The boat came to a slow, shuddering halt at the dilapidated Wawanakwa dock. The air was a thick mix of pine resin and salt water. Ezekiel took a deep breath, his expression unreadable. This was the place where, in a previous life, he had lost everything. But now, silence and a mask of naivety were his strongest weapons.
The other contestants were already lined up on the dock: Beth, DJ, Gwen, Geoff, Lindsay, Heather, Duncan, Tyler, Harold, Trent, Bridgette, Leshawna, Katie, and Sadie. They all watched the newcomer with a mix of curiosity and boredom.
Chris McLean stood at the end of the pier, grinning behind his aviators.
"Finally, contestant number sixteen has arrived! Hi, Ezekiel! What's up, man?"
Ezekiel stepped off the boat. He paused, looking up at the sky with an innocent, almost vacant smile as he pointed at a seagull circling above.
"I think I see a bird."
A few people stifled a laugh. Duncan smirked and looked away, while Noah just rolled his eyes at the "country bumpkin." But as Ezekiel stepped fully into the sunlight, his unzipped hoodie shifted. The golden light hit the hard, defined lines of his physique—the result of months of grueling labor and training on the farm. The contrast between his dim-witted comment and his predator-like build sent a ripple of confusion through the group.
The Reactions ~
The Girls:
Beth looked at Ezekiel with confusion but genuine amazement.
"Huh… that's… really… wow…" she muttered, momentarily forgetting to breathe as she looked at the guy.
Gwen stepped forward just as Ezekiel accidentally looked up at her. Their gray eyes met, and Gwen's face immediately flushed. She could barely move, her heart seemed to melt at the sight.
"Huh… that's… unexpected…" she muttered softly, turning her head away, but secretly looking up again.
Lindsay reached for her hair in embarrassment, blushed, and whispered softly to Heather:
"Wow… that's really… muscular…" then quickly caught her gaze.
Heather stood with her arms crossed, her face remained cool, but her gaze widened for a moment.
"I see… that's… surprising…" she muttered to herself, then regained her usual serious expression.
Bridgette stepped back, a small glint in her eyes, a soft sigh leaving her mouth: "Wow… that… looks like a top model… Maybe he is…" she muttered, fascinated and amazed.
Leshawna looked Ezekiel up and down, nodding slightly:
"That's… remarkable…"
Katie & Sadie leaned in next to each other, giggling at the same time:
"Did you see that?" – Katie whispered.
– Really… – Sadie laughed, and then they looked back at Ezekiel, their eyes a mixture of curiosity and wonder.
The Boys:
Duncan raised his eyebrows, with a casual grin:
"Well, that's... not bad." He said softly, casually watching the guy, secretly enjoying the scene.
Tyler blinked in confusion, trying to mask the effect:
"Uh... wow..." he muttered as he stepped back, feeling a little lost in the situation.
Trent stood still, clearly curious, but relaxed:
"Huh... interesting guy..." he said softly, nodding as he looked over Ezekiel.
Noah watched him a little coolly, not showing much emotion:
"Okay... that's... interesting." He muttered, then retreated from the group.
DJ smiled amiably, nodded sincerely:
"Okay... looks good, guy." He said, no envy, just pure appreciation.
Harold blinked a little nervously, trying to compose himself:
"Um… okay…" he mumbled, trying not to stare too conspicuously.
Geoff let out a loud laugh and stepped forward: "Whoa, dude! Is work that hard in the countryside?"
Chris McLean:
Chris's sunglasses slipped down the bridge of his nose. He looked Ezekiel up and down, and a subtle, dark chuckle escaped his throat.
"Well... kid," Chris stammered, his professional persona cracking for a moment. "You sure this is the same Ezekiel from the casting video? Because our ratings just jumped twenty percent!"
Chris's eyes held a spark of suspicion, but he was a pro at spotting drama. He realized right then that this season was going to be much more entertaining than he had anticipated.
The Strategic Trade
When Chris announced the teams, he placed Katie on the Screaming Gophers and Sadie on the Killer Bass. The resulting screeching and wailing filled the dock. Ezekiel noticed Geoff starting to drift toward Bridgette, clearly interested in the blonde surfer girl. Ezekiel knew: if Bridgette stayed, she would become the "heart" of the team—and those are the hardest people to manipulate.
Ezekiel stepped toward Chris, looking uncertain, almost timid.
"Um... Mr. Chris, sir?" he spoke up, intentionally dragging out his words. "I feel bad for the girls. Back home on the farm, the livestock goes wild if you separate them from their pair. Couldn't Katie come over here with us, with Sadie? Maybe then... they'd stop the noise."
Chris grinned, leaning into the chaos Ezekiel was "accidentally" creating. "And what do you suggest, Zeke? It has to be an even trade."
Ezekiel pretended to look around aimlessly, letting his gaze settle on Bridgette.
"Bridgette... she looks real athletic. The other team has Owen and all those guys, I reckon they'd like a strong girl like her. I'd be happy to give up her spot... I mean, her for the girls. Just so it's quiet."
Chris's eyes lit up. This "random" trade was perfect for disrupting the team dynamics. "Brilliant! Bridgette, you're a Gopher! Katie, get over here to the Bass!"
Geoff's Reaction:
Geoff's face immediately fell. He looked at Ezekiel with genuine disappointment.
"Hey, man... why her? Bridgette seemed really cool, I was looking forward to being on a team with her."
Ezekiel looked back with a sheepish, dim-witted expression.
"Oh, geez, sorry Geoff! I just wanted the screaming to stop. I didn't think it... mattered to you. My bad, really."
Geoff sighed and shrugged it off, writing Ezekiel off as a clueless country kid who didn't understand how girls worked.
Heather, however, narrowed her eyes from across the dock. She had seen Ezekiel's face for a split second during the trade. Too fast. Too calculated. She began to suspect that the boy was far more dangerous than he was letting on.
Foundations of the Alliance
As the teams headed toward the cabins, Ezekiel didn't try to lead. Instead, he fell in line behind Harold and Tyler.
"Hey guys, it's real good we're on a team," he said quietly. "Harold, you know so much about the world, and Tyler... you're like a sports machine. I hope you guys can help me so I don't mess anything up. I don't want to go home early; my folks really need that prize money."
Harold puffed out his chest, looking proud. "Do not fear, Ezekiel. You are under the protection of my strategic knowledge and my ninja skills."
Tyler was equally pumped. "I got your back, Zeke! We'll look out for you!"
Ezekiel watched them from under the brim of his hat. He had them. Tyler and Harold thought they were his mentors, when in reality, they were already his soldiers (even paws).
Izzy, perched on a tree branch above them, let out a tiny, high-pitched giggle—she was the only one who truly sensed the predatory fire burning inside the boy.