Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty Four
Courtney
The next morning, I don’t wake up in Landon’s arms or to find breakfast at the ready, which yeah, makes me sound like a total brat, but what can I say? Our whole fake-in-love or falling-in-love facade has a girl spoiled. Instead, we’re woken up by flashing white lights and a fire alarm.
Landon and I jump out of bed simultaneously, trying to allow our minds to catch up to what the fuck is going on as we look around the room. It’s still pitch black outside, which means it’s still the dead of night, but this is definitely some kind of alarm system going off.
Wordlessly, Landon grabs my hand in his and begins guiding us out of the house.
As we run down the hallway, several other doors open, sleep-deprived people fumbling for clothes as they also make their way outside.
Glancing down at my attire, I can’t say I love being in a pair of panties and a tank top with no bra, but I guess it’s better than being naked.
When we make it outside, several cameramen are set up in position, filming us as we emerge. In front of the burning fire pit, Alex is standing in a ridiculous pajama set.
“Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!” He smiles as he looks to us before Savannah and Noah come out behind us.
It takes a few moments for everyone to make it outside. Surprisingly, Kenzie and Calvin are the ones dragging their feet. I would have guessed it would have been Connor and Bella, since Connor could sleep through a stampede, according to Bella anyway.
“Good morning… or night! A huge part of having the right partner is making sure you guys are in tune with one another; that in dangerous situations, you can keep each other safe! That brings us to our next challenge—stop, drop and run!”
Landon and I side-eye one another before looking back to Alex.
“Everyone will be competing side by side. As always, the last two couples to make it over the finish line will be up for elimination. Now, let’s go check out the course.”
The cameras cut as the crew ushers us all down to an area of the beach that’s been cleared. Holy shit. When did they set all of this up? There are spotlights everywhere, probably to ensure there’s good lighting while filming, and several elaborate obstacles.
Daryll takes a seat as the usual woman begins giving us a breakdown of the rules.
Basically, one of us jumps on our partner’s back and acts as their eyes while they’re blindfolded.
We have to walk on a balance-beam type thing while huge foam—dear God, I hope they’re foam—mallets swing from either side.
The idea here is to tell our partner when to stop and when to go so we don’t get fucking nailed. Awesome.
Then the next part of the challenge is “drop,” where we have to run as fast as we can, blindfolds removed, thank God, before literal fire is shot out of cannons, forcing us to drop until it’s done. That sounds nice and safe.
“Run” is the last part, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. One of the partners has to pick up the other and carry them through a muddy pit. They’ve been nice enough to provide tall muck boots for whoever’s running if they want them.
Normally, I don’t think this would be all that hard.
I mean, besides the whole threat of being burned alive or smashed into the ocean.
I also don’t trust that there’s nothing wrong with those boots, but I’ve been known to be a pessimist. Anyway, normally, I think everyone could make it through this alright, but we’re all still disoriented and half asleep when they line us up.
“Is the fire, like, hot?” Angel asks.
“Yeah, it’s almost like it’s a heat source,” Bella scoffs.
Angel throws Bella a glare that looks powerful enough to kill.
“It’s more for looks than anything, but we don’t want the audience to know that, so run fast,” the woman says.
“What are you thinking?” I ask Landon.
“I’ll be blindfolded, and I’ll carry you at the end.”
“Duh. I can’t lift your big ass.”
He shoots me a look but doesn’t comment, glancing over to scan the obstacles once more.
Then he whispers into my ear, “I’ve been counting the mallets.
There are three of them, and each takes about two seconds to fully swing.
As soon as we get about two feet from one, tell me to stop, I’ll count and then run. ”
I nod. “And the fire?”
“Can’t promise anything, but at least we can both see for that part. We’ll run, listen for any noise indicating a flame is coming and hit the deck I guess.”
“Okay.”
My gaze roams over the entire course, and I shake my head as I whisper into his ear. “The last part feels too easy. Careful when you step into the boots. I feel like something could be in them.”
He furrows his brows. “Like what?”
I shrug. “Lions, tigers, or bears? They’re threatening us with sixteen-foot-tall mallets and fire. Then we just have to be carried through a mud pit?”
Landon nods in agreement before holding out his hand to high-five me. “We are not going home,” he says.
“We are not fucking going home!” I agree as we face the starting line.
I quickly tie the blindfold around Landon’s eyes before hopping up onto his back. He holds me easily, like I’m not even adding any weight to him.
“Three, two, one. GO!” Alex shouts, and we take off.
Landon is surprisingly graceful as he jumps up onto the balance beam, his steps quick and measured when he moves forward.
“STOP!” I shout into his ear.
He freezes just in time. The first mallet swings by us, nearly taking his nose with it.
“You were supposed to tell me a few feet away,” he grumbles.
“I forgot. Go, go!”
He lets out a sigh, and when we’re a few feet out from the next, I do as instructed this time.
“Stop!”
Landon does easily, and the mallet swings past us again. Unfortunately, Luna and Shane don’t stop in time, and they get sent flying off the fucking beam. Shit!
“What was that?” Landon asks as he runs towards the last one.
“Luna and Shane got hit,” I say as Savannah and Noah also get taken out.
Meh. That one I care less about.
“Stop!” I say, and Landon freezes just in time for the third mallet to swing by us before we finish the first part of the course.
I undo his blindfold for him as quickly as I can, then we interlace our fingers together and begin running through the fire belt.
I run with my neck craned to the left while Landon keeps his eyes on the right.
Kenzie and Calvin are right there beside us, inching closer and closer to the end, when I hear a slight tick come from one of the cannons.
“DOWN!” I yell.
Landon and I drop instantly, his body covering mine as fire rages above us.
Calvin dropped in time, but unfortunately Kenzie didn’t fully. Her hair is completely on fire, and she’s screaming as Calvin attempts to cover it with sand as quickly as possible. Once the fire above us stops, Landon drags us to our feet, then we continue running.
“Kenzie! She needs help!” I say, looking back.
“They’ve got her. Come on,” Landon says, and we make our way to the mud pit.
He glances down at the muck boots before shaking his head and scooping me up into his arms.
“What about the boots?” I ask.
“I’m listening to your advice. I don’t need them.”
We instantly sink several feet into the mud.
My ass is an inch or two from being dragged through it, so I force myself to climb up the front of him. Which essentially leaves me dangling around his neck, my legs awkwardly slung over his shoulders. He’s a good sport about it, though, as he treks through the mud pit.
Honestly, I don’t think either of us expected it to be so damn deep.
When we reach the end of the pit, Landon tosses me onto dry land before starting to haul himself free.
I offer him my hand and pull him out the rest of the way.
My gaze roams over him. Three-quarters of his body is caked in mud.
My God, if any of the shorter girls were to try to walk in there, they’d probably be swallowed whole.
Landon lifts me back into his arms and carries me the rest of the way to the finish line. I can’t contain my excitement as he spins me around.
“We fucking did it!”
The cameraman in front of us zooms in, and without having to speak, Landon and I lean into one another and kiss. Nothing like a little celebratory make-out session, right, America?
Landon’s lips move against mine so effortlessly, I almost forget where we are for a moment.
Until I hear another scream in the distance.
Turning, I see Connor, Andrew and Shane struggling to keep their boots on.
Landon and I both frown as we watch them howl before they cross the finish line as well, kicking off the boots as fast as they can.
Hundreds of fire ants pour out of each one.
Landon looks down at me and kisses the side of my head. “Good call on the boots,” he mutters.
“Oh my God, that almost sounded like a compliment,” I say in mock surprise.
He rolls his eyes. “Don’t get too excited. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.”
I shake my head at him and smirk as I look over to see Savannah standing at the beginning of the fire belt. Her arms are crossed and she’s shaking her head as Noah desperately tries to pull her through. She isn’t budging, though, her eyes solely focused on Kenzie.
What looks like a member of the medical team is by her side, quickly bandaging one side of her head as she cries. Oh my fucking God.
“What the hell?” Landon mutters.
“That’s why I wanted to stop. Her whole head was on fire.”
He shakes his head, his eyes wide in shock. “I didn’t know it was that bad. I would have stopped. I… fuck. I thought it was mostly for show? That’s what they said?” he snaps as he looks to me.
I stare at Kenzie almost numbly.
Hell of a show.