Bedroom Games
Page 22

He nodded. “Scramble hard, because you and me to the end is part of my game plan, and I don’t want that to change.”
Mine, too.
 
 
~~ * ~~
 
 
I didn’t share my concerns with Brodie. He was a lot of things, but he wasn’t good at flying below the radar. Once he found out that the others were gunning for me, he’d start trying to work everyone to save me, and they’d all be aware of what he was doing again…which would mean I’d be going home for sure.
There was always the chance that Brodie would find out that they were all going to vote for me…and that he’d sell me out to save his own hide. I didn’t trust Brodie Short not to try and save his own skin when it came down to him or me.
It was best for both of us if I kept things quiet. It’d give me time to figure things out and quietly maneuver myself into a stronger position before anyone knew I was aware that there was a target on my back.
I still hadn’t thought of a plan hours later when the intercom came on. I was in the attic room with Marla and Jendan, burning sage. Marla had sworn she’d heard footsteps last night, and she had insisted that they smudge the room to try and get rid of evil spirits. Jendan had told us it was a common practice among mediums (something he’d found out in a film he’d been in) and that you burned a bundle of sage just enough to make it smoke and then waved it around all corners of the room.
I’d been all too glad to assist, just in case they talked strategy.
We all looked up as the intercom chimed twice in a row. “House Guests, it’s time for the reward challenge. Please head to the main living area to receive your costumes and then proceed to the challenge area outside.”
I blew out the smoking bundle of sage I held. “Did I just hear the word ‘costumes?’”
Marla groaned. “I’m afraid you did. That’s not good.”
Jendan grinned at us and blew out his sage bundle and then waved it through the air to make sure it was out. “I thought girls liked to dress up for special occasions.”
“Ha ha,” said Marla. “Very funny.”
When we got downstairs, everyone groaned at the sight of the six costumes laid out. They were big, ugly blob costumes covered with leaves and made of a spongy material. No one would look cute in that. Still, we laughed as we dressed up and groaned again when we were each handed leafy crowns to put in our hair.
“What do you suppose these are supposed to be?” Jayme asked, wrinkling her nose at the sight of the potato-shaped costume.
“A jolly green giant of some kind?” Fido guessed, and we laughed. Waddling in the overstuffed green costumes, we headed out to the challenge area.
Jayme waited for us there, with Fido at her side. She held a card to read out to us, and pointed us to the starting line. We lined up, and I eyed the challenge area with interest.
I had to give the crew of the House Guests TV show credit. I hadn’t even realized that they’d been out in the back yard, working on the challenge area. It was completely transformed. There was a leafy green vine that served as a starting line, with six mats for each of us to stand on, spaced out. Beyond that, the challenge area had been transformed into a swampy obstacle course. Vines dangled from prop trees on the sidelines, and fog machines made a thick mist roll through the area. Lily pads decorated scummy green water, and a series of rocks, fallen trees, and other items created an obstacle course we’d have to wade through to get to the other side. On the far end stood a blow-up doll in a tiger-print dress and fake blonde hair tied to a pole. Cute.
“Hello House Guests,” Jayme said in a cheery voice, reading from the card. “Today’s challenge is called Swamp Things! You’re the monster that lives in the swamp, and you’re mighty lonely. At the word ‘go,’ you need to rush through the swamp and head to the other side to rescue a girlfriend on the far end of the swamp. Retrieve your mate and then make it back to the finish line. Does everyone understand?” When she saw us nodding, she continued reading. “This contest is set up slightly differently than the regular contests. You will be competing as individuals for this challenge, and you do not want to be last. The first four to cross the finish line will get a ticket to the House Guests open bar that is now being set up in the living room!”
We all cheered. After nearly a month in the house, a stiff drink sounded great.
“There’s a catch, though. The last two people to cross the finish line will have to sit around and watch everyone else get drunk around them.” She ran a finger down her cheek, mimicking a tear. “Since Fido and I have Power, we automatically get tickets to the open bar. Is everyone ready to compete?”
“Ready,” we chorused back. We got to our starting positions and leaned forward, ready to race. I was situated between Marla and Brodie.
“Go,” Jayme called.
We raced into the water. The challenge area had been filled knee high with liquid, and calling it ‘water’ was being kind. It was more like sludge. It was thick and viscous, and with the costume on, it was hard to walk. Considering that the costume was also soaking up the disgusting water? Every step became heavier and heavier.
I watched Brodie lunge forward only to plow into the goopy water head first, and I couldn’t resist laughing.
It took an eternity to drag one leg in front of the other, longer to crawl over one of the rocky obstacles and to maneuver under a low-hanging ‘tree’ branch. Jendan and Brodie were in the lead, followed by Casper. Sunnie was clinging to Casper as he helped her along, and Marla panted and heaved at my side.
By the time I retrieved my blow up doll ‘girlfriend,’ I was in close to last place. Marla and Sunnie were dragging behind me, but I was confident I could beat them.
I…just wasn’t sure I wanted to.
Alcohol might be the key to discovering where the cracks were and exploiting them. People tended to lose their guard under the influence of alcohol, and I wanted to hear what they had to say. I noticed Casper slowing down before he hit the finish line and then turning around to go and help Sunnie move across the line. Marla was neck and neck with me, so when I hit the rock obstacle, I pretended to lose my footing on the other side and went splashing into the water, belly first. My costume immediately soaked up water, and I struggled genuinely for the next minute to get back to my feet.
By the time I did, I watched Marla and Sunnie limp across the finish line, and Casper moved to me to offer me a hand up in case I needed it. He’d clearly played the gallant and opted to let the girls win.
I was still out. I smiled at Casper. “Looks like it’s you and me missing out on the bar.”
“I don’t drink,” he said, voice blunt. “So this is one reward I won’t mind missing out on.”
“I’m disappointed,” I lied as I crossed the finish line with his help. Immediately, Brodie was at my side and hugging me through my wet costume. I tried to feign sadness as he squished me into a wet, swampy hug.
“I’m sorry, Kandis,” Brodie said. “I didn’t realize you were so far behind.”
“It’s okay,” I told him, and I gave him a pat with my soggy glove. “It’s not important. I’ll get the next one.”
Jendan was there to hug me next. As he leaned in, he whispered, “That was the worst pratfall ever. Take it from a stuntman.”