Survivalist Reality Show

By Grace Hamilton

Surviving the Swamp
Skin of Your Teeth Survival is a reality show made famous for pairing part-time survivalists with a real-life survival situation. Always carefully planned out by world-famous Prepper and Survivalist Wolf Henderson, season ten promises to be different This time none of the contestants are survivalists. They've all been picked to fail.

But when an EMP hits, the cast scatters and Wolf is left to care for a husband and wife team, a quietly scrappy chick, and a bumbling scientist. At the spur of the moment, Wolf offers them safety at his island bug-out location and takes off with his ragtag team to move through the wild and dangerous swampland of Florida.

The loner of the group, Regan, isn't sure what to do. She can't survive on her own, but she also doesn't work well in a group. She believes she has a better shot in one of the major cities on the coast than in the swamp, so she joins the team with every intent of striking out on her own once the opportunity arises. But with the world around them growing more dangerous every day, she has to figure out whether she's better off with the group or alone in the post-EMP world.

And whether Regan or Wolf realize it, the dangerous journey through swampland will soon become a literal fight for survival once they reach the chaos of 'civilized' South Florida.

Surviving the Refuge
They thought their journey would be over when they reached the island refuge, but life isn't as simple as what they'd hoped. 


At first glance, Wolf's home is a prepper's dream, but there's a whole new learning curve that comes with living on the island. Regan is frustrated to learn that Wolf's twelve-year-old daughter outmaneuvers her constantly, and more seriously than that, Regan begins to feel like every move she makes is the wrong one—all except with Wolf, that is. 


Even as the group begins to acclimate to the island, Wolf has to stay strong for his team and his daughter. Making it "home" wasn't the relief he thought it would be. Instead, he finds a whole new range of skills he has to teach the group, and it all has to happen in the face of failing equipment and a quickly approaching storm season. Everywhere he turns, he finds something else going unexpectedly wrong.


Struggling to keep up with the demands of life on an island and as part of a group, Regan finds herself in a rapidly disintegrating situation that causes her to question everything: her survival skills, the integrity of the group, and even the promise of safety they've worked so hard to secure. It's enough to have her considering striking out on her own—even if it means threatening the safety of the team. But when the true threat is revealed, it will burn down everything the team knows—the good and the bad.


Surviving the Elements

Wolf has watched his entire world go up in flames. Now, Regan must help him pick up the pieces if they hope to survive…

After the total disintegration of the island, Regan, Wolf, and the rest of the group decide to return to the one place they've called home—the swamp. However, returning isn't as easy as it seems. The journey across Florida presents a whole new range of horrors as society breaks down, made all the worse when one of their own gets seriously injured. Plus, the team must face the trek with two new members whom some believe don't belong with them at all.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Relay Publishing
• Release date: Mar 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201009373

Book preview

Survivalist Reality Show

SURVIVALIST REALITY SHOW

Surviving the Swamp

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Surviving the Refuge

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Surviving the Elements

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

RELAY PUBLISHING EDITION, JUNE 2019

Copyright © 2019 Relay Publishing Ltd.

All rights reserved. Published in the United Kingdom by Relay Publishing. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

www.relaypub.com

SURVIVALIST REALITY SHOW

THE COMPLETE SERIES

GRACE HAMILTON

CONTENTS

Surviving the Swamp

Blurb

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Epilogue

End of Surviving the Swamp

Surviving the Refuge

Blurb

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

End of Surviving the Refuge

Surviving The Elements

Blurb

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

End of Surviving the Elements

Thank you!

About Grace Hamilton

Also By Grace Hamilton

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Surviving the Swamp

BLURB

Skin of Your Teeth Survival is a reality show made famous for pairing part-time survivalists with a real-life survival situation. Always carefully planned out by world-famous Prepper and Survivalist Wolf Henderson, season ten promises to be different This time none of the contestants are survivalists. They’ve all been picked to fail.

But when an EMP hits, the cast scatters and Wolf is left to care for a husband and wife team, a quietly scrappy chick, and a bumbling scientist. At the spur of the moment, Wolf offers them safety at his island bug-out location and takes off with his ragtag team to move through the wild and dangerous swampland of Florida.

The loner of the group, Regan, isn’t sure what to do. She can’t survive on her own, but she also doesn’t work well in a group. She believes she has a better shot in one of the major cities on the coast than in the swamp, so she joins the team with every intent of striking out on her own once the opportunity arises. But with the world around them growing more dangerous every day, she has to figure out whether she’s better off with the group or alone in the post-EMP world.

And whether Regan or Wolf realize it, the dangerous journey through swampland will soon become a literal fight for survival once they reach the chaos of ‘civilized’ South Florida.

1

Regan Goodfellow wasn’t a quitter. This last week had tested her strength and her will to survive, but she’d taken on every challenge willingly. More than anything, she wanted to prove to herself how tough she really was. Facing off against a dangerous swamp with deadly animals was a great way to do that. Maybe not the most practical or conventional method, but exciting, nonetheless. If only it wasn’t so damn wet. Of course it was wet; it was a swamp , complete with endlessly boggy ground, damp hand-holds, and humidity like she’d never imagined.

Moving through it was brutal, and easily the hardest thing she’d ever done in her life. She stopped yet again, to drag in several deep breaths, her lungs sorely lacking oxygen after the breakneck pace she’d set for herself through the dense foliage that kept slapping her face. Thankfully, she had worn a lightweight, long-sleeved shirt. It was certainly coming in handy now, even if it was snagged and torn in places.

With her feet sinking into the muck that counted as ground in this area, three inches below water and settling into mud, her legs felt like they had a million pins pricking her flesh, tingling as they did from overexertion. She was so close to making it to dry ground. Or, drier ground. There was no way she was going to stop now. She had to get her feet out of the water.

Most people would have been terrified to be alone in the Everglades, and she knew that might be the rational mindset, but it wasn’t hers. She had something to prove to herself and all the people who had tried to keep her down over the years. No Florida swamp was going to beat her. People thought that because she was a bit on the small side, and didn’t look like one of those badass chicks from any of the movies, she would fail. They were wrong.

Keep moving, she whispered to herself, willing her legs to carry her through the swampy bog.

She had once thought running on sand was tough, but this marsh was a completely different challenge. Every step was a battle. Her hiking boots sank into the mud, making a sucking sound as she pulled each boot out and took another step. So much of the land was muddy ground, much of it covered by at least a few inches of water—and every bit of it fought her forward momentum. Thankfully, it wasn’t overly hot. Although, the humidity made it uncomfortable even in the shade. Florida humidity had turned her skin into a sticky glue that bugs and debris clung to. It was gross, and the first thing she was going to do when she got out of this swamp was take a long, hot shower. Maybe the weather wasn’t bad when you could lay out on beaches and then jump in the ocean, but this journey she was on was a long way from any beachside vacation.

Focus, she reminded herself when her mind started to acknowledge her physical discomfort yet again.

Shifting her weight, she took in another deep breath and grimaced as the sucking sound of the mud beneath her feet responded to her renewed attempts to move forward. She had to get to dry land. She’d never make it through another week if she had to stay in the thick swamp with its millions of mosquitoes and other bugs feasting on her body. Every sting reminded her that she had used the last of her bug repellant earlier that morning when things had gone from bad to worse.

The worst of it all was, her feet were wet, something she knew was bad. Wolf Henderson would lecture her for days when he found out she had lost her spare socks somewhere along the way. When they’d first set out on this little adventure, he had warned them all about foot rot. Human skin was not meant to be wet; he’d told them more than once. And now she knew why. Running was rubbing her toes and heels raw despite the fancy socks she had on. If she ever managed to find him and the others, she was fully prepared to be called out. He could complain and lecture all he wanted so long as he had some dry socks for her.

A small clearing ahead greeted her when she glanced up from the boggy ground to take new stock of her surroundings, and she pushed her body more upon seeing it. The clearing would provide options. At the very least, she wouldn’t be smacked in the head with the branches that came from every direction, creating the dense canopy of the swamp. The shade was great—the bugs that came with it, not so much.

Stop it! she scolded herself aloud. I can do this. And someone will come looking for me if I don’t check in. Right?

Her sinister laughter in the quiet swamp sounded funny to her ears. Everything about this situation was so wrong. Why had she ever thought a reality survival show would be a good time? It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She’d been ditched by her partner earlier, and now she was alone. And yeah, of course, that’s what she’d said she wanted, but now….

Reaching the sandy ground of the clearing, Regan gave herself a moment to enjoy the solid footing and take in her surroundings, weighing her options and calculating what path made the most sense. There was a wide pond in front of her, and going through it would be the quickest, shortest route to where she was trying to get to. Heading left would lead her deeper into the swamp, and she was not going back the way she’d come. Her eyes drifted to her right, where a steep hill of a rock stood ominously above her, stretching a good twenty feet into the sky. Going that route would take her a little out of her way, but she could circle back and get to her rendezvous point. It didn’t look insurmountable, but it was steep. Especially considering her soggy footwear.

She let out a long sigh. None of her options promised she would make it to safety. The pond covered with floating green algae actually looked like the easiest choice, but Regan knew simplest was not best, especially in her case. Who knew what was under that algae, creature-wise? The tree that stretched out over part of the pond, keeping it in the shade, was also a problem. There was a wasp nest hanging over the area. That was a major deterrent. Even being in the vicinity of the nest was freaking her out. One sting and she would go into anaphylactic shock, and she couldn’t exactly pull out an EpiPen while swimming. Her allergy was no joke. That had been a hard lesson learned when she’d been a little girl, and the single EpiPen she carried wouldn’t be enough to save her if she was stung by more than a few of those horrible wasps.

Standing around and debating what to do could get her killed, too. She had to keep moving. She looked at the murky water, knowing it would likely be a safer option in some ways, but there was always a chance there’d be a deadly snake waiting to clamp down on her leg. Snakes were one of her least favorite animals on earth. The swamplands of Florida were rife with snakes; a fact she should have thought more about before signing up to do this stupid survival show. Sure, only a fifth or so of Florida snakes were venomous, but in her mind, snakes were snakes.

She stared at the water, shaking her head and cursing the rain they had been dealing with all week. It had made the swamp extra treacherous, which was never a good thing when survival was the goal. Staying upright had been her main goal as she’d traversed slippery rocks made deadly by the layers of moss and slime covering them, and remaining on her feet hadn’t even been easy on what counted for solid ground around here, given the mud and the water.

Relax, Regan. You’ve been in worse situations, she said aloud, trying to calm herself down.

She had to stay calm and think rationally. It was how she had stayed alive as long as she had. She couldn’t lose her head now at the thought of a snake brushing by her.

Finding herself staring up at the slippery hill of rock that could lead to safety, she groaned. It was her best option. She knew it. The risk of being stung was too great. She had to avoid the wasps at all costs. Could she climb the rock wall alone? Having a partner would have made this path an easier prospect, but it was too late for that.

Besides, depending on other people always ended badly. Another hard life lesson she had learned over her twenty-seven years. People sucked. They were unreliable, and they always promised to help and be there for support, and then when you actually needed them, they screwed you over. Regan was done with all that. Being on her own had been a lot easier. She never had to worry about people letting her down or inserting their drama into her life, like her first partner on the show had done. Little Miss Sunny had been a nightmare. Regan had wanted to kill the producers for pairing her up with the school teacher. Thankfully, Sunny had been booted off, leaving Regan with a new partner. And while anyone was better than Sunny, her so-called partner was now nowhere to be found. Typical.

You can do this. You don’t need anybody. This is all you. Get your butt up that slope!

The rock-covered hill was a slippery mess and her boots were coated with mud, making it even more difficult for her to get a strong foothold. Having clambered five feet above the base, she closed her eyes and focused on the goal. Getting to the top. It wasn’t all that high. A couple stories, if she’d been trying to scale a building. Not something she had actually done, but she easily imagined jumping out of a second-story window and the height involved there—that, she had done.

With renewed strength, she stretched an arm up, felt around, and found the smallest hint of a ledge. It would have to do. With all the power she could muster in her five-foot, five-inch frame, she used her leg muscles to propel herself up the hill several inches. When she got a good foothold, she breathed a sigh of relief.

You can do this, she repeated to herself.

Then Regan made the mistake of looking up. She had barely made it half way up, and there was nothing to hold onto.

Come on!

She was only a few yards off the ground, which wasn’t a big deal, but if she did jump off the hill, she risked twisting an ankle or falling into the nasty, bug-infested pond. There was also the chance that she would hit her head on the way down, given the slick slope involved. It wasn’t like she could run to the hospital to get patched up or take a couple Advil to relieve the pain of a head or ankle injury. The swamp wasn’t exactly the best place to take risks.

Well, this sucks, she muttered, holding onto the side of the hill and not knowing whether to keep trying to climb up or admit defeat and jump down.

Need a hand? a voice from above called out.

Regan’s head jerked up. Tabitha?

Sure enough, Tabitha Funelli peered over the ledge, her dark brown eyes gazing down at Regan. That’s me. Let me help you up before you fall on your butt.

Regan chuckled. I’m not going to fall on my butt. Where’ve you been? she asked the same partner who had ditched her earlier.

Tabitha ignored her question. Really? Do you really think this is the best time to be stubborn? she asked.

Regan took a deep breath facing the rock directly in front of her face. Tabitha was the only friendly face she’d had recently, but she wasn’t dumb enough or naïve enough to think that the woman’s helping hand came out of the generosity of her heart. No, this was a tit for tat situation. Tabitha would help her now and, at some point, she was going to be calling in the favor Regan owed her. It could be giving her the last bit of purified water or the last bite of a meal they knew would be all they had for days, but the return favor would come.

Take your time, Tabitha called down.

Regan bit back a retort. Tabitha wasn’t being rude or pushy, but Regan knew she didn’t have all day. If they were the last ones to reach their goalpost and circle back to check in before making it to the main set, they would lose. And if they lost this round, one of them was going home. Regan wanted to stay in the game, despite how much she hated this swamp, and she definitely wanted to keep the only friendly face around, as well. Maybe Tabitha had deserted her earlier, but they both knew Regan had pushed her to it.

Simply, they couldn’t be the last duo to check in.

From above her, Regan heard a shifting, and when she looked up again, she saw that Tabitha had laid down on the rock above her and extended the strap from her pack for Regan to grab onto. It was within reach.

Fine, Regan groaned, and she took a deep breath, supporting her body weight with her legs and left arm while she extended her right hand into the air.

Tabitha’s strength and firm grip belied her small stature; Regan scrambled up against the slick rock as Tabitha pulled upward on the strap, and when she’d gotten higher, Tabitha reached out and clamped her hand around Regan’s wrist and forearm. Regan wrapped her hand around Tabitha’s arm in return and pushed with every ounce of strength she had while Tabitha pulled. Neither woman would ever be compared to Hercules, but they were both in relatively good shape.

Come on, Regan, Tabitha grunted. A little higher.

Regan gave it her all, pushed off the hill and launched herself up, hoping Tabitha held on. It was a true leap of faith as she catapulted her body upwards. If Tabitha let go or lost her grip, Regan knew she would slip, fall backward, and land on her back—the jump would give her height, but not grip, and falling would likely mean a serious injury.

Pull! Regan shouted as the edge of the hill lined up with her face.

She stretched her arm over the ledge and used her elbow to pull herself forward while Tabitha yanked on her other arm. Once her chest dropped heavily to the rockface, Tabitha moved her grip to Regan’s armpits for support and Regan maneuvered her body all the way onto the rock.

Thanks, she breathed out. I owe you one, which you already know.

Tabitha smiled, her eyes squinting with that familiar full-faced smile, which was one of her prettiest features. Damn straight, you do. Now, let’s get moving.

The loud sound of an air horn cut through the air.

What’s that about? Regan asked, her hands on her hips as she struggled to catch her breath, occasionally swatting at one of the millions of insects buzzing through the air.

Tabitha looked around, as if the answer would present itself. Her light khaki-colored clothing nearly blended into the dark green foliage that the top of the rock incline opened into, but Regan noticed that the other woman was as muddy and sweat-soaked as she herself was.

Tabitha turned to meet Regan’s eyes. I don’t know. I guess we better change course and get back to the set. Do you think someone got hurt? she asked. I hope it wasn’t Geno. He was paired up with that old guy who wouldn’t survive a day at the park, let alone a week in the swamp, she muttered.

Regan shook her head. Don’t worry about your husband. He’ll be fine. The man is a machine, she added, not without some admiration.

Tabitha giggled. Yes, he is, and it’s only partly why I love him, she said, winking at Regan as they set off.

Regan rolled her eyes. Spare me the details. We better get going. No way am I letting us come in last.

Tabitha laughed, and as they pushed through the foliage leading away from the rockface she’d surmounted, Regan looked at the woman who was barely over five feet tall and probably weighed a hundred pounds, if that. When they had first met, Regan had known right away that Tabitha would be one of the biggest competitors on the show.

She was small, but intelligent. What’s more, everyone seemed to like her right away—she was pretty and had that easy-going nature about her that people were always drawn to. Regan thought the vibe she gave off could also have something to do with her job. She was a paramedic, which meant she spent every day working with strangers who were having the worst days of their lives. Her natural empathy and ability to soothe people had drawn Regan to her from the beginning, even if she couldn’t bring herself to commit to trusting her. She was a good ally, and Regan was all about winning this little game they had all signed up for.

I guess we’ll find out what’s going on soon, Tabitha said as she held a branch aside to let Regan pass, and then wiped some mud from her hands by running them over the khaki-colored cargo pants she was wearing. Seeing it reminded Regan of what a mess she herself was, but there wasn’t anything to be done about it. In terms of mud and sweat and clothing, they were a perfect pairing.

When the group had shown up on the first day, they’d all had a good laugh over their similar outfits. Almost all of the contestants wore cargo pants, hiking boots, and cotton t-shirts over long-sleeved hiking shirts that were supposed to be breathable while protecting their arms from the branches and bugs. The wear had actually been recommended in the stack of paperwork they had received prior to their arrival.

Recommended clothing had been described as breathable but durable. That had resulted in an all-out search for the right outfit, something Regan had found a little ridiculous considering that the master goal was to survive. Her first day in the swamp had made it clear why the clothing mattered. The pants were somewhat waterproof and didn’t tear easily. That protected the skin on her legs from getting scratched up. Scratches could lead to a deadly infection in the swamp.

Focused on the immediate moment once again, the women made their way through the dense trees intermingled with vines and ferns, on toward the area that had been designated as the set. It was where they did their weekly recaps and their interviews about how a task went, or gossiped in general. Regan couldn’t stand that part. She detested talking about her fellow contestants and hated being in front of the camera. Only the thought of the money at the end of all this made it bearable.

So, is this what you thought it would be? Tabitha asked as they walked.

Regan scoffed. Yes and no. I thought we would be spending more time with Wolf Henderson, learning. Instead, I feel like he pops in and out long enough to lecture us about what we did wrong. Do you think he was even out here this week? I bet he was kicked back in some fancy hotel while we busted our asses out here with no communication all week.

Tabitha’s soft laughter echoed around them. Me, too. I was mostly looking for a challenge. I think I got it and I hope it’s worth it.

What do you mean?

Tabitha shrugged a shoulder. Geno and I both had to quit our jobs to come on the show. Neither of our bosses would give us the time off. Once we’re finished here, we have to start all over.

I’m sure you’ll be able to find a job pretty quick. Aren’t they always looking for paramedics? Regan asked.

I suppose. The trick is finding a job in a city we love and making sure Geno can get work as a mechanic. Wanting to be in a new place was what made the decision for us—we knew we wanted to quit our jobs and relocate already, so it was only a matter of when. He wants to buy a house with some land, maybe somewhere on the west coast. His dream is to have a hobby shop where he can fix up old cars on the side, while having a huge garden, she explained.

Wow. I never imagined Geno would be the farmer type.

Tabitha laughed again. He is, and he’s really good at it, too. What about you? What are you going to do once we’re done here?

You mean once I win the fifty thousand? Regan teased.

Ha! I’m going to win the money and buy Geno his farm, Tabitha shot back.

I don’t know what I’m going to do. Probably travel.

Fifty grand isn’t that much. You’ll be out of money in under a year, Tabitha pointed out.

I can work from anywhere. I have my laptop, and that’s all I need. I’m a freelance IT specialist. I don’t have to live anywhere, Regan said with a great deal of pride.

Do you like that? The nomad lifestyle?

Regan pushed a branch out of the way, holding it while Tabitha walked by. I do like it. I don’t like being tied down.

Tabitha made a noise that suggested she disagreed, but she didn’t come right out and say it. Regan was familiar with that reaction. People always gave her the same type of look or said the same thing when they found out she was such a loner.

I think we’re close, Tabitha whispered.

Regan nodded her head. Why are you whispering?

Tabitha stopped, looked at her and smiled. I have no idea.

Both women laughed and entered the clearing where the show’s set was situated in a V-shape. The wide part of the V was the stage where they all sat in a row of chairs and talked about the week. There were various tents around the area that housed the camera crew while the contestants were in the jungle—when the crew was there, anyway. If they weren’t on set, as had been the case for the past week, the tents stood empty. And time was relative, too. What Wolf and the crew called a week was more like eight or nine days; each challenge took up six or seven days, the way the show had been laid out, with another day or two in between for interviews, lectures from Wolf, and eliminations. The whole thing had already begun to feel tedious, and they were only heading into the end of the second week. They’d been meant to finish this challenge that night, and do interviews tomorrow.

Regan stopped near the stage and took stock of things. The rest of the cast looked to have already made it back, which frustrated Regan. She was one of the strongest people on the show. She had to win. If not for the air horn, she felt sure that she and Tabitha would have checked in sooner than some of the others with their goals completed, despite having been separated.

She didn’t have time to think about what it meant for them to be the last team to arrive now.

Welcome back, everyone! Wolf Henderson said from the makeshift stage. Hello! I need everyone’s attention! the host of the reality show shouted.

Regan turned her focus to him immediately. She couldn’t deny the attraction to him that she felt. Maybe it was the long hair. It was a little bit of a rocker, bad boy thing happening, but she knew his long black hair wasn’t a gimmick to promote his celebrity status. It was his Native American heritage. The defined cheekbones and strong jaw were alone testament to his ancestry. While the man was certainly attractive by society’s standards, it was his eyes that had first captured her attention.

The group quieted down and everyone looked at the man who had created Skin of Your Teeth Survival. The guy was supposed to be some survival expert, but Regan wasn’t convinced—yet. He’d provided them with little training before sending the contestants out on their own for a week at a time. Two weeks in, and five people had already left the show. Only one had actually been eliminated. One had been injured and three others had given up and quit during the first week, saying it was too difficult.

So while they had started out with fourteen, they were down to nine, and someone else was clearly about to get booted. They were wrapping up a week where they’d been completely alone—no camera crews or ways to communicate. No lifelines but each other. Regan wondered if some of the other contestants had announced they were quitting. That would be a good thing for her and get her one step closer to winning. They had two more weeks in the swamp. The contestants hadn’t been told how many people would be going home at the end of that week, but Regan knew the cuts were going to have to be heavy in order to get to one lone survivor at the end of the season.

The criteria for elimination included Wolf’s judgment of their skills. They were each supposed to be doing video diaries that the producers would edit into the show before it aired. Regan hadn’t been a fan of doing the selfie thing and had taken very little video so far. This also meant Wolf would have little to judge her on, beyond his own opinion. She only hoped she hadn’t hurt her chances of winning by being a little camera shy.

Wolf raised his hand as everyone gathered closer, snapping her back to the present. We have a bit of a situation, he commented.

Regan’s ears perked up. A situation? That couldn’t be good.

What do you mean? Are we in danger? one woman asked, her voice high-pitched, revealing her fear to anyone who bothered to listen.

Regan rolled her eyes. Duh, Bonnie? Wasn’t that the point of agreeing to do the show? Yeah, there were safety measures in place and, if something did go wrong, the crew would haul them out of the swamp, but danger on some level was part of the deal. But this woman—didn’t she know that advertising her nerves made her a target for elimination?

Tabitha leaned over and whispered close to Regan’s ear. Want to guess she’s the next to go?

Regan smiled and nodded her head in agreement. I don’t understand how she got on in the first place.

They had to have a few weak people to test the stronger ones, like you and me, Tabitha said with a wink. I heard this season was all regular people, she said, using her fingers to make air quotes.

Listen up! Wolf said again, pushing back his long black hair. This is serious. We’ve lost all communication. The camera crew isn’t here, though they should be by now, and I can’t get the producers on the radio. My cell phone isn’t working, either. We’re completely cut off.

Aren’t they supposed to be back tomorrow? the man named Fred spoke up. He was easily recognizable at six and a half feet tall, and definitely stood out in the crowd.

Wolf met the man’s eyes, grimacing. It’s been more than a week since they left. I was supposed to meet them yesterday, he replied. This week was going to be a longer one.

For the first time since she had been in the swamp, Regan felt some foreboding. This was supposed to be a game. It suddenly all felt very real. Why wouldn’t they be back? Quickly, she counted backward over the days and nights, and realized that they hadn’t seen anyone else for nine days. The week in this partnership had been meant to be a full week in between Wolf’s lectures and the crew interviews. They were supposed to have finished up tomorrow, maybe, but the crew should have been back and prepping already.

The contestants stared at Wolf, everyone waiting for him to tell them what to do next. For her part, Regan was confident in her ability to read people, and what she saw in the man’s face had her worried. The man who had dragged them all out to the swamp was concerned, for the first time since she’d met him. She could see it in the lines of his face, the set of his jaw, and, most importantly, in those expressive, dark brown eyes.

Wolf Henderson was uneasy, which meant the situation was serious. This wasn’t a surprise challenge for the cameras. It was the real deal. A shiver of dread ran down her spine as she looked at the people she was stuck in the swamp with. This was not going to end well.

2

With everyone talking at once, Regan took a few steps away from the crowd, not wanting to be a part of the panic she could see bubbling up. She scanned the group, listening to tidbits of conversation. Tabitha and her muscle-bound husband, Geno, were huddled together, Geno’s large body acting as a shield for his wife’s much tinier frame. They seemed calm, at least.

The others mostly seemed restless, their heads darting back and forth as they looked for unseen predators ready to spring. Regan knew they were on the verge of freaking out, and people who panicked and freaked were asking for trouble. They were going to make stupid decisions and get themselves hurt. Worse, their panic could cause problems for the entire group. She angrily shook her head as she took a sip from her canteen, her short hair waving over her face as she did. This was why she hated being stuck with others.

Off to the side, Regan noticed Wolf and the science guy, Fred, talking as they stared at a generator. She hadn’t really cared for Fred all that much. He was big and slow. Not slow because he was big, but slow because he was always thinking and weighing the odds of every decision. He’d been introduced as some sort of science nerd and he was prone to making some really bad jokes that made everyone groan. How or why he was out in this swamp was anyone’s guess. In Regan’s mind, the inability to make a quick decision could only be dangerous in a survival situation. Sometimes, you had to move quickly—without spending fifteen minutes running through every scenario. She couldn’t entirely blame him for wanting to weigh the odds but he needed to learn to do it faster.

Nevertheless, not wanting to interrupt Tabitha and her husband or join the panic of the others, Regan made her way toward Wolf and Fred, hoping to overhear what they were talking about. Whatever it was clearly had them both worried.

Fred looked up to meet her eyes and Regan froze, feeling like an interloper.

Come on over, he welcomed her.

What are you two talking about? she asked.

Nothing works, Fred said matter-of-factly.

Regan looked around at the various cameras and lights and shrugged. So?

All the electronics are down, Wolf emphasized.

Regan nodded her head, understanding the problem but still feeling as if she wasn’t totally getting what they were driving at. Why did that matter if the crew wasn’t there? Okay, and?

We’re completely cut off, Wolf said in a low voice. We can’t call anyone to come get us or ask what the hell is going on.

Regan looked around the set once again. What about this generator? Maybe the batteries in those things are dead and need charging.

Fred shook his head. I can’t get it to run. It’s like it wants to start, but it won’t. There’s no fire, he explained.

One of the other contestants had made his way to where the three of them were standing. We need to check everything, the grizzled older man known as George said. "Check to see if anything turns on."

Wolf and Fred agreed, and Regan didn’t bother to keep asking questions. All nine contestants and their leader spread out, clicking on radios and trying to turn on lights and cameras, only to have the same result. Everything was dead.

It’s an EMP, George said, as they met back in the center of the set, rubbing at his long silver beard.

Regan had heard the acronym, but wasn’t entirely sure what it meant. The three letters clearly meant something to Fred and Wolf, though. The men were exchanging dark glances, as if they’d come to this conclusion also and were still horrified.

You think so? Wolf asked the old man, who was a self-proclaimed prepper-slash-doomsday-believer.

An EMP? Regan echoed.

Fred nodded, as if that said everything. That explains it.

Explains what? Regan demanded, frustration making her voice tight.

Yep. We’re screwed, George said, sounding almost eager. Regan traded looks with the other cast members gathered around; she wasn’t the only one who was confused.

Tabitha moved up beside Regan. What’s going on?

She shrugged, scowling. I don’t know. This guy says ‘EMP’ and those two look like they just ate glass. I don’t know what it is, but it’s bad, she said dryly, looking pointedly at all three men. Wolf’s lips were pursed, as if he was reluctant to explain, but Fred spoke up.

An EMP is an electromagnetic pulse, the scientist answered.

And that is? Regan asked pointedly.

In a nutshell, it’s a radio wave that short circuits solid-state electronics, including microprocessors. The electrical components in things like the cameras, radios, cars, and anything else that relies on solid-state electronics and microprocessors to run.

The old prepper was nodding his head. There are different kinds of EMPs—it’s hard to say what kind we got hit with.

What do you mean we got hit with one? Tabitha asked. Like, this was done on purpose? To us?

Fred shrugged, a thoughtful look on his face as he gazed around the area. Solar flares or lightning could cause it. The detonation of a nuclear bomb is another possibility, but I think we would have noticed that.

Regan coughed in surprised disbelief—yeah, they would have noticed that.

Terror attack, George suggested. Don’t forget to tell them we could have been hit with a massive NNEMP. And you know North Korea has been itching to hit us hard.

What is a NNEMP? Tabitha asked.

A non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse, Fred explained. For that to be what happened here, it would have to have been big. I mean, why would they hit here? he asked, and then paused for a second. Unless it was a coordinated attack, he mumbled under his breath. A coordinated attack that hit several cities across the state, or maybe even the country, would completely disable us. Everything would grind to a halt.

Fred had mostly been talking to himself, but there was a collective gasp from the group. Regan was trying to process it all. It was a lot to understand. She looked to Tabitha, whose mouth was hanging open, her eyes wide. Regan imagined she probably had the same expression of shock on her own face.

My group has been prepping for this very day, George announced. I’m outta’ here. I’m ready to live this out at home, not here where there’s no supply of food, water, or basic necessities. The last place I want to play a real game of survival is the damn swamp.

Wolf looked like he was finally ready to give his opinion when Fred held up his hand, stopping the others from jumping to George’s same conclusion. We’re far enough away from the city that it’s unlikely for it to have hit us out here. A nuclear bomb, detonated above the atmosphere, seems more feasible, he said, rubbing his chin. He nodded as if he had figured out what they were dealing with. A massive E3 could be the culprit, but it could have been E1 or E2 pulses. We won’t know until we get back to the city and find out how widespread this is. Did anyone see anything in the sky?

Everyone looked at each other, shaking their heads. Everyone had been too busy focusing on surviving to be paying attention to the sky.

A nuclear bomb! a woman groaned, and Regan tried to remember if her name was Sally or Cindy. Either way, she looked like she was about to cry, which was the last thing Regan wanted to deal with. Regan took a step back as the woman sank down on a rock, drama written all over her as she continued, Wouldn’t that have killed us already or created nuclear fallout? I don’t see anything falling from the sky.

Regan felt nauseated. She knew enough about a nuclear bomb to know that it meant widespread death. The death wouldn’t be immediate for those on the outskirts of the impact zone. It would be slow and miserable and painful.

She glanced around, taking another step back from the group as Wolf bent to keep the woman in front of them from going into a full-out panic. Tabitha’s skin was ashen, and Geno looked like he was going to up and run off into the swamp. The man’s eyes were darting all around. It was terror she saw. Regan’s eyes moved back to Fred. He didn’t look terrified, at least, which gave her a modicum of comfort.

Fred shook his head at another comment even as Regan’s focus went back to him. No, the nuclear part is not an issue. It’s the EMP that will cause problems. If it is a massive EMP with E3 pulses, which will fry the transformers that make up the main power grid, we could be in trouble. It would be a widespread power outage. It could stretch across the country, depending on how many blasts there were and how close to the ground they were detonated. When we walk out of this swamp, we’ll be walking into the dark ages. Back to the days of candles and horses for transportation.

Regan glared at him, not liking his doom and gloom attitude. It couldn’t possibly be that bad. This was more of that drama she hated so much. It had to be.

Geno stepped forward. Let me look at that generator. I bet I can get it fired up.

You probably can, but what’s the point? Nothing is going to work, Fred replied.

Let him try, Tabitha answered. You don’t know if you’re right. It could be the generator has a problem. Once he gets it running, we can figure out how to charge those walkies.

Fred bent down and picked up a cord running from the camera that was plugged into the generator. Assume it was an E1 pulse. See this? This cord acted like an antenna in a lightning storm. The pulse would have hit the camera and run through the cord, frying everything as it went, and slammed into the inverter on that generator. It’s toast.

Tabitha gave him a warning look. The much taller man actually looked intimidated and dropped the cord, stepping out of the way for Geno.

Regan watched as Geno messed around with the generator, letting the rest of the group’s mutterings fade into the background. The fading sunlight combined with the heavy canopy from the skyscraping trees was making it difficult for Geno to see, which he soon made sure everyone knew was why he couldn’t fix it. The man wouldn’t admit Fred was right, and Fred was shaking his head as if to say he’d told him so, but was polite enough to keep his mouth shut.

Geno cursed and stood up. I can’t get it.

Fred raised an eyebrow and looked as if he was going to respond, but Wolf gave a slight shake of his head, effectively shutting him down.

What are they doing? Tabitha asked, watching as several of the other contestants started stuffing their backpacks with supplies from the emergency locker that had been kept on set.

Hey! Wolf called out when he turned his focus to what Tabitha had pointed out. Slow down! No one is going to run off into the swamp on their own. That’s too dangerous. Those supplies are for all of us.

George spun around. Guess what, man? Your little show is over. We’re not hanging out with some wannabe survivalist that thinks because he’s Native American he knows all there is to know about surviving the apocalypse. I’m going home. The rest of you should do the same.

Regan watched as Wolf took a deep breath. She knew he was trying to stay calm. Wolf was proud of his heritage; it was something that had often been featured on past seasons of his show. Many of the skills he lived on had been passed down through generations. George was a jerk and she hoped Wolf wouldn’t let him bully any of them into something that wouldn’t be fair or make sense in the long run.

George, wait, Wolf said, his voice low. It’s dangerous out there. Most of you don’t have the skills to make it on your own. How do you plan on getting home? he asked the group.

Everyone exchanged looks as if the idea had never occurred to them. Suddenly, the extent of what this might mean hit Regan hard. If the EMP was really the cause of the power outage the group was seeing the effects of, they wouldn’t be able to catch a flight or even rent a car.

Regan realized, in that moment, that she needed to stick with the expert. The one she trusted in this environment. She had to stay with Wolf long enough to get out of the swamp. Once she made it into the city, she could set out on her own then. Blending in was something she did very well, and it seemed like a much safer bet than trying to stick with a handful of people. She could get lost in a large crowd, where she’d only have herself to worry about. But here in the swamp… that was something else.

Let’s make camp here, Wolf suggested flatly, his voice loud enough to stop everyone. There’s tents set up. Forget sleeping outside and take the shelters we’ve already got. We’ll get some food, pair up, and set out in the morning. It’ll be safer if we stay together.

Recognizing the intelligence of what he’d said, Regan leaned back against a tree and did what she did best; she watched people. She gauged the various facial expressions and immediately figured out who was splitting off from Wolf and who was staying. For her part, there was no way she was pairing up with anyone. She’d sleep alone. Tabitha was the only one she liked, but her husband Geno was kind of a jerk. He was loud and had that Italian mobster thing going for him. Regan could feel the man’s dislike of her, too. She didn’t know why, but she was rarely wrong about things like that.

We’re leaving, George announced.

What? Wolf asked. It isn’t safe, George. It’s going to be dark soon.

The stubborn old man shook his head. You’re not in charge. Mary here wants to go with me.

Wolf looked pissed, but Regan just watched. Would he put up a fight?

George and Wolf exchanged a long look, and it was a little like watching two dogs circle each other. Who would make the first move? Finally, it was George who broke the stare, taking a bag and walking out of the camp with Mary in tow.

Wolf took a deep breath and looked down to the ground as if making his own decision, but his voice was confident when he spoke again. I’m asking everyone else to stay put. Stay the night. It isn’t safe out there. The sun is already setting. Moving through the swamp is too risky. We’ll crash early and rise with the sun, and move then.

No one else made a move to leave. Wolf seemed satisfied as he glanced around, and Regan watched as he handed out some meager meals from the emergency supplies and then headed into the outhouse on set. She decided to make her bed on one corner of the stage after she ate her granola bar and dried fruit, and settled in there after the others had paired off. Sleeping under the stars was fine with her if they were all sticking to this area, and definitely better than being crammed into a tent with people she didn’t know or like. Claustrophobic, she hated small spaces, especially small spaces shared with strangers.

You sure you don’t want to sleep in a tent? Wolf sat down beside her. I’m in the interview tent. There’s plenty of room.

No thanks, I’ll be fine out here.

He shrugged. Suit yourself. Load up on the bug spray. There’s some in the supply tent. I’d suggest you grab some now before someone gets greedy. With that, he stood and walked away from her, leaving her alone with her thoughts once again.

With darkness descending, Regan again looked around their makeshift camp. Everyone had split off into smaller groups and holed up inside the production tents. She was the one alone. Nothing new there. The others were talking in hushed whispers, apparently suspicious of everyone else and arguing over supplies. She wasn’t getting sucked into that until she was out of the swamp, she’d trust that Wolf knew what he was doing. For now, she covered herself in bug spray from the supply closet, again, and settled into her space on the stage. There, she took off her wet socks, using a pack of wet wipes to wipe down her feet before letting them air dry.

Her nighttime routine finished, she looked up at the stars and wondered about what was happening beyond the swamp. She wasn’t a prepper. She could survive, of that she was certain, but she knew nothing about EMPs or any of that stuff. She didn’t have a stockpile of anything in her apartment, either. There was nothing to be done about that now. She lay back and closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep.

When she woke early the next morning, it was to the sound of Wolf cursing.

She sat up and brushed down her short hair, hoping the stupid bangs she had gotten right before the start of the competition weren’t sticking up in twenty different directions. That had been a mistake. In a moment of weakness, she’d let one of the producers talk her into some short haircut that was supposed to make her look edgy. Her hair barely reached her shoulders in the choppy layers, and the new bangs drove her nuts.

What’s wrong? she asked as she sat up groggily, watching as he stalked around the area in front of the stage.

They’re gone, and they raided everything. Even took the few guns we had in case of an animal attack. You didn’t hear anything? he growled.

Regan stood up, rubbing her eyes and looking at the cases of supplies strewn about. Oh my God, she whispered, realizing they had essentially been robbed and left to die in the swamp.

I knew that guy would convince them to run, Wolf mumbled under his breath. Mark and his ideas. Him and those girls are idiots. Damn fools.

Who’s gone? Regan asked.

You’re here. Fred’s here.

That’s it? she asked, not hiding the panic in her voice. Without waiting for an answer, Regan sprang into action, grabbing as many essentials as she could find. Tabitha came out of the tent she’d shared with her husband a moment later, and Regan glanced up to acknowledge her. Upon seeing her, she felt slightly better that it wasn’t only her and the two men left in the swamp. So, three people had left during the night, including the woman named Cindy or Sally.

She gave Tabitha a look of warning. A group left, and they took almost everything.

No, she breathed out. She turned and popped her head into the tent. Get up, Geno!

Regan took a second to look around. Geno, Tabitha, and Fred had always been her direct competition in the game. Only, it wasn’t a game any longer. She wasn’t sure if it was a good or a bad thing that the only people left were also the strongest competitors. Regan knew she had made the right choice, even as Wolf moved off to the side and began conferring with Fred. This group of people was smart, and if anyone could survive, it was the five people left standing on set.

They all left? Tabitha asked in disbelief. Those two young ladies—did they actually set out on their own? Or go with Mark?"

Regan shrugged. She’d barely interacted with any of them. I guess so, together or separate.

Tabitha paled, glancing to her husband. Maybe we should look for them.

No, Wolf cut in. They made their choice. We can’t save everyone. We have a long road ahead of us. With all of us working together, we’ll be okay.

He’d looked at Regan as he spoke. She glared back defiantly.

Fred was also moving around now, digging into empty boxes and kicking over crates. It was only the five of them, and with few supplies left since it looked like a lot had been commandeered by those who’d disappeared during the night. She watched Tabitha pick up a first aid kit, open it, and slip it into her bag.

Tabitha glanced up and nodded her head. The simple gesture said a lot. Tabitha had her back. Regan had needed to use an EpiPen on her first day on the set. She had been stupid enough to kick over some dead wood and been stung and Tabitha had been the one to slam the needle into her leg. Regan had realized then that Tabitha probably knew a lot about the medical histories of all the contestants.

Listen, Wolf said, waving everyone over. Gather whatever you can find. If you have two of something, share with someone else. I can’t tell any of you what to do. However, I need you to understand how dangerous it is out there. We checked this area ahead of time, and became familiar with it before you arrived. What we’ve been doing out here the past couple weeks is not the same as surviving in the swamp at large. We don’t have somebody ready to swoop in and save you if you get into trouble, and we’ve got some real ground to cover. I suggest the five of us stick together. We’ll get back to town and figure out what to do then.

Tabitha and Geno were looking at each other. Fred had clearly already made up his mind to stick with Wolf. Regan figured he’d better, as the guy couldn’t find his way out of a paper bag. Being book smart was not the same as being street smart. How he’d managed to get on the show was a mystery. Climbing Mount Everest, as he had made sure she knew he’d done several times, was not the same as surviving on your wits and skills in the swamp.

Then what do we do? Geno asked.

We keep moving, Wolf replied. I have a place we can seek refuge in, should you want to.

Where? Geno asked.

Wolf hesitated. It’s an island. My father and daughter are there. If you want to come along, I’ll be happy to have you. If not, suit yourself.

What if we don’t want to go? Regan asked.

The man’s piercing gaze made her take an involuntary step back. You can stay. We’ll divide up the remaining supplies. If you think sitting in the swamp is better than going to my island, that’s your choice. It’s the wrong choice, but yours to make. Surviving on your own is not a good idea. I hate to be blunt about it, but you’ll die.

Her mouth fell open. Her immediate reaction was to tell him where he could take his suggestions and opinions, but she knew better. She hadn’t meant she’d stay here in the swamp only that she might not go to his island. Regardless, he had a point. She wasn’t a complete idiot.

Well, then, I’ll guess I’ll be tagging along, she snapped. That doesn’t mean I have to go to your island, Wolf, she added under her breath. She knew she needed them to get out of the swamp, but once she was back on more familiar ground, all bets were off.

With their options and the immediate plan laid out, everyone moved to begin gathering what supplies they could. Regan checked the supplies in her own bag before searching the tents. She wanted more socks, specifically. Her feet were not in good shape after everything she’d put them through yesterday.

3

Far too little was happening for Regan’s taste, and it was making her crazy. Wolf felt the need to methodically check every box and crate. Everyone else seemed to be at a loss as to what to do, instead waiting for their leader to give the order to go. It was clear from the shifting feet and glances that the group wanted to go as soon as possible, but Wolf was taking his own sweet time.

Aren’t we going to leave? she asked irritably. You said we need to take advantage of the daylight.

Yes, but once we leave this set, we’re not coming back. We need to take every useful thing we can find.

Aren’t we already doing that? she protested.

He shrugged. No, we looked for prepackaged supplies. We were looking at the obvious. Now, we need to look at the not-so-obvious. Everything you see here could be used in some way out there, he gestured wide with his arms before turning back to another pile of discarded equipment.

How long do you plan on staying in this swamp? she demanded.

He eyed her closely, not bothering to stand from what he’d been doing. "You rode in here in a Jeep. We are going to be walking out. I don’t think you know what you’re up against."

She rolled her eyes. I think you’re still in game mode, playing up the drama and danger. Be real, Wolf; how long do you think it’s going to take us to get out of here?

I don’t know, Regan. It takes as long as it takes. What if someone is injured? What if we have to change course? There’s been a lot of rain, and it’s going to make walking out tough.

Fine, what are you looking for? she pressed. I’ll help and then we can get moving.

He smiled at her, but it wasn’t exactly a friendly smile. It was a smile she had seen before from her caseworker when she’d been young. It said she needed to relax and let the grown-ups take care of things. That had never worked out well for her in the past, and never again would anyone else be in charge of her fate. Her life was in her hands. It had been that way since she’d run away from her last foster home at the age of fifteen.

She was preparing to turn and stalk off into the woods when Wolf finally answered her.

First, we look for cordage. It will come in handy if we need to build shelters or if someone gets hurt and needs to be carried out on a stretcher, he explained, holding up an extension