Episode Three: Snow Day

They awoke to freezing cold and a frigid wind driving against their faces.

“Where are we?” Dan asked, trying to brush off the snow that had built up on his body.

“The last thing I remember is falling asleep in the hotel,” Desiree said as she mimicked her twin’s movements.

Will slowly pushed himself into a sitting position. The cold hindered his movements. “The show likes to mess with us. Put us in some crazy weather, take us away in the middle of the night. They’re jackasses, y’know?” He paused and glanced around, a look of panic growing on his face. “Where the hell are Moira and Adrian?”

Dan struggled to stand, and then helped his sister to her feet. “Couldn’t they at least give us gloves?” he asked as he rubbed his hands together and blew on them.

“There’s our packs.” Desiree pointed, then wrapped her arms around herself. “Maybe there’s some coats in them?”

As Dan slogged through the calf-high snow to ransack the bags, Will said, “Is that all you two are concerned about? Two of our teammates are missing. We gotta find them.”

“Hey!” Dan shouted, looking up from the pack he was vainly trying to unzip. “We aren’t gonna do them any good if we freeze.” He turned back to what he was doing, muttering, “If I can ever get this open. Damn zipper’s frozen solid.”

Will sighed and crouched down, yanking first his pack, then Desiree’s and Dan’s open. He gestured at the remaining bags. “All five are here. That means what’s in these packs, Adrian and Moira don’t have.”

Desiree had already found a heavy snow jacket in her bag and was pulling it on. “Then we need to find them.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to say!” Will drew out his own jacket, dug around a little more, and found a pair of thick gloves. He put everything on, then hoisted his, Moira’s, and Adrian’s packs onto his back. “Let’s go.” He stormed off, not waiting to see if the others followed.

Desiree hurried after him, her brother taking up the rear. “How do you know you’re going the right direction?” Dan asked, a hint of sarcasm coloring his voice.

“I just know, okay?” Will snapped, not looking back as he continued to trudge through the snow.

They traveled several miles before they found Moira and Adrian. Will was the first to spot them, buried partially under snow drifts. He dropped to his knees next to Moira, tossing the packs aside. He grabbed Moira’s shoulders and shook her, calling her name. There was no response. He looked up at Desiree in desperation. “Can you heal her…I mean them?”

She shook her head. “No. My powers aren’t strong enough to heal this level of frostbite, not even with my brother’s help.”

“What do you mean, with your brother’s help?”

Dan shifted uncomfortably. “I, um…amplify…others’ powers. I can help Des heal these two, but we gotta get them down the mountain, and outta the snow. They need to thaw out a little.”

Will nodded and dug through Moira’s pack to find her coat. He wrapped it around her carefully, then threw her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. He lifted his pack, as well as hers, onto his other shoulder. “Can you two handle Adrian between you?”

Dan hoisted Adrian onto his back with Desiree’s assistance. Desiree struggled with the three remaining packs, but managed to find a balance. “We got it,” she said.

“Then let’s go,” Will said.

They started to head down the mountain, hoping they would reach the end of the snow soon.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Episode Two: What Now?

“This is our car?” Will blurted out when he saw the Honda CRV parked in a field a mile from the maze.

Desirée plucked an envelope from the windshield. “Looks like it. This says ‘Team Promethiad’ on the front.”

“Why you so surprised, man? The guy said we’d find our car,” Daniel said.

“Yeah, but this is way bigger than our car last season. Last time, we had some ghetto sedan. Looked like it was straight outta the East Side,” Will told them.

“Like you?” Adrian cut in.

“So I’m from East Side San Jo. So what?”

“Nothin’. Just saying.”

“Maybe the show had a bigger budget this season?” Desirée suggested.

Moira yanked the envelope from Desirée’s hand and tore it open. Several cards, a set of keys, and a map fell out. “Well, looks like we all get our own ATM cards too.”

“I don’t think we should use them,” Adrian said.

Desirée frowned. “Why not?”

“’Cause the Hunters could use them to track us. I say we do the same as last season: withdraw a bunch of money, divide it up, and use the cash for everything. We can hang onto the cards in case we absolutely need it.”

Everyone agreed. “Can someone ask Moira if anything else was in that envelope?” Will asked.

“Why can’t you ask her?” Adrian wanted to know.

“I’m not talking to her.”

“Seriously?” Moira turned to look at Will. “What the hell is your problem?” Will glared at her without saying anything. “Oh, I get it! You’re still pissed about Toby and me. Well, get over it. I’m sorry, but I’ve told you a million times that I’m not going to break up with him for you. You need to deal.”

Desirée’s eyes were wide. “Who’s Toby?”

“My boyfriend. He’s on Team Introv3rsion. Will here can’t stand the fact that I’m dating Toby and not him.”

“Why are you dating someone from another team?”

“We’ve been dating since way before the show ever started.” She glanced at Will. “Just because you’re not talking to me, Will, doesn’t mean I can’t hear you. Yes, there are hotel key cards in here, and a map.” She tossed the car keys to Adrian. “I’m assuming you’re driving again?” He nodded. “Desirée?”

“Yes?”

“You don’t get car sick do you?”

“No.”

“Can you drive?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, thank God! I thought I’d have to spend all season wedged in the backseat between two of the guys again.”

Adrian popped the trunk of the car. “Looks like all of our stuff is already in here.” He slammed it again. “Let’s find an ATM, then go eat.”

Everyone climbed into the car, Adrian in the driver’s seat. Moira claimed the front passenger seat. “Sorry, guys. I was stuck in the back all last season. I’m not about to play monkey-in-the-middle all of this season. We can take turns.” She turned around in her seat and stared at Daniel in the back. “So, we already know your sister can heal. What do you do?”

Dan smiled smugly. “You’ll see…”

TO BE CONTINUED…

Escape! Season Two, Episode One: The Maze

Moira jolted awake, keenly aware of a sharp pain in her left temple. She kept her eyes closed. “Toby…” she whispered, reaching for him. Maybe he could get her an aspirin. Instead of being met with Toby’s shoulder, her palm connected with nothing but gritty dirt. She groaned and reluctantly cracked one eye open. Nope, not in her bedroom anymore! Couldn’t they have at least let her say goodbye to her boyfriend? She and Toby should have anticipated that the show would kidnap them again, rather than let them fly on planes or drive in cars fully conscious like normal people. At least they had made the most of their last night together, knowing they would have to leave each other in the morning. They certainly hadn’t anticipated their parting to be so abrupt, without any goodbyes.

She sat up slowly, opening her eyes the rest of the way. The pain in her head intensified. Her ankles were tied together with a rope, but they had left her hands free. “Strange,” she muttered as she picked at the knots.

Once her legs were free, she looked up. She felt a surge of instant claustrophobia. Her vision was met by nothing but leaves and branches. She looked from side to side, but only saw more of the same. She scrambled backward so quickly that she fell over into the dirt. “Oh, thank God!” she yelled when she realized that there was empty space behind her.

“Moira?” Adrian appeared from around a corner.

She jumped to her feet and ran over to him. “Where are we?”

He shrugged. “In some sort of hedge maze.”

Lily and Jesse were conspicuously missing.“Where the hell is your sister?” Moira asked. “And what about Jesse? Aren’t the three of you joined at the hip or something?”

Adrian’s expression closed. “Lily and Jesse ran off.”

“Huh?”

“My sister and my best friend ran off together. What about that do you not understand?”

“What about their records?”

“Obviously they don’t care about that anymore.” Adrian sighed. “I can’t believe I went on this stupid show for them and now they’re gone.”

“So why’d you come back then?”

“I could stand to be waiting around my house, hoping they’d come back.”

They remained quiet for a moment. “So, down two teammates. What about Will?” Moira finally asked.

“I don’t know. I’ve been wandering for a while. I only found you because you yelled.”

“Hmm…” Moira drew in a deep breath. “Will!” she shrieked at the top of her lungs.

They heard a lot of rustling and then Will finally appeared from the opposite direction as Adrian. “Hey, there you guys are. About damn time I found you two.” He looked around. “Where’s the other two?”

Adrian shoved his hands in his pockets and glared at the ground. “They ran off together. They’re not coming back,” Moira answered.

“Good. Didn’t like them anyway,” Will said. “No offense, man, but your sister was hella annoying and Jesse was useless.”
“Hello, Promethiads!” a voice interrupted. They looked around, but saw no one. “This is your illustrious host, Chance Cagney, reporting to you from a remote location. Welcome back, those of you who are left. I offer you a choice: you may leave the maze now with no repercussions and continue as a trio…” he paused.

“There’s always repercussions,” Will mumbled.

“I heard that, Mr. Zhang. I shall let it slide this time. Now for your second choice. You may face the maze and find your two missing teammates. But be warned: you will also face the Hunters. The choice is yours, Fire People! One way or another, I will see you at the end.”

“Two missing teammates? Does this mean that Lily and Jesse changed their minds?” Moira asked.

“Not likely. Haven’t seem them in months,” Adrian said.

“So…new people.”

“Do we want to bother with new people?” Will asked.

“Might be easier with them,” Moira told them.

“Or it might be worse.”

“Adrian? You can be the decision maker.”

“I don’t care.”

“Fine, we’re going to get them.” Moira held up a hand to ward off Will’s protests. “Look, I don’t want new people any more than you do, but it might be easier if we had them. Plus, we can’t leave them stranded in the maze.”

“Okay, okay. Let’s find them,” Will conceded.

They started walking slowly, keeping an eye out for the Hunters. “So, how was your time off?” Will asked.

Moira’s face flamed. “Good.”

“Oh. I see. So you and your little boyfriend did it? Did he go all monster on you?”

Her head shot up. “What? How did you know about that?”

“I do my research on my competition.”

“Competition? Competition for the show, or competition for me?”

His eyes narrowed. “Screw you, Moira. Oh wait, Toby already did.”

“Dude!” Adrian stopped and spun around. “Can you two shut the hell up? I don’t want to hear about what Moira and her stupid little boyfriend did or didn’t do on their break. And cut out the jealousy crap, Will. I don’t want to hear that either. As much as I don’t want to be here, we need to listen for Hunters.” He began walking again.

“Well, didn’t take him very long to take back over as a leader,” Moira muttered to herself under her breath.

They turned a corner and found a boy and a girl huddled together in a dead end of the maze. They were blindfolded. “Hello?” the girl called. “Is someone there? Can you help us?”

“Behold our missing teammates,” Will said with a grand gesture. “They look like they’re going to be loads of help. Maybe they’ll cower in a corner during every task and stay out of the way.”

“We’re tied together so tight it’s cutting off our circulation, jackass!” the boy yelled. “But the second I can move again, I’m gonna kick your ass.”

“Dan, calm down,” the girl admonished sweetly. “They’re not going to help if we’re mean to them.”

“Damn right,” Will said.

“Sorry, Des,” Dan said. “Uh…can you guys help us?”

Adrian and Moira went over and untied them. They took their blindfolds off themselves and stood shakily. The girl lost her footing and collapsed into her companion. He caught her quickly. “It’s okay, Des. Just move slowly. We can take our time.”

A bullet whizzed past them and disappeared into the bushes. “No, you can’t,” Adrian said. “The Hunters found us.”

Two Hunters came from opposite side, effectively trapping the group in the dead end. “Everybody get behind me!” Will yelled. He shifted into panther form and leapt on the Hunters, clawing at them until they ran off.

“Run!” Moira ordered, grabbing the new girl’s hand and trying to drag her along.

“I got her.” Adrian grabbed the girl and tossed her over his shoulder.

Will led the way, still in his cat form. He crashed through the bushes, clearing paths where there none.

Finally, they reached the end of the maze. Will shifted back to his human form and collapsed to the ground, exhausted. “Hey, would you mind putting my sister down now?” the new guy asked.

“Huh? Oh sure?” Adrian set the girl on her feet.

“Thanks,” she told him. “I’m Desireé, by the way. This is my twin brother, Daniel.” She looked curiously at Moira, who was holding her head. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Moira offered her a small smile. “I’ve just had a raging headache since I woke up. I think they must have hit me too hard when they knocked me out.”
“They hit you?” Desireé’s eyes grew huge.

“No, I was joking. But maybe I’m having a reaction to whatever they did use.”

Desireé reached a hand out and placed it on Moira’s temple. She closed her eyes a moment, then removed her hand. “Better?” she asked, opening her eyes.

“Yeah!” Moira said in amazement. “What did you do?”

“She can heal,” Daniel answered.

“Awesome,” Will said. “So what do you do?”

“Congratulations, Promethiads!” Chance’s voice interrupted before Daniel could answer. “You found a way through the maze and found your teammates. If you head due east, you’ll find your car. You have a hotel room for the night. In the morning, you’ll have further instructions. Good luck.”

“So, now what?” Desireé asked.

“Now we go find our car, our hotel room, and get to know everyone better,” Adrian said.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Finale!

“Yes, Mom. Toby’s coming home with me. That’s okay, right?”

Will turned away, trying to ignore Moira’s phone conversation. So, she was taking her boyfriend home with her to meet her mother. Great. He supposed that was really it for him then. No chance now. Moira’s mom would love Toby, just like Moira–and everyone else–seemed to. Will’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Toby, who was on the phone as well. It sounded like he was arguing. Apparently, Toby’s mom wasn’t too happy about him going to California to be with Moira instead of going home.

“Hey, man. What are your plans for the next couple of months?” Jesse’s voice broke into Will’s seething thoughts.

“I don’t know.” Will shrugged. He couldn’t go home. His parents had freaked and kicked him out once they found out about his shapeshifting abilities. They couldn’t throw him on the show fast enough.

“Want to come with us?”

“You guys going home?”

“Don’t know yet. Probably.”

“Uhhh . . . yeah, okay. Sounds cool.” Will had never been to L.A. Now was as good a time as any. “Let’s do it.”

© Brea Essex 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Brea Essex.

Voting Time Part 2

           (Continued from Team Introv3rsion)

           Moira looked at Toby. “We’re done for three months? We get to go home?”

            He shrugged. “I guess so.” Though he didn’t really want to go home.

            “Ummm . . . do you want to come home with me?” Moira blurted.

            “You want to bring me home?” He swallowed hard, unsure of what to think about this. He loved her, wanted to be with her, but what about her family? What would they think? What would they do?

            She blushed. “Sorry. Only if you want to. I have to go home. My mom will want to see me. I’d like to introduce you to her, if that’s okay with you. I know she’d love to meet you. Besides, I don’t really want to leave you now that we’ve actually gotten to be together,” she finished in a rush.

            “My mom will want me to come home to see her, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to do it.” He shrugged but let the issue go. If it was what she wanted, then he would do it because he felt so strongly for her.

            Moira pulled away from him a little. “If you don’t want to, I totally understand. I probably shouldn’t have said anything. Ummm . . . I guess I’ll go.” She started to stand.

            He frowned when she got up to leave. “Oh…I…well…fine.” He whispered and stared down at his hands. “Never mind then.”

            She stopped. “Never mind what? I’m letting you off the hook. If you don’t want to go back to California with me, then it’s okay. No pressure. I’m not going to hate you or anything because you’re not ready to meet my mom. I totally understand.”

            He shook his head. “Just never mind I guess. I never said I didn’t want to meet her. It just wasn’t what I was thinking.” Or what he was sure he needed. “The only thing I know is that I want to be where you are. If you are going to be at home, then I will be too.”

            “Really? You actually WANT to go?” She thought about it for a minute. “Would it make you feel better if we went somewhere else?”

            “I don’t want to go home. What’s for me at home Moira? My over protective bitchy mom who tries to control my life and doesn’t care about what I want, just how she looks in front of all of her friends?” He didn’t care if he said it out loud or if was caught on film. She needed to know. “There’s no place for me to go. No one else for me to be with. If that’s where you want to be then…I’ll be there.”

            Moira wanted to cry. She had no idea it was that bad for Toby at home. He had never really talked about it before. “Well, my mom’s not like that. She’s like, the complete opposite of controlling. She’d be more than fine with you coming to stay–as long as you want. In fact, she’s been asking me when you were coming to visit. I’d really love for you to come too. I promise, it will be so much better than at your house.”

            “Alright. I’ll put off my plans to see the world for another time,” he said with a small laugh.

            “You want to go somewhere else? I said we could go somewhere else.”

            “I said I wanted to be wherever you were going to be,” he pointed out.

            “I know, but I don’t HAVE to go home. It would just be the easiest place to go. No planning, no cost, and we can lounge on the beach all day.”

            “Then we can do that,” he said with a nod. “I told you Moira, what else am I going to do?”

            “I don’t know, go to Europe?” she quipped.

            “Or Asia or Africa or Australia or anywhere, still not the point I’m trying to make. I’d be alone. Without you. I’d rather not…”

            She placed a finger against his lips to quiet him. “Don’t even think it. You’re coming home with me.” She smiled. “I insist.”

            “Alright,” he said and nodded.

            It was then that Moira realized that both of their teams plus Chance were still gathered around the fire, listening to every word. “Ummm . . .” 

            He raised an eyebrow. “Um?”

            “I think everyone’s listening to us.”

            He shrugged and kissed her. “So?  You got something to say people?”

            She laughed against Toby’s lips and kissed him harder, wrapping her arms around his neck. If he didn’t care, then she didn’t either.

            He held her close.

            “Ah young love,” Chance said. “I see these two aren’t wasting any time, so why are the rest of you?”

            “We want to know who the MVPs were,” Lily said.

            “Give us a moment to tally the results.” Chance said with a rather forced smile.

            Moira rolled her eyes. “As if SHE would be MVP,” she whispered to Toby. “She didn’t do a damn thing!”

            Toby laughed and chance consulted one of the producers for a moment, and then returned. “Alright we have the mvps. Team introv3rsion is Mr. Coty “T” Ranover. Congrats. And from Team Promethiad . . . Adrian Rayne! Congratulations to both of you.”

            “Is he serious? I did more than he did,” Moira told Toby.

            He laughed. “Yeah I don’t even know.”

            “Well, that’s it folks,” Chance said. “Your instructions for next season will be mailed to you. See you in three months!” He disappeared into the trees.

            Adrian, Lily and Jesse immediately headed in the other direction without saying goodbye. Will lingered, but he took one look at Moira standing with Toby and left silently.

            “So, are you ready to see California?” Moira asked.

            Toby said goodbye to the others with a quick wave. Ipod hugged him and then ran off to the other two. He sighed and nodded at her. “Yeah. I’m ready.”

            “Let’s get the heck out of this jungle and back to the hotel. I’ll call my mom from there and let her know we’re coming.”

            “Right away? Or should we finish off the week here…together?” he asked softly.

            “Sounds like . . . paradise.” She laughed at her own joke. “I can wait a few days to call my mom.” She raised her voice a little. “In case someone’s filming this, Mom I promise I’ll be home soon. Sorry I’m not calling you immediately.”

            He laughed. “I’m pretty sure they edit things. It’ll air later.” He kissed her and sighed.

            “Just my luck, they’ll leave that part in and Mom will be annoyed at me for not coming home—and bringing you with me—as soon as I could.” She held out a hand to him. “Want to go back now?”

            “Go back?” he asked curiously.

            “To the hotel. We have to at least get our stuff.”

            He nodded. “Alright. Sounds good.”

Episode 11: Enter the Volcano

            Adrian, Lily and Moira couldn’t believe what they were staring at: an active volcano. “Is the show trying to kill us all off?” Adrian wondered out loud.

            “This isn’t fresh,” Moira said, pointing to the cooled lava that covered the ground in front of them. “Well, it’s fairly fresh, but it isn’t going to burn us.”

            Lily rolled her eyes. “Thank you, Ms. Science Channel.”

            “At least one of us knows what’s going on.”

            Adrian held up his hands. “Don’t start, you two. I don’t have the patience for your bickering today. My best friend is in there, along with Will. We need to get them out.”

            They wandered near the base of the volcano, trying to find their teammates. The map provided by the show said that they were in the right place. “Here!” Adrian yelled suddenly.

            The two girls hurried over to where he was. “There’s a fissure here.” He shone his flashlight into the gap. “I think it’s big enough for us to get in. Maybe they’re inside.”

            “Ew, gross! I’m not going in there,” Lily proclaimed.

            “How freaking selfish can you be?” Moira asked. “Jesse and Will are both in there. How would you feel if it was you and they didn’t want to come in after you?”

            Lily sighed. “Fine! I’ll go in the stupid hole in the rock.”

            Something whooshed past their heads as they stood staring into the divide. It hit the ground behind them. Adrian wandered over and picked it up. He swore under his breath. “They’re shooting tranq darts at us!”

            “Huh?” Lily and Moira asked in unison.

            Adrian held up the object. “Tranquilizer darts. The freaking Hunters are here.” The girls stood and stared at him. “Run!” he yelled, heading for them and pushing them into the tunnel in the rock.

            Once inside the volcano, the shooting stopped. They shone their flashlights all around, trying to find Jesse and Will. “What I wouldn’t give for Jesse’s fire power right now,” Adrian muttered under his breath.

            “Are you crazy?” Moira asked. “Fire in a volcano? Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

            Adrian looked sheepish. “You’re probably right.”

            They turned a corner and saw them, bound together back to back. Both were gagged and appeared unconscious. Adrian held a light on them while Lily and Moira knelt down and tried to shake them awake. “Hurry!” he whispered feverishly.

            “I don’t see you trying to help,” Moira shot back as she began to untie the ropes.

            “I just—” he broke off as his light caught movement in the shadows. A Hunter appeared and grabbed Lily from where she crouched near the ground. She shrieked and disappeared. The Hunter struggled with his invisible burden, but started to carry her off.

            “Let go of my sister!” Adrian bellowed.

            Moira stood as the last of the ropes fell away from Jesse and Will’s unconscious forms. They had to act fast. I have an idea, she sent to Lily and then to Adrian. Lily, when I tell you, raise your legs out of the way. She concentrated on Adrian. When I say go, shock the guy. “Now!” she shouted.

            She hoped Lily had moved her legs. Her own foot shot out and she kicked the Hunter as hard as she could. She connected with his knee and she felt it snap. At the same moment, an electrical charge flared up in Adrian’s hand and he hit the Hunter on the back with it. The man cried out and fell to the ground with a thud. There was a second thud, which they could only assume was Lily.

            “I’ll carry Will, you two try and help Jess. He’s smaller,” Adrian said.

            He stooped and threw Will over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. The girls got on either side of Jesse and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. They somehow managed to stand and began to half carry and half drag Jesse toward the exit, with Adrian following.

            The ground beneath their feet began to shake. “What the . . .” Adrian began.

            “Run!” Moira yelled. “It’s getting ready to explode again soon.”

            They ran, carrying their burdens to the car. Jesse began to regain consciousness and fought against them. “Jesse, you have to let us help you,” Lily told him.

            “Lil? What happened?” he asked.

            “Don’t ask questions, just run.”

            He let go of the girls and began to run beside them.

            When they reached the car, Jesse helped Adrian pack the still unconscious Will into the backseat. They all jumped into the car, but it wouldn’t start.

            “Come on!” Adrian yelled as he turned the key in frustration.

            “Adrian?” Moira asked.

            “What!”

            “Your electricity might come in handy here.”

            He hit his forehead with the heel of his hand. “Of course. How could I be so stupid?” He concentrated on his hand until a ball of electricity glowed there. He pressed it to the steering column, near the keyhole. The car roared to life. He quickly put the car into gear and peeled away, just as the volcano began to spew lava.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .

Episode 10: Disappearance

            Moira groaned as she sat up. She had stayed up way too late talking to Toby online the night before. She had wanted to go to his room to see him, but she didn’t want to make her team any madder than they already were. Luckily, Toby had understood about the whole thing with Will. She had been worried that he might get mad, but he seemed to get that she hadn’t wanted Will to kiss her. He had actually laughed when she told him that she kicked Will.

            They were staying in a suite, which was a nice change from the tiny two bed hotel rooms they had previously inhabited. Moira stretched, relishing in the fact that she hadn’t had to share a bed with Lily this time—Lily who was currently storming into her room, her face as white as a sheet.

            “What’s wrong?” Moira asked. She immediately sensed that it wasn’t a good time to yell at Lily for bothering her.

            “Jesse’s gone,” Lily informed her. “So is Will.”

            “What do you mean gone?”

            Adrian came up behind Lily. “They’re gone. We searched the whole room. No sign of them. The beds don’t even look slept in.”

            Moira crawled out of bed and wandered into the front room of the suite, the other two following her like lost puppy dogs. She glanced around the room and spotted a manila envelope propped up on the table behind the couch. She crossed the room and picked it up. “Um, hello? Didn’t you notice this?” she asked, waving it in the air.

            Adrian and Lily both shook their heads. She rolled her eyes at them and ripped open the envelope, spilling the contents onto the table. There was a DVD and quite a few maps.

            She popped the DVD into the hotel room’s player and turned on the TV. Chance Cagney immediately appeared on the screen.

            “Aloha Promethiads! I trust you’re enjoying your little stay in paradise. I’m sure you’re wondering where your teammates are this morning. You see, the Hunters rounded up anyone who left the room. I hope you still have your gear from your trip to the desert, because you’re going to need some of it. Now, grab your maps and head on out. You wouldn’t want to see your teammates laid out on a stretcher, would you?”

            The screen went blank and they faced each other. Lily started crying. “Are they going to die?”

            “Not if we get there soon, Lil,” Adrian said. He headed into his room and upended his bag, dumping the contents onto his bed. He sifted through them and stuck a compass, a water bottle, a first aid kit and a tube of sunscreen into his bag. He came back into the front room and started shoving maps in with the other items. “Get dressed,” he ordered the girls.

            Lily and Moira silently headed for their respective rooms to change. “Don’t forget your water bottles,” Adrian called after them. “I have a feeling it’s going to get hot.”

TO BE CONTINUED . . . 

© Brea Essex 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Brea Essex.

Episode 9: Hawaiian Fun?

Moira hurled her bag onto the hotel bed. “What the heck is your problem?”

“You know what my problem is,” Lily fumed.

“Look, it wasn’t your decision to make.”

“If it was, you would have been off the team. Why don’t you just go on your boyfriend’s team? In fact, maybe you should just go find him right now.”

Will stepped in between the girls and pushed them apart. He looked at Lily and jerked his head in the direction of the door. She rolled her eyes and left the room, followed by Adrian and Jesse.

“Thanks,” Moira said.

Will nodded, but remained silent.

“I hope I haven’t hurt you too badly,” she continued hesitantly. “I tried to tell you that I have a boyfriend, but you just wouldn’t—”

Her next words were cut off by Will’s mouth pressed against hers. She tried to pull away, but he gripped the back of her head in one hand. His other arm encircled her waist. She was effectively locked against him. She pressed her lips together rigidly, reached back with one foot, and kicked him sharply in the shin.

Will released her. “Ow! What the hell was that for?”

“What the hell was that for? Are you kidding me? You kissed me. I’ve told you a million times that I’m not interested. I’m in love with Toby. You can’t do anything to change that.” She headed for the door, but paused in the doorway. “And don’t try to change it. As of now, don’t speak to me unless it’s absolutely necessary for our team’s safety.”

She slammed the door behind her, leaving Will standing in the empty hotel room alone. She leaned up against the wall. She shouldn’t have stayed in the room to talk to him. How was she going to explain this to Toby?

© Brea Essex 2011 ~ No part of this site (written or artwork) may be reproduced in anyway whatsoever without express written consent by Brea Essex. 

Episode 8: The One Where Everyone Finds Out Part 2

This is a collaboration with J.F. Jenkins. To read the first part, please visit: http://introv3rsion.blogspot.com/

“Its a game.” Toby rolled his eyes and watched as Lily started to freak out. “What the hell is her problem?”

“I have no idea. She was really timid and whiny at first, but now she’s turning into a complete psycho.”

“Maybe I should kidnap you and you can come join me?” He teased.

“Sounds good to me! I’ll go wherever you want to take me.”

“Maybe we can escape Escape!” He liked this idea, running away from it all with her. What better place than paradise? He was about to continue when Lily came back with some guys.

“The guys aren’t happy,” Lily said smugly. 

Moira looked past her. Adrian looked pissed, Jesse annoyed. As to Will…he looked disappointed. Well, she had tried to tell him to leave her alone. What did he think, that she was going to leave Toby for him? Not going to happen. “I really don’t care.”

“You’ve betrayed us, Moira,” Adrian said. 

She laughed. “What is this? This is a game. Get over yourselves.”

“You don’t deserve to be on the team anymore. You’re consorting with the enemy.”

“The enemy?” she asked incredulously. 

“Choose,” Jesse ordered. “Us or him.”

“I choose him. I’ll always choose him,” she said. 

It took a moment to let everything sink in. “Aren’t you guys being a little over dramatic? The enemy? Wow.” He was about to say something else when he noticed Coty approaching. Wait; no it was Cory because the necklace was glowing. “Is there a problem?” he asked, folding his arms in front of him as if trying to be intimidating.

Now it looked like one of Toby’s teammates was getting involved. If they kicked him off the team too, they really could run away together. Better to just get introductions out of the way. She stuck a hand out toward him. “Hi, I’m Moira. Toby’s girlfriend.”

Cory raised an eyebrow. “So this is your cutie huh? Nice to meet you.” He offered his hand for a shake. “But what are you doing here though?”

When she took his hand to shake, she felt a jolt. It wasn’t a good jolt, like when Toby touched her. She could feel two separate thought patterns roiling around in his mind. This must be the one with two people in the same body. She pulled her hand back quickly. “I’m on the show. Our team’s being sent to Hawaii too. At least, the team I used to be on. Apparently, I’ve been voted off the island before we even reached it.” She gestured at her teammates who were still crowding the aisle behind him.

Cory raised an eyebrow. “Well hey, I bet we could fit you in with us if they want to be little shits about it.”

Toby smirked. This is why he liked Cory though. Then he saw Ryan coming over and he frowned. She was the difficult one.

“Why is everyone pow-wowing over here? Is there a problem?” Cory then filled her in and she stared at the other team with a raised eyebrow. “If I had known this was our competition I wouldn’t have been so worried.” She then stared at Moira. “But I don’t know if I’d consider you useful. You look more like a distraction seeing as how he already is losing sight of our goals to be with you.” She glared at Toby.

What a bitch. Toby really hadn’t been kidding about here. She could be a bitch too. I’ll show her how useful I can be, Moira thought. She reached into Ryan’s mind–and sent a little shock through it. 

Ryan gasped. “What was that?”

Cory shook his head. “I don’t know, but maybe you should be nicer to people.”

Moira couldn’t help but laugh. “I think I could get to like you!” She looked at Ryan. “You, not so much. I think you’d fit in on my team, though. They’re used to manipulative bitchiness. Maybe we should trade places.”

Ryan snorted. “I’m not manipulative. Id watch it before you say anything about people you barely know.”

“Speak for yourself. You’ve already decided that I’m a useless distraction.”

“Yeah, you’re already distracting my team member,” Ryan pointed out.  Cory put his hands on her shoulders. 

“Chill. Look, I think everyone needs to calm down.”

“I agree,” Moira said. “Especially you idiots.” She looked pointedly at her team. 

“We should let her stay on the team,” Will said quietly. 

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Lily exclaimed. 

“Look, we need her. Besides, it’s not her fault. She was dating the guy before this show even started.”

“Yeah, no shit,” Toby said and rolled his eyes.  “Besides, if you think I’m going to let anything bad happen to her because of some game . . .”

Ryan glared at him. “So you’d sabotage us for her?”

“Ry? Chill.” Cory stressed the point.  “All of us have something to lose here.” He looked around at the group. “Personally, I think it’s refreshing to see some positive emotions for a change instead of all the negativity. It’s good to remember what I’m fighting for.” He stared at Ryan for a moment and then shook his head.

“So, what? We work together?” Moira asked. 

Cory shook his head. “Not unless we’re supposed to. I just don’t think we need to be flipping our shit over two kids who love each other.”

She smiled. “I agree.” She looked at the rest of her team. “Can you guys handle that?”

They nodded hesitantly. She glanced at Ryan. “Can you deal with this too?”

Ryan threw up her hands and walked away. Toby rolled his eyes a little.

Moira’s team started to head back to their seats. Adrian paused at looked at the kid with the glowing necklace. “You know, there’s something weird about you. It’s like you’re in the wrong body or something.” He shook his head and walked away. 

Moira laughed. “I’m not sure which one you are, sorry. But thank you. I won’t forget how you stuck up for us.” She looked at Toby. “But what about the other two? You know, the brother,” she waved at the guy still standing by them, “and the telepathic girl. Are they going to be okay with this?”

Cory rolled his eyes at Adrian. He then shrugged at Moira. “We’re talking now. He’s not sure, but there’s nothing to be done about it.”

“Do you call the shots or something?” she asked curiously.

Cory winked at her. “Something like that.” 

Toby nodded a thank you and put his head on Moira’s shoulder.  “We’ll figure this out.”

Moira snuggled up against Toby again. After all the drama, she felt exhausted. She closed her eyes. “Wake me when we reach Hawaii,” she murmured.

He nodded, but closed his eyes too.  “I promise.”

Episode 7: Leaving on a Jet Plane

“So where do you think they’re sending us this time?” Will asked Moira. She still wasn’t talking to him much after the events at the house. He couldn’t blame her. He had sort-of confessed his feelings for her and she didn’t return them. He didn’t care that she had a boyfriend. For all he knew, she was making the guy up. He hadn’t seen her emailing anyone lately. Maybe she had been lying . . . maybe there was a chance for him after all and she just didn’t want to admit it.

Moira shrugged, but didn’t answer him. She was annoyed that she had gotten stuck sitting next to him. She turned and stared out the window. The plane hadn’t taken off yet, but she figured the view of the airport and other planes would be better than having to talk to Will.

Her phone dinged and she dug it out of her pocket. “You’re supposed to have your phone off,” Lily said coldly from across the aisle.

Moira ignored her. The notification had been for an email from Toby. He was alive. He hadn’t been killed in the swamp like she had feared. Maybe he was getting sent to the same place as her for once . . .

“Where do you think they’re sending us?” Will asked again, his voice pitched louder so the rest of the team could hear from across the aisle.

“Who knows?” Adrian asked. That seemed to be his usual answer, and it was getting on Will’s nerves.

“Well, they obviously know! I just wish they’d tell us more,” he said.

“Chill, man,” Jesse said. “I’m sure we’ll find out soon.”

They had been given instructions to drive to LAX airport. The instructions contained a gate number and a note that their tickets were being held at the ticket counter. Nothing more.

Will leaned over toward Moira, who was clacking away on her phone. She tilted it so he couldn’t see. “Who are you emailing?” he asked.

She paused for a second and looked straight at him. “My boyfriend,” she replied shortly before returning to her typing.

So the guy was real. “How’d you meet him?” Will asked.

“None of your damn business.”

Will’s next question was cut off as the captain’s voice came over the intercom. “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. This is your captain speaking. If you’ll note the emergency exits located . . .”

The team ignored the safety precautions. They’d heard them all before. Their attention was finally caught when the captain finally said: “We’ll be landing in about five hours. Enjoy your trip to Honolulu, Hawaii.”

TO BE CONTINUED . . .