A Masked Getaway

Ladybug

The finale of Mr and Mrs Valentine Island was quite the island event. They'd pulled out all the stops, decorating the stage as though it were the Oscars. They had a dress code to match, discouraging anything but guests' finest wear. Ladybug currently stood at the side of the stage with Kagami staring out at the crowd scurrying to find seats for the main event.

The guys had been taken away to somewhere else, apparently not allowed to see each other until the challenge began. Ladybug smirked, thinking they may look a little different to when everyone last saw them. Her thoughts were divided between excitement and fear for what was to come.

"Do you think they know what they're doing?" Ladybug asked, chewing her thumb anxiously.

Kagami reached up, pulling Ladybug's nail from her mouth. "I'm certain that they don't."

Well, if that didn't fill her with confidence, nothing would.

"Hi!" The third girl in the competition came to join them. It was obvious she felt out of it. After all, Kagami and Ladybug were both visiting from France, and it was clear that they had formed some sort of friendship.

"Hello. How are you?" Ladybug welcomed the newcomer into the group as Kagami attempted to smile. A quick dig in the ribs caused Kagami's 'smile' to drop.

"Scared," she said with a nervous laugh. "After the other rounds, I'm a little worried what they'll throw at us."

The girl was around 24 years old, and if the shiny rock on her finger was anything to go by, she was most likely here on her honeymoon, or had just gotten engaged.

"I completely understand that. Hopefully they won't keep us waiting too much longer," Ladybug responded, passing on a warm smile.

All of a sudden, lights around the area began to flash, and dramatic music played over the speakers.

It was time.

The crowd started cheering and chanting their names as the host for the evening (Anthoney, of course) started to hype everyone with anticipation. What did he think this was? Britain's Got Talent?

"After a week of competition, this is it! It's time to crown Mr and Mrs Valentine Island." The crowd erupted again, and a nervous flutter took off in her stomach. This was it. The end to hopefully all the anxiety she'd been holding onto for the best part of four years.

"Please, welcome to the stage our finalists."

One by one, Anthoney called them up onto the stage, leaving Ladybug for the end. He was dragged her name out in the most annoying of ways, making her want to rebrand herself when they were back in Paris.

She bounded up the staircase two at a time, praying her partner would be there waiting for her. Unfortunately, no such luck.

Slowly moving to centre stage, she waved to the crowd and stopped near Anthoney. He presented her like a prize winner at Crufts before sending her to the others, each seated on a chair separated by a metre or so.

The applause died down, and Anthoney was back in Caesar Flickerman mode, microphone raised and a dashing smile on his face.

"You are all in for quite the entertainment tonight." He raised his arms, and the well trained audience showed their suspense in tandem, the area falling silent enough to hear a pin drop. "We had the wonderful partners of these lovely women come and meet us about an hour ago, and they chose the final challenge themselves." He raised his arms again to the well timed oohs and ahhs.

As if appearing from nowhere, three women walked onto the stage with some equipment in their hands. Were they going to give them a lie detector test? That would not be good in any shape or form.