Toward the high hill

Without a map, I'm running blind, Jade thinks. And I can't count on being able to score one off one of the other girls, so I've got the get a view of the island. That means the high hill. It won't be easy to get to the top, and I might not be the only one to think of it, but... what choice do I have? Besides, Enrico's unlikely to be able to climb it in his condition. It's not like the other men on this island are gentlemen and scholars, but he's the one who really wants to hurt me - or worse.

For a moment, Jade looks thoughtfully at the thick mud that she ran through a moment ago... but then shakes her head. No, it'll piss off the producers if I slather myself in mud again; they want me naked for the cameras. And they'll find ways to send the men after me if I don't give them at least some of what they want.

Jade takes a deep breath, and plunges into the woods. Once again, she lines up the trees as she walks to ensure that she goes in a straight line, hopefully towards the high hill. On the way she picks up another stick for protection, and before long the first rays of sunlight strike the treetops, and a mist begins rising from the damp ground. This place is actually really beautiful, she thinks to herself. It's a shame they had to use it for something so perverse. That Sun is already starting to feel warm... I'm going to need more water before too long. And that means that it's going to start affecting me again. They might even up the dosage closer to the final safe house, to try and make things more interesting as the show goes on. There's going to come a point where I might not be able to resist anymore. I'll just have to keep my head on straight, no matter what.

As the morning progresses, and Jade encounters no one, she can't help but start to feel increasingly edgy. This isn't right... why are they just letting me walk like this? I should have run into SOMEONE by now. Maybe I'm being followed? But if I am, then he would make his move eventually, wouldn't he? Unless...

Jade suddenly spins around, and catches a blur of movement diving behind a tree. "I saw you," she calls out. "Whatever you want from me, come out and show yourself."

After a long and tense moment, the slim Asian girl emerges from behind the tree, holding her hands out defensively. "P-please, don't hurt me," she says, almost too quietly to be heard.

"I have no reason to hurt you," Jade replies. "But I'd like to know why you're following me."

"You seemed to know where you were going. And, what you're doing. I don't have any idea what to do, I don't even know what I'm doing here!"

"All right, try to stay quiet at least," Jade says. The poor girl looks scared out of her mind. "Look, if you want to come with me, be my guest - but I'm playing to win, got it? I'm not going to go out of my way to help you if we get spotted, it's every girl for herself."

"I understand. I am Kayo."

"I'm... Fox. Just call me Fox. Look, we've been walking for hours, let's find a place where we can rest and be reasonably safe. Come on, if you're coming."

Kayo hurries to catch up, and soon she's walking beside Jade. "Thank you," she gushes.

"Don't talk unless you have to," Jade tells her. "Voices can carry through the woods, and we need to stay on our guard and not get distracted. And keep your eyes peeled for a safe house."

"Like that one?"

Jade turns, and sees a small wooden cabin in a clearing. "That'll do. As long as no one is home."

"How do we know?" Kayo whispers.

"The only way is to go try the door."

Jade approaches the clearing crouched low, keeping her stick at the ready. Should have given her one, she thinks. Of course, all this frightened cringing might be an act - for all I know, she'd take me down from behind and run off with my pack. I don't think so, though... she had two hours to do that while we were in the woods.

"Do you see anyone?" Kayo asks softly.

"No windows. No way to tell. We'll just have to chance it, and be ready to run. Let's go."

"B-both of us?"

"What, you think I'm going to take all the risk for you?" Jade scowls. "I don't even know you, and like I said, I'm in this to win. I'm not your bodyguard or your guardian angel. We go together, or you can just stay out here. And listen - if we have to run, we run in opposite directions; that will make them hesitate a moment, and that moment might be all we need to escape. I swear if you try to run after me, I'll make you trip so they catch you first. I've got no problem throwing you to the wolves so I can get away. Now, let's do this thing, or you can go do whatever you want, it's all the same to me."

Jade springs up from behind the bush and makes her way quickly but quietly across the small clearing, noting that Kayo follows after just a moment's pause. Once at the cabin, Jade stands to the side of the door, and Kayo slides up next to her.

"Get ready to run, if we have to," Jade whispers... and then, she turns the knob and flings the door open.

Nothing happens.

Jade leaps around to face the entrance from a few feet away. The cabin looks unoccupied, but there is enough room on either side of the door for someone to hide. Either I do this thing, or not, she thinks, steeling herself - when Kayo beats her to it.

"It's empty!" Kayo squeals with relief, running inside. Jade cringes back for a moment, but then sees that no one jumps out at Kayo. The cabin really IS unoccupied. She quickly moves in and shuts the door behind her, throwing the lock. Five hours, starting now she thinks. But I'm not staying nearly that long; I've got ground to cover.

"There's water, and food," Kayo says, looking around happily. "And a mattress, thank goodness!" She flops down on the mattress, delighted with its softness. The sight of her nude, golden body squirming about on the white sheets gives Jade a familiar stirring, which she ignores for the moment.

"Here's a nickel's worth of free advice," Jade says. "Before you go charging into one of these cabins, you might want to check the inside walls, next to the door. There could have been a couple of guys on either side of it, just waiting for us to come in so they could shut the door, lock it, and fuck us six ways from Sunday."

Kayo's smile evaporates. "Oh... I didn't think of that."

"If no one's taken your virginity yet, it's only because you're the luckiest girl on this island," Jade says. "Right now, though, I need water." She pulls out her canteen, drains it in several big gulps, and then goes to refill it.

"Wait!" Kayo says.

"Want to go first? Be my guest."

"No, it's... I think there's something in the water. Something that makes us... act differently."

Jade nods. "Yeah, I know. But we don't have a lot of choice, we have to drink the water or we can't keep going. I'm pretty sure it's in the food, too." Jade leans back against the wall. "Look, I was harsh with you just now, and outside. We've both had a rough time lately. I'm sorry, I'm letting this place get to me and I shouldn't take it out on you."

"It is all right," Kayo says, the smile trying to come back to her face.