Dedicated to IcceyQi. Happy Early Birthday!
Chapter 7
"All contestants please put the backpacks on your shoulders. You are not allowed to open the bag until you meet your partner."
Alyson grabbed the backpack lying on the forest's floor and lifted it to her shoulders. She grimaced as the weight surprised her. She shaded her eyes with her hands as sunlight glinted off the surface of the trees in the forest.
"Contestants, are you ready?!"
The day had started early with her and Lucas getting out of bed around 8 a.m. They had been told to gather at the beach before 9 a.m. for their challenge today. They had been given cargo shorts with red t-shirts as their attire. Looking at the daunting forest before her, Alyson wished she had never gotten out of bed. The females and the males had all been separated from their partners and placed in random parts of the tropical forest. All of them had to follow a given map with the help of a compass to find a designated spot set by the crew for each couple where they were suppose to meet and spend the night before finding their way out together tomorrow.
There was no way to cheat or group up with the others to make the process easier because all of them were placed randomly throughout the forest and the map they each had only applied to them. Alyson removed her ponytail and twisted it into a bun and started stretching a little. She was not good with maps and the only thing she could rely on was her stamina. She really hoped she would be able to find the designated spot before dark. The skies were looking a little gloomy as well, almost as if it was going to rain soon.
She supposed there were some video cameras as well as speakers pre-installed in the forest as she could hear the booming voice of Bru as clear as day. Her palms were clammy and she was already sweating before the challenge even started. She wondered how Lucas was faring.
"Go!"
Alyson opened the folded paper in her hand and scanned the map carefully, trying to figure out where she was now exactly. There was a big red X marked where she was supposed to meet up with Lucas and there was a miniature blue X where she supposedly stood now. She was several miles north from the beach. She could not pinpoint exactly which part of the beach she was closest to as the map showed that the entire forest was located directly in the middle of the island with beaches surrounding it. There was no other way except to go deeper into the forest. She only hoped there would be no sudden animalistic surprises in the forest.
***
Lucas trudged through the muddy land and frowned at the trees ahead. It had been several hours since the challenge had started. He had crossed path with Owen earlier and the poor guy did not look any better than he did. Sweat beaded on his upper lip and his shirt was also damp from sweat and rainwater. It had rained earlier and he was drenched. A quick look at his watch told him that it was approaching evening. He looked at his map once again and by estimation, he should be close to their meeting place now. Perhaps a few more meters or so.
Half an hour later, he was granted with a blessed sight of a waterfall to his left as well as a wooden sign lodged in the sand that had been painted red, and right next to it, a small tent had been set up. This was the spot. He placed his backpack on the ground and stretched his body. Alyson was not here yet. He would wait for a while but if by night fall, Alyson was still not here, he would go and look for her.
Lucas looked around, looking for anything dry object and found a fallen tree trunk. He stripped off his t-shirt and boxers and placed them out to dry on the tree trunk. Left in only his boxers, he trudged into the water to clean himself. He was swimming when he suddenly remembered his post-challenge interview two days ago. By silent agreement, both he and Alyson had not mentioned anything about their individual interviews. He swam a few laps back and forth, his brain playing over the conversation he had.
