climb ends here.”
Steph loads the lit torch into the chamber and pulls the lever. The torch catapults off the side of the Summit and goes black hitting the ocean. In silence, we trace Raina’s footsteps down the dark exit bridge.
“I’m fine. I’m fine.” Saffron repeats herself and waves away Jeida’s fabric to wipe her tear stained cheeks. “I’m not crying for me. It’s Cluck. He loved her so much.” Her voice strains.
I rise from the bench and pull Saffron in for a tight hug. Jeida joins. Arlie supports by standing quiet, her arms crossed as she nods in respect to Saffron’s decision.
At the expense of watching my friend break her own heart, the proper pieces are in place for my gameplay. Blair and Raina’s blindside went perfectly. My alliance has a relic. I survived to see tomorrow and Celeste.
After Raina’s long gone, Steph’s stunned facial expression points in our direction.
“Wow. Back to back blindsides and we’re only on day sixteen.
What’s going to happen over the next twenty-four days?
I don’t know, but it will be good.” Her tone turns serious.
“Take your fire. The trail back to camp is waiting. Goodnight.”
Torch in hand, I turn to leave. All things considered, I should feel like I’m on top of the world. Or at least The Summit. But I don’t.