"How do you think she's faring on that cursed island?" Anya's worried expression made Timothy abandon the report he had to prepare to go stand by her in a bid to comfort her.
He took a deep breath and watched as the host of the popular reality TV show, PARADISE granted an interview to one of the top reporters in Nigeria.
"Do you think she's been caught?" Anya turned to face Timothy who clenched his jaw before responding.
Anya was slowly losing her patience. Two weeks into the show and yet no word from Taye, who went on a spy mission to unravel the mysterious disappearances that happen every time the reality show is renewed for another season.
"Let's wait for her, barging in on them might lead to complications. She's alive, I believe so," he patted her on the shoulder before returning to his desk which was organized for someone who works in the police department. In a sea of cluttered desks and tables, his desk stands out.
Taye, where are you? Timothy thought as his fingers began to click the keys on the keyboard.
PARADISE ISLAND, SOMEWHERE IN NIGERIA
Taye bent very low as she followed the sound of voices and music that filled the air.
She ducked carefully under tree branches and squinted her eyes hard to make out the outline of the gigantic tree roots on the ground set to trip anyone careless enough to wander around without a guide.
A guide isn't what she needs right now. She needed evidence, concrete evidence and this was it.
Something is off, a voice said in her head.
"Who starts a bonfire at midnight?" She murmured.
Unconsciously her fingers trailed up to her shoulder to activate the camera hidden in the clothes she put on to blend in. The camera came on with a tiny beep and the clearing came into full view.
She hid behind a tree and watched as the contestants danced and drank and got high.
Some paradise this is.
Taye rolled her eyes in the dark and glanced at the tall trees around her hoping nothing was behind her.
"Everyone gather around!" The Paradise Master called out and immediately silence ensued.
He beamed at all fourteen contestants, the fire twinkling in his black eyes.
"We are gathered tonight to–" he paused.
The contestants began to murmur among themselves and The Paradise Master waved his hands in the air in a bid to calm everyone.
He gave them a hundred watt smile.
Something about his smile put Taye off and she wished she had her weapon close by.
"As I was saying, we are gathered tonight to give an offering. Well, offerings," he chuckled nervously.
"Offering? Are we in a church or what?" A male contestant asked which drew laughter from everyone.
"In case you didn't know, only seven of you will get to leave," The Paradise Master paced as he addressed them, his white cloak billowing in the soft night breeze.
"And the seven that will stay back have already been chosen," his smile was gone now and his eyes scanned the trees, passing over the one Taye was behind.
Seven?
Every year seven returned and seven stayed. Why?
"Uhh, master?" A fair skinned contestant raised her hand.
The Paradise Master turned to her with a nod.
"I don't think anyone would like to stay back on this island after the show. I mean it's in the middle of nowhere with zero access to social media," she laughed nervously and looked to the other contestants for support.
No one said anything.
The Paradise Master stared into space for sometime before giving a curt nod and suddenly seven masked men burst from the trees and ran towards the contestants, carting away seven of them while the rest screamed at the top of their voices in fear.
"Let me go!" The fair skinned lady screamed as she was carried away.
"Where are you taking them?!" One of the remaining seven roared.
"Don't you dare harm them," a male contestant stormed up to The Paradise Master who gave him a reassuring smile.
"I am not going to harm them, they are simply going to be servants in the island god's holy temple for the rest of their lives," The Paradise Master replied.
"They have family you know. You can't just force them to serve your god. People will come look for them," a lady spoke up.
"They were chosen because they have no one to look for them if they don't come back. The rest of you have influential people backing you and keeping you lot will be bad for business. You understand me right?" The Paradise Master stared at them as if he had just told them that the sky is blue and they refused to understand why the sky is blue.
"You shall return to your quarters and resume your tasks first thing in the morning. The world is watching," he sang and danced his way out like nothing had happened leaving the rest of the contestants sitting in shock.
"It's time to return to your quarters," the heavily armed men posing as guides announced to them and slowly as if in a trance, they all got up and moved.
Taye's eyes were wide like discs as she tried to process what she had just seen.
She just witnessed an abduction, live and with the stupidest excuse of all time.
"They're going to serve the island god."
There was only one way to interpret that.
PARADISE is a cult!
With that realization, Taye pressed the emergency button on her walkie talkie that had not been used for two weeks. It'll give the HQ her location.
"This ends tonight," she vowed.
"Does it?" Someone asked from behind her.
Taye turned around to see the familiar white gown of The Master.
"You are going to serve the island god too my dear. Take her," he ordered.
She pressed the button repeatedly as she was carried away, it was a distress signal for the HQ to respond to.