Yarrow Venus- District Three female (17)

As we approached the challenge clearing it quickly became clear who had studied ahead and who hadn't. Those in the know exchanged anticipatory looks as we sat on a row of chairs facing a table and Isabella standing behind it.

"Good morning, Havfrue! Today's challenge is going to be a little different," she said. "It's time for a Survivor classic: the auction."

"Yes!" Val punched the air dramatically. Octavia kept silent but allowed a bit of excitement to peek through. The others cheered audibly or silently.

"Here's how it works. Each of you start the auction with one thousand Danish kroner. I'll present items one at a time. You may bid as much or as little as you want on each item in increments of at least twenty. You may pool money as long as you share the item. Spend freely, since this money is useless back home. And spend quickly, because the auction will end without notice. Ready?"

Alara Dory Banks- District Four female (17)

Isabella reached under the table, which I suspected led to a hidden tube so she could take out far more than would otherwise fit, and came up with a tray covered with a metal dome. She lifted it to reveal-

"Our first item is a whole roasted chicken. We on the crew thought some protein might be appreciated to go with all that rice. Do I have any bids?"

There were three seconds of dead silence.

"Hundred and fifty," Shep said.

"I have a hundred and fifty. Who'll give me more than a hundred and fifty?"

Contestants looked at each other and at the chicken. It was a good-looking chicken- golden and aromatic and very plump and juicy-looking. But might the next items be better? This was no ordinary Survivor. There could be a house or something. But if we didn't bid, were we letting Shep get it too cheap? But did he bid so low hoping someone else would bid over him and use up more of their money?

None of us pulled the trigger.

"Sold!"

Dorian Sargasso- District Four male (18)

We all tried not to stare too weirdly as Shep tore at his chicken, filling the air with chicken scents. And tore was very literal, since there hadn't been any silverware with it. He was chomping into it like a coyote.

Only Isabella bending under the table got our attention back. There was no smell wafting from this cloche. Not food, perhaps? Or just something cold? She lifted the cover and a piece of home greeted me. I knew I should hold out longer than the second item, but they got me. This one I was going to bid on.

"Our next item is an assortment of sushi. You have a rainbow roll, a Philadelphia roll, a tuna and avocado roll, and six pieces of unagi sushi. That's eel, by the way."

Alara leaned forward to wave at me before I could bid and as the others looked in shades of confusion and disgust. "Psst! Halfsies?"

I did an inventory of the fish and how much I normally ate in one sitting. "Alright."

"Three hundred!" Val butted in. I turned to look at him in offense and then remembered he was also allowed to bid.

"Four hundred!" I raised.

"Hey," Kallik leaned over. "Hundred bucks for half the tuna roll and two sashimi?" At Alara's nod, I nodded too.

"Five hundred!" Alara raised a finger. Val waved a hand to signal concession.

The three of us huddled around the plate, piecing out our booty. I grabbed a piece and popped it like a shooter. It was everything I dreamed of.

Octavia Jacobs- District Two female (18)

Isabella regarded the covered tray on the table. "Our next offering is a mystery item. Maybe it's great. Maybe it's a rock. Who's up for a mystery?"

It was the first item all over again. I ran some numbers in my head and came up with what I hoped was the smallest safe bid, factoring in that the last risk paid off so people might be more willing.

"Hundred and fifty."

"Two hundred," Leo said.

"Two fifty." Which had been my real max all along. I'd just started lower so someone would bid and it wouldn't seem like I got it too easy. Leo considered, then let it pass.

"You've won-" Isabella lifted the cloche. "A bowl of berries and cream."

I took stock of my prize. It was a large bowl, which was nice. There were strawberries and blueberries and raspberries- some of the finest of the world's berries. No protein, but the cream had a lot of calories. I could have done worse.

Shep Howard- District Ten male (18)

I was still pulling meat off chicken bones when the next item came up. I really didn't need anything more, but I would still take a look. Isabella dramatically unveiled… some folded clothes.

"Our next item is the comfort of a fresh set of clothes. We have a shirt, pants, a pair of socks, and some briefs. These ones here are just for show, since you all have different sizes."

"Three hundred!" Cactus wanted this one. I didn't, but I had a mischievous streak.

"Four hundred!"

"Five hundred!" Cactus shot back. I let well enough alone. I'd have more money than he did anyway, which was all that really mattered strategy-wise. Let Cactus have his briefs.

Lana Mason- District Six female (17)

"Up next is another mystery item," Isabella teased. I wasn't sure about that one. Surely one of them had to be bad, right? Or would they put an even better second one as a gotcha?

"Two hundred," Val said.

"Two fifty," Yarrow joined the fight.

"Three hundred," Leo added to the biggest fight yet.

"Ah whatever, five hundred," Val said. "If it's something terrible at least it will be funny."

When there were no more bids, Isabella revealed the prize. "It's a rack of ribs smothered in sauce and accompanied by mashed potatoes and a glass of soda."

"Woohoo!" Val said. "I'd probably pay five hundred bucks for that in real life. I have no grasp of money."

Leo Fabrizio- District Six male (18)

I'd bid on two items so far and no dice. I had to get in the game before the auction closed.

"Our next item is a festive birthday cake," Isabella said. The already-cut slice on its side revealed the cake to be white with rainbow specks on the inside. It had two tiers and yellow frosting with fancy swoops and frills.

"Alright, who wants in?" I asked. Cactus, Dorian, Kallik, Lana and Yarrow raised their hands. Val and Shep were full, Octavia said her berries were enough sugar, and Alara just wasn't feeling cake. All the takers pitched in a hundred kroner and in a minute I was holding a cake on my lap.

"Here, I'll cut the rest." I lifted out a slice and a gout of candy poured in as Isabella looked on gleefully.

"Surprise!"

Cactus Cleo- District Seven male (18)

I was already pretty happy. If they came up with a bowl of spaghetti I'd spend the rest of my money, but if nothing good came up I'd be fine.

"Our next item is a grasshopper pie," Isabella said, revealing a small personal-sized pie. Kallik sat up sharply at the whipped-cream covered tin sprinkled with chocolate shavings.

"Four hundred," she said.

"Pie with grasshoppers?" Shep asked.

"It's mint. I don't know why it's called that," I said. The thought of Shep still mistaking me, and imagining mint-wrapped grasshoppers, turned my stomach.

"You just ate a piece of cake," Val said.

"Yeah, and I'm gonna eat pie, too," Kallik retorted. "You know the best part of Two compared to the Res? More bakeries."

Yarrow Venus- District Three female (17)

The next tray was empty.

"Some things don't fit on a tray," Isabella said. "But maybe you'd like to share the wealth. Bid on this item to give your location school a makeover. New books, repairs, staff bonuses- everything you could want. Any takers? Take a minute if you need."

The debate was off in a flash.

"Not us," Val laughed. "Our school had a tennis court."

"Yeah, ours is pretty okay," Alara chimed in for Four.

"I don't think my house counts as a school," Shep said.

"Mine's fine," I said. It was fine, really- no leaks in the roof, no mold on the walls. I also didn't care enough about any of those people to blow my money on them. Most of them were bullies and the rest were forgotten.

"Oh thanks goodness because I want this so bad," Kallik admitted after spending the whole talk fiddling with her fingers and looking nervously at the speakers. She sounded about to cry "Please I know it's a big ask, but I've always dreamed of helping my community like this. Please?"

No one had the heart to disagree. Kallik bid the rest of her money as a token of her thanks. I hoped the good people of The Res appreciated her.

Kallik- District Two female (18)

I was so giddy thinking about my school having running water again that I almost didn't notice Isabella was using her announcer voice and not her Isabella voice.

"Our next item is courtesy of our beloved Titian Qin."

Everyone froze. Lana dropped the candy she was holding. It's gonna be something horrible. Best case scenario is choosing who next goes home.

A hole opened in the ground and a man rode into view.

"Bid now to secure your own personal Avox," Isabella said with nearly concealed gritted teeth. "He'll assist you around camp in any ways you wish and leave at the next tribal council.

We all stared like Isabella had lit herself on fire. You can't just bid on a person! Oh my God they know what this looks like and that's why they used a white man.

We conferred.

"We gotta bid or Titian's gonna be pissed," Alara said. Dorian was giggling nervously and apologizing for giggling.

"I'll do it," Lana volunteered. "I still have a lot of money."

"Okay, you bid, then I'll bid, then you again, so it looks more real," Yarrow said. We sat in cringing mortification as the plan was carried out. Trust Titian to ruin a good time.

Alara Dory Banks- District Four female (17)

We all flinched at another empty tray.

"I'm sure you've all been missing home. Wouldn't it be nice to see someone you left behind?"

Octavia's gasp pierced all of us. Val held out his money to her. When she turned back, she saw everyone else holding out theirs.

"But… for me?" She couldn't manage more.

"Right over here!" Val pointed at her. "Like… three thousand kroner! Just all of it. All the kroner!"

"Sold! For all the kroner!" Isabella crowed. Octavia sat breathing rapidly as the rest of us wiped our wyes. Sure, I missed my mom. But it could wait.

"Of course, we didn't know who was gonna win, so we had to fly everyone out," Isabella said. A moment later I couldn't believe I hadn't caught on. "So you might as well all see them! Right now, at camp! Auction closed!"

Everyone loves the auction! I did it pretty quick after the merge so a lot of Tributes could participate. Survivor auctions are almost all food, but this is my story so I threw in some weird stuff for fun. I had no advantages since I'm choosing who bids so it seemed unfair. No immunity today, so get in those votes! There will be a breather chapter to see the family though. By all means don't be afraid to vote before that, though, since you can change your votes as many times as you want until I hit "post chapter" on the council doc.

IDOL CLUE: I always miscalculate how easy or hard these are, and looks like I swung too hard this time. Let's try this:

1934 Wonder Stories