Series

Blood on the Water (The Florida Challenge Part 19)

August 9, 2016 // 1 Comment

The punch hit me hard right in the gut, a vicious uppercut that made each of my internal organs take turns slamming into my ribcage. The gun flew out of my hands and disappeared into the boat's wake. [...]

The Huntress (The Florida Challenge Part 17)

June 14, 2016 // 1 Comment

By now the majority of our surroundings were on fire. This warehouse was ripe for it. The explosions had lit up the numerous boxes and clutter, the flames racing to contaminate adjacent shelves. The whole warehouse was doomed. I said, "Yo, this is f***ing awesome!" [...]

A Murderous Rage (The Florida Challenge Part 16)

May 24, 2016 // 1 Comment

Bros don't cry. No way, no how. But something happens when you're betrayed by your fellow bro. You feel it. It starts deep down in your finely-toned core and works its way out. It ain't crying. It's liquid testosterone. [...]

A Ridiculous Last Stand (The Florida Challenge Part 15)

May 12, 2016 // 1 Comment

There I was, a travel blogger, accompanied by a zookeeper and four vaguely-foreign former captives. Together we were the unwavering legion of three hundred Spartans and this dark, dirty room inside of a villainous warehouse was our Thermopylae. [...]

Death and Prison (The Florida Challenge Part 14)

May 3, 2016 // 1 Comment

Manatee Challenge Death, Prison, and the Ladies

I lay there, blood pouring out of my neck, a simple metal door the only thing separating me from an armed militia responsible for countless human rights violations. In my professional opinion, I'd be dead in a matter of minutes. [...]

Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Gunfire (The Florida Challenge Part 13)

April 21, 2016 // 3 Comments

It's tempting to think, when you find yourself imprisoned in a giant crate inside the warehouse of human traffickers, that you've hit rock bottom. But that's pretty shortsighted. Chances are, much worse things are still to come. [...]

A Life or Death Decision About Toothpaste

April 12, 2016 // 1 Comment

It was the smell that woke me. A putrid array of filth and decay assaulted my nostrils, so rancid that it was sticky and palpable. In a flash of groggy horror, I realized what was causing such a stench: I had not brushed my teeth in days. [...]

Grand Theft Auto (The Florida Challenge Part 11)

March 29, 2016 // 5 Comments

"So you partner with a notorious human trafficker to steal an infant manatee, release a vicious bear from its cage, psuedo-kidnap a woman and fight her in your van, then steal some innocent guy's car and break his stuff? At what point during any of this do you think you're the good guy here?” [...]

Attack of the Megalodon (The Florida Challenge Part 10)

March 24, 2016 // 5 Comments

The thing was still down there, poking at me. I plunged my arm into the water after it, trying to mash it in my fingers. If I was gonna be dragged down to the depths by some Kraken then I planned on taking it to hell with me. [...]

No Friends in High Places (The Florida Challenge Part 9)

March 22, 2016 // 3 Comments

Sunshine Skyway, Florida Manatee Challenge

For what it's worth, I still felt relatively confident about our chances of survival. Then I took one peek over the edge and completely changed my mind. [...]

Some Light Felony Kidnapping (The Florida Challenge Part 8)

March 15, 2016 // 1 Comment

Well, none of this has gone according to plan. Stealing animals out of zoos used to be so much easier back in the day, you know? Now it's all, "stop!" this and "let the manatee go" that. [...]

The Florida Challenge Part 7: Chaos & Terror

March 8, 2016 // 1 Comment

The sloth bear was 400 pounds of muscle encased in shaggy black fur and tipped with massive, razor sharp claws. And now it was free and hungry and running our way. [...]

The Florida Challenge Part 6: The Heist

March 3, 2016 // 1 Comment

There wasn't anyone around to stop us from leaving the zoo. All we had to do was load the manatee and drive off. A clean getaway. Or so we thought. [...]

The Florida Challenge Part 5: Trouble at the Zoo

March 1, 2016 // 1 Comment

I grinned wider than my first girlfriend's beer gut. Here I was, right on the cusp of bagging my manatee. Ain't nothing gonna stop me now! [...]

The Florida Manatee Challenge Part 4: The Smuggler

February 25, 2016 // 1 Comment

I want to liberate a manatee. Help the poor thing escape from this land of hurricanes and alligators. This is a moral crusade! Also I really want to win a bet. [...]