75 IRRESPONSIBLE MASTERMIND

"I'm sorry, Zoe," Kristie apologized to Zoe.

Her eyes seemed like they would burst into tears again.

Zoe patted her back. "It's okay. It's not your fault."

She faced the Norfolk Tribe, still covered in profuse sweat.

She prostrated herself and asked for their forgiveness for being the cause of their defeat.

"Forgive me, everyone. I'll do better next time."

Everyone stared at her in wonder. They all knew what happened a while ago. Why is she asking for their apology? They knew she did her best.

"It's okay, Zoe. We understand."

One of them comforted her.

However, Savannah wouldn't let anyone sympathize with her that easily.

"I told you all she's a tragedy magnet. You didn't listen to me,"

She laughed at them as she approached to call on her friends.

"It's just unfortunate that she became a part of your tribe. Disaster will surely hit you anywhere."

She said as a matter of factly to everyone on the team.

The Norfolks looked at each other. They don't want to think ill of her since it was as clear as day that she was innocent.

But the thought that what Savannah said might be true indeed entered their minds as they chatted with each other.

"Zoe was undeniably ill-omened to encounter such a catastrophe at a young age. She may be jinxed and until now, that curse is still taking effect on her."

On the other hand, Zoe was unusually silent.

She was not retorting back or answering any of their accusations.

'I knew if I would blame them for their evil strategy, they would just hold me responsible for having such a weak mind.'

"Yeah, so much for the Providence Petrel story," Nella openly scorned her

before leaving together with Savannah.

Zoe drew in a deep breath as she tried to hold her peace.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Erin butted in and halted the group of friends from leaving the area.

"The game is over, right?"

Savannah asked nonchalantly.

"Yes. And because the Norfolks lost, they weren't allowed to leave the island for the night, right about…"

Erin checked on her watch.

"Now." She smiled with a devilish grin.

"Oh!" Her friends blurted out in dismay at Erin's announcement.

"Don't get in a fluster," Savannah reassured them.

"I will still do what I promised a while ago."

She winked at them as Erin shoved her away from them.

Zoe observed their exchange of expressions and patched things up.

'They were at a far distance away from each other during the game. There is no way they could have talked about their scheme of distorting my mind then.'

'Not unless they devised it ahead of time. Like before the game started when Savannah said that she needed to pee.'

Zoe heaved out a deep sigh.

"They're despicable even before it started."

She shook her head in disgust.

'I wanted to fight fair and square. But how could I when they want this to be a dirty pool?

Do I need to be treacherous like them so that I could knock them down for good? I don't want to stoop down to their level!'

Zoe continued to contemplate as she walk away.

'Will I just leave the challenge then? It seemed that they were just starting with me. But will I get another opportunity such as this to battle with them head-on?'

She was in this dilemma when Erin inquired about Savannah's last remark at Zoe's earshot.

"What do you mean by that, darling?"

She asked away, sounding like a close friend when deep inside, she was burning with the intense desire to pull out all her hair and stick her bald head into the sand to be eaten by crabs.

Zoe swiveled back. She wanted to confirm what she was thinking about."

"It's nothing much. I just told them I would give them food and comfortable mattresses later so they could be cozy out here."

She answered in a casually calm and relaxed manner.

Erin's lip curved upward.

"Oh no, dear. That would defeat the purpose of the game. They were supposed to bear with the scraps on this camp. Or else, they wouldn't feel their loss, am I right?" She smiled at her.

"Or you could join them here. I guess it won't be unfair. Since the winner scooched down to the losers and not the other way around."

She added while winking at Zoe.

Savannah's friends lightened up when they heard that their head could be with them.

Unfortunately, their dearest Savannah has other thoughts in mind.

"No way! I will not settle for less. Sorry girls, you had such bad luck today."

She said in a fake remorseful tone, glancing lastly on Zoe as she spoke the word 'bad luck.'

Zoe smiled smugly. She just made them lose, and now she's blaming luck.

Anika smiled at her.

"It's okay. We know you don't mean it."

Their other friends nod their heads in agreement.

'Your top dog is the mastermind. She was the reason why you are in the dump. And now she doesn't want to get down and dirty. Blind followers!'

Zoe wanted to scream at them.

But she chose to take a deep breath and just allowed the situation to unfold on their own.

"Thank you, sister; I knew you'd understand."

She beamed at them with a fake kind expression before leaving the scene.

Erin faced the Norfolks again, who were all hunched over at their defeat.

"Don't brood, Norfolks. I have a special privilege for you so that you won't feel downcast somehow."

The Norfolk Tribe stared at Erin in anticipation of what she was about to say.

"One of the council will have to guide you for the rest of the evening. You have the freedom to choose who among the council will be your guard."

The Norfolks glimpsed at each other and talked among themselves who they would choose.

Zoe swiveled to the three members of the council who were now preparing themselves for whomever the Norfolks would choose.

'Raigon,' She uttered under her breath.

"Mr. Gao!" One of the Norfolks shouted.

"Mr. Fu!" Another one commented.

Erin butted in and offered a solution.

"Why don't we take a vote?" She smiled at them.

They all nodded their heads in agreement.

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True leaders always practice the three Rs:

R - Respect for self, R - Respect for others

R - Responsibility for all their actions.

-Anonymous

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