Chapter 5 #4
I glanced at the other contestants, and they’d each successfully figured out how to pull up their status screens as well, though no one else seemed to have the same glowing bar that I did.
Was that supposed to be a point? If so, what had I possibly done to earn it?
I tapped my collar again, twice, and as suddenly as my screen popped up, it disappeared.
“You can access your status page at any given time,” the voice continued.
“As you participate and show various feats of strength, speed, intelligence, perception, and ingenuity, you can earn points in the corresponding categories. Each point earned will grant you a buff in that category and give you an advantage over others.”
I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but it certainly sounded promising.
And dangerous. This was slowly beginning to feel less like a dating game and more like an actual competition, and the last thing we needed was to be pitted against each other.
The voice again reminded us not to cross the boundary line, and it informed us that our collars would begin to beep if we got too close.
That was a relief, at least.
As soon as the voice stopped speaking, Kyle immediately got busy setting up teams for a volleyball match. Martin, Zade, Annabelle, and Clarisse joined in to no one’s surprise, but even Claire and Tyler volunteered to join in to help make the teams a bit bigger.
I removed myself from the group, and I could see Sadie and Parker did the same. Parker moved toward the Tiki bar, and I decided to do the same, even though we’d all just had a big breakfast, and I wasn’t particularly hungry.
As I moved closer to the bar, I noticed it was manned by the same type of robot as the one that had been in the cafe. This time, it wore no apron and its little hat read ‘The Cheeky Tiki.’
Parker hopped up onto a stool, and I didn’t think she’d noticed me yet.
“May I join you?” I asked as I approached.
“Hmm?” She looked up in surprise, and her brooding expression instantly softened when she realized it was me. “Oh, yes, of course. Please, take a seat.”
I sat down next to her, and we both turned to gaze out at the beach.
The volleyball group had officially started their match, and Sadie stood off to the side to watch.
If it weren’t for the suspicious circumstances, this really would be such a fun day.
Beside me, Parker sighed.
“Is everything okay?” I asked as I glanced over at her.
Her pale green eyes matched perfectly with our surroundings, but they were laser focused as she took in her surroundings.
“Do you get the feeling that everything is too simple?” she asked. “Yesterday, we were dropped into a café to drink coffee and do a few rounds of speed dating, and now we’re sent out here to have a playdate at the beach.”
I was constantly impressed with how observant this woman was.
“You’re wondering why the aliens would hold us captive just to do such simple, harmless things,” I guessed, and it wasn’t hard to do, because her thoughts mirrored my own.
“Yes,” she agreed. “I don’t understand what the purpose in all this is, and I can’t help but feel there’s more to it than just what we’re seeing.”
I mulled over her words, as well as my own feelings.
Clearly, the aliens were more advanced technology-wise than we were. I supposed it was possible that they may have gotten bored, and they saw us as an amusing lesser species they could use as entertainment, similar to zoo animals, or even house pets.
But I couldn’t shake the feeling that this assumption wasn’t quite right. Parker was right. There was more to it than that.
“I honestly don’t know,” I finally sighed. “But I’ve had the exact same feelings, and I don’t think it’s just paranoia. I think it’s our instincts.”
“So, what do we do then?” Parker asked.
“Play along for now,” I said. “But always remain vigilant.”
“This may sound rude,” Parker suddenly said. “But I’m relieved you were taken as well.”
“Why?” I asked, and I was surprised by her confession.
“Because you actually use your brain,” she laughed. “If it weren’t for you and a few others, I’d be completely surrounded by dumbasses.”
I threw my head back and laughed at her explanation.
I was both amused and flattered by her words.
We continued to watch the group in silence, and I noticed Sadie wandered off with a few small shovels and buckets.
“I’m going to go check on Sadie,” I said as I turned to Parker. “I want to make sure she’s doing okay as well.”
“You knew her before all of this, didn’t you?” Though she had phrased it like a question, Parker gazed at me with a knowing expression.
“Yeah,” I said with a nod. “We were neighbors.”
“So, you knew her well?” Parker asked.
“Not exactly,” I admitted, and it was hard to keep the heat from rising to my cheeks. “We spoke in passing, but it was never anything more than polite conversation.”
“Did you ever want it to be more?” she asked, and there was that knowing look again.
“Sometimes,” I admitted.
I wasn’t sure what reaction I expected from the auburn-haired woman, perhaps resentment or even disappointment, but instead she merely smiled and nodded in understanding.
“I get it,” she finally said. “She’s super cute, and she seems like a really decent and intelligent person.”
I felt a wave of relief when I heard her reaction.
“Will you be okay here by yourself for a while?” I asked as I hopped off my barstool.
“Absolutely,” Parker assured me. “Go check on Sadie.”
“You can come with me if you want,” I offered.
I wasn’t sure how well the two women actually knew each other, and I also knew Sadie was very shy, so I wasn’t sure how she’d respond to the extra company.
But I also didn’t want to just ditch Parker, because I really enjoyed her company.
Parker merely grinned and waved for me to leave, so I grinned back, thanked her, and left to find Sadie.
Sadie was a few feet away from where the waves were breaking on the beach, and she was thoroughly engrossed in building a sandcastle. I paused to watch her for a moment, before I continued my approach.
Her hands were so gentle and steady, no doubt something she had much practice in thanks to her work, and I found it fascinating the way she carefully shaped the sand into specific and delicate shapes.
“May I join you?” I asked, and Sadie jumped slightly before she turned to glance back at me.
“Of course,” she said with a small smile. “You can help me finish my masterpiece.”
I knelt down across from her, but I didn’t make any moves to help. I didn’t want to risk damaging what she’d already done.
“Why aren’t you helping?” she playfully demanded after a few moments had gone by and I still hadn’t done anything.
“I don’t want to break anything,” I admitted. “My hands aren’t as steady as yours are. Nor are they as delicate.”
“I thought mechanics had steady hands,” she argued, and her eyebrows scrunched together.
“Steady hands while working on an engine are very different from preserving art,” I pointed out. “Now, if you give me a solid metal engine to assemble, then sure, I’ll absolutely help.”
“Okay,” she chuckled. “How about this, then. Your job is to use the sifter to find some decent shells and other useful objects.”
“Are we talking for practical purposes or are the items I find purely decorative?” I clarified.
“Both,” she said after a moment of deliberation.
“I’m on it, chief,” I said as I gave her a little salute.
She giggled and went back to her work as I grabbed the sifter and marched toward the waves.