Invisible Strings

Chapter 6

Maya's interview day-2

Interviewer: How was your game today?

Maya: It was good. I had fun, just a little sad that we lost.

Interviewer: Yeah, but you and Dev did good. You both lost by just a few seconds.

Maya: I know right! That actually hurts the most.

Interviewer: So Maya, what do you think about Dev? How was he as a partner?

Maya: He was great. We made a good team, I think.

Interviewer: So do you plan to play with him in the future or Flynn?

Maya: I am not so sure anymore(laughs) because Flynn and Blake came last today, so I don't know how good of a performer he is. I have to think about my game as well.

Interviewer: Very well! Thank you, Maya, see you for the next interview.

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Drained from the game and everything else that went down today, I stumbled back to my room. Sleep was all I craved, but the villa, usually a peaceful haven, now buzzed with the angry aftershocks of a huge fight.

"You don't do that to the person you are playing the game with!" Blake shouted at Flynn.

"I did my best. Do you really think that I lost on purpose?" Flynn countered back at her.

Blake was accusing Flynn of losing the game on purpose because, according to her, he did not put his best efforts into solving the puzzles.

"Yeah you did that so that the person whom you have formed the alliance with could win."

"You mean Maya?"

Now what the hell? I had no intention of saying anything, but why is she dragging me into this? Everyone has come outside their respective rooms by now and is watching them fighting as a silent spectator.

"Bro, why are you including me in your fight? I am sure he did not do anything on purpose." I tried to clear with her.

"I am not talking to you, so please shut it." Blake shouted at me.

This is it. I had enough. I was not going to let anyone walk over me.

"Yo! Dude don't talk to her like that." Someone said from behind me.

Dev.

"Yes!" I turned to Dev and said, "Thank you."

I looked at Blake again.

Me: You don't get to talk to me like that.

Blake: So stay away from this.

Me: I would have, but you said my name, and now you are dragging me into this.

Flynn: Blake, I did my best, trust me, I don't know how you got that idea.

Blake: Peter told me about what you said to him.

Flynn: What? Peter? I never talked to him.

Peter? What did he say to her? I looked at Peter, and he was just standing in the corner simply listening to the whole drama.

Blake: You told him that you did not like me, so you lost on purpose and because you wanted Maya to win since you like her!

Flynn: I never said anything like that, trust me. Peter! What the hell, man?"

We all looked at Peter waiting for him to say something, to defend himself. But, it was Bridget who spoke instead.

Bridget: No Blake, he did not say anything to you. I was with him the whole time."

Peter: Yeah, we never talked. I don't know what you are going on about.

Blake: Why is everyone ganging up on me? Oh god. Peter, you clearly said that, why are you flipping now?

Peter: Hey! Don't call me that.

Bridget: Girl, you did not do the task properly, and now you are fighting with everyone. You sure will be eliminated this week if you continue this s**t.

Blake: So you are threatening me now? Great going guys. But I promise you I am not lying. Peter really told me that.

Blake was full on shouting now. No one believed her. But I somehow felt that maybe she was not lying. Peter has given me weird vibes ever since that day at the party, but I did not say anything because Bridget is my friend and he is her connection here.

Amara and Joe, who were silent till now, finally spoke up. I knew Amara was going to support Blake as they were roommates and had formed a good friendship.

"Guys, it is just their words against her's. We do not know who is speaking the truth. Let's just stop the fight and go back to our rooms. We have a game tomorrow as well." Amara suggested, being the voice of reason.

Back in our rooms, I asked Bridget, "Are you sure Peter did not say anything to Blake?"

"Yes bro, do you think I am lying?"

"No, it's just that maybe you were not with him when it happened, and he did not tell you about it then?"

"I don't think he would lie to me. I trust him Maya." Bridget said it with so much sincerity and I saw no point in saying anything else, it would only hurt her.

"Okay, let's just go to sleep. Good night."

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Defeated by sleeplessness, I tiptoed out of my room, careful not to wake Bridget. Tonight, instead of sleep, I craved the solace of fresh air. The villa's terrace, a place I'd been eager to explore since our arrival, seemed like the best place to go.

As I made my way up I could hear the gentle rustling of the trees around the property as the wind blows softly. The vast terrace unfolded before me, a vision of moonlit beauty. There was a swing at one of the corners. I walked up to the edge and looked down from there. The infinity pool shimmered under the moon's light.

As the cool breeze danced across my skin, I closed my eyes, surrendering to the night's quiet embrace. Sleep, however, remained elusive. My mind replayed the day's events on a loop. Just three days in, one game was played, and tensions were already running high, erupting into a full-blown fight. This wasn't unexpected, reality shows thrived on drama. Yet, something about this fight felt...off. It lacked the usual spontaneity. Blake's accusations, fueled by Peter's whispers, seemed orchestrated. A knot of unease tightened in my gut. This wasn't just a heated competition; it felt deliberate, a calculated move towards an unseen target. But who was the target, and what was the endgame? I just-

A sudden clatter, like metal scraping on stone, ripped through the night's serenity and shattered my train of thought. Eyes snapping open, I scanned the moonlit terrace, searching for the source of the sound, my heart beating furiously against my rib cage. But the vast space remained empty. Undeterred, a sliver of suspicion pricked at me. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had heard something. With a newfound alertness, I began to cautiously navigate the terrace, my senses on high alert. Reaching a large pillar, I noticed a flicker of movement in the inky black void it cast against the moonlight. My heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs, I gripped the first thing my hand found – a metal rod lying forgotten beside a potted plant. It wasn't much, but it was something. Taking a fortifying breath, I inched closer, the clatter of the makeshift weapon a counterpoint to my racing pulse. As I rounded the pillar, the moonlight revealed the figure – not an intruder as I had feared, but Dev. Relief washed over me. It was just Dev.

He noticed me, his eyes becoming large suddenly.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"What are you doing here?" I asked back.

"Well just getting some fresh air." He said

"Okay great then I gotta go." I turned around about to leave when he said, "wait!" He cleared his throat and continued,

"I am sorry about today. I shouldn't have done that."

"Well Dev I don't know how sincere you are right now." I was still pissed at him.

"I know I just- I just" he looked around, trying to find some words.

"I was just trying to lighten the mood, but it backfired. I seriously had no intention of hurting you. I would never do that to you."

"But this was not the first time. We don't really ever see eye to eye."

"I know, and I want to change that."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I am suggesting that we should play together. Let's pair up for the rest of the show."

"What? Are you crazy? Why would I do that with you?"

"Because I am good-looking?" He tried to joke, but I wasn't amused.

"See, we did pretty well today. We lost only by a small margin. I am sure if we partner up we could very well win this."

"Well, for starters, I have already promised Flynn that I would be his partner and, secondly, honestly, I don't trust you. Not right now."

"Okay, what can I do to win your trust?" He asked me and he looked almost desperate? I don't know. Maybe the darkness is playing tricks on me.

"Win tomorrow's task. Do whatever you can, but tomorrow I really want to win. If you want to win this show you have to survive one game at a time. And then I will pair up with you."

"Really? What will you say to Flynn?"

"I will think about it, but first let us win tomorrow."

"Of course! We will."

He extended his hand, and I was caught off guard by the gesture. He took my hand in his other hand before I could do so myself and then shaked it vigorously. I laughed because this Dev was someone different. He was playful and sweet. He let go of my hand and we both stared at the view infront of us.

An unspoken understanding settled between me and him. It wasn't the awkward quiet that hung heavy with tension, but a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the sigh of the wind. I lifted my gaze to him, and under the moon's glow, he seemed even more captivating. Perhaps it was the play of light and shadow on his features, or maybe the unexpected encounter on the moonlit terrace, but his eyes sparkled with an intensity that stole my breath away for a moment.

What is wrong with me?

"So," he began, breaking the silence, his voice a low rumble, "what's keeping you awake tonight?"

He didn't mention the fight, but I knew exactly what he meant. The tension from the day, the accusations, the sense of something being fundamentally wrong – it all swirled within me.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to test the waters. "The whole situation, you know?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It just... doesn't feel right."

Dev leaned back slightly, his gaze fixed on the endless expanse of the moonlit sky. "Doesn't feel right, huh?" he echoed, a hint of a knowing smile playing on his lips.

I nodded, gathering my courage. "Like the fight was...staged, almost."

A flicker of something akin to approval crossed his features. "Staged, that's an interesting word." He turned his head towards me, his eyes locking with mine in the silvery moonlight. At that moment, I saw a spark of something hidden beneath the surface, a spark of shared suspicion. "Maybe you're onto something," he said finally, his voice barely a whisper.

His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken possibilities. This wasn't just a conversation anymore; it was a secret pact forged under the watchful gaze of the moon. The cool night breeze seemed to hum with a newfound tension, not of fear, but of anticipation. I knew then that the game had taken a turn, and Dev and I, united by a sliver of suspicion, were about to become players in a much bigger game.

The weight of Dev's words settled on you. A secret pact, a bigger game – it was exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure.

"So, what do we do?" I asked, leaning forward.

Dev remained silent for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought.

"We gather information," he finally said, his voice low and serious. "We keep our ears open, observe everyone's interactions, especially those involved in the fight. Maybe there were whispers before, dropped hints, something that could point to a plan."

A thrill of excitement shot through me. I wasn't just a passive observer anymore; I was actively participating.

"But how do we know who to trust?" I asked, a flicker of doubt creeping in. Everyone seemed to be playing their own game.

Dev offered a wry smile.

"Trust no one completely," he said, a glint in his eyes. "But sometimes, even enemies can be useful. Maybe we can find a way to use Peter's paranoia to our advantage. After all, if he's making accusations, he might know something more than he's letting on."

The idea was risky, but it held a glimmer of hope.

"And what about Blake?" I asked, remembering the accusations thrown my way.

Dev shrugged. "She's the obvious pawn in this. But pawns can be unpredictable. Maybe we can find a way to turn the tables on her too."

A plan, albeit a shaky one, was starting to form. Dev and I were a long shot, but maybe we had each other, and that was more than what I had at the beginning of the night.

"Alright," I said, a newfound determination hardening my voice. "Let's do this."

Dev nodded, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. As we sat there, bathed in the cool moonlight, I knew our lives intertwined with the game in a way I hadn't anticipated. The night air, once calming, now crackled with a different kind of energy – the energy of challenge, of alliance, and of a game that had just begun.

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Dev's Interview Day-2

Interviewer: How was your game today?

Dev: It was okay. I think, could have been better.

Interviewer: Yeah, but you and Maya certainly did a good job. You both lost by just a few seconds.

Dev: Yes we did!

Interviewer: So Dev, what do you think about Maya? How was she as a partner?

Dev : She was amazing, and I believe that we are actually really compatible. (coughs) Game-wise I mean.

Interviewer: So do you plan to play with her in the future?

Dev: Yes, of course!

Interviewer: But what about Flynn? She said that she would pair up with him.

Dev: Well then I would have to convince her I guess.(laughs)

Interviewer: Very well! Thank you, Dev, see you for the next interview.