Page 32 of Escaping Rejection

“Very fucking funny. What do you want?”

“Well, it’s about to be shown, but I thought you would want to hear it first. The fans have voted for you and Wyatt to stay. It was very close indeed, but even had we not already madespecial considerations, you two would have stayed on the island.”

“Really?” As much as I didn’t want to talk to the vampire, this information wasn’t to be taken lightly. I’d truly believed that the fans would want us to be eliminated.

“Yes, really,” Von said. “It was almost a fifty-fifty split, but you all came out on top. I’ve already been in contact with the board. This has made them feel more certain they made the right call on keeping you two. Aren’t you excited?” He looked like he was preparing for me to jump up and hug him.

“I’m delighted,” I said, my voice lifeless and monotone.

“Oh, stop,” he said, swatting my arm playfully. “Look at the fans, they’re going crazy.”

He turned his phone to me, showing the current feed from the show channel. Clips of groups of fans all around the world flashed by. They’d gathered in city centers to watch the show on the massive electronic billboards. People were crowded together like sardines, holding up placards and homemade signs. It looked like half of them were ecstatic that Wyatt and I hadwonthe vote, while others were booing and hissing. It was still surreal to think that millions and millions of people were watching what was happening to us. Not only watching, but actively rooting for and against us and our survival. Were these people really that bloodthirsty that they didn’t give a damn whether we lived or died?

Not for the first time, I wondered if this show might be part of why the shifter packs were as messed up as they were. Or, maybe it was vice versa. Had the pack dynamics influenced the show itself? Could people like Gavin and Wyatt be right? Maybe the packs didn’t need to be totally destroyed or shunned, but there was some kind of cancer in the traditional system that I was only now starting to witness.

It hurt my brain. My entire life, I’d been blindly devoted to my pack and the system that governed it, but now it all seemed trivial and silly. All the strict traditions and rules seemed pointless after being on this island.

“That’s great, I guess,” I finally said.

Von tucked his phone away. “Quite a close vote. We even allowed a write-in option for fans to vote on—an alpha brawl between you and Wyatt to see who survived and could stay.”

“Are you fucking serious?”

Ignoring my shock and disgust, the vampire went on. “I stopped by to tell you we’re meeting downstairs in five minutes for the arena match. I think the others have already begun trickling that way. See you soon. Hmm…” He leaned forward, grabbed my chin, and forcibly tilted my face back and forth. “Maybe a bit more makeup. I know you don’t currently have a stylist, but that’s no reason to look slovenly. Goodbye, dear.” He let go of my face and strolled away, humming the song’s theme show.

“Prick,” I growled under my breath.

I waited a few minutes before leaving so I wouldn’t catch up with Von and have to walk in with him. Once enough time had lapsed, I left and went to the main living room. I was the last to arrive.

The atmosphere in the room could only be called tense. Everyone sat in hushed silence. Gavin sat on one side of the room, his eyes shooting daggers at Wyatt where he was seated with J.D. and Mika. They didn’t look angry like Tate and Gavin, but they still wore pensive and worried expressions. We all knew danger was coming and that some of us might not survive.

Tate sat on a loveseat with Chelsey, murmuring something to her. The poor woman looked like she’d rather be anywhere but there. Gavin tore his eyes from Wyatt and spotted me. His face softened and he leaped up to meet me.

“Kira, hey. I’m really glad you guys are staying on the show. You have no idea how worried I was thatsomeone,” he sneered at Wyatt over his shoulder, “had put your place here in jeopardy. You don’t deserve any of the criticism.” He put a hand to his chest. “I understand that none of this is your fault. I really do.”

“Yes, yes, we’re all very happy our cast gets to stay together,” Von said as he stepped into the living room, flanked by a camera. “Thank you, Gavin. I’m sure the many fans who voted to keep Wyatt and Kira feel the same.”

“I didn’t say I was glad Wyatt was still here.”

“Of course.” Von’s lips curled into a smile. “And there are many out there who feel that way too. In fact, nearly half the voters wanted both of them off the show. By keeping them here, we have appeased half the fan base, but in order to appease the other half, we need to turn up the heat.”

“Oh, good,” Mika said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “We wouldn’t want things to be too calm.”

Von pointed at him. “Exactly, Mr. Sheen. More excitement, more danger, more drama. That is what we will bring to you and our fans today.”

“Thanks a lot,” Tate grumbled.

“I kind of expected it, honestly,” Chelsey said. “It’s always been this way on the show. Once the cast gets smaller, the challenges get tougher.”

“That is true, Miss Rein. And as such, today’s arena match will not take place in the arena. Instead, we will be making our way to the beach.”

J.D. paled. “The beach?”

“Yes.” Von’s eyes glittered with excitement. “Today’s arena match will be a team event rather than a one-on-one match. You will be participating in a boat race across the dangerous Bloodstone Bay.”

Tate swallowed and his usual bravado disappeared. “In the water?”

Von nodded slowly and spoke as though he was addressing a slow-witted child. “That does tend to be where one would use a boat, yes.”

---