Deal Breakers

Round 2

The remaining teams were given a compass, canteens of water, and three hours to find their way back to the community cabin after being left in different spots and blindfolded. The sun was starting to set and though I don't care for the sun or the heat it emits, I prefer not to be lost in the woods at night.

"Our winners from last week, Peter and Layla will have immunity. So even if they don't make it back this week, or choose not to play, they can't be considered for elimination. " Todd said to the camera. "But if they choose to not play, they risk not getting this week's advancement."

Todd stepped away from us, making the camera pan toward the woods. "This week's winner will get a guaranteed five grand, even if they don't win the final round. There will be only one elimination for this round, the last one back leaves the Cabins."

We knew that they told us this morning. I wanted to skip it, I considered still skipping and giving up the money, but unfortunately, Peter convinced me we had this in the bag.

"Good luck out there," Todd said to us with a wave. "And GO!"

The trees were taller than any tree I'd seen in L.A. Peter was navigating us through the forest and I was wandering behind him like a toddler, I don't like the outdoors but maybe it could grow on me. The smell of the forest smelled like the candles I burn around the holidays, except better.

My brain flashed to Chase, he was out here somewhere waiting to sabotage us. The three of us didn't talk about who was going to win or lose again, it's the only way I think I could keep the brothers from fist-fighting. Chase had this look in his eyes, I'd never seen it before but I could tell he wanted to win. He was determined to walk away with that money. It was frightening to think he felt that strongly about it.

"Layla, stop looking at the pretty flowers," Peter groaned.  I dropped my head and sped up. I do tend to get distracted sometimes, but luckily Peter always helps me focus.

There was a cameraman, with a smaller hand-held camera and his job was to follow us through the woods. Bless his soul, I already felt sorry for him. I hope he's getting paid enough for this ridiculousness.

We'd been walking for around thirty minutes when we heard the crunching of someone running toward us. In a flash, I watched Chase run through the bush, grab the compass from Peter's hand and dash away. He ran passed me and the camera guy bounding down the path we'd just come from.

Peter's mouth was hanging open, the realization setting in. "He didn't."

I couldn't help but smile at the encounter. The child-like glee on Chase's face when he ran passed me with the silver trinket. "He did," I said with a laugh.

"It's not funny Layla!" Peter groaned. "We're in the woods!"

I found myself laughing harder, the sheer irony of it all.

"Why do you find this so funny? It's just so adorable for you that he's going to win this round?"

I stopped laughing, my eyes narrowed on Peter. I didn't like his tone, it was almost belittling. What did he mean by adorable?

"Pete, I'm sure we'll be fine."

The cameraman, who I've named Greg, decided to step closer and get a close-up as he thought drama was about to unfold. Peter noticed this too and took a deep breath, calming himself before we bickered on national TV. "You're right, let's go."

He continued in the direction he'd started in. The sun had gone down, leaving us in mostly darkness except for the bright light attached to Greg's camera. "I think we might be lost," I say to Peter.

We'd been walking for about an hour and it felt like we might be getting further away from our destination. Peter shook his head in disagreement. "No, keep following the moon. We got this!"