Chapter 21
It happened so suddenly, it took me a minute to process. I’d felt so strong when I was running, but now with my head dangling over Dante’s shoulder, stars clouded my vision and I was weak as a kitten. The GoPro helmet slipped from my skull, thudding to the leaf litter as Dante carried me deeper into the jungle.
He’d been painted in shades of red and orange, looking like the demon from hell he actually was. Horror swelled inside me, along with the determination to fight him to my last breath.
Drawing as much air as possible, I screamed. ‘Help! Anyone—help me! Please! Chris! ’ The only answer was Dante’s snigger.
‘Sorry, my little Bella , it’s just you and Dante. And you are now a prisoner.’
Kick him in the balls! I drew my foot back as far as I could, but Dante’s arm wrapped over both my legs, holding them to his chest. I tried bucking backwards, heaving my torso, trying to get away. He was stronger, slamming a brutal hand to my back. With my arms locked under me, I was trapped.
Where’s a cameraman when I actually need one? I kept on screaming, my voice dulled by the massive trees around us.
‘Nobody says no to Dante,’ said the vile man holding me hostage. ‘You will learn how to be a good little bagascia. We will learn together, no?’
‘No!’ I shrieked at him. ‘Help! Chris! ’
He pushed through a large bush, into a secluded clearing. Throwing me to the dirt, he fell forward towards me. I rolled quickly and sprinted, but he caught my arm and threw me hard against a tree, holding me there with his body weight. I whimpered, turning my face away but unable to stop my naked stomach and breasts from touching his skin, revulsion rising. ‘Chris isn’t here, donnaccia. ’
‘But we are!’
Clara, Meghan and Jen burst into the clearing, their faces aflame with fury and disgust.
‘Get the fuck off her, you dickless pervert.’ Clara was magnificent in her green war paint, fists clenched and chest heaving.
‘Ladies, ladies, there’s more than enough Dante to go around.’ He turned slightly towards them, still keeping me flush against the tree.
‘God, I bloody hope so.’ Meghan darted forward, delicate and graceful, and kneed Dante powerfully between the legs.
He squealed, high and long, slumping away from me and clutching his crotch. Clara crouched and swiped her leg around, knocking Dante off his feet. As he hit the ground, Jen stomped a foot on his chest, winding him, then crushed her booted foot to his windpipe.
‘Girls, I will stay here with this piece of human garbage,’ Jen said pleasantly. ‘Megan, run the keys to base, and Clara can help Tara walk back.’
Clara looped an arm around my waist and indicated Dante. ‘Will you be okay with fuck-nuts?’
‘Oh yes,’ she grinned, grinding her foot down as Dante gurgled. ‘He is not the first man who has tried to overpower a woman around me. I may be a sex addict, but I’ve never been taken against my will.’ Like the tree she was painted to resemble, Jen was unbending and beautiful.
Meghan stepped forward and took the key bag from my hand, where I still clutched it fiercely. ‘You did grand, lady.’ She dashed away, light on her feet, a demonic jet-black pixie.
Clara walked us away, her warm arm tight around my waist. She was surprisingly strong for such a tiny thing. She spewed a litany of cuss words as she steered us back through the foliage. ‘Mother-fucking-Italian-crusty-cock ass-wipe-douchebag! I hope Jen fucking cuts his balls off and feeds them to him. Touch my girl and die, while I take a dump on your grave!’
‘I’m your girl?’ I asked, shakily.
‘You know you fucking are.’
‘I love you, Clara,’ I told her, squeezing my friend’s hand.
Under her khaki colours, she blushed. ‘Bitch, don’t lez out on me. I love you too, whatevs. Come on, let’s find some help and get Dante tied in a sack of fish guts and dumped in sharky waters.’
We moved as quick as I could manage, the lack of food combining with shock to make each step a wobbly balancing act. Finally, we broke out into the girls’ base clearing, where the other ladies stood celebrating and about half the guys sat on the ground, looking beaten.
Meghan ran up. ‘We won! And I sent the crew out looking for you guys and a team is on their way to Jen and Dante. The producers want to talk to all of us when we get back.’
Tears filled my vision. ‘Thank you so much, both of you. If it weren’t for you guys and Jen … I don’t know what would have happened. You’re all amazing.’
‘Anytime, girl.’ Meghan smiled proudly.
I love my girls, but I needed my man. ‘Have you seen Chris?’ I said.
‘He ran off to look for you. Hey, look! Guess who’s back!’
Dante and Jen broke out into the clearing, his arm pinned to his back by Jen’s tight grip as she marched him in front of her. The crew trailing after them looked on uselessly.
‘This man should be arrested for attempted rape,’ said Jen, pushing him to the ground in front of the nearest producer.
‘I keep telling you all, my English, she’s nota so good!’ Dante’s accent grew stronger as he tried to lie his way out of trouble. ‘Dante thought we supposed to capture the girls, yes? That’s all I was doing!’
‘You dirty fucking liar,’ shrieked Clara. ‘Bullshit!’
‘Dante is so-a sorry, he get it so wrong.’ Penitently, he shook his head.
‘You people don’t actually believe him, right?’ Meghan, Clara and Jen rounded on the production team, defending my honour and blowing holes in Dante’s excuses.
Meanwhile, Chris’ voice yelled my name and I turned to the sound. ‘Tara! Tara? ’
‘Chris! Here!’
He sprinted towards me, his eyes like blue daggers through his grey paint. ‘Babe, talk to me, are you okay?’ He wrapped me in a bear hug and I slumped into his embrace, allowing him to smother my face in kisses. His bare chest felt like a warm blanket against my breasts and I pressed in closer to him.
‘I’m okay, I promise. Well, there’s a few splinters in my back, but as long as they get rid of Dante, I’ll be fine.’
But you didn’t, did you, morons?
(Producer, off camera: Tara, we explained to you. You guys were off the camera grid, and the GoPro didn’t capture anything other than Dante picking you up and he explained he misunderstood the game rules. )
That’s such a crock of shit, and you guys are swallowing it. What about the three witnesses?
(It’s your word against his—technically, the other girls are lucky not to be facing assault charges.)
Jesus …
(So … how are you feeling after such a crazy day?)
Seriously? Do you expect me to keep yammering like a trained parrot while you let a would-be rapist walk around unpunished? I’m done.
(For good?)
For today. Be buggered if I’m gonna let Dante take my million away from me.
***
Transcript of Tara M’s video diary: Day 15
Date day. Reveals. End of diary.
(Producer: Uh … Tara? Can we get a little more detail than that, please? )
Fine. I ordered brekky in my room, trying to avoid seeing anyone at the bungalow who might attempt to sexually attack me.
My muesli bowl and Vegemite sour dough arrived with a surprise: Chris, followed by a camera crew.
‘Good morning, babe,’ he greeted me, looking fine in cargo pants and a green muscle tee. ‘I got permission to come and see how you’re doing this morning before we head out on our dates.’
‘You’re amazing,’ I smiled. It felt so limiting to not be able to touch him, so I gestured for him to come in and we sat at the table outside, admiring the clear day. ‘I’m doing pretty well. I definitely won’t be skipping any more meals. Do you want some?’ I offered him food and he accepted a piece of toast.
‘I’m glad you’re eating. You look stunning, by the way.’
I had Mama Ruby to thank for that. Along with informing me she’d cast a voodoo spell on Dante, shrivelling his penis whenever he thought about having sex, she’d brushed my hair long and loose. It draped prettily around my outfit, a short green smock dress with long bell sleeves. For the second day in a row, I wore leather walking boots and I felt empowered from the weight of them on my feet.
‘Thanks.’ I stared at Chris, wanting to crawl into his lap and rub my fingers down his stubble. The restrictions were killing me, and his face showed me he felt the same.
‘You know, one of these days it’ll be our turn for a date and we will be using a strike.’ He licked his lips a little and my body responded, tingling zooming along my nerves.
‘Yes, we will. How much do you think we can get done in five minutes?’ I asked.
Chris snorted. ‘Babe, I’m so strung out right now, I could do you twice in five minutes, and still have a minute left over for cuddling.’
I dissolved into giggles. ‘I’m feeling the same. Oh god, I can’t wait until this is all over.’
Chris’ face was torn. ‘I don’t know how I feel. I worry that when we leave this place, you’ll try to disappear on me.’
‘You’d find me,’ I answered. ‘Or I’d find you. I know where you work, after all.’
‘Work, god, I haven’t even thought about it since we landed. I hope it’s holding up alright without me there.’
‘Baby, I bet you make a mean latte, but I’m pretty sure they’ll cope okay.’
‘Yeah …’ he trailed off. ‘I should tell you something. I—’
‘Guys? That’s time. Chris, you have to go meet your date, and Tara, yours is on the way.’ Greg spoke up from behind the lens and we groaned.
‘Fine. Hey, tell me later, okay?’
‘I will. Try and enjoy your date.’ He rose and I walked him to the door.
‘Do you really want me to try and have fun with another man?’
‘Yes. No. I don’t know. I just know that I love you.’ He smiled at me, his sapphire eyes relaxed and content.
‘I love you too, coffee boy.’
***
A few minutes later, Callum knocked on my door and I felt my mood lift; I like the Irish bruiser, despite that fact that he’s caught in a horrible triangle with Megs.
‘This place has some bonny hills,’ he said. ‘Would you care to take a walk with me?’
‘Yes, I would.’
We ambled up the cliff sides around the beach, following sandy trails up and down, with Greg panting and trailing behind, trying to keep us in focus. The sea air felt delicious on my skin, and the morning sun warmed my bones. Callum and I discussed rugby and airsickness and a dozen or so light topics, steering clear of anything too personal.
As the path snaked inland, the hills grew steeper and my legs burned happily from the exercise. ‘It’s nice to walk. I mean, honestly, how often do you just wander? I’m always running for trains, or jogging to burn calories, but to just walk somewhere for the sake of it? Hardly ever.’
‘Walking has always been a part of my life,’ said Callum, his bright copper hair shining in the sun. ‘I left home at fourteen, with only the clothes on my back. I hitched and walked my way across Ireland, doing odd jobs and moving on when I got bored.’
‘That sounds quite lonely.’
‘It was at first, but then the ladies of the Emerald Isle discovered how good I am in bed.’ He winked at me, grinning. ‘After that, I could always find a place to lay my head at night.’
‘That still sounds lonely,’ I ribbed him, light-heartedly. ‘So, what are you doing for work now?’
‘I’m an entrepreneur. I’ve been crowd-funding business ventures for the last few years, trying to support other young start-ups too. I’m not gonna lie, I had a pretty rough start to life, fell into drugs, arsed up more times than I can count. But I’m clean now and I’m out to make something of myself.’ He lifted his chin, determined. ‘I’ve got the ideas; all I need is the cash.’
‘Will a million bucks help?’
‘Bloody oath, it will!’ His eyes rolled to the heavens, already lost in the thought of all the possibilities money could buy.
We arrived at the top of our climb, the world laid out below us. More than ever, the island seemed unreal, so perfect and pretty that it took my breath away. Callum pulled two cold beers from his backpack, uncapping them with the corner of his cream-coloured shirt and handing me one. We clacked them together in cheers before taking long pulls.
‘Are you feeling okay after yesterday? Meghan told me what happened.’ His fingers tightened on his bottle. ‘I’d like to smash that bastard’s big stupid teeth in.’
‘Get in line. Yeah, I’m all good, thanks. Thank god for the girls; Meghan was a beast, by the way. Don’t ever cross her, mate—I’d fear for your nads.’
He chortled. ‘That’s me girl.’ Eying me slyly, he asked, ‘Any advice for a lovesick lad?’
‘Yeah. Be honest and don’t pressure her.’
‘I don’t know what she sees in that Kiwi.’
‘It doesn’t matter; that’s between her and Nik. Just focus on your relationship, okay?’
‘I hear ya.’ We downed the rest of our beer, then Callum said, ‘Are you ready to head down?’
He waved towards a flying fox behind us, harnesses and gloves ready and the wire streaking down the hillside into the jungle. It was the longest zip line I’d ever seen and my heart began to boogie excitedly.
‘Oh wow! Hell yeah!’
Two minutes later, we swung suspended from the wire, GoPros rolling atop our helmets.
‘I’ll be right behind you,’ Callum reassured me, but I didn’t need it.
‘Thanks, see you down there!’ I released my grip on the wire and sailed down the hill, giggling happily as I picked up speed. With the island whizzing by and the wind sucking my worries away, I shrieked to the sky, letting everything go for a few moments.
***
Callum walked me home, and I treated myself to a BLT wrap, a bath and a long nap. Mama roused me for the next round of reveals. ‘Come on, darlin’. Mama needs to get to work now.’
Back in the makeup chair, my blonde strands were wound into a tight bun. Tonight’s outfit was laid out on the bed, white skinny jeans and an aqua swing top, sheer with shiny beading over the boobs. Matching aqua wedges gave me height without stealing my balance and I strode out confidently on the wooden walkway, ready to take on the night.
In the bungalow, I was greeted by my friends, everyone concerned for me after yesterday. Multiple death threats were issued for Dante, who slunk in late and eyed me darkly from the back corner, but flanked by Chris and Clara, I felt invincible.
We hoed into dinner, feasting on whole lobsters and creamy sauce, bantering happily between our tables. Megs and Callum were laughing at something Lars said, while Toshi and Beau intensely discussed something, their brows low and serious. Henry was on his feet, demonstrating a waltz step to Jen as she clapped at his efforts. Clara entertained Nik and the threesome with a raucous tale of the time she broke in backstage at a Miley Cyrus concert and Chris only had eyes for me, listening avidly as I described one of my most trying hotel shifts, where I had to round up a team of drunken naked footballers and send them back to their rooms.
Looking around the room, I realised that we have all become a family. A weird, incestuous family, maybe, but I love these people. We are all connected by this bizarre experience and our relationships will continue long after the cameras stop rolling.
When Miles cleared his throat, boos echoed around the room and someone threw a shoe at him.
‘Now, now, Clara! That’s not very nice!’
‘The other one is on its fucking way,’ she warned.
‘Goodness! Contestants, I’m feeling quite hurt! After all, the secrets I bring tonight might be just what you need to hear.’
Chris huffed. ‘I doubt it, mate.’
‘Well, let’s just see, shall we?’ Miles straightened his yellow bowtie, growing more confident as the screen behind him glowed to life. ‘We all know Meghan has a very hard choice before her; after all, who could decide between two such worthy princes?’
Megs stiffened, while Nik and Callum on either side of her shot each other nervous glances.
‘One of you hasn’t been honest. Have you … Callum?’ The TV flashed up a mug-shot photo of a very young Callum, his face blackened and angry. ‘You were arrested at fifteen, were you not?’
Meghan spoke up, her voice clear and proud. ‘Do you think I’d care about Callum being arrested? Look at him! He was a kid. We all make mistakes.’
‘Don’t speak too soon, my lass. You might be interested in the date of his arrest. It was the seventh of February, 2004. Ring any bells?’
‘The night my house burned down.’ Megs spoke immediately, as if the date was branded on her memory.
‘Meghan, I can explain,’ Callum tried to explain desperately. ‘I was homeless and hungry and off my face, love. I recognised our old street, and I lost it. I meant to burn down my old place, not yours.’
‘My pa nearly died that night,’ she whispered, horrified. ‘My arm was burned, my sister lost half her hair.’
‘I’m so sorry, love—’
‘Everything we owned went up in smoke. We lost it all. We had to move away and my parents never recovered.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
Callum’s eyes were tragic. ‘Because I thought you’d hate me.’
‘You were right,’ she said, standing. ‘Get out of my sight.’
‘Meghan, please—’
‘Goodbye, Callum.’
She stared him down, and he rose, his shoulders slumped, tears rolling freely down his ruddy cheeks. As he reached the stairs, he turned and spoke her words back to her, ‘We all make mistakes, love.’ Then he was gone.
The room was silent, the kind of post-event quiet you experience when the music gets switched off after the cops pull you over for something. Meghan sat, her face unreadable.
Miles’ next revelation about the Jordanian princess actually being broke was lame in comparison. The night ended and we all drifted out of the bungalow. I tried to grab Megs to see if she was okay, but she vanished.
Chris was being held behind for a meeting to discuss his next date plans, so Clara walked me home.
‘I don’t fucking believe it! Teenage arson, date rape, royalty and hookers; this place is a fucking psych ward!’
Exhausted, I bade her goodbye, needing my strength for the next challenge. Just as I was about to close my door, Chris came sprinting up. ‘Babe! I wanted to say goodnight!’
A tight happy feeling clutched at my lower belly. ‘Thanks. Do you want to come in?’
‘Sure,’ he said enthusiastically. ‘I’ll make you a tea.’
We slipped inside, closing the door to the outside world. The two glasses of white wine I’d consumed with my seafood dinner flared inside me, driving my barely suppressed lust for Chris to the surface.
Wickedly, I raised an eyebrow at him. ‘Actually, I’m just about to take a shower. Do you want to watch?’