Chapter Five
Sabine stepped onto a large clearing in the middle of the forest. The ground was flattened and covered in soft, pale sand.
Around the clearing, the trees leaned in.
Clusters of coconut palms mingled with scrappy pandanus, their long, spiky leaves hiding fibrous fruit.
A few wild bananas pushed through the undergrowth, with calamansi trees tucked farther back.
She recognized the trees from the websites she’d sourced during downtime at the hospital. Preparation wasn’t optional. If she wanted to keep her brain fed, she needed to fuel her body first, and what better way than to familiarize herself with fruit trees.
“This is so exciting,” Talia muttered behind her.
“I’ve always wanted to do an obstacle course.
Do you think it’s an obstacle course? I think it is.
I’ve only watched a few episodes of Survivor, but they usually bring in the endurance things later.
I know Outlast Her isn’t the same thing, but don’t most competition shows start with something like that? ”
Sabine whipped her head back. There were cameras everywhere, and they weren’t supposed to talk during the walk-up. She almost shushed Talia, but she never got to it.
Only watched a few episodes. Really? Why on earth was she paired up with a woman who didn’t know the game, who didn’t understand it, or worship it like she did?
Sabine nearly asked, nearly let her disbelief slip right out of her mouth, but before she could interrogate Talia’s alarming confession, Vivian’s smooth voice carried across the field.
“Welcome, Outlast Her contestants,” she called cheerily. She was dressed in the same outfit as earlier. Her skin glowed from a layer of sunscreen, and her bob was pulled back into a clip.
Sabine had expected an immunity deity of sorts.
A gnarled wooden totem with too many faces or a creepy-looking statue made from bones and seashells.
But there was nothing. She ignored the slight twinge of disappointment in her chest. She’d always imagined hoisting one triumphantly over her head, but this wasn’t Survivor.
This was Outlast Her. The first sapphic survival show. That was a triumph in its own right.
“I see you’re all acquainted,” Vivian went on as they gathered together at the marked edge of the field.
“Amy,” she said, pointing at Amy, who had finally taken off that pink windbreaker.
Underneath it, she wore a tank top that showed off her buff shoulders and huge biceps.
“You found the chest first and earned the advantage. How do you feel about the partner you chose for the rest of the game?”
Amy glanced sideways at Shakira and smiled. “Pretty good, actually. I think a lot of the other contestants are a little jealous. She’s strong. She’s smart. Basically, the full package.”
Shakira gushed, and Sabine counted at least two eye rolls.
“Well, as you all know, this competition isn’t without challenges.
Today will test your balance, speed, and strategy.
But first, everyone, grab your team colors.
” She gestured to a long table at the side of the clearing.
Instead of buffs, there were strips of fabric, wristbands, headbands, and even sashes that looked like they’d been ripped from an old prom dress.
Sabine had taken off her shirt and now wore a fitted tank top that made her boobs look great.
She grabbed a crisp blue sash and tied it tightly around her upper arm.
She flexed once just to make sure it would stay on and caught sight of Talia, who was tying a blue bandana to her head.
Then, accidentally of course, her eyes flicked down to Talia’s chest. She’d left her crop top back at camp and wore a lilac bandeau bikini top that showed deep enough cleavage to lose a penny in.
Sabine’s thoughts followed it straight down the rabbit hole, but then thankfully Vivian called them all back to the mat and saved her from an unwanted flush.
“Now for the first challenge. This will test your balance, speed, and strength.” Vivian stepped back to reveal the field.
Several parallel lines stretched out before them, each one marked by a different color: blazing red, neon orange, sunshine yellow, jungle green, electric blue, fuchsia, and a purple so dark it looked almost black.
Tiny flags fluttered at the ends, and between the lines were piles of ropes, balls, and what looked like a solid, waterlogged timber board about the length of a toddler.
“You’ll compete in your pairs,” Vivian explained.
“Each line is a separate track. One teammate will carry a wooden board from start to finish, navigating the obstacles. The other member will gather balls and ropes along the way. You might notice the balls getting heavier the further you go; that isn’t your imagination.
It will get harder. But it will be worth it. ”
Sabine silently thanked her trainer, who believed in kettlebells, sandbags, and sled pushes.
All those deadlifts, all those squats, and weighted lunges she’d done while contemplating death were finally worth it.
But then she made the mistake of looking at Talia standing beside her and noticed the way she rubbed at the front of her left shoulder.
No!
Did Talia have a shoulder injury? Surely she wouldn’t enter something so physical if she did. And if that was the case, well, fuck. This woman was turning out to be the one variable Sabine hadn’t fully accounted for. A literal thorn in her side.
Sabine brushed her tongue against the back of her teeth and ignored the scraping, sandpapery feeling in her chest. It was fine. All Sabine had to do was take up the slack. Easy. She knew all about carrying weight that wasn’t technically hers. She did it every day.
“If anything falls off the board, you have to go back to the start.” When Vivian’s voice flattened out, Sabine held her breath.
Was someone going home tonight? Truthfully, Sabine had wondered more than once how the whole voting off thing would work.
Nobody had any idea if there would even be a tribal council.
And now that they were competing in pairs, it was possible they would be voted off together.
Unfortunately, it became crystal clear that she wasn’t going to get the answers today because Vivian suddenly grinned and said, “Do you want to know what you’re competing for?”
“Yes!” Amy cried, which was followed by a few more cheers from Connie, her teammate Charlize, and Marloe, who was a stay-at-home mom living in Maplewood, New Jersey.
Her brown hair was cut in a bob just beneath her ears, and Sabine assumed the rainbow beaded bracelets on her wrists were from her two kids.
Marloe was paired up with Lucia, who was a NICU nurse from Orange County.
“Every second challenge from here on out will result in a reward,” Vivian said.
“And when I say reward, I don’t mean extra rice or a burger from Wendy’s.
The winning pair could find themselves at a private jungle spa with fresh, running water, an infinity plunge pool carved into the cliffs, a sunset yacht cruise complete with a personal chef, or an overnight stay in an air-conditioned villa with crisp sheets, real showers and, you guessed it, room service.
” She paused and grinned. Sabine could see why she’d gotten the job as a host; her smile was radiant.
“But considering the game just started, today’s reward will include a luxury item that might just make sleeping a little easier.
Does that sound worth it to you, ladies? ”
This round of cheers was louder. Unrestrained. Even a little feral.
“Alright, find your color. Take your spots. Decide who will carry the board and who will collect,” Vivian said, lifting her hands.
Talia leaned in close enough that Sabine caught sunscreen and citrus. And there was another smell she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Maybe jasmine. Whatever it was, it was so delicious that Sabine stepped back before she did something stupid and drifted closer just to inhale the scent.
“I can carry the crate,” Talia said. “My balance is impeccable, if I don’t say so myself. Just last week I carried a tray with ten full pint drafts across the bar to a table of football coaches who were in Boulder for some team-building thing.”
Sabine opened her mouth to shut that down immediately. Absolutely not. Hell no, Talia was not going to do the heavy lifting with a busted shoulder. Did she want to throw the challenge? But instead, she heard herself say, “Are you sure? It’s going to get heavy.”
Talia smirked. “Do you know how heavy ten full pint beer glasses are?” she said. “Now imagine carrying them thirty feet, weaving around bar stools, down two steps while someone yells, ‘REF, YOU’RE BLIND!’ directly into your ear. I think I can handle a few balls and ropes.”
Sabine exhaled through her nose. She was afraid that if she told Talia no, she would come across as the asshole.
And then she would probably become the villain of the season.
Did she even care? Normally, not a bit, but with a boom mic dangling overhead and a camera operator behind her, it didn’t feel like the best strategy.
“Fine, let’s just get to the start,” she said before she could change her mind.
Everyone else was already positioned and waiting.
Sabine started jogging, and Talia followed her.
When they reached the blue line, Sabine glimpsed Talia out of the corner of her eye.
A strand of hair fell into her face. She blew at it, and the strand sprang up, momentarily floating in the air before it fell right back over Talia’s cheek.
Sabine nearly reached over to brush it away. But then Vivian shouted, “Is everyone ready?”
There was a collective “Yes!” And then the whistle blew.