Episode 22 Paya
Tonight’s the first Summit post merge. How dry my mouth is signals that the reality of the partnership rule is sinking in. Whoever goes home tonight takes their partner with them. Two flames out. Two players leaving the island.
I keep my hand close to Celeste’s as we sit on the wooden benches, our torches planted in the brackets behind us. The roaring firebowl casts light across the seven other faces I’ve come to know better than I expected to.
Across from us, Steph takes her seat in her safari shirt, the dimpled grin nowhere on her face tonight. She’s all business at The Summit.
“Jeida.” Steph picks up her staff and begins firing off questions of the game thus far. “Today’s the first Summit post-merge. How does it feel knowing that you could be wearing that immunity talisman necklace and still go home tonight?”
Jeida shifts on the bench, the talisman around her neck. “It’s the strangest position to be in, Steph. I’m safe-ish. And Bo isn’t, therefore I’m not at all. And we both know what that means.”
Steph nods slowly. “If Bo’s voted out tonight, you leave The Summit with her. ‘Till elimination due you part.”
“Yes.” Jeida doesn’t look at Bo when she says it.
I steal a glance at Celeste beside me. Her hands are folded in her lap when she catches me looking. The same fate hangs over us. Luckily my alliance is on the same page about tonight’s vote. I’m confident that Celeste and I are safe, Bo on the other hand, is not.
Steph shifts toward Saffron whispering something to Lex. “Saffron. How does the new alliance landscape look from where you’re sitting?”
Saffron leans forward, elbows on her knees. “The merge changed everything, Steph. Some of us came in with plans. Some of those plans went out the window the second the partnership rule was announced.”
“Are you saying tonight’s vote isn’t strategic anymore?”
Saffron shakes her head. “Unfortunately, someone must get voted out tonight. I’m saying tonight’s vote should be case-closed from where I’m sitting. It’s certainly not a cold case.”
Steph turns toward Jeida. “Jeida. You won immunity at the last challenge, which means you also received a mystery box.”
I curiously eye the wooden chest in Jeida’s lap. She didn’t tell anyone about the contents when she opened it earlier at camp. The smile on her face afterward told me whatever’s inside must be good. Possibly enough so she and Bo see another day in the game.
“Before we vote, the rules require you to reveal what was inside. So tell us, Jeida.” The corner of Steph’s mouth curls. “What’s inside the box?”
All eyes are on Jeida.
“It was a this or that option. I have a choice,” she says, straightening in her seat. She opens the chest and pulls out a small card. “Between fifty thousand dollars or a Sappho’s Relic.”
Gasps hit the air. Saffron’s hand flies to her mouth in my direction, Lex straightens and Bo’s head snaps toward her partner.
Steph beams. “So, Jeida, on one hand, you could take the Sappho’s Relic and guarantee safety for Bo, keeping your duo alive, and moving you one step closer to The Final Summit.
On the other hand, fifty thousand dollars in cash is something to seriously consider.
That’s yours regardless of what happens next.
If you choose the money, you lose your relic.
Bo loses her safety net, and if she goes home, you go home with her.
Are you willing to take that risk?” Steph leans forward after a beat of silence. “So, Jeida, what are you choosing?”
She doesn’t blink. “I just don’t see us having the numbers to stay in the game long term. So I’m taking the money.” She turns toward Bo. “Sorry, Bo.”
Everyone’s quiet for a moment. I smile to myself, recalling Jeida and I’s earlier conversation. She was willing to easily walk away with nothing. Now she gets to surprise her mother with money toward her retirement.
Steph tilts her head examining Bo, who is taking the strike to heart surprisingly well all things considered.
“Bo. What are your thoughts about tonight's vote, knowing you aren’t safe?”
Bo shakes her head. “I’m disappointed. I know I’m at the bottom. But I know if I go home today, I did my best out here in the bush. This was the most fun I’ve had in years. Plus, I got my team slushies.”
Lex huffs a laugh. “Those were amazing. Thank you.”
Steph tilts her head, studying Jeida for a long moment. “Walk it back. You’re choosing the money over the relic. Over your partnership. You understand what that means?”
“Yes. I’m doing this for my mother.” A warm smile forms on her lips. “I do.”
“Alright.” Steph gives us that look when she’s enjoying herself. “Does anyone want to play anything that might change their odds?”
I peer at Celeste and give her a leg a gentle squeeze, grateful for the silence. Even when a trip to The Summit appears to be straight forward, anything could happen.
“Okay.” Steph taps her staff to the ground. “It’s time to vote. Lex, you’re up first.”
I’m the last person to vote. I scribble Bo’s name and add a smiley face. My chest warms at the thought of the incredibly delicious night Celeste and I had. I smile wide at the camera, the parchment in my hands. “For the soup,” I say, then drop my vote into the gold chest and return to my seat.
Steph rises once the voting has completed.
“Time to count the votes.” She grins, probably knowing the results of tonight as easily as we do. Later she returns from the voting area and opens the lid of the gold chest. “Does anyone have anything to add before I read the votes?”
I shake my head and sit back as Steph reads the votes, one by one. All with Bo’s name except two.
Steph flips over the last paper. “The fourth person voted out of The Final Summit is Bo. Jeida, you being Bo’s partner means you must leave as well, being the next person eliminated on The Final Summit. You two will be our first members of the jury. Please bring me your fire. One at a time.”
I rise as Jeida stands and wrap my arms tight around her. A bittersweet end to her time on The Final Summit, but she’ll help decide who wins. We exchange sweet smiles, making even more happy that Blair went home that night instead of her.
I glance over and Bo’s watery eyes, getting bear hugged my Celeste, Beya and Lex
Torches in hand, they approach the edge of The Summit where Steph waits, the dark ocean stretching out beyond the cliff.
Bo surrenders her torch over first, shaking Steph’s hand goodbye before she does. Her torch flings into the ocean below, the flame disappearing into the dark water with a hiss.
Steph turns to Jeida and they share a moment. Steph hugs her, then Jeida hands her torch over without another word, only a smile.
Steph firmly nods, appearing impressed at her game play. “Jeida. Your team has spoken. Your climb ends here.”
We watch as the second torch plunges into the ocean. Another hiss as her flame gets swallowed.
Bo and Jeida stand side by side and with one final wave in unison, they exit down the bridge, officially ending their playing The Final Summit.
Steph faces us, a smile tugging at her lips.
“Tonight was eventful. Six of you remain and the partnership rule still applies. Every Summit from here forward, two of you go home together. What are you willing to do to keep your partner safe in this game? Or is throwing the towel a better option? Grab your torches. Head back to camp.”
When I stand, my legs feel heavy from tonight’s vote, but my heart is strangely full. Beside me, Celeste’s hand finds mine in the dark. Is this enough?