xofelf wrote:Outwit. Outplay. Outlast.
Zophie stepped off the boat that had brought her to the Bahamas. She was filming and interviewing this year's MafiaScum Survivor potential contestants. It had always been her dream to land this job. So many perks to this gig. First off, you get to travel to some sort of exotic location and your room and board are completely paid for. Secondly, the pay was not something anyone with a shred of sanity would turn down. That wasn't the reason she wanted this job so bad. This job made it finally possible for her to finally accomplish her life's mission. The one last thing to check off of her personal bucket list. There was no way she could pass up this opportunity, and nothing in the world was going to be able to stop her.
Zophie sighed. There was more than enough time later to choose which plan to follow. She'd thought it over a thousand times. Exactly what she would say, how she would act. But now she had to do the job she was hired for. She picked her luggage and started for the hotel resort to check in with her employers. She had barely walked more than a foot before she heard someone walk up behind her. She turned around to see Jeff Probst standing there with a grin on his face.
“Oh here, let me take those bags. Is that everything you have? You have no idea how long we've been waiting for you.”
Zophie relinquished her baggage, other than her camera case to Jeff. Hey, if he was offering to carry everything, why shouldn't she let him? Chivalry is not dead.
“Yeah, that's everything. I uh didn't expect to see you here. I thought that since you had just finished hosting Greece they would have asked someone else.”
“And miss out on the best host they have, are you kidding me?” Jeff laughed. “Nah, I asked to run this one. Greece was an adventure alright, but no, Bahamas is going to be something special.”
Zophie smiled at him.
Oh yes Jeff, Bahamas is going to be something special indeed. Just you wait and see.
Jeff carried her stuff into the resort lobby and she checked in. She sent all of her stuff up to her room so she could get straight to work. The sooner she found what she was looking for, the better. It was time to meet the contestants.
After the seventeenth interview, Zophie was frustrated and exhausted. Some of the contestants were really nice, others not so much. A good Survivor cast should have a balance between the two in her opinion. None of this everyone is super nice or really douchey crap. From what she knew of the players' past games, there was a good mix of play styles represented here and no lurkers thank god. She had one final interview and she would be done for the evening and she could enjoy this resort. It was looking like all her planning wasn't going to pay off. She just wasn't finding what she needed. She took a sip of water and collected herself. One last interview. She could do it.
Zophie stepped out of the interview room and into the lobby which was serving as a waiting area for the interviewees.
“Thank you everyone for your patience. I'm afraid there's just one last interview today. If I didn't get to you, it'll be your turn tomorrow.” She consulted her list. “Okay, I'm looking for Snakes?”
She could hear a bunch of the people waiting complaining over having to wait til tomorrow before getting up and leaving.
Then a pleasant male voice said, “Yeah, I'm here. Thanks for seeing me today.”
Zophie looked up from her list. When she saw him, time slowed to a stop. He was so perfect and she knew things would never be the same because she had finally found him. The one. The first contestant she would ever kill.
She tried to keep her composure, but her excitement and nervousness must have shown on her face. Snakes looked concerned.
“You okay?”
“Oh uh yeah. Yeah, sorry. I'm just a huge fan.” she lied, “I mean I've watched all your games. It's a dream come true to finally meet you.”
He smiled at her. “Oh I'm not that great. But thank you. It means a lot to have an admirer. Particularly one I'm going to be spending quite a bit of time with these next few days, or longer if I make it into the game.”
Zophie directed him into the room with a grin on her face.
IF
you get into the game is right. This is your last interview.
She was distracted during the entire interview. Not even caring what questions she was asking or how Snakes answered. All she could keep thinking about was which way to kill him would be the most fun. Strangulation took a lot of time, and she needed more strength then she had. If this had been a wintery place, icicles would have been perfect. Murder weapon melts right after and would confuse law enforcement. Poison was too clichéd and was traceable if the right tests were done. She didn't really care if she was caught, she just wanted it to be perfect. She wanted him to know she had killed him and see the surprise on his face before the life drained from him. One perfect moment of clarity, before that too was taken from him. Zophie didn't think that was too much to ask.
“And that's all the questions I have for you right now. You'll hear if you made it into the game in three days.”
Snakes shook her hand enthusiastically. “Well thank you so very much. Think I could bribe you into choosing me? Maybe dinner?”
She grinned. “Turn down free food? Never.”
“I'll meet you in the resort restaurant at 7.”
“Perfect. I'll be there.”
Zophie dressed with care. One of the best weapons anyone can ever have is their appearance. Most women would have chosen a little black dress or a beachy sundress to fit in with the atmosphere. Oh no, not her. She needed something that could hide a weapon, not just look sexy. Zophie had found the perfect outfit ages ago. This dress was red, low-cut in the front, knee-length, and had long sleeves that could easily hide anything.
She opened her camera case and took everything out and flicked the switch along the side that opened the false bottom. She took out her favorite knife and the sheath that went with it and strapped it to her arm.
She had found a fairly hidden cove a short walk from the resort restaurant. It had a rock ledge that was just above the water even at high tide. Everything was going according to plan.
“Showtime.” Zophie whispered to herself in the mirror.
Dinner was everything she had hoped it would be. Snakes showered her with compliments and the food was delicious. He was so charming she could easily pretend this was a real date and play along.
“Well Snakes, this was wonderful. I'd hate for things to end now. When I was out walking the beach earlier, I found this place that would be perfect to spend the rest of the evening, what do you say?”
“I agree. Lead on, my lady.”
On the walk there, Snakes continued to ask her about her life. He wanted to know about her job, and her interests. He seemed completely invested in learning everything he possibly could about her. When they got to the cove, Snakes stood with his back to the water. It was time.
Zophie smiled at him and leaned up to whisper in his ear, “I’ve been waiting all night to do this.”
She slid the knife out of its sheath and pulled back just enough that he would think she was going to kiss him. She kept her eyes on his face as he smiled at her. She stabbed upwards under his ribs quickly and as hard as she could. Once. Twice. Maybe three times. And oh, his face. It was the most beautiful thing she had seen her life. The wonderfully content smile quickly changed to surprise and pain and horror. All she had dreamed it would be and even more. The utter perfection of this moment she would remember forever.
He tried to take a step backwards, forgetting that he was on the ledge. Instead of more rock, all his foot found was air before he fell into the ocean clutching his torso while she laughed. Now her bucket list was complete.
