Disclaimer: I really don't own any of the stuff from Survivor or Dark Castle films! Really! Why won't you believe meeee? Pauses for dramatic effect Oh, fine, so I'm no actress. I'm just the same poor Canadian girl I was in the beginning of this fic. I'll just get on with it then, shall I?
A/N: Sorry this has taken so long. When I started this fic, it was with a vow that I would never just stop writing without notice as many other authors do. But alas I have had cause to break that promise to myself and to you, dear readers. So I apologize and will now continue on with the next exciting edition of Dark Castle Survivor! A super long one at that, to make up for the wait.
Chapter 4: Challenges
The first night on the Dark Isle was an awkward one for the red tribe. Jack and the women finished building a suitable shelter: it wasn't much, but it would hold out the rain and wind. They hoped. The fire was started with the small supply of matches they had been provided with, and the five of them huddled around it while the shadows of the island grew longer.
'They almost seem to take on their own life,' Sara Wolfe thought with a shiver as she shimmied closer to the fire on her driftwood seat. The thought brought back memories of the past night, when she had barely escaped from the real shadow creature in the old insane asylum. Once again, she wished Eddie was there. She had really grown close to him in their perilous struggle for their lives, and it would be nice to have him there for moral support.
Still, she had to admit that what she had was better than nothing. Melissa was there, and Jack, Kalina and even Maggie were friendly enough. She felt fairly certain that there was an alliance between the five of them, but she could never be sure.
Across the fire, Kalina did her very best to cuddle closer to Jack while Jack, very much aware of her advances, went along with it dutifully. Kalina struck Sara as the type of person that she wouldn't get along with on a regular basis; one of those women who simpered and bowed to those she thought might help her get ahead.
And then there was the other pair, who had managed to start their own fire some way down the beach. Dodge and Murphy had kept to themselves the whole day, making it very clear that anyone who associated with Jack was their enemy by default. Sara wasn't quite sure what to think about those two, but if push came to shove she could probably make it into their good graces somehow…
Finally, there was Steven Price to consider. The man was a leech, a parasite, and a slimy one at that. Sara had no respect for the man and intended to get him off this island in one way or another as soon as possible. But that would have to wait until after their first challenge the next day…
At the black tribe's camp, night had fully set in. Dennis, Arthur, Epps, Katie and Watson all sat around their campfire deep in thought.
Well, Dennis was deep in thought anyway. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, with one problem stacked on top of another, and it was a wonder he could think anything at all.
Just when he had thought the troubles of his life were over, here he was stuck with a bunch of strangers on a deserted island. The only thing that kept him from stabbing himself with the group's machete was a miracle he had discovered while putting the finishing touches on their shelter a few hours earlier. He had been fastening some palm fronds onto the roof when Epps had brushed by him for some reason. Too slow to get away, Dennis had braced himself for the pain that would accompany her touch…
But nothing had happened. She had brushed by him, their shoulders bumping, and there was no pain, no visions. Nothing. And now that he was aware of it he realized that Katie, who was a ghost, had been around him all day. Even the times when she had been really close, her presence hadn't bothered him at all! And that had got him thinking: Katie didn't even look like a ghost! She looked perfectly solid and opaque, as did Francesca.
Even now, sitting staring at the fire hours later, Dennis marveled in his newfound freedom. He supposed that when that Hekasha woman had brought them to the island she had relieved them of any serious advantages/disadvantages that could affect the game. Dennis didn't have any reason to like Hekasha, but he was grateful for that at least. And that also meant that she hadn't been bluffing about the grand prize: that wish…
Of course, Dennis would wish for life without his curse. And being here on this island uninhibited by it was almost torture: he knew what it was like to live normally. If he got killed again on this island, he would never forgive himself. Now more than ever he had to win.
Taking a stick to poke at the fire, Dennis looked around the fire at the four people he was allied with. Would he be willing to do anything, even kill them, for the chance to live free of the curse which had bound him his entire life?
The question lingered in his mind, impossible to answer…or was it?
The next day dawned sunny and clear, with tiny clouds drifting in the pale morning sky.
Sean Murphy groaned and held his aching back as he tried to sit up; he wasn't as young as he used to be. He and Dodge had opted not to sleep in the little bamboo shelter with the rest of their tribe last night, preferring to face the elements than to sleep within twenty feet of that murdering bastard Ferriman and the little harem he had collected. The pair had taken shelter at the edge of the woods, on a bed of ferns.
It had taken a while for them to get to sleep, even though none of the participants had slept the night before. The haunting noises and flitting shadows the island sported at night hadn't helped, but apparently Murphy had managed to fall asleep. He finally succeeded in pushing himself upright, fighting the twinges of protest in his spine.
On his left, Murphy felt an echoing groan as Dodge, his newest and most promising shipmate, also sat up. The blonde man had ferns and twigs in his hair and stuck to his clothing, and possessed the dazed look of someone who had not gotten enough sleep.
Murphy was about to open his mouth to ask when the younger man had fallen asleep, when they both jumped at the sound of a loud bullhorn crackling to life.
"ATTENTION, YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!" came a magnified voice from the direction of the water. Both Murphy and Dodge swung their heads around sharply to see a small rowboat heading toward their beach. Standing at the prow like some dark masthead was that woman Hekasha, dressed in the same black dress and cape she had worn two nights ago. Against that positively medieval backdrop, Murphy thought the bullhorn she had raised to her lips looked a bit silly.
Now that he looked in the direction of the water, Murphy also noticed that the rest of his tribemates were already awake and had a fire started. Well, most of them were there. Steven Price, as usual, was nowhere to be seen. By the time Hekasha had reached shore and was being helped from the boat by a black-clad oarsman, Price had skulked out of the greenery to join them all in seeing what the hell was going on.
Striding – no, Murphy thought, gliding – up the beach toward the fire, Hekasha smiled her brightest smile, which had the effect of making her look even madder. She beamed around at the tribe as if she was the queen and they her subjects, then announced in a loud ringing voice:
"I see you've settled in nicely. Good, good. That means you're ready for your first group challenge, to be held today at the communal beach at precisely 11:00 a.m. Does one of you have a watch? Excellent. That gives you two hours. By the way, from now on, you will receive notice of challenges via our 'tree mail' system. All messages will be left in the pouch attached to that tree."
Hekasha pointed one long, black-nailed finger in the direction of a palm tree, to which the tribe could see a small leather pouch attached.
"The way to the communal beach is outlined on your map," Hekasha continued after a breath, "Be sure to wear something that you don't mind getting wet in. See you at eleven!"
With that, Hekasha turned and swept back down the beach, got into the rowboat, and slowly disappeared into the early morning fog.
Stunned silence reigned until it was broken by a heavy sigh from Melissa Marr, who looked down at herself despairingly.
"But what I'm wearing is all I have! I can't get any of it wet!"
Arthur Kriticos cleared another big rock, moving as swiftly as possible after Epps, Watson and Dennis, who were leading the way to the communal beach. Beside him, struggling because of her stunted height, was Katie. The rest of the tribe trailed far behind them.
Arthur and the members of his alliance had gone to bed early the night before, not having slept for almost 48 hours. But sleep had been long in the coming, as shadows roamed the beach and loud, haunting noises had drifted to them from the forest.
As Arthur heaved himself over another boulder, he wondered where his kids were right now. Kathy and Bobby had always been resourceful, and after their mother had died they realized they would have to take care of themselves when Arthur was at work. Feeling guilty, Arthur had hired Maggie to help out, but now…
Now, after a night of sheer hell in that ghostly glass house, his kids were suddenly more alone than ever. What were they thinking? Where had they gone? Were they safe? What if one of those ghosts had come back and…
Forcing his thoughts away from horrible mental images, Arthur simply remembered the vow he had taken yesterday with himself. He would return to his kids no matter what, and that meant surviving- and winning – this game. And there was that wish to think about once he had won. He knew exactly what he would wish for: his family back. His wife back. To go back to the way it was before. After finally seeing his wife put to rest two nights ago, he missed her somehow more than ever.
Arthur's thoughts were jarred abruptly back to the present when Katie nudged him in the ribs.
"We're here," she whispered in that spooky childlike voice.
Arthur looked around and realized that they were indeed at the communal beach. Two big bamboo mats, one black and one red, had been laid out on the sand a ways up the beach. Two similarly coloured log platforms drifted a hundred meters or so out in the water. Between the platforms and the beach were half a dozen unlit torches poking out of the waves.
Epps, Dennis and Watson were already heading up the beach for the black mat, and as Arthur watched, the red tribe approached from the opposite side of the beach and went for the red mat.
By the time Arthur and Katie had reached the mat, Evelyn and Francesca had come into sight, bitching and whining as usual. Behind them stalked Cyrus Kriticos, Arthur's mad uncle. Arthur was glad Cyrus had stayed clear of camp, because if Arthur had spent any prolonged period of time around the old man he would have killed him yet again. Even now, he clenched his fists and exchanged a look with Dennis, who also looked murderous.
Before anything could be said, there was a loud CRACK and Hekasha appeared out of nowhere. She had visited the black tribe's camp this morning as well, and made the same announcement. Now she stood before them, the same belittling smile on her face, and addressed them all.
"Well, I see you've all made it. I trust you all slept well last night?"
She gazed around at them all, but when nobody answered she went on, "Well I hope so, because today's challenge requires physical strength and endurance. The challenge begins here. On my word, your tribe will run down the beach and swim for the platform in your tribe's colour. You must then dive under your platform, where you will find four treasure boxes with ropes tied around them, anchoring your platform to the seabed. They each have a combination lock on them, the combinations for which can be found written on the boxes. Unlock each box and untie them from the anchor ropes. Also, you must retrieve the match inside each box. Only one of the four matches is waterproof and will therefore be the only one of any use to you. Once you have successfully unlocked all four boxes, the platform will be moveable. One of you must light the torch on the platform and as you move down the line of torches each one must be lit in order. If one goes out you must relight it. The challenge is won when your platform and every member of your tribe are back here on these mats. Is that all clear?"
There were a few moments of silence before the shouting began.
"That's impossible!" yelled Kalina.
"You cannot possibly expect me to swim around in this!" exclaimed Francesca, motioning to her form-fitting red gown.
"I won't do it!" cried Steven Price.
"ENOUGH!" screamed Hekasha, stunning them all into silence, "I told you all to wear something you wouldn't mind getting wet in, but I see now that that isn't possible." She looked around at the unsuitable attire her charges wore and for a moment the proud look on her face fell. But a moment later her smug expression returned.
"I'm afraid that I've forgotten something," she said, almost apologetically, "I knew you'd be arriving with only the clothes on your back, and I merely forgot to give you the spares…"
At that, Hekasha waved her hand and a rather large pile of clothing appeared on the sand in front of her. Also, she now held one handful of black material and one of red material.
"First off, these are your buffs. They are to be worn for all challenges and tribal councils, and any other time you are required to appear with your tribe."
She tossed the handful of black material in Arthur's direction and the red material in the direction of the other team. Arthur caught Maggie's eye and tried to smile.
"Now, for the rest. Swimwear…"
The pile in front of Hekasha got slightly smaller and Arthur suddenly held a pair of new-looking blue swimming shorts. All the other contestants had noticed the same thing.
"Underwear…"
This next handout was greeted with much blushing but a great deal of relief, and finally…
"And others."
A small pile had now accumulated in front of Arthur, including a few t-shirts, shorts, cool cotton pants and sandals. The same sort of pile, in varying sizes and styles, rested on front of all of his tribemates.
"There! Now that's settled, you have five minutes to change for the competition." Hekasha said, turning away. Arthur wondered if that meant casual dismissal or if she felt she was giving them privacy. Catching the mild grin on her face, Arthur wondered how much privacy anyone truly enjoyed on this godforsaken island…
When everyone was more or less ready, Hekasha reassembled her charges on their mats. They all wore swimwear of varying colour, size and style, some of them with t-shirts or shorts as well. And they all wore their buffs in assorted creative ways as expected.
'Excellent," said Hekasha, "Now we're ready to begin. I will keep up a running commentary for your benefit and that of the viewers throughout the challenge. Now. On your marks, get set…"
The survivor contestants had by now assumed a stance of readiness to bolt down the beach, each with determination on their faces.
"GO!" she cried, and started up her commentary.
"The red tribe gets off to an early lead, the black tribe held up by Fran and Evelyn, who seem to be blatantly refusing to move. Remember, everyone, your entire tribe must participate fully in the challenge!
The red tribe is in the water, and Jack and Dodge are in the lead. It seems the two are racing each other, not the other team, but hey, whatever works.
The black team is finally all in the water, and expert swimmer Epps is making up for the lost time.
Dodge and Jack have already reached the platform and are diving for the boxes while the rest of the red tribe catches up. Sara is now going for the third red box.
Epps has made it to the black platform, closely followed by Katie, Watson and Dennis. Arthur is behind them and Fran, Evelyn and Cyrus are taking up the rear for the black tribe. Epps has gone under and Dennis is getting ready to dive as well.
Jack has just come up with the first match for the red tribe, and Dodge has come up for air after unsuccessfully trying to open his box, and has gone under for another try. Sara has been under a while now, and there goes Jack to see what's taking her so long. Meanwhile, Maggie has gone for the fourth box.
On the black side, Fran and Evelyn have climbed up on the platform to wait with Cyrus. Arthur has tried twice but can't seem to find the breath to unlock his box. Here comes Epps with the first match, and Dennis is up with the second. That puts black in the lead as Katie goes for the third box and Watson for the fourth.
Back to red. Kalina, out of breath, has climbed up on the platform, as has Steven. Murphy is swimming around, looking confused, and Dodge is up with the second match. Sara, who almost drowned herself in the process, is up with the third match. Maggie is still under unlocking the fourth.
Black tribe now, Arthur has climbed up on the platform and is trying to light the torch with Dennis' match. Here comes Katie with the third match, but it looks like Watson couldn't unlock his, He's back under for another try. Looks like the first couple of matches didn't work, and they're trying the third…nope, looks like they have to wait for Watson's.
And on the red tribe, Melissa is on the platform trying the matches. First didn't work, second didn't work, third…AHA! The third one worked, but they still have to wait until Maggie unlocks the fourth box. AND HERE SHE IS! The team is yelling at her to drop the match and help them move the platform.
Back to the black tribe, where Watson has finally come up with the final match. Arthur lights the torch and they're on their way. Remember, all six torches must be lit, in order, from the torch on the platform. If the torch on the platform goes out, they must relight it from one of the burning ones, thus losing valuable time.
The red tribe has all gone back in the water and are helping move the platform, save for Sara, who is lighting the first torch. There it goes, and on to the second.
The black tribe is having a bit more trouble, as Fran and Evelyn still refuse to get off the platform. Katie, the lightest of them, is also on the platform, and has lit the first torch.
The red tribe has already lit their second torch, and is almost to the third. Alright, they've lit the third torch.
Black tribe is lighting their second, they've got to really work to catch up to the red tribe. It looks like Watson is really out of breath after that last box, and he's dragging them down.
Red tribe, Maggie and Murphy are both looking extremely fatigued. But they've got their fourth torch lit. Melissa is climbing up beside Sara now, who is looking quite pale and seems unable to hold herself upright any longer. That added weight might slow them down, but will it be enough for the black tribe to catch up?
On the black side, the third torch has been lit. A burst of speed from Epps and Dennis has got them to the fourth and it's…lit! Arthur and Watson are not looking so good, hopefully they can make it.
The red tribe has lit their fifth torch, only one to go. Fatigue is setting in, though, and Sara appears to have swallowed more salt water than it seemed at first, as she appears to be unconscious. Melissa is trying to revive her and Maggie has climbed up onto the platform to light the final torch.
The fifth black torch is lit and Cyrus, Arthur and Watson are leaning on the platform more than pulling it. Expert swimmer Epps and long-legged Dennis are pulling most of the weight here, but no, Katie and Arthur have switched places. Katie's young legs provide a burst of speed, and the last torch is a few feet away…
But the red tribe has already lit their last torch, and is almost to the beach! Everyone has piled off the platform except for Sara, who still appears to be out of it. They're all very tired, and are dragging the platform up the beach at a snail's pace.
And the black tribe has their last torch lit, and is now struggling through the shallows to the beach. Nobody is left on the platform, and even Fran and Evelyn are helping carry it. The added strength might just win them the challenge, but no, the red tribe has taken heart and is practically running up the beach! Oh no, Kalina's tripped. Remember, all tribe members must be on the mat for a victory to be achieved.
The black tribe is sprinting for it, but the red tribe's former lead is too great. THE RED TRIBE HAS REACHED THE MAT! Come on Kalina! That's it! They're all there! The red tribe had won the first challenge of Dark Castle Survivor!"
At Hekasha's words, the black tribe dropped their platform amid loud cursing and swearing. They had been so close!
Back up at the red tribe's mat, Hekasha was in the midst of handing them the immunity idol, a snarling black gargoyle (like in the Dark Castle logo, of course).
The entire tribe was jumping up and down with excitement, except for Sara, who was being examined by Hekasha. Straightening with a sigh, Hekasha simply whacked the young woman in the midriff, causing her to choke up a lungful of salt water. Sara choked and coughed until most of it was expelled, and upon learning that her tribe had won immunity managed a weak grin. Most of the rest of the red tribe had also collapsed to the sand, panting and utterly exhausted. But they were safe, at least for a few more days.
"You know what that means, black tribe," Hekasha sang, pleased no end that the first challenge had gone off without the slightest hitch, "You are to join me at tribal council tonight. The way to tribal council is also on your map of the island, and you're expected there by the time it's fully dark. I suggest you head back now and begin to discuss who is getting voted out of your tribe tonight. As for the red tribe, you may take your immunity idol and extra clothing and return to your beach."