Survivor

Camaraderie

Precinct 29, 0600 hours

AMBER

The sun wasn't up yet when the self-proclaimed tomboy settled into the train, heading towards the central province. It had been a little over a week when the letter came in the mail to say she was to join Survivor.

She had thought about it countless times, it was a lifelong dream. It was an opportunity to show the boys in her school that she was physically just as capable as they were, if not more. When she does (okay, maybe if she does) make it through, they'll even let her join the soccer team.

The thought made her smile a bit, making the passenger next to her wonder if she was sane.

She caught him staring. "Do you want something?"

As usual, Amber had her guard up high. Especially around guys.

"No, I..." He paused for a moment, "I was just curious why you were smiling, but I guess that's personal. Where are you heading to?"

"The central province. Precinct 8." She answered, honest but icy.

"To watch the game? A little early, eh."

"Yes, it would be early if I went to watch. I'm a player." She hadn't told anyone but her mom, but it wouldn't hurt to tell a stranger, right? The odds of them meeting again was highly unlikely.

"Could it be more of a coincidence," now it was his turn to smile, "that I am too?"

"You're lying." She didn't miss a beat with her reply. What were the odds?

"Honestly, I am. Now, just don't tell me you're Amber Liu."

Amber quickly gathered her things and got up from her seat. "Who are you and how do you know my name?" She wasn't about to get her identity stolen first thing in the morning on the greatest day of her life.

"Now, now. No cause for alarm." He put one hand out to her and pat the seat that she just left. "I didn't mean to frighten you, it's just the producers told me that person is my partner.

"Partner? There were no partners in the previous games." Just then, the train halted to a stop. The robotic female voice announced that they were at Precinct 8.

"C'mon now, don't wanna miss it, do we?" He smiled playfully and grabbed her wrist, leading her out of the train and into the bustling station,

___

JIMIN

Jimin had to be the most 21st century-esque contestant, or so he thought to himself. He ran an up-and-coming YouVessel channel and was a cover artist, singing the likes of Billy Joel to Black Pink.

So when he received the news he was going to join Survivor Season 8, he was convinced it was a mistake. There was no way someone like him, who spent all day in a recording studio (or in front of a camera when not in the studio) could survive the insane simulated terrains that is Survivor.

The closest he got to doing anything survival-related was stock up on ramen and lock himself up in his room. But now he's standing just before a tunnel that would lead him to a large field, where he would meet the rest of the players. Walking through the tunnel, suddenly a glass panel sealed the way he came in from, and the glass panel blocking his exit (he didn't notice it there before) slid to the side, letting him pass.

It was only 7 in the morning, but the most seats overlooking the field were filled. The seats were separated from the field by a circular tempered-glass wall, at least 5 meters high and topped with electric barbed wires. Security is tight.

He looked to his left, a small figure with pale skin and dark hair tied into a bun was staring back at him. He put out his hand to greet her but she only stared at him longer.

"I'm Jimin." He tried again.

"IU." She said.

"Is that a code I'm supposed to crack?" He already knew her name, but he was just playing around to see what she would say.

"That's my name." This girl is like tofu, cold and bland.

Deciding that IU was not friendly, he surveyed the other players.

It suddenly became clear why the stadium was packed so early in the morning - they had not one, but two celebrities on the field, not counting him. Not that he counted.

There was notorious Kim Heechul, TV personality, standing beside a short-haired girl with manly legs. Heechul was wearing cargo pants and a white t-shirt, his hair tucked neatly under a cap. The girl was also holding a matching cap in her hand.

Then there was the stunning Jessica Jung, supermodel and ambassador of Blanc & Eclare. She was wearing a skin-tight tank top and an even tighter pair of leather pants. She even had gloves on, and then Jimin noticed something in her left hand. Is that a walkie-talkie? He remembered vividly being told communication devices weren't allowed from this point on.

Keeping that at the back of his mind, he looked to the other, unfamiliar contestants.

Two Chinese players were talking to each other in hushed tones. Another two made an exceptionally good-looking pair; they might be Asian-American.

Another pair seemed to be a cruel twist in fate as both were at peak physical health. The woman in the pair was holding a leash attached to a big dog, but she was standing a considerable distance away from the canine. The man, wearing ugly harem pants and a black tank top, was kneeling beside the dog.

Just as Jimin finished surveying the eleven other people on the field, a voice boomed through the surround-sound speakers, giving off a sense of grandeur.

"Welcome, fellow Survivors. Our live telecast will begin in 10 seconds, please prepare yourselves."

There was nothing to do but stare at more people, so he was glad it was only for 10 seconds.

But of course, so many things could happen in that short span of time. Like IU passing out right beside him.

She fell with a dull thud, leaving him and the ten other people gaping at her lying on the grass.

"What are you staring at, do something!" The man whom he thought might be Asian-American was staring at him, hard.

Jimin scrambled to his feet and propped her head onto his lap. "Hey, IU. Don't do this now, please."

She didn't even move.

"Call for help!" The man knocked on the glass, but it was too thick that the people sitting closest to the barrier couldn't hear a word he was saying. Then, the lady whom he had seen was with the dog approached the wall. She exhaled on it and wrote on the mist. Three people from the audience got on their feet and hurried to get medical attention.

But just as they were about to leave, one of the tunnels opened up, introducing a pair of paramedics with a stretcher.

They picked her up from Jimin's lap, placed her on the stretcher, and beckoned for him to follow them out of the stadium.

The voice from the speakers came back.

"That makes 10 then, but we'll have to do. We're going live." 

Then, a more energetic and welcoming voice boomed. "Welcome to the eight season of Survivor! I am your host this round, Kang Hodong!"

A/N : Do you have a favourite pair or character? Do you want them to get more scenes? Hit me up with what you think about the pairings!