"So who do you think it is?" Geoff asked Duncan that night in the cabin.
"I dunno man," Duncan replied. "I don't care that much."
"Mine's Bridgette," Geoff sighed dreamily. "I'm sure of it."
"If you say so," Duncan chuckled.
"I can't wait to figure out who mine is," Harold informed them. "No one asked you, dorkwad," Duncan snorted. "You guys are so lucky," DJ said with a sigh. "I don't have my mark yet."
"Lucky?" Duncan repeated incredulously. "This thing is a curse," he said, gesturing to the winding lines on his chest. "How so?" DJ enquired.
"It's just this burden of a mark that some chick will eventually use an excuse as to why I can't leave her," he scoffed. "Who wants to be tied down like that?" he shook his head as he slipped into bed. "Maybe you're right," DJ considered Duncan's words.
"You're pathetic Duncan, true love could be just a cabin away and you're too afraid to reach for it," Harold said knowingly.
"If you don't shut up I'm going to shove my fist down your throat, got it?" Duncan threatened. Harold gulped, sliding under his covers and shutting his mouth in fear. "I dunno man, I reckon Harold could be right. My soulmate is waiting for me. I've just got to make her see me," Geoff said determinedly. "I'm pretty sure Lindsay's my soulmate," Tyler interjected.
"No one cares. Now go to sleep!" Duncan demanded. They turned out the lights and Duncan lay there in the dark, thinking about what Geoff and Harold had said. Sure, Duncan liked to talk big, but there was a part of him that really wanted to know who on the island was apparently his soulmate. He couldn't really remember which of the girls had had marks, but if Geoff and Tyler were right about theirs, that crossed out two of the hottest chicks on the island. He only wished he could pinpoint the exact moment the mark appeared. Why was there not some kind of burning or something to warn him it had appeared? His soulmate could be any of the girls. Not Lindsay or Bridgette, he thought. That leaves, Katie, Sadie, Courtney, Eva, Heather, Leshawna, Gwen, Izzy and Beth. As long as it wasn't Eva, he was pretty sure he'd be okay.
After the Awake-a-thon Duncan thought he had narrowed it down even further. He crossed Gwen off his list, because he could see her cosying up to Trent. He also crossed off Katie and Sadie because it appeared they were each others soulmates, though they'd never kissed so their marks were still black. He also decided it couldn't be Eva or Beth because frankly they were just too ugly. Eva went home that night anyway, as it became apparent that she was freaking insane.
It was the day of their third challenge and Courtney had successfully managed to avoid elimination for the second time. However, she was still no closer to figuring out who her soulmate was. She had really wanted to get rid of one of the boys, to narrow down the risk, but with Eva's terrible temper it was unanimous that she had to go. Note to self, Courtney told herself, do not lose your temper.
She had still yet to make any alliances and with her team's numbers slowly dwindling she was losing hope fast. It didn't help that the rest of her team were totally useless. Duncan was the only one on her team who'd come close to winning the last challenge, and now he'd decided he would rather have a little nap than play today's challenge. How is it people always seem to let you down when you need them the most?
Things were going terrible. Tyler had finally managed to get someone out, only to then immediately go out himself and then completely disappear! Where was he anyway? And how was it that someone as idiotic as Owen happened to be so good at throwing balls?
"Hey! How does it feel to suck so much?" Heather yelled from her team's side of the court.
"Not very good…" Harold replied sadly.
"It's not over yet!" Courtney yelled back, faking a confidence she didn't feel. They were so going to lose. Unless she came up with a plan, and fast. She glanced at Duncan. He had warned them not to wake him. But as much as she loathed to admit it, he may be the only one who could help them win this challenge. She just needed to get the rest of the team to agree to it, and then get someone to wake him up (she sure as hell wasn't going to do it) (not that she was scared of him) (she just didn't want to touch him).
"We need someone strong. Someone mean! Someone who will crush those lame-o Gophers into the dirt!" Courtney declared. She hated that she had to say these things about Duncan, but after all they were actually true. Especially if the way the rest of her team looked at his sleeping form after she'd finished was any indication. She managed to convince them that they needed to wake him up, but no one wanted to actually be the one to do it. She sighed as she suggested her next idea.
Duncan took a sip from the fruity cocktail he had in his hand. The sun was beating down on his face and he closed his eyes beneath his sunglasses, soaking up the rays.. He had won the hundred thousand dollars and was relaxing by a pool, totally alone, far away from that godforsaken island and the ridiculous people. Just the way he liked it. But then there was someone walking towards him. Great, just when he thought everything was perfect, someone had to come along and ruin it. But then again, he thought as he lowered his sunglasses to get a better look, he wasn't going to complain about the sexy bikini clad figure that approached him. Even if it happened to be that bossy know it all princess, Courtney. Wait, Courtney? But she was so irritating! She was hot though… especially now as she came towards him with seduction in her eyes and her hips swayed and she licked her lips. Duncan sat up when Courtney reached him, pulling his sunglasses from his face and squinting up at her.
"What are you doing here, princess?" he asked her.
"I think you know," she whispered back, smirking at him. Duncan's heart pounded and his breath caught in his throat as she sank her knees onto the pool lounger, between his legs, and leant in and started… poking him?
Poke, poke, poke. Duncan opened his eyes. He was half disappointed and half relieved that it had only been a dream, but he was one hundred per cent angry that someone had dared to wake him up. He snapped the stick that his so called team mates had woken him up with.
"You better have a really good reason for sticking this up my nose," Duncan said to Harold menacingly. He was the easiest target after all. But then the subject of his dreams barged in front of him, explaining that their team was losing and that they needed his help. Damn, why was this chick so hot? Keep it cool, Duncan, he told himself, Don't let her know what she does to you.
"Oh, and why should I help you, darling?" he sneered. Nailed it.
"Because, I can personally guarantee you, that if we lose this game, you'll be the one going home. Darling," she replied snarkily, her face inches from his. God, that was hot. Wait, no it wasn't. It was stupid and annoying and he was pretty sure he'd do anything she wanted him to. No! Ugh, what the heck. Alright, how to agree to this without making it look like she had any power over him. He paused for a moment like he was thinking about it.
"Fine, I'll play," he said with a sigh. Courtney smiled, obviously pleased at her victory. Stop doing that, Duncan thought as his stomach flipped over. What was happening to him? "On one condition," he continued, trying to ignore the weird feelings he was having, "you do what I say, when I say it." Courtney nodded. Well that was surprisingly easy.
He began informing the team about what their strategy was going to be, and his sudden weird infatuation with Courtney seemed to leave him as he got his head in the game. Why was he dreaming about Courtney anyway? She was more like a nightmare, honestly. Although it was pretty hot how competitive she was, and he was impressed at how well she threw the ball.
As it turned out, waking up Duncan turned out to be an excellent idea. They thrashed the Gophers in the next game and Courtney actually began to enjoy herself. During the next game she noticed Heather disappear and when she came back again she had a tragic looking Lindsay with her. Immediately noticeable were the marks on Lindsay's chest which were no longer black, but glowing red. Tyler walked in only a few seconds later. Courtney narrowed her eyes. It was obvious to her where he had Lindsay had been, and if she was right, his chest would be glowing too.
She confronted him about it angrily, but she wasn't totally sure if she was annoyed at him because he'd been with Lindsay or because he had found his soulmate and she still hadn't. After all, she knew really that Lindsay wasn't clever enough to get Tyler to spill all their teams weaknesses to her. She was the dumbest girl on the planet.
Courtney shook off her weird insecurities and thought about the positives. They were now even with the Gophers and whoever won the next game would win the challenge. And wouldn't have to send someone home. And Courtney very much intended for that team to be her team. Of course Harold wanted to play, but he was the worst. He'd done enough damage by snoring all night and keeping everyone awake. But then all of a sudden, he was standing there alone and he was their only hope. Courtney could hardly bare to watch.
Somewhow, Harold managed to catch the ball and get Owen out. The Bass had won their first challenge, and Courtney knew it was all thanks to her. She was finally proving that she was an asset to the team, instead of just continuously saying it. And now they didn't have to send anyone home. The Bass walked back to their cabins and Courtney looked over to see Duncan staring at her. She nodded at him, silently thanking him for helping their team win. He nodded back, a troubled look in his eye, like he was trying to solve a difficult problem, before turning away and heading into his own cabin.
Hey thanks for reading this story! If you haven't figured it out, this story will for the most part be following canon, with the exception of the marks. There will be some twists and turns though so it doesn't get too predictable ;)
Hope you enjoyed, please let me know what you think!
Also if you follow me, you may have noticed I've started writing for The 100 fandom as well, and if you don't watch that show I strongly suggest you do because it's amazing.
Love, Emily.