Snatching my arm from his grip, I kicked his kneecap, hearing a pop. All he did was grunt before he gripped my arm, tugging me close to him until I smacked into his side.

I glared at his grinning face, struggling in his hold. "If you knew this whole time, then why'd you bring me here? Why'd you tell me all that shit?"

"Cause I had nothing else better to do." His eyes met mine, drilling into my soul. "Plus I like this side of my delicious peach. It's hot as fuck." He let out a cackling laugh.

I narrowed my eyes at him, rage boiling over. "You came between me and that traitor bitch." Tossing my hip into his thigh, he stumbled away from me, and I jabbed at his face.

His hand snatched my fist out of mid-air, bringing it downward in one quick movement. That motion caused my body to tumble to the ground, landing hard on my back. Fucker.

Sweeps of pain rocketed up my back, fueling that rage even more. I could feel it shifting through me like bugs on my skin, crawling over every part of me, consuming everything.

Jookie laughed at me again, adding gasoline to the fire brewing inside me. "So you were going to kill her because you made a stupid mistake? Does that make sense?"

"What stupid mistake?"

His purple eyes rolled at me, hand still clutching my wrist on the ground. "From the beginning, you spent this whole game helping and protecting a mere stranger who did nothing for you in return. Ever. This game is about survival. Being a good person won't help you survive."

"So you're saying that I deserved what I got?"

"You knew upfront that she was a horrible constestant. She never participated in any of the challenges. No one in their right mind would've partnered with her."

"Fuck you."

He pouted at me, eyes twirling in savage delight. "Can't handle the truth?"

My open hand punched at his face, but he smacked it away.

"I like your dedication, but you're not going to beat me," he said.

I thinned my lips. "Bet you I can."

He gave me a wicked smirk. "Alright. I love a challenge," he said, massaging my wrist. "If you can make me yield, I'll owe you one."

"Meaning what?"

"I'll tell you who your sponsor is." He cocked his head to the side. "And if I win, you do whatever I want." His tone darkened on that last part.

I pushed him away from me, rolling to my feet. "Deal."

We squared off in front of the waterfall, eyes focused only on each other. A thick tension blanketed the moist atmosphere, making it feel like a tornado was just on the horizon.

A couple seconds later, I charged at him. He tried to grab me before I could collide, and I shifted toward the right and brought my leg up to kick him in the hip, but he seized my leg before it could connect. And then he shoved me backwards, right into the frothy pit.

"You fucker," I screamed before my body smashed into the water. Icy liquid enveloped my entire body in one splashing gulp, seeping into all my holes, coldness chilling my bones.

I sputtered and coughed, trying to get the water out of my lungs as I floated, arms teetering on the surface. My clothing became transparent and stuck to my body like new glue. All the blood and guts that covered my earlier washed away in the water, leaving a thick crimson pool around me.

After sneezing and spitting a few times, I swam over to the ledge as Jookie died of laughter, slapping his knees.

While he continued to laugh, my nails latched onto his ankle, and tipped him into the water beside me.

A loud howl erupted from his lips before he slammed face first into the water, splashing water everywhere. The moment he broke the surface, I jumped onto him. My hands got a few good slaps in before he seized my arms over my head, his chest slamming me against the ledge. Not hard, but enough to draw my attention.

His warm body held my cold one in place as we floated in the bubbling water. With his wet head looming over mine, tiny beads dripped from his curly lashes and onto my cheek as I stared up at him, eyes connecting.

He let out a sharp breath, the warm air tickling my lips. "You gonna yield, my sweet peach?"

I shivered. "Never."

With all my strength, I tried to push him off me, but he easily locked me in place, giving me fake sympathetic looks while whistling nonchalantly.

Fuck, he got on my nerves! AHH!

He started whistling the Jeopardy theme song, bobbing his head from side to side.

I let out an ugly noise and began to thrash my body. That did nothing to get him off me.

"Yield yet?" he asked once he finished whistling.

"No!" Physical strength might not be on my side, but I still had other strengths.

Sealing the gap between us, pressing my body tight against his, getting so close that not even water could squeeze between us, I leaned upward and licked his bottom lip.

He tasted of fresh water and sweet mint. That taste caused the fire within me to decrease for a second.

Sucking in a breath, Jookie peered down at me, a serious expression framing his gorgeous face. "You're delving into dangerous waters, my delicious peach." He sort of growled the last part, a delightful roughness coloring his tone.

Throwing my head back, feeling my hair strands stick to my shoulders and wet clothing, I let out a hoarse laugh before meeting his eyes again, gazing into the darkened depths. "Don't you know... I don't like to play it safe."

He shifted, loosening his hold on me, and I took full advantage. Tackling him backwards into the middle of the effervescent water, I hopped on top of him, legs wrapping around his hips.

My weight caused us both to sink like the titanic, thrashing around like wild dolphins drunk on sweet vodka and the freedom of life.

Minutes passed before we floated to the surface again, still locked together. Buoying on the surface of the chilly water, I tightened my legs around him. "Told you, I don't yield."

Wet hair sticking to his face, he flicked it back, sending droplets everywhere before looking at me. The purple eyes that I've seen all this time were gone now.

Cunning gray eyes with dark viridescent flecks focused on my face instead. "No, you don't," he murmured. "But you still have to make me yield to win. And I'm not even close."

"The night's not over yet." I pulled us under again, sinking us into the shuddering depths. But this time, we broke apart, and I crashed to the surface alone.

Clutching the rocky ledge, I coughed, peering around for Jookie, but he was nowhere to seen. "Jookie," I said, feeling like I was in a Jaws movie. Until he popped up between my legs, sending me sailing out of the water and onto the hard stone flooring.

I squealed, landing on my ass. But I didn't get much time to sort out my body before Jookie hopped onto my pelvis with his ass, his hands holding my hands over my head again.

"Yield."

"No," I said, almost a growl.

Bending forward, water dripping from his powerful body, he nibbled my ear. "Yield, my little peach."

I'd never yield to anyone, but when he began to tickle me, that rage that had started to dim became non-existence. Squeaky laughs left my lips as his dancing fingers attacked my ribs.

"F-fine," I said between laughs. "I-I'll stop attacking you."

He stopped, eyes swirling. "You're yielding?"

"This is a draw," I said, narrowing my eyes. "For now."

He moved off of me, plopping onto the ground next to me. "I'll agree to that."

I let out a sigh, staring up into the twinkling sky. "You were right," I said after thinking it over. "I shouldn't have let Layla be my partner. I knew she was fucking useless." But fucking Betinia and her hang-ups, always trying to be nice.

Fuck you. At least I'm not a killer. Just shut up. I can't wait until you're deep down again. Oh, it will and you're never coming back.

"You're fucking crazy," Jookie said, tearing me away from my internal argument.

"Not the first time I heard that," I said, honestly.

"But I like it," he said, turning his head to face me.

"Only because you're fucking crazy too."

He let out a chuckle. "Ain't that the truth." He paused for a second, putting a finger to his ear and sighing after a minute. Cracking his neck, he jumped to his feet. "It's showtime for us."

"What?"

"The producers want you to do an interview. Now."

"What kind of interview?"

"One where viewers get to ask you real questions."

"I don't understand the point. I could be dead soon," I said, sitting up. "My voting session—"

"Is five days away." Jookie stretched before slicking his hair back. "That's the point. We had interviews lined up for all the contestants after this next voting session. But since you could be dead and you're a popular contestant, they want to interview you now. Just in case."

A harsh chill attacked my ribs, making my eye twitch. The possibility of death didn't feel more real until this moment right now.

♟♙♟