I woke sore and stiff. The platform wasn’t comfortable at all.  Stretching I stood up and hit my head on the low ceiling. Damn I hate this place. Why hasn’t anyone come for me? I flick open my phone, it’s dying on me, but anyway the time is like quarter past 6 in the morning. Yawning I look at the task in front of me. Great another 3 pain staking challenges.  Within twenty minutes I had got to the last obstacle; a straight climb up a post to the highest point. My hands ached and there was no room for mistakes here.  I took my check tie off and got out one of my clean handkerchiefs from my bag and wrapped it around my hands. Slowly I inched my way up, clinging close to the poll. At the top I had to heave myself onto the flat part of the post with nothing to hang onto.  I was so short of breath I didn’t know if the ground was moving or not. Sitting on there I heard a series of beeps. I grabbed at my phone. Eight messages! Wow the signal here was great. I scrolled through the messages, none all that important. There was one from Hank asking about when we could next meet up. I went to the GSP option and keyed in where I wanted to go. Well apparently my GPS only worked on roads.

My screen suddenly faded to black and gave me one last encouraging message, ‘Low Battery’. I almost through the phone away, realising I should have called someone to come and get me. Slipping it into my bag I looked out across the trees. I was just short of seeing over the tree tops. Exhausted from the climb I got out my sketch pad and began drawing the tree tops. I really wish I had a pillow to sit on, and a large sun umbrella. I felt sick; I should have eaten those ice creams. I was wrong about the ground moving, it was the pole moving. The wind was picking up and I felt like I was going to throw up. It must be sun stroke or something. I needed to get down. I dropped my sketch book down, lightening my load a little. Inching my way down the pole slowly my arms began to ache again. My knuckles were going white. I finally got back to the enclosed platform, heaving for air. Stuff the gym, what I needed was a personal trainer, than day spa. What else could I get rid of to lighten my load? I dropped a few more things, before finding my water bottle. It was far from cold but it was wet. John should have been looking for me. But he must have been still all asleep like the others.

“Oh glorious REM cycles, dreams and fluffy pillows,” I whimpered to myself. This had been the earliest I have ever been up for years.

I looked over the course ahead. Apparently there were different ways to get to the end. Should I choose the shorter path or the safest? I went with safest. I was down within half an hour.  I was so proud of myself. But then remembered I was still lost.  It must have been at least seven thirty and it was stinking hot. I was sticky, sweaty and smelly and after I collected all the things I had dropped; I was beyond caring. I looked around. No one as expected.

The stream looked so inviting. Leaving my baby doll dress on, I removed my tights and shoes and any accessories I had on and jumped in. It was soothing and wonderful. The current was as gentle as yesterday and I let the little fish nibble at my feet. The water was so clear I could see the sandy bottom. I heard something move. Ducking my head half way in the water I watched intently to see what it was. Suddenly Zander came bolting through. Make me accidently suck in water in my surprise. Coughing and spluttering he sat at the bank watching me. His eyes were solid on me, and he wasn’t wagging his little tail. Was he angry at me? He was the one that left me! And here I am blaming a dog.

I climbed out of the water, holding on to my strapless dress, so it wouldn’t fall under the weight of the water. I really should have held myself up so I wouldn’t slip. My knee hit the bank getting all muddy. I would have to say that was a record for me. No clumsiness in almost twelve four hours. Sitting on the bank I washed the dirt off, which was going to bruise. Looking at the rest of my legs, they were all puffy and colourful in the worse scheme. Did that obstacle course do this? Inspecting my arms they were no different. I went for my mirror to see if there were any on my face.

I breathed a sigh of relief when my face popped up clear. The cold eyes from before had returned to normal dark loyal ones.  Swinging my bag over my shoulder I got my tights and converse boots on and dumped the rest into the bag. I looked down at Zander again.

“You know the way?” I asked. He took off is some random direction and I followed. Through the pine forest I lost any sense of direction I might have had. Zander was so fast, his back strong legs leaping with little effort. And then there was me with two clomping legs and a heavy wet dress gasping for air. Running was not my forte in anyway shape or form.  I could feel my foot catch on some tree root. I tumbled to the ground. I felt really sick. I rolled over and looked at canopy. I hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. I know I was going to faint.

Closing my eyes only to open them again to Zanders slobbery kiss on my cheek. I heaved myself up and continued. Why was I even here? It wasn’t even a competition. And this ‘bonding’ camp as far as I could see it was making a larger gap between master and dog. Well it was more Mistress and dog with the exception of Lucca. My ankles were aching and I was sweating again.

I could see light.  Taking a few more steps I plunge into the camp. I look over at the dining table. Cereal and toast. I grab the first box and bottle of milk and head for my cabin before anyone else can see. I close the door and lock it. If anyone wakes me up, they’re dead. I gobble up a bowl and a half of cereal and collapse onto my bed.

“Zander, be a good boy,” is the last thing I can remember before conking out for a good days rest.

 ***

My bruises weren’t any better when I woke up. I was still hungry and had no idea what the time was. But the thing that was more important was if my phone had charged. I stretch over to the little side table where my phone is charging.  Perfect. Fully charged.  But no signal, grrr.  It’s only eleven thirty which surprises me. Is it the next day or is it just I haven’t slept for long?

I look at my phone again, same day. I basically through myself down against the pillow. Something is bugging me. At home I shouldn’t even be up yet. Please go to sleep, oh please, please make me go to sleep, or at least wake me up from this nightmare. Not working. Darn it, I’ll just have to get up.

After a wonderful shower where I found even more bruises I picked out plain shirt and jeans and walk out. No one is around. Figures. Zander is missing again now that I think about it. I kind of feel weird without him. Oh here I go, I’m already attached to the little mutt.

As if on cue Lysander came bounding out and stopped right in front of me. I stepped to the right he copied. I took two steps to the left, again right by my side. Ok forget what I said, he’s already starting to bug me. I really wanted to ask Lynn how long this camp would be running for. I walked up to the picnic bench and sat a waited. She obviously wasn’t around. Probably doing another ‘bonding’ exercise. I kind of also wanted to know what we were playing for. I hope this wasn’t one of those hidden camera shows. I looked around to see if I could see any. Who am I kidding; I probably wouldn’t be able to find one even if it was right next to me…

My eyes darted to Zander. Could he be one of them? He didn’t have a collar, but that didn’t mean he didn’t still have a camera on him. What if he was a robot, with a camera inside him! I had heard that dogs get micro chipped. He looked at me with his huge eyes. They were probably the lenses for the cameras zooming in. Did I have anything in my teeth?

There was a sudden scream. I jumped and fell backward off the bench. I groaned as pain surged around the back of my head. Who was screaming? Sounded like Lucca. I rolled over so the world was the right way up. He came running out of his cabin door, in… less than appropriate attire. Seeing me, he came charging forwards. Now when a guy comes running at you wearing nothing but boxer shorts and in the last day or two has been trying to hook up with you, you kind of put together a bad image.

On impulse my leg came up and clipped him in the jaw.

“Don’t come closer you pervert!” I yelled. Zander was now in ‘ready to attack’ mode.

“Oww, did you just kick me in the head? And who you calling pervert? I just woke up to two freaky stark women in my bed!”

Did he know how bad that sounded? He stepped forward and this time a kick to the groin. Wow, I’m glad I took all those self-defence classes. This time he fell to the ground.

“Shhesh.  Stop that, god that hurts!” he whimpered in pain, his face reddening as he curled into a ball. “Honestly go look for yourself if you don’t believe me.” He pointed to his open door. I started to walk over to investigate, Zander for once leading the way. I stepped up to the cabin and pepped in. It looked almost like my cabin. I turned to make sure Lucca wasn’t trying to pull a fast one. He just sat at the bench rubbing his… umm yeah...

Stepping inside I walked over to the door of the bedroom. Looking around the door only to fine the place covered with Lucca’s clothes. On his bed were the two Yorkie pups snoozing on the pillow.

For goodness sake, they’re dogs. I walked out.

“Honestly, go put some clothes on, you have plenty on the floor,” I said as I went back to my own cabin. It must have been an awesome party last night while I was all alone in the dark.  I went to my little bar fridge and pulled out the box of ice-cream. They were rather plain but still yummy.  I considered giving Zander a little but he was a dog and he abandon me the only time I seriously wanted him around.  A night outdoors, really brought out the worst of me. Zander jumped onto the couch and lay across my feet. He wasn’t what one would call lightest or softest dog in the world. His head was low as he closed his eyes. Was he sleeping? I watched his little chest pump up and down. Watching him intently I noticed that his back leg was slightly cut. Was that always there?

I stroked his head. He opened his eyes and looked at me. I smiled and pulled him closer. I moved my feet and pulled him to my lap. He seemed shocked. Did I do something wrong? To my relief he rested his head on my lap and I continued to stroke him. His fur was so smooth under my fingertips. Yuck I really needed to get a manicure. As if on cue Jess cam bursting into the room.

“Makeover Time!” she cheered. I groaned. I was glad Zander was a largish dog, that way Jess wouldn’t be able next to me. She skipped over to me and sat on the floor placing her makeup bags next to her. Honestly where had she been this morning? And why hadn’t she come to find her ‘best friend’ last night. “Do have your own makeup set?” she asked. I did, but she wasn’t going to be touching it. I didn’t answer. “Really you don’t have one? I thought ever million dollar girl has one.” She laughed opening hers.

“What do you mean, ‘million dollar girl’?” I asked a little worried.

“Oh just something Smarties figured out. Do you prefer ‘Missy pink’ or ‘Apple kiss’?” she asked holding up two different shades of pink nail polish.

“No, what exactly did Tina figure out?” standing up forgetting about Zander.

“Oh that you were a rich girl, like the rest of us. Well Smartie isn’t that rich,  but her Dad won the noble prize for something or other.”

“It’s Nobel not noble. So you mean we are only here because we are rich?”

“That’s what Smartie thinks, now sit still, I don’t want to smudge it, I don’t have remover with me,” she grabbed my hand. For someone small like her, she sure had a hard grip. I needed to think.

The familiar smell of nail varnish filled my nostrils but I ignored it. I watched Zander get up and walk out the door. He probably didn’t like the smell. Can’t blame him. So my idea of hidden cameras wasn’t such a dumb idea. So why would this random competition only call rich people? Well as far I knew this wasn’t even a completion. It was a ‘bonding’ camp. Now as far as Tina went, she wasn’t having any of it. Jess also didn’t seem that keen either. Speaking of which where was Gentry?

“Where’s your dog?” I asked.

“I dunno,” she started blowing on my nails. Ok so Jess wasn’t into it at all. Lucca was more interested in how many girls he could hook up with and then there was me. I wasn’t even trying and I had already won a box of ice cream. And I didn’t hate Zander in the least either. This was probably some plot to get money out of us. Well if it was about money or getting muddy for people’s entertainment I wasn’t having any of it either. I looked down to see if Jess had finished. Wow that was cool. My nails were painted black with metallic rainbow scratched through them.

“Did you do this by hand?” I asked.

“Of course, who else is there to do it silly,” she laughed and started looking through her bag. I got my phone out and took a pic. “Oh I love your phone cover, it’s so cute and sparkly,” she giggled.

“Yeah thanks, I only wish I could get reception,” I sighed.

“Oh there’s really good reception next to the water tank near the kitchen. I’ve been talking to my mum all day till she hung up on me, can you believe that. You would never do that would you? It was funny because my mum she’s like…” I kind of blanked out at this point. So I’ve wasted two days with no reception and have ended up with nothing but bruises and a whole bunch of weird people. John would have already gone to town to get the car fixed. I grabbed my phone and raced out the door.

Tripping down the steps I face planted on the ground. My face stung, and the rest of my body tingled with pain. I honestly should be used to it but it never happened. I looked up seeing my phone a few meters away. Behind it was Zander.

“Zander bring me my phone,” I commanded smiling. He bent down and grabbed the phone with his mouth. “That’s a good dog, come here. So I can go make that call to get me out of here,” his eyes seemed to light up. I got up and took a step forward. He bolted into the forest. Like lighting I ran after him. No one, not even a dog ever takes my phone. “Come back here!” I screamed. My heart was pounding, after that call to get me out of here I was calling the gym to get out membership. So this is what Tina went through. I huffed down the path, Zander always in sight but just far enough so I couldn’t get within two metres of him. The path narrowed as we got higher up the valley. Gosh where was he taking me? Oh I hope the slobber doesn’t short out my phone. I only bought it two weeks ago. It must have been half an hour and I was beginning to smell myself. Gross. Zander stopped in the middle of a shallow stream.

“Don’t even think about dropping that phone!” he just stood there. Stuff it, I knew he wasn’t going to run and leave me. I had already figured him out on that point. I sat at the water’s edge and dipped my feet in, the cool water felt good against the new forming blisters. I washed the sweat away and took a drink. It wasn’t the best taste but I was glad I had stopped. I looked back up at Lysander. He was lying in the water still holding the phone. That’s enough taunting, I would stop at nothing to get my phone back and call for a helicopter to get me airlifted out if that’s what it took. I stepped into the stream, then the next one. Oww, arr this really hurts. Stupid slippery mossy thingy. My bum now wet and really sore I got up again and sploshed through the water, stumbling and falling along the way. Again Zander slowly backing keeping his distance. Why wasn’t he stumbling, that’s so unfair.

Finally across the chase began again. It was really hot and I hadn’t eaten anything for lunch. Well I wouldn’t be joining the gym for weight loss that’s for sure. I slowed down to an almost walk. How could I keep up with him? Where the hell did his energy come from? I heard something behind me as my foot caught on yet another root. I felt weightless as the trees passed me at speed. I was falling! I braced myself for the impact.

“Alexis!”