~NINE MONTHS AGO~
It was one of those annoying mistakes that happened to the average person at least a few times in their life time; but that didn't make it any less irritating. Lucky hadn't been paying attention, phone in one hand while he went to go throw out a paper plate with the other.
"Hey, Lucky? Got a sec?"
He looked up as his name was called, and that instant of distraction was all it took. Instead of day-old, slightly over-cooked nachos going in the trash, it was his phone. He immediately realized his mistake, sighing, eyes closed as he muttered, "god damn it."
His aunt poked her head into the kitchen at around this point, eyebrow raised in concern. "Everything alright?" She asked, watching in a mixture of surprise and disgust as Lucky set his plate on the counter, removing the garbage lid and hesitantly sticking a hand in. "What, uh... what are you doing?"
"Dropped my phone," Lucky muttered, entire body shuddering as he snaked his hand through, peering in. "And of course, now I can't find it."
"How did you manage that?"
"I don't know, Aunt Cheyenne, I really don't." His grimaced as he rummaged around, damn thing having gone deeper than he thought at first.
"Well, when you're done playing in the garbage, need your help out back," his aunt told him, crossing her arms. "Gotta start bringing the Christmas decorations in. John wants to start decorating early this year."
"Again? At least wait 'til past thanksgiving." Lucky grunted, peering into the can. "I am five seconds away from just dumping this thing on the floor. Thing just vanished on me."
"Lucky, I will pay you not to do that. Actually, no I won't. But you're getting my boot up your ass if you do."
"Yeah yeah. I think I got it." Lucky sighed in relief as he pulled his phone out, covered in gunk and grease. "And now this has to be bleached. Along with my hand. Great. Now what was that about Christmas decorations?"
"Told you. We're setting up early this year- clean out your ears. Have to haul in all the ornaments from the garage."
"Just when I thought I was done messing around in the dirt," Lucky muttered, turning to replace the garbage lid. That was went it caught his eye. All his sorting around brought an envelope up near the top of the trash. He couldn't make it all out, but he definitely saw his name- handwritten carefully along the center. That was certainly odd; he hadn't thrown out mail recently. Nor had he received any handwritten letters in... well, he wasn't sure he ever had, handwritten letters having gone the way of dinosaurs.
"You... throw something of mine out on accident?" Lucky asked curiously, reaching back in.
"What?" Cheyenne asked, sounding almost annoyed, before her eyes suddenly widened. "I, uh... what're you doing that for?"
"There's a letter in here, I think. I see my name on it. You accidentally toss something of mine?"
"No! Stop... stop playing around in the trash!" Cheyenne snapped, grabbing his arm. "I told you I need help in the garage, knock it off!"
"Alright, I'll help!" Lucky frowned, shaking her off. It wasn't like her to be this... pushy. "But there's only one Lucky who lives here. I just want to see-"
"NO!"
"What the hell is wrong?" Lucky demanded, pulling the letter out. "I just want... to see..."
Lucky scanned the back of the letter, heart moving to his throat when he looked at the sender. He looked from the letter, to his aunt, who stood in the doorway, tears in her eyes. He took a breath, feeling himself beginning to shake as his hand clenched the paper tightly. He looked back up, speaking slowly, deliberately.
"...Aunt Cheyenne. Why is my dad's name on this?"
~Present Day~
"Aw man, I'm beat!" Veronica yawned, stretching out. "I hate morning challenges. They're the worst- no time to sleep in."
The girl sat on deck surrounded by her friends- three of them, anyway, Miri, Johnny, and Deborah. It was after the morning's challenge, which was a bit rushed, Julie seeming... a little frazzled. Not that anyone really noticed.
"Didn't really bother you any though, did it, Johnny?" Veronica smirked. "Immunity at like, nine in the morning. I don't know how you do it."
"You say that like its not a normal time to get up," Deborah remarked, an amused smile on her face, Johnny just shaking his head.
"Pfft, maybe because its not?" Veronica huffed. "Anyone who wakes up before ten is probably a reptilian space monster, all I'm sayin'."
"Orrrr, or, you could just go to sleep sooner," Miri chimed in, playfully nudging her.
"Yeah, but, that's no fun. Besides, I was hanging out with Lucky all night at the clubhouse! You expect me to go to bed early?" She yawned. "No thanks. Too much cool stuff in there."
Miri rolled her eyes, leaning back remarking playfully, "Gee. You're making me a little jealous, here."
"Hey, you have nothing to worry about," Veronica assured her, smiling. "He isn't a girl, or named Jill Valentine. But really, we just hung out, played cards and watched movies."
"No drinking?" Johnny cut in suddenly.
Veronica turned to face him quizzically. "Uh, no. No drinking. I mean, aside from a few sodas. Why?"
Johnny shook his head, holding up a hand. "Nothing. Worry sometimes, that's all. I believe you."
Veronica just raised an eyebrow, confused, until Deborah cut in.
"If anything, I'm worried about, well... pretty much everyone." She subtly nodded toward the other side of the deck, where Alejandro, Tyler, Luna, and Finn were sat. "They've kind of been glaring daggers at us this whole time. Well, pretty much since that whole Katie thing."
"Well, last elimination was pretty... divisive..." Miri commented nervously. "It's us and them, now, isn't it?"
"Not much longer," Johnny frowned, leaning in. "Look. There's four of them. We vote off Alejandro tonight, then Tyler, Finn, Luna."
"That's... a little..." Deborah frowned, looking unsure.
"Harsh? Look. I don't like this kind of talk," Johnny told her, agreeing, "but if its us or them, well... I don't want to see any of y'all sent home."
"...I guess you're right," Deborah admitted with a sigh. "That's what these games come down to, isn't it? I don't WANT to vote off Luna, or Tyler, even if he is a bit of a doofus. But... someone's gotta go."
"That's the logical way of looking at it," Miri told her. "If it makes you feel better, there's a ninety percent chance they're discussing the same thing at the other table over there. We're all friends, we can't risk that."
"No, we- wait, we're all friends?" Deborah asked suddenly, a bit surprised.
"Uh... yeah. Why?" Miri asked. "Do you not..."
"No, no, I just- uh, I mean, of course we are! Just, tired, haha..." Deborah laughed nervously, turning a bit red. "I-"
"Oh, damn it!" Veronica shot out of her chair, groaning as she patted her pockets. "Guys, I'll be right back. I left my DS back in the clubhouse with Lucky. I better go run and get it- I'll be right back!"
~Nine Months Ago~
It had been a few days since Lucky found the letter, and in that time everything fell apart. That wasn't the first letter from his father, it turned out. When he confronted his aunt and uncle, they eventually confessed he had been receiving them for years, one every week. They intercepted them each time, thinking it was best Lucky not know his father had been released. Rehabilitated was the word they used. All Lucky heard was that they let the scum out early. That somehow, on the other side of the country, he was allowed to start over. No, he didn't get that. Lucky wasn't going to let him.
After days of arguing and pleading, Lucky gathered his savings and headed to the bus station, a trail set for California, where his father was living. There wouldn't be a happy ending for him. There would be no redemption story. Lucky wasn't going to allow that.
That was what led to where he was now- sitting on a bus, dressed in his trademark suit, hands clenched as he re-read the letter sent to him for the thousandth time, fuming. He wanted to tear it up and throw it out, but right now, at least until his job was done, he was content to just be alone and angry.
"Oh. My. God. Lucky?"
He sighed. Maybe just angry, then- he wasn't a major celebrity, but he was recognized now and then. He looked up in time to see a grinning young man wearing khakis and a blue collared shirt slip into the seat next to him.
"Oh my god, it is you! Dude, I'm such a huge fan!" He gushed, taking a minute to fix his shirt, combing back his short blonde hair with one hand. "Oh, this is such an honor. You were like, my favorite on Specter Islands! Well, one of them anyway. This is so awesome- hey, can I get your autograph?"
"...yeah, sure thing." Lucky folded up his letter, stuffing it into his suit pocket. "You got a pen or something?"
Immediately, the fan dug around in his pockets, pulling out a pen. "Wait, I have something... oh, man. No paper..."
"Well, sorry th-"
"Oh, here you go! Old receipt." He pulled a sheet of crumpled paper out of his pocket, smoothing it out and handing it to Lucky along with the pen. Lucky shook his head, somewhere between annoyed and amused, before scribbling his name and handing it back.
"Here you go."
"Hey, thanks man!" he took it gratefully, stuffing it back into his pocket, likely just as crumpled as before. "Man, I love that show. Must be fun going to all those different places. And the drama- you know, it made my grandma cry when you and Lance had your fight."
"Uh... sorry?"
"Nah, its fine, she cries a lot anyway. So whatcha doin'? On your way to film a movie or something?"
"Movie?" Lucky glanced up, slowly shaking his head. "No. Not filming anything."
"Oh, so just... travelling, then?"
"More like settling a score."
"Ohh!" the fan perked up, interested. "That's pretty foreboding and mysterious. Is it Lance? Quinn? Vevo?"
"No- none of them," Lucky muttered, crossing his arms and sitting back.
"So its like... so its like a personal thing, then?" The fan asked. "You have a lot of mysterious scores to settle, or...?"
"Nope. Just the one." Lucky gave a grunt, about done with the conversation. He glanced out of the window, sighing in relief and standing as he saw his stop approaching.
"Wait, is that your stop? Hold on a sec!" The fan stood, clearing his throat nervously. "I uh... look, truth is, I was looking to put in an app for Camp TV. Do you... do you have any advice?"
"Other than not to?" Lucky began to make his way out as the bus slowed down, but stopped, shaking his head when he saw the fan's disappointed face. "Look, just... be confident. Play a little bit dirty, they always look for that on shows like this. And hey, a snazzy suit never hurt anybody."
Lucky gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, before grabbing his bag and beginning to move past, stepping into the aisle.
"Hey, uh, thanks!" The fan called, waving as he headed off.
"No problem, pal," Lucky called back, holding up a hand.
"My name's Dane!" He gave a smile, looking down at his clothes, thinking. "Thanks again!"
~Present Day~
Lucky glanced up from his seat at the counter as he heard the door to the clubhouse creak open, but he didn't turn to look. He knew who it was.
"Hmm. Must be a nice little break you're having in here," Quinn remarked, crossing her arms. "I would have been the one in here, but you know. Someone stole my victory from me."
Okay, maybe Lucky didn't know who it was; he had been expecting Veronica, the one he had chosen to allow in with him. He swiveled around on his stool, glancing at Quinn warily, the girl leaning on one leg, looking at him.. suspiciously? Angrily? He couldn't read past her narrowed eyes. Angry maybe, but something seemed different.
"Well, hey. If you don't want things stolen, don't leave them lying around," Lucky said, leaning back on the counter. "Funny, I don't remember you being allowed in here."
"What. Gonna snitch on me?" Quinn scoffed.
"You gonna throw me off a bridge again?" Lucky retorted.
"Hey, I didn't throw you off that bridge. It just happened to fall at the wrong time. I didn't WANT to hurt you. That bad."
"...what do you want, Quinn?" Lucky sighed, slowly shaking his head.
"I don't know. To talk." Quinn slowly made her way to the counter, taking the seat next to him. "You owe me some answers."
"I... I owe you?" Lucky stared at her blankly, before beginning to laugh. "I owe you? That's... that's funny, Quinn. That's really-"
"No, I'm serious." Quinn grabbed him by the arm, yanking him around to face her. "Last elimination you had me dead to rights. You could have sent me home, but you didn't. I want to know why not."
Lucky snorted, turning back away. "What, you trying to say I made a mistake?"
"You're dodging the question."
Lucky gave another sigh, glancing back at her. "Look, I gave you a chance. Your info turned out to be good. I took a risk and it paid off. That's gambling, sweetheart."
"Sweetheart, huh? I thought that was your nickname for her." Quinn smirked, satisfied as Lucky visibly froze up.
"...slip of the tongue. I say it all the time."
"No you don't. You have your stupid little nicknames for everyone, and that was hers."
"Quinn, I don't know what straws you're grasping at, but whatever you think there is, you're wrong. You think, all that's happened..."
"You're talking with me, aren't you?" Quinn's smile faded, now sounding annoyed. "You saved me twice last challenge. You mean to tell me you've never gotten pissed at someone, lashed out?"
"You threw me off a goddamn bridge, Quinn!"
"I didn't throw you off shit!"
"Look, threw me off, fell off with me- you think for one second that that makes what you did, any of it, okay?" Lucky demanded. "Ignoring what happened with me, how about how you treated everyone else? The things you did?"
"I don't regret any of that! I'd do it again if I had to!" Quinn shouted, getting to her feet, Lucky following suit. "Look, I'm... I'm sorry, Lucky! I'm so. Sorry."
"...what?" Lucky tilted his head, shocked, Quinn sounding... genuine.
Quinn looked away, sighing. "I... I was pissed. Because maybe what I did to you was wrong. I should have known you wouldn't have eliminated her. But I wanted you to. Because I was sick of it."
"...sick of what, Quinn?"
"Of everything. Of people... pushing me away." She grabbed the counter, knuckles whitening. "Maybe the truth is, I make a lot of shit up. You said you heard me say some things the other day. I don't know what it was, but... truth is, the stuff I had to put up with wasn't what I claimed on the island. My dad just... fucked off one day. Left me at my own party. What kind of asshole does that, right? He couldn't... couldn't even use the old 'out for Chinese' excuse."
He stood, silent, letting her talk.
"But things... weren't so bad. I had a best friend, Amy. I didn't really have any other family. Hers took me in. They were... are... good to me. But once word got around why I was living with them...even my friends looked at me different. Like I needed pity. All those years, growing up with her... things changed. She was the popular one, I was the one getting detention for cutting classes. We got along, at least until sophomore year. That was when her cheerleaders friends said she couldn't keep hanging around with me. 'Oh, her? We aren't really friends. My parents keep her around because she can't go anywhere else.'"
Lucky's stomach practically dropped when he realized she was crying. She shouldn't be crying. It was Quinn; Quinn didn't cry, she beat people up. Crying wasn't a thing that should have been happening.
"Then at home... she acted like everything was fine. Told me it was just for show. I understood, right?" Quinn reached up, wiping her eyes. "Who does that for show, Lucky? Who does that to their sister? But I learned my lesson. Hurt people before they hurt you. I wanted you to get rid of Sunny, because... you were the only friend I had made in years, and I couldn't... I thought she'd get you to turn on me."
"...hurt her before she hurt you."
"...yeah. I'm... sorry-"
Lucky interrupted her, pulling her into a hug. It didn't occur to him that it could be a trick, knowing deep down that it wasn't- the feeling only amplifying when her lips found his. The kiss lingered a moment, before Quinn broke it off, not letting go. "You do care."
"A little."
"Bullshit."
She leaned in, kissing him again, briefly this time, before pulling away again. "Lucky... I want us to make the finals. Whoever wins, wins. But your friends are going to vote me off tonight."
Lucky pulled away, looking her over. "That's what this was about?"
"No- no, damn it!" Quinn crossed her arms, shaking her head. "No. This wasn't... I wasn't coming here for me. I meant what I said. I want you and me in the finals, but that's not what's going to happen. Not unless you work with me."
Lucky closed his eyes. Had he really just been duped? "So this was a trick."
"No, listen to me! Whatever just happened... even if it was heat of the moment, I don't care! I know you care a little bit, and that's good enough. Just... please." She grabbed his hand, looking up at him. "Don't make me let this go. Just... please. Give me a chance."
Lucky stared at her, before sighing, giving a nod. "Okay. Alright. Look, I'll talk to them. But you're right. They want you gone, and Alejandro and friends, well-"
"they want Miri," Quinn told him quickly. "They're going to try and vote off Miri at the next elimination."
"...how do you know-"
"I just know, alright? Look, they think she's the brains of everything. Since Johnny has immunity, they're going for her. They think if they take her out, there's no one smart enough left to go up against them, and Johnny can't keep winning-"
"But how do you know that?" Lucky repeated. "And why does that matter if there's only four of- Quinn, I want to trust you, but you're making this damn hard."
"I know, alright?" Quinn bit her lip nervously. "Just... look. I can explain later. I have a plan, I just need time to think. Worst case, if you let her take the fall-"
There was a squeak cutting her off. The door. Lucky spun around, eyes locking with Veronica. Judging by the wideness of her eyes and color of her face, she had been standing there a while.
"...kid." Lucky pulled away from Quinn, clearing his throat. "This ain't-"
He didn't have time to get anything else out before she spun around out the door, darting down the hallway.
"Damn it!" Lucky took off after her, heading for the door.
"Lucky, wait!" Quinn called, but it was no good- the two were gone.
~Nine Months Ago~
Of course it had to be his bus that was late. That was just how things went wasn't it? He sat, tapping a foot as he sipped at a soda, staring ahead absently. It wasn't like his dad was going anywhere. He had time, but, well... not money. Not a lot of it, anyway. He wasn't going to starve tonight- he didn't think- but he couldn't finance hotel rooms every night. He acted too impulsively, and he was beginning to recognize that. If he got stranded here...
"Bus late?" a smooth, almost seductive asked. A pale young woman, about his age, sat next to him, dressed in black leather pants, high heeled boots, and a red leather jacket over a black shirt, cut low enough to give Lucky something to look at, a peculiar octopus tattoo on her hand. Her unsettling, almost knowing smile was painted with black lipstick, cold brown eyes watching him closely matching hair cut short; her gaze a wolf stalking a wounded animal. Lucky noticed all of these things and none of them, the woman gorgeous and unsettling, alluring and ominous all at once.
He stared at her, silent for longer than he should have been, than anyone would have been in a normal conversation. She took it in stride, maybe even anticipating it, just continuing to smile and stare, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other. "...do I know you?" He managed to blurt out, after a while.
"Yes," she nodded, "and no. We've met before but I don't believe we've spoken. But you didn't answer my question- bus late?"
Lucky studied her, puzzled at the vague answer. He did know her, all right. He was sure of it. "It is, yeah. Same for you?"
"No. I'm where I need to be." Her smile grew a bit. "I'm a traveler. Work has me going all sorts of places. I was supposed to be off for, well, a while, but I have to pull in some overtime."
"That so? What do you do, exactly?" Lucky asked, finding himself more curious than he should be.
The woman just laughed. "I hope you don't have to find out. I'm... well, let's just say, people are my business."
"That so?" Lucky leaned forward, feeling... well, he wasn't sure. "Look, I'm sorry, beautiful. I can't remember your name, and its driving me crazy."
"That's because I don't want you to. Maybe a little later." The woman sounded bored, now. "But what's in a name, anyway? Like you. Lucky. Stranded in the middle of nowhere, waiting for his ride. Doesn't seem apropos."
"Yeah. I get that a lot," he agreed. Had he told her his name? Well, she said they knew each other, right?
"Not lucky in love, either, are you?" she mused, unfolding his father's letter, reading it with a glint of amusement in her eye. "Or family. Or much in general."
Lucky blinked as he realized what was in her hands, patting his suit pockets in bewilderment- but he didn't feel the need to react. On any other day, anyone else, he wouldn't take being pick pocketed lightly. But... he didn't seem to mind it now.
"Hmm. So have you decided what you want to do about this?" She asked, eyes not leading the page.
"...yes." He found himself speaking freely, the words falling from his lips almost without his control. "I'm going to ruin his life."
"Revenge, hm? That usually goes very well." Her voice was disdainful as she folded up the paper, handing it back to him. "So let me ask you something Lucky. Do you believe in second chances?"
He was quiet.
"Hmm. Interesting. You've done some bad things, yourself. Do you think you should be given a second chance?"
"Who are you."
The woman stood up, sighing. "Lucky. You aren't asking the right questions. I'm trying to help, I really am."
"No, really- who are you?" Lucky insisted.
"It's not me you need to figure out," she told him, beginning to walk away. "We'll meet again, you and I. And several times after, I think. I suggest you have answers by then."
He watched her go, in a trance; and once she was gone, it broke, the sound of screeching wheels shattering through to him, memories of the encounter leaving his head.
"The bus, finally." He got to his feet, relieved, getting in line as people began to get on. He reached a hand into his pocket- then his other, then his other. Then he frantically sorted through his bag, relief turning to panic as he realized his bus pass was missing.
~Present Day~
Veronica had already told everyone the full story by the time Lucky found her, sitting in her room with Miri, Johnny and Deborah. The looks he received as he entered told him things weren't good.
"Kid... listen to me," Lucky began. "That wasn't what that looked like."
"Oh yeah?" Veronica hissed, angrier than Lucky had ever seen her. "Because it looked like you were in the middle of, I don't know... making out with Quinn and talking about sending my girlfriend home!"
"It wasn't..." Lucky looked around, deflated, met only with stern gazes. "It wasn't like that. Alright, look, we kissed. And after, she told me there was a plan to send Miri home. But I wasn't seriously going to-"
"What were you doing with her in the first place?" Veronica demanded, crossing her arms.
"And why were you kissing?" Deborah asked warily. "How long have you two been seeing each other?"
"We aren't seeing-"
"Why were you discussing elimination together?" Veronica pressed, unrelenting.
"Look, can we discuss this like rational-"
"You were gonna vote her off, Lucky!" Veronica shouted.
"I wasn't, Veronica, you have to let me talk!"
"I don't have to-" Veronica started, but Johnny put a hand on her shoulder.
"He's right," the cowboy told her. "He's right. I get we're all mad, but we can't pretend we ain't got history together. We owe to 'em to hear 'em out."
"...fine." Veronica slunk down onto her bed, staring at the floor. "Whatever."
"Gee, thanks," Lucky grumbled, watching her, before looking at Johnny. "Look. This was a one time thing, I swear. She came into the clubhouse to talk about some things. It got heated, we kissed. We aren't seeing each other, we haven't been seeing each other. It's that simple."
"...alright." Surprisingly, it was Miri who spoke. "I believe you. Things... happen. But discussing eliminations right after... that doesn't look good, Lucky."
"Yeah. I told her the same thing," he agreed. "It seemed manipulative, at the time. Still kind of does. Look, I'll be honest. I really don't know what's going on, there. She told me she knew there was a plan to vote off Miri, and that you guys were probably going to try and get her sent home. She asked me to help her, and then... well, that was when Veronica walked in. I wasn't seriously going to vote against any of you- Christ." He glanced around, his turn to look annoyed. "You really think that little of me?"
"...sorry," Veronica muttered, glancing up at him. "...I got pissed, alright? Of all the people, it just had to be her."
"You're right."Deborah agreed. "Maybe we shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. But it sounded seedy. And with everything going on... I thought maybe she was using you."
"Oh, great." Lucky smiled sarcastically. "So I'm not untrustworthy, just stupid. Good to know."
"That's not what I-"
"I know what you meant. Look, call me crazy, but I don't think she's that bad anymore."
"Okay, you were making sense up until that point," Veronica cut in. "Quinn? Not that bad? You hit your head during the challenge today?"
"Just hear me out," Lucky insisted. "I think she sort of... opened up today. I'm not saying we trust her one hundred percent, but I think maybe we should just give her a second chance."
"Deborah was right, dude, she's probably playing you-"
"Hold on." Johnny interrupted, giving Veronica a glance. "Lucky. Look, way I see it, people are given second chances on this show all the time. I'm not saying I like it, but I'll hear it out. What exactly would you have us do tonight, then?"
"Vote Alejandro," Lucky told him flatly. "He's the biggest threat that's left to us. Get rid of him, the others follow. When it comes down to just us... I guess we see what happens."
"No way." Veronica shook her head, insistent. "We have to vote her off. It'd still be five to four later, so it doesn't matter either way!"
"...I think Lucky might be right, here," Johnny frowned. "Look, if Al goes tonight, we still have the numbers advantage, even if Quinn does try to betray us."
"I don't know..." Miri adjusted her glasses, uncertain. "I trust Lucky, I trust you, but I don't trust Quinn. I think we should vote her off."
Deborah nodded. "She has a point... I haven't known her as long as you guys, but I've seen what she can do. Someone can get hurt."
"If she does, then it'll be on me," Lucky told her. "I'm telling you, Alejandro needs to go."
There would be no solid agreement between the five, arguing ensuing from all parties. Lucky stood firm in his belief, Johnny agreeing with him while the girls insisted Quinn go. The debate went on for some time, the five never knowing that outside, a figure listened in to each word, before scurrying away unseen.
~Nine Months Ago~
When it came right down to it, what Lucky was most annoyed about wasn't that he was stranded, but that he had to be stranded in a random desert in New Mexico, far from his destination and even further from home. His bus was supposed to have taken him to the edge of Arizona, where he would find a hotel and sleep for the night before hoping on another bus to California. Unfortunately, no other buses were headed his way that day, and the best he got from the attendants was a shrug and a "there's a hotel a few miles south". And so south he walked; though at this point a few miles could have been anything. Five, ten, twenty. The further along he walked, accompanied only by the occasional car passing by, sun cooking him alive, he became convinced he'd die of heatstroke before he ever saw civilization again. He carried his jacket under his arm, shirt stained with sweat, panting for air as he wiped his forehead, forcing himself to continue his trek through the sand.
He heard a van long before he actually saw it- the faint hum of an engine accompanied by music blaring out of open windows. He didn't think much of it, plenty of cars having passed by him without a second glance, so he was surprised when a rusty old van with faded paint soared past, before pulling over just ahead of him. Curious, he continued walking, the passenger side window rolling down as he approached, the stench of smoke hitting his nose, "Octopus' Garden" blasting from the stereo. The driver, a girl who looked maybe a little bit older than Lucky himself, slowly put out a cigarette in an ashtray that was absolutely full of them, turning down the music as she flashed him a toothy grin. Her skin was lightly tanned, dirty blonde hair done in dreadlocks, black tank top stopping at just above her belly button, a pair of garish harem pants below.
Lucky coughed, waving the smoke away as the girl laughed. "Sorry, Mr. Suit. Why you wandering in the desert man? Got a business meeting out here?"
"...uh, no." Lucky coughed, taking a step back. "No, just missed my bus. Looking to... visit my family in california, but uh, next bus isn't til tomorrow. Guy said the next town was pretty close, thought I'd walk and spend the night there, but-"
"What? He did?" the girl laughed again, wiping her eyes. "Next town is like an hour dude. You'd be dead before you made it there."
"Great," Lucky muttered, closing his eyes in frustration.
"Nah, but hey, you need a lift or something dude? Said you're going to Cali right? Well me and my dog are going to Arizona!" as she spoke, there was an oddly pitched, almost agreeable bark from the back of the van. "Like, since we're all like, brothers and sisters on the road, why don't we give you a lift there man? Maybe you can get a ride out of there."
"...hell with it. Why not." He climbed in as she unlocked the door for him, settling in the uncomfortable seat. "Appreciate it. My name's Lucky."
"Nice to meet you, traveler. I'm Crystaline Babe," the girl informed him, locking the door as she slowly pulled back off on to the road.
"Crystaline-babe?" Lucky repeated, trying hard to suppress a snicker.
"Yeah, you know, it just like, fits me," she nodded, taking a moment to light up another cigarette, Lucky moving toward the window. "I mean, I'm just a child of the earth, as absorbent and brilliant as crystal. But you can call me Crystal, or Babe, or Line."
"...right. That's, uh, that's really interesting," Lucky remarked, already regretting his decision as he slowly stuck his head out of the window.
"I'm glad you think so, child. Not everyone respects my decisions, you know?" Crystal sighed, puffing out smoke. "Like, you know, I'm not some Sarah or Jessica or Anastasia Ebony Phillips."
"...that last one was a little-"
"I'm more unique than that, you know? I mean, I want a name that reflects that, that shows my true essence to everyone I meet." She nodded her head, not even paying attention to his responses. "you know, I used to be Glitter Child, because that perfectly encapsulated my naive but beautiful young soul, but glitter is killing the ocean, you know?"
"I did not know that, Crystal."
"Um, I just told you it was Crystaline Babe." She glanced at Lucky, giving a snort. "Like, I'm giving you this ride. The least you could do is show me respect, you know?"
"...you just said to call you-"
"So glitter is killing the ocean, so I couldn't name myself after anything that HURTS mother earth," she continued. "And that hurts me, because glitter is really a metaphor for the small man-made beauties you can find."
"That is incredibly interesting, Crystaline Babe. Really ring-a-ding."
"Right? So can you believe the government wants to ban glitter now?" She asked, disgusted. "How could they try to take something like that from us? I mean, I should be able to go buy glitter if I want, shouldn't I?"
"...didn't you just say it was-"
"You really need to stop interrupting. This is getting rude."
They drove. And drove. And drove. Day eventually faded to night, sun illuminating the endless road as Crystal droned on and on, Lucky nodding off in the seat next to her. Eventually, he was stirred from his daze, the girl frantically shaking his arm.
"Wake up! We have an emergency!" she hissed, putting what was probably her fourth or fifth cigarette out.
"Mph... what?" Lucky opened one eye, slightly panicked. "What's wrong?"
"I've got the munchies big time."
He watched her, silent, before sighing, close his eyes again.
"Hey, don't go to sleep, dude! We need to find somewhere to pull over and eat!" Crystal insisted, annoyed.
He, however, was not impressed. "Yeah, sure. Wake me up if you find something."
To his surprise, the van pulled over immediately. He slowly sat up, looking around to find Crystal rummaging around behind her.
"Uh... what's going on? Thought you wanted to grab food," Lucky murmured, rubbing his eyes.
"Oh, child." She sighed, pulling out a large, greasy Tupperware. "What do you think I'm doing?" she cracked it open, offering the contents to him. "Want one?"
He glanced down, and his immediate answer was 'no', the contents being... some sort of brownie. But the rumbling of his stomach quickly betrayed him, and, not thinking clearly in his half-asleep daze, he reached in, grabbing one. "Uh, thanks," he murmured, taking a bite and grimacing, before forcing himself to chew and swallow.
"It's no trouble, child. Perhaps when we part ways, you'll learn to share kindness like this." Crystal hummed, taking a cookie for herself, before turning to the back of the van. "Oh, hey, boy! You up? Want a brownie?"
The way she spoke was, unmistakably, how one spoke to a pet- that unnerved Lucky a little, knowing chocolate and dogs didn't mix.
"Hey," he began, turning to face her as he finished off his brownie. "You shouldn't give chocolate to-"
Instead of a dog, he came face to face with what was, undeniably, a person with dog make up, fuzzy ears and a collar.
Lucky nearly leapt out of his seat, now wide awake. "Jesus H-"
The boy regarded him calmly, before giving a single, "Woof", and extending out, taking one of the brownies using his teeth, before slowly slinking back into the darkness, eyes locked with Lucky's. Crystal calmly put the lid back on the container, stuffing another brownie into her mouth as she pressed down on the pedal, driving forward like nothing happened. Lucky stared, eyes wide, before pulling out his phone and texting the only person he could think of; Veronica. Johnny, of course, not owning a cell phone.
'Veronica, in a van with a possible cultist and guy dressed up as a dog. Send help if I don't message in twenty minutes.'
He slipped his phone back into his pocket, staring ahead as they continued down the road, silent. After a while, he began to feel... woozy, Crystal leaning forward and turning the music back up, Strawberry Fields now playing.
"I uh... I'm notfeelingsogood," Lucky blurted out, looking outside, colors seeming... off.
"Oh, is it your first time?" Crystal asked, sounding genuinely curious as she looked over, smiling. "Oh, that's so great! You're going to be reborn for the first time!"
"Re... whatthefuuuuu." Lucky began to feel lightheaded, everything starting to distort. "wHAt DID you puuuuut in THeSe.."
"Shh. Don't worry!" Crystal smiled, patting his cheek. "Look. Just do what I do when I'm reborn. First, STArt TakING OFF yOUr..."
~Present Day~
Luna watched nervously as Alejandro paced around his room, Tyler next to her, Quinn absently sitting down by the window, glancing out at the rolling waves.
"So. Tyler. As our most athletic competitor- aside from me- you had one job," Alejandro began. "Not to let Johnny win immunity so we could vote him off. Who won immunity today, Tyler?"
"Uh... Joh-"
"that's right, Tyler." Alejandro stopped, letting out a sigh and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Johnny won the challenge today. I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed."
"Come on, Al," Luna sighed, biting her lip. "Don't you think you're being harsh on him? It wasn't his fault..."
"I know, I know." Alejandro held up a hand. "I... I apologize, Tyler. All of you. I've simply never made it this far in the competition. And with all I've lost- Justin, Bridgette... I can't stand the thought of losing any of you."
Luna offered a warm smile, shaking her head. "It'll be okay... none of us are going anywhere. I promise. So, what's your plan?"
Alejandro looked at her, shoulders slumping a bit as he hung his head in defeat. "I'm not sure. With our numbers even, we're locked in a stale- ah, Finn! There you are!" He turned as the door opened, Finn walking in, smiling cheerfully. "Did you... take care of the thing I asked?"
"Oh, you mean the whole 'spying on the others' thing?" Finn asked cheerfully. "Why, yes! Yes I did! And you'll never believe what I learned!"
"Woah, wait. Spying?" Luna asked, looking at Alejandro in disbelief.
"Oh, maybe that's too hard a word. More like... eavesdropping!" Finn corrected, stopping in front of Alejandro. "But, oh, if you want info... have I a tasty morsel for you." He leaned in, whispering into Alejandro's ear. He nodded, staring ahead as he listened, before his eyes slowly widened, turning to look at Quinn. Finn finally pulled away, looking at the girl smugly, Alejandro clenching a fist.
"Quinn," he called, staring a hole into her. "We need to talk. Now."
TO BE CONTINUED