Deal Breakers

First round

As I entered the cabins, I couldn't help but feel like I had stepped onto the set of a horror movie. The decor was not only unsettling, but it seemed determined to haunt my nightmares. Everywhere I looked, I was confronted with Deal Breakers Merch and relentless advertising, right down to the water bottles in the fridge. The walls were adorned with the heads of animals, adding to the overall chilling atmosphere. The wooden panels and the random deer head mounted above the sofa created a disturbing contrast.

The run-down cabin felt like an oven, with no relief in sight from the stifling heat. The old air conditioning unit hanging out of the back window appeared to be struggling, sputtering out the last wisps of cool air it could muster.

The cozy kitchen was equipped with a quaint table adorned with four sturdy wooden chairs. In the center of the table, a glass vase displayed artificial daisies, adding a touch of cheerful ambiance. A welcoming living room boasted a comforting fireplace, while a spacious full bathroom featured both a shower and a tub, accompanied by two elegant sinks. The adjacent bedroom was complemented by a charming small porch at its front entrance. The house was delightful in layout, though it would be even more charming without the presence of taxidermied animal heads and a rather dated plaid sofa.

As I stood there, I couldn't help but wonder where I could hide them. Perhaps under the bed, or maybe I'd take them into the woods after dark. But then, a heartbreaking image of a baby deer finding its mother's head flashed through my mind, and I recoiled at the thought.

A hard knock at the door behind me startled me, shaking me from my thoughts about redecorating. "Coming!" I called out toward the door.

When I opened the door I was met with Chase's figure towering over me. "Hiya, sis." His blue eyes were bright and a mischievous grin played on his perfect lips. I was standing there looking at him like a deer in headlights. All my decor thoughts had vanished and replaced with a tight ache in my stomach.

"May I come in?" He asked, pointing behind me.

I just stepped aside, nodding. "Of course."

"Nice, this is cozy. All of us 'Deal Breakers' are sharing cabin eleven, it's bigger than it looks," he said before flopping onto the couch. "Where's champ?"

I sat across from him, my chest felt tight again. "Pete's in the shower, getting ready for tonight."

"Right," Chased pursed his lips. His eyes felt like they were going to burn a hole through me. "I've missed you, Lala."

That sentence had my heart burst with nostalgia, a breath escaped me. I had missed hearing him call me that. "Missed you too. We both did."

Chase just nodded, no emotion on his face. We stood there quietly, just staring at the other one, the silence felt like a thick smoke that filled the room and the space between us. Both of us gagged internally, so many things to say but no air in the room to speak. I'm not sure how long it lasted, but it ended when Peter stepped out in his jeans and t-shirt, towel-drying his hair.

"Chase, hey bud!" He said enthusiastically.

"Hey champ, you ready for tonight?" He sounded mischievous and it worried me, like he knew something we didn't.

"Yeah, I mean, I know Layla like the back of my hand."

Chases snorted, "I bet you do."

Peter tensed, pulling the towel from his head. "What does that mean?" I could tell by the way Peter's shoulders tensed that he was ready to have a bickering battle right there, but I wasn't.

"Chase," I said to change the subject. "I heard you saying you're in it to win it, you don't mean that do you?"

Peter spoke first, "Nah, he knows how much we need this." He threw his towel on an empty armchair, walking over over to sit by me.