Chapter 8: Day 4 Part 2 — The Moonlit Doll

Meanwhile, on S— Somewhere in the forest…

Casey was thoroughly lost. And the camera crew wasn't helping, only saying they would tell her when the GPS said she stepped out of bounds.

The forest briefing said there were lots of plantains in the forest, and although not a perfect substitute, she was really missing her morning banana.

"Do you smell that?" she asked suddenly.

"Where the hell is that barbeque coming from out here?" the crew technician said, "We cleared everyone out over a year ago."

"You cleared people out?!" Casey shouted.

"We bought out this entire area, the local government moved them out," Jason said, reaching for the hand radio on his belt.

"So, these plantains that are here are from abandoned farms or something?!"

"Nope. The farms were burnt down and are all out of bounds anyway," he brings the radio to his mouth. "Crew 2 to base. Reporting a possible incursion."

*Fuzz* Crew 2 acknowledged. Report. *Fuzz*

"We are at -0.491632 (Lat) and 107.436778 (Long) and we smell smoke and the scent of barbeque, over."

*Fuzz* Negative. You are 40 yards southwest of the Fire team's secondary camp. Vegeta killed a wild goat earlier in the week. *Fuzz*

"Three in fact. And another today."

Everyone turned to the voice, but saw nothing.

"What is it with you people and not looking up?" he said in annoyed disbelief.

They looked up and saw Vegeta up in the branches of a tree. He pointed a drumstick at them, "And three chickens."

Everyone was shocked seeing him stick the entire thing in his mouth, rip off all the meat in a single bite, then swallow it whole.

He pointed the bone at them, "You want the bananas from the tree I was looking to remove? I hate the stupid things and you've walked a good mile looking for food."

"Has it really been a mile?" she asked, surprised.

"Our camps are 2 miles apart and my camp is half way according to the staff."

"Hey that's right. You're past the borders of your zone!" Jason shouted. "You need to get back there right now."

"I'm headed back. Don't get your shorts in a knot," Vegeta hopped down from the branch. Even the crew startled on instinct because of its height.

Unharmed, Vegeta turned around and started walking away. "If you want free bananas, come follow me to no man's land."

Casey paused momentarily before running after him. Soon they were walking side by side with the camera crew behind them.

"So…" Casey started. "Vegeta right? Husband to the Capsule Corp's founder's kid? Richest family on Earth?"

Vegeta did not even glance at her.

"Ok… so why the two camps? We know about that tussle obviously, buuuut?"

Vegeta sighed. "Michael's become leader of the group and has been making one life-endangering decision after another. So, since my wife told me to at least pretend I give a damn, I pointed out his stupidity. When that didn't work, I left the very first day and have been building a second camp, so that any survivors, if there are any, have a ready-made place to recover and live the rest of the month."

"The first day? What is he doing?"

Vegeta raised his hands in a frame then moved them apart, "Imagine this. You're walking down a wide beach with flaming hot sand underfoot and suddenly you see a huge fallen tree in the middle of the sand. You head over and discover no stump, so this two-ton tree did not grow there. And magically the sand around the tree is cold, and walking around you discover the cold sand is in the straight line extending from…"

"They built their camp in a rain gully?!"

Vegeta threw his arms in the air, "Yes! Thank you! Someone with half a brain cell between their ears!"

"And there's still water there if the sand is cool, next time it rains hard the ground's already completely saturated!"

"Yes! Rain in a rainforest! Who would have fucking thought!"

Casey stopped and turned back to the crew, "How can you let them live there!"

Vegeta put his hand on her shoulder, "Don't waste your breath. I've already screamed at them." Vegeta mockingly changed the tone of his voice, "But that's what the non-responsibility clause in the contracts are for." He took his hand off her shoulder and returned to his normal voice, "We are nothing but slaves fighting for our masters' sick enjoyment here. Let's just go." He walked off.

"And here we are," Vegeta said, lifting a big leaf out of the way, "Hovel Sweet Hovel."

Casey's jaw dropped.

An honest to goodness tree house made of bamboo stood before her, large enough for several people with a palm frond roof a good 5-6 inches thick. And strung beneath between two supporting trees was a hammock made of blue rope! A large fire pit made of stone, another small bamboo platform and roof with a second fire lifting clouds of smoke through it, and in a clearing there was a huge circular bamboo fence a good story tall with platforms inside. It looked like the goal was to weave it even higher.

"Ha… How?" she stuttered.

"The rope? Made it from a net I got off a whale that was trying to beach itself. Cut it loose, saved the whale, and convinced the staff to let me keep it." He pointed to a large mass hidden under stacked leaves, "Got the rest of it over there. Only twisted enough rope out of it to make the hammock so far. Don't want to go too overboard with it." He walked over to the tree house and tapped the trunk of a support tree, "They're already pissed to hell I know how to make this thing."

"Found him!" they heard a shout. "He's back at camp with a blue team crew!"

A very angry woman stormed out of the bushes. "You!" Leticia pointed at Vegeta. "Do not run off like that withou— Oh… Hello Jason," Leticia said, somehow looking even more unamused than before.

"These two don't like each other," Vegeta thought, glancing between them. "Wonder how I can use this?"

"I sensed intruders in my domain, but as you can see, instead I found a lost puppy and a very angry dog lost in the woods." He then waved his hand dismissively, "And some random peons too."

"Hey," his cameraman said, offended.

"Well," Jason said, swaggering up to Leticia, "You're looking at the new Lead Field Producer for the entire Blue team. What do you think about that?" He leaned down and grinned in her face.

She walked around him, "I'm thinking I'm glad I'm on the red team now so I don't have to take orders from you."

Casey was completely ignoring the exchange and walked over to the tree house. "How did you even make this?" she asked, placing her hand on one of the tree trunks.

Vegeta turned and glanced over his shoulder. "Family vacationed at the Bamboo Palaces in Bali. Whole thing is made of only bamboo and rope. Got to go on a tour of the factory and a construction site. Now this thing…" Vegeta walked over to the woven bamboo circle, "I saw being made when my wife dragged me to one of her charity trips to middle of nowhere places. But I can respect a people that were never conquered," he chuckled, "so I actually bothered to remember its name — Ethiopia. People make these things several stories tall so that the place will last decades as the rot eats away at the bottom. But since we're only staying two months, we can keep the scaffolding inside and give it a 2nd floor, maybe a third-floor for shelving for all the useless shit you women always seem to find."

"You think women have useless shit?" Casey asked, offended.

Vegeta turned to face her then pointed both his hands down towards the left, "My wife will walk into any store and buy everything in it…" he then pointed his hands down to the right, "Then have the robots file the bags away in the miles of closets to never see the light of day without ever looking at what she bought." He raised his hands in the air "She spends enough to…" Vegeta formed his fists, "Don't mention buying planets, Stupid. She's an Alien Conspiracist." He lowered his arms and pointed his hands at Casey, "Your kind is insufferable!" Vegeta crossed his arms waiting for the retort.

Casey stood there silently blinking.

"Is this just during your third world tours or…"

"Nope, she owns enough diamonds to encrust an entire fleet of those jumbo jets we took to get here." Vegeta's eyes suddenly widened. "Don't you DARE use that in the show!" he shouted pointing at the camera crew, "I'm not giving that crazy bitch any ideas!" He moved and pointed at Casey, "And don't yell at me for calling her a crazy bitch! That's the song for her cell phone alarm. Your point is invalid!"

Casey stood there silently blinking wondering about the only song she knew of that matched his description of her as a vulgar woman.

"Yes. THAT song. Glad to see a woman with some modesty."

"What makes you think you know what I'm thinking?"

"You're blushing a little," Vegeta said, putting his hand to his face, his thumb pointing at his right cheek and his index finger pointing to his left.

"So, about those bananas?"

"Changing the subject," Vegeta smirked. "Over here."

"Wait? What bananas?" Leticia turned around. "Vegeta, are you giving food to the blue team?"

"Yes. I am." Vegeta crossed his arms. "I hate bananas and these will go bad soon. And the fuck I'm giving them to Michael and his monstrosities." He looked towards the trees, "Besides… trying to use them Reeses-style didn't work."

Casey followed him behind the woven house.

"Oh my god…" Casey smiled looking up. A grove of banana trees stood before her with four plants with huge bunches of almost ripe bananas.

"These are so pretty!" She walked over to them and took one. She peeled it easily then brook it. "No seeds!" she gasped. She took a bite. Tears welled up, "They're real. They're real bananas. Not Plantains."

Vegeta's eyes widened watching this woman hugging the bunch of bananas almost weeping with joy. "When did you last eat? Is your group starving already?"

"No, we still have rice and coconuts," Casey wiped her eyes and looked at the grove, "These are so crowded, though."

"Each clump is growing from one giant root," Vegeta said letting out a held breath, "I've been poking in the dirt."

She looks back at him, "Wait… When you said one plant, you mean this entire thing?!"

"If each vine of Panchy's climbing rose bush is considered one plant, I don't see why this would be different." He walked over, "This one in particular is in the way and the leaves on the smaller stubs are turning brown." He pointed at the other plants in the grove. "You can tell this one isn't doing well compared to the others."

"Yeah…" she said. She looked back at Vegeta, "But it must be a huge bush if you're comparing it to these trees?"

"The Briefs never do anything halfway," Vegeta crossed his arms, "You want these or not?"

"I'll need to go ask Jessica to make some baskets and come back."

"You won't be allowed to return," Jason said, stepping out from behind the houses with the hand radio in his hands, "Reynolds is having a cow, but Conner wants us to finish filming this even if you take home some food."

Casey panicked. "Do you know how to make baskets?"

"Nope, was about to ask you," Vegeta chuckled.

"I… I saw Jessica make us hats. Wish I wore mine hear we could look at it."

"You're not supposed to help each other," Jason said.

"Not even an even trade?" Vegeta asked.

The man talked into the radio then held it to his ear. He then puts it back to his mouth, "Sorry can you repeat?" He held it to his ear again but his face showed he could not hear what was being said.

"Can you hear me now?" Vegeta said, holding his hand in the phone gesture next to his ear. He then stepped to the left. "Can you hear me now?" He stepped again, "Can you hear me now?"

Casey started laughing realizing what he was doing. Then she snorted.

Vegeta laughed as she clasped both her hands over her mouth and turned bright red.

Both crews also chuckled. Jason stomped back behind the houses.

"You're a troll," Casey said through her hands.

"By most definitions, yes." Vegeta smirked.

"Are you trying to get kicked off the show?" she asked, pulling her hands from her mouth.

"The circumstance that forced me to participate said nothing about trying to win." Vegeta said, instantly losing all his humor.

"Then why all of this?" Casey gestured to the camp.

"Like I told you before, my own comfort and my wife's orders to pretend to give a damn."

Casey stared silently at him with a growing frown. "Are… you a…"

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

"…psychopath?"

"Oh, thank the Moon Goddess…" he inwardly sighed.

"No," Vegeta smirked, "Just a clinical asshole."

Casey's expression did not change.

"Ass in Asperger's. Never heard of it?"

Casey shook her head slowly.

Vegeta's face soured, "Whatever…" he looked to his camp, "Any word from on high yet?!"

Jason walked back around, "Yes, actually." He put the radio back on his belt. "Exchanging knowledge is not the same as exchanging physical objects of equal value."

Vegeta looked at Casey, "Bananas for a basket then? Just a simple one is fine."

"So you can copy it easily?" Leticia said, already guessing his game.

"Whatever…" Vegeta said, rolling his eyes. He looked back at Casey. "What type of leaves do you need? You got your pick out here."

"Jessica used the huge palm leaves from the beach…"

Vegeta's eyebrows lowered, "Give me 30 minutes. Feel free to make yourself comfortable. Water is in those three bamboo tubes with the plugs by the hammock. It's safe, don't worry that huge pipe is a charcoal filter and it's been boiled." Vegeta went into the half-finished house and came out with a large rock that had been smashed to make a sharp edge. "Leticia, you play guard dog. You two follow me." Casey watched him walk into the trees.

Ted and Freddy looked at Leticia.

"Just get going," she sighed, rolling her eyes.

They followed after him.

"Don't go looking around," Jason ordered.

Casey nodded, picked two more bananas then walked to the hammock and climbed in. She drinks from one of the bamboo tubes as she examines the hammock. The rope was very rough on the skin, but something like that wouldn't bother a person like him. She examined the braided cords as she munched and thought about the patience needed to make something like this.

She then looked up. To her surprise she didn't see any of the blue rope in the tree house. It was all natural vines.

"He either made it before he found the net or after the crew yelled at him," she thought.

It was extremely sturdy from the look of it, maybe even overbuilt. Reminded her of the underside of a barn loft.

"Barn loft…" she thought, "Never would have thought of that on my own." She smiled, "I'm a rancher. I've improvised thousands of times before. This game has barely changed for a century, I would have never thought to play any other way!"

"Hey no looking!"

"Fine! I'll close my eyes!" Casey settled into the hammock with an even larger smile on her face as she started the second banana. "Ok cow girl. What can you slap together with some old fashion country ingenuity? Those vines and bamboo are no different than wood, rope and wire."

"I'm back!"

Casey opened her eyes again after a long while. She saw Vegeta enter the camp dragging behind him a small mountain of huge palm fronds, at least 8 feet long.

"I got 15 of these suckers," he said, dropping their long stems off his shoulders. "Lots of extra and I can cut more if you mess up so much you use these up."

Casey practically jumped out of the hammock, "That's great! If you don't mind, I'd like 3 poles of your bamboo and whatever vines you're using as rope."

"No, you will not!" Jason shouted. "No inspiration from his buildings! You will make baskets and baskets alone!"

"I didn't take any inspiration from him!" Casey shouted, "I just realized I could make a travois to make carrying the bananas easier!"

"What the fuck is that?" Vegeta asked, crossing his arms and tilting his head slightly.

Casey walked over to her crew. "I may be living in Illinois, but I was born a Texas cowgirl, and I have the rodeo medals to prove it." She pointed Jason, "Call it in and have the producers google it. It's spelled t-r-a-v-o-i-s. The Indians used them before they had wheels and there's a picture of me 7 years old in front of my grannie's couch with a painting of some Comanche using it in my audition tape! The one with me holding up all my ribbons!"

The blue crew glared at her.

"Well? What y'all waiting for?!"

Jason stormed off.

"Y'all? What's a y'all?" Vegeta asks.

"It's Southern for 'you all'," she looked back smiling, "Up north you say 'you guys'. Never listened to Country and Western music before?"

"I prefer the blood curdling type that's like a hard punch to the gut. Words usually about one too."

"Ah… you like the stuff Jerry sings."

Vegeta glanced to the side, "Maybe."

Casey saw how uneasy he was, and the distrust in her gut returned. She dropped the subject.

"So… you said you needed three of my bamboo poles?" Vegeta asked after an awkward silence.

"And vine and whatever you've been using to cut them."

"Wait until you get permission," her technician ordered.

"I can still get them to use for myself!" Vegeta retorted, turning his back to the group, "Or do you not see the half-finished house to your left?" He walked off.

He came back carrying a large flat river rock about two feet round. When he dropped it, it made a very loud bang.

"How much does that have to weigh?" she thought.

Vegeta left then returned with more stone tools, including a smaller, but still large river rock that had been smashed apart making a sharpish edge. Casey could tell from the plant stains that this was his main cutting tool. Vegeta then climbed the tree next to the tree house and leapt inside. Casey was surprised that it barely rustled. He then threw out three large spools of vines of varying thickness, hopped back down the tree and disappeared

"All right, Conner said you can build this 'thing'," Jason said returning, "But Vegeta can't be in camp to see you build it."

"Fine by me," Vegeta said, returning to camp with five very long bamboo stalks. "Brought you two extra in case you mess up." He droped them down next to the anvil stone, "I'm going to get mats for another project. Y'all have fun." Vegeta disappeared into the trees.

"Wait, we need to confirm where you're going!" Leticia ran after him into the trees. Her crew was not far behind.

"Can't you even keep a stupid monkey in check?" Jason stomped after them.

Casey started to examine the bamboo. Compared to the mammoths used in the treehouse's supports, these are thin but thick-walled judging by the stumps. As confusing and uneasy as Vegeta was, he knew what he was doing, even if his wife was forcing him to show concern.

"Ahhh! HQ I lost the Predator! Repeat Lost the Predator!" came from somewhere in the trees. It was far away and extremely muffled by the foliage, but still intelligible.

"Did you make out what he yelled?" the cameraman asked.

"Who yelled?" the technician answered.

"Jason, didn't you hear him?"

He shook his head.

"Or maybe just a country girl with undamaged ears," she thought.

Jason stormed back into camp, "I lost him! No way that 'thing' is keeping to…"

"Jason shut up! No crew stuff in front of contestants!" the cameraman yelled. He looked at Casey. "Ok, Casey. Get ready to continue making your whatever. Let me get the shots set up."

Casey found a stick and laid down with her heels even with the end of the bamboo and put her arms above her head. She dropped the stick there and got up. She then took another stick and sat with her heels at the original stick. She placed the new stick at her waist and stood. She walked over and took one of the sharp stones. She used it to mark the bamboo at both spots. Casey then dragged it over to the anvil stone, and after a lot of pounding, cut the bamboo at the second mark. She then used that piece to mark and cut the second piece.

Casey walked over to the coils of vines. She was surprised by the apparent strength of the thinnest type and cut a long piece. She then took the two poles and carried them to a tree. She leaned them against it at her shoulder height, crossed the tips and bound them. Casey then adjusted the poles so the X rested securely against the tree and spaced out the bottom ends. She then cut two cross beams from the third bamboo pole. She bound the longer one to the original mark and the shorter one close to the top.

Casey then went back to the spools of vine, this time taking from a coil about a dime thick. She cut two lengths as tall as she is. Casey tied the two cords from the top crossbar, then crossed them and tied the other ends to the bottom making a droopy 90-degree angle.

"Are you done yet?!" She heard Vegeta shouting somewhere in the trees. "It's been over an hour by the sun clock!"

The crew groaned. Then Jason walked off pulling the handset from its harness.

Casey thought back to her girl scout days. "Sun clock… Does he mean a sundial? How would that even work? The stick is supposed to be the same angle as Polaris, but we're on the equator right now." She shook her head, "Focus Casey. This is the part you don't know what you're doing."

Casey laid two fronds side by side so that one half completely overlapped the next. After a lot of trial and error, she weaved the two halves in a simple over and under pattern.

"You are NOT smashing my sun clock YOU SON OF A BITCH! You know how long that took me to MAKE?!"

"Jason! This is not your camp! Stop this!" Leticia shouted. "I okayed this. You have no authority to overrule me!"

"Sounds like they are having fun," she thought. "Must have been another good bit walking through the trees."

Casey took the woven mat and laid it on the supports. She crossed and tied the stems together to curl up the back edge while the rest of it ran wild over the bamboo A-frame. She pressed down on the bottom weave to test its strength.

"That should hold until camp," she said, leaning up.

"These fuckers know EXACTLY who I am but the still DARE treat me like… HOW ARE YOU STILL FUCKING HERE? It's been at least 2 hours!" Vegeta roared into camp throwing his arms in the air.

Casey screamed and tripped over her travois knocking it over on top of her. It is almost instantly lifted up.

"Are you alright?"

Casey nodded, but Vegeta knew he scared her worse than she was letting on.

Vegeta looked at the mess of bamboo and leaves and leaned it against the tree.

"This held together really well. You did a good job with the vines," Vegeta said. "Only thing screwed up is the basket." He chuckled nervously, "But it was probably messed up to begin, heh heh heee…" He glanced at Casey.

She was on her feet but still on edge glaring at him.

Vegeta sighed, closing his eyes. "Yeah, yeah I know. I'm the big, scary supervillain with the mean, ugly face who can't control his temper." He looked away, "I shouldn't have allowed my emotions from the previous conversations to carry over into this one." He turned his head so he could glance at her through the corner of his eye.

She still looked the same.

Vegeta spun back around, hunched his shoulders and formed his fists to his sides, "Look, woman! This is the closest you're going to get to an apology out of me so take it or leave it!" He crossed his arms, turned his nose up and huffed. After a few moments he peaked his eye open to look at her.

Casey was unmoved.

Vegeta opened and rolled both his eyes, "Fine… Fine! Fix your shit. I'll get the bananas." He stormed off.

Casey slowly made her way to the travois, and Vegeta was correct, the A-frame and cross beams were just fine.

"Got number one cut for you."

She turned around and saw Vegeta holding a bunch a third as tall as him. "Ok, bring it over," Casey said tilting her head to the travois.

Vegeta walked over as Casey spread out the side leaves. He placed the bunch in the very back. The rope supports began to spread sideways and the palm leaves sank down. Casey grabbed it before it completely fell through and gently guided it down to the ground.

"Maybe you should tie the vines together where they cross and the stems of the palms to the frame?" Vegeta said.

"I was just thinking that," Casey said.

"No helping each other!"

Vegeta, sensing anger, turned around. He saw Jason trembling enraged behind him.

Vegeta smirked at him.

Casey watched the standoff, her heart and head conflicting on intervening. Jason definitely came off as the type of creep the safe drink was invented for, but the way Vegeta stood there grinning…

"Excuse me," Casey finally said smiling, "But you guys are standing on the bamboo."

The two looked at her, then at their feet. Vegeta took several steps back and Casey walked in-between and began cutting more bamboo. Vegeta then turned his back and walked over to his hammock. He climbed in.

Casey cut three equal pieces of bamboo, then hacked grooves into their ends. She glanced at the crew as she stood. Jason still seemed to be pissed. Vegeta had his eyes closed, but was far from asleep.

She walked over and slid the supporting vines into the grooves. She then cuts more of the thin vine and ties each piece in place then ties the crossing point together. She grabs the palms and drags the bananas out from underneath.

"This is heavier than I thought," she grunted.

"Are you going to be able to carry all three?" Vegeta asked not opening his eyes, "That one has to be 80 pounds."

Casey groaned in frustration. "This won't last more than a week though," she sighed, "And I can't come back."

"You're right, you can't come back here," he emphasized. "Have you ever seen the movie Madagascar?"

"Yeah, why?" Casey asked, confused at the sudden change of topic. This man was not the type for small talk.

"My son loves that stupid movie. First time we saw it as a family, the Doc actually blew soda out of his nose during the New York Giants joke. Had to have it explained to me." He smiled, "Interesting game. Two teams fighting over territory. 50-yard skirmish, first and goal, defending the end zone, all that stuff."

Casey's eyes widened. Then she smiled, "Yes. Yes, it is an interesting game." She stood and moved the spare palms over and dragged the bananas on top. "Madagascar is a really annoying movie though," she positioned the woven palms back in place, "Your son's a toddler, right? Must drive you nuts."

"Oh, I want to put my fist through the TV!" Vegeta groaned. He looked at her and smirked, "So did you want me to cut the other two? …And don't you dare intervene," he added growling over his shoulder, "You didn't complain before."

"Just hurry up and get this situation over with," Jason barked.

"I'm ready for the rest," Casey said, loading the first bunch in. This time the platform was solid.

Vegeta hopped out of the hammock and walked behind the unfinished house.

Casey walked over and took a long length of the thickest vine. Her fingers barely closed around it. It was woody and stiff, but she could see how Vegeta had flattened sections to loosen the fibers to allow bending. She took it back to the anvil stone and began flattening it more with the blunt side of a rock.

"Hope you don't mind some banana leaves mixed in," Vegeta said walking behind her to load the second bunch. He then began placing packages wrapped in banana leaves under the bunches and hidden by the loose sides.

"Nope, that's fine," she said, not turning around.

"Ok, that's the last one."

Casey turned around and saw Vegeta tying the last stem to the pole. "Can you tie the extra palm fronds to it as well while I get the final rope?"

Vegeta grabbed the extra leaves.

Casey took the flattened vine heads to the travois. She wrapped both ends over and over again along the upper part and the first crossbeam until it made an immovable loop.

"So just lightly tie these on top?" Vegeta asked after she finished.

"Yeah, just throw them on top."

He placed them on top and lightly tied the stems to the support ropes.

"Ok, let's see if I can drag this shit," Casey said, slipping under the travois and into the vine loop. "Oh God…" she said, leaning it back against the tree. "I'm going to need a kickstand or something," she said panting. She looked at Vegeta, "Got any Y-ended branches?"

"Already on it!" Vegeta shouted from inside the half-finished house. He came out with two Y-topped branches with dirt covered sharpened ends and a second straight bamboo stick. "Cross stick," he said holding it up, "I think the small vines would be best, just wrap the thing to death."

Casey just grabbed the entire coil and brought it over. The two tied the Y-sticks just above the point they touched the ground then tied the bamboo across. It was a little wide but no harm from it.

"Ok, let's try this again." Casey slipped under it again as Vegeta stood beside her ready to grab it if she faltered. She pulled on it and got a few inches before she lowered it. The Y-sticks land and hold the weight. She pulled again and got about a foot before lowering it down.

"Well, this will take a while, but it's working," Vegeta said, lowering his arms. "I'm going back to working on the house." He picked up the anvil stone and moved it back behind the house.

"Vegeta, wait a second," Casey asked.

"What is it now?"

"Can you show me where you got your rocks so I can smash my own? I just need a small one with a sharp edge."

Vegeta came back around and pointed behind the camp. "The stream is not far behind us. Just past the ATV track."

"The stream? As in the one that divides the team zones from the free area?"

"There's only one stream in the area according to the map we were allowed to glance at before we got dumped here. I followed it until I got yelled at by the crew then walked up the hill until the bugs were gone."

Casey chuckled a short breath while smiling.

Vegeta crossed his arms, "You were lost to hell when I found you, weren't you?"

"I left camp probably 9 or 10 o'clock."

Vegeta's jaw dropped. "You spent four hours circling that tiny hill?"

"And good news, Casey," Leticia came into camp.

No one noticed she had slipped away.

"I just got you special permission to use the ATV track so you don't have to drag that through the woods." She looks at Jason with a "fuck you" smile Vegeta recognized from his wife. Vegeta grinned as Jason returned a murderous glare.

Casey struggled to pull the travois down the ATV track. She could only pull it a foot or two at a time before resting.

"The shadows in the trees have lengthened quite a bit. 5 o'clock maybe?" she thought. Casey laid the travois on its stand. "How far are we now?"

Jason looked at the GPS, "We are now safely 11 yards into your team's territory. We won't be telling you your position again."

"Good," she sighed. She then took the extra palms off the travois.

"What are you doing?" asked the cameraman.

"I don't need to drag this completely to camp. Just far enough into our territory I can get the others."

Casey placed the palms on the ground and put two of the bunches on them. She then noticed all the packages wrapped in banana leaves that had been hidden under them.

Casey picked one up.

She peaked under the leaves. Her eyes widened as the smell hit her nose. She quickly put it back and made sure the others were all snug.

Casey continued, the travois pulling so much easier now that it was less than 100 pounds.

Finally, as the sky started to redden, she pulled it onto the beach. "Hello!" she screamed.

She was met by a stampede charging up the beach.

"Casey!" Jessica hugged her. Casey collapsed in her arms.

"Where the fucking hell have you been, girl?" Jerry said.

"I smell meat," Bob said as he, Jamal and Daisuke walk around to look at the travois. "Did you kill and cook a whole animal?"

"There's more… in the woods." she panted. "Two more bananas. Take the travois… Long walk."

Bob tried to lift it. "Oh, god! What is this, 100 pounds?"

"I got this," Jamal said. He took Bob's place. "More like 75 I think," he said, pulling it towards camp. "You're nuts girl."

"Ok let's get to camp, unpack this, then Jamal and I will get the rest," Bob said.

"She said there were two more giant banana things," Daisuke said, "You're going to need help if we're getting these back with the sun still up."

"Alright," Bob said to Daisuke. He looked at Jessica and reached down, "Come on, Jessica. Let's get her back to camp."

Casey finished drinking from the team canteen, then lied down on her side on a new set of mats Jessica must have spent the day weaving.

"Glad you spent all day making all of these," Jerry said helping unload the travois, "Sorry for saying we wouldn't need so many."

Bob sniffed the current banana-wrapped package before handing it off to Jerry, "Where did get all this stuff?"

"From Vegeta," she said exhausted.

"Vegeta, as in the guy on Berapi?"

Casey lifted her head up. "The producers allowed it… don't worry…" She laid her head back on her arm. "He found me lost in the woods and took me to his house." She looked up at the simple tarp lean-to, "He has a tree house. Like out of Swiss Family Robinson."

"You can't copy what you saw," a crewman who had remained on the beach reminded her.

"I know that. Just saying we can do so much better."

"We were actually talking about that today," Jessica said, "Bob had the idea of building something called a longhouse using my mats."

"It's what the Indians used to live back in my area," he said, "Helped some of my kids build a scale model for a school project. We'll have our own little palace by tomorrow's sunset." He smiled at her, "Got it all planned out while you were gone." Bob looked up at Jamal, "Ok that's the last of it. Let's go find those bananas."

Casey finally blacked out.

Meanwhile, with Berapi…

The sun was approaching the horizon, but the sky was still a bright blue.

The afternoon had led to mixed results. Spearfishing was a bust, but there were dozens of coconuts of various colors.

Hassim joined Sam and Sugar Petal making string. They had already made four knotted net bags for coconuts and fish. But now with Hassim, Sugar Petal had a greater ambition: a real rope.

"To make a rope, we'll need to reverse twist a reverse twist, so we need four times the length of thread. If we want a thicker one, we'll need eight."

"Why do you want to make something so big?" Sam asked, looking at his raw fingers.

Sugar Petal looked up at a palm tree. "We probably picked up most of the coconuts on the ground today. We are going to need to start climbing."

Sam and Hassim looked up at the trees.

"That's probably a good point," Hassim said. "But do either of you know how to tie a safety rope? I'm not eager to try that foot loop method we were shown in that video clip without one."

"Nope," Sam said. He looked back at his hands, "But we're almost out of husks and we have food for tonight and tomorrow. I say we end it for today and pick up tomorrow."

Sugar Petal looked at the sand and grabbed her skirt in her hands. Then she looked back up with her normal smile.

Hassim no longer thought it was cute, but was like an unnerving, creepy doll.

"Ok," Sugar Petal said, clasping her hands over her heart, "You two can leave. I'm going to spin two more small strings."

Hassim quickly stood and hurried off while Sam bothered with proper pleasantries. After several feet, Hassim stopped to catch his breath. He looked around.

Becky was again sunning herself on his mat, or next to his mat? He did not remember it being that wide.

Lisa was asleep in the shelter.

But Michael, Ichiro and their crews had gone missing.

Michael and Ichiro were just inside the trees at the entrance of the ATV track at the beginning of the narrow beach.

"And why didn't you come to me with this before?" Michael asked annoyed.

"By that point everything would already have been deep in her intestines," Ichiro said, "It be too late to pump her stomach or anything."

Michael put his hands on either side of his nose and closed his eyes. "Fucking try and break this bitch and she keeps finding ways around it… Wait, pump the stomach…"

Michael dropped his hands and crossed his arms. He sighed looking down. "Well, we could confront her now… but I doubt that will stop her. We should keep an eye on her and find this second camp and where she's getting the bugs. It will be difficult considering how silently she can crawl through the woods. But if we can see where she goes in, it will be a start."

Ichiro thought of something. "What about when she went back behind the camp this morning?" he said. "Remember when Lisa said let her pout in the woods?"

"Good observation," Michael smiled. "We'll need to keep an eye on that. If she heads off that way again tonight, we'll send someone to look while she's off getting wood tomorrow."

"It can't be Becky," Ichiro said. "I know she's part of your core, but I think she's going too far. If—"

"Oh, trust me. I believe she is gone so far over the line with Hassim, she's shot past the fucking moon," Michael said. "Lisa and I are trying to corral her, but if that fails…" he smiled, "Would you be interested in being my new third?"

"Me?" he asked wide eyed.

"Now I'm not naïve. I'm perfectly aware your stance has more to do with Vegeta than anything else, but the way you put Sam back in his place was impressive. I could use a heavy hitter, pun intended."

"I was a pitcher actually, but if Becky is next on the chopping block after Vegeta, I'll take that deal."

Michael extended his hand.

Ichiro shook it.

"Let's go find Hassim," Michael said letting go. "If we approach him immediately, it will stop any suspicion of you for tomorrow."

"Suspicion?"

"Sugar Petal made the initiative to not only tell him she's eating bugs but to cook for him. He trusts you, and as far as he knows the only other person who knows she's eating bugs. Logic says you're the snitch. We need to engineer this situation to exonerate you just as much as protecting Sugar from herself."

"Alright, let's find Hassim."

The two stepped out into the sunlight.

Hassim spotted them and Michael waved his hand for him to come over. He walked over, putting his right hand to the side of his face to block his view of the naked Becky.

"Ah, Hassim. Good to see you," Michael said, turning to the trees. "Come join us for a moment."

The three walked into the trees.

"Good news, Hassim," Michael said, turning back around, "We're voting Becky out. With you, we got five."

"Are you taking her out before Vegeta?" Hassim asked surprised.

"At the moment no," Michael said. "Lisa and I are giving her one last chance to shape up. But if she proves any more toxic," Michael put his hand on Hassim's shoulder, "She's going out first. Vegeta's out playing Chuck Norland, but Becky is stuck with us in camp."

"You got my vote in either case, Michael," Hassim said. "Just tell me which."

"Good to hear," Michael said, taking his hand off. "Now let's get back to camp."

The three walked out and headed over to the shelter. As they passed Becky, Michael called out, "Becky! Stop sunbathing! If you get sunburned, you're going to be useless winning the food challenge in a couple days! Get your ass in the shade right now!"

Becky limply raised her arm, "I refuse to be around that man!" She shooed her hand, "Send him away!"

Michael clenched his fists and growled, "That little…"

"It's alright," Hassim said. He walked away.

Becky sat up and watched him leave before standing.

"Look you fat cow, never shoo me off like that again," Michael stormed over.

Becky met him half way.

"Now I've had enough of you just laying around—"

"I haven't been laying around," Becky said. "I've been doing my job."

"And what job is that?" Michael demanded.

"Destroying that girl," Becky grinned. Then she pointed towards the trees, "Look where we are."

Ichiro and Michael looked around.

"You can… see the entire edge of the treeline from here," Ichiro said, "Even a little bit in."

"She's been going back behind the shelter out to the left a few times today, hasn't she?" She moved closer to Michael, "While before she always went to the right for everything."

"But the only thing that way is a bunch of mosquitoes," Ichiro shivered. "She'll get malaria or dengue that way."

"Also," she moved next to him smiling, "she's only gone left when she thought no one was looking, but when there were people, she went right until she hit the shade. Then she turned left when she thought she was out of sight." She touched his arm, "I had a feeling she was doing that, so I set up over here to get a good look."

Michael grabbed her wrist, tripped her foot and put her in the sand.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Becky shouted up at him.

"Brown belt Judo," Michael glared at her. "And I select what women touch me, not the other way around, you fat cow! If I pulled the same shit— Oh what am I saying!" he pointed at her, "You're probably the type of bitch who'd enjoy that!" He stomped off. "Ichiro! Come on!"

"Eh… Right," Ichiro quickly followed.

Becky stood up and rubbed her wrist. She then stuck her tongue out and went back secretly watching Sugar Petal.

Darkness came to the trees. Vegeta actually stretched and looked tired for the first time. The crew was shocked.

"Are you ok?" Leticia asked.

"Yes," he said, lowering his arms from over his head. "It's just been a while since I've stayed up multiple days." "I'm getting too damn comfortable in the mansion," he thought.

"You've been up 48 hours?! Vegeta what the hell?" Leticia said.

"No I'm fin—" Vegeta was interrupted by a yawn.

She put her hands on her hips. "No, you're not. Now I can't technically order you to go to bed. But I highly suggest it…"

Vegeta yawned again. "Ok, fine Mother," he said sarcastically. He began to walk off towards the butchering area, "I'm going to go play 'Bear in the woods'."

They did not follow him.

After a time, he came back.

"I've decided on something," he said walking up to the group.

"What's that?" Leticia asked.

"I'm building an outhouse…" he turned around. "Good night."

Vegeta climbed into the tree house and disappeared.

Meanwhile, with Berapi…

A beep made the red field producer look at his digital watch. He pulled his radio out. "Red crews, it is now 7 o'clock. Please begin packing up at head to the ATVs. Over."

*fuzz* This is Red 7. We're in the middle of filming a scene. Permission to stay a little late. Over. *fuzz*

"Permission given, but we are leaving ahead. Don't take too long. Over." He lowered the radio. He looked at the team. "Ok. Everyone. We're off. See you tomorrow morning."

Michael watched and waited for the crews to pack up and leave. Once the sound of the engines disappeared, he looked around the camp.

Hassim was looking out at the red embers on the horizon.

"Don't you still need to do a little something?" Michael raised an eyebrow.

"I know," Hassim said standing, "But the sunset today was too pretty not to watch. I'll be right back."

He walked off.

After he had vanished, Becky got up, did something with her mat, then slowly walked over to the camp.

She leaned down and whispered in Michael's ear.

Michael nodded and stood, "Ok, Ichiro, Sam, with me."

"What? Why?" Sam asked as Ichiro stood.

"Sugar is near the spot Becky found?"

"What spot?"

"Sugar Petal has been collecting and cooking bugs at a second camp," Michael said. "Let's go stop her before she poisons herself any further."

"Do you hear that?" Michael said.

"Yeah, that's a crew packing up" Ichiro walked forward.

They found her crew talking with their backs to them at a large fallen log, five or so feet thick. The cameraman had just zipped the camera into the bag and slung it over his shoulder before shifting it to his back. Sugar Petal was talking with the technician, nodding along to whatever he was saying.

"Lucky break," Michael said softly. "Ichiro, go left. I'll go right. We'll pin her against the log. Sam, stay here and be quiet," he stressed. "Wait until the crew leaves, then distract her by walking up."

Sam nodded and took three steps back to duck behind nearby bushes.

Crunch!

Sam grimaced and looked at his feet at the broken branch.

Michael immediately stood and walked over, quickly improvising in his mind. Ichiro fell in lockstep. Sam sheepishly stayed behind the tree.

The technician had taken refuge behind a tree and Michael paid him no mind. The others were backing away making no effort to take the camera back out. Sugar Petal had a moment of fear on her eyes, which made Michael smile.

With the crew out of the way, it was clear this was where she was getting these bugs. The bark and rotten wood had been pried away exposing fresh wood to the sun.

"So this is where you are?" Michael said acting worried. "We overheard the crews that you were deep in the woods and got worried since its almost dark. Let's get you back to the beach." He smiled at the crew. "It's alright, we got her. You guys should hurry and catch up with the ATVs."

Her field producer glanced over at the technician.

He gave a thumbs up.

The man nodded to Michael, "We'll be going then." He looked back, "See you in the morning, Sugar Petal."

Michael watched them. Then he raised his hand and formed a fist.

Ichiro was fast, quickly grabbing her and pinning her over the log.

Michael was pleased she wasn't fighting back. She didn't even cry out.

"Sooo," Michael grinned walking over. "A little birdy told me you've been eating bugs." He looked down at the log. "And from the look of things, you've gotten them from this old tree." He suddenly lunged across the log and grabbed her face over her mouth, squeezing tightly until he thought he felt the teeth break.

"Are you fucking insane!?" Michael shouted inches from her face. "Do you know how much mold and parasites you've eaten?! Huh?! Huh?!" He let go of her mouth and grabbed her hair, wringing it as tight as possible. Small chunks of hair pulled away from her scalp. "Answer me!"

Sugar Petal tried to speak, but her words did not come out right.

"Do you have something in your mouth?! Do you have something in your MOUTH?!"

Michael put her into another headlock and forced his fingers into her mouth. He left something lying over her tongue and yanked it out. He felt two pops and Sugar Peal started screaming.

Michael suddenly noticed the plastic feeling in his hand. He glanced down and immediately realized he was holding part of a denture. He threw it away before anyone else could get a good look.

"What else do you have to eat? Throw it up now!" Ichiro shouted, pinning her to the log.

"I haven't eaten anything!"

"Then what was in your mouth!"

"My—"

"Sam! Get over here!" Michael cut her off.

Sam peaked out from behind the tree.

"Now!" Michael ordered.

Sam slowly came out and walked over. The betrayal of Sugar Petal's face broke his heart.

"Bring her around," Michael ordered, motioning with his hand.

Ichiro brought her around the log. Michael grabbed one arm and forced it behind her back. He nodded to Ichiro and he took the other arm.

Sam finished walking up.

"Sam, punch her in the stomach."

"What?!"

"Ever heard of the Heimlich? Hurry up."

"But that's for choking!"

"Yeah, and in every movie and show we've all ever watched, a gut punch makes the person puke," Michael lectured him. "Now hurry up! You do not want to know what I pulled from her mouth."

Sam turned pale and was visibly shaking to the point he struggled to form his fist. He closed his eyes and punched her.

"Harder, you dumb ass. She didn't even flinch."

Sam hit her again. Then a third time.

Ichiro suddenly let go and shoved Sam out of the way.

Then he hit her so hard even Michael was forced back.

Sugar Petal heaved over. Then spit something out of her mouth.

"There," Michael said, tossing her to the ground coughing. He grabbed her again, lifting her head. "NEVER, eat ANYTHING again without our approval. We don't want our little Sugar poisoning yourself, now do we?"

Michael nodded towards Ichiro and pointed with his thumb towards the beach.

Ichiro grabbed her, pulled her to her feet and pushed her ahead of him.

Michael put his hand on Sam's arm. "Problem solved, for now. Let's go back and we'll deal with this in the morning."

Sam nodded, barely moving his head and walked off.

Once Sam was away, Michael knelt down. In the debris where she had thrown up was another piece of denture. Realizing they had been tricked, but unable to reveal his own actions, Michael kicked it into the underbrush and stomped after them.

"I'll deal with you tonight," he thought.

At the ATV track, the crews were watching what happened on a tablet.

"Do her partials count as replaceable items?" one field producer asked.

"We'll check their condition in the morning," the lead said. "Right now, let's go grab the head cam you left in the bush."

Later…

It was dark, the only light was the rising moon's residual reflection in the water as it had yet to crest above the trees and hillside.

Becky had woken up and was climbing over everyone.

"What the fuck Becky? Geez." Sam said.

"I have the shits move it," she said loudly.

Everyone woke up for that and quickly got out of her way.

Michael then got comfortable again. "The bitch can sleep outside. I'm not getting up again…"

An out of place sound was beating against Sam's brain, trying to rouse him from his deep sleep. He slowly opened his eyes and found everyone else stirring as well.

"What the fuck is that?" Lisa yawned.

"AAAAAAA! Oe-halmi! Oe-halmi!"

"That Sugar-chan?" Ichiro asked.

"Where's Becky?!" Everyone said almost simultaneously. They got tangled in each other trying to get out from under the tarp.

"Geuge nae halmeoniya! Geuge nae halmeoniya!"

"Where are they?" Sam asked, standing.

"It's too dark. I can't see a thing," Lisa said.

"Becky!" Michael shouted. "Where ever you are fucking stop it!"

"Is that a real KNIFE?! Get away from me you crazy bitch!"

"Geuge nae halmeoniya!"

"I'll burn you! I'll burn you, you crazy bitch!"

"There!" Hassim pointed at the waving light in the dark. "There's a moving light on the cliff!"

"Oh Fuck!" Everyone ran over to the cliff face.

"Hassim! Michael! Get me up there!" Ichiro ordered. "Cup your hands! Lift me up!"

"I'm going around!" Sam ran for the trees.

Hassim cups his hands. Michael copied.

Ichiro backed up then ran at the cliff.

"Oh, shit…" Michael flinched and backed up as Ichiro leapt at him.

Ichiro placed his foot onto Hassim's hands, but without the extra lift, Ichiro lost momentum and only managed to pull the tall plants and loose soil from the top of the cliff. He slid down.

"Michael!" Hassim shouted.

"I didn't know he was going to run at me!"

"I almost got my knee over," Ichiro said. "If those plants hadn't pulled loose, I could have made it. A little higher. Come on Michael."

"Ok, I'm ready this time," Michael got back in position.

"You little BITCH! I'll teach you for trying to stab ME!"

The plants rustled as suddenly Sugar Petal flew a full story below impacting the shallow sand with a deafening thud.

She laid on her back…

Unmoving.

The men and Lisa cried out to their deities as they ran over.

"Is she breathing?" Lisa asked.

"Don't move her neck!" Hassim told Ichiro as they knelt next to her.

"Yeah that's right you stupid bitch!"

They all looked up at Becky.

"I just Sparta kicked yo ho ass!" She disappeared from the edge.

"BECKY! YOU GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!" Michael screamed at the top of his lungs.

"I'm coming!" Becky shouted. "The steps are at the waterfall!"

Michael suddenly chuckled. They glanced up at him and saw him bent over with his hand on his face. Lisa immediately went over to him. She gently touched his shoulders and lifted him up.

Lisa froze and took a small step back.

Michael latched onto her shoulders. He dug his fingers into her flesh.

"Does Becky's family know the Briefs?" he whispered darkly. "Is this whole fucking thing some conspiracy to make me look bad?"

"What? No. No, Michael," Lisa hesitantly put her hands back on his shoulders. "Everything is going to be fine. This has nothing to do with you, just calm down. Everything is going to be fine. This has nothing to do with you…"

Suddenly Sugar Petal shifted and moaned.

"Sugar Petal, don't move," Hassim and Ichiro said at once.

She began to cry. "Oe-halmi… Oe-halmi…"

"Sugar Petal, what happened up there?" Hassim demanded. "Before Becky gets down here."

"Oe-halmi… Oe-halmi…"

"Sugar Petal…"

Ichiro pushed Hassim aside to look directly at her face. "Sugar-chan. Sugar-chan. (Do you understand me?)

Sugar Petal shifted her eyes "(what?)"

"That was Japanese," Ichiro said eagerly. "(Sugar-chan, what happened?)"

"(She killed Oe-halmi… We were talking… She killed Oe-halmi…)"

"(What are you talking about? You were alone?)"

Sugar Petal grimaced and rotated her shoulder. "Butsudan, Ichiro!"

Lisa and Michael turned as Sugar Petal started to thrash.

"Bon! Bon! Bon! Bon! Bon!" she screams over and over.

Ichiro climbed on top of her to pin her down. "(Don't move! I understand you. I understand you. Rest. Rest. O-hami is not harmed. O-hami is not harmed. Calm. Rest Calm. Rest.)

"Okay…" she said in English.

"Becky has a knife!" They heard Sam scream from the forest. "A real life metal pocket knife!"

Becky emerged from the forest with Sam not far behind.

Becky held the knife in front of her as she stomped forward, "Where's that bitch who tried to cut me?!"

Before anyone else could react, Ichiro leapt to his feet and rushed her. The tussle was over nearly instantly as he threw her to the ground and took the blade.

He glanced at it briefly, just enough to make out how fold the blade. Before he wound up, and pitched it into the dark ocean.

"Why did you do that?!" Becky screamed. "Now there's no proof she tried to shank me!" She began standing.

"Ichiro, don't," Hassim grabbed him when he raised his fist.

Ichiro looked over his shoulder.

Hassim frantically shook his head.

"Grandmother…"

They turned and saw Sugar Petal limply standing. She raised her head defiantly. "You destroyed my Grandmother."

"Bitch you're crazy!" Becky shouted.

"Everyone shut up!"

Everyone turned to Michael.

He unsheathed his machete and pointed at the shelter with. "Camp now!"

Sam, Ichiro and Hassim gently help Sugar Petal into the cool sand behind the shelter. She was out like a light before her head hit the sand. Lisa got the fire up again while Michael trapped Becky in the shelter with his body and machete blocking escape.

The three men came and joined the circle.

"Okay…" Michael sighed. "We know Becky's side of things, obviously," he glared at Ichiro. "Now what was all that about? What did she say that made you attack Becky like that?"

"Becky destroyed a Butsudan. An altar souls visit. Bon is like the Japanese version of your Day of the Dead," he looked at Sam. "From the movie Coco my kids like."

"I'm not Spanish or Catholic," Sam said. "We don't do those pagan, voodoo holdovers."

"But still Christian," Ichiro corrected.

"Ok, no Evangelical nonsense. We're not going to poke at anyone's religion. We've dealt with enough bull crap."

"I haven't poked anyone's religion," Sam protested.

"Would you have honestly said 'Pagan, Voodoo holdovers' if a Latino person was here?"

"I…" Sam paused. He hung his head. "I'm sorry."

"Good." Michael's glare turned back to Ichiro.

"But Sugar Piss isn't Japanese!" Becky protested.

"Every Buddhist nation has the same traditions, just different names and dates. We were speaking Japanese, so she used Japanese."

"And why were you speaking Japanese?!"

"Because she wasn't responding to English," Hassim interrupted, "And we don't speak Korean." He looked at Ichiro, "but they both know Japanese. That was quick thinking, thank you."

Ichiro nodded.

Michael sighed, "I wouldn't thank him yet. You know you literally threw our chance to get Sugar Petal out of here into the ocean? Violence is allowed but she obviously stole that knife from somewhere. She could have been out of here first thing in the morning if you hadn't let your emotions get the better of you."

"But we could still tell them," Sam said hopefully. "And she could actually see a doctor."

Michael shook his head. "Like Becky said. There's no proof. We could all be pulling it out of our collective asses to try and get her to a doctor after that fall for all they know. It's not like anything is on camera or there's any non-biased witnesses."

"Oh, Kami! I really did screw up," Ichiro put his head in his hands and shook it. "I'm so sorry, Michael."

Michael relaxed his face, "Nothing anyone can do now. Let's just get back to bed." He looked over his shoulder, "And sleep! For real this time!"

He looked back at everyone, "Pile in the shelter, don't let her out."

"Even Hassim?!"

"Yes, even Hassim! I'm on the outside tonight!"

"It's ok," Hassim said, "I can stay out with Sugar—"

"Hassim," Michael interrupted, gesturing the machete at him, "We've talked about this before."

Hassim's voice caught in his throat. He hung his head, "Ok… but I want at least two people between me and Becky."

"Ok, Sam, Ichiro, sandwich Becky. Lisa next to Ichiro, Hassim at the entrance."

Everyone muttered in agreement and crawled inside.

Michael put his hand on Hassim's arm before he laid down. "Keep you back to the outside," he smiled, "Help make a nice windbreak for Lisa since I'm not there."

"How gentlemanly of you," he said sarcastically. But obeyed.

Michael laid down in the sand, and waited.

The moon was over the beach when Sugar Petal was shaken awake.

"Hello cupcake," Michael grinned.

Sugar Petal winced as she rolled over to sit up.

"Shhhh." Michael put his finger to his lips. Then he grinned, opening his fingers. The string she had worked on earlier dangled free. "Give me your hands."

Michael tied her up and led her into the woods out of sight of the moon. He found a large tree and tied her hands above her head. He walked back in front of her.

Sugar Petal lifted one of her legs.

"Since when have I asked that from you? Put your leg down."

She obeyed.

"You've been a very bad girl, Sugar Petal," he shook his head slowly, tsking at her like a small child. "You tried to hurt someone today. You know better." He raised his hands and made a show of taking his ring off his pinky. "Don't want any markings now."

The second the ring was off his finger, he punched her in the stomach.

She winced, but made no sound.

"Good, little cupcake," he grinned viciously. "No screaming now."

He punched her slowly at first, letting each impact settle in before the next. But after the first wince, he got no reaction.

Sugar Petal stood there motionless with her eyes closed and a smile on her face, the epitome of every oblivious anime character ever drawn.

It was driving him nuts.

He began hitting harder and faster to no effect. It wasn't until the third roundhouse kick that she gasped and leaned forward.

"There…" Michael said panting, "There you little bitch. What do you think of that?"

Sugar Petal straightened herself and stood tall to his ever-growing fury.

Then of all things, she started to sing.

Sugar Petal was singing softly, so she wasn't trying to get attention. She tilted her head back and forth between her raised shoulders. It wasn't in English and had a rhyme to it.

After staring blankly for a while, Michael stormed off deeper into the trees.

She stopped singing and took a breath. She could hear the machete ripping into a nearby tree.

She knew what was going to happen next.

She thought of the prison camp turned orphanage in the old North. Where in the winter after the children had cleared away the snow in the courtyard with their hands, they would be tied to old poles and drenched in ice water. They were made to sing old songs to a dead dynasty and if their voices shivered or chattered, they were beaten while still expected to sing flawlessly. Those that fainted were dowsed again left hanging outside overnight.

Sugar Petal locked her knees and twisted the loose ropes tight around her wrists.

"Oe-halmi, hold me up!" she prayed in her head.

Michael returned with the fresh branch he had cut.

"You…" he growled. "Need to be taught how to respect and obey a man!" he shouted, too blind to care about anything else.

He swung hard.

Sugar Petal began to sing and bob her head again.

Michael kept swinging and swinging. But Sugar Petal was unphased.

"It's like I'm not even touching her," Michael thought, consumed in the repeating rhythm.

Michael finally lost all his senses as he whaled on her like a pinata.

It wasn't until he slowed from shortness of breath that he realized she had stopped singing at some point. He looked at her face.

Sugar Petal was standing taller and prouder than her 4'8" frame should have let her. Her head was nestled against her raised shoulder frozen in mid-beat. Her eyes were closed and she smiled her oblivious anime smile.

A perfect moonlit doll.

Her porcelain skin was only broken by what was going to be a clear handprint over her mouth and cheek by morning.

He needed to fix that.

He began taking off his shirt, then stopped.

Michael opened her mouth. He felt immediately that all of her teeth were fake. He felt the smooth metal balls coming from her gums. Then he pulled on her top front teeth.

They came off with a quick pop. Seeing the ball and socket joints holding them in, he quickly removed her lower front teeth and her remaining two molar sets.

He put them in his pants pocket with his ring, then turned his shirt inside out and wrapped his hand with it.

He wasn't going to make the mistake of leaving evidence this time.

In the video room, the editors were crying as they worked. Tying her to that particular tree had saved them most of the visuals, but the sound had grown too much and they had cut the live feed hours ago.

They did not envy the poor bastards back home who would need to edit it for broadcast.