“Then let’s head over to this week’s challenge area and see what we’vecookedupfor you all.”
There’s a long table with six chairs all on one side and six pairs of headphones, as well as several domed plates per seat.
“Fellas, please take a seat. Ladies, line up in front of your guys.”
We all do as Alex says, and I can already tell you, whatever’s under these domes is going to be foul.
“Before each of you are three mystery dishes. Guys, you’ll all be blindfolded and wearing noise-cancelling headphones to really allow yourself to be immersed in the flavors. Your partner will feed you, and if you can’t accurately guess what the dish is, you have to keep tasting more and more bites until you get it right. The first couple to guess all three correctly will win; the bottom two, as you know, will be up for elimination.”
I glance at Courtney, who looks at the lineup nervously. I understand where her head is at. Before, we had to be in the top six. Then the top five. Now we have to be in the top four. Every time, the stakes are raised and the chances of us getting sent home grow. Not on my watch, though. I just hope to God I can figure out whatever they’ve put in front of us.
A production assistant walks behind each of us and slips on the headphones and the blindfold, submerging us into total darkness. Almost immediately, I smell the salt from the ocean breeze that much more, and the light scent of Courtney’s perfume. Itbrings me almost a sense of peace, and I lean into it despite my rapidly beating heart. I think the fact that this challenge is more mental than physical is what has me on edge. Can’t I throw some heavy shit or run fast? Something easy?
They said they would touch our shoulders when it’s time to start, and the instant I feel a tap, my jaw is as wide as I can open it. Courtney spoons the first thing into my mouth, and I instantly heave. Oh fuck. I remember this taste all too well. When I was eight, the foster dad ate a can of these every night and made us eat them too.
I chew as best as I can before forcing them down.
“Anchovies,” I say, heaving.
I open my mouth and hope to God I got it right so we can move on to a new flavor.
When something that isn’t fishy at all touches my tongue, I could fucking jump for joy. That is until the flavor settles and quickly sours my stomach. What the fuck is that? Gamey but kind of grisly.
“Rabbit?” I ask, then open my mouth and wait for the next dish.
Another bite of the same meaty thing is placed in my mouth, and I chew it a little slower this time, despite my taste buds rioting. I taste something that’s almost sour this time, and I don’t know if that’s the dish or the way it was prepared.
“It fucking tastes like some wild animal or some shit,” I say before another bite is shoved into my mouth enthusiastically.
Okay, I take it that’s Courtney’s way of saying I’m on the right track. Which is foul. I chew on the thing for what seems like forever. Fuck. I have no goddamn clue.
“A hint,” Alex’s voice says through my headphones. “It’s a common nuisance found in large cities.”
I sit back in my chair as my stomach rolls. “Please don’t tell me it’s a fucking rat.”
Carefully, I open my mouth and am shocked to taste a new flavor. Christ, that’s fucking disgusting, somehow even worse than rat. Whatever it is, it’s fucking moving in my mouth. Squirming and wiggling around. I chomp on it quickly, and little bodies explode into my mouth. I gag. The taste is like death mixed with nuts. What the fuck? I keep chewing, attempting to kill every last fucker before choking them down.
“Fucking maggots?” I guess as one begins crawling back up my throat.
I have no choice, I do my best to lean to the side and puke everywhere, heaving and retching until my entire stomach empties itself. A hand comes to my back, rubbing it gently as my headphones and blindfold are taken off.
“It’s okay. You did so good,” Courtney says, then she gags too.
When I open my eyes, I look down at the pile of puke, and just like that, I want to lose it all over again. Maggots, rats and anchovies. What the actual hell?
I look around to see almost everyone is done apart from Connor, who looks to still be chewing on the rat.
“God, I know this flavor. It reminds me of a meal my mom used to cook.”
Several people laugh at that as he keeps chewing on it with way too much interest. Shit. That means we’re in the bottom two. I look up at Courtney, worried she’s going to be pissed with me, but she whispers into my ear.
“Andrew couldn’t finish. He felt the maggots on his tongue and threw up everywhere. Said he quit.”
I turn away from her and see Andrew sitting there with his head in his hands as Cora folds her arms across her chest. It probably makes me a dick, but thank God. I did not want to be the reason we were up for elimination.
“Who finished first?” I ask.
I thought I got through them pretty quick, considering.
