Contents
Chapter Six
Overview
Starvation pressures the group into demeaning tasks and hard choices. After discovering Seb hoarding food, Candice asserts authority while Tom subdues Seb for a three-legged race. The screen then demands a banishment for meat; Seb is expelled, yielding abundant meat. Buoyed by plenty, they also banish Sarah for bread, consolidating control and supplies.
Summary
Morning hunger erases the comfort of last night’s duck. Lily wakes Andrew, who startles, then regains composure as the big screen offers no food. Breakfast is half-cup coffees under watchful eyes. The first task orders everyone to eat grass for a whistle; the group complies, disgusted and desperate.
The next task demands a three-legged race for nails, prompting Mia’s outburst and walkout. While doing kitchen maintenance, Lily overhears Seb crudely objectifying the girls and Tom curtly rebuking him, hinting at Tom’s disdain. Later, Lily relaxes with Jacintha, discussing future “final five” freedoms and flirtations, before a commotion draws everyone inside.
They find Seb hiding a giant jar of strawberry jam, almonds, and donuts, eating with his fingers. Candice condemns his greed; Seb argues the big screen is mockery and touts gaming the small screens. Candice insists on completing the communal task, and, at her request, Tom takes a rope to ensure Seb participates.
During the three-legged race, pairs struggle from hunger. Lily and Ryan win; Jacintha and Carlos finish close behind. Seb collapses, but Tom relentlessly drags him across concrete to finish, leaving a bloody trail. Immediately, the big screen orders: banish a resident for meat. The group expels Seb, who limps into the desert, and they receive a cache of meats.
Flush with food, they gorge on lamb and bread, but the memory of hunger urges further action. Andrew uses the new whistle to coordinate tasks, and the group swiftly votes to banish Sarah for bread; Vanessa assumes food preservation. Vanessa locks away meat and bread, and Mia drops her vegetarian stance. The compound feasts, order tightens under Candice, Tom, and Andrew, and security replaces scarcity—for now.
Who Appears
- LilyNarrator; hungry, observes power shifts, overhears Seb and Tom, wins the race with Ryan, questions her attraction.
- CandiceConfronts Seb’s hoarding, asserts authority, directs Tom to restrain him, celebrates meat reward, helps steer banishments.
- TomQuiet enforcer; rebukes Seb privately, binds and drags him in the race, executes Candice’s plan, helps secure order.
- SebCaught hoarding jam, almonds, donuts; resists tasks; is restrained, loses the race, then is banished for meat.
- AndrewLeader figure; anxious about tasks, wears whistle to coordinate meetings, embraces Candice as meat reward appears.
- RyanPartners with Lily to win the three-legged race; offers brief support at finish.
- JacinthaConfides with Lily about final five and flirtations; races with Carlos, finishing just behind.
- VanessaManages food storage after Sarah’s banishment; locks freezer and stashes bread.
- SarahInitially guards food; later banished for bread reward despite her role.
- EvanReturns to Susie’s bed; fetches rope for Candice to control Seb.
- MiaRails against pointless tasks while starving; later abandons vegetarianism during the feast.
- BeccaWorks kitchen maintenance with Lily; paired with Sam in the race.
- SamRaces with Becca; Lily notices him, hinting at shifting attraction.
- CarlosStays close to Jacintha; their pair nearly wins the race.
- SusieAnxious about insects in grass; comforted by Evan; gossiped about by Seb.