Chapter 24

“Get up!” A hand slammed against the car window. The car alarm ran against my ears. I start to mutter swear words under my breath as my sleep was fading away. The banging on the door continued to scare the rest of us awake. I heard two clicks. I part my eyelids open and stare up to see the two girls holding a gun firmly in their hands and point it at the window where the knocking emerged from. Brian stood there with frightened eyes. This boy really wanted to die. He turned around and ran for the hills. I look at the two girls and they sounded off the alarm. They turned to me with menacing smiles on their face.

“Morning Lexis,” Nikki smiles.

“Are you sure they’re fake?” I look in detail at the guns.

“Yea,” Raven sighs “It scares the shit out of people, doesn’t it? They’ll never try to wake us up again.” She sure had that right. I liked them. They were kind of fun in a creepy way. It seems like they were just playing around with others because it was amusing to them. I wipe my eyes and glance over the outside. Brian was in tears running up to Ryan like an afraid little boy. Ryan was coming toward the car. The girls put the fake guns quickly back and pulled up one of the seats with this kind of door. They shoved it in until it fit at the back of the seat. Ryan motioned to scroll up the windows.

“You think we should play dumb and pretend not to know what he’s saying?” Raven suggested. Yup, they really enjoyed to play around with people. Nikki nodded and they continued to put oblivious faces. I cracked laughs and then they finally scrolled down the window.

“Ryan, what do you need?” Nikki scoffs. He stares at them dumbly “Come girls, show me the guns.”

“Ryan, Ryan, Ryan,” Raven tisked “Do these innocent features and feminine bodies really give you the impression that we have muscle?” Manipulative evil girls...!

“No, I literately meant guns,” He dryly said.

“Can you not see our halo?” Nikki scoffed.

“Lexis, is it true that they have weapons?” Ryan directed the question to me.

“They don’t,” I honestly could say.

“Brian said you pointed guns at him. It’s a serious matter,” Ryan warned. His hair was a large mess. He must have just woken up too.

“He’s delusional, the boy probably got a concussion by the way Damon punched him,” I defended. He shrugs it off as he glances at Brian.

“You’re right. You, Damon and Nathan need some training before you get out in the wilderness because the three of you wondered around and got lost,” Ryan informed. So that’s why Brian woke us early. Who in the hell was dumb enough to send Brian to wake me up!? I’m still upset I didn’t get to punch the living tar out of him. I opened the car door and Nikki and Raven said their goodbyes to me. I, Nathan and Demon met up. Both boys looked extremely tired. A different person came and taught us the basic survival skills. Where we could find water, food, how to create a fire and last of all, how to use the map. Only Nathan could really figure the map out more easily than I and Demon did. Then we got sent back with the others. Our teams were going to be decided. But of course I was going to be with the demon. A show would be boring if I and him weren’t together trying not to kill each other during the wild. The cameras were on and Ryan started his speech and explained how we were going to be paired in twos at first. Our partners changed with almost every challenge.

“This challenge is to reach the location that is pointed on your map. The last one to arrive will have bugs for supper in order to continue,” Ryan smiles brightly. That was even too much for me. Everyone shared the same expression.

“In order to win, you and your partner must make it, not just one. Whoever reaches it first, will get to choose their partners for the next challenge,” Ryan stated the rules. Well, I ain’t eating no bug, so I’ll drag Demon by the hair to the location if I have to.

“Nikki and Ralph, the blue team. Raven and Logan, purple Team. Lizzie and Brian, yellow team. Damon and Misty-”

“Wait–what?” I blurt out in confusion and anger. He’s my boyfriend. I could hardly care that we weren’t supposed to speak up. Demon glanced at me and bumped his shoulder against mine and whispered “Not so easy being the one cheated is it?” I crush his foot.

“Green team. Nathan and Lexis, red team,” Ryan finished off. My jaw dropped. All the sudden Demon’s happiness turned into fury toward his best friend. Oh, Ryan, I hope you know what situation you put us in because damn, you’re a brave man to do this.

This is war.

“Damon, don’t worry, I’ll take care of her. I promise not to mess with her this time,” Nathan loyally spoke but I now I knew better than to believe anything he said. He was going to mess with me big time, despite the camera’s being on us. Demon slipped out the sound of laughter and replied “No, she’ll take care of you.” Demon was counting on that wasn’t he? He glanced at Misty with a wink. Oh, they just created a serial killer. The slaughters were right.

Nathan went to my sign and we got handed off bandanas with our team color. I wrapped mine around my wrist. We were then leaded to our different starting points. Every team started in different sections with camera’s following us. We each had a large backpack and our own camera inside it. We were required to film most of the time with it.

            I and Nathan stood in front of our starting point that had two trees surrounding one small narrow path. I stare ahead and tired to push my fury that Demon was with another. He wasn’t too far from where we started because I could see him in the long distance. Somehow, I’d have to find him and her and then force them to team up with us.

            Let the games begin.

                                                The flare gun was shot into the sky and echoed through our ears. I glance up high into the sky and notice the dark clouds crowing in. It was going to rain soon. We had to use the trees as cover. I and Nathan rushed in and I took the lead despite only he knew how to read the map that was on his hands. I continued to go further and decided to keep quiet until I caught Demon.

            “Back there you sounded really upset. Makes me think, are you giving him a chance?” Nathan questioned. The camera’s were around us and it wasn’t a good time to ask me these things but just for the cameras I will.

            “Yes, I’m giving him a chance to stay with Misty and not do something completely stupid,” I clearly said but he knew that he wasn’t actually getting an answer. The hike was starting to become really up hill. The rain started patting on the ground. I rose my head and Nathan rose his. I kept on climbing, despite the mud being very slippery.  I could just imagine what would Demon would say.

                        Demon: The ground is moving! It’s the end of the world.

                        And I’d say: Chicken little would have a crack out of this. It’s just mud.

                        He – Shut up and Are you sure? I’m pretty sure this is called an earthquake

                        Me – It’s mud. Mud does that.

            Then it hit me. Demon would probably stuck somewhere with Misty. They’d probably get lost and they’d be so cold, that they’d have to use body heat as last resort. And then they’d-why am I over thinking this? He wouldn’t–no he would! They probably just gave up, and stay there in the cold and he’d kiss her, and she’d kiss him back and then he’ll forget about me, fall in love and leave me. I stopped where I walked and Nathan bumped against my back.

            “Is there something wrong?” Nathan asked in concern.

            “We have to find Demon. He’s lost,” I decide and he takes a step ahead me with an arched eyebrow. I thought that would be the easiest thing in the world to believe.

            “Lexis, he’s fine. He’s done rock climbing and many other intense things before,” Nathan tried to relief but that not relief me of what I really thought.

            “In the wilderness, in the rain, I doubt it.” I said and start turning my direction toward the way Demon’s starting point was form. From there on, I’d follow his track and catch up. I couldn’t allow something like that to happen. I can’t let him walk away from me like everyone else has. I don’t want that to happen again, not this time, he’s the only thing I have left.

            “Where are you going?” He asked.

            “Demon’s path,”

            “He’s fine, come on. We’ll meet him in the end,”

            “No,”

            “You make it sound as if he’s about to die,”

            “If you don’t remember, he almost did, and it was because of me.”

            “Is that what you’re worried about?” Nathan turns me back from the shoulder and pulls me in a hug “Hey, it’s not going to happen again and that wasn’t your fault.” Oh, no, that wasn’t it but now that he mentions it. Oh, my, god, I can’t let him also die here! I pull out of his hug and continue to walk the path and Nathan continued to try to convince me to head toward our path instead.

                “Lexis... You’re over reacting...” Nathan said. I glanced over at Demon’s starting point, that was from down. We were on the right, track. I turn to my left continue and follow the path. This path was much worse than our path. It was even higher than usual. He could have fallen somewhere and got another concussion! I continue climb up the steep area. I grabbed onto trees and leaned against them so that I didn’t fall back. Nathan followed.

                “You think he could have fallen from here?” I ask and kept on going even quicker up there.

                “Lexis, slow down you’re going to fall. I know you’re worried about him getting injured-“

                “I’m worried that he’ll leave me Nathan, not injured!” I accidently burst out of frustration. One day I had everything, a family, best friends and as time went by, I lost them all. The mud continued to grow slipper and then my foot slipped and slid backward. Nathan grabbed a hold of me, and pulled me near him as he lay against the tree.

                “Careful... He won’t leave you, you’re all that he’s got that’s real,” Nathan spoke as if he was speaking in third person. Reading between the lines, did he feel that about Karen? I manage to pull a small smile. As much as his words toward me were mostly a lie for me to fall for him, it worked. If I did meet Demon differently, would have acted almost the same way as Nathan?

                “Thanks for saving my ass,” I thanked and got my own balance “But I’m not going to stop going after this trail.”

                “Figured as much,” He sighs and very quietly whispered as I separated from him “Karen started saying the same thing...” I could barely hear it but I did. So, Karen used to follow Demon? Demon must have been just as a good of as an actor as Nathan if she followed. We continued up the path until we reached more of a flat plane. Then, I caught sight of him.

                Misty was leaning against the tree and pulled him into a passionate long kiss. The rain fell on top of their heads but they couldn’t care less. Their bodies right against each other. I glance back with no surprise. This was expected. He was a player and we were just friends. I can’t keep on thinking he’ll never find anyone because he will and he’ll have to leave. I’ll be on my own eventually. He’ll be in love and I’ll be alone.

                “He doesn’t mean it,” Nathan comforted but that hardly touched me.

                “No, but he will,” I coldly said. This isn’t the first time I caught him kissing with someone else. Not like it mattered, it still bothered me every time I saw it. I knee down and pick up a rock into my hands and aimed for his head. It struck and I walked away and heard his yelp. I continued to walk away from their sight.

                “You’re angry,” Nathan decided.

                “Actually, no...” I sigh “I’m used to it.”

                “Okay... I just have a question I wanted to ask for a while now,” Nathan began. It better not be something that I disliked. We continued out the path but this time he took lead because he knew the way from here.

                “If no misunderstands were made, would you still pick Demon over Seth?” Nathan asked. Back then, it seemed like a little bit of a hard choice but now it was too easy.

                “I’d pick neither,” I whispered very quietly but when I looked back, the camera was far off because they couldn’t make it up as easily as I and Nathan could. We continued to walk in silence. Lately, I didn’t feel like talking. The clouds stopped crying and the clouds started to spread out. I didn’t want to make conversation but Nathan would sometimes bring things up. The sun was starting to set down and we decided that we needed to set up camp soon before it got too dark. If others decided to keep walking during night, they’ll get themselves lost . We set up a fire and used the lighter he stole. The camera crew finally arrived but after we set the fire. We put the sleeping bags and looked around for some plants that held water. We drank water from that despite Nathan was disgusted not to drink bought water. We picked out a few berries that we knew were save and we were set for the night.

                We huddled near the fire and let it warm us up. Our clothes were soaking wet but there was nowhere to change them. I leaned in and stopped my shivering. The cameras was on me and I didn’t like it. It reminded me of that time in England.

                “Aren’t you cold?” Nathan asks as he pulls off his shirt and goes into a his backpack for another one.

                “Yea...” I sigh.

                “Then change your clothes. If we hang our clothes now, it’ll dry by the morning,” He suggest. I roll my eyes and stare at the crackling fire.

                “And where do you suggest I do that?” I ask.

                “Here, now... Hey, I can help you if you want,”

                “ha-ha, very funny Nathan. Take caution that I don’t like jokes like that.”

                “You want to make Damon jealous?”

                “Well, yea, but he’s not here to see,”

                “Don’t worry, he’ll see,”

                “Not a chance. You’re not seeing me,” I cautioned with a threatening stare but he only laughs “You’re different. I like that.” Yes, ha-ha, I’m different. The more challenge I brought him the more he’ll try. Nathan scoots beside me and I sigh and lean my head on his shoulder  and mutter “I’m tired...”

                “We can go to sleep,” He suggested.

                “Not yet,” I smile “I want to know some things,”

                “About what...?”

                “About you,” I follow his eyes. Can I play the player? One way to find out. His eyes follow me with a smirk spreading across his face “No you don’t.” Guess not...

                “True, I don’t... I want to know about you and Karen,” I further and he loudly sighed and stared at me with threatening eyes but a playful smile “Do you really...?”

                “Yea, I want to know what she means to you. If you and her are a lie, I’ll kick your ass.” I warned but still played that sly charm into play. After being so long with Demon, I could guess what things moved them. He chuckles and pushes some of my hair back into place.

                “She’s someone that makes me want to be better than who I am. I love her and you can’t lie with true love,” He charmingly stated. I spread a smile that seemed sweet but behind it I knew that he wasn’t improving of who he was.

                “I don’t know about that. People have lied to me before,” The insides of me sunk it at the thought of Seth “Truth is, we lie and we fall for the act instead of the person. If you really do love Karen, then proof it.”

                “Proof it?” He asks and scoffs “How?”

                “It’s up to you Nathan,” I shrugged “Do something that you’d never do that would help.” He grew silent and I could see him gazing at me as if I really was there. The other looks stares I received from him seemed fake, as if I was something or somebody else, not me. I’m winning but what I said, I meant it. He should do something for Karen that he’d never really do, like stop playing around. Then his mouth opened largely and he laughed out.

                “Oh,” he loudly spoke and focused on me again “You’re good! But–” Then his expression turned hard “Lexis, never play the player.” Should I give in or play dumb?

                “Play the player?” I dryly call “Nathan, I’m telling you to proof it to Karen that you love her and if you have that’s great. I’m serious about kicking your ass if it’s fake.” He fell for the act too easy. It was all thanks to the slaughters for giving me the idea of playing dumb instead of admitting it.

                “Oh...” Nathan stared down at the fire embarrassed “Sorry, I was so used to situations like that coming up. I shouldn’t have assumed that.”

                “That’s fine...” I sigh and follow the fire. The urge to hunt down Demon in the middle of the night still was leading me. I loudly yawned and decided “Let’s go to sleep.” Nathan agreed and we went into our sleeping bags. I closed my eyes until I was sure that Nathan was asleep. I rose up from my sleeping bag but caught the camera man still there.

                “Lexis, get back in. He’s fine,” Nathan calls out. Well, busted...! I fall back in the sleeping bag but was still freezing. The one thing I really hated about the wilderness is that the temperature could not be controlled. Nathan got up from his sleeping bag, tiredly and placed it beside mine.

                “What are you doing?” I quickly asked.

                “Saving you from the cold,” he informed and huddled near me. I did not like this. I rolled onto a different side and that only made him laugh “You’ve never slept with anyone before have you.”

                “No,” I admit.

                “Sleep in the same bed?”

                “That, yes but only with my boyfriend.”

                “Well, imagine I’m him and sleep,” He suggests.

                “No,” I decide and then roll closer and watch him for my eyes “I don’t need to do that, just don’t touch me, I have painful reflexes that you don’t want to test out.” He again gazed at me as if I was me. Lexis was winning too easily! For once in my life I’m not the one being tricked. Unless he’s tricking me to think I’m winning.

                “You and Karen’s painful reflexes,” He muttered “Guess I’ll have to treat you like Karen so you don’t murder me in my sleep if I get too close.” I nod and close my eyes and let myself fall asleep instead of wanting to into the dark woods and search for the demon.  The crickets was easily putting me to sleep and now having Nathan closer, it felt warmer.

*~*Damon*~*

                Misty kept on kissing me and wouldn’t come to a stop. Been a long time since I’ve kissed someone. It’s felt as if it was million years ago that I’ve kissed a girl! I sound like a dork. Psycho’s do that to you. We couldn’t figure how to make a fire, so we used our own body warmth to heat it up. Misty got some nice hot body. I didn’t go too far because there was the camera crew nearby and that would ruin my reputation of being a caring boyfriend. It wasn’t that big of deal form a small cheat. The wilderness changes people! Didn’t the couple that made out usually die in horror movies though?

                The trees were moving. That couldn’t be normal, not now. There was large noise. The grass was moving too! There were bugs below us. We were going to die. Actually, screw Misty’s life, I just wanted to live. Hopefully, the psycho and slaughters don’t make it here and kill me, just yet. Speaking of psycho, how close was she getting to Nathan? Psycho can do anything when she sets her mind to it. Did she mean that she’d play Nathan? That is not good!

                Misty’s weight stood on top of me. Her eyelids were closed and her hair was all in tangles. She was half nicked in the middle of the forest. The girl is nuts. I may be topless but I had everything else on. I struggle out of the sleeping bag and pulled on my still not dried shirt. I ignored the cameras and sneaked through the dark forest, trusting my instincts on where to find psycho. I could see a fire not too far from here.  As much as I hate to admit it, the wilderness is scaring me. Who knew animals could actually make sound!? Hopefully, psycho didn’t get eaten by a bear or something-or maybe she was the one that ate the bear.

                The flame grew more clear and I made it close, right behind a tree and caught Nathan and psycho huddled up against each other as if they were meant to be. Either Nathan played my girlfriend or my girlfriend played Nathan. I’ve never be more prouder to call her my girlfriend if she did.

                Obviously, this meant nothing because Nathan had Karen. It’s not going to be the same as last time. Psycho can take care of herself but then again, I thought Karen could too. Then she actually fell in love with him and he loved her and then I ended up alone!

                                                This is war.
                I returned back to Misty but slept in a different sleeping bag. I shut my eyes but couldn’t fall asleep because there was so much noise and I was afraid either a bear or a serial killer would kill me. I opened my eyes and decide to sleep with them open. The night slowly past on until I somehow fell asleep.

                “Damon, wake up,” A seductive voice called.

                “Shut up, bitch,” I demand.

                “No can do. We got Misty tied up, and we need to tie you,”  

                “What...?” I pop my eyes open and saw Raven and Nikki in front of my view. I glance over around the area and caught Misty tied against at tree and gagged. My eyes widen with fear. I sat up and looked at the two serial killers. I struggled out of my sleeping back but didn’t have enough time so I started hopping away from them.

                “Demon, you can’t run forever!” Nikki called out.

                “Watch me!” I yell back.

                “You’ll have to eat bugs if only you make it. For a demon you’re pretty dumb,” Raven reminds. I stopped and unzipped the sleeping back and stood properly. They had a point. What did they want? I knew better than to make deal with them but I couldn’t afford to eat something as nasty as that. Then again, I had my own enemy.

                “PSYCHO!” I loudly yell.

                “Oh, you didn’t hear?” Nikki laughs.

                “She won and her and Nathan are giving each other a passionate kiss,” Raven smiled. I’m doomed. A deal with the devils themselves it is.

                “What do you want?” I asked.

                “Food, we’re hungry,” Nikki admits “And let us go before you.”

                “So I can eat bugs? Not happening,” I scoff.

                “Lizzie and Brian are behind us,” Raven assures. You could never tell when they’re lying. I look around and couldn’t catch sight of Ralph or Logan.

                “Where did...you’re...partners go?” I quietly asked. Did I really want to know the answer to that? They probably killed them and threw their bodies into a ditch or something. The girls exchanged clueless looks.

                “Raven, do you remember where they are?” Nikki asked.

                “Not really... I think we left them at the river,” Raven shrugs. Well, Rip to Ralph and Logan. They were good people even though I’ve never met them or known them. I should leave while I have the chance.

                “Okay, deal, untie Misty,” I motion my head toward her. The girls frown but kept their promises. They untied her and Misty had blood shot red eyes. She start swearing on them but I jumped in to cover her mouth before she said something that would kill us all. We decided to meet near the ending and we’d allow the slaughters to take the first steps before us.  Misty kept on complaining on the way because I didn’t untie her myself and ignore the girls. She had no clue how dangerous the two of them were.

                When we reached there, Nathan and psycho were both there. They did arrive first. We waited for the slaughters and it turns out, both boys were breathing for the time being. They crossed the line and then I crossed until Lizzie and Brian arrived an hour later. At least, I didn’t have to eat the worm. Challenge 1, finished... That didn’t change the fact Nathan was a little too close to psycho!