We looked like one big happy family, except we weren’t. I was already thinking ahead. If I was going to get to the end, I needed to pull someone along with me. Leslie and Kissy were close friends because of the nearness in their ages, and I often caught them with their heads together. That meant I needed to bring Alys in to an alliance with me.
That wasn’t too hard. I just dangled the thought of the final two in front of her and she was along for the ride. Which was perfect, really. Alys wasn’t ultra-competitive and she thought she was playing a good game where she offended no one (except maybe Saul). I was the bad guy, masterminding everything, and everyone knew it.
So if we could get to the end, Alys and I could sit across from each other and see who people would vote for - me, because I played hard, or her, because she was an angel.
In the meantime, I was looking for ways to split Kissy and Leslie. If I didn’t win the next immunity challenge, I knew they’d be gunning for me. So I watched, and waited.
The day before the next immunity, I found a clue for Pandora’s Box in our tribal mail.
I stared at it for a long moment, and carefully shut the lid, leaving it there. According to Chip, Pandora’s Box could either be good or bad, and I’d already had good (well, theoretically) so I didn’t want to touch it, lest it automatically vote me out of the game. My game was already under control.
It was a calculated risk, but I’d take it. So I hunkered down in the bushes, hiding and waiting to see who found it.
Alys wandered toward the water hole a short time later, and paused at the tribal mailbox, lifting the lid nonchalantly. She stilled at the sight of the note in there, so I had to emerge from the bushes and warn her away from it. It took some convincing, but Alys was easily sway-able and in the end, she walked away and I went back to my hiding spot.
Leslie found it.
I watched her read the clue with excitement, then race into the jungle. I followed a short distance behind and watched, just in time, as she found a particular tree and reached into a hollow, pulling out the tiny red lacquered box. She opened it, dug out a piece of paper, and began to read.
“Shit,” she hissed under her breath, then quickly glanced around and stuffed the clue back into the box and into the tree.
I slunk away into the bushes. Bad news. That was all I needed to know.
The next challenge, I won, beating the others in a swimming-and-retrieving challenge. Kissy and Leslie were slower competitors, and Alys was my only real competition. I won easily, and felt proud going into Judgment that night, wearing the necklace so the jury - now comprised entirely of men - could see that I was kicking ass and taking names.
As usual, every time the jury filed in, I cast a longing look at Jendan. He was bulking up now that he was eating regularly, and his muscles were filling out again. The man was ripped. And gorgeous. And he made my girl parts tingle every time I saw him.
He never sent me an encouraging look, though, and I wondered if he was mad at me or if this was simply part of him playing the game.
What I wouldn’t have given for just one small smile, though!
Earlier that day, I’d convinced a nervous Alys that we didn’t need Kissy on our side to win the vote. Whatever Leslie had found in Pandora’s Box wasn’t a good thing. Even if we were wrong and it came down to a tie, Alys could beat her in a Judgment challenge. Leslie had been silent all day, except for the occasional snipe at how little work Kissy was doing around camp, and I knew she was trying to encourage us to vote in that direction.
Didn’t matter. When it came time for the vote, I wrote down Leslie’s name. A short time later, the votes were read, and we had a tie - two for Alys, two for Leslie.
“It’s a tie,” Chip said ominously. “In the form of a tie, we would normally go to a Judgment challenge. However…” He paused, milking the moment for all it was worth. “I am told we had someone open Pandora’s Box. Does anyone want to confess?”
Immediately, I felt the eyes of the jury looking my way. I wanted to yell out, wasn’t me! But I kept silent, watching Leslie.
The Judgment area was silent. “As a reminder,” Chip said, “We can kick people from the game for not following the rules.”
Leslie looked for a long moment as if she wasn’t going to speak, then sighed and raised her hand. “Me. I did it.”
“And what did it say?” Chip pushed.
Another huge sigh. “It said I would automatically receive a vote at the next Judgment.”
I shot Alys a triumphant look. I knew it would be bad news. I glanced over at the jury and found Jendan watching me, a thoughtful look on his face. My heart fluttered. Daring greatly, I gave him a wink and turned back to the other women seated next to me.
“That means you have three votes, Leslie. That’s enough. I’m sorry to say that you are now out of the game, and have become our sixth member of the jury.”
With heavy feet, Leslie stomped out of the Judgment area.
Chip turned back to the three of us still seated. “You’ve made it to the penultimate round of the game, ladies. Tomorrow is your last immunity challenge. Whoever wins that challenge decides who sits next to them in the finale. Are you ready?”
I practically bounced in my seat. I was more than ready. I wanted to be done with this.
If I won the next challenge, I could take this entire thing home. With a million dollars in the bank, I wouldn’t be Annabelle the Island Slut. I’d be Annabelle, the winner of Endurance Island.
No more waitressing. No more shame of being Annabelle the Island Ho.
And then…then maybe I could talk to Jendan and see if he hated me.
Chapter Twenty
“Annabelle has my vote. Always has. I’ve given this a lot of thought, and no one else has even come close to playing the same game she has. She’s out of their league – in every way possible.” — Jendan Abercrombie, Endurance Island: Power Players, Jury Interview
I didn’t win the final immunity. Naturally. Fate stepped in, and Alys beat me in a sand-castle building contest. No one ever said I was the most artistic person.
But honestly, sand castles? Come on.
Now, Alys got to decide who would go to the final two. It wouldn’t be my decision. Everything was out of my hands for the first time in two weeks and several votes.
I kept my cool, though. When we returned to camp, I let Kissy walk off into the jungle with Alys to make her plea. They were gone for well over an hour, and when Alys finally sat down in the shelter, and Kissy wandered off, I offered Alys a drink from my canteen.
“She working you?” I asked casually.
“Yeah,” Alys said, looking frustrated. “It’s a tough decision.”
“Not that tough,” I told her, and pretended to study my fingernails, totally casual. “You know you can’t take her to the end, right? It’s pretty obvious she’d win.”
Alys frowned and looked over at me. “How do you figure?”
I widened my eyes, acting surprised. “Her husband’s on the jury. You don’t think he’s lobbying to get her votes? He’s been there the entire time - every time someone’s voted off, don’t you think he’s pointing out how good she’s doing? She hasn’t made enemies. I mean, other than Kip, and he won’t vote for you because he thinks we’re working together. Which we are. And you know he hates me.”
She said nothing.
I laid it on a bit thicker before letting it rest. “I mean, she’s done really awesome so far if you think about it. She’s an out-of-shape mom who’s managed to make it down to the end. That’s pretty impressive, you know?”
“Yeah,” Alys said weakly. “If I took you…who do you think would win?”
I shrugged. “It’s a toss-up, don’t you think? I’ve made a lot of enemies. Kip, Saul, Emilio, Leslie, Jendan…” God, I hated thinking about Jendan being my enemy. “I guess it just depends on how bitter the jury is.”
She brightened. “I bet they’re pretty bitter.”
Man, I sure hoped not.
r />
~~ *** ~~
“And have you made your decision, Alys?”
I crossed my legs and tried to look supremely unconcerned as I studied the jury one last time before the vote was read. They looked tense. Well, except Kip, who just looked pissy. He was slouched low on his bench, leaning back and making it seem like he was doing us a favor by being there. Everyone else watched the proceedings somberly.
Next to me, Kissy was trembling with excitement. She kept looking over at her husband on the jury and smiling, and I wondered if she thought she had this sewn up? Of course, I thought I had this sewn up, so we both had the potential to be wrong.
Behind us, Alys fiddled with her slate. Since this was the only vote, she didn’t even have to go to the voting booth. “I did make my decision, Chip,” she said after a long moment. “And talking with my teammates helped. I heard two different arguments, but only one really rang true. So I made the only decision I could.”
Slowly, she turned the slate.
Kissy’s name was written in a small, hesitant hand. My plan had worked – Alys was keeping me. I was going to the final two.
I couldn’t help the smile spreading across my face, even as Kissy gasped and gave me a shocked look.
“Kissy, you are the final member of our jury,” Chip said as the older woman got up and headed for the path. She disappeared into the brush and I heard a small sob break out, which made me wince. Poor Kissy. I loved the lady, but neither Alys nor I could beat her at the end, so she had to go. Chip turned back to look at Alys and me. “Tomorrow night, we’ll meet back here for the final Judgment, and the jury will have a chance to give their say.”
One more night of this. Then, either Alys or I would end up a millionaire.
Alys gave me a beaming smile and I high-fived her. “Final two, like we said.”
She nodded. “I’m ready to get this over with.”
Me too. I wanted nothing more than a shower, something to eat besides coconut…and a chance to talk to Jendan. I looked in his direction one last time before leaving the Judgment area. Soon, this would all be over.
~~ *** ~~
With nothing else to do but wait for the final tribal council, Alys and I spent the day making grass skirts, bikini tops made out of banana leaves, and wove flowers and green leaves into our braided hair. We’d make it look like a party, even if it wasn’t much of one. I didn’t know how the jury was going to react to us, but I could guess that it wouldn’t be pleasant.
Well, maybe they’d be nice to Alys.
The sun finally set, and the speedboat arrived to take us to the final Judgment. Nervously, I sipped from my canteen as we bounced over the waves. My mouth was dry and my hands were clammy, a sure sign of my nervousness.
For better or for worse, it was all going to come out into the open tonight.
Alys and I sat down on the stage, in front of the flickering bonfire. To my left, Chip’s podium loomed ominously. To my right, the jury bleachers were empty. I smoothed one of my braids, adjusting the flowers to give my hands something to do.
Chip stepped up to his podium. Cameras readied. He cleared his throat, gripped the edges of the podium, and then stared down at us. “Let us bring in the members of the jury for the final Judgment.”
Rusty ambled in, his beard trimmed, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt. He frowned at both of us.
Next came Jendan, looking as breathtaking as ever. My heart fluttered at the sight of him. He was more tanned than ever, wearing a dark t-shirt that seemed to emphasize his lean muscles, and a pair of khaki shorts. After him was Kip, dressed in a white wife-beater and low-slung jeans, looking like a dark prince. I was immune to his good looks now, though; his full mouth seemed less succulent and more pouty. I liked Jendan’s thinner mouth, because it always seemed ready to curl into a smile.
Next came Saul, Emilio, and Leslie. Bringing up the rear was Kissy, a sad look on her face.
Everyone was here now, and the looks on their faces were deceptively mild. Leslie eyed our leafy costumes with open disgust.
Oh, we were going to get slammed. I just knew it.
I steeled myself for the inevitable. As long as I knew it was coming, it’d hurt less.
Theoretically.
“We have gathered here for the final Judgment,” Chip said slowly, emphasizing each word for drama. “Tonight, our jury will be deciding if they wish to vote for Annabelle or Alys as the winner of Endurance Island: Power Players. It’s been a long journey for everyone - six weeks of mayhem and scheming, six weeks of challenges, team shuffles, and surprises. And tonight…it comes to an end.”
He gave Alys and me a narrowed glance. “I’ll let the two of you speak your case to the jury before we let them ask questions. Alys…why don’t you go first?”
Next to me, Alys straightened. She beamed a smile at the jury. “I know you guys can’t be thrilled that it’s two girls sitting here. I’m sure you wanted it to be all guys at the end. But we got here fair and square, and I think you should vote for who deserves the money based on how well we played.” She touched a hand to her leaf-covered chest. “I tried to play a good, clean game. Some people got hurt, inevitably, but in the end, I did what I had to do to get here. When people approached me to make a big game play, I went along with it, because as long as it wasn’t me, I knew I’d stay in the game a few more days. That was my method, and it worked really well.” She nodded and then looked at me.
It wasn’t a bad speech. And she had played a pretty clean game, if you ignored the fact that she’d voted out her own partner for the girl’s alliance.
“Annabelle, your turn,” Chip said.
I crossed my legs and clasped my hands on my knee, giving them my best, Southern girl finishing school pose. “I could sit here and butter y’all up and tell you what you want to hear, but I’m going to give you the truth. I came out here to play like a dick.”
Emilio smothered a laugh, earning a stern look from Chip.
“It’s true,” I said, unable to look Jendan in the eye, even though I knew he must have been staring at me. Instead, I focused on a mole on Kip’s cheek. “It started last season, when I played. That time, I was still kinda stupid and naive about how the world works. Kip flirted with me, and I flirted back, and we had an island thing going. At least, I thought it was real. It turned out that Kip was just using me to get my vote, and I realized it all when I got home and watched things on TV. Not only had Kip totally used me, but I looked like an idiot. So I came out here wanting two major things.” I lifted a hand and raised two fingers in the air. “One, to screw over Kip’s game.”
That got a reaction from people. Eyes widened. Someone tried to bury an uncomfortable laugh.
“And I did, finally,” I said, continuing. I lowered a finger. “Purpose number two was to change how people perceived me from the last game. I didn’t want to come out here and play the exact same way as before. So this time, I trusted no one. I looked out for me and only me. I said that going in, and I stuck to my guns. It didn’t matter who I had to step on to get ahead, but I would. Because I learned something really important last season - it doesn’t matter how nice you are or how kind, or how many friends you leave the island with. The nice people don’t win the game. But a dick? A dick gets respect. So I played like a dick. It’s not who I am outside of the game, but in the game? I played nasty. I voted out my own partner, even though he was the nicest, sweetest man I’ve ever met. I deliberately tried to lose challenges so others wouldn’t see me as a threat. I orchestrated the women to vote out the men. I left the clue in the tribal mailbox for Pandora’s Box, knowing that it couldn’t be anything good, so Leslie or someone else would find it. I roped in Alys and brought her to the end because she played a pussy game.” Next to me, Alys gasped. “I talked her into taking me instead of Kissy to the end. Like I said, I played like a dick. That was my strategy, and I hope you respect it.”
And I turned to look at Chip, feeling like I left it all on the table. “Thank you.”
/> He blinked repeatedly. “Thank you. We’re probably going to have to bleep half of that, but thank you.” He looked over at the jury. “Now it’s your turn to ask the questions. We’ll let each of you have a turn to speak, and then it’s time to vote. Let’s go in reverse order of how you were voted out. Kissy, that means you first.”
Kissy stood, wearing an ugly, shapeless island muumuu that seemed to be made of the same material as Rusty’s shirt. She smoothed her mullet and looked at the two of us. “I just would like to know why I wasn’t chosen to go to the final two with you, Alys.”
Next to me, Alys shifted uncomfortably. “It seemed like the right decision to make.”
“But why?” Kissy asked.
“I don’t know,” Alys mumbled. “I just thought…it would be a bad idea to take you.” She looked over at me helplessly, and as she did, I felt a twinge of guilt for her. Was Alys always this indecisive? I knew I could use that to nail her to the wall at this vote, but something about that seemed cruel. But she was floundering, and it was only the first question.
“Can I step in?” I asked Alys.
She nodded quickly.
I looked at Kissy. “Alys and I discussed it. You’re an older lady. You’re a mom. You’re a hard-worker. You’re likable.” I ticked these all off on my fingers. “You have a husband on the jury that can influence votes in your direction. All of those stack the deck in your direction.”
She seemed to preen a bit, then looked at Alys, her eyes shrewd. “You guys discussed it?”
“We did.”
“Or did Annabelle tell you this?” Kissy looked at me. “Was it really a discussion or more of Annabelle’s suggestion?”
I remained silent. I’d let Alys hang herself if she wanted to.
After a too-long, uncomfortable moment, Alys answered. “It…might have been Annabelle.”
“Thank you,” Kissy said, and turned to sit back down.