ESCAPE FROM BABY ISLAND

Episode One

The privately chartered plane touched down, jostling a little on the short, independently operated runway. A half dozen cameras were pointed at it, capturing its arrival, not wanting to miss the contestant's first moments on the island.

Rolling to a stop, the Cessna's engines puttered, the door opened, and the stairs were lowered. All attention was on the exit, waiting to see the first person to leave.

A second passed. A tall girl moved into the doorway, strutting down the stairs like a model on a runway. Reaching the blacktop, she turned her gaze and a wink straight into the nearest camera.

...

Katie: "So my name is Katie Bates," the woman said, sitting on a chair in a pastel room. Her lipstick and contour were on point, emphasizing the perfectly measured, carefully maintained shape of her face, and the outfit she wore did the same for her body. "It's spelled 'Kathleignh'. Some people might recognize me as Miss Cosmos from last year - I'm here to show that I'm more than just a pretty face. Whatever challenges they've got waiting for us, I'll be ready to deal with them - or find someone else to deal with them for me."

Katie laughed, the giggle sounding maybe a little too calculated to be authentic.

...

As Katie got to the ground, examining the lush, green island terrain around them, another figure presented themself, stepping out of the door. He took the stairs two at a time, jogging in circles on the landing strip and pumping his fists in the air. "Yeah! Let's do this!"

...

Greg: "My name? Oh, yeah. Greg Eberman, my friends all call me 'The Machine'." Greg lifted one of his arms, flexing a toned bit of muscle. "See that? Yeah, I'm ready for anything they can put us through. I'm going to win that cash prize, and it's not even going to be any trouble - these other contestants just can't compete with me on a physical level, and when it comes down to it, that's just what matters most."

...

Behind Greg, another girl came out, sporting athletic shorts and a grey, comfortable hoodie. Rather than going down the stairs, she vaulted over the rail, dropping three yards to the ground with a somersault and coming to her feet, demonstrating an acrobat's grace. She flashed a smirk at Greg, the sort of expression that normally would have been lost to everyone but her, had it not been for all the cameras watching their every move.

...

Sam: "Samantha Sanders. I'm going to college on an athletic scholarship, but I'd like to transfer my major, so winning this would be huge for me." Sam tilted her head, listening as someone off camera asked a question. "Oh, of course I'm going to win. I'm fast enough to keep up with anyone, and I'm not going to get stopped by the first puzzle that comes along, either. I know what kind of contests these shows always do, and I've practiced for them - I'm going to be ready."

...

The next two people to leave the plane came together, a heavier guy leading the way, chatting with another person who couldn't have stood more than five feet. While it was impossible that they weren't aware of the cameras, they didn't address them directly, continuing their chat as they got onto the asphalt.

...

Art: "I'm Arturo Flores, but I go by 'Art'," the man said, sitting in the interview chair, looking around the room. "I just thought this would be fun, right? Anyone can win on these things - I've seen every season of Survivor, I know how there's always twists and turns, it's like, I'd like that cash prize, but mostly I'm just here to have a good time."

...

Benji: "Me? I'm Benji Wilkes," the person Art had been chatting with tilted their head, looking past the lens of the camera. After a pause, they shrugged. "Do I think I will win? I couldn't say. I'm really curious to see what's waiting for us inside. Nobody's been allowed to see the facility other than this room and the landing strip, yet - I won't know my chances of winning until I know what we're up against."