Episode 11
I’m sitting on a boulder down by the beach to be still with my thoughts.
Naturally, my mind wanders to Celeste, who has somehow become my favorite way to pass the time.
But the peace breaks when Jeida emerges from the northern side of camp.
She glances in my direction when she sees me start to get up and waves me off.
By the look on her face, I immediately sense something’s wrong and she wants to be left alone.
I search the beach for Blair, but don’t see her anywhere.
A minute later, she strolls down the exact same path, her usual glowing self, seemingly unbothered.
From the distance, I watch closely as she brushes a twig loose from her dark hair and offers a soft smile to Arlie.
Perhaps she went on a relic hunt and they bumped into each other?
For a moment I chuckle to myself, entertaining a brief wild thought.
What if Saffron and Raina aren’t the only ones always sneaking off for some fun? If so, brava on the acting.
I pull my brows together as Blair kneels down and grabs the machete and a coconut.
Nothing abnormal in her demeanor. I exhale, more confused than before at the purpose of Misty’s and my conversation from the other day and how on earth I’m supposed to commit the “psychological warfare” Claudia expects of me.
Time to put my detective cap on. Bracing myself for the tension, I slip off the boulder and walk to the main camp area.
“Have you noticed anything off between Jeida and Blair?” I whisper to Arlie, dropping onto the log beside her.
“Jeida hates Blair,” Arlie plainly responds without looking up from her latest wood carving project.
I huff a laugh. “You can’t be serious. I don’t see that.”
“Mhm.” She blows a stray shaving away, then runs her blade down the small block of cedar, her chipped black nail polish contrasting against the pale wood.
“Did something happen?”
Arlie shrugs, her dark eyes tracking Blair across camp before returning to her hands. “When everyone’s smiling, someone’s hiding a knife.”
Not much of a lead. I chew on my bottom lip in thought. We haven’t made a trip to The Summit to vote anyone out. Perhaps I’ve been so occupied balancing the demands of the game and managing the weight of my production plant role that I haven’t noticed.
I turn my attention to Saffron and Raina when they exit the shelter, all giggly. They’ve been so busy romping around like lovesick teens, there’s no chance they’ve noticed anything more than I have.
When Saffron pauses to say hello, I ask anyway. “Have you noticed any tension between Jeida and Blair?”
They don’t miss a beat. “They hate each other,” they say at the same time.
I can’t believe this. “Since when?”
Raina shrugs, her arm nestled around Saffron’s neck. “The moment we stepped off the boat, I guess.”
“How am I the only person who didn’t notice?” I whisper angrily, irritated like I’m the odd one out on the latest gossip.
“One word.” Saffron grins with a wink. “I’ll give you a clue. Starts with the letter C.”
“Like Celeste.” Raina chimes in, as if the answer wasn’t obvious.
I roll my eyes and lean in. “I’m serious. Don’t you find it odd that those two would hate each other? I mean that’s quite the word choice.”
Saffron adjusts her wrap around her left bicep. “As long as we’re civil and keep winning challenges, who cares. Some personalities don’t mesh.”
Raina nods in agreement. “I’d say our team morale has been easy sailing so far.”
“Exactly. Why screw it up by addressing something that isn’t our business? Let them sort it out.” Saffron cups Raina’s face and does the same annoying baby talk they do in the shelter that keeps me up past my bedtime. “Let’s go for our walk and then we can make dinner.”
Thankfully the smooching sounds end when they leave. Arlie wandered off, too. Alone, I sigh. Maybe everyone’s right to not overthink Blair and Jeida’s personality differences.
Cluck wanders over to my feet, his small talons scratching against the dirt. I pick him up and scoop him onto my lap, scratching the soft feathers beneath his beak. “Did you know too?”
He bawks. I take it that’s a yes.
I carefully lower Cluck to the ground, watching him wander off after Saffron. I take one more glance at the opening where Jeida and Blair came from earlier and finally drop the case of guilt I’ve been carrying regarding Claudia’s task. It’s a part of the job, I tell myself.
By the time everyone gathers back around the fire to get dinner started, the tension is impossible to ignore.
Sitting in a hammock nearby, I yank my head toward rapid shuffling noises.
Jeida scoffs and stomps from behind the shelter in a state I’ve never seen her in before.
She sits on a log, slamming her water canteen down with a thud, then mutters loud enough for me to hear.
“If she wants to be a clown, oh, I’ll be her circus. ”
Before I have a chance to figure out what’s happening, Blair strolls by, sipping from a fresh coconut. Jeida’s eyes form slits and when Blair passes her, Jeida stands abruptly and with an open palm, slaps the coconut out of Blair’s hands, making juice fly all over Blair’s face and clothes.
Blair freezes, her arms frozen in the air. Her typical posh composure crumples, tears instantly welling in her eyes. “Why would you do that?”
“I don’t know why you need hydration,” Jeida snaps as she steps within inches of Blair’s face. “Choke on your lies.” Then she storms away down the shoreline.
Blair drops onto a nearby log. Sniffles transform into heavy sobs. Her hair bow-shaped wrap flops to the side of her hair. Saffron and Raina dart to her side, murmuring soft words of comfort and rubbing her back.
Instead of choosing sides, I sit and observe the chaos around me.
“What the hell is her problem?” Saffron’s jaw locks as she glares at Jeida down the shoreline. “Does she have to be so immature?”
“I don’t know why she doesn’t like me,” Blair sniffles and she wipes her teary face with the back of her hand. “I’ve been nothing but nice to her.”
To my surprise, even Arlie goes to Blair’s aid.
Raina shakes her head in disapproval. She moves her long braid to the side and carefully fixes Blair’s red hair bow, tucking it neatly in place.
“We don’t need that type of behavior around camp.
Don’t worry. With that attitude, she won’t be here much longer.
She’s not that strong in challenges anyway. ”
I watch the scene unfold, a knot tightening in my stomach. Why is my team splitting? I’m confused by the sheer intensity of Jeida’s anger, but listening to Blair’s defenses, none of this adds up. Something feels off. I can’t quite put my finger on why.
We go to sleep shortly after our ruined meal.
Jeida is tucked into the far corner of the shelter, her body angled away from everyone else.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team is on my side.
Coincidentally, sardined in my space. Even Saffron and Raina are dead asleep, much more quiet than usual, their late night rustling and kissing noises absent from the shared space.
I’m restless and wide awake, lying in the cramped shelter, staring up at the palm frond roof for answers.
I’m sure Celeste’s team doesn’t have these issues.
My mind travels to why I’m here on this island in the first place.
The camp has already chosen its villain.
One hardly can call it sabotage. If I’m going to do anything, tonight is the night. Play the part. Stick the landing.
Careful to not wake anyone, I slip out of the shelter and my eyes dart around camp for items. My chest tightens at the rustle near the edge.
I look down and exhale a sigh of relief.
My only witness is a chicken. Cluck cocks his tiny head to the side, but thankfully doesn’t sound the alarm.
I press a finger to my lips and he seems to understand my request for silence and turns around.
Attempting to ignore the blinking lights from the cameras, I tiptoe toward the machete resting against the tree. My palms prick with sweat as I carry the blade toward the dense, tangled brush our team avoids and chuck it as far as I can.
Claudia wants psychological warfare and I refuse to do half-hearted acting. I sneak my hand inside the remaining three days worth of black beans and scoop half into a small pouch to slip into Jeida’s bag.
While maneuvering back into the shelter, over a maze of tangled limbs, something catches my attention.
The fuzzy socks Saffron loaned Blair are slipping off her feet.
One is lying on the ground and the other is barely clinging to her toes.
Holding my breath, I use two steady fingers to slide the fabric free.
I pause and glance over to Jeida asleep in the corner.
Will this be worth it in the end or am I turning into the very thing Lola was to me?
I exhale slowly, swallowing the weight of the guilt and exit the shelter.
I toss the socks into the fire, already knowing I won’t sleep tonight.