Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As the beautiful sunlight shines through the pines of Camp Tipiskaw, a woman is seen climbing up a step-ladder, tightly holding onto the ladder, carrying a hammer on her right hand. 

She used the step-ladder to be able to reach the sign of the camp, which read “Camp Tipiskaw” carved on its wood.

The woman then proceeds to place a large paper over the sign, nailing the 2 edges on its right side. She then goes down the step-ladder, moving it to the left side, ascending again, and nailing both of the edges on the left side. The paper reads “DISVENTURE” in bold red text.

A sigh escapes her lips as she wipes the sweat off her forehead, descending the step-ladder with a joyful hop. An… unnatural smile appears on her face as the camera faces her. 

“Howdy, watchers! My name is Kristal, and oh boy, do I have some news for you! …Well, if you’re familiar with Season 1 of Disventure Camp, then you should know Trevor, Derek and Jensen are all locked away in a nasty jail cell, far away from here. Now that those goobers are out of the way, I, Kristal McLane, will be your new, gracious host!”

Kristal places her hand on her hip. “Now, now… Many of you are probably stans who haven’t missed a single episode. But for those who aren’t, I’m going to explain the basics of the game again.”

“14 veeery lucky campers from around the whole globe have sent their auditions to join Season 2! And they have been personally selected to join us, for the chance to compete for the prize of a million dollars! Every episode has its own, uniquely crafted challenge. The campers will participate in those challenges, to win immunity or other kinds of rewards! Winning immunity means that their team, or themselves, will be safe from elimination. And after every challenge, it’s only a matter of time until I host an elimination ceremony, where one sad soul will have to kiss the million goodbye, as the contestants will have to vote one person off. Or maybe… two?” She chuckles after the last statement.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean I won’t add some flavor to those same old rules every now and then. That would just be boring, hmm? And… speaking of, in a certain episode, the immunity totems will become available. When a camper finds an immunity totem, cleverly hidden around the camp, they may use it during the ceremony to nullify any votes casted against themselves or anyone they’d like. There will also be hidden advantages around the camp after enough time has passed... But let's not get ahead of ourselves.”

She cleared her throat. “If you still didn’t catch my drift, like a total doofus… Then I can’t really help you. Just… keep watching. Anyways, we’ve got plenty of episodes ahead of us, and this is still just the first one! But at the very end, only one person will join Miriam as Disventure Camp’s second ever winner! Who will that be? Keep your eyes open and enjoy the ride, right here, on… Disventure Camp!”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp.

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

A bus persistently made its way to camp. The driver was a blond bearded man wearing sunglasses. His name was Marcus. In his hand, he carried a peculiar doll slash puppet, with orange pigtails and a pink dress. Her name was Nina. They were… quite the peculiar duo.

The vehicle had around fourteen seats in the back, each side of the aisle with a pair of contestants occupying them.

Hunter and Ally were sitting beside each other. The girl was staring out the window, not really speaking much. She was totally spacing out. 

So, he decided to start some small talk. “Uhh… hey there?”

Snapping back to reality, she turned to him with a gasp, greeting him back in full awkwardness. “O-oh! …Hi.”

His eyes squinted as he looked at her face more clearly. “Hmm… hey, y’know, you look oddly familiar? Like, I swear I’ve seen you somewhere before, I just can’t remember where.”

Suddenly, the girl became very anxious and flustered. “A-ah! Umm… it’s probably n-nothing. M-maybe you’re just… misremembering.” A nervous giggle left her.

He shrugged. “O-okay, maybe. Uh, I’m sorry.”

“I-it’s okay! What’s, um… your name?”

“Ah, I’m Hunter. You?”

The girl hesitated for a second, as if contemplating whether she should answer or not. Eventually, she did. “A-Ally. Call me Ally.”

Leaving the awkwardness of that pair, and focusing our attention on another awkward pair…

Maggy and Tess were in front of Ally and Hunter. They were a pretty odd pair already, since Maggy was a complete social wreck, and Tess was basically asocial.

The tall girl eventually mustered the courage to murmur something to the girl. “U-um, u-uhh… Hi?”

Tess barely paid attention, only glancing back at her without a response.

Maggy started to freak out internally, but decided to lead in with a stronger tone. “S-soo… m-my name is Maggy… m-may I please know yours?”

…Silence. Well, at least for a good while, until shockingly, Tess gave her a short yet firm answer. “Tess.”

Even the tall girl was surprised. She simply nodded, not saying another word.

On the farthest row, away from the first two pairs, sat Yul and James together. Yul was looking at his phone, cackling loudly. “HA! This TikTok of this old lady in a wheelchair getting pushed off a balcony is SOO iconic! I think I’m gonna record my own version of that trend. Soo fetch!”

James didn’t pay attention to anything he was saying, instead, intensely texting on his phone with a huge grin on his face.

“Uhh, hellooo?! Did you even listen to me, moron??” Yul shouted, his arms crossed, facing James.

“Ohhh…” He looked away from his phone for a second. “...Sorry, man. Not really. I was just setting up a Q&A poll on my social media.”

Yul huffed, rolling his eyes. “Figures! I should’ve known that THE @JamesCD had the attention span of a fucking goldfish.”

Suddenly, James had a spark in his eye, though it didn’t seem that genuine. “Ohoo? So you do recognize me?”

“Ugh, yeah, whatever. You’ve been making numbers, who cares. I’ve been making wayyy more of a killing on TikTok with my choreographies! Haven’t you seen the crazy amount of edits I’ve been getting with my songs?” He gloated.

James pondered for a second. “Uhh… what’s your name, again?”

A huge, disappointed sigh escaped Yul’s mouth. “Yul. My TikTok is @yullookgoodsomeday. Sound familiar? Because boyyy, I’ve been trending.”

The man was left silent, thinking for a long moment, humming obnoxiously. “...No. Never heard of you.” Then he goes back to looking at his phone, texting intensely.

Yul facepalms, muttering. “...Fucking asshole.”

On the other side of the row, sat Kai and Lake beside each other.

“Hellooo thereee, duudeee…” The green-haired man said. The girl beside him waved at him, awkwardly. “Guten Tag.”

His eyes widened a bit. “Ohh, what language is that?”

“It’s German. It means good day.”

“That’s raaadical… Hey, I must warn you. I sense very good and promising energies in you… Although, they seem very turbulent… Is there something urgent happening in your life?” He questioned.

Lake only responded with an unsettled stare. “A-ahh? I… I’m not quite sure what you mean…” A low, awkward chuckle left her.

In the seat in front of them were Rosa María and Oliver. 

“Soo… let me guess. You seem like a Scorpio to me.” She said.

He expressed confusion. “Huh? …What?”

A heartful chuckle escaped her. “Ahh, I am talking about your zodiac sign, my friend.”

“Oh, zodiac signs? …E-eh, not to be rude, but… I don’t really believe in that astrology stuff or whatever…” He confessed.

Rosa pouted her lips. “Hm, well… Either way, you probably should at least give it a try. It’s a good hobby to have, you know?”

He put a finger to his chin. “Hey, maybe I will. O-oh! I’m Oliver, by the way. You?”

“Rosa María. Delighted to make your acquaintance, friend.”

“Y-yeah, same here. Um… actually, I’m an intern in this show. Normally, I work here, but… The last contestant couldn’t make it, so I had to fill in for them.”

She’s a little intrigued. “Oh? That’s a little… unexpected.”

“It happens, y’know? …Well, I kinda hope I win the million, because working here is reaaally dangerous and exhausting.”

Rosa expresses concern. “Aw… sounds difficult, my friend. Well, I wish you good fortune.”

Suddenly, the two diverted their attention to loud, obnoxious coughing in front of them. 

“UGHH! T-there’s DUST everywhere in this filthy excuse of a bus! Open the windows already!” Karol complained loudly. Beside her, was Riya, who looked very uncomfortable.

“U-umm… y-yes… O-open the windows, guys… haha…” She said, her tone extremely low. Of course, she wasn’t being honest at all. She just didn’t want to get on Karol’s bad side, as she was genuinely scaring her. Besides, Riya needed friends. No use starting a fight with the Karen right now.

And finally, at the very front of the row of seats, were Aiden and Connor.

“Hooow’s it going, fellow kid? Are you… uh, serving… girly pop?” The old man asked.

Aiden simply gave him a short look of confusion, but also nearly cracked a laugh at his cringe-worthy behavior. 

“Uh… I dunno if I’m really serving right now…”

Connor suddenly recoiled, thinking he must’ve said the wrong thing. “A-ah, crap… N-no, I think you’re absolutely serving right now! T-that look, uhh… how’s it say… ate down the building?”

He chuckled. “Thanks. Err… your look is pretty nice, too.”

The older man placed his hands on his own hips, proudly. “Ha! I know I ate. Soo… you young’uns still use MySpace?”

Aiden raised a brow. “MySpace? What’s that?”

“O-oh! Uhh… It’s one of those social media… platform… thingies. Y’know?”

“Ahh, of course. I don’t use MySpace, though. Just Instagram and TikTok…” He then started looking at his phone, typing something.

Connor scratched his head, nervously. “I-I see…”

As Aiden finished typing, a look of slight surprise overcame his face. He then showed his phone screen to the old man beside him. “Uhh, so according to Google, people stopped using MySpace around 2008… It’s super obsolete nowadays, I’m not sure it even exists anymore?”

The old man’s jaw dropped in surprise. “O-ohh… Oh, man. I, uh… really gotta catch up with the news, haha…”

Suddenly, the bus comes to a slow halt. In the front seat, the bus driver stood up, and the puppet he was holding started to… speak? 

“Ahem! Attention, everyooone! As your very first test, you guys are gonna have to run to camp as fast as you can! Why, you may ask? …Because the last two people to arrive there will be eliminated… And FED to the sharks deep under the lake!”

Not only were they alarmed by the fact there was a literal doll speaking to them, but her last statement caused many reactions. Some were terrified, others angered, and others… didn’t really care. 

The bus driver lightly bopped the doll in the head. “Nina! That wasn’t very nice.”

“Ugh, who caaaresss? Quit being a party-pooper.” She crossed her arms.

Marcus cleared his throat. “A-anywho! Campers, get moving! Just go straight from the entrance sign, you’ll find Kristal waiting for you at the camp.”

And with his instructions, almost every camper rushed out of the bus. Except Lake, who stayed behind to talk to the bus driver.

“...Sir, are you mentally… unwell?” She asked, with genuine curiosity behind her tone.

Before he could even reply, the doll spoke up again, pointing a finger at the girl. “Move it, buttercup! Before I turn you into SHARK DINNER!”  

Lake gasped and ran off, clearly distraught.

-xx-

We change to a view of Kristal, in a secluded spot in the camp. She held up a cellphone to her ear, with an angry expression on her face.

“I! Already! Told you! I’m not joining your shitty show!” She yelled, firmly.

The man on the phone responded. “Sweetie, you know Disventure Camp has exceedingly low ratings compared to my show! You’ll never make it big at this rate.”

“I don’t care! When I finally try doing something on my own terms, you just have to get in the goddamn way all the time! Lay off, dad! I’m not giving up on Disventure Camp!”

As Kristal huffed, the man continued. “You don’t have to cancel the show! W-we could do a collab, maybe?? A Race to the Place crossover? Huh? How does that sound?”

“This conversation is OVER! Don’t call me again.” 

*beep*

And with that, Kristal hung up the phone, crossing her arms and leaning back on the bench she was sitting on, a remorseful expression growing on her face.

-xx-

Back to the race, the campers ran as fast as they could, following the bus driver’s directions.

A little further in the back, Maggy and Hunter were sprinting at the same pace. He tries striking a conversation with her. 

“Hey there! I’m Hunter. You?”

The girl was caught off guard by the sudden question, she was barely able to reply. “A-ahh! I-I… u-uhh… M-Maggy… I-I’m sorry, I’m just really bad at this…”

Hunter chuckled in a friendly manner. “Hey, don’t sweat it. Y’know, I don’t usually get out of the house, and I don’t have a lot of friends… as in, real life friends, I mean. But I really like sports, so I’m usually training at home or by myself in the closest gym.” He tried being as open as he could, to make Maggy more comfortable.

A slight sparkle in her eyes could be seen. “O-oh…! I, um… also don’t have many friends. M-my parents are really protective, so… A-and I’m just really bad at s-socializing, so they homeschooled me…”

The guy’s eyebrows narrowed a bit, a sad look on his face. “Aw. Well, don’t worry. There’s a lot of people in the world who can’t socialize well, I was one of those back then, too. You’re definitely not alone on this, y’know?”

She smiled. “T-thank you…”

Hunter nodded. “Don’t worry about it. I’m gonna pick up the pace a bit. Nice meeting you, Maggy.”

The guy then increased his running speed, outrunning the tall girl.

Confessional ~ Hunter

“Man… I feel really bad for Maggy. I know how it is to deal with tough situations, especially with parent figures, and struggling at school… She really reminds me of myself a few years ago. Except, the difference is, I’m a dropout. School sucked, honestly.”

_

Meanwhile, Ally and Tess also ran at the same pace.

“Hiya! I’m Ally. What’s your name, fellow girlboss?” She asked.

As expected, Tess didn’t say a word back. She kept running, facing forward, not even glancing back at the girl.

Ally got nervous, clearing her throat and trying again. “U-uhm… hi? Did you hear me?”

“You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to.” A firm, blunt response was given by Tess.

The gamer girl recoiled for a second. “B-but… I do want to! I just wanted to get to know you a little. We’re gonna stay here together for a long time, so…”

“You don’t know that. We could be the first ones out.”

Ally sighed, her shoulders drooping with her cold words.

Tess glanced back at her as she ran, feeling like she was too harsh on her. “...It’s Tess.”

The gamer girl smiled, her sadness fading away. “O-oh! Nice to meet you, then. So… what do you like to do?”

“Eh. Drawing… whatever…”

“I-I think that’s really cool! I’m not really good at drawing, but I bet you’re awesome at it.” Ally said, with a smile, earning a suspicious squint from Tess.

Confessional ~ Tess

“This might just be me… but I really can’t tell when people are being honest with me. Especially when it comes to compliments. But… maybe this Ally girl isn’t all that bad. I can be rather… quick to judge.”

_

Much ahead of them, Karol was sprinting rapidly.  Kai managed to catch up to her pace, lagging just a little behind her. 

“Greetings!” He said. “I can just sense that your aura aligns perfectly with Mother Nature itself, especially her animals. I can’t really tell why… And also, I can tell you have a great heart, but are deeply disturbed and haunted by negative energies with nothing but pure anger…”

She raised her tone, speeding up a bit. “Get away from me, you disgusting two-faced junkie!”

Kai slowly decreased his speed as the woman ran far from him.

Confessional ~ Karol

“Simply DESPICABLE! How do these kinds of reality shows even accept scum like him?? If that weed addict tries ANYTHING, I’m calling the police!”

_

Confessional ~ Kai

“Welp… I tried. I don’t know why she called me a junkie, though. I don’t even do drugs, maaan…”

He then sighed, heavily. “...I wish my marijuana didn’t run out…”

_

“What’s up, slay queen? Are you… eating it up today?” Connor asked, sprinting a little closer to match Rosa’s pace.

She takes one long confused glance at him. “...What?”

Connor recoils, feeling embarrassed. “O-oh! …Sorry, I-I must’ve used the wrong slang…”

Rosa chuckles softly. “It’s alright. You are too generous to call me a queen, sir. I’m Rosa María. You?”

“C-Connor.” He takes a deep breath, still running.

“It is great to meet you, my friend. So, why have you joined?”

His smile gets more nervous as he keeps moving, replying with an equally shaky tone. “U-uhh… I-I, well, um… I run a p-perfume company, a-and I wanted to get some business traction going on by joining the show. Y’know, get some publicity going.” 

“Ohh, I understand… Well, I joined because of my daughter, Sofia.”

The old man almost stopped running. “Y-you have a daughter?? B-but… you look so young…”

Rosa seems a bit hesitant, but then carries on. “Yes. I had her when I was 16, so Sofia is about 3 years old right now. Our monetary condition is… difficult, to say the least. Which is why I’m here. I really want to win the million, so I can support my daughter and give her the happy life she deserves.”

Connor’s eyebrows arched, a sympathetic look on his face with a slight smile. “That’s very noble of you, Rosa. I really hope you can win this whole thing.”

She chuckled. “Thank you, Connor. May the best win, hehe.”

Confessional ~ Connor

A huge sigh escaped his lips. “I… w-well, I wasn’t exactly honest to Rosa, about why I came here. D-don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean I don’t want Rosa to win the money. She has my full support. It was really touching to hear her story, and I do wish her the best. I just… wish I could be honest without sounding like a complete loser…”

_

Much ahead of the other groups, Yul, James, Aiden and Oliver ran close to each other.

“So yeah, that’s how I got nearly a million followers with my dance choreographies. My TikTok account’s been banking, I fear!” Yul gloated.

James speaks up. “Ohh? Nearly a million? …Maybe we should collab sometime. Double our numbers, huh?”

Yul scoffed. “Hah. No thanks, I can get there on my own.”

Suddenly, the guy with multi-color hair spoke up. “That’s pretty impressive, Yul. I don’t really have a huge following on TikTok, nor Instagram. I only have like, 200 followers.”

James turned his attention to him. “Ah? And what kind of content do you make?”

“Oh, it’s… not that trendy, to be honest. Just stuff like vlog videos and nerdy stuff about TV and reality shows. I like doing reviews or deep-dives, like iceberg videos. That’s kind of my niche, hehe…” Aiden confessed.

Oliver spoke up. “That sounds kinda cool.”

Suddenly, Yul scoffed, loudly. “Yaaawn! That’s hella boring. What are you, a grandpa? I’m outta hereee.” The Korean then proceeded to outrun the trio.

Aiden squinted at him. “...Huh. That happened. Hey, Oliver, right? Do you have any social media?”

He was a little caught off-guard by the question. “A-ah! N-nope, not me… Actually, I don’t really have a smartphone.”

“HA! Caveman.” James quipped, with a laugh, making the short man a little upset.

“Hey, I think that’s just fine.” Aiden defended Oliver, making him smile back. James rolled his eyes in annoyance.

As they kept sprinting, James reached for his phone in his pocket, pulling it out. “Hey, Aiden! What if we took a picture together, and I uploaded it to my Instagram and tagged you? My followers will definitely like you, and you’d get a lot of traction.”

“Oh, sure. B-but, maybe later…”

Confessional ~ Oliver

“Ohh, God… these guys already hate me! I can tell! D-damn it, I knew I should’ve saved up for that Nokia…!”

_

Confessional ~ James

“Heyyy, gang. @JamesCD over here. That’s my TikTok account, you should follow me. If you don’t, you are simply accepting the fact that you are a loser. I have more followers than Aiden and Yul combined. And… speaking of Aiden, he is quite the friendly guy. But he is also incredibly naive. This could work to my advantage in the game…”

_

Contrasting their current position, Lake and Riya were somewhat farther back in the woods, still sprinting to the camp. 

“Um… hello there. I-I just wanted to say that you look a bit familiar…” The blonde stated.

A slight spark showed up on Riya’s eyes. “O-ohh! Really? Well, I starred in a lot of movies, w-what did you think of my major role in Heartbrea-”

Riya was immediately interrupted by Lake raising her finger. “Ahh! Now I remember. You were that lady walking in the street corner, visible on frame for about… 4 seconds, in the romance movie Stolen Glances 5. I-I thought your performance was quite memorable!”

The woman then glared at the camera in complete annoyance.

Confessional ~ Riya

She huffs in total frustration. “L-look, I don’t mean to sound rude. I’m glad she recognized me, but… really?? Ugh. Well… my name is Riya Sharma. I am a Bollywood actress, and I came here to the United States about 3 years ago to try getting better roles. But… things didn’t quite work out. I was hoping Disventure Camp could give me more exposure to better agencies, so I could get better major roles… My hopes aren’t very high, though. Especially since I don’t have a well-established, professional social media account…” Another huge sigh leaves her lips.

_

Confessional ~ Lake

The girl holds her hands together, humming loudly. “Hehe! I’m so excited! I can’t believe I met such a famous actress! I’m sure that we can become the best of friends. Her acting, the way she casually walked over the sidewalk is incredibly inspiring to me.” She nearly swooned.

_

Finally, several racers started to reach the aforementioned spot in the camp, where Kristal awaited them.

Kristal started to name the approaching campers and assigned teams for each one that arrived. 

Connor, Riya, Kai, Karol, Hunter, Yul and Oliver were assigned to Team A.

Aiden, James, Maggy, Tess, Ally, Rosa and Lake were assigned to Team B.

“Very well! Now that all the campers are here, I wi-” As Kristal explained, a loud grumble from Karol interrupted her.

“Hey! Why are Maggy and Oliver still on the teams??” She asked, which alarmed the aforementioned two, and made Kristal genuinely confused.

“I… what?” The host questioned.

“The driver’s puppet doll told us that the last two campers to arrive here would get eliminated from the competition! So??” She insisted.

Kristal raised her eyelids, seeming to understand the situation, but preferred to play dumb. “Oh? …Have you perhaps forgotten to take your meds before this trip, Karen? You decided to trust a… talking puppet?” She snickered.

“H-hey! I’m calling the manager!” Karol yelled.

James chuckled, muttering to Aiden. “Oh, she’s nuts. Time to make a shitpost of this on my stories.”

“I-I don’t think that’s very nice, James…” The e-boy interjected.

Kristal then cleared her throat. “Ahem! I take it James and Aiden are done gossiping, so we can finally get to the point! Team A, your name will be The Lucky Turtles. Team B, you will be known as The Blazing Tigers…” The host seemed more unsure of her words as she kept going on.

“...Huh.” She said, audibly.

“W-what’s wrong, Ms. Kristal?” Lake asked. 

“...Wait, Kristal? As in… Kristal McLane? Like… Christof-” Aiden spoke up, until a VERY enraged Kristal stepped right in front of him, leaning menacingly over his small stature.

“QUIET, nerd! There will be NO mentions of that individual in MY show! Now stop interrupting me!” She shouted, making him stumble back in fear.

…As if nothing happened, she took a deep breath, walked back between the middle of the groups, and started talking again. “Well! Because I am in such a bad mood, and because I think these team names are really stupid, I’m just going to call you Turtles and Tigers. Team A and Team B, respectively. Everyone understand?” Her tone grew subtly with menace.

Most people nodded, silently.

“Very well. Alright, now… Tigers, you have to take the higher trail in the woods to reach your cabin, which is where you’ll be sleeping for the whole duration of the show. Turtles, you should follow the lower trail to reach yours. You guys won’t have a challenge today, so you can take the whole day to get to know each other. Have fun, but don’t take it too easy!” Kristal explained.

Everyone then proceeded to head towards their assigned cabin grounds.

Confessional ~ Ally

“Hey, I’m Ally! I’ve got a Twitch account, you can find me there on @girlbossamber. I stream a ton of games there, it’s pretty rad. Uhh… aside that, though… This year has been really turbulent for me, mostly because I got myself involved in some… internet drama, to say the least. I-I guess you could say that’s why I’ve been so on edge around others lately. It sucks, dude…”

_

A good while after everyone settled in their respective cabins, Kai was meditating by himself at the river shore, enjoying the noon sun shining all over him.

Hunter approaches, walking up behind the meditating man. “Hey, Kai. What’s up?”

He inhales deeply, then exhales. “Hello there, Hunter. Just basking in the glorious vitality of the sun. My spiritual guidance must be renovated with rest… and other kinds of medicinal herbs.” Kai added.

The pale-skinned guy scratched the back of his head, humming. “Right, uh… totally understand.”

“You know, I think your spiritual energies also need some renovation. Please, sit down with me. I’ll teach you how I meditate, so you can adapt as well…” 

Hunter shrugged, sitting down beside him. The two meditated together. Or at least, Hunter tried his best to copy Kai.

Confessional ~ Hunter

“Kai’s… definitely a hippie. But still, I like his personality. The dude’s super chill, and I hope we can be good friends.”

_

Over at the Turtle’s cabin, Oliver and Riya were talking to each other. 

“You seem… a little familiar, but I can’t really remember where I’ve seen you before.” Riya stated.

“O-oh! Well, I’m an intern here. Maybe you saw me from one of the challenge recap videos!” He responded.

“Ahh, that’s right. But… an intern? Then why are you competing, Oliver?”

He sighed, before answering. “Well… the last contestant couldn’t make it, so Kristal made me take their place. So yeah, stuff changed, but I’m still gonna try for the million. This job isn’t exactly the best.”

Riya nodded. “I see what you mean… I am also struggling with my career and stuff like that. I’m a Bollywood actress, but I haven’t exactly gotten many major roles or exposure, which means my pay hasn’t been the best. This show is also a good chance for me to move on and lead a better life.”

Their conversation was slightly interrupted by Yul constantly stomping his feet around the cabin, due to whatever TikTok dance trend he was recording right now. It’s been going on for minutes.

Suddenly, the door to the cabin bursts open, making Yul squeal like a chicken. “W-WAHH!”

Karol is revealed, rushing inside the cabin with a huge scowl on her face. “This is OUTRAGEOUS! The women’s bathroom is absolutely FILTHY! Where are the cleaners?? I’m so FED UP!”

“EWWW! Get outta here, you NASTY KAREN! You smell like expired cheetos, and you’re interrupting my TikToks!” Yul retorted.

Karol stood right in front of him, raising her fist. “I WOULD call security on you, but I’d rather beat you up myself, chump!” Yul recoiled a bit with her threat.

Riya and Oliver stared at each other, terrified.

Confessional ~ Riya

“Hoo, boy… I really feel like I can’t relate to anyone here. Sure, Oliver seems like a decent person, but I doubt he truly would care about me if things came down to it. He wants the million, just like I do. I just hope things won’t stay like this for very long…”

_

Confessional ~ Oliver

“M-man! I thought Yul was bad, but Karol is so freaking scary! I-I’d better stay outta her way, or she’s gonna call the manager on me!”

_

To contrast their situation, in front of the Tiger’s cabin grounds, sat James and Aiden on the wooden benches. 

“So… what do you know about Season 1, Aiden?” James asked.

The e-boy was overjoyed with the question. He loved answering all kinds of trivia, after all. “Ohh, man… There’s a bunch of stuff about Season 1. The drama was bombing. I’d have to say that Fiore was one of the best players, but Miriam won, so she kinda applies too. My favorite contestant was Jake. He got a lot of hate, but I thought he was pretty relatable. And, oh man… The TomJake stuff…”

James was barely able to keep up with Aiden’s knowledge. “Uh, TomJake stuff? …Tell me more.”

“Well, there was this contestant named Tom, and Jake had a thing for him. Tom had some kind of inner insecurity, but Jake saw past that, so they became a couple… for a short while. Thing is, Jake was super naive, and he fell for all kinds of lies that other contestants told him. Especially his closest friend, Ellie. I honestly don’t blame him too much, he had a bad relationship experience in the past, so I can see why he’s so skeptical and naive.” He continued.

“Uh-huh… and, what else happened?” 

He continued. “Tom and Jake were suuuper popular, even after the show ended. But… they kinda had a rocky ending, so to speak. Tom said that they should distance themselves, to become better people before they think about continuing anything. Jake agreed… But so far, there hasn’t been any signs of Tom contacting Jake. I’ve been keeping tabs on his social media, and he hasn’t said anything in particular. The guy seems super depressed, though. Must be going through something…” Aiden’s tone grew a little sadder.

James rolled his eyes, pondering. He then hummed, and proceeded to wrap an arm around Aiden’s back, pulling him oddly close. “Well… hopefully we can become more popular than they ever could, haha.”

Aiden recoiled a bit, seeming uncomfortable. “E-hehe… y-yeah, maybe, huh?”

Confessional ~ James

“So… allegedly, Tom and Jake were super popular in the first season. If that is the case, it shouldn’t be too hard to replicate that with Aiden. The fans would freak out if we could develop some kind of cute relationship… Of course, I have no real opinion on the guy, yet. He’s nice, and all… But he’s too nice for his own good. And I’ll take any opportunity I can to boost my traction.”

_

Meanwhile, in the evening forest, sat Lake against a tree, by herself, while she held a history book in her hand, with a small pile of books beside her, and a bag.

Rosa María appears, and approaches her with a wave. “Hello, Lake. Would you like to go to the cafeteria with me? I heard they’ve made dinner. We should probably eat before it gets too dark, hehe.”

Lake smiles. “Of course! Let me pack my things and we’ll head off right away.” She then proceeds to grab her books, stuffing them inside her bag.

The purple-haired girl stares at the scene, suspiciously.

Confessional ~ Rosa María

“Lake seems like a very nice person, but… I have to wonder what all these books she’s carrying are for. Hmm… ah, well. Maybe she just has a hobby for studying. It makes sense, given how polite and well-mannered she seems. She reminds me of a librarian.”

_

As the evening progressed, Maggy sat alone at the staircase of the Tiger cabin, a sad look on her face. 

Aiden appeared, pacing from the trail and returning to the cabin, being surprised as he witnessed the sight of the sad, lonely girl.

“Um… hey there.” He approached her. “Why are you all alone here?”

She didn’t really want to respond, but she still decided to do her best. “I… w-well, I don’t really have any friends. I-I only had one single p-positive conversation so far… A-and it was with the guy from the other team…” 

As Maggy told her story, he felt saddened by it. He could relate to her, somehow. “Aw… hey, um, what’s your name?”

“M-Maggy…”

“Nice to meet you, Maggy. I’m Aiden. And I’ll tell you something, if you ever feel like you’re alone, then you don’t need to worry anymore. Because I’d love being your friend.” He stated.

A huge smile grew on Maggy’s face, and her eyes sparkled. “R-really??”

“Yeah! I really mea- WHOA-”

Before he could even speak, Maggy held him in a REALLY tight hug. Like. Back-cracking levels of tight.

*crack*

Aiden could feel his back slightly snapping at the sheer force of Maggy’s hug.

Confessional ~ Aiden

The e-boy rubbed his own back, hunched over, gritting his teeth slightly. “O-oookay… Despite that happening, I’m still really glad I was able to befriend Maggy, because I also hate being neglected. I know I have a decent amount of followers, but even my personal friend groups make me feel… a little lonely, sometimes.”

_

Confessional ~ Maggy

The girl squealed in excitement, raising her fist to the air. “Y-yaayyy! I’m not a failure anymore! I-I can’t believe that some people here actually tried to talk to me, a-and wanted to be my friends! …O-oh, pleaseee, let this work… I-I can’t lose Aiden as a friend… o-or that Hunter guy…! B-but what if I mess up…??” She sighed loudly.

_

Back at the cafeteria, Rosa and Lake approach the counter, holding trays. Behind the counter was the bus driver Marcus, and his puppet Nina.

“Hi, ladiesss… I made hot dogs for dinner.” The doll stated, Marcus still silent as ever.

“U-uh… how is that even possible?” Lake questioned.

The doll suddenly leaned closer to the counter, an angry look on her face. “Hmph! I suggest you pipe down, missy. Stop asking so many questions, and just enjoy the stupid hot dogs!”

Marcus broke his silence, scolding the doll. “Nina! Manners.” To which the doll just crossed her arms.

Rosa laughed awkwardly. “Ehehe… w-we’re just going to go now, sir… Y-your doll is very… interesting.” She slightly pulled on Lake’s sleeve, the pair heading off to an isolated table.

As they sat down, Rosa decided to make some small talk. Her previous curiosity on Lake was getting to her, and she just had to know more about her. “So… would you mind telling me a bit about yourself? Where you’re from, what you like to do… those things, hehe.”

Lake nodded, with a smile. “Of course! I’m from Germany, I’m 16 years old, and I’m the youngest child from a very prestigious family… My mother is a talented violin musician, and my father is a nuclear chemist.”

A small glint was seen on Rosa’s eyes, genuine as ever. “Wow! Your parents seem very impressive, you must be very talented; just like them.”

The girl hesitated for a moment. “I… appreciate the compliments, but… not quite, haha. I am kind of an amateur writer, but I haven’t done anything notable yet.” Suddenly, she glances to the side, suspiciously, and leans in close to Rosa’s ear.

“Don’t tell anyone, but I really like writing fan-fiction during whatever spare time I get.” She then leans away, making Rosa giggle with a reassuring wave.

“Hehe, it’s alright. Your secret is safe with me.”

Lake then continued with a nod. “Thank you… well, I’ll elaborate more. My parents insisted on me joining the show, so our family can get more recognition. They want me to spread our customs, and show everyone on television how well-mannered and devoted I am. But of course, I’m aiming for the million as well. Regardless… After my stay on this show is over, my family will be sending me to a boarding school. They are… quite insistent when it comes to me getting perfect grades, and studying as much as I can.”

The more the girl spoke, the more Rosa felt distraught by these… rather uncommon methods. Her parents were a little more than just strict, it seemed. “A-ahh… wow, it really seems like your parents aren’t too tolerant of fun things, huh? You know… if you ever need someone to talk to about anything, even if personal, you know where to find me. I promise I won’t judge or tell anyone.”

Lake hesitated for a moment, but responded regardless. “I… I’ll think about it, Rosa.” She holds her hotdog up, taking a very small bite from it. She then puts it back on her tray, grabbing a knife and slicing one-fourth of the whole thing. 

“E-erm… By the way, I don’t mean to sound weird, but do you think you can eat the rest of my hot dog? I am instructed to not exceed my carbohydrate count per day.” Lake explained.

Rosa was definitely unsettled now, but to not escalate anything, she simply accepted. “O-ohh… y-yes, of course, my friend. No p-problem, hehe…”

Confessional ~ Rosa María

“Okay, there’s something REALLY off about Lake. How she’s studying non-stop in a reality show, restricting her eating habits… and so on. Her behavior is very unusual and not quite healthy. I’d be more direct about this, as I care alot for all of my friends, but… I don’t want to make Lake uncomfortable. I must say, I am quite intrigued about her parents… and I don’t mean in a good way.”

_

The cafeteria wasn’t exactly empty. A few more groups were scattered around. Let’s start with Yul, Hunter, Connor and Riya, all sitting at the same table.

“So yeah, I work in a dance agency and I’ve got a tooon of followers. Not only do I perform professional dance jobs, but I’m a part-time choreographer on TikTok.” Yul kept gloating about his status, as per usual.

“That’s quite impressive! I might work in the Bollywood industry, but… I am not very well-known.” Riya confessed.

Yul cackled. “HA! Of course you’re not, Bollywood movies, whatever those are, are boring as shit!”

Her eyebrows slanted in anger. “E-excuse me??”

Suddenly, Connor stood up from his seat, pointing a finger at him. “Alright, now that wasn’t very slay girly pop, young man!”

The Korean stands up as well, leaning closer to him. “What the fuck ever! I don’t need to listen to a fossil like you, anyways! You sound like a fucking boomer saying ‘slay’ like that. Well, guess what? You TANKED!” He raised his voice at the old man, then walked out of the cafeteria.

Hunter huffs. “Man… that guy’s got a real bad temper problem. Reminds me of my mom.”

Riya scoffed, crossing her arms as Connor sat beside her. “He’s an asshole, to put it bluntly.”

The old man spoke up. “I’m sorry he was so rude to you like that. I always liked Bollywood stuff.”

She smiled. “Thank you. And don’t worry, you’re not the one to blame. You stood up for me, after all.”

“Uh, not to interrupt your lovely bonding session, but I was pretty curious… Connor, right? What exactly do you work on?” Hunter questioned.

Welp… it was time for him to start lying again. At least, partially.

“O-oh, I… er, I run a perfume company. I just joined here to get some traction from the viewers, and maybe make some buddies along the way, haha.” 

Hunter smiled. “Ah, that’s pretty neat.” Riya also joined, sharing his interest. “That’s a very clever marketing strategy. I wish I had good ideas like those for my own career…” Her tone grew sadder.

Connor picked up on her voice, giving her a reassuring reply. “Well, hey, if you ever need any help with your career stuff, I’d be more than happy to collaborate with you on something, maybe some advertisements? Should definitely help with your publicity. I can even try investing in your movie career, if need be.”

The woman was very pleased, a hopeful glint in her eyes. “R-really??” Connor nodded, making her even happier. “O-oh, thank you, Connor! T-this makes me a lot less anxious about what’s to come…”

Hunter spaced out, his eyes drifting towards another table, which coincidentally had the girl he met before - Ally. And her friend, Tess.

“Um, guys, I’m gonna head off and talk to Ally for a bit. The chat was pretty nice.” He stood up, waving at them.

“Rizz her up, king!” Connor pointed at him, flashing Hunter a confident wink.

Over at Tess and Ally’s table, the latter was pretty much yapping non-stop about games and whatever. Tess was really bored.

“So yeah, that right there? That’s called camping. It’s not like it’s a banned tactic, but it’s just so damn annoying. And usually a player just crouches inside a bush, waiting for anyone to pass by, then guns them down. It’s even worse if they have any kind of skin with camouflage, because then you literally can’t see them! Fortnite skins are lowkey pay-to-win when you really think abou-” 

“Heyy, Ally! You guys talking about Fortnite? I’m a pro at that game.” As expected, she was interrupted by Hunter coming over and waving at them.

Ally laughs nervously. “H-haha, uhh… yeah, w-we were.”

Hunter sits down beside Ally, waving at Tess. “Hey there, I didn’t catch your name?”

“...Tess.” She replied, coldly.

“Y-yeah, uhh… that’s Tess.” Ally added.

For a moment, the pale guy stared at Ally, and then he stumbled back a bit, in shock. He finally realized why she was so familiar. “O-ooh, crap! Now I know why you’re super familiar to me.”

Ally was… mortified, to put it bluntly. Did he remember? Did he know? The internet drama she’s been involved in?? Was he about to tell the whole thing, from start to finish, thus exposing her in front of Tess? She didn’t even want to imagine it, so she just bit her lip, anxiously awaiting for his reply.

“...You’re into gaming and stuff, that’s why. You were one of those Twitch streamers, right? Uhh… @girlbossamber? Yeah, I used to watch you a long while ago, until I kinda forgot to tune in, haha. Sorry about that.” He said, meekly.

The wave of relief that rushed over Ally was unexplainable. She was so glad that he was an old viewer, and not someone caught up with the news.

“H-haha, y-yeah! T-that’s me… It’s been a while since I won a Fortnite match though, hehe…”

“Oh, it’s really easy. You just gotta camp in a bush, there’s zero strategy involved.”

…Wow. Okay.

Ally glanced awkwardly at the camera, then looked back at him. “I-I mean, the building mechanics are pretty difficult to master. I’m way better at shooting and sneaking.”

Suddenly, their talk is slightly interrupted by Tess letting out a huge, audible yawn. “...What even is this Fortnite thing?”

The brunette shot a baffled glance at her. “H-hey, we were talking about it this whole time!”

“...Not really… To be honest, I was tuning out.” She confessed.

Hunter then leaned his elbows on the table, and began to explain. “Well, it’s basically this game where you and a bunch of other players compete against each other to see who’s the last survivor. The safe zone of the game keeps closing every few minutes, so you’re forced to a certain spot in the map until at least one person is left alive. It’s really intense and cool, I’ve played it for countless hours, dude…”

“O-ooh! By the way, I brought my Nintendo Switch, and a few other portable consoles. We could play stuff like Mario Kart, Smash Ultimate, and-” Ally eagerly spoke, until Hunter interrupted her with another silly question.

“Awesome! Can we play Fortnite on your Switch? Together?”

Ally shot him a silent glance.

“...What?” He asked, puzzled by her silence.

“Uhh, you can’t play local co-op on the Switch version. There’s only split-screen in the PlayStation and the Xbox ones, sadly.”

Hunter pouted, a sad look on his face. “Aww, bummer…”

Confessional ~ Tess

“Alright… whatever this Fortnite thing is, it sounds really stupid. Who even plays video games for countless hours? …Well, I guess someone like Ally and this Hunter guy would. I really hope they don’t make me play Fortnite…” She sighed, her tone as dead as ever.

_

Confessional ~ Ally

A huge sigh of relief escaped Ally. “Ohh, man… I’m so glad Hunter isn’t aware of all the drama. He’s not all that bad, but I’d rather keep both him and Tess in the dark about it, so they don’t turn on me and completely abandon me… Look, I know it’s messed up, and I obviously don’t like doing this. But what other choice do I have? Lose my only friends this early? Hell to the no.”

_

After all the shenanigans that ensued for the whole day, the campers finally turned in for the night.

In the next morning, Kristal awaited them all for their actual first challenge. Hopefully without any red herrings from a creepy talking puppet, this time… 

As the teams gathered around, the host greeted them. “Good morning, campers! I hope you’re all ready for the much awaited first challenge!”

Everyone had very mixed reactions. Some seemed actually enthusiastic, others were calm, others annoyed, and some… yeah, okay, Tess was very dead-pan as usual.

Suddenly, Yul hummed loudly. “Ummm, hold on! Our team has a clear disadvantage!”

“...What?” Kristal asked.

“Oliver is basically a midget, we’re gonna lose every single physical challenge with his garden gnome ass around…” 

“H-hey!” Oliver said.

James chuckled, pulling up his phone. “Hehe, I gotta tweet this…” Which earned a disapproving glare from Aiden.

The purple-haired girl stepped ahead, pointing a finger at the man. “You should mind your own business, Yul.”

He scoffed loudly, pointing back at her. “YOU’RE the one getting in MY business, you FLOP! You guys literally have Plus Sized Tall Girl on your team, you’ve got way more of an advantage than us!”

Maggy recoils, gasping at his insult. Rosa María gets even angrier.

Suddenly, the Korean turns around as he feels a nudge on his shoulder. He witnesses Kai, doing that stupid meditating pose he always does. “Now, now, bro… That’s a totally uncool way to talk to a lady. Everyone else is beautiful inside and out, in their own way.”

“Literally shut the hell up, hippie! Go pop a perc or something!” Yul retorted.

The two men glared at each other, sparks nearly coming out from their eyes. 

Kristal clears her throat, loudly. “Ahem! Cut it out, everyone. My patience is limited, and you’re wasting our time with your silly arguments.”

Somehow, everyone piped down, Yul and Kai still glaring at each other silently. She then hummed. “As I was saying… This challenge will be a relay race. The first phase is a boat race. Each team will have a flag with their own symbol on the pier. When I give the proper signal, three members of both teams will carry the flag corresponding to their own team’s symbol, and the trio will get on a boat, carrying their flag. They will sail to the island, reaching the next phase, where a pair of each team in a Quadricycle will snatch the flag and carry it onwards. Then, they will deliver it to just one team member who will continue on a Bicycle, and finally, they will deliver the flag to one runner, who will have a foot race to the finish line. The first team to get their flag to the finish line will win the challenge and gain immunity.”

“Additionally, I have randomly sorted team members to partake in each phase, so you can’t choose who to pick. I think this will make things more interesting…” Kristal hummed.

“Hey! That’s not fair at all! We should have been the ones to select the best members for each phase individually! I’m going to call the manager on you!” Karol shouted.

Kristal yawns. “There are no managers out here, so you’re out of luck, Karol. Deal with it.” Earning a glare from the Karen. “Anyway, I’ll reveal the phase orders now!”

“Phase one, boats. Aiden, James and Maggy from the Tigers . Hunter, Kai and Connor from the Turtles.”

“Phase two, quads. Rosa and Lake, Tigers . Yul and Karol, Turtles.”

“Phase three… bicycle. Ally, Tigers . Riya, Turtles.”

“And finally, phase four. Tess from the Tigers and Oliver from the Turtles.”

Kristal spoke up again. “Now, then! Let’s carry on. Get yourselves into positions!”

After a good while, the teams prepared themselves for the challenge. It was just about to begin. The host then blew the whistle, signaling the teams to proceed.

Maggy rushed ahead, picking up the flag and hopping onto the Tiger’s boat. James and Aiden followed her lead, hopping onto it. Aiden speaks up. “Uhh… does anyone know how to drive this?” 

James chuckles, sitting on the driver’s seat. “Hah, I’ve seen some tutorials on YouTube. #2Easy4Me.”

He then spun the ignition key, starting the boat, and sailed ahead.

Hunter also picked up the Turtles flag, jumping onto the boat, with Connor and Kai following his lead.

“Ehm… while I do love the astral energy of this vehicle, the spirits have not offered me guidance in driving boats of any kind.” Kai quipped. Connor chuckled, sitting on the driver’s seat, and starting the vehicle. “Haha, no worries, I got this. I went fishing with my dad plenty of times.”

As the two boats sailed away, a small conversation on the Tiger’s boat ensued.

Aiden pumped his fist, a huge smile on his face. “This is so awesome! I… I still can’t believe I’m actually here.”

James hummed. “You better believe it, baby. We’re gonna win this, for sure. Plus, I just know I will gain at least 20k new followers, once this episode gets aired.”

The e-boy shrugged, silently. He turned to the back, being surprised as he saw a silent Maggy, a frown on her face. He approaches. “Hi, Maggy… I’m really sorry for what Yul said. Don’t listen to anything he tells you, okay? He’s just a good-for-nothing bully. You should ignore him.”

“B-but… it’s really hard to just… i-ignore people like him…” She muttered.

Aiden nods, empathetically. “Aw… I know. But still, you gotta try. And you know what? If he does that again, I promise I’ll stand up for you. O-or at least, I can try, hehe.”

Maggy chuckles. “Thank you, Aiden.” James glances back at them, an annoyed expression on his face.

Confessional ~ James

“Why is Aiden even considering standing up for that bookworm? She may be strong, but she is horrible socially, and lacks the backbone to do anything by herself. I’ll have to try distancing him from her, if I don’t want him to get in trouble… But also, I can’t let him get too close to her now, can I?” He chuckled.

_

James then cleared his throat. “Aiiideeennn… Can you take my phone from my pocket and record a TikTok clip of this challenge?”

“H-huh? …Now?? I don’t think we should be doing this in the middle of a challenge, y’know…” 

He gave him puppy eyes. “Pleeeaseee…”

Aiden rolls his eyes, a little annoyed. “Fine. Okay.”

Suddenly, Maggy breaks her silence. “Um… w-what’s TikTok?”

James gives the camera a very annoyed look, as Aiden giggles.

Back to the Turtle’s boat, Connor’s awful driving was making the boat wobble constantly, nearly toppling over.

“W-whoa! D-dude, slow down a little!” Hunter yelled.

“S-shoot! Sorry, sorry!” Connor apologized.

Kai chuckled. “The old man has spirit… but he is unable to bend the will that he contains in himself, thus being unable to properly manipulate the vehicle. You’ll get there with enough spiritual training.”

Connor and Hunter stared at each other, a little confused by Kai’s speech. The emo then broke the silence. “H-haha… well, putting that spiritual stuff aside… Kai, I just wanted to say that it was really nice of you to stand up for Rosa and Maggy. And technically Oliver, too.”

Kai waved his hand. “Oh, it was nothing… It was the right thing to do. To balance the energy of Mother Nature’s earth, by defending it from the wrath of a summoned demon.”

The emo chuckles. The older man then turns to both of them. “Hey… y’know, you two seem really trustworthy. Usually, in these shows, don’t people make some kind of alliance together?”

“Umm… now that you mention it, yeah.” Hunter added.

“Well, in that case, how do you two feel about forming an alliance with me? Y’know, we could be the power trio of this season, haha!” 

Hunter nodded. “Y’know what, I wouldn’t mind that. Kai?”

The green-haired man nodded as well. “Of course. My inner spiritual guidance has foreseen such a crossroad, and it told me to follow the wishes of the wise old man, and the somber introvert…”

Hunter shot a puzzled glance at the camera.

Confessional ~ Hunter

“Well, okay… Kai’s not exactly the most… normal… guy around. But regardless, I still really appreciate how kind he is. Though, I wonder how he knows so much about this spiritual stuff… Oh, shit, is he a monk?? Man… that’s… hella cool, actually.”

_

Confessional ~ Connor

The old man cheered. “Haha, yes! Thanks to my epic social skills, I was able to slayfully form an alliance! You go, king! …Wait, I just realized. I didn’t even say ‘slay’ back there… M-maybe this ‘slay’ thing isn’t really working out for me…” He then sighed, heavily.

_

Finally, the Tiger’s boat arrived at the shore. “H-here, guys!” Maggy tosses the team flag to Rosa and Lake, with the latter catching the flag mid air. “Thank you! Let’s go, Rosa!” To which the purple-haired girl nodded to, starting the quad bike.

A little later, the Turtle’s boat arrives, and Hunter leaped out from the boat, rushing over to Yul and Karol, handing the flag to the former. “Here you go, man!” 

Yul cackled. “Thaaanks, emo twunk. Move it!” He ordered Karol to speed up the quad bike, which she rolled her eyes at, but complied nonetheless.

The Tiger’s quad bike was farther ahead, with the opposite team’s flag a little behind them, both of them consistently moving onwards. Lake starts a conversation with Rosa. 

“Hey, Rosa? I just wanted to say that… it was very noble of you to defend Oliver. I don’t think I could have stepped in, if that was me…” 

Rosa chuckled. “Thank you, Lake. And don’t worry, it’s nothing… I’m just really used to defending others and standing up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. I defend my daughter all the time.”

The blonde expressed surprise. “D-daughter? …You have a daughter, Rosa?”

She nodded, an earnest look on her face. “Yes. I had her at a younger age, and… my parents were not very supportive. But eventually, Sofia came into my life… and I became happier than I ever was. She is my sunshine, and I love her dearly.”

Lake was very touched by the story, nearly crying a little. “O-oh, Rosa… That’s beautiful. I would love to meet Sofia one day.”

“Hehe, maybe you will. But now we have a race to win, so let’s give it our all.”

Confessional ~ Lake

“I’m so glad to be one of Rosa’s friends. She’s a very kind and gentle soul, always standing up for others and spreading nothing but love. I believe she only deserves the best.” She then sighed. “I’ll really miss her when this is over. I am… not that excited about boarding school.”

_

Finally, they both arrive at the bicycles, with Rosa handing out the flag to Ally. “Take this, Ally!”

The girl let out the most monotone and robotic tone ever. “Thank you! I’m going there!” Then proceeded to hop onto her own bicycle.

Meanwhile, the Turtle’s quad bike was a little farther behind, which annoyed Yul greatly. “UGHHH! Hurry up, Karen! You’re gonna cost us this challengeee!” 

Karol was NOT having his bullshit anymore. She scowled at him, proceeding to do a VERY rough brake, which sent Yul flying ahead of the quad bike, screaming. “W-AAAAAHHHH!!”

*thud!*

And so, Yul fell on his face, right on the ground. But conveniently, he fell quite close to Riya, who just awkwardly stared at the groaning man. He then lifted his arm, face still planted, handing out the flag to her. She then snatched it off his hand, getting on her bicycle.

Confessional ~ Yul

“THAT… FUCKING… BITCH! I’m gonna call my LAWYERS when this shit is over, AND the fashion police! She deserves to be arrested for that HORRENDOUS haircut! All she needs is a visor, so she can look like a soccer mom when she’s IN HER PRISON CELL!!”

_

As Riya pedals away, she does her best to catch up to Ally, which isn’t a very difficult task. As her bicycle approaches hers, Ally turns to her with a wave. “Greetings, wizard! Have you heard of the high elves?”

Until her cringey Oblivion reference is cut short by her driving over a pebble right after, losing her balance and crashing into a bush, screaming. “A-AHHH!”

Riya pedals by the messy scene, cringing at the outcome.

Confessional ~ Ally

She groans into her hands, in complete frustration. “U-UGH! D-damn it! I just thought I-I’d make a funny Oblivion reference, y’know?? The LaFave Bros video? T-then I crashed into that stupid bush! Oh, God… I really hope my audience doesn’t see this. I-I’m gonna end on a perfectly cut screams compilation!”

_

Confessional ~ Riya

“...What the hell just happened?”

_

Confessional ~ Kristal

A loud witch cackle escaped Kristal’s lips. “BA-HAAAAAAAAAAA-HAHAHA!” As she recollects her breath, she points to the camera. “Play that back, Marcus!”

Suddenly, we get a playback of Ally’s crash, at several different speeds, other angles, and multiple sound effects. Slow motion, 2x speed, you name it.

Finally, the footage cuts back to Kristal, still recovering from her laughing fit, wiping a tear off her eye. She sighs. “Ahh… alright, now that we had a good laugh at Ally’s epic fail moment, let’s get back to our racers, shall we?”

_

Riya manages to pedal over to Oliver, who was standing beside Tess. She gets off the bicycle, handing him the flag. “Go, Oliver! Quick!”

He proudly takes the flag, and runs off on foot. “On my wayyy!”

Confessional ~ Oliver

“Haha! YES! Finally, I get the chance to win this for the team! After years of scrubbing toilets at McDonald’s, being fired from Chipotle, and working under Trevor and Derek’s abusive system, I’m FINALLY one step closer to a million dollars! A new, better life! Please, let this work…!”

_

Still groaning from the impact, Ally slowly manages to recover from the fall, standing up and wiping off leaves from her jacket. She rushes to her bicycle, lifting it off the ground and hopping on it. She pedals over to Tess, and enthusiastically gives her the flag. “Hi, Tess! Do your bes-” She says, before being interrupted with a cold answer. “Yeah, yeah…” Tess starts sprinting.

Oliver is much farther ahead than Tess, the latter still trying to catch up to him. Meanwhile, he keeps yapping about how glorious this all is. “I-I still can’t believe this, oh my gosh, like… finally! I don’t need to go work at Marshalls and get yelled at by that mean manager lady!” He closed his eyes in pure excitement. “This is so amazing, I’m gonna win this for su- AHH!”

*crash!*

As Oliver kept going on and on about his dreams, he immediately crushed his hopes when he closed his eyes, not paying attention to where he was going. He crashed face-first onto a tree, breaking his glasses and falling onto the ground. Tess rushed past him, a rather unemotive look on her face.

She crosses the finish line, winning the challenge for the Tigers.

Kristal turns on her megaphone. “And the Tigers win this challenge! Due to Oliver’s huge screw-up, you’re all safe tonight, as you gained immunity! Turtles, I’ll be seeing you soon at the elimination ceremony, where we’ll determine who will be the very first unlucky boot from Disventure Camp!”

The camera switches constantly, showcasing all of the Tigers cheering, and the Turtles, disappointed.

The short man recovers from his crash, just in time to hear the unfortunate news. “N-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” He cried out.

Riya then proceeds to run up to him, an angry look on her face. “W-what the HELL, Oliver?? You just cost us the challenge with your recklessness! Ally doing it is fine, she’s not from our team, but you can’t screw up like this! Not after all the work we put in!”

Oliver sobs. “I-I’m sorry…! I-I didn’t mean to, I was just s-so happy that I finally co-”

“Shush! I don’t want to hear any of your excuses. You better watch yourself, Oliver.” Riya interrupted him, her arms crossed. She then backed away from the weeping man, leaving him completely alone.

Later in the afternoon, at the Turtle’s cabin, Riya gathered Karol and Connor. “Please, you must listen to me… We need to vote out Oliver. He completely blew all of our efforts to win as soon as he ran into a tree with his eyes closed.”

“Ugh! That little twerp… It makes me sick just thinking about it. I agree with you, Riya. We need to take him out. The thought of that swine earning a million dollars DISGUSTS me.” Karol added.

Connor seemed conflicted, but agreed on the strategic suggestion. Keeping someone who can easily mess up challenges won’t get him far in the game. “O-ooh! I know! I think I can get Hunter and Kai to vote for Oliver, if you want…”

Riya smiles. “T-that’s great, Connor! It’s a brilliant idea, surely we can get him out of the game…”

Suddenly, the cabin door flies open, an enraged Yul behind it. He stomps his way inside. “YOU!” He points his finger at Karol.

“W-what??” Connor asks, unsettled.

“We NEED to vote Karol off the team! NOW!” 

Karol simply glared at him. Riya then questioned his rage. “But… why? That is simply a stupid idea, Yul. Karol actually accomplished what she had to, unlike Oliver, who lost the game over a stupid mistake when he was far ahead in the lead.”

“I don’t GIVE a shit! This Karen flop nearly KILLED ME in the quad bike!” Yul raged.

The Karen huffed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, fuck off, whippersnapper. You’re still alive, aren’t you?”

Yul screeches, walking away and giving everyone in the cabin the middle finger, as he aggressively shuts the door.

He keeps walking forward, the large pines of the forest surrounding him with each step. “Ugh… fucking idiots, I hope they eat a poisonous substance and pass out!”

Eventually, he stopped in his tracks, as he heard a peculiar noise - crying?

Looking around for a bit, he found Oliver, curled up against a tree, sobbing. Immediately, he saw this as a perfect opportunity for a back-up plan. He approached him, still annoyed.

“Hey! Midget dude.”

He stopped crying for a moment, looking at him. “D-don’t call me that…”

“Ugh, whatever. Why are you crying like a fucking loser?”

Oliver sniffled. “A-actually… b-because I… I’m really s-sad right now, a-and-”

“Shut up, shut up, shut the fuck up. I don’t give a shit about your feelings. Now listen to me. You’re gonna vote for KAROL, if you even want a chance to stay in this game. Got it??” Yul threatened him.

Oliver pondered for a second, still saddened. However, Yul’s half-baked hope was better than nothing to him right now. He nodded. “Y-yeah… okay… I got it.”

After a long while, as the sunlight completely depleted, the camp being engulfed in the darkness of the night, the entire Turtle team gathered by the campfire, ready to partake in the voting ceremony.

“Myy, my! You guys are quite the unlucky bunch, it seems. Already lost your first challenge? Well, look on the bright side. It’s either only going to get worse or better from now on, but probably the former, haha!” Kristal said, mockfully.

Most of them had their arms crossed, glaring at Kristal or expressing some kind of annoyance. She then cleared her throat. “Ahem… anyways, now that you’re all here, I’ll explain how this works. Each one of you, one at a time, will head to the voting urn. From there, you will write a name on paper, and insert the paper in the urn. Pretty self-explanatory. Additionally, since we don’t have any immunity totems, I won’t delve into that territory until I introduce it. Well… get voting!”

Riya holds up a paper, Oliver’s name written on it. “This isn’t personal, Oliver. But your actions have consequences. And if you’re in the way between me, and a million dollars, I’ve no choice but to vote for you.”

Yul holds up a vote for Karol. “Karol. After I vote you off, you’re gonna have no choice but to work at Hooters, until they reject you for being fucking HIDEOUS, you saggy BITCH!”

Kai writes a name on the paper, his face relaxed.

Oliver is seen biting on his nails, writing on the paper with one hand.

Hunter writes on the paper, looking a little conflicted.

Connor sighs, before noting a name down on the paper.

Finally, all the votes have been cast. The campers return to their seats.

“Very well, very well! Seems like everyone’s done voting. Now, I’m going to read the votes aloud. Pay attention, as I won’t repeat myself. The person with the most votes will obviously be eliminated, unless there is a tie, which we will have to perform a tie-breaker. Anyway, let’s get on with it.” Kristal explained, picking up the stack of papers from the urn and flipping the papers.

“First vote… Oliver.”

A shiver ran down the short man’s spine. He started biting down onto his nails.

“Second vote… Oliver.”

His fear got even worse. Riya glanced at him, her heart racing.

“Third… Karol.”

Suddenly, Riya became shocked, looking back at Karol. Karol expressed surprise, crossing her arms.

“Fourth vote… Oliver.”

Oliver started laboring his breaths.

“...Oliver.” 

Yul facepalmed, and Riya sighed in relief. Oliver continued his panic.

“...Karol.”

Karol scoffed, about to say something, but stayed silent. Yul looked away, keeping his sassy posture.

“...Last vote, thus determining the first one to be eliminated, is…”

Oliver held tightly onto himself, shaking on his seat. Riya shot him a smug glance.

“...Oliver! That’s 5 votes, you’re out.”

The short man then bawls his eyes out, falling off from the tree stump he was sitting on. “N-NOOOO!! N-NOO! I-I don’t wanna go back to Chipotleee!” His sobbing became even more audible.

Kristal pinched the bridge of her nose, huffing. “You’re not going back to Chipotle. Or anywhere, for that matter. Since your time as a contestant is over, I’m officially putting you back as an intern. The toilets in the women’s bathroom need scrubbing.”

Oliver sighs, his arms dropping. “O-okayyy…”

“H-hold on! WHO voted for me??” Karol questioned, her tone quite loud.

The short man hesitated for a moment, earning a menacing glare from Yul. He then decided to reveal the truth. “U-uhm… i-it was me, and… Yul.”

Yul gasps, his face enraged. “Y-YOU LITTLE SHIT! …Shut the FUCK up and go clean those shit-clogged toilets already!!”

Karol snaps back at him. “Hey! You’re going to PAY for what you’ve done.”

He scoffed. “Big talk coming from someone who looks homeless!”

“Why, YOU-”

Kristal yelled. “Drop it! If you wear out my patience, I’ll make sure both of you clean those nasty toilets alongside Oliver. The voting ceremony is over, everyone can go back to the cabin. Turtles, you’re all dismissed.”

Yul and Karol glared at each other, their arms crossed. Everyone around them eventually got off their seats, going back to the cabin grounds.

Confessional ~ Riya

“Well… I already expected Oliver to get voted off, but it’s interesting that Yul and Karol are fighting quite intensely. Even more so than their argument in the cabin. I believe that’s something I should take note of. Maybe siding with Yul or Karol would prove efficient to secure myself a good position in the game.”

_

Confessional ~ Connor

Connor sighs. “Honestly… it sucks to see Oliver go so early. Really, he’s a nice guy, but then I realized that… it was either him, or one of my boys. I gotta say, though… this alliance stuff’s been a pretty smart call. You go, king! I slayed!” 

_

The camera then cuts back to Kristal, standing in front of the campfire, all by herself. “My, myy! Looks like Riya’s proving to be quite the tactician. Karol and Yul are still at each other’s throats, and Connor is… still annoying. Now that Oliver is out of the game, and back to cleaning toilet stalls, we’re yet about to see who’s going to follow in his footsteps, and be the next one voted out! Thirteen campers remain. Who will make it throughout the remaining episodes? I’m sure you’re all at the edge of your seats, but you’ll just have to wait and find out in the next episode, of…! DISVENTURE CAMP!”

Chapter Text

“Previously, on Disventure Camp… Between the 14 participants who joined, we’ve had a ton of interactions. Some good, some bad. The most notable bad one was the rivalry between Yul and Karol. To contrast that, we’ve had Connor, Kai and Hunter form an alliance. How far will they get? Only time will tell. In our first challenge, which was the race marathon, the Turtles were doing a great job at keeping the lead, especially after Ally crashed into a bush like a total loser. However, the tables turned, and Oliver crashed into a tree when he was blabbing about Chipotle or something, I can’t remember. Luckily for the Tigers, Ally managed to recover from her fall, thus leading to her team’s victory, as Tess took the flag to the finish line. In a very expected turn of events, Oliver was eliminated due to Riya stepping up and making sure the majority of the team voted for him. Oliver may not be off the island, but he’s certainly off the competition. Anyway, there are currently 13 contestants standing! Who will be eliminated in this episode, and definitely won’t come back? That’s exactly what we’re going to find out in this episode, of… Disventure Camp!”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp. 

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

The cafeteria was quite empty that morning. Well, if it wasn’t for Ally and Hunter obnoxiously playing Smash Ultimate on her Switch. Marcus and Nina had long left, mostly because the puppet was quite annoyed by their constant banter.

“Ugh, the screen’s soo tiny…” Hunter muttered, squinting his eyes.

“Sounds like a skill issue.” Ally quipped.

He chuckled. “Oh, c’mon. You know it’d be better if we had a huge flat screen monitor right now.”

“Mmm… yeah, probably. Seriously though, why are you a Zelda main? She’s kinda… mid.” The girl added.

“Mid? Zelda’s awesome, people hate on her too much.”

She giggled. “You wish you could Down-B right now, to actually play a top tier character…”

Hunter hummed. “Hey, I’ve been a Zelda main since Melee, never had to Down-B to win a match.”

Ally laughed so hard. “What the hell? You were a Melee Zelda main?? That’s kinda like… see, I don’t know if I should call you a loser, or if I should be impressed you’re this loyal to freaking Zelda.”

“Come on, you play Lucas. He’s not that awesome, either.”

She was a little flustered by the comment. “Uh, I’m pretty sure Lucas is at least a little higher on the tier list than Zelda.”

Suddenly, Hunter wins the match by hitting a well-timed Lighting Kick on Ally, knocking her off the stage.

“A-agh, dammit! Your edge-guarding game is too good.” Ally muttered, disappointed.

Hunter giggled, totally gloating. “Weren’t you totally hating on Zelda just a few seconds ago? Take that, loser.”

Ally rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Mm, whatever… I’ll just switch to Fox, or something.”

As they kept tinkering with the character options, Connor appeared at the cafeteria. He approached the pair with a wave and a flash of his half-golden teeth. “Hey, kiddos. Whatcha doin’ over there?”

“Ooh, hi Connor! Just playing some Smash on Ally’s Switch.” Hunter explained, with a wave.

The older man was instantly confused, trying to play along as best as he could. “O-oh! R-right… Smash. Uhh… on… the Switch. T-totally know about that one.”

Ally raised an eyebrow. “Really? Who’s your main?”

“M-my… my main? I don’t get it.”

Oh, Connor… You just blew your cover, old man.

She facepalmed, bringing a chuckle from Hunter. “She means your main character. Like… your favorite character, the one you use the most.”

“A-ahh! I… don’t really have one. A-and I didn’t really play Smash, I just… uh, heard of it. Yeah.”

Hunter patted beside his own seat. “Here, take a seat. You can play with us, we’ll show you how it works and everything.”

Ally was a little hesitant, but didn’t interfere. The old man sat beside them, Hunter handing him a joy-con. He then proceeded to load a Versus match after Connor struggled to pick a character without losing grip of the controller.

“Okay, so… that’s your character. Now, what you’re gonna do is-”

Before he even could explain, Connor walked off the stage, losing a life. Ally facepalmed, while Hunter let out a chuckle.

“O-oops! W-what did I just do??” Connor said, a little shaken up.

Hunter giggled. “Hey, relax… Just be careful with the controls, they’re kinda finicky. I’ll explain again…”

Confessional ~ Ally

“Ok, I’ll be honest… I usually always hated when someone who clearly didn’t know how games worked joined in, especially if they’re like an annoying kid or whatever, but… Seeing Connor try to play that game really made me remember my grandpa. M-my… late grandpa.” She sighed.
_

Confessional ~ Hunter

“Seeing Connor try to play Smash was honestly hilarious. He kinda got the hang of it, but he can’t exactly do a lot in the game, still. That’s fine, though. Old man’s a real character.”
_

Confessional ~ Connor

The older man sighed, looking down. “M-man… trying to fit in is so difficult. Hunter’s a patient guy, sure, but my brain was totally everywhere with that Switch… Smash… game thing. H-honestly? It’s really embarrassing… M-maybe I should just drop the act and try being honest? …Or just stop entirely.” Another disappointed huff escaped his lips.
_

A while after their interaction, Hunter left the cafeteria, stumbling upon Kai, who was meditating… um. On top of the table?

Hunter looked at the green-haired man, a quizzical look on his face. He shrugged it off. Typical Kai behavior. “Uhh… hi, Kai.”

The man calmly opened his eyes, waving at him. “Hello there, somber one. Just aligning my astral energies…”

“...On top of a table.”

“On top of a table.”

Kai’s quick and calm answer made Hunter giggle. “Haha, alright, I’ll let you rock with it. I was just out in the cafeteria, playing games with Ally and Connor.”

“Ooh, Connor? Speaking of the old man… I am still very impressed by his suggestion to form our alliance. As expected, the stars have told me of his wisdom.” Kai added.

Hunter nodded. “Yeah, it’s been pretty cool. Oliver didn’t seem all that bad, but… regardless, someone had to get out. Better him than us, I suppose…”

Kai sighed. “Well… you are somewhat right. This game is quite conflicting, forcing us to betray our closest friends, or even the kind souls we tell ‘good morning’ to…”

“Hey, if we keep our alliance and play our cards right, we won’t need to betray one another.” The emo said, in an optimistic tone.

He nodded. “Hmm… indeed. Very well, let’s do our best. Would you care to join me for my meditation?”

Hunter giggled. “Maybe later, dude. Peace out…” He waved at him, walking past the tables.

Suddenly, a faint noise rustling in the bushes occurred nearby them, but it wasn’t nearly loud enough to catch their attention.

Unexpectedly, none other than Yul poked his head out of the bush, discreetly diving inside it again.

Confessional ~ Yul

He groaned. “Ugh, I can’t stand their hippie asses. Anyways, they’re kinda stupid to be talking about alliances like this out in the open…  So. The old flop is the one who formed their alliance… Let’s see… Kai is a junkie with a non-functioning brain, Hunter is… a twunk. So, I take it Connor has to be the leader figure there. Heh, good to know. I’ll keep that in mind…”
_

Meanwhile, Tess was by herself in the forest, sitting against a tree log and drawing on a sketchbook; a confident yet monotone look on her face.

Maggy peeks her head out from behind a tree. She was observing the girl. She pumped her fist, whispering to herself. “C-come on, Maggy… don’t be such a damn wimp… You can do it…”

After a deep breath, the tall girl walked out from her hiding spot, headed towards Tess. Her posture was a little arched, and she didn’t display much confidence.

She waved at her. “H-hi, Tess…”

The girl looked up at her. “Hi.” Then went right back to drawing.

Maggy sat beside her. “I-I’m really sorry if I’m being rude… I just wanted to know what you were u-up to. Aiden’s kind of… my only friend here.”

Tess shrugged. “I don’t really care, you can stay. And… I’m simply drawing.”

“Ooh, y-you’re an artist? That sketchbook looks v-very… professional.” Maggy added, impressed.

She hummed. “I guess you could say that. I’m not really a known, professional artist, but it’s one of my hobbies. One of the few things I can actually get invested in.”

Maggy nodded. “I-I see… Well, w-what are you working on, exactly…?”

“Just anatomy. I don’t usually draw people, or human figures… Just backgrounds or more abstract pieces. Anatomy is quite difficult and discouraging to work on, so it’s why I never bother with it… But, my therapist told me it doesn’t hurt to try.”

“O-oh, anatomy? Like… how the human body’s structured, and what it looks like?”

Tess nodded. “Yes. Anatomy is arguably the most important thing about art, and every artist needs to know it on a basic level. It’s… not easy to master. Perspective is also very difficult. Well… maybe it’s my fault in the first place for trying to draw anatomy without a proper reference. Never draw without a reference.” She looked her straight in the eye, saying it with her usual dead-pan tone. Maggy wasn’t intimidated, though.

Suddenly, the tall girl had an idea. “A-ahh, wait… D-don’t artists usually draw other people or, uhh… ‘muses’ or whatever?”

“...Indeed. And your point is…?”

Maggy stood up from the tree log, a smile on her face. “I-I could be your muse! …I-If you’d like that, I mean…  M-maybe it would help you… I wouldn’t mind, either way…”

Tess pondered for a moment. “Hmm… Well, if you say so, I may as well take you up on that offer. Drawing different body types might just be what I need to get out of my art block.”

She raised her fist, chuckling. “H-haha, yay! …U-uhm, alright, thank you. So… what should I do?”

“You can sit on the tree log. I’ll go in front of you and try drawing your pose and perspective.” Tess instructed her.

“S-sure thing.” In a bit, Maggy did as she said. The girls spent a good while in the forest, Tess very focused on drawing her newest muse.

Confessional ~ Tess

“I… am still a little surprised about Maggy coming up to me with that offer. Well, I didn’t think she had it in her, to be honest… But also, it surprises me that she’d go out of her way, and ask me to do something that benefits myself, without demanding any compensation back…” She put her hand on her own chin, thoughtful.
_

At the Tiger’s cabin entrance, James and Aiden are sitting together, beside each other, at one of the wooden tables. James is intensely scrolling on his phone, while Aiden is calmly reading on his.

Suddenly, James cheers out. “Haha! Yes!” To say Aiden was startled would be an understatement. “W-what’s up??” He asked.

“I’ve been getting so many comments about how awesome we were yesterday, when we won the challenge!” He said, a huge smile on his face.

“O-oh. That’s pretty cool, James! U-um, did… Did anyone say anything about me? L-like, if I was iconic at all? E-eheh…” He blurted out, chuckling from pure enthusiasm.

James scrolls through his phone for a bit, stopping suddenly. “Oh! Here, I found one. They said… Aiden’s my favorite, he’s really chill and nice. I hope he wins!”  

Aiden nearly squealed in enthusiasm. “O-oh my gosh! I can’t believe it…! I-I actually have some kind of a fanbase on the Disventure Camp fandom! D-do you think I’m gonna get any stans? Edit accounts??”

The man chuckled. “Easy, tiger… haha. See what I did there?”

He nudged his shoulder. “Pfft, you doofus.”

James kept scrolling through the comments, snickering. “Man… There's a lot of slander on Oliver and Ally, for some reason. …Oh!” He stopped, and began to laugh audibly as he scrolled by on TikTok.

“W-what? What is it?” Aiden peered at his phone, and was surprised to see a clip of Ally crashing into a bush on her bicycle, and Oliver running straight into a tree.

“O-oh, shoot! W-what happened to them??” He asked. James wiped a tear off his eye, still chuckling a little. “Pfft, there’s dozens of shitposts on Ally and Oliver crashing, look…”

Aiden’s eyebrows arched a little, showing concern. “Whoa, wait… what’s up with the slander? Just because they crashed?”

“Oh, well, apparently it’s because Ally made some weird NPC reference right before she crashed, and Oliver was dumb enough to run into a tree with his eyes closed! Total idiot, haha…” He chuckled.

“Wait, wait… can you find out who got voted out in the previous episode? I-I wanna know.” Aiden said.

James searched on TikTok about Episode One’s elimination. He found a result pretty quickly. “Here, let’s watch…”

After a few seconds of footage, Aiden was completely shocked to see Oliver being the first one to go. “H-huh?? Oliver?? Aww, no… Why’d he have to be the first one??”

“Uhh… from what I’m seeing, that caveman got voted out by basically everyone on the team, after he crashed into a tree. Makes sense. That was… very idiotic of him. Pfft.” He snickered.

“B-but I doubt he wanted to crash on purpose… Oliver didn’t seem like a bad dude, I can’t believe he’s already the first one off. Wish I had more of a chance to get to know him…”

James yawned, patting Aiden’s back. “Hey, heyyy, now. You don’t need to worry about someone boring like him, when you have the @JamesCD right here, baby.” Aiden slightly recoiled away from James’ grasp.

“D-don’t call him boring. All I’m saying is, I wish he wasn’t the very first one off. I actually want to try meeting everyone here and give them a chance, y’know?”

The man rolled his eyes, leaning away from him. “Whatever you say, baby.”

Suddenly, to break the tension of their conversation, Maggy appeared from the woods, a faint smile on her face. Aiden’s eyes widened, as he stood up from the bench and waved at the girl. “M-Maggy! Hi there.”

She waved back. “H-hello…”

James huffed, silently. Not her again… 

“So how’s it going, Maggy? Have you been up to anything lately? Y-you weren’t all alone, were you?” He asked, his tone sweet and concerned.

She waved her hands, denying his assumption. “A-ahh, not at all! I-I… I was with Tess, actually… She was drawing some stuff, so I helped her by being her muse. I-it was fun…!”

Aiden giggled. “Aw, I’m glad you’re making more friends. Remember, don’t be afraid to hang out with us, too! We’re both your friends here, okay?” 

James’ glare couldn’t get any more obvious. Maggy caught a glimpse of his faintly hostile expression, deciding to laugh it off awkwardly. “H-haha, y-yeah. Thanks, Aiden…”

Confessional ~ James

With his arms crossed and a sassy posture, James sighs in frustration. “So, Tall Girl is starting to make more friends. Great. But, what difference does that make if she’s still going out of her way to bother Aiden?? I have to sabotage their relationship, somehow. All I need is to find a way… The less friends Aiden has, the closer he’ll have to get to me.”
_

Rosa María was picking flowers in one of the corners of the woods, by herself. Kai approached her from behind, his hands together. She turned her head at the sound of the bushes rustling.

He greeted her with a bow. “Namaste, Rosa. Taking in the lovely energy of the forest?” He asked, his tone so calm it nearly sounds sleepy.

She giggled. “Hello, Kai. Yes, somewhat… I was just picking flowers to decorate our cabin interior. There’s an empty vase there, hehe.”

“Lovely. The kindness of your soul is very refreshing.” He squinted his eyes a little. “Heyyy, your necklace… Is that the astrological sign of the Libra?”

Rosa smiled enthusiastically, nearly hopping. “O-oh, you recognized it! Haha, you’d be correct… I am a Libra, by the way. And… if I had to guess your sign, I would say… Taurus?”

He nodded. “Indeed. You carry much wiseness in you, friend. Are you a follower of the horoscope?”

“Absolutely. I am very devoted to it, and… well, maybe a bit obsessed, hehe.”

Kai pondered. “Would you mind if I asked you why that is the case? I can sense… something troubling you.”

The girl gestured, started to explain. “No problem, I can explain… Well, the horoscope helped me through a very difficult time in my life. When I first learned about my pregnancy, there was barely anyone in my life to support me… My parents were very hostile initially. I went desperate, looking for jobs everywhere I could… Until I heard of the horoscope from a friend.”

Kai listened intently as she kept explaining. “She told me it has helped her many times in her life. So once I remembered I was a Libra, I looked into it… and the message it gave me was incredibly accurate to my situation, that it shook me to my very core. I still remember it, vividly… Libra, you are going through very turbulent times, but you mustn't give up. While you may be surrounded by darkness, deep inside you, a large fragment of light exists. If you find the strength within yourself to hold onto the hope of that light, no despair in life will overcome you, and you will find your own happiness at the end of the road.”

The man felt his own heart warming at Rosa’s beautiful story. He simply clapped. “I am honored by your story, Rosa. Such a magnificent display of wisdom and perseverance from your part.”

She giggled, heartily. “Eheh, thank you, friend. The whole experience just really showed me how even a small display of hope can save you from despair. I believe it is a very important message that everyone must know about.”

“Indeed, indeed… Well, I shall leave you to your flower-picking duties. Farewell, Rosa.” He bowed, holding his hands together, before walking off.

Confessional ~ Rosa María

“Kai is a very nice person. He may be from the other team, but that changes nothing. It is… quite exciting to meet someone else who is also aware of horoscopes and how important they are. I should probably tell Lake about them, as well. If she really is going through something, then… a good message could brighten her day, and bless her with hope.”
_

On the other side of the camp, Connor sat by himself on a rock, completely isolated at the beach.

He looked… distressed. He simply kept staring at the waves of the ocean, rocking back and forth. Not saying a word.

Despite his silence, his mind was rushing with thoughts. Thoughts about… regret.

A deep sigh escaped his mouth. He felt lost.

His moping definitely caught someone’s attention. Riya appeared behind him. “Connor…?”

He was startled a bit. “O-oh! …Riya?”

She sat beside him on the rock. “I, uh… came to check on you. What’s going on? You seem a little… out of your depth.”

Connor sighed. “Ahh, just… stuff. You know.”

Riya huffed. “Come on, Connor. You can tell me, please. I am actually concerned here.”

“Mm… fine, alright. I… just have this, well… dilemma. Like, I’m caught up in this situation and I totally don’t know where to go from here.”

“What kind of dilemma…?”

“Well… remember how I mentioned that I owned a perfume company?” His tone was shaky.

“Mhm. I do.”

He hesitated, before answering. “L-look, I gotta be honest with you, because… I’d rather not keep lying to myself. Or others. I… that perfume company is owned by my dad. I was just saying that to… I dunno, seem more responsible.”

Riya felt… a bit conflicted. She wasn’t angry or mad at him, but rather more perplexed than anything. “But… why? Why would you lie about that?”

“Just… I feel like I wasted so much of my life. I haven’t ever done anything remarkable, other than being my dad’s son. Sure, I’ve got wealth, whatever. It… it’s not important to me. I haven’t done anything to leave my mark on the world. I just feel so… purposeless. Useless.” 

Riya held his shoulder. “And… I’m assuming that’s why you tried being more trendy with the young’uns? To get along with them?”

He nodded. “Heh… you called it. I’ve never felt so out of place before, y’know? And… I’m not sure what to do now. And why I’m even here anymore. I can’t really get along with anyone, and I can’t do anything meaningful.”

“That’s not true, Connor. You have been getting along. With me. And Hunter, Kai… Your presence here matters, and you feeling purposeless is exactly why you should try aiming for the million. You may already have money, but maybe you can win and do something for the greater good. You can use it to help other people in need, somehow. It’s never too late to take action.” She explained, sounding faintly philosophical.

He chuckled, faintly. “I… suppose you’re right.”

“And, Connor? You should never pretend to be someone else. If you do that, then how will people know the real you? How will you know yourself? Emotions can be dangerous, which is why you should be honest with everyone, including yourself.”

“I… I see. You’re making a lot of sense, Riya.”

She giggled. “Well… I may have been there before. But, I hope this advice helped you in the slightest.”

He nodded, an earnest smile on his face. “Trust me. It really did.”

The pair smiled at each other. “I am glad to hear that. Connor, if you ever feel alone, or need an input on anything, just let me kno-”

Suddenly, they both nearly jumped out of their skin as the sound of Kristal’s blaring voice through the speakers rang out around the whole camp. “GOOOD morning, campers! I hope you’re all well-rested and mentally prepared for the next challenge, because trust me, it might be a scarring experience for some of you! Oh, and additionally, I have a big surprise for you!”

Kristal paused before speaking again. “The very first immunity totem is finally out in the wilderness, hidden in a clever spot! Whoever finds it and holds onto it will be able to use it during an elimination ceremony, and will be able to nullify any votes cast against themselves or someone else. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, I’ll be waiting for you at the center of the forest! Don’t keep me waiting!”

The information about the totem was definitely the most interesting bit of Kristal’s speech, every single camper was left pondering about it, but made their way to the forest nonetheless. 

Meanwhile, in Kristal’s large tent office, she seemed a little conflicted after just finishing the announcement. Oliver rushed in, entering the office with a salute. “M-Ms. Kristal! I… I just finished cleaning the women’s restroom. W-what else do you want me to do…?”

The woman paused, pondering. “Hmm… Well, Oliver, I have a request, though you may find it a little unusual…”

“Um, what is it??”

“I want to ask if you could help me… how do you say this… monitor my behavior. Keep me in line, that is…”

Oliver expressed shock. “W-what?? M-monitor, like… what do you mean?”

“Well, in the other shows I tried hosting before, my behavior came off as… well, a little inhumane, and I was criticized for it. I-I can easily get carried away, you see… And I don’t want to come off just like how my father was. You know, Christoff. Being anything like that slimy sociopath is the last thing I’d want to do, especially just doing it to get better ratings. So… can you help me with this?”

He hesitated a little, but nodded. “O-of course, of course… B-but, from what you told me earlier, are you sure this challenge isn’t taking things a little too far, already?”

She chuckled, waving her hand dismissively. “Hah, not at all! We need this kind of fanservice, Oliver, especially when it comes to the early episodes. It’s a necessary evil to kickstart the season.”

Oliver nodded, conflicted. “U-uh-huh… Okay, then…”

A while later, all the campers gathered in the particular forest spot, where some kind of carnival-esque stage contraption was shoddily built. Kristal stood in the middle of the stage, her megaphone in hand, Oliver beside her. And at the corner of the stage, Marcus and Nina stood nearby a mysterious wheel of sorts.

“Howdy, campers!” Kristal said, as she raised her megaphone, making everyone cover their ears. Oliver nudged her on the arm. “M-Miss Kristal, they’re close enough, m-maybe we don’t need the megaphone…”

She glares at him a little, but comes to her senses with a sigh, handing him the megaphone. “Alright… Let’s start over. Since all of you are here now, let’s get into the challenge. I’ll explain.”

The host points to the wheel, on the stage. “Marcus will spin the wheel on my signal. The wheel will select two contestants, and after the selection is made, they must go up to the stage and kiss, lip-to-lip, for at least 2 seconds. An-”

“W-WHAT?? T-this is ILLEGAL! DESPICABLE! I’m CALLING the authorities!” Karen- sorry, Karol, complained.

For once, people were actually somewhat agreeing with Karol. Some didn’t mind the challenge, but the majority was very unnerved by the request.

Aiden spoke up. “Y-yeah, not to like… be a bother, but a kissing challenge??”

Kristal yelled back. “Shush! No more questions, from now on, just listen to me!” She was then stopped by another nudge from Oliver, who whispered into her ear. “T-try being nicer, maybe?”

She huffed, speaking back with a shaky voice. “A-ahh, err… O-of course you can have your own opinions about the challenge! E-everything you all say is… valid. B-but unfortunately, we must still go through with this challenge.”

Suddenly, Ally raised her hand. “W-wait, Kristal! Isn’t this like… sorta weird? I mean, like… aren’t some of us minors? Shouldn’t you exclude those people?”

Kristal froze. She JUST remembered that Lake and Maggy weren’t over 18. In a panic, she made a hasty decision. “U-uh… O-of course! T-to avoid any, uh… problems, and lawsuits, Lake, Maggy! You two can sit together at the bleachers! You are excluded from the challenge, but you won’t suffer any consequences for it. Just… stay there and cheer your team on.”

A large sigh of relief escaped both of them, as they walked together and sat beside each other on the bleachers.

The host cleared her throat. “A-ahem. As I was saying… The first contestant of a team to refuse a kiss, will make said team lose! So you guys will keep kissing each other until someone refuses. Ooh, dramatic! Sit on the bleachers, everyone! The Kiss-a-thon is about to begin!”

Confessional ~ Aiden

“O-ohh, God… I hate this so much right now. Like, I… I-I just have this thing where… I-I dunno, I can get pretty… uncomfortable when it comes to physical gestures like that. E-especially if I’m not close to the person, or if I don’t trust them… This challenge is gonna be the worst, I can already tell.” Aiden said, with genuine concern. He held his face with his palms, in distress.
_

Confessional ~ Karol

“This challenge is DISGUSTING! If I have to kiss even a SINGLE person, I’m throwing the challenge! I don’t care about what my team would think, this place is full of nothing but a bunch of delinquents and morons! At this point, I’m only here for the hopes of getting the million. Then I could quit my shitty job, and invest in veterinary school.”
_

Confessional ~ Tess

“Please don’t make me kiss the Fortnite guy…”
_

Confessional ~ Rosa María

Rosa played with her hair strands. “I know everyone isn’t too happy about this challenge, but I honestly don’t quite mind it. I am a very caring and affectionate person, so… It doesn’t quite bother me alot. Well, unless I would have to kiss that bastard Yul. No. Chance.” She glared at the camera.
_

Confessional ~ Ally

“W-whew! Oh, gosh… I made one hell of a good call to point that out to Kristal. I-I REALLY don’t need another controversy for kissing a minor, or whatever… I mean, I wouldn’t do that in the first place, but… people on the internet can cling to literally anything and use it against you, somehow.” She sighs, heavily.
_

Confessional ~ Lake & Maggy

The two raise a fist to the air. “Yahoo!” Maggy exclaims. 

“Y-yes! We won’t have to kiss anyone, Maggy!” Lake added.

“It’s all thanks to Ally! I bet Yul has cooties.” Maggy says, her tone sarcastic. Lake giggles at her remark.
_

Confessional ~ Yul

“Eww-UHH!! W-what the fuck is up with Kristal and these sadistic-ass challenges?? I-I don’t wanna end up kissing Herpes Fully Loaded, a.k.a, Karol! I’m ACTUALLY gonna shoot myself in front of the live audience, if it ever comes down to that!!”
_

Confessional ~ James

He chuckles. “Heh… this challenge will be a cakewalk. As usual, everyone else is overreacting… Kissing, romance, and any kind of fanservice are always the largest contributors to boosting anyone’s tractions. Who wouldn’t want to see a cute couple kissing passionately? You may call it clickbait, but I call it business. Fingers crossed, I end up with Aiden. My followers would go craaazy if we kissed. And I will be sure to give them a show.”
_

“Very well! Now that everyone’s aware of the rules, let’s begin. Marcus, spin the wheel!” Kristal ordered.

The blond spun the wheel, as she asked. It stopped on Ally, which made her recoil. He spun it again, landing on Riya. She gasped.

Kristal cackled. “Ally, and Riya! Ooh, rare pair! This should be interesting, and uncomfortable. Carry on, girls!”

Ally huffed, squirming in her own seat. James scoots over to her. “Hey, Ally. Just pretend it’s one of those… nerdy dating simulators you play, or whatever.” He sounded a bit dismissive, but she still nodded at him. “O-okay, right… It could always be worse, I guess…” She stands up, heading for the stage.

Riya also hesitated, before she felt Connor’s hand on her shoulder. “Come on, Riya. It’ll be alright. Try to pretend it’s a romance movie.” The woman sighed. “W-well… alright. I’ll get it over with.” She stood up, going to the center.

As the girls both stared each other down at the center, Kristal let out another cackle before giving them the go-ahead. “Go on, girls! Remember, at least two seconds.”

The duo huffed, before approaching each other. Ally muttered something to Riya. “U-uhh… awkward, huh.” Riya just nodded silently. Then, they both leaned closer to each other, sharing a kiss for about 2 seconds. They pulled away, looking awkward.

Kristal laughed, loudly. “MWAHAHA! Perfect! This is peak comedy, right here! …Next round!”

The wheel spun, once more. It landed on Yul, and Hunter. They both expressed shock, with Yul gasping. “H-huh??”

“Yul, and Hunter! You guys are up. I can already hear the Yulter fans cheering in the distance… if any.” She chuckled.

Yul huffed after looking at Hunter, standing up from the bleachers and going to the stage. The emo did the same.

“Ughhh, like… let’s just get it over with.” Yul said with a sassy posture. Hunter shrugged. “Fine by me.”

The two then proceeded to kiss. Surprisingly, it lasted longer than 2 seconds, and unlike the last one, there was subtle physical contact involved. The audience in the bleachers had very shocked reactions, and Kristal was using all of her inner power to not burst out laughing.

Suddenly, Yul got flustered, and pulled away. “O-okay, okay, w-we’re done!” Hunter chuckled meekly. “S-sorry, haha…” The pair then walked back to their original spots, sitting down. Yul’s cheeks were red, though he had a very annoyed expression. Hunter quickly got back to his chill mode.

“Oooh, it seems like things are getting spicy around here! Let’s see how things turn out in the next round!” Kristal exclaimed.

Confessional ~ Yul

“Okay, I’m not gonna talk about the elephant in the room. I thought I was gonna be grossed out, but… Hunter’s in that category where he’s not exactly a twink, but he’s not a hunk either. My final conclusion? Certified twunk… oh, God. I t-think I have a type...” He facepalmed. “N-no, Yul! You fucking idiot, just… stop thinking about it. Ugh. Gross.”
_

The next round was Tess and Rosa María, which went by pretty quickly. Going against Kristal’s expectations, their kiss was… very uneventful. 

The host huffed, disappointed. “Ugh. It’s not fun when the reaction is that boring… Next round.”

Marcus spun the wheel, once more. It landed on Aiden… and James.

“Aiden and James! Get down there!” Kristal ordered.

Aiden nearly jumped out of his seat, gasping in shock; hesitating. “W-WHA… O-oh, no…” James silently cheered beside him. “Haa… let’s go, baby.” He stood up, heading for the stage. The e-boy hesitated, before taking a huge breath and going to the stage.

They stared each other down. James with a calm, collected smile on his face, and Aiden frowning, trying to look as tough as possible.

“O-okay… let’s jus-”

Before Aiden could even finish talking, James grabbed him by the shoulders and quickly leaned onto a kiss, completely shocking him.

The majority of the audience gasped, not expecting James’ sudden movement.

Aiden tried pulling away, only for his back to get held tightly by James. He continued the kiss and deepened into it, as Aiden squirmed. “M-mmph!”

The current situation left a very mixed reaction on the contestants. Karol rolled her eyes. Rosa looked a bit concerned. Even YUL, of all people, had his mouth left agape.

Aiden tried squirming away again, and then finally proceeded to shove James by the shoulders, groaning as he did so. 

“W-what THE HELL?? T-THAT was… y-you DIDN’T need to!”

James chuckled. “What’s wrong? I thought you were enjoying yourself.”

He huffed at him, his face flushed with anger. “O-of course I WASN’T! T-that was 7 seconds! You- ugh…” Aiden sighed, walking away, looking to the floor, his expression genuinely hurt. James walked to the bleachers, as well.

Once Aiden sat on the bleachers, Rosa scooted over beside him. “Aiden… are you alright?”

He shrugged. “I… I-I don’t know…”

James tried talking to him again. “Hey, Aiden-”

The purple-haired girl immediately stood up from her seat and sat beside Aiden, blocking him from James. “Give him some space, James.” She said, staring him down. The man rolled his eyes, averting his gaze.

Kristal raised her voice, speaking in her eager tone. “Woo! Drama! We love the energy right now! Let’s keep it up, guys! Next round…”

As the wheel was spun, the next round was Ally and Rosa. It went by pretty quick, no huge reactions.

Another spin of the wheel came with another round; Connor and Riya. It was gentle and romantic, but nothing special.

Kristal became frustrated. “Ugh, next!”

The wheel spun again… Aiden. Kai.

“Kai, Aiden! Your turn!”

Aiden’s heart nearly stopped. “A-again?? N-no…! C-come on, ughhh…”

Rosa held his shoulder, speaking in a caring tone. “Aiden, sweetie… I understand if you’re nervous. But trust me. Kai is a very sweet person. He won’t overstep your boundaries like James did. You’re safe with him. Can you try, for me?”

He pondered for a moment, still hesitant. He sighed. “A-alright, I’ll… I’ll give it a shot, Rosa.” She smiled at his response.

They both walked up to the stage. Kai held his hands together, slightly bowing at him. “Namaste, Aiden… I can sense fear and anxiety within you. If you feel uncomfortable with going through this, I can refuse if you’d like… That way, your team won’t suffer any consequences.”

Aiden shook his head. “T-that’s… really nice of you, Kai. But… I think I can do this. S-shall we?”

The man nodded, with a hum. “Of course, duuude…”

They both leaned close to each other, and kissed. It only lasted for 2 seconds, and had no kind of physical contact. Just as Rosa said, Kai didn’t overstep any boundaries.

Aiden muttered to him, before leaving. “U-uhh… thanks.” Kai nodded, a kind smile on his face. The Tiger and the Turtle returned to their bleachers, respectively. As Aiden sat beside Rosa, James had an annoyed look on his face.

Confessional ~ James

“What’s the big deal? Kai can do it, but not me? Hmph… Regardless, my fans should still love the fanservice. Everything is going according to plan… I just have to get Aiden to warm up to me, somehow. No problem.”
_

Confessional ~ Rosa María

“What James did wasn’t right. He genuinely made Aiden uncomfortable, and I don’t think he gets that, himself… I didn’t want to make Aiden kiss Kai, but… we can’t exactly risk losing challenges. I don’t want to end up getting voted out, and losing the chance to provide Sofia a better future. So, I had to convince him… But regardless, Kai is a good man. I’m glad Aiden knows that, now…”
_

Kristal was actually yawning from boredom. “Next rooound… I might just end this out of complete boredom.”

The wheel spun again. It landed on Yul… and Connor.

Yul nearly threw up. “W-WHAAAT??? E-EWW-UHHH!! NO! H-HELL NO!”

Connor crossed his arms, glaring at him. “Yeah, I’m not… super into doing it either.”

“G-guys, come on!” Riya exclaimed. “We can’t lose another challenge again.”

“Fuck off with that challenge shit, I am NOT kissing this pathetic excuse of a DILF!” Yul yelled, disgusted.

Kristal stepped closer to the Turtles’ bleachers. “Ooh, are you forfeiting? That will cost you the challenge, just so you know…”

“W-wait, we-”

Before Riya could even intervene, Yul screamed. “YES! I GIVE UP! I’d rather be HOMELESS than kiss that flop!” 

The host nodded, giggling. “Very well, then! Turtles, you lose the challenge! Tigers, you won immunity for the night! That’s it for today, folks!”

Riya groaned, loudly. “Y-YUL! Y-you’re an IDIOT!”

He stood up, angrily. “I DON’T GIVE A SHIT! This challenge was fucking bullshit!” Yul stormed off into the woods.

Connor proceeded to comfort Riya. “Hey… it’s not your fault. We’ll bounce back and figure something out, okay?”

She shook her head. “No… I already know exactly what to do, Connor.”

_

A few hours later, in the Turtle’s cabin, Kai and Hunter were hanging out inside, wondering where Connor was.

Suddenly, the older man entered the cabin, a worried expression on his face. Hunter waved at him. “Hey, man! Where have you been?”

“Oh, just, uhh… kinda busy. So, boys, I already got a pretty good idea for who we should vote for tonight.” Connor stated.

“I believe I know who you are suggesting, wise old man… Yul, right?” Kai added, which received a nod from Connor.

“Ahh, right… Yeah, I guess it makes the most sense to vote Yul. He’s been kinda… pretty rude and all that, aside from the fact he made us lose this challenge today.” Hunter said.

“Yeah, exactly. If we all vote for him, surely he’s gonna get booted off tonight.”

The pair nodded. “Sure, uhh… we’ll take care of that when it’s time. Right, Kai?” 

“Indeed. We shall purge his evil, demonic energy right off the island.” Kai added.

Hunter chuckled, and Connor was a little more nervous with his own laugh. He had the feeling Yul could be spying on them from any corner. He walked backwards, waving at the boys. “R-right, uhh… Glad we got that handled. I’m gonna go for a walk, boys. See y’all at the ceremony.”

“Bye, Connor!” Hunter waved at him. “...So what was that about the butterfly effect, again?” The emo asked him. Kai hummed. “Well, it’s about a single action you take being able to change the entire outcome of a situation… Whenever something unexpected occurs, it can lead to a bunch of other unexpected situations… So technically, we are living in a thousand time parallels at the same time…”

“Wow… that’s kinda crazy.” He chuckled.

As Connor closed the door, leaving the two to their conspiracy theorist talk, he bumped into Riya. “C-Connor! H-hi there… Did you get the boys to vote with you?”

He nodded. “Y-yep, sure did.”

“Splendid. Err, I got Karol to vote for Yul as well… I think it’s very safe to say that he will be the one going out tonight.”

They nod at each other, the man sighing in relief.

_

Completely isolated, Yul was stomping around by himself, deeper into the evening forest. He kept complaining and murmuring to himself. “Ugh… those stupid morons… They better not think about voting me off tonight, they bett- WAHH!”

Yul tripped on a rock before he could continue his rant. An Ally moment, if you will… 

He groaned, assessing his situation. “U-UGH! S-stupid… ROCK! Fuck you, Mother Nature.”

As he stood up and wiped off the dirt from his designer jeans, his gaze completely stopped once he noticed a peculiar object lying under the rock, which moved from its place as he tripped on it.

Yul hummed. “Hellooo… what do we have here?”

_

After a long while, as the sunlight completely depleted, the camp being engulfed in the darkness of the night, the entire Turtle team gathered by the campfire, ready to partake in the voting ceremony.

“Ooh, back again, Turtles… How disappointed does everyone feel? It must be soul-crushing to have two eliminations in a row… But like I told you, it either gets better or worse after the first one! Lady Luck must really hate you, haha! Anyways, you all know how this works, so get voting!”

Kai holds up a vote for Yul. “Time to purify the lands of Tipiskaw by eliminating your evil energy. I hold no personal grudges, but I must do this… in the name of peace.”

Karol holds up a paper with Yul’s name written on it. “This is for even DARING to vote me off yesterday, chump! Have fun being in the peanut gallery.” 

Riya writes on the paper, her face resolute and confident.

Hunter sighs, then writes on the paper.

Yul looks a little nervous, signing a name on the paper.

Finally, all the votes have been cast. The campers all return to their seats.

“Looks like everyone is done voting! Now… if anyone has an immunity totem, speak up, or-”

Suddenly, Yul raised his hand. “Ta-daaa! Surprise, flops!”

Everyone was unsettled, and Kristal was puzzled. “Yul? Do you actually have a totem or are you just being annoying again?”

“Ugh, cut the sass, I got it right hereee!” He pulled it out from his pocket, shocking literally everyone.

He walked over to Kristal, handing it the totem. She took a while to inspect it, and noticed a clear sign that it was legit. “Hmm… Well, alright! This is a valid immunity totem. Who do you want to use it o-”

“Duh, myself, obvi!!” Yul spoke, rolling his eyes.

Riya cried out. “N-NO! D-damn it, damn it…”

“Very well, then! The very first immunity totem has been found by Yul, and it will be used to nullify any votes against himself. Well played, Yul.” Kristal said.

“Oh, I know I ate that…” Yul said, sweeping his hair in a gloating manner. He sat back on his seat, earning glares from Karol and Riya.

Kristal went to the urn, retrieving the papers. “Alright, time to read the votes. Listen, everyone…”

“First vote… Yul. Doesn’t count.”

Riya sighed, holding her hands together, nervously.

“Second… Yul. Does not count.”

Connor faintly held Riya’s hand.

“Third… Yul.”

Kai and Hunter glanced at each other, shaking their heads.

“Yul…”

Yul shot Karol a confident glance, smirking.

“Fifth, Yul… still doesn’t count.”

Riya slightly hyperventilated. Anyone could be next.

“Last vote, and the second person to get out of Disventure Camp, is…”

Everyone but Yul had an intense or worried gaze at the host.

“...Connor! One vote, and none against Yul. You’re out.”

“N-NOO! C-Connor, no…!” Riya quickly stood up and hugged him. “I-I can’t believe this…!”

Yul cackled. “HA! You better believe it, flop! That’s what you guys get for going against me!” He then turned his head to Kai and Hunter. “Sorry guys, but your alliance doesn’t mean shit anymore, hah!”

“W-what?? How did you know about our alliance??” Connor asked, genuinely puzzled.

He pointed to the two. “Because, these two goobers were talking about it, and I overheard. It’s not like you guys were keeping it subtle, anyway.”

Connor sighed, looking down. Hunter ran up to him. “C-Connor, I… I’m so sorry, man…”

He chuckled, faintly. “Don’t be sorry, kid. Just… stay on the game, for me.”

Kristal cleared her throat. “Ahem! Connor, you need to go to the entrance and wait for the Bus of Losers. You’ll stay at the motel for the rest of the show.”

“W-wait, Connor… Let me walk you out.” Riya suggested, to which she earned a nod from the older man. Kristal huffed. “Fine, have it your way. Just… hurry up.”

Meanwhile, in front of the camp entrance, Riya and Connor awaited together, the former having a huge frown on her face, about to cry. “O-ohh, Connor… I’m so sorry, I… if only I had tried to find the totem instead, then, maybe…”

He chuckled. “Hey, don’t worry about it. What happened, happened. But… I just want you to promise me something.”

“What…?”

He held her hand. “Try your best at the game, and never give up. For me. I want you to win this whole thing, so you can follow your dreams. And even if you lose, we’ll see each other again when this is all over. “

Riya cried, a little. Connor then pulled her into a warm hug. “T-thank you, Connor… I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, Riya.”

As they hugged, the bus pulled up beside them, with Connor vanishing within a few seconds. Riya waved at the bus, her eyes still watery.

Confessional ~ Hunter

He sighed, his head lowered. “Aw, man… I still can’t believe Connor got taken down this fast. I swear I thought he was gonna last for wayyy longer. Guess me and Kai need to keep our eyes open for any threats. And totems. And Yul.”
_

Confessional ~ Kai

“It is just as I’ve foreseen, in my dreams… The energy of a two-faced demon can overpower the purity and wiseness of the old, ancient man… However, they have also warned me about the dangers of the enraged woman, who has the wildlife on her side, and can destroy her enemies with such an alliance… Hmm…”
_

Confessional ~ Yul

He cackled. “BA-HAAA! That was SO iconic!! Now that Connor’s out of the game, their alliance basically crumbled to dust. Not only that, but Riya can’t go to Connor and get free votes from him and their alliance anymore. I’m finally starting to take control of the game! I’m totes on my king era…”
_

Confessional ~ Riya

Riya pondered, still wiping tears from her eyes. “I-I… look, I know that the right thing to do would be getting some kind of revenge for Connor… but I believe that is senseless. After all, he asked me to do my best and win this game. And that is still what I’m going to do… But, I have to admit… Yul pulled a very strategic and unexpected move, and turned the whole competition to his own favor. I can’t exactly trust anyone else, as Karol might flip on me, and the boys only really listened to Connor… So, maybe siding with Yul wouldn’t be a bad move, as much as it pains me to say it. I hope you don’t take this personally, Connor…”
_

Kristal laughed. “Hahaa! How very interesting! Things just keep getting more and more intense in this camp, and that won’t be stopping anytime soon! Not only did Yul prove himself to be a major strategist today, although… Let's be honest, he was more lucky than actually smart this time. But also, Riya seems to be contemplating siding with Yul, after Connor’s alliance was crushed by him. Twelve campers remain. How will things turn out next time? Who will be the next one to go after Connor? Stay tuned, and find out, ooon… Disventure Camp!”

Chapter Text

“Last time, on Disventure Camp! Yul found out about Hunter, Kai and Connor’s alliance. Maggy and Tess bonded over art. Rosa explained her story to Kai, and the two became friends. Connor felt depressed over wanting to fit in with the youth, and Riya encouraged him to be himself. For our second challenge, most of the campers were forced to kiss lip-to-lip for a few seconds, which led to quite a few crazy situations. Looking at you, James… Much to the Turtles’ dismay, Yul refused to kiss Connor, leading to the Tigers winning the challenge, and immunity. It seemed like things were over for Yul, but due to the previously-announced immunity totem, he was able to save his own skin by pulling a very clever stunt. Previously knowing Connor was the leader of the trio’s alliance, he was able to ruin their stability by voting for Connor, thus making him leave the competition, leaving the boys and Riya disheartened. 12 campers remain! Will Yul be able to pull another crazy stunt to save his own overhated self once again? That, among other things, is what we’ll find out in this episode, of… Disventure Camp!”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp. 

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

James was by himself, sitting on the staircase to his cabin, and mindlessly scrolling through his phone. He had just closed TikTok and opened Twitter, still scrolling with a blank expression.

His eyes widened and he felt perplexed, as he saw a post with a screenshot of him and Aiden from the previous challenge; both kissing while Aiden tried shoving him away.

The caption read… 

“ew guys wtf is NOBODY gonna talk abt what james did. HUH??? #saveAiden”

He huffed, scrolling down to the comments of the post.

“yeah honestly it was p gross… poor aiden i felt for him </3”
“james needs to chill lmaooooo”
“I’m glad queen Rosa (diva) was there to support him!! also W Kai for not pressuring him!!”

James’ grip on the phone tightened, him gritting his teeth slightly, before groaning. “Ugh. Haters.”

“BA-HAHAAA! Aww, look who’s all alone right nowww!” A familiar, obnoxious voice rang out from beside him. James furrowed his brows as he glanced at… him.

“What do you want, Yul?” His annoyed glare spoke for itself.

The Korean cackled again. “Oooh, don’t pop a gasket… I was just wondering where your bitch Aiden was. After all, you’re kind of a twink magnet… Well, not anymore, I guess. BA-HAHA!”

He glared at him more intensely as he insulted Aiden. “Don’t call him that, moron.”

Yul chuckled sarcastically. “Hey, you’re in no position to argue here. After all… It’s all your fault he ran off with those clowns and left you all by yourself. I had no idea you were such a creep, JamesCD! Pfft! Now dear Aiden’s gonna run off with that junkie, Kai… And you’re gonna be all alone again.”

“S-shut up…! If you’re just going to talk crap to me, then back off and leave me alone.”

He rolled his eyes. “Ughhh! Calm downnn. Look, I actually came here with a small proposition…”

James groaned. “...Whatever. If it’ll get you to leave me alone, I’ll listen.”

“That’s what I like to hear. Anyway, since it’s pretty clear your team doesn’t exactly like you, I think it would be in your best interest to form an alliance with me.”

The man was perplexed for a moment. “...What?? How would that even work? We are not even from the same teams.”

Yul facepalmed. “Just shut up and listen. What I mean is, you’re gonna come talk to me whenever we have the chance, and you can tell me all about what’s going on in your team, who’s under risk of getting booted, who the strongest players are… That kind of nerdy shit. Got it??”

“Mmm… I must say, it is very strange of you to come to ME with this proposition. Say, you wouldn’t happen to be in a bad spot on your team… right, Yul?” James crossed his arms, a smug look on his face, which annoyed Yul.

“UGH! Shut up, I never said that! I-I’m doing just fine, as you can see… Besides, I think we should both be more worried about you right now. Aiden’s friends with Ms. Purple Hair and Pronouns, and Dollar Store Tall Girl. His potential alliances are way stronger than any you could form, which means you’re totally screwed if your team loses a challenge. Do you seriously wanna get booted off, and be forever known as the guy who assaulted a twink? Huhhh??”

Yul was an asshole. But… his words kept echoing in James’ mind. He wasn’t just telling him bullshit, he actually had a point, strategically speaking. If Aiden formed an alliance with those two, or even more, especially if the whole team turned on him… He’d surely get voted off ASAP. 

James was never one to care too much about hate, though this situation was different. He crossed a line, this time. Even though he always did all sorts of crazy TikTok challenges and trends before, this was… a more sensible matter. Deep down, he still didn’t understand how he hurt Aiden, because he didn’t really mean to. But he had to keep him close. And now, he was slipping through his fingers.

“I… well, alright. What do you have in mind, then?”

“Glad you finally asked. Well… we can’t really do much, for now. But I'm asking you to keep your eyes and ears open. Learn whatever you can from your team, and tell me all the deets when you can. And if you play nice, I might just tell you what’s going on in mine. Ooh, and maybe we could even pull the strings from behind and sabotage those morons. That way, we have a better chance of making it to merge and not have to worry anymore about this whole team bullshit... Deal?” Yul extended his hand at him.

He pondered for a moment, before shaking Yul’s hand. “Deal.”

-xx-

“And then she said, ‘’I can smell that million bucks calling to me!’’ And tossed Ellie’s shovel faaar off, which made her lose the challenge!”

“U-um… isn’t faking a heart attack k-kinda… wrong?”

Aiden pondered, waving his hand dismissively. “Well, normally… But honestly, I respect the hustle. After all, it made her win the season in the end.”

Maggy and the e-boy were together in the woods, on a tree log. As usual, he was geeking out about Disventure Camp trivia.

“R-right, then… I-I actually didn’t watch this show at all… My mom doesn’t really let me watch TV much.”

His eyebrows curved. “Aww. Well, not to worry! I’m basically a walking Disventure Camp dictionary! I’ll make sure you know every little detail, so you won’t feel lost.”

She smiled. “Thank you, Aiden.”

Aiden chuckled and nodded. “You’re welcome. But enough about me; do you have any hobbies? Or anything you do for a living?”

“W-well, m-my dad owns a pharmacy, and he works there. So… sometimes I go there and help him with stuff. B-because of that, I kinda know a lot about medicines and the like… E-especially since I’m always either getting ill, or getting hurt when I go out…”

The e-boy raised an eyebrow, noticing several band-aids on her body. “Ahh, so that’s why you’ve got so many band-aids on, huh?”

“Y-yeah… either I trip on a rock, o-or get scratched by a branch… O-or get attacked by a w-wild squirrel…!” Maggy spoke, her voice shaking at the last part as she shut her eyes.

Aiden laughed nervously. “O-oh, man. Sounds pretty crazy, eheh… By the way, I’m not exclusively interested in Disventure Camp. I like a bunch of other reality shows, too. Like Race to the Place, that kinda thing…” He suddenly looked to the side, suspiciously, before leaning closer to Maggy and whispering at her. “A-actually, did you know Kristal’s father runs that show?? Apparently, she really hates him. So… don’t mention him around her.” He leaned away.

“O-okay. I won’t. A-and, Aiden? Are you… okay?”

He looked puzzled. “Huh? Y-yeah, why?”

“T-the… what happened with you and James at the challenge. Y-you looked really sad. S-so…”

Oh. That’s what she meant. 

Aiden hesitated a bit before answering. “I… it’s complicated. But, I’ll be fine.”

Suddenly, Maggy hugged him. “I-I’m sorry that happened to you…! P-please don’t be sad…”

He chuckled slightly. “Don’t worry about me, Maggy. Stuff just happens sometimes…”

“I-I know, but… I still worry. I w-worry for all my friends.”

Aiden hummed. “I know you do. But I swear I’m fine. Um… do you wanna go to the cafeteria and eat breakfast?”

“A-ah, of course…!”

Confessional ~ Aiden

“Maggy’s really sweet. B-but I really don’t wanna worry her with my own problems. It’s just… gonna be awkward to be around James in the future, to say the least… But - I guess I’ll learn to live with it.” He shrugged, sighing.
_

At the courtyard of the Turtle’s cabin, Kai and Hunter sat together on one of the wooden tables.

The emo guy sighed, covering his face with his hands. “Ugh… man, oh man… I still can’t believe Connor’s just gone. Just like that…”

“Indeed. It is truly tragic… For the wise old man was the light of hope that carried our boat through the turbulent seas, although a force of nature had caused a tornado to form in our path, which set us off course… and sent Connor flying toward the dark, stormy sky…” Kai rambled away, being his usual philosophical self.

Hunter hummed. “Yeah, what you said, bro… I’m just totally lost. I can’t believe Yul pulled the rug on us like that, especially with that crazy totem play… He knew exactly what he was doing when he voted for Connor.”

Kai raised his finger, his eyes closed. “That demon is a whole other beast on his own. But I sense that we may be missing the bigger picture here… It may be possible the demon is simply a red herring, a fog blinding us from the real problem.”

“Huh, what do you mean by that?”

“Yul may not be working alone. He may be gathering allies to continue his destructive cycle of chaos and impurity. After all, I fear some among us may not be as pure-hearted as they claim to be…” 

Hunter raised an eyebrow at that. But before he could question him, someone approached their table - namely, Ally. 

“There you are, Hunter! I was looking for you, like, everywhere!” She exclaimed, holding her Switch. Hunter perked up. “Ohh, hey girl!”

“Namaste, Ally.” Kai said, prompting her to giggle and wave at him as well. “Hey, man. Uhh, Hunter, I just wanted to ask if you were free right now? Tess and I were chilling on a table closer to our cabin. You wanna come with and take turns playing Fortnite?”

Hunter chuckled. “Sure, how could I say no to Fortnite? Hey, I’ll see you soon, Kai.” He fist bumped him.

After a long trek, they reached Tess’ table.

“Hi, Tess! We’re here!”

She hummed, with a deadpan tone. “Hoo boy…”

Ally placed the Switch on the table after the pair sat down. “Right. So, you can go first, Hunter.”

“Sure thing. Y’know, considering we’re in the middle of the woods, I’m surprised Kristal’s wi-fi is this good.” He said as he picked up the Joy-Cons.

“Eh, it could be better, but yeah, it’s pretty surprising…”

Tess trailed off, staring away into the woods as they geeked out about Fortnite.

“By the way, Hunter, you never told me your username. Y’know, in case you wanna play online after this is all over.” Ally asked, earnestly.

He widened his eyes. “Ooh, good point! Right, right, it’s… uh, xXLoneRangerXx…”

…Wow. 

Ally couldn’t help but snort, despite her best efforts at holding in a laugh.

“W-what? What’s so funny?”

Okay, she straight up cackled now. “HAH! D-dude, that is SO emo?? Are you a MySpace kid? Xbox Live lookin’ ass gamertag, haha…” She giggled after that.

Hunter giggled along. “Okayyy, okay, I know. Hardy har…”

“How many MCR shirts do you own, huh? Ten? You wearing one under that sweater right now?” Ally snorted once more.

“Ohh, shut up.”

She chuckled. “Relax, I’m fucking with you.”

“Riiight, like I’m gonna believe you didn’t have a scene girl phase.”

“I- shut up…”

As Tess completely tuned them out, she spotted weird movements in the bushes.

*rattle-rattle*

“Mmm… uh, guys-” She turned to see them completely glued to the screen. Figures.

Tess groaned. “Never mind. If we get jumped by a gator, I hope it kills me first.”

As the girl looked away, Yul’s head popped out from the bush, only for him to dive inside again.

Confessional ~ Yul

“Yeah, haha, I’m in a bush again. Whatever. Unlike James, I’m not a creeper. Anyway, Hunter seems to be getting wayyy too buddy-buddy with Ally and Tess. Like, hellooo, I’m right hereee??” He suddenly glanced at the camera, flustered, before frowning in annoyance. “W-what I MEANT was, there’s a huge risk of him forming an alliance with these two - especially after I basically crushed his alliance with Connor and Kai. Ugh… as much as I hate to admit it, Emo Twunk might become a problem if he makes it to the merge…”
_

As the morning progressed, Riya sat alone by herself on a rock at the beach. Same spot where she found Connor yesterday… Sigh.

She glanced at the moving waves, the slight wind moving the pine trees from afar.

Without her noticing it, someone approached her from behind. “Riya.”

“A-ah!” She was startled, turning around to realize it was Karol, with her arms crossed. 

“O-oh… Karol. H-hello…” Her voice was still shaky.

“Why are you moping around here?”

Riya flinched a bit due to her sudden interrogation. “I-I am not moping, i-it’s… nothing.”

Karol rolled her eyes. This was way too obvious. “Riya, you don’t have to lie to me. Of course it’s Connor.”

The woman frowned, looking down as she placed her head between her palms.

“Look. I know you were close. But we’re still together in this alliance, and I need you to focus right now. We have to make it to the end, and if you don’t take your mind off of him, that’s not gonna happen. Do the right thing, Riya.” She then walked back to the forest, leaving Riya by herself.

Confessional ~ Riya

She pondered. “W-well… obviously, I still really miss Connor. I just feel very lonely right now. But, I suppose Karol does have a point… I have to keep it together and focus on the game, so I can win this for myself… and for Connor.”
_

As per usual, to disrupt the peace around the camp, Kristal’s speakers went off, startling nearly everyone. 

“Howdyyy, campers! It’s challenge tiiime! And just to ease any concerns, this one will not involve any kissing! But make sure you get your insomnia on, and meet me at the middle of the camp! Don’t be late!”

And with her announcement, everyone gathered at the location.

“Tigers! Turtles! Welcome to the third challenge. This one will be a little… unusual, I can tell you that much.” Kristal explained.

“Uh, yeah, what was that about insomnia?” Aiden questioned, concerned.

The host cleared her throat. “Allow me to elaborate. Your challenge is to stay awake for as long as possible! Each member who falls asleep will be excluded from the challenge. If at least one or more people from one team is awake, and every single member on the opposing team ends up falling asleep, their team will win immunity. Last man standing, you get the gist.”

Karol argued, baffled. “What?? How are we supposed to stay awake for that long without anything to do??”

“That’s your problem, Karol. Now… no more interruptions. The challenge begins, now!”

After Kristal gave them the go-ahead, everyone split up in their own little cliques, or simply did their own thing by themselves.

_

“Hey, Lake? I have… something interesting to tell you. Since you also like writing and poetry, I… thought you might like it.” Rosa María said, looking a little anxious.

Lake’s eyes widened. “Oh? Then please tell me more, Rosa.”

The girl expressed a bit of surprise over her eagerness, so she hoped she could explain it as best as she could. And in a way that wouldn’t offend her, or cross any lines… 

“Very well… but before I tell you, I want to ask; do you believe in astrology?”

She was a bit surprised by the question, but not in a bad way. “A-actually… I do. I think it is a somewhat niche, yet very interesting matter…”

“I-I see. Well, you know… I told you about my pregnancy a while ago, and how my parents weren’t exactly the most supportive…”

She nodded. “Yes, I… remember.”

“Well, I may have spoken vaguely about it, but… if I can be completely transparent with you, it was the most difficult, and quite frankly the worst period in my entire life. I cannot describe how alone and powerless I felt, for a long time…” Rosa’s voice broke a little.

Lake’s eyebrows arched, her heart aching with Rosa’s sad description. “R-Rosa… I-I’m so sorry. I wish I could’ve been there for you.”

Rosa suddenly giggled, despite the tragic story she just mentioned. “It is alright, my friend. But… my point is, when I was all alone, and suffering, and felt like I could not trust or rely on anyone, including my parents… I eventually found my way towards the horoscope. And it gave me the best guidance I could have ever hoped for.”

“A-ah? The… horoscope? I haven’t heard much of it, actually. How did it help you…?”

“The daily horoscope gives you readings on your zodiac sign. Yes, yes, I know many people dislike them and dismiss them as merely superstition… But, some of the readings can be very accurate and extremely encouraging, even if you feel completely helpless. The day I first read it, the advice that I was given was simply life-changing. And… well, I wanted to share this with you. So if you are ever in a bad spot, you could simply read the horoscope and see if the message makes sense, and will uplift your spirits.” She smiled.

The blonde stayed silent for a second, looking down with a huge frown, until she tried snapping back to her usual self. “I-I… w-well, that is very kind of you, Rosa. B-but… m-maybe I would not be very comfortable to go deeper into the horoscope just yet. I-I don’t mean to keep secrets from you, but…”

Bingo. That was the reaction she expected, but not to worry. Rosa shook her hands, worried. “A-ah, no, no. T-that is just fine, Lake. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I just thought that a writer such as yourself might find the horoscope… inspiring. And maybe helpful, be it for that purpose, or another.”

Lake nodded, taking a deep breath. “Y-yes, I see. And, thank you for the suggestion…” She chuckled, her tone breaking faintly. “I-I’m sorry, I do not mean to look so sensitive, eheh…”

“Please don’t worry, Lake. You’re my friend. I’d never judge you for being honest with your feelings. Don’t be concerned with apologizing - I understand.”

They smiled at each other.

Confessional ~ Lake

The girl huffed, holding her face in frustration. “A-agh… I really didn’t want to seem so rude and dismissive towards Rosa. She doesn’t deserve that. B-but… it’s really not easy talking about my parents to just anyone. Even if Rosa is an incredible person, I… am not quite ready to discuss this matter right now. Besides, if they found out I said anything about them on live TV, the results would be very disastrous… B-but - on the bright side, maybe taking a look at this so-called horoscope might not be such a scary idea. I am actually a Cancer, so I wonder what kind of message I would receive…”
_

2 hours have passed. 

Ally and Tess were together, and of course - she was still yapping about video games.

“So yeah, you know what really pisses me off?? Cancelled games. Like, what if a game was gonna be really awesome, but then it gets cancelled for either time or budget reasons? It just makes me wish we could live in an alternate reality where that game got released and some other one didn’t.”

“Uh-huhhh…” Tess mumbled, rolling her eyes.

“Also, cut content! Y’know, when developers cut things out of the game, or change stuff in the story? Sometimes it just makes it so the final product is even worse, because we may or may not have missed out on a really cool scenario that’s completely gone now. Like, imagine if the cut content was way better than the final game? That stuff happens, man!”

“Riiight…” Once again, she muttered, yawning.

Suddenly, Maggy appeared in front of the two, holding her fingers together. She waved at Tess. “H-hi, Tess!”

Thank Lord, someone who didn’t yap about video games! “O-oh. Hi.”

Ally suddenly perked up. “Ooh, hey! Maggy, right? …Wait, are you guys friends?”

“Yes.” Tess answered, bluntly. Maggy smiled when she said that.

“‘Eyy, awesome! Maggy, are you a fellow gamer?”

She froze once the conversation was directed at her. “W-what?? M-me…? U-uhm… I-I never really liked v-video games…”

Oh. Well, that hit Ally like a rock.

She frowned, dropping the topic. “A-ahh… s-sure, that’s f-fine… yeah.”

Confessional ~ Ally

“O-okay, I’m getting a little self-conscious now. W-what if I’m just weirding people out, or annoying them by talking a bit too much about games? Ugh… It’s not like I have any other major hobbies, either… Keep it together, Ally…” She slapped her face slightly.

_

A good hour passed by. 

Hunter was chilling by himself, laying against a tree while he had earphones on. Yul approached him. 

“A-hem!” He cleared his throat, obnoxiously. And obviously, Hunter didn’t really hear a thing, his eyes still closed.

He rolled his eyes, and went around the tree, giving it a swift kick. The impact made the tree shake a little, causing a small pinecone to fall on the emo’s head.

“O-ow! …Oh.” He glanced at the pinecone, until he looked up at Yul, his relaxed expression turning into annoyance. “It’s you. Uh… what’s up?”

“What’s up is that we need to talk about your little thing with Ally and Tess.”

Hunter was befuddled. “T-the… what? What thing?”

“You know what! I know you’re kind of a himbo, but you’re smarter than you look. Obviously you’re in an alliance with those two, so when you make it to the merge, you’ll have no problems getting further in the game, huh??” Yul said, his tone growing more hostile.

“A-alliance? Nah, the only alliance I’m in is with Kai… wait- I-I mean…”

Yul facepalmed. “I already know that, dumbass. But I also know you’re full of shit, ‘cause no way you don’t have something set up with the girls. Just admit it alreadyyy!”

Hunter stood up. “Look, there’s nothing to admit! If you’re just gonna stand there screaming at me, I’m gonna get a move on. Peace out.” He walked past him, throwing a peace sign.

“U-ughhh! You freaking twunk!”

The emo walked straight to Lake and Rosa’s spot, which left the pair staring at him in confusion, wondering what the commotion back there was all about. “Uhh… Hunter? What was going on with Yul back there?” Rosa said, her arms crossed.

He hummed, sweeping his hair back. “No idea, but he’s being a jerk again, and he won’t leave me alone. He keeps asking me about an alliance, or whatever…”

“Hm. Well, whatever you do, do not involve yourself with the likes of him. You can stay with us.” Rosa smiled.

“Oh! Alrighty, then. Thanks.” He sat down beside them on their tree log, making Rosa nod at him with a smile on her face.

Lake pondered. “E-err… By the way, do you know why Yul is always… around you? It’s almost as if he is a little, um… Obsessed?”

Hunter widened his eyes, and Rosa was genuinely baffled. 

“Hmph, well I never! Don’t worry, Hunter. I won’t let that bastard come near you.” She said, slightly flexing her arms. It’d actually be kinda funny to see someone as kind as Rosa fighting someone.

“I-I… I mean, I don’t know if I’d say he’s obsessed, but… I guess it is sorta weird, huh?”

The blonde suddenly giggled, speaking in a playful tone. “Well… maybe he liked your kiss a bit too much, hmm?” Hunter blushed, looking away.

Rosa scoffed. “Only someone who hates themself would be in any kind of relationship with Yul. Anyone deserves better than him.”

Meanwhile, Yul was watching their conversation from afar, hiding behind a tree.

Confessional ~ Yul

“Alright, either Hunter is a chick magnet, or he’s secretly in cahoots with all of those cows from the other team! New rule number one… never trust a twunk.”
_

By that point, 4 hours have passed. Maggy and Tess fell asleep, making Ally all alone. She huffed, a frown on her face.

After 2 more hours, Rosa and Lake both fell asleep. Hunter groaned.

“Aaand the Tigers just officially lost 4 people! Seems like the Turtles are finally taking the lead!” Kristal announced.

He proceeded to stand up, looking for another spot. He ran into Ally, with her two sleeping companions beside her. They both smiled hugely at each other.

“H-Hunter! Thank God, I thought everyone else was knocked out…” She said, sighing.

Hunter sat beside her. “Nope. Not me. Does your Switch still have enough battery juice left?”

She checked the battery. 61% left. “Uhh… yeah, should last for a bit. Wanna game?”

“Sure.”

After half an hour passed by, Kristal suddenly approached the gaming duo, holding a tray with two Sprite cans on it. 

“Hey there, gamers. Fancy a drink? You both should stay hydrated for this challenge.”

Ally glanced at the Sprite cans. “Uh… no thanks, I’ll be fine.”

Hunter looked at the cans, his eyes widening. “You know what, I’m sorta thirsty. Sure, I’ll have one.”

Kristal handed him a can with an oddly sadistic smile. “Of course, here you go…”

He opened the soda can, taking a looong sip. Ally was a little weirded out by Kristal’s odd behavior.

“Uhh… is there something else you wanted to say, Kristal?” She asked, unsettled.

Kristal chuckled. “Hah, nothing really! …Just that, well… Let’s just say that I may or may not have spiked the Sprite with a dose of strong sleeping pills…”

The pair’s eyes widened, and Hunter spat out his current drink. “W-WHAT??”

“Hehe, oops! You probably should be more careful about accepting gifts from strangers.” She said, her tone faintly menacing.

“W-what the hell, you DRUGGED him?!” Ally interjected, furious and shocked.

Hunter groaned slightly. “I-I don’t… feel so good…” 

*thud!*

“W-whoa, shit! H-Hunter…!” Ally said, inspecting his unconscious self.

Kristal cleared her throat. “Aaand the Turtles lose their first member! Sweet dreams, Hunter!”

“W-WHAT did you DO?? Y-you can’t sabotage us like this! …B-besides, you freaking drugged him!! T-that is SO messed up!!” Ally yelled at her, causing her to yawn. “Blahblahblah, whatever. He’ll wake up… eventually.”

Confessional ~ Kristal & Oliver

“D-DRUGGED??” He exclaimed, holding his head with a frantic expression.

Kristal giggled. “Yep, I sure did! It’s harmless anyway, he’ll be fineee…”

“M-Miss Kristal, I… I really don’t know if d-drugging contestants is v-very nice, or… legal, for that matter.”

“Oh, come on. You need to know how to have a little bit of fun. The worst thing that can happen is him thinking twice before drinking a can of Sprite again…”

“M-meaning, you gave him Spritephobia! His life will never be the same!” Oliver yelled.

“Really now? Who died and made you an etymologist?” Kristal asked, her arms crossed.

Oliver pondered for a moment. “W-what’s etymology?”

“...The study of the history of words.”

“Oh. T-that sounds better than working at Chipotle.”

Kristal cleared her throat. “A-ahem! We’re getting sidetracked. Back to it!”
_

Another 2 hours pass by. 

Aiden and James were sitting together, but both on far ends of the same bench. Aiden looked a little sleepy. Before he could even turn around, he noticed that James scooted over right behind him. He jumped a little.

“Hey, Aiden… Listen, so abou-”

“J-James… don’t.” He interrupted him. “We’ve got a challenge to win, so let’s just focus.”

He scoffed. “I just want to talk, it’s not that serious. We can stay awake and talk, no?”

Aiden hesitated, standing up from the bench. “I… I’d rather not, man…” He walked away, leaving James by himself. He faintly slammed his fist on the wooden table.

Confessional ~ James

“Hmph, fine! If Aiden keeps avoiding me, then I don’t need him, anyway! …I don’t.” He crossed his arms, looking to the side with a conflicted frown.
_

Confessional ~ Aiden

Aiden sighed, burying his face in his palms. “I feel so shitty right now. Over this whole thing. It’s just… Rosa told me that my feelings are valid, a-and… I don’t disagree, but… I can’t help but wonder if I’m being too dramatic. Too… harsh?  Crap, I don’t know. Ugh! Dammit, Aiden! Snap out of it…!”
_

One more hour passes. Kai and Yul fell asleep, oddly enough, beside each other. Hmm.

As Aiden paced around the clearing, he was a bit surprised to see Karol still awake. But curiously enough, she was… bandaging a crow?

He wanted to know what exactly she was doing, so he spoke to her. “U-uh… Karol, right? Hi.”

“Huhh?? Oh. You… what do you want, whippersnapper?”

“Well, n-nothing. I just wanted to know what exactly is going on with that, uhh… bird, over there?”

She scoffed. “It’s a crow, stupid. It clipped one of its wings on a sharp tree branch. I’m just taking care of the wound.”

Aiden felt genuinely surprised she was doing something so… unusual. Or, out-of-character for her. “Whoa, um… really? I kinda didn’t figure you for the animal lover type. N-no offense, it’s just that you don’t exactly seem like a… people person.”

“Hmph. None taken. And you’d be right… But, animals are miles better than people. Because they can’t communicate through words, only actions. So… they won’t try to manipulate you, unlike people always do.” Karol explained, still fully focused on the crow on her lap.

“Uh, right, right… But - aren’t you scared of getting bit, or clawed, or… attacked by animals at all?”

Karol chuckled dryly. “Hah. Unlike people, no animal has ever tried to hurt me in my whole life. Ever. Does that answer your question?”

Aiden held his arm, looking down at the ground with a faint sad frown. Karol caught sight of that. “...Hey, what’s wrong with you?”

“O-oh, uh… N-nothing. Just that… I guess you could say I relate to you, with… people hurting you, and all that… I-it’s nothing. I won’t keep you. See ya, Karol…” He waved at her, walking away.

She glanced at him, squinting her eyes.

Confessional ~ Karol

“Unlike every other Gen Z disaster in this camp, Aiden isn’t as unbearable as the rest of them. But I wonder what exactly he seems so upset about.” Karol pondered.
_

Another 4 hours go by. James fell asleep, and so did Aiden and Karol.

It was a bit past midnight at this point. Anyone with a regular sleep schedule was already pretty tired.

Riya was holding on for dear life, trying to stay awake as much as she could. Without anyone to keep her company, it was one tedious job, so if anything she felt even more tired.

She kept blinking deliriously and nearly fell asleep about 2 times.

Ally wasn’t too different from her, though. Her precious Switch battery finally ran out. And her gaming buddy was still in deep sleep mode.

She touched her pockets and jolted as she realized something. She still had her phone! Ally took her phone out and started typing something on YouTube.

“C-come onn… g-gotta stay awake…”

As she scrolled through, her eyes widened as she spotted a familiar video. “W-wait… yes! I’m gonna blast this and see if I… stay awake, c’mon, Ally…”

Riya was slightly closer to Ally as she didn’t want to be fully alone, as she was starting to feel depressed. But, she was surprised as she saw Ally standing up, holding her phone high and starting to… dance?

“W-what the…?”

Before her mind could even register what she was doing, loud music blasted from Ally’s phone, making Riya fully widen her baggy, sleep-deprived eyes.

“WE GOT A - NUMBER ONE VICTORY ROYALE, YEAH FORTNITE WE ‘BOUT TO GET DOWN - GET DOWN!!! TEN KILLS ON THE BOARD RIGHT NOW, JUST WIPED OUT TOMATO TOWN…”

Riya’s head started to hurt and she flinched in pain. “G-ghh! W-what the hell is… t-that??”

Ally kept doing crappy attempts at Fortnite dances as she blasted the song away, cheering loudly, doing her best to keep her sleepiness away.

“U-ughhh… m-my head…”

“MY FRIEND JUST GOT DOWNED - I REVIVED HIM, NOW WE’RE HEADING SOUTHBOUND…”

Her eyes kept blinking, as her head started to hurt even more from the loud music, combined with her sleep deprivation.

“TAKE ME TO YOUR XBOX TO PLAY FORTNITE TODAYYY! YOU CAN TAKE ME TO MOISTY MIRE, BUT NOT LOOT LAKE! I REALLY LOVE TO… CHUG JUG WITH YOU… WE CAN BE PRO FORTNITE GAMERS!”

“A-ahh…”

*thud!*

Riya collapsed to the floor, in too much pain to stand being awake. She immediately fell asleep.

Ally stopped her music, glancing at Riya’s unconscious self. “W-whoa! …Wait, I… I-I won?!”

Suddenly, Kristal and Oliver came from the bushes, the former holding a whistle, which she blew.

“Aaand, it looks like Ally was the last person standing! The Tigers secure yet another immunity, as they have won the challenge!” Kristal exclaimed.

Ally raised her fist to the air. “Y-yaaay! …Y-yayyy… a-awesome… uhhh… ahahah…” She chuckled deliriously for a few seconds, the energy completely leaving her own body. She dropped her phone and slowly collapsed to the ground, totally exhausted.

“...Well then. Talk about anti-climactic.” Kristal quipped.

“I-I… M-Miss Kristal, I-I’m starting to think this challenge went a little… o-overboard…” Oliver said, shakingly.

She scoffed, waving her hand. “No big deal, Oliver! They’ll be fine. We’re hosting the elimination ceremony for the Turtles this morning, once they’re all rested up.”

Oliver’s eyes sparkled a bit, but mainly in confusion. “O-oh?? Wait, a voting ceremony… in the morning?? T-that’s kinda unusual, isn’t it?”

“Well, yes. But I’m sure the viewers will appreciate the novelty. Oliver, help Marcus and take everyone inside to their respective cabins.”

He sighed loudly, flailing his arms down. “H-huh?? …O-ohh… okay… I-I’ll get it done, Ms. Kristal…”

Several hours later…

Most of the Turtles already woke up from their slumber, obviously all confused from their current predicament. But right after, Kristal made a short announcement explaining they lost the challenge, and that they had to meet her this morning for an elimination ceremony. They were all a bit weirded out by the sudden change, but they had to roll with it, regardless.

Early in the morning, Yul was pacing around the forest, wondering who to vote for. He already had a main target in mind, but he wondered if it really was the best move to pull off right now.

Especially since he didn’t know if anyone else would share the same opinion he did. No point in voting for someone if no one else did the same.

“Ugh… now, like… what the hell do I even do?? There’s only Karol, Kai, Hunter… and Riy-AAHH!!”

Yul was grabbed from behind and pulled into a bush. “A-AHH!! W-what the FUCK?? W-what is this shi-OW!”

He was immediately slapped on the face. “S-shh!”

As he rubbed his own cheek, he opened his eyes and was surprised to see who pulled him in. “T-the fuck?? Riya??”

“S-stay quiet, Yul. Please!”

“W-what are you even doing, lunatic??”

She shook him by the shoulders. “Just stay quiet, and listen to me. I have a proposition. I can convince Karol to vote for either Kai, or Hunter… which would mean you are in less danger of being voted out by them. But you have to promise me that you will vote for one of them as well, otherwise this plan will not work.”

He pondered. “Hmm… oh what the hell. Fine. You better not be bullshitting me, though.”

“I’m not.” She shook her head. “So… who do you propose?”

“Well… Hunter seems to be very buddy-buddy with the Tigers; namely, those flops - Ally and Tess.”

Riya’s eyes widened. “W-wait… you’re right. I remember him spending a lot of time with the two, by the cafeteria…”

“Yeah, whatever. Listen to me, ‘cuz I’ve got an idea…” He started whispering to her ear.

–

Hunter and Kai were together at the Turtles cabin, which was basically empty.

“Shoot… so, uh. Since we lost, what do we do this time??”

Kai hummed for a bit, before responding. “I may have an idea. I believe we should try one more time, and vote for Yul again.”

“W-what? But, like… We voted for him last time, and it didn’t exactly work, y’know. Is that really the best call, Kai?” The emo questioned.

“While it may seem foolish, and even reckless… Karol and Yul still have a rather turbulent relationship. Her inner hatred may push her to vote for him. It may give us a fighting chance if we exploit that opportunity.”

Hunter ponders, then nods. “Yeah… okay. Good point, man.”

–

Merely a few minutes passed, until the campers all gathered by the usual elimination spot. Funny enough, the darkness of the sky being replaced by the bright sunlight didn’t exactly take away the tension in their hearts.

“Turtlesss! Hello again.” Kristal snickered, failing to hold back her laugh. “Man, I can’t believe a Fortnite-loving girl was the reason you lost yet another challenge! This is the third time in a row, right? I almost feel bad for you. Almost. But - enough sarcasm, go right ahead and vote!”

Hunter holds up a vote for Yul. “Okay, so it didn’t work last time. But… second time’s the charm?”

Kai held up a vote for Yul. “Time to right all the wrongs, and to cast justice upon this accursed land.”

Yul signs a name on the paper, conflicted.

Riya writes on the paper, leaning back and staring at what she wrote.

Karol rolls her eyes, then proceeds to write on the paper.

Finally, all the votes have been cast. The campers returned to their respective seats.

“Seems like you’re all ready, then! Unluckily for one of you, there were no immunity totems today. Better luck next time, huh? Well, I’ll get to it.”

Kristal retrieved the stack of papers from the urn. 

“First vote… Yul.”

Yul shot a skeptical glance at Kai and Hunter.

“Second… Hunter.”

Hunter widened his eyes in surprise, a bit shook.

“Third one. Hunter.”

Kai and Hunter looked at each other in worry.

“Fourth vote, Yul.”

Yul crossed his arms, a little tense.

“Final vote, and the second person to join the Loser’s Motel, is…”

Hunter and Kai glanced angrily at Yul for a second, to which the latter returned another annoyed gaze.

“...Hunter! Very close call, but a single vote made all the difference.” Kristal explained.

“W-WHAT?? D-dude, h-how?? How did this even happen?” Hunter stood up, genuinely confused. He turned to Karol. “K-Karol, didn’t you hate Yul’s guts? Why’d you vote for me??”

She crossed her arms, huffing. “Of course I still despise him. But, you were a much larger threat to keep around. Especially since you’ve got ties with the enemy…”

“O-oh, seriously?? I’m not even in an alliance with anyone there! T-this is such BS, dud-”

Kristal cleared her throat, loudly. “Ahem! Hunter… don’t keep us waiting, now. The bus awaits you. Chop chop.”

He sighed. Kai stood up, going near him. “I’ll walk with you, brother.” Hunter nods, and the pair walk off.

Yul crosses his arms, looking to the side with a conflicted expression.

At the bus stop, Hunter sighs. “Oof. Talk about an unexpected plot twist…”

“Indeed. I will miss you, somber man.” Kai hugged him warmly.

Hunter chuckled, pulling away. “Haha, I’ll miss you too, dude. Well, on the bright side, at least I’ll see Connor again. I’ll be cheering you on, Kai. Good luck.” He held his hands together and bowed, as Kai typically did.

Kai laughed, reciprocating the gesture. “Namaste, Hunter. I’ll do my best, for the sake of justice.”

The bus pulled up beside the pair, and Hunter vanished along with it. Kai waved at the now distant vehicle.

–

Kristal looked at the sky, beside Oliver. She had a puzzled expression on her face. “Hmm… Very odd for us to end an episode like this, at daylight. But, I suppose the game is the game.”

Oliver looked up, and noticed the clouds getting a bit dark. “W-wait, I think it’s gonna rain…” Faint thunder was heard in the distance, which scared him off. “W-wahhh!!”

The host huffed, crossing her arms. “Ugh. And to think I have to pay him this weekend… Oh well. Anyways, this was quite a peculiar episode, huh? To see Riya finally siding with Yul, and Karol setting her grudge with him aside just to eliminate Hunter, who was a larger threat… But, was he really?”

She looked up at the clouds again, as another thunder echoed through the camp. The clouds got darker, and faint rain started pouring out. Kristal groaned. “Mmph… Very well, it seems like the forces of nature, as Kai would say, don’t want me to finish this episode. Well - luckily for me, I don’t believe in all that hokey claptrap. Time to wrap this up. Eleven campers remain, and there are many more episodes to come! Who’s going to make it to the end? Find out next time, ooon… Disventure Camp!!”

Chapter Text

“Previously, on Disventure Camp…! Yul took advantage of James’ fixation on Aiden, and formed an alliance with him; despite the two being from different teams. As per usual, Maggy and Aiden bonded more. BFF goals! Once again, Yul spied on Hunter and his quote unquote ‘best friends’ as he suspected the three to be in an alliance, but he was awfully wrong. Riya felt depressed and lonely without Connor around, but Karol tried snapping her out of it so she could focus on the game again. Before they knew it, all the campers had to partake in a challenge where they had to stay awake for as long as they could. They shared a lot of banter; some good, some bad… And curiously enough, some new friendships might start blossoming, such as Aiden and Karol, who shared an interesting exchange whilst the latter proved she may not be as heartless as she looks. Thanks to the power of Fortnite dances, and dead memes from 2018, Ally managed to win the overnight challenge by exploiting Riya’s sleep deprived state…”

“M-Miss Kristal, you forgot to say that you also drugged Hunter with Spri-”

“QUIET, Oliver! …Anyways, the Turtles had to undergo yet another elimination ceremony, except it took place at daylight, this time. Unexpectedly, Riya attempted to cooperate with Yul, and formed a small alliance without Karol’s knowledge. She proposed to convince her to vote for Hunter, as long as Yul did the same. And he did, which ultimately led up to Hunter’s elimination. Oh my! But, back on track. Eleven campers remain! Let’s just get down to business and continue the journey, right here… on… Disventure Camp!!”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp. 

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

Tess was in the girl’s bathroom, looking at an unspecified bottle of pills. She opened the lid and grabbed a few, proceeding to swallow them. She closed the bottle and placed it on the sink, reaching for her makeup bag and grabbing a tube of mascara, applying it carefully on her eyelashes.

Suddenly, Maggy walked in, jolting slightly at the sight of her friend, but quickly flashing a smile and a wave. “O-oh! Tess. Hi there…”

“Mmm? Ah. Hey.” She turned to her faintly, before looking back at the mirror and applying the rest of the mascara. 

“S-so… uhm, how are you doi-”

Before Maggy could even finish talking, the pair jumped at the loud sound of Kristal’s speakers going off, oddly early in the morning.

“Hooowdy, campers! So sorry to interrupt your lovely morning routine, but I’ve got an announcement to make! A new advantage has been hidden around the camp, in the form of an envelope. Whoever finds it and reads the letter will discover a randomized advantage. Then, whoever is carrying it can present that letter before a challenge and apply said advantage right away. I’ll see you all in half an hour for your next challenge! Good hunting!”

Hmm. Another advantage? The girls looked at each other silently after the blaring announcement. 

“H-huh… t-that was… odd.” Maggy pointed out.

Tess hummed. “Meh. I suppose someone has to go find that envelope now… not me, though. I don’t really care.”

Maggy nodded. “T-that’s okay. But… I think I should go look for it. I-I’m honestly feeling a little scared… Something tells me James is up to no good…”

“Well, if you are going to look for it, good luck. I… should go find Ally now. Bye, Maggy…” Tess walked out, waving at her with a bleak look on her face.

“O-oh! B-bye…” The gentle giant proceeded to turn on the tap, washing her hands. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she glanced to the left, only to jolt a little as she realized something… Tess forgot her pills!

She grabbed the pill bottle. “Tess forgot this…” Maggy then inspected the bottle a bit more closely, reading the labels and the name. 

“SEROQUEL - ANTIPSYCHOTIC”

Maggy gasped a little. “W-wait… An a-antipsychotic… D-does this mean Tess has… psychosis…?”

Her fists clenched the bottle slightly, and she made her way out of the bathroom in a hurry.

-xx-

Ally sat at one of the wooden tables, by herself. She was scrolling on her phone mindlessly, with a blank smile on her face. 

Her head turns to the side a couple of times. Almost as if she’s expecting someone.

Suddenly, James walks up to the table, catching her attention. 

“A-ah! …Hey, James.”

“Heyy… I just wanted to stop by and, well, congratulate you for winning the other challenge for us. Looks like all that weird Fortnite stuff really came in clutch, eh?”

She pouted. “I guess, but don’t call it weird… Thanks, though.”

He chuckled. “Sure, anytime…” James then noticed Ally nervously turning her head around, fidgeting in her seat. 

“Uh, Ally? Everything okay? …You just look kinda very worried.” He asked.

“O-ohh, it’s really nothing… Just that, I haven’t seen Hunter at all, and I can’t find Tess, either…”

Suddenly, a concerned look pops up on James’ face. He quickly reaches for his phone and opens TikTok, sitting nearby Ally. She was somewhat surprised. “H-hey, what are you…”

“Checking TikTok to see who was last eliminated from the Turtles.”

Ally jolted. “W-wait…! Y-you don’t think…?”

He opened the first clip he could find, and it already had a huge caption with “RIP EMO KING” written on it. As expected, it showed the last episode’s elimination ceremony. Ally watched the whole thing with her mouth agape. James was concerned for her.

Suddenly, she groaned and looked away, covering her eyes. “Ughhh! …Dammit, I freaking knew it…”

“Ally…” He muttered, as the girl still covered her face in distress.

“I-it’s… it’s fine. I’ll be okay. It’s just that I… was kinda expecting this to happen, to be honest. People don’t exactly like staying near me for too long…” She confessed.

James was definitely intrigued. “Oh? Why is that?”

Ally jolted a bit, then sighed. “N-nothing, just… Lately I had a large streak of really, really shitty luck, is all...”

The man nodded, squinting his eyes a bit.

Confessional ~ James

“There’s something odd about Ally, yes. But that’s something I probably shouldn’t waste my time with, right now. All things considered, Ally could make for a very useful… Well. Ally.” He chuckled very faintly.
_

Meanwhile, at the cafeteria… 

Riya took a plate of eggs and bacon from the kitchen counter, a sad and tired look in her eyes.

Marcus and Nina were running the kitchen as per usual. The man spoke up. “Hey… you alright, ma’am?”

She didn’t even reply, simply lowering her head and walking off to a table.

He sighed. The doll snickered and poked his shoulder. “Woow, nice going, old fart…”

Before he could lecture her, Rosa María and Lake showed up to the counter, holding trays. “Good morning, sir… and doll.” The latter said.

Nina spoke up, mockfully. “Good morning, missiesss… Bacon and eggs for today. I hope you don’t smart-mouth me right now… because I know where you sleep.”

Lake shivered, and Rosa stepped in front of her, with a bit more courage. “You do not need to threaten us, Miss… Nina, right?”

The doll crossed her arms as Marcus nodded. “You’d be correct. She has a point, Nina. Don’t be so rude to strangers.”

She scoffed. “Yeah, yeah. You may as well pull out the Bible and give me a sermon, old timer… Get a move on, you two!” 

Rosa rolled her eyes and proceeded to fill her plate, with Lake following her lead. She filled her plate with an extremely small amount of food. Rosa started to walk ahead, searching for a table.

Before Lake could follow her, Marcus spoke up. “Wait, miss… Are you really going to eat JUST that? You haven’t eaten in hours, you must be starving.”

She hesitated. “I-I… I d-don’t know what you’re talking about, b-because I’m fine… see?”

“Wowww, totallyyy… You might as well be eating a bag of air.” Nina quipped.

Marcus cleared his throat, actually trying to be reasonable. “Dear, I don’t know if this is the healthiest approach for a young lady such as yourself… Especially at your age. You can’t starve yourself for the sake of others. I… suppose I tried that before, when I was a young lad myself. Didn’t end well. Please, don’t go down that same path.” The older man’s voice got a bit more concerned by the end.

Lake’s eyebrows arched. She looked back between her plate, the man, and the other portion of eggs and bacon. Her hands shook; but she eventually sighed and gave in.

“I… alright. I s-suppose it won’t hurt. And I am v-very hungry…” 

Marcus smiled, and Nina rolled her eyes. Lake walked back to the counter and filled her plate with a larger portion, this time. 

The man chuckled. “I’m sorry if I was too intrusive, ma’am. I just don’t want anyone starvin’ on my watch.”

Lake nodded. “You’re alright. I understand…” Then followed after Rosa, who was still busy choosing tables.

Rosa turned her head to her. “Ah, there you are. I’m still deciding on a table… Hmm.” She suddenly stopped, turning her head to another direction.

“W-what is it, Rosa?”

“That’s… Riya?” She pointed to a table. And indeed, it was Riya, sitting by herself with that same empty smile.

Lake realized that soon after. “O-oh! You’re right… She’s all alone, and she looks troubled…”

“Not for long. Let’s go check on her.” Rosa said, her tone as caring and resolute as ever.

The pair approached her table, Riya suddenly diverting her attention to them. “Hello there, Riya… Do you mind if we sit with you?” Rosa asked.

She didn’t seem to object, scooting over to make space for them. “Erm… I-I don’t mind.”

As they both sat down, Rosa immediately got as close as possible to her. “Riya, I am getting worried for you. The last times I’ve seen you, you were totally alone… And you seem very depressed. Is there anything we can do to make you feel better?”

Riya sighed. “O-oh, ehm… I don’t want to be a bother. B-but… if you are offering, I suppose I would like to talk about it…”

“Of course! Anything for you.” Rosa added.

The woman prepared herself to speak again with another huff. “W-well… it’s just been very difficult in the Turtles. There’s a lot of people being eliminated, and one of them was a great friend of mine… Connor. He’s been eliminated so fast, and… Ever since he went away, I just don’t know what to do. I feel like I could get backstabbed by my own team at any moment…”

Rosa comforted her by patting her in the back. “Aw, you poor thing. It’s okay to feel this way, you know. And… we may not be from the Turtles, but we can also be your friends! Right, Lake?”

Lake nodded. “Absolutely! I was hoping to be Riya’s friend, as well. I am a huge fan of her work.”

“Oh? Work?”

“Yes, Rosa. She's a movie actress. I’ve seen her in a few movies.” Lake added.

Riya huffed a bit, worried she would go off about how she saw her as another background pedestrian again. “Y-yes, I work in the Bollywood industry. It’s just been very difficult, y’know… It’s why I joined this show. Try gaining some exposure, I thought… But now, I just feel totally alone.” She looked down.

“Don’t worry, Riya. Like we said, we can be your friends. It doesn’t matter if we are from opposing teams, you shall no longer suffer with loneliness. Not if I can help it.”

She looked at Rosa again, smiling earnestly. “T-thank you, Rosa…”

Confessional ~ Riya

“I’ve spent so much time with the Turtles, and worrying about the game… That I completely forgot about the Tigers being here, too. They seem nice… Even if I had a weird impression of that Lake girl. Rosa is very kind. Maybe I shouldn’t judge everyone here so much. But I still must be careful…”
_

Kai sat alone, quietly munching on a tofu sandwich. He seemed distracted, yet focused at the same time. Huh.

Unexpectedly, Aiden walks up beside him, holding a tray of eggs and bacon. He greets him with a meek wave. “Um, hi Kai.”

He jitters a bit, snapping out of his focus. “Hello there, Aiden… 

The e-boy looks behind himself, suspiciously, before leaning down to ask him a question. “Hey, you don’t mind if I sit here, right?”

Kai giggled, scooting over to the side. “By all means.”

Aiden sat down beside him with a smile on his face. “Thanks. And… by the way, where’s everyone else? Y’know… your buds? The pale dude? The older guy?”

Oof. Kai was once again struck by the reality of his closest allies no longer being him. His eyebrows arched and he leaned down. 

“It is truly cruel, my friend… The marble jaws of fate took them away from me.”

Aiden jolted a bit, a bewildered look on his face. “Uhh… what do you mean by that, exactly?”

Kai hummed. “They were… both eliminated already. Hunter was voted off yesterday.”

“O-oh! …Ahh, damn… I’m sorry, man. They both seemed pretty cool. Odd… but cool nonetheless. But like… does this mean you’re by yourself, now?” Aiden questioned, seeming more concerned as he came to realize Kai’s situation.

The green-haired guy nodded, proceeding to monologue, as usual. “Essentially… yes. Everyone in the Turtles are eagerly waiting to viciously attack each other… We are all prey; but on the other side of the coin, we are also the hunters… To trust someone would be… quite unwise.” 

Aiden took the time to comprehend his current position. “Hmm… man, that’s really rough. Hey, uh… I know we didn’t talk a lot before and all that, but you’re actually really cool. I didn’t forget what you did for me at the kissing challenge. S-so, what I mean is… we could be, like… friends. I-if you don’t mind, I mean.” The e-boy seemed to nearly trip over his own words.

Kai chuckled, nodding faintly. “Why, of course! I do not mind in the slightest… By the way, your aura is just lovely; may I read your palm? The spirits around you are most intriguing…”

The e-boy jolted a bit with the sudden and weird request; as expected of our spiritual hippie. But, Kai didn’t seem to mean harm. Why not? “U-uh… haha, s-sure! Okay…”

He extended his palm to him, and Kai gently grabbed it, seeming to inspect the details silently for a while. For whatever reason, Aiden was sweating bullets, his cheeks totally pink. He kept jittering as Kai held his hand.

“Mmm… how intriguing. It seems like a large sum of fortune awaits you… But only if you are strong enough to face the darkness within yourself. Hehe, how poetic.” He released his palm, a kind smile on his face as he giggled.

Aiden recomposed himself. “W-whoa. Wait, so… you’re sure that this is gonna happen? For realsies?”

“No doubt, my good friend.” Kai nodded.

The e-boy looked at the camera, genuinely intrigued.

Confessional ~ Aiden

“Oh, man… Kai’s quite the character. I really wish he was on my team, too… Like, not only is he a really cool person, but he’s also in a bad spot; vulnerable and lonely. I better keep him company whenever I can. He got dealt a bad hand, and he doesn’t deserve this. Mm… on the bright side, if we both make it far, I suppose we could be in an alliance together… I just hope James gets the hint and gives me some space. Hard to keep secrets with him breathing down my neck…” He sighed, crossing his arms.
_

“Okay… I need to find that envelope, fast.”

James was trekking through an isolated spot in the forest, deeply focused on finding that advantage.

He groaned. “Too bad Kristal didn’t specify where it could be… Damn, I may be wasting my time…” 

His complaining was cut short by the sound of a bush rustling. He turned to the sound, squinting his eyes, and deciding to investigate.

As he poked his head through the bush, his eyes widened as he spotted a strange event.

A bird, angrily flying around a completely static owl, aggressively pecking at it. No matter how many times the bird attacked the owl, it still didn’t move an inch, showing zero reactions.

James’ attention was definitely caught by that. He stepped into the scene, which made the bird spot him. It flew away in fear.

The man kneeled down, attempting to inspect the owl closely. It didn’t take long before he noticed the owl wasn’t even real - it was wood-carved. 

“What the…?”

James picked up the wooden owl, flipping it around. To his further surprise, there was a message carved on its back. It read…

“DIG BELOW…”

He jolted a bit, smirking. “Jackpot…” He started to inspect the surface where the statue originally was, and noticed it seemed very suspicious. He nearly dug with his hands, before recoiling away with a disgusted expression, and started to dig the dirt with his shoe instead, slowly kicking inside the suspicious spot.

As the dirt came off, he spotted a small edge of paper sticking out of it. He pulled it out, and lo and behold; the envelope itself! Totally dirt-covered, but a win is still a win.

“Boa, moleque…!” He boasted quietly, before dusting off the dirty envelope, thus cleaning it properly. 

James opened the envelope and read the letter inside it to himself.

“Congratulations, camper! You have just found the hidden advantage. If you present the envelope before a challenge starts, you can apply the following advantage - You will be able to swap a member from your own team with a member of the opposing team. Choose wisely!”

He chuckled lowly, putting the envelope inside his pocket. “You bet I will…” He then walked back to the bush and crossed through it again.

“A-HAAA!”

“W-WHOA!”

Suddenly, a loud and obnoxious yell which came right ahead of him nearly made him collapse from shock.

He caught his breaths, looking up at whoever that was. “H-huh… Y-Yul?!”

Yep, Yul was right in front of him; arms crossed and looking completely annoyed. “Yes, you fucking goober, it’s me! Now, tell me - what the fuck were you doing back there?!”

Uh-oh. The jig was up… Or at least, it seemed that way.

“A-ahh, I was… er… Nothing special, really.” James replied, giving him a flimsy thumbs-up with a nervous smile, his voice a bit shaky.

Yul facepalmed. “Ugh! I swear to God you’re hiding something from me - even after our agreement, too! Outta the way, I’m gonna look!”

“W-wait! Wait! Don’t!” James stepped ahead of him, blocking the bushes.

“Oh, don’t even BOTHER trying to stop me. You’re always trying to hide some shady shit, I know how you ro-”

James interrupted him, his eyes darting back and forth, trying to come up with the best lie he could. “N-no, no, uh… Y-you shouldn’t go there, because… because… Er… someone took a… dump. There.” He pointed through the bush.

Yul’s face turned white, and his eyes widened completely, before he let out another disgusted wail. “E-EWW?! W-WHAT THE FUCK?? Why wouldn’t they just use the bathrooms, for fuck’s sake?? …Wait. If that’s true, why were you checking it out in the first place??” He stared James down with a weirded-out look.

Now that Yul’s suspicions diverted away to another topic, James quickly jumped ship to his next move. “O-oh! Nothing, really. I was simply looking for the envelope Kristal mentioned this morning… But I guess my luck was too… shitty. Ha-ha.” 

Yul physically cringed as he groaned again. “Ew, shut up… But, whatever, fine. I was also looking for it, so keep an eye out and let me know if you find anything. I’ve got my eye on you, Mr. JamesCD…” He squinted at him once more before walking away.

James sighed, wiping his forehead in relief.

Confessional ~ James

“I am glad to be a good liar. But Yul isn’t as stupid as he looks, and he could find out if I’m not careful enough. I already have an idea on what to do with this advantage… But perhaps I should play smart, and not waste it on this challenge just yet. Never let them know your next move.”
_

Tess was walking in the forest, wandering around and hoping to find Ally somewhere.

“T-Tess! W-wait up…!”

She turned in confusion to the commotion afar. As she expected, it was Maggy, who ran up to her. She stopped in place, catching her breath.

“F-finally… whew…”

“Maggy? What’s the matter?”

Maggy stood up, grabbing the pill bottle. “A-ah, it’s… n-nothing much. B-but… you forgot your pill bottle in the b-bathroom… Here…” She handed the bottle to her.

Tess’ eyes widened a bit, and she grabbed the bottle. “Oh. I see. Well, thank you… I should go no-”

“W-wait, wait… Tess?”

“Uh… hmm?” She tilted her head in confusion.

Maggy hesitated before asking the question. “U-umm… I-I really don’t mean to be rude, b-but I’m just… curious. Do you r-really have… psychosis?”

Tess jolted slightly, her eyes actually wide open. “W-what?? No, no… I don’t have psychosis… I-I… I was diagnosed with… depression.”

The gentle giant was also shocked by her response, but even more than Tess was. “O-oh?? W-wait… b-but…”

She raised a brow at the question. “What… gave you that idea, Maggy? Is there something wrong?”

“N-no, just… P-please listen to me… I-I don’t mean to seem nosey, but I looked a bit at your pill bottle, and I noticed that the medicine you’re taking is Seroquel… S-Seroquel is an antipsychotic, not an antidepressant… S-so…”

Her shock grew a bit more as Maggy carefully explained the confusion. “W-what? B-but…”

“T-Tess… I b-believe you may have been prescribed the wrong t-type of medicine… S-Seroquel may be combined with other medicine to treat depression, b-but you’d need to take an antidepressant with it…” Maggy explained once more.

Tess suddenly took a large, deep breath. Her eyelids lowered just a bit, and she looked oddly nervous.

“I… maybe I didn’t even look twice before I got it for the first time… I-it’s just been so hard to focus lately, and… I’m always feeling weird and sleepy…”

Maggy raised her finger as she pointed that out. “A-actually, one of the side effects for Seroquel is that it may cause sleepiness… I-I think it’s not really doing you well… M-maybe you should stop taking it for now, a-an-”

Before she could finish her sentence, she noticed Tess had her eyes closed and her head slightly lowered. She started to mumble a bit, before proceeding to quietly sob.

“T-Tess…?”

Tess started wiping her eyes, still continuing to sob as she stood still. “I-I… I didn’t want to bother anyone with my problems… I-it just feels like it goes on, and on…”

Maggy slowly approached her, her eyebrows curved in an empathetic expression.

“I’m… I’m starting to feel sick and tired of going to therapy, every single day, o-only to just… F-feel just as empty as I always am… N-nothing ever changes, it only gets worse…”

Suddenly, Maggy couldn’t help but give her a hug. Tess only proceeded to lean further into the hug, sobbing more. “T-Tess… none of this is your fault, a-and… Y-you can still make things better… I’m h-here for you, ok? I’m your f-friend, and you can trust me with anything.”

Tess simply nodded, sniffling as she continued to hug Maggy.

_

After a few more minutes, the camera cut to a desolated spot in the woods, where one of Kristal’s speakers blasted once again.

“Tiiime’s up, campers! Everyone head to the stage once again, because your next challenge is about to begin!”

Following her instructions, everyone gathered in front of the stage.

“Why hello there, everyone! Before we get started, I just wanted to mention that the envelope has already been found by someone, so don’t bother trying to look for it anymore!”

Some people were shocked, Yul in particular seeming the most enraged out of the rest.

“Now, then… You-know-who! Would you like to use the envelope now? Raise your hand, if yes…”

James looked away, and the entire crowd also started to look at everyone else in suspicion or curiosity.

A few seconds of silence ensued. Kristal squinted her eyes at James.

“...No? Nothing? Very well. Let’s proceed with the challenge, then. I’ll sum it up for you guys - this challenge is called ‘The Queen Says’ and, as the name suggests, you will receive several dares from the queen… Me.” She gestured at herself.

Most of the campers rolled their eyes, groaned, or did some kind of faint complaining.

“Ahem! I will dare one camper at a time to do something completely random! If they refuse, their team loses the challenge. So just like the Kiss-a-thon, this will keep going until someone stops. Any questions?” 

Her explanation made most of the campers riled up. 

“Oh, so you’re just gonna torture us again, huhhh? I think SOMEONE’S running out of ideas…” Yul snarkily commented.

Kristal glared at him. “And I think someone’s running out of time, because if you refuse another dare like you did at the Kiss-a-thon, I can’t see you staying here for much longer.”

Yul scoffed, completely offended. A few campers couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Now, then… To the stage!” Kristal pointed to the stage, as Oliver lifted the curtains.

Confessional ~ Lake

“I must confess, I am… a bit scared. The last dare challenge seemed awful. Well - it was alright since Kristal excluded me and Maggy, but… She didn’t specify anything this time.” Lake shot the camera a distressed glance.
_

Confessional ~ Yul

“Ugh! Fucking Kristal and her stupid clickbait bullshit! Fine. I guess I’ll fucking pull through this, so my crumbling team doesn’t end up back-stabbing me more than it already has.”
_

Confessional ~ Aiden

Aiden sighed. “Yeah, she’s definitely desperate for ratings… Y’know, normally, I’d be scared shitless, like I was last time. But for whatever reason, I’m starting to feel a lot more confident… W-wait, did Kai bless me, or something??” He looks genuinely perplexed, until he breaks into a chuckle. “Well… hopefully, he did.” He shrugged.
_

Confessional ~ Riya

Riya lightly tapped her face, trying to reassure herself. “Mmph, come on, Riya! Whatever she throws your way, you need to win. Whatever it takes. Whatever… it takes. I-it can’t be that hard, right??” She nervously smiled at the camera, before looking to the side, concerned.
_

Finally, the campers gathered inside the stage. Kristal eagerly raised her hands.

“Very well! Let’s begin. I’ll pick one camper from any team, and they must accept whatever dare I give them. So do as your queen says, everyone! Or else, there will be consequences…” She muttered the last part with unsettling confidence. Oliver looked worried.

Most of the campers were on edge with her vague threats. Kristal turned around a few times, slowly looking over each contestant. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she gazed directly at Ally.

“Ally! You’re up!”

Ally gasped at the sudden mention of her name. “W-wha? U-uh… O-okay.”

Kristal pondered, taking a quick glance at her beloved Switch she was still holding onto.

“Alright, Ally… Your dare is to… Delete your Epic Games account!”

“W-WHAAAT?!!!”

Everyone covered their ears at Ally’s desperate squeal. Our poor gamer was devastated by the request.

“H-hey, easy, Ally! What’s so bad about doing that?” James suddenly stepped ahead, leaning his head beside her shorter stature.

Ally was legit shaking. She muttered, distressed. “I-I… M-my… M-my V-Bucks…”

Kristal yawned. “Yak, yak, yak… Are you really going to forfeit the challenge just for those stupid… V-Buck things?”

“D-dude, I spent MONEY over those! T-the free rewards of the Battle Pass barely give you any, a-and I’m gonna lose all of my skins…!” She rambled on.

“And… your point is?” Kristal said, without a single concern in her tone as she smirked.

Ally sighed in defeat. She looked back at the Tigers, most of them seeming confused at her hesitation. 

James chimed in, trying to help her decide. “Ally; think of it this way. If you win the show, you can probably buy everything you lost again. It’s not the end of the world if you delete it, right?”

She took a few seconds, pondering as she looked at her Switch. Ally groaned, nodding. “...A-agh, shoot… F-fine, fine. I guess I just… gotta do it.”  

James smiled at her. “That’s our pro gamer.”

Ally pulled out her phone, with a heavy heart, as Kristal smiled deviously. The gamer opened the website and spent a few minutes deleting her account, finally showing her phone screen to the host, which read… “Your account has been successfully deactivated.”

Kristal cackled maliciously. “Now THAT'S what I like to see! Finally, things are starting to get interesting… Very well, next camper!” 

Ally returned to her original position, a depressed look now on her face. 

The host’s finger menacingly moved over the entire row of campers, until it suddenly stopped right at Lake, sending a chill down her spine.

“Lake! I’ve got a very interesting dare for you… Oliver, bring the fire bucket.”

Oliver hesitantly saluted her. “I-I’m on it, Ms. Kristal…!”

Lake jolted. “F-fire bucket?? W-what kind of dare will this be?!” Rosa held onto her shoulder, angrily glaring at Kristal as she consoled her friend.

Kristal hummed, waving at her dismissively. “Relax, it won’t hurt you… Well, not physically.”

“What are you insinuating with that??” Rosa angrily questioned.

Oliver finally dragged in a large bucket, throwing some gasoline into it. He then lit up a match and carefully tossed it inside the bucket, trembling in fear as the fire arose from inside.

Aiden suddenly raised his hand, speaking in a shaky tone. “W-wait, t-this is just like Ashley’s fear gauntlet challenge, right??”

Kristal facepalmed. “Hush, and let me continue! Ahem… Lake. Your dare is to grab ALL of your school books, and toss them in the fire bucket!”

“N-NO! N-no, no, I… I-I cannot do t-that…!” Lake said in exasperation. Both Rosa and Riya expressed some kind of concern.

“Ah, so you will forfeit, thus giving your team its first loss? Where is your team spirit, Lake?” Kristal said, mockingly.

Rosa stepped ahead. “You are going too far with this, Kristal! We won’t force her to do this!”

James suddenly interjected. “Uh, who do you mean by we? Are you seriously going to make us lose our winning streak this early? Ally had to do it, why not Lake?”

She turned to him. “Oh, do not even start, James!”

Unexpectedly, Riya raised her hand and spoke up, her voice uncertain. “E-erm, wait! I-I would like to volunteer doing a dare in Lake’s place, instead! H-how does that sound, Kristal…?”

Yul and Karol suddenly turned to Riya, angry glares on their faces. “HUH?? Just what exactly are you suggesting, Riya?!” The Karen said, suspiciously.

“Um, right?! What the fuck’s gotten into you, Bollywood flop??” Yul added. Riya crossed her arms and turned to him with an angry glare. “W-why, you… Take that back right now, you little shi-”

Kristal clapped her hands loudly. “HEY! Stop this nonsense, or you’re ALL out! …Lake! Make up your mind, or suffer the consequences!” The host knelt down and grabbed Lake’s bag she retrieved earlier, tossing it in front of the blonde.

Lake stared at her bag for a few seconds, nearly tearing up. Rosa stood beside her, trying to talk her out of it. 

“L-Lake, you don’t have to… Just listen to me, if you can’t do it, just…”

A strange burst of annoyance overcame the blonde as she stared at the bag one more time. Suddenly, Lake shook her own fist, and pushed Rosa’s arm off her shoulder. “Y-you don’t need to coddle me all the time…!” She then picked up her bag and walked ahead, leaving Rosa and some other Tigers behind her totally confused at her weird switch-up. 

The host raised an eyebrow at her anger, very amused at the drama she just witnessed. Lake loomed over the fire bucket. After taking a deep breath, she raised her bag and dumped the whole thing inside. Months of schoolwork just went down the drain.

She glared at the host. “Are you happy??” 

Kristal only could bring herself to chuckle once more. “Very good! The chaos is ensuing, just as I had planned! Next camper!”

Lake returned to her spot, Rosa trying to console her one more time, but the former slightly backed away from her; the same irritated frown on her face.

Once again, the host went back to selecting campers. 

“Mm… you know what? Let’s do something a bit different… Maggy! Yul! Come over here.”

Maggy, nearly terrified, waddled up to the center. Yul did the same, sashaying to the center with his resting bitch face.

“Ugh, what bullshit are you gonna make us do this time?” Yul questioned.

Kristal looked at Maggy, ignoring Yul. “Now, then… Maggy - your dare is to punch Yul in the face as HARD as you can.”

“W-WHAT THE FUCK?? Y-you did NOT just say that!” Yul pointed a finger at Kristal, completely baffled. Maggy was also very anxious by the request.

“B-but… M-Miss Kristal, I… I-I can’t hurt s-someone…!” Maggy muttered.

Kristal hummed, moving closer to her. “Come on, Maggy! This is your chance to get revenge on him, for all the bad things he said about you! Aim for the face, and don’t look back!”

Yul laughed, completely in disbelief. “HAH! Bitch, be serious! This dare is fucking bullshit! Andréa the Giant over here wouldn’t hurt a fly!”

“H-hey!” Maggy glared at him, angrily. Kristal glanced back at Yul with a cocky smirk, slowly backing away, as if she knew what was about to ensue… 

From behind her, Aiden started to shout. “Don’t listen to him, Maggy! You can do this!”

Yul yelled back at Aiden. “Shut it, flop! …Maggy, you BETTER refuse this dare, because we both know you don’t have the guts to get shit done! Especially after you’re hanging out with that sleep-deprived weirdo over there!” He pointed at Tess in the back, who barely showed a reaction to his insult.

Maggy gasped, her expression becoming more menacing. “Y-you…! You’re so… DAMN mean! Shut up!”

Yul rolled his eyes. “Oh, stop it! What are you gonna fucking do it about, huh?? I can say WHATEVER I want about anyone in here! Besides, it’s not MY fault that you’re hanging around these weirdos! Your friends are fucking losers, bitch! FACE I-AHHHH!!!”

Before he even finished his round of insults, Maggy’s fist buried itself onto Yul’s face, practically SWEEPING him onto the floor.

Both teams either cringed in pain at the sight, or silently applauded Maggy’s doing… Or both.

A pained, groaning Yul stood upon Kai’s feet, the former simply staring at him.

As Yul recovered, he slowly stood up, touching his eye and groaning more. “O-oww, ow, fuuuck… W-why’s it… blurryyy…”

His right eye was completely swollen and purple; Maggy had given him a black eye with the impact.

Most people gasped when they witnessed his state. As he looked above him, he saw Maggy’s tall stature looming over him with a bruised fist. “You can insult me; but say a WORD about my friends, and you’re GONE, s-shitbird!”

…Wait, did she just swear??

Not only combined with the shock of the entire situation, everyone was shocked at Maggy standing up for herself. AND swearing. Even Yul himself had to recognize that. The Korean backed away in fear, hiding behind his group with a scowl on his face. Maggy suddenly snapped out of it and covered her mouth, holding her hands together in embarrassment as she watched the crowd’s reactions.

Confessional ~ James

James chuckled. “Damn, Maggy really knocked the shit out of Yul’s mouth! I didn’t think she had it in her!” Suddenly, he sighed. “...But, as much as that was fun to witness, I must say… She is definitely becoming even more of a threat as time goes on, and not only because she’s close to Aiden. If she goes ham like this on physical challenges, it might cause problems for me along the line… Hmm…” He pondered.
_

Kristal suddenly started whistling. “Woo-hoo! I can just feel the ratings sky-rocketing by now! Let’s keep up that energy, everyone! Now, get a move on!”

With that, a bunch of dares quickly went by.

Karol had to eat a non-vegan sandwich. She accepted, but was tearing up through the whole dare.

Tess had to get a clown make-over and wear a massive purple wig; once she was done, she looked at herself in the mirror, but showed no huge reaction. Typical Tess.

To double down on the karma, Yul had to clean up the women’s restroom, under Oliver’s supervision. After a few minutes, he left one of the stalls, looking totally disgusted. Suddenly, he fell to his knees… And threw up. Oliver tried to hold in a laugh, but was unable to.

After the quick montage of dares, the camera cut back to Kristal, standing at the center once again. 

“Now, that was fun… Alright! Next camper… Aiden!” She pointed at the e-boy, making him flinch.

“...C-crap…” He muttered, stepping ahead.

Kristal pondered. “Hmm… okay, Aiden… Your dare is…” She stopped to think of the most devious thing she could possibly do. That’s when it hit her.

“...You’ll have to take off your shirt!”

Aiden gasped, recoiling away. “H-HUHH??”

“Oh, you heard me.” She reaffirmed her statement.

He felt his heartbeat quickening as he grasped his shirt nervously and clenched his grip. “O-oh, give me a break…”

“Unless… You want to refuse and risk elimination? I think that would be quite dangerous, no?” Kristal kept twisting the knife. Oliver walked up beside her, worried.

“M-Miss Kristal, t-this might be getting too far, m-maybe we sho-”

“Hush, Oliver! It’s not your place to decide. Aiden, get a move on!” She added, sternly.

Aiden was slowly starting to panic, but he looked more angered than actually scared. He scoffed, irritated. “J-just… What the heck, man?! I-I… I can’t do that!”

James leaned closer to him. “Hmm? What’s the problem, Aiden? Don’t tell me you’re shy or something…?”

“W-what? N-no, no, b-but… I-it’s just…”

Before the commotion could get worse, Kai suddenly stepped in front of the Turtles and walked to the center, raising his hand. “Now, now… Let’s not fall into despair. For I have a peaceful alternative I believe everyone will agree with…”

Kristal rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and staring him down. “Ugh, what are you talking about?”

Yul scoffed. “Fucking… of course the junkie’s gonna defend that twink. I’m gonna puke again…”

Karol seemed to share his negative opinion. She yelled out to Kai. “Just what are you doing, you junkie?! Come back here, now!”

Riya would intervene as well, but… She knew it would come off as a major double standard if she tried to call out Kai for defending someone else, when she attempted the same thing with Lake. Best to stay out of this one.

The host seemed to comply, out of annoyance. “Hmph, whatever… Pipe down, everyone! Kai, you have five seconds to explain your idea before I make your team lose. Five…”

Kai cleared his throat, proceeding to explain with his hands held together. “Very well. My suggestion is quite simple - I can take off my shirt in Aiden’s place, but you can still give him a different dare, so we are equally punished. How does that sound, dear hostess?”

Kristal pondered for a second, still being annoyed that her idea to torment Aiden was getting push-back. She groaned, face-palming again. “Urgh… okay, alright. Do it before I change my mind… And don’t think you’re off the hook yet, Aiden. I’ve got something just as bad coming your way.” The host pulled up her phone, reading some kind of list.

The e-boy recoiled anxiously. Rosa moved beside him, trying to reassure him, but also giving him a reality check. “Aiden, you can’t mess this one up, now. Kai did you a favor, so don’t let his kindness be in vain.”

He nodded, sighing. “Y-yeah, yeah, o-okay… I’ll try.”

Kai took off his vest, and then his white undershirt, revealing his tanned torso. Aiden shot a glance at him for a second, but then looked away, flustered. James caught sight of this and let out a silent scoff, crossing his arms with an angry frown on his face - also making Ally a bit confused.

On the Turtle’s side, Yul stuck his tongue out at the sight, grimacing. “E-eughh… I did not need to see those non-existent junkie abs!”

Riya snarkily responded. “Would you rather see Hunter’s instead?”

He scoffed. “U-um?! S-shut up, sister!”

“...You didn’t say no.” Riya shrugged.

Finally, Kristal seemed to be ready with her devious planning. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers, loudly. “Back to it, everyone! …I’ve got the perfect idea for a back-up dare. James, would you be a dear and fetch Nina, the puppet, from the kitchen?” She asked.

James was confused, but had no reason to deny that request. “Uh… okay?” 

After a good five minute wait, James finally arrived back from the kitchen, holding a squealing Nina in his hands. “W-wahh! L-let me go, you jerk!” 

“Ahh, you made it back!” Kristal walked up to him. Aiden merely shot a single glimpse at the totally-not-cursed doll and hid behind Maggy.

“A-Aiden? A-are you… scared of dolls??” The gentle giant questioned.

He kept shivering behind her larger stature. “I-I… W-well, I-I guess, b-but… H-holy frick, she’s terrifying…!”

“Ngh…! Explain yourself, Kristal! What kind of crap are you getting ME involved in??” Nina questioned, annoyed. Kristal leaned closer to her. “Nina, I’m going to need your help on this one…”

She then grabbed Nina, walking up to Aiden. “Aiden, your challenge is to hold Nina for thirty seconds straight, without letting go of her. Does that sound… plausible?” She said, sadistically.

Suddenly, Rosa shoved Aiden in front of the doll, so he’d stop hiding away from it. “Come on, Aiden! It is just a doll! …A strange one, but a doll nonetheless! You can do this!”

He looked like he was about to faint at any moment, but he still impulsively grabbed the doll, who kept staring him down like a demon.

Around fifteen seconds passed. Meanwhile, Aiden wouldn’t stop jittering, looking away from the doll. 

“Hey, skunk-hair! Put! Me! Down!”

“I-I… I-I can’t! …B-besides, how can you T-TALK??”

Nina suddenly started to laugh, menacingly. “Trust me, you don’t want to know that… Do you?!”

“N-no, no, no! I-it’s fine, I… I-I don’t need to know…!” Aiden babbled away.

The doll unexpectedly grabbed the e-boy by the collar of his shirt, her eyes starting to become… red? “GOOD! Because if you keep being a NOSY LITTLE BRAT , I might have to show you what a true-born daughter of darkness is capable of! I’ll make you suff- EEK!”

Before Nina was able to finish her extremely intimidating monologue, she felt herself falling out of nowhere, landing on Aiden’s stomach.

So… Aiden literally fainted, much to the shock of the crowd.

“O-oh, shit! AIDEN!” James yelled out, genuinely concerned.

“A-Aiden!” Maggy and Rosa shrieked, collectively.

Kai was totally shook, and Yul couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. “Doll one, twink; zero…”

As usual, Kristal didn’t wait a single second before letting out a sociopathic remark, her eyes closed. “Oopsies! Looks like Aiden totally fumbled the challenge! Seeing as how he fainted before the timer was over, it seems like the Turtles finally have won this challe-”

“W-wait! He’s still holding Nina!” Ally pointed out, before Kristal reached that conclusion.

“Huh?” Kristal muttered, before walking up to him and taking another look.

Ally was right. He was still holding onto Nina!

“Oh my God, this is actually bullshit! The twink freaking fainted, just give us the win already!” Yul lashed out.

Kristal hummed, inspecting Aiden’s grip. Nina was half-passed out due to the impact, and looked a bit damaged. “Hmm… Sorry, Yul. But he didn’t technically lose the dare, if he still held onto her… And thirty seconds have already passed, which means… This challenge has to go on!”

“UGHH! T-this shit is SO rigged!” Yul expressed his disdain, once more. Karol grumbled silently, and Riya looked disappointed. The Tigers all cheered. 

Maggy rushed past the crowd, more concerned about Aiden. She inspected his unconscious self, grabbing onto his back and lifting him a bit, also taking Nina off his grasp for better inspection. 

As she looked behind herself, she saw James standing there, an unusual and concerned expression on his face.

“Maggy, is he… is he okay?” He questioned. She shot him a quick glare, but rapidly turned her attention to Aiden nonetheless. She lifted his face closer to her ears; and there it was… 

“H-he’s breathing…! B-but he’s also really pale…”

James knelt next to her, holding Aiden’s hand in concern. “Please be okay, man…”

“W-wait, give me his hand…” Maggy asked, and James quickly complied. She then carefully held her finger over his wrist.

“H-he’s got a pulse… W-whew, h-he’s okay…!” She affirmed, leading James to sigh in relief.

Kai walked up to the DIY not-really-paramedics team. James already glared at him, standing up and facing him with crossed arms. “Oh… Look who’s here…”

“I apologize if my presence is… Troubling your peaceful energies. I simply want to know if Aiden is okay.” He explained himself.

James scoffed. “Of course you do. Well, he-”

*cough-cough!*

The trio jolted in surprise as Aiden seemed to have woken up from his… thirty-second coma. 

“A-Aiden! You’re back!” Maggy hugged him, making sure to be gentle this time.

He coughed more, sighing. “O-ohh… W-what happened…?”

Kristal angrily stepped in, grabbing Nina off the ground. “Nothing important. Get back to your positions, my patience is running thin!”

“Jeez, okay, it’s not like someone just fainted, huh??” James huffed, angrily. Maggy helped Aiden to his feet, and everyone returned to their teams. 

Kristal handed Nina off to Oliver. “Oliver, take her to Marcus. She needs a repair.” 

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

Another quick minute break went down until Oliver returned.

The host cleared her throat, actually annoyed now. “Listen, I don’t want to stay here all day, let’s pick up the pace! Next camper! …Lake!” She barely waited to decide, this time.

Lake jolted. “A-again?? Mmph.” She walked to the center.

“No more beating around the bush; your dare is to… Take off your wig!”

The blonde gasped audibly, and so did most of the crowd. 

“W-wh… h-how did y-you… W-WHY?!” Lake cried out, frozen in place.

“Oh, I’m sorry! Seems like no one else knew that, huh? Sorry for dropping that bombshell, mwahaha!” Kristal added, mockfully.

Yul cackled. “BA-HAAH! She’s BALD??”

Rosa looked at Lake in concern, stepping ahead to lash out at Kristal. “How dare you reveal such a thing, Kristal?? Lake doesn’t deserve your humiliation!”

“I can do ANYTHING I want!” Kristal yelled back. “Lake, it’s do or die!”

Lake’s eyes started to tear up. “I-I… H-how could y-you… W-WHY are you l-like this…?? Do you enjoy seeing others s-suffer? Do you get some k-kind of thrill from b-being a sadistic monster?!”

Kristal started to get annoyed. “Hey! Enough back-talking, unless you want me to give your team the loss!”

“N-no! If you can go low, I… I’ve n-no choice but to go lower…! I’ve read much about your f-father.” Lake’s grief turned into contempt.

“...Do NOT bring him into this. You’re treading on THIN ice, miss!” She pointed a finger at the blonde, angered.

“Y-YOUR FATHER is widely remarked across the media, and considered a sociopathic animal due to his c-cruel methods, and awful treatment of his staff… A-and here you are, c-continuing to walk in his footsteps… Is THAT the legacy you want to leave here, Kristal McLane?!” 

“SHUT! UP! …I WARNED you, Ms. Müller! If you refuse to obey my orders, we’ll need to go about this the HARD way!” Kristal turned to the Turtles, once again, and did not hesitate for a second to call another camper.

“RIYA! I have a dare for you! And this will be the final, decisive dare of this stupid challenge! If you accept, the Turtles will win immunity!” 

The actress jolted as Kristal put her on the spot. This was it, the final stretch. And it was all up to her. But given that Lake was involved, she was scared to even imagine what Kristal would want her to do.

“You better not mess this up, Riya.” Karol threatened her, giving her a pit in her stomach before she walked ahead, heaving.

Kristal sternly stared at her. “Your dare is to take off Lake’s wig! Just SNATCH it off!”

Shit. Just as she suspected. Riya completely froze. “O-ohh, hell…”

Lake’s sad eyes felt like they were cutting through Riya’s bones. The girl that once annoyed her at the very start. Riya had two completely different yet equally intense scenarios to face, and she could only pick one. 

Make a kind-hearted girl, who’s done nothing to her, go through the worst humiliation she possibly could, thus winning the challenge but also burning bridges with her newest friends?

Or… refuse? It was a valid alternative, and one that carried selfless intentions. However, as the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. So… either way? Riya would suffer.

“Riya! Hurry UP!” Kristal pressured her.

At this point… Riya couldn’t keep her composure anymore. 

“A-AHHH!!! Stop it! STOP making us do these HORRIBLE things!” Riya screamed out, her tone stern and resolute.

Kristal hummed, angrily. “Hmph! I should’ve known you were soft. Fine! I’ll take matters into my OWN hands!” The host quickly walked over to Lake and reached for her wig, until she felt an arm grasping her own.

“UGH, let GO!” She turned around to see Riya, restraining her briefly. 

“I bet you think you’re CLEVER, Kristal! I’ve never seen someone as desperate as you are, to stoop as low as to torture others, just to gain a shred of fame! You’re PATHETIC!” 

The teams were very shocked at Riya’s intervention. Meanwhile, James was subtly recording the whole thing on his phone, chuckling.

Kristal quickly shoved her away, staring down at Riya fallen on the ground, pointing a finger at her. “THAT’S ENOUGH! I’M DONE WITH ALL OF YOU! …The Turtles have LOST the challenge due to Riya’s refusal, earning themselves ANOTHER elimination ceremony! Now everyone - OUT of my sight!” She screamed out at the whole crowd, angrily stomping towards the curtain, walking off to the backstage area. 

Oliver was terrified, slowly proceeding to follow after her.

Riya was still shaking from the adrenaline rush. She looked up to see a teary Lake, reaching a hand out to her. She took her hand with a smile.

“R-Riya… Y-you… you didn’t have to! Y-you didn’t…!” Lake hugged her, sobbing. “Y-you didn’t have to protect me!”

The actress sighed, slightly pushing Lake away, holding onto her shoulders and looking at her eyes - directly. “Lake, I… Of course I had to. Because it was the right thing to do.”

Lake sniffled. “B-but you lost…! Y-you lost, and…”

“I know…” She sighed. “I did.”

Riya subtly turned to the Turtles, seeing all of her team members. Karol and Yul had a very disappointed and annoyed look on their faces. Kai smiled at her, and gave her an approving nod.

It didn’t take long for both teams to disperse, returning to their usual routines… Well, in the Turtle’s case, they still had to wait for elimination.

Confessional ~ Kai

“Oh, mama… I can barely describe the terrible vibrations I felt back there. My head is still throbbing; however, it was refreshing to see Riya’s usual grey aura turn into a bright, hopeful spark, as she defended Lake from Kristal’s wrath. And… speaking of wrath, I most definitely noticed Karol’s resentment towards her. I think I was right to be wary, as I don’t think Yul was the true harbinger of misfortune, after all. Hmm… I believe I know what must be done, now.”
_

Meanwhile, in the back stage… Kristal sat on one of the cheap, old chairs as she glared at the ceiling, almost as if she was pondering intensely.

Oliver peeked at her around the corner, too scared to approach her. But he knew he was the only one who could remedy this. Marcus was too busy tending to Nina as she injured herself when Aiden fainted, so he had to do this alone.

Finally, he approached her. “U-uhm… Kristal?”

“What.” She said, not looking at him in the slightest.

Oliver froze. “S-sorry, I… I don’t wanna bother you…”

“Too late.”

Welp, of course she was still sour over it. Too late to back out now, though.

The shorter man sighed. “L-listen, a-and please don’t hit me.”

Kristal actually snapped out of her rage and instead gave him a very confused look as she turned to him. “Wait, why would I… hit you?”

“A-ah! N-nothing, just… D-Derek would sometimes g-get… A little too rowdy.”

She hummed, bitterly. “Well, I’m not Derek. Ugh, I’m sick of everyone comparing me to someone else - can you just leave??”

Oliver held his hands together. “N-no, I-I don’t want to leave, because… I just wanted to make sure you were alright. And, I kinda had… something to s-suggest, i-if I may…?”

Kristal pinched the bridge of her nose, huffing. “...Well, if you even care, I’ll be alright. And; just spit it out, what’s up?”

“I… L-look, I know how hard you’ve been working to get those ratings you’ve always dreamed of. T-this might be a really crappy idea, but like… I thought it might help for the variety - and the ratings, if we do something a bit different this elimination…?”

Her eyes widened a bit, but she still seemed a little unconvinced. “Hmm… Well, I can’t say that’s a horrible concept… What were you thinking, exactly?”

_

Back in the woods, Karol angrily exited the Turtle’s cabin. Riya followed after her, concerned. 

“K-Karol, wait…!”

The Karen stopped in her tracks, turning to her with her usual glare. “Save your breath, Riya. You’ve done enough damage already.”

“B-but I had to! I just… thought it was best…”

“No. It wasn’t the best for us. That was the last dare, and you blew it. You selfishly put your own silly moral values over your own people. Our alliance is over, Riya. I can’t trust you anymore.” 

Riya gasped. “W-what?? N-no, but…”

“Watch yourself, Riya.” Karol warned her, before walking off into the darker trail. Riya looked down, crossing her arms in worry. 

As she was too nervous to notice, she was unable to see Yul (our lovely bush stalker) sticking his head out from a bush, then vanishing behind it. He had some scheming to do… 

As Karol disappeared into the trail, she heard loud footsteps behind her.

“...You can STOP stomping around like a swamp boar, you idiot. I can hear you.”

Yul scoffed. “Geez, rude much?? Calm down, Karen.”

She huffed. “What could you possibly want?”

“Oh, unlike Riya, I only want the best for us. Will you hear me out on something?”

Karol face-palmed. “Ugh… I’d be stupid to trust you with anything… What is it?”

“Ah, before we get to that, I just wanted to say, like… I’m sooo totally sorryyy for being, like, soo rude to you, granny…”

“Cut the shit. Get to the point.”

The Korean crossed his arms, humming. “Sheesh, okayyy. Look, not only has Riya been a major beeatch lately, but I’ve noticed that she’s been getting a little too friendly with the other team, haven't you?”

She was actually a bit surprised, quickly pondering about that scenario. Sure, Kai also risked the challenge for Aiden, but Karol came to have a soft spot for him; so she subconsciously brushed it off, in the end. Besides, Riya refused the decisive dare - which was arguably worse than Kai’s situation.

“Mmph. I suppose I wouldn’t put it past her... Your point?”

“All I’m saying is that we can work together, and get her the hell outta here. That way, we won’t need to worry about losing another challenge because of her guardian angel bullshit. And after this, we can deal with that junkie, Kai. Deal?”

Karol glared at him for a moment, until she nodded.

“...Deal.”

_

After a long while, as the sunlight completely depleted, the camp being engulfed in the darkness of the night, the entire Turtle team gathered by the campfire, ready to partake in the voting ceremony.

Kristal stood near the voting ballot, as usual. Oliver was beside her. She looked… Calmer, but not quite.

She cleared her throat, speaking in a tired and disappointed tone. “Oh, look - the Turtles on the chopping block, as per usual… You guys make me so bored that I don’t even have the energy to say something humiliating, so let’s just get on with it.”

Riya holds up a vote for Yul. “This might go terribly wrong, but… It’s the best move I can do right now. Kai, please, please tell me you voted for Yul…” She muttered to herself.

Yul holds up a paper with Riya’s name written on it. “Prepare to get hashtag; mopped. Not even Stan Twitter can save you, now!”

Kai writes a name on the paper, his face looking very thoughtful.

Karol made her vote, crossing her arms and huffing.

Finally, all the votes have been cast. The campers all return to their seats.

Kristal sighed. “Mmph, alright, let’s have a look at this disaster already...”

She picked up the first voting paper from the urn. 

“First vote… Riya.”

Riya’s eyebrows arched, and she gripped onto her skirt nervously.

“Vote number two… Yul.”

Yul glanced at Riya and subtly gave her the middle finger. Oliver gasped silently.

“Vote three… Karol.”

Karol felt surprised, suspiciously glancing at both Kai and Riya.

“Finally, the fourth and decisive vote…”

Yul and Karol both intensified their gazes toward Kristal. Kai noticed Riya had her fingers crossed.

“...Riya! That’s two votes, make your way to the bus stop.”

The actress sighed heavily, frowning. Yul cheered silently with a snicker. Kai looked down, feeling somewhat remorseful.

Kristal nudged Oliver, handing him… something?

Riya stood up from her bench and turned around to her very small team. Karol looked away from her. Riya took that as her sign to move on.

_

At the bus stop, Riya glanced up to the starry night sky; her eyes slightly tearing up.

She wiped her tears, sniffling and muttering to herself. “C-Connor… I failed… I-I promised I’d do my best to compete, but just like everything in my life, it went south… I don’t want to depend on you, but I suppose kindness hinders everyone…”

The actress took another moment of silence, still waiting for the bus to pull up anytime soon. Strangely enough, it felt like it’s been taking way more than it should be. Why wasn’t it parked there to begin with?

Rapid footsteps clomped behind her. Alarmed, she turned to the source of the sound.

“R-Riya…!” A voice called out to her.

“W-what? …W-who’s there??”

Finally, the person exited the shadows and was revealed by the moonlight. They were hyperventilating, so they stopped to catch their breath.

“...W-wait, Oliver?? What are you doing here? I need to get on the bus…” Riya stated.

Oliver finally caught his breath, regaining composure. “N-no, just… Hold on. Before you do anything else, I need you to read this.” He handed an envelope to her.

Totally shocked, and with a glimmer of hope, Riya grasped the envelope and opened it, revealing a letter.

Her eyes scanned the writing, word by word… And she gasped in shock.

Chapter Text

“Oh, boy… H-here we go…”

The camera adjusts, the image sharpening from a soft blur to sharp detail. An unusual sight greeted the viewers, and it wasn’t our lovely host Kristal this time. 

“Hi everyone, Oliver here! W-welcome to… Disventure Camp…! Y-you see, Kristal wasn’t really feeling up for the intro today, so - here I am!” He suddenly stopped and mumbled something under his breath, pondering.

“Ah, shoot… H-how does it go again… R-right! Uhm, last time, on Disventure Camp! Kristal revealed a secret advantage letter, hidden around the camp. Meanwhile, a lot of cliques we’ve been getting familiar with have bonded even further. In the cafeteria, Rosa and Lake spotted a lonely and depressed Riya, and decided to comfort her. Aw, how sweet! A-ahem, speaking of… Tess shared an emotional moment with Maggy! Did anyone else cry there? …Just me? O-okay. Eventually, the hidden advantage was found by James, and then the next challenge was announced, which led up to… W-well, a lot of crazy stuff happened. L-let’s not dwell on that… The campers had to endure some pretty intense dares, until the Turtles lost the challenge due to a certain competitor standing up for a friend from the opposing team. In the voting ceremony, Riya got the majority of votes due to Karol and Yul teaming up. I knew they were up to something! …U-uh, however, Riya’s stay in the game isn’t exactly over. Ooh, this is so exciting! What’s gonna happen next? Up to you to find out, here on… Disventure Camp!”

A long pause of silence occurs until Oliver opens his eyes and clears his throat, awkwardly. “M-Marcus… The theme song?”

“Oh. I’m sorry, son. Here you go.”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp. 

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

As the morning barely started at the camp, Yul was already snooping around like a restless weasel.

He persistently made his way as far as he could through the pine trees, seeming like he was in search of something. 

In fact, he went so far off that the cameras were unable to catch sight of him anymore. 

“Ugh, where’s that freaking producer area…??” Yul muttered to himself, stopping in his tracks when he spotted a large tent of sorts, picking up the pace and sneaking close by.

He peeked around the corner with his head - no one was there. There was a faint blue light coming from inside. A monitor?

“A-ha, must be their camera tent room or whatever…”

Yul walked inside. He inspected the corners of the room for any hidden cameras, but ironically, there wasn’t anything there. 

“Christ, it’s like they’re asking to get robbed. Hmm… Anything here I could useee…?”

He looked at the monitor, showing several camera angles of the entire camp. But there wasn’t anything interesting going on in the footage. He needed some kind of physical clue.

Without realizing it, he bumped his foot on a cardboard box. “H-huh??”

Yul kneeled to inspect the box, carefully pulling it towards him. The front read ‘QUIZ ANSWERS’ which intrigued him a little.

He reached his hands inside and rummaged through them, pulling out printed papers. His eyes widened and he smirked, immediately grabbing his phone and proceeding to photograph the papers, before discreetly pushing the box back into its original place.

The Korean peeked outside to see if the coast was clear, then proceeded to rush back to the central area of the camp.

Confessional ~ Yul

Low, evil laughter escaped his mouth, until he glanced at the camera and stopped himself, flustered. He then cleared his throat. “...Alriiight, let me spill the tea. After we got rid of that flop, Riya, our team’s been kind of a major fucking mess. I mean, it always was.” 

He then raised his hand and started counting on his fingers. 

“One, Kai’s still a stoned-ass junkie. Two, Karol is a conniving psycho that could backstab me whenever she wants to. But on the bright side - we’ve still got our plan to eliminate Kai, and I think Karol still hates him way more than me. Anyway, I’ve been snooping around the camp to see if I could find anything useful… Needless to say, your boy ate.”

He then pulled up his phone and opened his camera gallery. “So, whatever… these are supposed to be, I’m gonna keep these pics handy, just in case I need them. And… while I really don’t want to… I GUESS I should send some of these to Mr. Twink Stalker CD, keyword being… some. He didn’t do anything for me yet, but I still gotta make this alliance work, so I should start getting on his good side. Ugh, this better be worth it...”

Yul started texting on his phone, an angry frown on his face.
_

In the Tiger’s side of the camp, Rosa María was moping by herself, sitting on a bench.

She silently eyed the cloudy morning sky, grasping onto her Libra pendant and fiddling around with it.

Unbeknownst to her, Lake was watching her behind a tree, a sad look on her face. Almost as if she was working up the courage to walk up to her.

The girl sighed, eventually coming out of her hiding spot and approaching Rosa from behind.

“Er… Rosa.”

She jolted, looking behind herself. “...Lake?”

“C-can I… sit with you?” She asked, meekly.

Rosa smiled, scooting over. “Of course.”

Lake sat down beside her, still frowning. “I… Well, I wanted to talk to you.”

“You can always talk to me. About anything, Lake. Remember? I won’t judge you. You can be fully transparent.” She gave her a typical reassuring answer, Rosa style.

She sighed as the guilt began to kick in. “A-alright… Rosa, I am s-so, so sorry for yesterday… A-and the challenge. I let my emotions get the best of me, and I took out my frustrations on you. That was not fair. You are… an amazing friend, and you didn’t deserve that. I… hope you can forgive me.” 

Rosa’s eyebrows arched in empathy, and she hummed. “Please, Lake… Do not worry about it, I am not mad. In fact, I am very proud that you were able to apologize on your own terms. You’re an incredible person.”

Lake smiled at her, and before they knew it, they were both sharing a warm hug. Rosa slowly pulled away, and strangely enough, a faintly fierce look overcame her face, as she seemed to remember something. “Lake, you… I don’t want to distress you any further, but there may be something else we must discuss. About what Kristal said during the challenge. I am very concerned for your well-being, Lake…”

The girl looked down like a guilty puppy. “I-I… I understand. And I suppose it’s time for me to reveal the truth to you. My… m-my parents. They’re not exactly as great as I described them to be… The story about why I have hair loss is due to them continuously overloading my life with orders, stress, and nothing else. I’ve always felt like a lion - trapped in a cage…”

“I had a feeling… And Lake, I did not like what Kristal did to you at all - publicly humiliating you, and exposing your deepest secrets to everyone else. I cannot imagine how you feel… But I promise you that I will listen to your grievances, and try to provide you with the best support I can.” She grabbed her hand.

Lake nodded. “T-thank you, Rosa… But, in reality; I can’t exactly fully blame Kristal for this. She is… quite sociopathic, but I have learned that her father has a very messy background. He runs a very famous reality show named Race to the Place. The guy is a scumbag - there have been several reports of a toxic workplace, abusive work ethics, and other matters like that… So, to me, it is no surprise why Kristal acts this way.”

Rosa hummed. “Sounds pretty bad. I usually try to give everyone a second chance, maybe even a third one… But it feels as if Kristal’s sadistic nature makes her irreparable. Every challenge she makes us do has been getting more, and more brutal… I don’t want you to get hurt because of her, Lake. Just - please promise me that you will be careful, no matter what happens.”

“I… I will do my best. I don’t want to promise you anything, because… I’ve learned from my family that hoping can only bring you disappointment. And I don’t want to disappoint you.” She stared at the table, leaning her cheek onto her palm.

The purple-haired girl placed a hand on her shoulder. “That is not true, Lake… Hope only brings disappointment if you do not have the strength to make a difference. And I know you have that strength, deep inside you. Maybe your family has never told you this, but you are as bright as a shooting star. With your beautiful intellect, I am confident that you can get through anything.”

Lake teared up a bit, wiping her eyes with a soft chuckle. “Ohh, Rosa… You always make me teary-eyed with your kindness.”

“Hehe, there is no shame in tearing up every once in a while. I’m just glad I can be here to support you. Now, tell me… Is there anything else that was on your mind?”

The blonde wiped her eyes again, pondering. “W-well… After the last challenge, I can’t get the image of Riya defending me out of my head. She… she sacrificed her entire position in the game, just to save me from Kristal’s humiliation. I cannot help but feel… responsible.”

Rosa lifted a finger. “Riya was incredibly brave, standing up for you like that… I also really miss her, but you cannot feel responsible for what happened. She made a choice to defend you, which means she really cared about you. Don’t you think she would want you to stay strong, and fight until the end?”

Lake pondered, before nodding. “I… Y-yes. You have a point. So… let’s do our best. For Riya.”

She nodded, with a smile. “For Riya.”

_

Tess sat on a tree stump, isolated from the rest of the world… Okay, not really. But metaphorically speaking? Pretty much.

She held her good old sketchbook, spacing out as she stared at her page with several anatomy sketches. Just blank figures, but it seemed like she had improved from her usual work.

As she sat deep in thought, some footsteps thumped around her. She looked to the left - Ally.

“T-Tess…! Heyy…”

Ally approached her. Tess hummed and silently waved at her. The brunette awkwardly eyed the ground before sitting down on the grass, remaining beside Tess.

The silence was starting to get pretty unbearable for her, so she spoke up again. “Uhh… I just wanted to check on you. W-we, err… Didn’t speak in a while, so I wanna know if everything’s alright.”

Tess shrugged her shoulders. “Everything is alright. I’ve just been pretty thoughtful, lately.”

“A-ah, okay… I was worried that I, um, maybe got too annoying with my game stuff. I-I’m sorry if so. You’ve been waking up pretty early lately, and I can’t always find you before a challenge starts, so…”

“You’re alright, Ally. You don’t have to apologize for something that isn’t your fault. But… like I said, I’m just trying to be alone for a bit. When I draw… it helps me find my bearings. Clear my mind and think better about some things. Things that I’d rather not burden you with…”

Ally was kind of concerned by the last statement, so she persisted. “W-whoa… is everything really alright? I-I know I’m kind of overbearing sometimes, but if you have anything you want to get an input on, I can totally help out. O-okay?”

Tess just nodded, not answering her further. Ally just had to push a little bit more.

“S-so, uhm… Is that a yes? O-or a no…? B-because, I totally get it, if you’re not-”

Before she finished that sentence, a loud footstep thumped nearby them, and a meek voice spoke out. “Hi, Tess!”

The two turned to see none other than Maggy’s usual tall self, looming over them with a friendly smile.

Suddenly, Tess’ closed-off demeanor changed a bit. She stood up, holding onto her books, before asking Maggy a question.

“Maggy. Can we… talk?”

Maggy was a bit nervous due to the sudden suggestion, but she vaguely knew about what Tess might want to discuss. “A-ah, okay…”

Tess turned to Ally. “Ally, you should brace yourself for the next challenge. Don’t worry about me. I promise I’ll be fine.” Then, she proceeded to walk off with Maggy.

Ally’s eyebrows curved and she sighed deeply.

Confessional ~ Ally

She face-palmed, letting out a soft groan. “F-freaking… Ugh! Man, I’m such a loser! W-why is it that I keep losing people?? F-first, my old friends, then Hunter… And now - Tess.”

Ally nearly teared up a bit, but then closed her fists and breathed calmly. “Look, I… I don’t wanna sound like a total selfish brat, but I can’t help but wonder if Tess is actually upset at me, for whatever reason. I swear I’m not just using her for brownie points, I just want to be her friend. That’s it. But then someone else comes along, and suddenly; we’re not hanging out as much as we used to. I’m not shading Maggy, but I keep thinking she has to be responsible for this, somehow…”

She rubbed her face. “Chill, Ally. No need to villainize anyone for this. I just… don’t know what I’m doing wrong. M-maybe it’s time for me to make other friends, too.”
_

Tess and Maggy went a little further down the woods, coming to a halt when they felt like they were truly alone.

“A-are you sure Ally’s gonna be okay? …S-she seems… kinda sad.” 

Tess sighed, shrugging. “Maybe I… have been a bit too distant with her. She’s a nice person, but I just can’t connect with her all the time. I feel like I’m weighing her down.”

“Tess… you’re really not. I’m sure she loves your company.” Maggy reassured her.

She held onto her own shoulder, unsure. “I wish I had your confidence… Just like when you stood up to Yul. That was… actually impressive, Maggy.”

Maggy smiled, chuckling. She seemed actually awkward about it. “O-oh! T-thank you, but… N-now that I look back at it, it’s just sooo embarrassing… M-maybe I overreacted…”

Tess shook her head. “No, you did the right thing. Yul had it coming either way… It was just a matter of time.”

“E-eheh… I guess so. But, anyway… What did you want to talk about…?”

She suddenly reached for her pocket, and pulled out a familiar pill bottle. Maggy’s eyes widened.

Tess hummed. “I… I’ve been thinking, for a while. And now, I think I know what to do. I’m ditching these pills. And… I’m going to look for a new psychiatrist, when this is all over. I just want a new start.”

“That’s… that’s great! I support your decision, Tess. I-I know it must’ve been difficult before, but… I also know you’ll do what’s best.”

She smiled at the gentle giant. “Well, don’t discredit your efforts. If you didn’t point the issue out, I… probably would have never realized it. A-and… maybe; things would’ve gotten worse...” She hesitated as she pondered a darker outcome.

Maggy grabbed her shoulders. “H-hey… Don’t overthink it. You figured out what to do next. And… that’s all that matters.”

They smiled at each other. Unbeknownst to them, someone was observing their exchange from afar - not being able to hear the conversation, but still eyeing them suspiciously.

A bush rustled farther off, not catching their attention. As the person behind it poked their head out, it was revealed to be James - skeptical about Maggy, in particular.

“Hmph… What are they up to?”

*buzz-buzz!*

James looked down in surprise, to find his phone buzzing. He discreetly opened it and saw a few notifications on TikTok, noticing he got DMs from Yul’s account.

“Huh. What are all these pictures about…?”

He then realized Yul sent him another text. “I’ll explain later. Don’t show these to anyone, okay??”

*A-hem!*

Spooked by the strange grunt behind him, he turned. Much to his disappointment, his ‘rival’ Kai was right there.

“S-shit. Why are you stalking me??” James questioned, discreetly hiding his phone.

Kai’s face went from neutral to slightly guarded. “I should ask why you are stalking Maggy.”

“I wasn’t doing that, loser. And if I was, it’s not your business.”

He squinted at him. “Your aura is dangerous… I can sense the despair you’ve caused for Aiden. Stay away from him, malevolent soul…”

James rolled his eyes in annoyance, pinching his fingers repeatedly. “Blahblahblah. You’re so annoying. I can do whatever I want, so stop getting in my face about Aiden.” 

He then walked towards Kai and bumped his own shoulder onto his as he left the scene. Kai stared at him, uneased.

Confessional ~ Kai

“That was the most volatile aura I’ve seen in weeks! …Well, not counting Yul, or Karol… Or that demonic doll. James is certainly shaping up to be a massive storm around a lighthouse… Where in the blink of an eye, it could knock over its entire structure. I have to protect Aiden and Maggy from his wrath… I can’t fail them like I failed Connor and Hunter…” He sighed.
_

Confessional ~ James

“Ugh, that green-haired punk gets on my nerves. But now that I’ve seen Maggy and Tess alone with each other, I’m… starting to suspect they made an alliance. And, as much as I want to get Kai far away as possible from Aiden, all of his allies are gone. He was tight with Hunter, and he’s not here anymore, so… is there even a point anymore? Maggy just seems like the smarter choice here… right?” James shrugged at the camera.
_

In a secluded spot in the forest, where a small lake resided, Karol was feeding some of the birds with… a convenient bag of bird food she was carrying, apparently. 

The woman smiled as she spread the seeds around the grass, listening to some of the birds chirping.

“Finally… some actual peace and quiet in the middle of those good-for-nothing posers. I’m gonna win this whole thing for you, my little tweety-birdies… You deserve the world.” Karol muttered, totally blissful as a few birds landed on her shoulders.

“EWW-UHH!!”

Karol jolted from the sudden expression of disgust that echoed behind her, and all of the birds were scared off by the sound, flying away.

Enraged, she stood up and turned to him. “What the hell is wrong with you?!”

Yul leaned away from her, a little intimidated. “W-whoa! Jeez, calm down, Karen! I just got a sudden burst of cringe from your nick-naming…”

She face-palmed, annoyed. “You scared them away! They were eating, jackass.”

“Fine, whatever, sorry! I don’t know how you’re not disgusted by those… things! Like, don’t they carry around a billion of gross diseases??” He looked grossed out.

“Watch your tone, black-eye. Or our alliance might just come to an end.” Karol threatened.

Yul sighed, raising his hands. “Christ, sorry, sorry. Look, I only came here to talk strategy with you.”

She crossed her arms. “Say what you have to say.”

“Well, for starters, that flop Maggy seems like she could spell trouble for us, if she makes it far enough. She’s close with Aiden and Tess, which adds more fuel to the freaking fire. But besides that, I was thinking… If we lose the challenge today, Kai is going home. That idiot nearly costed us the challenge last time, and he’s been getting too buddy-buddy with the other team.”

Karol huffed. “Sounds fair. Anything else?”

Yul pondered. “...Oh! Yeah. If we end up voting Kai off, then the next person we need to target is… Aiden. He has a shitload of connections, he’s basically like the pillar of the Tigers. If we take him out, we’re gonna serve major girly pop.”

The woman was a bit unsettled by the last part, looking off to the side.

Confessional ~ Karol

“I don’t disagree with wanting to make good strategic moves in this game. But… Aiden’s the only kid here that isn’t a complete waste of oxygen. Him going this early isn’t fair. Besides, Yul is as trustworthy as a rookie fast-food employee... He has extensive knowledge of those alliances, and that makes him dangerous. He could be playing me… but before he stabs me in the back, I hope I can make an alliance with Aiden, so we can keep each other safe.”
_

On the small fishing shack next to the lake, Aiden stood over the pier as he held a fishing rod that’s been cast into the water. He waited, anxiously.

“Mmph, come onn… Can’t one of you just bite the lure already?”

He stared off at the lake, nearly growing bored by the second. Nothing else greeted him aside the wind and faint water sounds. 

With a sigh, Aiden sat down on the edge of the pier, waiting with a bored expression.

A few footsteps thunked behind the pier. Aiden turned to find Ally heading towards him, waving as he took notice of her.

“Hey Aiden, whatcha doin’?”

“Uhh- hi, Ally. W-wait, was that an Isabella reference?” He raised a brow at her.

She walked up to him, chuckling as she adjusted her glasses. “E-err, actually, no. That was a Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin’ reference, b-but… you probably won’t get it…”

He took a few seconds to recognize what outlandish video game reference she was alluding to, but curiously enough, he actually wasn’t unfamiliar with it. “O-ohh, wait! I’m pretty sure I saw an episode or two way before, um… HAWP, right?”

Ally’s eyes literally sparkled. Finally, someone else who gets her! “Y-yeah! Yeah, that’s it! …S-sorry I misjudged you, but I seriously thought nobody would get it. It’s like… peak 2010’s internet nerd comedy. I watched the whole thing, there’s only like… three or four crappy episodes. It’s pretty dead nowadays, though. So is the fandom...” She seemed a little upset, albeit very faintly.

Aiden giggled. “Oh, I bet you know all about it. Like I said, I only watched some episodes wayyy back then, but - it didn’t seem that bad. Uhh, and to answer your first question, I’m just… trying to fish, but I literally can’t do anything right.” He stood up, flashing an annoyed look at the fishing rod.

“Hmm… Can I try, maybe?” 

He handed her the fishing rod, without any objections. “Go right ahead.”

Ally reeled in the empty lure, and casted it onto the lake once more. 

Many seconds passed, nearly turning into a few minutes of awkward silence or short banter.

Slightly annoyed, Ally reeled in again, with no luck. 

She groaned. “Ugh, darn… Fishing’s really not my thing. B-but I’m really good at Minecraft fishing!”

Aiden snickered, standing up and taking the rod from her. “That’s okay. And I bet you are, Ally… Actually, I also used to play Minecraft a long time ago. I had the Pocket Edition.”

Ally became more and more invested in the conversation by the second. “Ooh! I’m actually a huge fan of the Vita port, but it gets sooo much crap from everyone. I think it’s severely underrated… E-er, sorry. I didn’t explain what a PS Vita is…” She stopped herself, flustered.

He chuckled again. “Hey, it’s alright. Uh, about yesterday’s challenge… Kristal made you delete your Epic Games account, right? Did you… move on from Fortnite and all…?”

She sighed. “S-sadly… To be honest, I guess it was kinda getting old for me. I just switched to Minecraft on my Switch… It’s the next best thing to play by yourself, especially since Hunter’s gone, and… Y’know.” Her tone became more somber as she finished the sentence.

“Y-yeah, I heard… Ally, were you feeling alone lately? I’ve noticed that there’s been a lot of people here going through the same thing. Like Kai; ever since Hunter and Connor got voted off, he’s had basically no allies or friends to rely on. So… how do you feel?”

The gamer girl took a bit to answer. “W-well… I did feel pretty lonely ever since Hunter went out. I have Tess, but… she’s been hanging out a lot with Maggy, so I’ve been feeling kinda left out. But at least - I also have James! …Sort of.”

Aiden jolted a bit from her answer. He wasn’t expecting her to consider James a friend - he felt a little awkward after that. “O-oh… Alright, then… A-at least he’s there for you, h-haha…”

Ally raised a brow at his weird shift of attitude. She felt like there was something he wasn’t telling her - but she didn’t question the matter.

_

Before the campers knew it, Kristal’s announcement speakers blared up, ruining their calm morning routine; as usual.

“Morning, campers! You know what time it is! Gather around the beach, and make sure you change into a swimsuit! I hope no one here’s afraid of drowning, MWAHAHA! …Uh, forget I said that.”

Despite her ominous warning, everyone gathered there - this time, in their swimsuits. 

“My, my! Glad you all made it. Before I explain the next challenge, I’d just like to ask, once again… You-know-who, would you like to use your advantage now? You have ten seconds to decide.” Kristal announced, making Oliver a bit anxious. The campers found themselves staring at one another, just like before.

James felt like he was put on the spot - but, he instinctively reached for his pocket, pulling out the envelope and raising his hand. Aiden and Yul were the first ones to notice, the former gasped silently and the latter nearly lost his breath.

“Oooh! It’s about time, James. Come up here, and let’s discuss your move!” 

He walked through the crowd, getting several angry or curious stares along the way.

As he handed Kristal the envelope, he whispered something in her ear.

“Very well. Yul! Maggy! Due to the advantage, you two… must swap teams!”

The crowd gasped; especially the aforementioned campers. 

“W-wha…?” Maggy muttered in confusion.

“W-wait, seriously??” Yul said, a little excited.

Aiden was also totally shocked, genuinely angered about this turn-about. 

Tess and Maggy looked at each other in concern, before Maggy departed to the Turtles. Kai respectfully bowed to her, while Karol crossed her arms and stared away, giving her a mixed reaction about the team… if you could even call it that anymore.

James returned to the Tigers, and he found himself being stared down by Aiden. “James, w-what the hell?? Are you seriously gonna switch Maggy with that rude moron??”

He shrugged, unbothered. “It’s for the greater good, Aiden. Yul is more efficient than her - don’t take it personally.”

The e-boy scoffed, baffled. “Oh! Yeah, I won’t take it personally when you’re pulling my friends away from me!” Angrily pouting his lips, he walked to the back of the line, staying much closer to Rosa.

James tried reaching out to Aiden, before giving up with a disappointed sigh, frowning with his arms crossed.

“Uhm, yoo-hoo??” A familiar voice snapped him out of it. He turned to witness Yul, looking at him with a perplexed expression. 

“Oh. Hey…”

Yul groaned, rolling his eyes. “Ugh, freaking stop moping over that twink for once… Look, this was great and all - but why didn’t you tell me you had the envelope?? Huh??”

James hesitated, before answering as best he could. “I just… thought it was best. I didn’t want to risk anyone sabotaging us or learning that I found it, so I kept a low profile.”

“Ahh… you know, maybe you do have a braincell or two inside that head. But don’t do that again. Or I might just give Aiden even more reasons to hate you.” Yul vaguely threatened. 

James ignored him, grumpily. “Whatever… Actually, what was up with those images you sent?”

“Shh, not now…”

Ally was silently waiting for the explanation, until she noticed Tess approaching her again. She jolted at the sight. “T-Tess? Hi…”

Tess held her own arm, looking down with a guilty expression. She couldn’t bring herself to address the elephant in the room just yet, but she did bring up something that caught her eye earlier. “Hey… This might be off-topic, but… As an artist, I couldn’t help but notice your tattoo. Does it… have a meaning?”

She was referring to the tattoo on Ally’s shoulder - two pixelated hearts with “2P” written above them. Ally turned her head to it, grasping her shoulder instinctively.

“O-oh! …This. It’s… a tribute to my late grandfather. He, um… Got me into gaming in the first place, and he was always there for me when my mom wasn’t. W-which… was a lot of times. He was my Player Two.” She laughed nervously, trying to disguise her grief. It didn’t work.

Tess simply hummed, realizing she touched an unhealed scar. “I-I see… I’m sorry, Ally.”

Ally exhaled. “D-don’t be… I’m glad you asked, actually. I wanna honor his memory by making sure I tell more people about him, so… thank you, Tess.” She smiled faintly.

Breaking their emotional bonding, Kristal clapped her hands loudly, catching everyone’s attention.

“Alright, alright! That’s enough gossiping! …Now that the team swaps have been made, I’m going to explain this challenge. This will be an aquatic obstacle course, with 3 stages… The entire team will have to participate on every stage at the same time, but be warned - any of you can be disqualified, and if that happens, your teammates will have to carry on without you!” 

Kristal ensued explaining, as the camera faded to a view of Oliver in Stage 1. “The first stage is a slippery wall, that needs to be climbed with ropes and handles. Whoever falls in the water, by any motive, will be disqualified. This stage might seem very simple, but climbing that wall is no easy feat.” The footage showed Oliver falling off the ropes. Poor guy.

“If you do manage to climb it, there will be a large slide right in front of you. Go down the slide, and you’ll be taken to Stage 2…”

The camera transitioned to an exhausted Oliver, pacing across Stage 2’s open area. “The second stage is quite different from the first one. It’s a puzzle hunt challenge. There are several lanes of shallow water, with puzzle pieces lying inside - in the center of the area, you will find two tables with partially completed puzzles; one for each team. At the corner of the area, there will be two staircases, each leading to a door. When a puzzle is completed, you will have to look for a key that unlocks your respective door - which leads to our final stage…”

Finally, the camera cuts to a terrified Oliver, glancing at the massive task ahead of him. “The final stage will be a tightrope race to the finish! There will be two tightropes that lead to a ledge with a bell. Whoever rings the bell first will take the win for their team. Only one person from a team can cross at a time… If someone ends up falling in the lake, they are disqualified, and another team member has to cross the tightropes!” The footage then showed Oliver falling off the tightropes, mortified. When will he get his paycheck already??

Kristal cleared her throat. “Well… I hope everyone understood my flawless explanation. Now, let’s-”

“Hey! This is utterly unfair! A challenge where a team of three people compete against a team of seven?! That’s a horrible design!” Karol interrupted her, enraged - though, she actually had a point, this time… 

The host rolled her eyes, yawning. “I don’t believe in strength in numbers - so just keep your voice down, and deal with it.”

Karol crossed her arms, huffing. 

“No more distractions! …It’s challenge time!” Kristal said, eagerly. 

Confessional ~ Yul

“Ugh, great! So you’re telling me… I went through all that effort to find the smallest chance to cheat in this game, just so this bitch would come up with some bullshit challenge instead?? Well, fucking awesome. We love that.” 

His eyelid twitched angrily at the camera as he forced a fake smile.
_

The camera faded to a view of Stage 1, with all of the campers positioned behind a starting line; each team in a separate lane.

Kristal held up a whistle, blowing into it.

*fwiiip!*

With her go-ahead, both teams charged forward, some less enthusiastic than others. Their speed was hindered by the fact that they were running on a calf-high level of water, with a rubbery material below them - likely to prevent any real damage happening in case of any… unforeseen events.

James was the first to reach the wall of ropes and handles, holding tight onto the first rope he saw and doing his best to climb over the wall. Ally also managed to pick up the pace and reached the wall right after him, starting to climb as well.

Kai and Maggy were keeping a steady pace, outrunning the trio in front of them.

Said trio - Yul, Tess and Karol; were running right beside each other. Suddenly, Yul flashed a mischievous grin towards Tess, before proceeding to discreetly shoulder-bash her from the side.

“A-ah!”

The impact immediately made her topple against Karol, resulting in a messy scene.

“ARGH!”

*splash!*

Yul ran past the two, pretending like nothing happened.

The familiar sound of Kristal’s mega-phone blared out. “Oooh! How interesting - we’ve just witnessed a double disqualification! Tess and Karol are both out of the challenge, since they fell in the water!”

Tess recovered from the fall, rising above the shallow water. She extended a hand to Karol, who looked completely enraged. “Are you oka-”

“You IDIOT! …Look what you’ve just DONE!” Karol aggressively pointed at her. “WATCH where you’re going, you worthless klutz!” She then grumpily walked off the obstacle course.

Tess was left utterly confused, huffing silently.

Confessional ~ Tess

“What just happened? Before I knew it, someone pushed me… Hm… I didn’t see who it was, but maybe… that weird Kai guy? Why would he push me? That’s, like… rude.”
_

Confessional ~ Karol

“UNBELIEVABLE! Simply… unbelievable! I imagined that Tess girl was an airhead, but I guess I gave her too much credit! This may have costed my team the challenge! That… foolish girl! From now on, she better watch herself. I’ll find out where she works; then I’ll file a complaint to her manager! I mean it!”
_

“K-Karol’s out… and Tess??” Maggy muttered, as she and Kai reached the wall. 

“Unfortunately so. Come, we must carry on.” He replied calmly, proceeding to grab a handle as he made his way up the wall. Maggy had a pretty steady grip on one of the ropes, following his lead cautiously.

Yul finally made it to the wall, grabbing a few handles and making his way up.

The last ones to arrive were Aiden, Rosa, and Lake. The purple-haired girl quickly snatched one of the ropes and looked upwards, smiling confidently. “Alright! We can do this, guys! …Aiden??”

Rosa noticed Aiden looking up and shivering, as if he was dreading something. He snapped out of his panic for a moment. “A-ah! …Uhm, s-sorry, guys - I just have a really, really massive fear of heights… And this wall isn’t doing me any favors.” He replied, looking down with a frown.

She huffed, patting him quickly on the shoulder. “It’s okay, Aiden. You can do it - just keep a slow and steady pace. But we need to move; we’re falling behind.” Rosa quickly proceeded to climb, fearless as ever. 

Lake followed suit, grabbing another rope. “Just don’t look down, Aiden!” As she ascended, the e-boy was left by himself, anxiously pondering what to do. Eventually, he mustered the courage to grab one of the ropes, and slowly made his way up the wall.

“O-okay… s-slow and steady now, A-Aiden… Just… keep going. Keep… g-going…”

James was nearly at the top, suddenly stopping to take a look beneath himself. That’s when he spotted Aiden, nearly at the center of the wall. Due to this, he got distracted for a few seconds, frowning in hesitation.

“HEY!! Earth to Twink Stalker, get a move on!!” Yul caught up to him, annoyed at his hesitation.

Rosa and Lake were going at a pretty slow pace, more off to the right side of the wall. Aiden still kept going, but was going slower by the second. 

“A-almost… a-almost… W-WOAH! S-shit…!” He accidentally looked down, the height triggering his anxiety.

Yul rolled his eyes, still clinging tightly onto a handle. James still wouldn’t budge - that’s when he got an idea… 

“Hey, Aidennn! There’s gonna be turbulence coming your way, if you don’t MOVE YOUR ASS!” He threatened.

Aiden cried out. “I-I… I-I CAN’T! I-it’s so high…! I-I need to go down!!”

Kai and Maggy stopped for a bit to glance at the situation. Maggy gasped, kind of baffled. “W-wait…! Is he… panicking?? Dolls, heights… just how many fears does Aiden have??”

He hummed. “More than one can count… I want to assist him, but we can’t do that without losing this challenge. We need to have faith in him, Maggy. The future of our team befalls us. ” Her green-haired companion added.

She sighed. “O-okay, then… Guess we have no choice.”

Yul groaned in frustration. “ALRIGHT, you stupid little twink! Down you GO!” He managed to grab the rope that Aiden was holding onto and shook it frantically, making it even more difficult for him to hold on.

“N-NO! Leave him alone!” James yelled, his tone concerned.

Yul glared at him. “James, shut the FUCK up and let me DROP this dead weight - or else…!”

James sighed, perfectly understanding Yul’s threat. He glanced at Aiden in concern, until he finally gave in. “O-okay, okay! F-fine…” He then kept ascending, leaving Yul to his rope-tugging schemes.

“S-STOOOP!! I-I’M GONNA… I-I’M GONNA FALL!!”

“Get ready to TANK!” Yul gave his rope one last tug, causing Aiden to lose his grip and drop from a mild height.

“A-AIDEN!” Maggy yelled out. She and Kai could only observe in distress.

“W-WOOOOAAAHHHH!!!”

*SPLAAASH!!!*

Kristal cackled out loud, pulling out her mega-phone once more. “WOO! Cannonball! Seems like Aiden had a nasty, and rather ironic conclusion. Disqualified! By his own teammate, no less!”

Confessional ~ Aiden

His eyes twitched nervously - he was about to rage. “W-what… the… HELL was THAT?! D-did Yul seriously take ME out?? We’re on the same team! A-and James did nothing to stop it??” 

He held his face with his palms, letting out a sharp sigh. “I’m starting to hate this game more and more, by the minute.”
_

Lake gasped. “R-Rosa! A-Aiden fell!”

The leader figure sighed heavily, somewhat having expected things to turn out this way. “I… I know, but there’s no time to waste, Lake! We cannot let Kai and Maggy take the lead! We must hurr-”

*creeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaak…*

“R-Rosa??”

Rosa barely had time to look at her own rope, before she noticed it was just about to give in.

“L-Lake! I…!”

*SNAP!*

“A-AHHHHH!!!”

“ROSAAA!!!”

*SPLASH!!!*

“Oh my, oh my! The Tigers seem to be having a non-stop streak of terrible luck! …Or maybe I just did very bad maintenance work. A-ahem! Rosa’s disqualified!” Kristal said, nervously.

Lake stared down at the water below her, until she heard Rosa shouting back at her. “LAKE! Don’t stop! You must keep going without me!”

“O-okay!!” She then turned her head up, persistently holding onto her own rope, before leaping to a handle, grasping it tightly.

Maggy felt enraged by what Yul did - it boosted her motivation to give him a well-deserved second dose of karma. “Kai… keep going. I need to get payback - for Aiden’s sake…”

“Very well. Do what you must, sister.”

She extended her arms to the left, trying to catch up to the bully’s current position. James was way above Yul, and Ally was still to the former’s left, also nearly at the top.

Maggy carefully leapt for another handle, and managed to tug onto Yul’s rope.

“A-AHHH!! W-WHAT THE FUCK??” 

He lost his balance, and slid down the rope, bit by bit. When he finally got within her reach, she grabbed his foot and practically sweeped him down the wall.

“A-AH!!! Y-YOU BIIIIII-”

*SPLASH!!!*

Kristal cheered away with her mega-phone. “Wow, what a show! That one’s going in the Top 10 karmic retributions compilation! The Incredible Maggy swatted Yul down like a fly! Another Tiger disqualified!”

Yul poked his head out from the water, spitting some of it out. “ARGHHH!! CURSE YOU, TALL GIRL FROM WISH!!!”

Maggy gave him the middle finger from above with a snide grin. Kai giggled at the sight. They continued climbing.

Being one of the few Tigers left, James was within an arm’s reach from the final ledge. But as soon as he tried to grab it, the handle he was holding onto broke.

*THWACK!*

“N-NOOOO-”

*snatch!*

“...H-huh…?”

James looked up and opened his eyes to witness a struggling Ally holding onto his own hand with hers, as she supported herself with a handle. It looked like it was about to give in, so James quickly grabbed onto another rope close by.

“Y-you… you saved me!” 

Ally chuckled nervously, shaking her sore hand. “E-eheh… Man, that was close!”

“That was a great catch, Ally! Thank you…”

“Thank me later, w-we gotta get up there!” 

James nodded at her, and they continued the climb.

Finally, Kai and Maggy both made it to the top, sharing a quick hi-five before going down the slide.

Right after them, James and Ally reached the top, also sliding down to Stage 2.

And lastly, a very tired Lake makes it to the top and goes down the slide.

_

“And with that, only 5 campers remain in the challenge! Moving onto Stage 2! Whew, finally. That wall climbing section was getting a little old.” Kristal announced, sounding relieved.

At last, the campers arrived at the second stage. The Turtles immediately inspected their puzzle table in the main area, and so did the Tigers.

Lake arrived after James and Ally, looking exhausted. “I-I’m here! W-what now…?”

“We have to solve this puzzle, I guess.” James added.

Ally took a gander at the puzzle, pondering. “Mmm… I’ve played a bunch of puzzle games, this can’t be that hard. We only have to find 5 pieces.”

Maggy stared at the puzzle in confusion. “S-so… what do we do? Puzzles were always really difficult for me…”

Kai raised a finger. “It’s only a puzzle if you don’t know the answer. I’ll look for the 5 other pieces, wait here.”

Ally and Maggy stayed at their team tables while the others went looking. The searching campers all rummaged through the water lanes, individually looking for the puzzle pieces.

It was a pretty difficult task, honestly. The puzzle pieces weren’t that noticeable, and it was even harder due to the obfuscation from the water.

James and Lake returned first with a couple of pieces.

“Nice work! Just lemme lock in and focus… Okay, this probably goes… here, and this one - down there…” The gamer started getting to work.

Kai rushed back to the table, a small stack of puzzle pieces between his arms. He placed them on the table. “I believe this is it.”

Maggy had no idea what to do. “Crap… A-alright, just give me a moment…”

“We may not have a moment, but give it your all.” Kai said, which was pretty… non-reassuring. Thanks, bro.

Lake’s eyes widened. “Oh! I see! …You are indeed very good at this, Ally.”

She chuckled, flustered by the compliment. “Aw, it’s nothing… for a Tomb Raider pro like me, this is a cakewalk. I’ve played other games that racked my brain more than this puzzle did. Like… Cooking Mama. Or Dark Souls. Or Plumbers Don’t Wear Ti- uhm, like I said… It’s nothing.” Ally stopped herself before going into a massive side tangent.

James cleared his throat, a bit annoyed. “Uh, so the puzzle’s done, right?”

“Just about. All we need to do is take this piece and put it on the top left, and… Donezo!”

As Ally put the final piece in its proper place, thus finishing the puzzle, a hidden hatch opened on the floor, near the table. Lake crouched and inspected it, finding a small key inside.

“There! Sehr gut, we’ve done it!” Lake exclaimed, holding the key up as her teammates cheered. Kai and Maggy glanced at them, both distressed.

“A-ha! It looks like the Tigers already solved the puzzle and found the key! Proceed to the final stage, you three!” Before she even finished the announcement, the trio ran up the stairway and unlocked their door.

Kristal continued. “And it also looks like the Turtles are staying a little too true to their name by lagging behind! You guys better hurry up if you still want a chance!”

Her tension didn’t contribute to their progress in the slightest, only advancing Maggy’s tension. She was fighting a losing battle, constantly re-arranging the puzzle pieces, to no avail.

She groaned. “...Nngh! Damn it!” Maggy raised her fists, and…

*SLAM!*

Kai recoiled at the noise - Maggy had slammed her fists onto the puzzle table, but… 

“...Wait! Maggy - that’s it! Look!”

She opened her eyes, and it all became obvious with just one glance. Somehow, through an insane amount of luck, that little slam caused the puzzle pieces to fit nearly perfectly together. She gasped, completing the puzzle as fast as she could.

“Yes! Done and done…” Maggy huffed in relief.

The hatch slid open, which Kai spotted right away - snatching the key.

“Incredible! The Turtles solved the puzzle through brute force. Well, that was technically not the point of the challenge, but I’ll allow it all the same. Go, go, go!” Kristal rushed them.

Confessional ~ Maggy

She scoffed in a sassy manner. “Stress isn’t productive, they said…”
_

The Tigers were still ahead at Stage 3 - facing off against the final obstacle… The dreadful tightrope race.

They all glanced at each other. Before James or Ally could say a word, Lake walked ahead and spoke up. “I’m going first. I always had really good balance, carrying those heavy books over my head all the time…”

Um. Hmm. Ally and James glanced at each other awkwardly, before nodding at her. “Sure, girl. Go ahead…”

Lake took her first step on top of the tightrope. It wasn’t as easy as it looked, as the drop looked pretty gnarly.

Another step… so far, so good. Her teammates were actually impressed at her balance - she really wasn’t lying.

“You’re doing great, Lake!” Ally cheered her on.

She turned her head around, reactively. “O-oh! Thank yo- W-WHOA…!”

Aaand… she lost balance. So much for that… 

“W-WAAAAHHHH!”

*SPLASH!*

Ally gasped while James face-palmed. Kristal’s speakers peaked once again. “How’s that for karmic irony? Lake is out! Now it’s two on two, for both teams! Who’s gonna prevail?”

Before they could even make their next move, Kai and Maggy ran through their door, stopping and staring at their competition.

James and Ally hesitated for a bit. The Turtles nodded at each other - Kai confidently walked on the tightrope and started heading for the bell.

“Oh, damn…” Ally blurted out, worried. James shook his head with a groan. “I-I’m going.”

Stepping onto the tightrope, he noticed Kai was moving fast… real fast- too fast! He panicked, nearly losing his balance as Ally watched in fear.

“Keep going, Kai!” Maggy yelled out.

“James, just breathe and don’t look down!” Ally tried to reassure him.

He huffed, breathing - but that wasn’t going to help him beat Kai. He then took a devious glance towards Kai’s tightrope, a plan overtaking his thoughts. He glanced back at Ally, concerned. “A-Ally! …I’m sorry, but you need to win this one for us!”

“W-what?? What do you-”

Ally barely started questioning him, and James already threw himself off balance, hitting his back onto Kai’s tightrope, before he fell in the lake.

*SPLASH!*

“W-whoa! W-what…??” Kai started losing his balance, muttering in confusion. Due to the impact on the tightrope, he slipped off. 

“A-AHH!”

*SPLASH!*

“Ooh, wowser! Now that’s what I call a double takedown! Both James and Kai are out of the competition, leaving us with our final match-up… Ally versus Maggy!” Kristal exclaimed, hyped up.

The last two standing glanced at each other, nervously.

Confessional ~ Ally

“Bro, that was crazy! Did James seriously just sacrifice himself, just like that, so I could… win this whole thing for the team? S-shit, this is too much pressure… B-but I can’t let that stunt be for nothing. C’mon, Ally! P-power through this…!” She tapped herself on the face.
_

Confessional ~ Maggy

She sighed. “Well… looks like I don’t even have time to question how valid that was, but… I suppose Kristal doesn’t really care. I-I gotta win this for Kai.”
_

As the two gradually made their initial steps on the tightropes, the stakes were finally high.

Ally was panicking - not from the height, just the pressure. It was getting to her, and she was starting to cave… it was pretty much just a matter of time.

At this point, they were halfway through the ropes. Maggy was confident, as heights didn’t really bother her. Nervously, she glanced beside her, and Ally was just a bit behind her - though it looked like she was on auto-pilot, running purely on nerves.

Maggy naturally slowed down a bit, the sight of her opponent concerning her.

“H-hey, are you holding up alright?”

“S-stop! D-don’t distract me… A-and why do you care, anyway??” Ally blurted out, anxiously.

Maggy frowned, second-guessing if she had said the wrong thing. “U-uhm, I-I’m sorry! I-” She turned to face Ally once again, only to widen her eyes as she witnessed the gamer about to slip.

“A-ah! W-whooaaa…!”

“W-wait! I-I’ve got you!” Maggy reached her hand out to grab Ally’s. 

*snatch!*

Unfortunately, that was Maggy’s last mistake. The impact of her weight as she pulled Ally made her fall backwards herself, and Ally alongside her.

“A-AHHH!!”
“N-NOOOO!!”

*SPLAAASH!!!*

Kristal was in shock from this strange outcome. That was the last thing she expected to happen; so when it actually did, she didn’t really know what to say. 

“U-uhh… And… Since, the Tigers and… the Turtles, err… both fell, this means…” She sighed, nervously. Kristal turned to Oliver, anxious for advice. He shuddered at her desperate glance.

“O-Oliver, what do we do?? I-I wasn’t actually expecting this to end in a tie!” She whispered, frantically.

Oliver took a deep breath. “W-wait, okay, uhm… This might sound crazy, b-but… I think it’s the only way outta this one…” He then proceeded to whisper back in her ear, her worried glance slightly fading to a calmer one.

“Hmm… hmm… Right. It’s a little unconventional, but it seems like the best course of action. I’ll gather everyone up and let them know.” Kristal nodded.

_

Two upset teams gathered around the main beach area, the sun slowly starting to go down as the afternoon ensued. Kristal stood with Oliver, in front of the teams.

“This is utterly outrageous! Not only was this challenge’s design horrible, but you mean to tell us it ended with a TIE?? All we did was for NOTHING?!” Karol spoke her mind, enraged.

“Uhm, yeah, this challenge was total bullshit! Like, what do you mean I didn’t win?? Hellooo??” Yul said, arrogantly - earning some annoyed glares from Aiden, Maggy and Kai.

Rosa hummed, angrily. “You did not tell us that the ropes were fragile and could break! This was practically a scam!”

“QUIET!!!” Kristal blurted out, her tone direct and menacing.

There was silence. She hummed, clearing her throat and smiling. “Now, now… Just because my challenges are a little difficult and not always fail-proof… Doesn’t mean I don’t have a card up my sleeve right now! I know this outcome wasn’t expected, but this is the best we can do in this situation without having to re-do this challenge a gazillion times… Anyway; we’re going to do a special voting ceremony, just to make this fair for everyone involved. But don’t expect this to be a cake-walk; if you had a bad social game thus far, this might not go very smoothly for you!”

Some of the campers exchanged worried glances. Kristal continued her speech.

“At night, I’ll hold the voting ceremony. Both teams must attend. When we’re all there, I’ll explain the rules. Brace yourselves, in the meantime…”

_

The hours went by, and the evening came before they knew it. Following Kristal’s request, the Tigers and the Turtles both attended the ceremony. The moon loomed menacingly over the treeline of the camp.

“Very well, let’s cut to the chase! To make up for the messy outcome of today’s challenge, I decided on a specialized voting ceremony, where… Drum roll, please…”

The camera zoomed in on the campers’ worried glances as a slow drum roll built tension in the background. Then, with a dramatic sweep, it panned back to Kristal.

“Both teams will vote out one camper from the opposite team! That’s right! Two people are going to the Loser’s Motel, tonight!”

Her reveal caused a messy reaction from most of the campers. The stakes were high.

Kristal raised a finger. “And! Before anyone complains about this being unfair… too bad. This is a competition, not a sleepover.”

“Uh… aren’t sleepovers already competitions?” Oliver muttered. Kristal let out a sigh and facepalmed.

“Hush. Anyway, this should be pretty self-explanatory… Oh, I almost forgot! The Tigers didn’t partake in a single elimination ceremony yet. Well, I’ll explain everything one more time, just so everyone knows. Basically, you’re going to write down a contestant’s name on a piece of paper, and put it in the ballot box - and your vote will count towards that person being eliminated off the competition. Normally, you’d do this for someone in your own team, but that’s not the case this time… I’ll give you all some time to decide on your votes, but be quick about it.” Kristal explained.

_

Ally was pacing around nervously. Before she knew it, James poked her on the shoulder. “H-huh? What’s up…?”

Before he explained anything to her, Yul walked up to the two. “What’s up is that we already have a target in mind, and we want you to help us out.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes. “Oh, great. I’m sure this is gonna end well, voting with the most hated person in the camp…” Ally glared at Yul. 

James stepped in, trying to defuse the situation by appealing to Ally. “Hey, wait… Hear us out, Ally. This might be our only chance, so… We wanted your help with taking out Maggy. She’s been a major physical threat in challenges, and her social game is paper thin. It could be a game-changing move!” He insisted.

Ally grabbed her own arm, looking to the side in hesitation. “Mmph… W-well, I guess it’s not a horrible idea. But, why not someone else?”

Yul scoffed, pointing to his own face. “Duh, look what she did to me! She’s fucking bonkers, who knows what other crazy bullshit she’s gonna pull, the longer she stays here??”

She sighed once again. “Nice reasoning, bro… But you’re forgetting the part where you straight-up provoked her to her face.” Her statement earned her a glare from Yul.

“Ally, please. You’re our best shot at getting this done. Can you just do this for me?” James gestured to himself. 

Ally pondered… and eventually, she just sort of caved in. “Ughh… Fineee… But just know that this has nothing to do with you, Yul.” She pointed at him, angrily. James smiled in relief.

“Blah-blah, whatever, you can go to Floptropica for all I care. Now, let’s get a move on.” The Korean said, dismissively.

_

“Alright! Discussion time’s over! Both teams, get voting, one at a time!”

The Tigers were the first team to vote.

Ally, James and Yul silently wrote their votes in. The gamer seemed the most conflicted out of them all.

Tess held up the pen, perplexed. “Hmm… I honestly don’t know who to choose.” She sighed. “Guess I’m going with my gut… Yay.”

Lake stared at the voting paper, a bit dumbfounded. “Err… To be frank, he did really freak me out back then, at the bus… Verdammt…” She grumbled.

Aiden bit onto his nails, anxiously. “Oh, gosh… Choosing between three people that I either like, or don’t really hate is the freaking… Worst. Oh, this is gonna be so stupid… I’m really sorry…” He muttered, nervously.

Rosa pondered a decision, before confidently writing a name down.

Lastly, the Turtles began casting their votes.

Maggy writes a name on the paper, looking at the camera with a conflicted expression. “I-I know Kai said that we should vote for James, but… I feel like we’re missing the bigger picture here. I hope I don’t regret this…”

Kai wrote his vote, calm and collected.

Karol scrawled her vote onto the paper, her gaze intense and teeth clenched.

With the final ballot dropped, the campers took their seats, waiting for the verdict.

“Very well! Let’s start with the Turtles, shall we?” Kristal announced, grabbing the first vote from the stack of papers.

The campers sat in uneasy silence; tonight, no one was truly safe.

“First vote… Karol.”

Shock flashed in Karol’s eyes, but it quickly turned into a sharp glare aimed at the other team.

“Second… Kai.”

The hippie silently gasped, Maggy glancing at him in a worried fashion. Aiden was mildly concerned.

“Third vote… Kai. That’s one vote Karol, two votes Kai…” The three grew increasingly anxious. Yul looked surprised, but wasn’t really mad at how this was turning out.

“Fourth vote… Maggy.” 

The gentle giant jolted, her eyebrows arching in concern, Kai doing the same. Yul and James exchanged a knowing look. Aiden's glare snapped to the latter. Tess looked distressed.

“Vote number five… Maggy. One vote Karol, two votes Kai, and now - two votes Maggy.” Kristal’s re-affirmation only served to make Maggy even more worried, now suspiciously looking at Yul. 

“Vote six… Karol. And just like that, we’re right back where we started; two votes for Karol, two for Kai, and two for Maggy. One last vote remains... and it’s the deciding factor.” 

Karol exhaled sharply through her nose, her glare still focused toward the opposite team. Kai remained still, arms crossed, unreadable as ever. Maggy, on the other hand, shifted uncomfortably, her fingers drumming against her thigh.

“Now, for the final vote. The next Turtles member to leave the competition, is…!”

Maggy clasped her hands together, her fingers twisting as she anxiously awaited the result. Kai took a slow breath, masking his nerves behind a sharper, more focused gaze. Meanwhile, Karol’s glare was downright lethal; if looks could kill, the Tigers would’ve dropped dead on the spot. 

Aiden and Tess sat tensely, their nerves on edge for their friends. James and Yul kept their fingers crossed, silent but hopeful, while Ally cast a fleeting, guilty glance downward.

Kristal was about to pull out the last vote, for everyone to see. “...Maggy! That’s three votes, you’re out.”

“N-nooo!” She cried out. Yul and James subtly fist-bumped. Ally looked like she wanted to bury her head in the ground. Aiden was shook - Tess was sorrowful.

Kai expressed disappointment, sighing and standing up beside his companion. “I feared that this would happen… But don’t worry; you did well, sister. Your company was a blessing.” He bowed at her, which made her smile a little.

Before she knew it, she felt someone latching onto her - a hug? She looked down to see none other than Aiden, hugging her with a look of complete dejection.

“A-Aiden…”

“M-Maggyyy! You were totally robbed! That team swap ruined everything!” He blurted out, his voice trembling with frustration.

Her eyes got a bit teary, but she shrugged it off with a chuckle. “Ohh, come on now… You can’t be sad because of me, y’know. I… still had a lot of fun here. All because of you, and… some of my other friends, too.” Maggy pulled away from the hug, gesturing around herself.

He huffed. “I-I’m glad, but… it still sucks that you’re just - gone, like this…”

Suddenly, a loud, exaggerated yawn cut through their emotional conversation. No surprise there - it was Kristal, of course.

“Ughhh, enough with the mopey talk already.” She rolled her eyes before turning to Maggy. “Since you're out, move to the side; we still have to unveil the Tigers' votes. This episode’s runtime is already dragging…”

Maggy’s shoulders sank as she reluctantly stepped to the side. But before anyone had a chance to say anything, Kristal had already moved on to the next voting phase.

_

It only took a few seconds for her to grab the first voting paper. 

“Okay… first vote for the Tigers… Tess.”

The artist jolted at the mention of her name, Ally also expressing instant concern.

“Second vote… James.” 

James huffed with an eye-roll - his arms crossed. Yul was eyeing the Turtles suspiciously.

“That’s one vote Tess, one vote James… Now, for the third and final vote…”

The hostess picked up the last paper on the stand - the stakes were high.

“…Yul?” Kristal expressed genuine confusion. 

“W-what??” Yul squealed out.

“Wait, h-huh??” James questioned.

Kristal’s eyes drifted off, her anxiety spiking up once again. ANOTHER tie??

“U-uhh… Well, there was a high chance of this happening, due to the Turtles’ size, but… I-I wasn’t…” She rambled on, unsure of what to do.

She felt a tug at her arm - Oliver. Surely, he had another idea?

“M-Miss Kristal, we can still fix this! Remember the quiz papers? T-that you nearly threw away…?” He fiddled with his hands.

She gasped. “O-oh! That’s right! Whew, I’m so glad I didn’t burn those papers… Okay, Oliver - go fetch them for me, and we can get things rolling again. We’ll be doing a final tie-breaker challenge, which determines who gets voted off from the Tigers tonight!”

Yul was ecstatic. He quickly opened up his phone again and scrolled through all of the quiz questions he had saved in his gallery.

Confessional ~ Yul

“Okay, I know I kinda called Kristal a bitch before, but this is soo girly pop! I knew trying to cheat would get me some results. I will literally pull a Trisha Paytas and out-mother everyone here, and none will be the wiser!”

He snickered, before huffing and coming to a quick realization.

“Oh, right! And let’s hope James actually checked his phone and put two and two together… Well, actually - let’s hope he didn’t do that. This is a quiz, so the question order is probably random, anyway. I’d say the odds for our poor twink lover are… Totally fifty-fifty. BA-HAA!”

He cackled, obnoxiously. This guy’s luck streak needs to be studied.

_

After a few minutes, Oliver finally returned with the quiz papers. Kristal had already positioned Tess, James, and Yul in a clearing at the center of the woods, each standing behind their own podium - along with one for herself. Both teams gathered at the sidelines, watching as the tie-breaker was about to begin.

“Alright, time for the decisive tie-breaker in this… Well, let’s just call it an unfortunate series of events.” Kristal sighed dramatically before flashing a grin. “Honestly, this might be the messiest episode we’ve recorded so far. But hey - if the audience is eating it up, who am I to complain?”

She hummed to herself, clearly amused, while the quiz trio just looked irritated.

“Alright, listen up! Here’s the deal.” Kristal clapped her hands together. 

“This is a trivia quiz challenge, and all the questions will be about the show itself. There will be four questions, and for each one, you’ll have 15 seconds to write down your answer. When time’s up, just hold up your paper. If you don’t know the answer, don’t bother.” 

She flicked her wrist dismissively before continuing. 

“Each correct answer earns you one point. The camper with the lowest score? Eliminated. Simple as that. And if there’s another tie… God, I really hope not… e-er, then I’ll just ask another four questions. But! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, hmm?”

The trio nodded. Kristal grabbed the stack of quiz papers, flipping through them until she decided on the first question.

She cleared her throat, reading the paper out loud. “Question #1… What was the most popular MLM ship in Season 1?”

Yul didn’t even need to think - immediately jotting down an answer on the paper. James struggled for a while, but seemed to get an idea at the last second. Tess genuinely didn’t know.

“Alright… time’s up! Answers?”

Yul and James both lifted up their papers - both of them had ‘TomJake’ written on them. Tess didn’t lift up her paper, making it pretty obvious that she had no clue.

Kristal verified their answers. “Hmm… Alright! Tess doesn’t know, no point for her. However, both James and Yul got this one right!”

They both cheered, while Tess held her arms together, staring off to the side.

From the sidelines, Aiden stood still, his expression unreadable; yet something in his eyes wavered.

Confessional ~ Aiden

Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. “Dammit… Look at you, Aiden. Running your mouth, like always.”

He muttered under his breath, his voice laced with frustration. 

“And now? You practically handed James everything about TomJake on a silver platter. He could win the damn quiz because of you. Just… great. Fantastic job, you freaking… Ugh.”

His shoulders slumped, a hopeless expression settling on his face as he stared at the ground.

_

“Question #2! Who was the winner of the first season?”

Once again, Yul didn’t take long at all to answer this one, already writing ‘Miriam’ on his paper. Tess didn’t even bother, for this one. James panicked, a little; so he attempted to catch a glimpse of Yul’s stand, but it was too far away, and he’d probably get called out if he kept trying to peek, anyways… 

“Time’s up!”

Yul was the only one to raise his paper.

“Ooh! Once again, Yul gets a question right. Nice streak! Let’s hope it lasts, huh? Tess, James… You two should probably get it together if you wanna stay in the game.” She snickered.

James rolled his eyes in frustration. Tess… acknowledged the statement, I guess? Talk about a poker face.

“Two points for Yul, one point for James… zero for Tess. Let’s carry on! …Question #3. This one should be easier - what is the name of this camp?”

James’s eyes sparkled, quickly jotting down something on his paper. Tess pondered for a bit, before actually writing something down. Yul looked pretty calm, writing his answer rather quickly.

“Alriiight… Let’s see those answers.” Kristal said.

Yul, James and Tess raised their papers at the same time. Surprisingly enough, everyone had ‘Camp Tipiskaw’ written down. 

Kristal smiled, impressed. “Oh, wow… What a pleasant surprise - everyone got it right! One point for each camper.”

Ally sighed in relief. She had her hands held together, nervous.

Confessional ~ Ally

“Gosh, this entire day has been nothing but stressful! Tess is literally on the verge of not being here anymore, a-and she’s got the lowest point count, too… B-but, at least she got this one right! N-not that I want James to be eliminated either, but… Maybe she still has a chance?”

Ally raised her hand, trying to mentally count something.

“Right, so… Yul’s got three points now, which means - beating him seems unrealistic... Ohh, T-Tess; please get this one right… You’ve gotta beat James…” 

She held her hands together, nervously. All she could do was have faith that her friend would pull through.

_

“Okay, we’re down to the final, decisive question… This one’s the hardest yet! Question #4… Who was the third boot of the first season?”

Oh, snap. James really didn’t know this one. A consequence of Yul not sending all the photos to him, perhaps? Or maybe he was just too inattentive. Either way, he didn’t know. 

He glanced at Tess, worried. What if she knew? That would lead to another tie… and even more problems.

Yul had to take a second to remember the answer - but alas, he already knew. 

Tess stared at her paper, bringing James more anxiety. Her face was so unreadable.

The timer had already long started by that point, so it’s not like he could pull out an answer out of thin air. Tess still had her eyes fixed on her paper, though her expression slowly grew unsure.

Suddenly, she finally huffed, crossing her arms. And before James could make any other observations… 

“Time’s up! Answers, please…”

Yul flipped his paper, showing ‘Nick’ written on it. Tess and James didn’t raise their papers at all.

Kristal scoffed. “Why am I not surprised… Yul gave the right answer, four times in a row! Well, time to count down the last results.”

Ally was nervously biting onto her nails, bracing herself for the dreadful outcome.

“Yul! Four points, perfect streak. James! Only two points… And finally - Tess.”

The girl showed a non-chalant expression, slightly looking away from the host.

“...Just one point. I guess that’s self-explanatory enough, huh?”

Tess huffed. “Whatever. I get it…”

Ally sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. She whispered, barely audible. “T-Tess… no…”

“Well, I’m glad you do. Go join Maggy in front of the camp, and wait for the bus to take you to the motel.”

Yul had a shit-eating grin on his face as Tess walked off. James looked very relieved.

_

Maggy sat on the bench, looking to the grass - a frown on her face. She spaced out, for a while.

“...Hey.”

A soft voice snapped her back to reality. She looked beside her to see Tess, a calm smile on her face. She immediately stood up from the bench. “T-Tess! …Um, hi…”

A small moment of silence happened between the two. It was broken by Tess humming, almost sounding like a laugh.

“H-huh?” Maggy questioned. “I… I-I thought you’d be upset… I mean, I am. J-just a little…”

“Well… there’s no reason to be upset. Can’t think of any.” Tess said, with an oddly hopeful tone.

“W-why’s that?”

“Maggy. You know why. I just… don’t think there’s a need to be upset, when I met the person who helped me turn my life around, for once. I figured out what was wrong, and now - I know what to do about it. And… it’s all thanks to you.” Tess smiled genuinely.

Maggy couldn’t help but smile back, breaking off into a giggle. “I-I… I’m really glad. I wasn’t expecting to even find a single friend out here, in this… crazy reality show, but… I guess you also proved me wrong, tee-hee.”

Suddenly, a distant voice snapped the girls out of their friendly bonding. “G-guys! W-waait!”

“W-wha…?” Maggy muttered.

Ally stumbled in, breathless, bracing her hands against her knees as she struggled to catch her breath.

“Ally?” Tess questioned.

“H-hi, yes, s-sorry… It’s me… Uhhh… T-Tess! I-I just…” She frantically tried to explain herself - sighing.

“L-look, I just… came here to, well, apologize. B-because, maybe if I didn’t screw up the challenge and at least won, y-you’d… still be competing. S-so, I’m sorry… A-and Maggy, I’m sorry too, if… I came off as rude, or anything.” Ally expressed her concerns, apologizing.

Tess chuckled. “Hey… Like I told you, there’s nothing you need to apologize for. And you don’t need to blame yourself, either. Me and Maggy are just fine. It’s just a game, at the end of the day. And… I also want to apologize to you, Ally. For being so strange, and distant… I was going through something - and I didn’t want to burden you with it. But… Maggy helped me through it, and now I also understood that I’ve been concerning you; which is the last thing I wanted to do. So… I’m sorry, too.”

Ally immediately hugged Tess. “T-Tess…! I-it’s okay, you… I get it. I-I’m glad Maggy was able to help you, either way. I think that’s… kinda all that matters, in the end.” She pulled away from the hug, and waved her hand with a chuckle. “S-sorry, I’m being such a sappy weirdo. I’ll… go, now. I hope we’ll get to see each other again soon… B-bye, then!”

Maggy and Tess nodded at her - she then walked off, looking back one more time and waving, before continuing onwards.

The gentle giant flashed another glance at the street, as she heard a sound that caught her attention. “Oh, look! The bus is coming…”

“At last… Well, let’s not keep them waiting any longer.” Tess proclaimed. 

“I hope the motel’s got marshmallows…” Maggy muttered, leading her friend to hum in approval.

The bus finally pulled up beside the duo, and they quickly stepped inside. Within moments, it sped off down the road.

Confessional ~ James

“Damn… that was way too close.” He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “This day just won’t end. And if Tess had somehow known that answer, things could’ve gone very differently.”

His eyes narrowed. “The real question is - how the hell did Yul get every answer right?”

Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through his TikTok DMs, scanning them carefully. Then, his expression shifted.

“Wait… so this is what he sent me? This doesn’t even look like the full set of questions. If he knew all of them, then…” He scoffed, shaking his head. “That sketchy bastard… How could he cheat and not give me all the answers? Hmph. I only got the TomJake one thanks to Aiden, and…”

His breath hitched. The irritation drained from his face.

“Oh, man… Aiden.” His shoulders slumped. “I don’t even know what to do anymore. He probably hates my guts now.” His fingers tightened around his phone. “Is this even fixable at this point?”

He let out a slow sigh, gaze dropping to the ground.

“Honestly… Ally’s the only real friend I have left. If she even considers me one. And after Tess leaving? She’s gonna be a wreck…” He exhaled again, heavier this time. “Shit. I guess all I can do now is keep going.”

_

Confessional ~ Aiden

He held his face in distress. “Dammit… not Maggy! This has to be the most unfair move in all of Disventure Camp history! Even worse than Fiore betraying Alec! …Well, maybe. I dunno… B-but that’s not the point! This is all James’s fault! What the hell was the point of swapping Maggy and Yul? W-was he… jealous, or something?? Ugh.” 

Aiden stopped, pondering for a moment.

“Or… maybe he’s just in an alliance with Yul? Either way, obnoxious. He doesn’t own me, and if he thinks he can just take my friends away, he’s in for a wake-up call. Maggy, I’ll try to get some payback for you, if I can. N-no promises, but… I’ll see what happens.”

_

Confessional ~ Rosa María

She slow-clapped, her sarcasm dripping. “Well, congratulations, Yul… But you are not fooling me. Those answers were way too perfect for my taste.” 

Rosa crossed her arms, deep in thought.

“I know he’s up to something; and I really don’t like how close he seems to James. Those two are starting to creep me out, and I can feel it - something big is coming. I have to keep Lake in the loop, so we can start thinking about how to eliminate Yul, before it’s too late.”

Her expression softened as she placed a hand over her heart, turning to the camera with a warm smile.

“Sofia, cariño… Your mama isn’t leaving without that prize. I promise.”

_

Confessional ~ Ally

Ally sighed, taking off her glasses and rubbing her eyes. 

“Man, I’m pooped… A-and I still can’t help but feel guilty. I know we only targetted Maggy, but… if I just won that challenge, we wouldn’t have to keep facing these stupid moral dilemmas, and this alliance crap. M-maybe I’m just not built for this.”

She sighed, putting her glasses back on and holding up one of her fingers.

“But… a gamer always adapts to any kind of challenge, so I guess I’ll just… try to make my viewers proud. W-what’s left of them, anyway…”

Ally's somber thoughts vanished as she perked up, her usual liveliness returning.

“Oh! And, Grandpa… Tess… I’m gonna do my best. For you guys.”

She lifted her hands, forming a heart for the camera - a subtle smile on her face.

_

At last, the camera cut back to Kristal, standing near the voting ceremony grounds, the dim lights of the torches highlighting her face.

“Whew! Boy, I thought this episode was never going to end. And people say hosting reality shows are easy. Hmph. Amateurs… Oh, err… Time for my narration, I see?”

She continued her speech. “Maybe some of you will criticize this episode for being too repetitive, or lasting for too long. Well! I’d like you to consider that the drama is finally brewing! Not only did James’s team swap result in a very clever and simple elimination due to the challenge’s tie, but he and Yul, along with Ally and Karol - put an end to one of the closest duos in the entire competition! I’d say they’re in a pretty good spot in the game, right now… Unless you consider how many people are harboring suspicion, or hatred towards the two. So far, only eight campers remain! I hope everyone has been enjoying them, but I suppose you wouldn’t be watching these, if you weren’t… Err, where am I going with this…?”

Kristal coughed awkwardly, rolling her eyes. “Never mind. Anyway, we’ve finally reached the end of this episode. We’re hard at work recording this season, so you’d better stay tuned! What’s gonna happen next? Ooh, maybe more double eliminations? Or possibly an unexpected return? I guess you’ll just have to see for yourself, right here, on… Disventure Camp!”

Chapter Text

“Ugh! Why do we have to do this, again??”

“N-Nina, please, Kristal needs us! …Marcus, can’t you calm her down?”

“Of course. Nina-”

“Hush, fossil! Let’s just get this over with already.”

“O-oh… Well, a’ight then.”

The smaller man holding the camera sighed, re-adjusting the position and pressing the record button.

“Okay, we’re rolling! Start the speech, Marcus…”

He cleared his throat. “Howdy, viewers! How are y’all doin’ in this darn-tootin’ doozy of a day?”

Nina grumbled. “Get to the point, please…”

“A-ah. On it... Welcome back to Disventure Camp! In our last episode, we, err… We saw…”

The doll face-palmed, nudging her hand against his cheek. “You really aren’t cut out for this, old man. Let me take over.” He lowered his head in compliance and placed the microphone closer to the puppet.

“In our last episode, Lake and Rosa made up after a small rift between them in the previous challenge. We’ve had some tensions between Ally, Maggy and Tess - which was further amplified by Kai and James butting heads. What dorks, really… Yul and Karol continued their dysfunctional wanna-be villain duo, and Ally made a new friend in Aiden; or at least, she thought she did. James used his advantage before the challenge to swap Yul and Maggy from their respective teams, upsetting Aiden. I’m starting to get sick of these dumb romances… Anyway, the challenge proved to be a major disappointment, much like Oliver himself.”

“H-Hey!” The cameraman interjected, causing the frame to shake slightly. Marcus couldn’t help but chuckle a bit.

The puppet cleared her throat. “With Kristal’s awful planning and Oliver’s insomniac self, I guess it’s pretty obvious why that challenge was such a joke. But, whatever… it eventually ended with a tie; and after a needlessly drawn-out parade of cookie-cutter hogwash, it all resulted in Maggy and Tess both being voted off in a boring slash unfair twist. With 8 campers left, that means the competition has finally reached the fun part - the merge. Now… which of these self-serving buffoons will claw their way to the top, and claim the almighty cash prize? Find out soon - and don’t you DARE skip ahead. I’ll cast a hex on you through this very camera… ” Her tone grew menacing by the end, her eyes faintly glowing red as she glared at the lens.

Marcus awkwardly cleared his throat. “W-well! Y’all heard her, folks! Stick around and watch the chaos unfold, on… Disventure Camp!”

Oliver giggled. “Heyyy, that was actually really good! …B-but you didn’t have to be so blunt, Nina…”

“Oh, please. Keep testing me, and I might just hex you with… permanent baldness!”

“W-WAHH! N-not my HAIR!!”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp. 

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

Rosa and Lake walked side by side, making their way toward a secluded spot deep in the woods. In truth, Lake had no real clue where they were headed; she was just following Rosa’s lead.

“R-Rosa… Where are we going, exactly? I do not remember this trail…”

“I was scouting the forest by myself, a while ago. I found an… unsupervised backstage area. A spot where no one will be able to overhear us. This time, I don’t want to take any chances.” She explained herself. Lake nodded, somewhat nervous.

Finally, they arrived at a small building with some tent props around it. Rosa opened the door, peering inside, before signaling at Lake and going in. The latter did the same.

The interior was what you’d expect from a backstage producer area. Some monitors, chairs, cardboard boxes… Most notable, though, was an old mirror hung on the wall.

“W-wow… This place is quite eccentric. It has a rustic charm to it, I’d say.” Lake said, giggling.

“Rustic is right, they certainly never clean this place.” Rosa held her nose, grimacing a little at the smell of dust. “But at the very least, we are indeed alone.”

Lake wandered aimlessly around the building, lost in thought as she stepped into an open room. Suddenly, her gaze snapped to a colorful cardboard box resting on the ground.

Before she even kneeled to inspect it, she gasped silently upon seeing its contents.

Rosa was also verifying the interior, until she realized that Lake wasn’t beside her anymore. “...Lake? Lake, where did you go?”

“I-I’m here! In this room!”

She followed her voice, entering the same room. Rosa was a bit surprised at seeing Lake kneeling down, wondering what has her so curious.

The blonde turned to her, standing up and walking to the side, gesturing to the box with her left arm. “It’s a prop box, filled with wigs…!”

“Ohh… I see.” Rosa stated, already catching on to what made Lake so captivated.

Lake peered down at the box again, rummaging through the wigs. Oddly, she slowed down - taking hold of one of the wigs and gently lifting it up from the box.

A vibrant red bob wig, its glossy strands being highlighted by the sunlight coming from one of the windows in the darker room.

The girl stared at it for a few seconds in silence. Rosa walked beside her, leaning closer to Lake and crouching slightly, smiling. “Lake? …Do you like that wig, by chance?”

“O-oh!” Lake was pulled back to reality after that question. She pondered. “E-err… to be frank with you, y-yes. I do. But, uh… if I put this on, I…” Her smile fell as she finished her sentence.

Rosa’s brows furrowed in tension for a second, until she hummed with a shake of her head. “If you put it on…?” She prompted, gently.

The blonde sighed in frustration. “It… it would feel like becoming a black sheep. It sounds… terrifying, but - just as freeing. I think I… want to stand out from the crowd. But; I can’t help but wonder if this is wrong… What if my parents try to rip this away from me, as they have with any other good thing in my life…?”

Her friend looked up in thought. Her eyes moved from the ceiling, back to the wig - and finally, she gave Lake a small, yet mysterious smile; as if she was just waiting for Lake to piece everything together. “Or… what if this is the very first thing that you won’t let them take away from you?”

Lake’s eyes glimmered with hope, for a moment. “R-Rosa, I…” Glancing back at the wig once again, she held it tightly and stood up, walking out of the dimly-lit room and heading straight for that old mirror.

Rosa waited for a few seconds inside the room, then went to Lake. The girl was in front of the mirror, her old blonde wig now on the floor. From the side, Rosa saw Lake’s taller figure - now with a stunning red hairstyle.

The girl twirled around the mirror, lightly ruffling her wig and adjusting it a few times. She then turned to Rosa, who glanced at her with a supportive smile.

“...It’s beautiful, Lake. How do you feel about it?”

Lake giggled. “It’s… so different. And loud. Bold. Everything I wasn’t allowed to be…”

Rosa hummed. “So… what is your final verdict?”

She was silent, for a while. The thoughts of being judged, scolded, or ridiculed were still fresh in her mind. They were mortifying… But not as much as knowing she’d never have her freedom, otherwise. 

The girl turned finally to her friend. “...I’m going to keep it. There’s no point in dismissing this chance, so… I suppose I am a rebel, now.” Lake giggled, heartily.

Her friend laughed, as well. “In that case, I shall be your partner in crime… You did the right thing, Lake.”

“I know that, now… Thank you, Rosa.” She returned a smile. After scanning the room once more, she suddenly jolted, realizing they had completely lost track of their original plan. “O-oh! R-right. I’m sorry, I must have distracted you with this little adventure, ehehe… What strategic plans did you have in mind?”

“Haha, do not worry, my friend… But, yes. We must talk about Yul, and any possible threats that lay ahead of us. I have a feeling we’re in danger. Something’s lingering in the air… And it’s not the dust from this place.” She coughed, making Lake hold a giggle. 

“Well, you are right to be wary of Yul. I would call him an ice king, but that title is much too generous. Though, at this point, I am getting more worried about Kristal’s challenges. We nearly won the last one, but it feels like her production quality is spiraling downhill…” Lake commented.

Rosa sighed in frustration. “Oh, don’t get me started on that aquatic challenge… I can’t even tell if it was designed to be unfair, or if she already worked her interns to death… I suppose it’s to be expected from McLane’s daughter.”

Lake hummed, in thought. “I… would also say that, but - look at me now. T-this might sound crazy, but… maybe Kristal isn’t so different from me, you know?”

Her friend immediately smiled, her eyebrows slanting in pride. “Aww, Lake… That is very sweet of you. I suppose it is close-minded of me to simply judge her by association…” She crossed her arms, looking somewhat guilty.

“Don’t worry, Rosa. I know it’s not easy to forgive her after what she did in that challenge, but… Maybe she just needs… a push in the right direction?” Lake shrugged, stopping with a hum. “But, anyway… What was that about Yul, again?”

“Right. Do you remember the quiz tie-breaker? Where Yul conveniently answered every question, flawlessly?” Rosa leaned in, lowering her voice. “I don’t buy any of it. That man is a snake, and I am convinced he found a way to cheat.”

Lake’s eyes widened. “O-oh? You’re sure?”

“Well… I don’t have proof, but it’s too sketchy to dismiss as a mere coincidence. Also, Yul’s been keeping James way too close to himself. I don’t like it.”

“Do you think they’re up to something?”

“Oh, I know they’re up to something. And we need to crash their party before they make their next move. Are you with me?”

“Always.” Lake smiled. “So… for us to be able to stop them, I assume we’ll need a third party, no?”

“That’s right. The only ones that come to mind are Kai and Aiden, but… we might be able to get Karol on board. She’s the hardest to approach, but she’s never exactly been Yul’s biggest fan. That could work in our favor. We could also try Ally - it’s worth a shot.”

“Sounds reasonable.” Lake nodded. “Might as well explore all our options… Who should we approach first?”

“I’d say we start with the least likely and work our way up. That way, we can figure out exactly who we can trust and rule out anyone who’s a lost cause.”

“Very well, let's go through with it!"

_

Kristal’s speakers blared across the campus, the sudden noise startling a flock of birds from the treetops.

“How do you do, dear campers?? I hope everyone’s bracing themselves for the next challenge… But before I get ahead of myself, I have two very important announcements to make! First one - as there are only 8 campers left at the moment, we’ve finally reached the merge! The Tigers and the Turtles are officially disbanded, it’s every man for himself, now! Team boundaries don’t exist anymore, so feel free to sleep wherever you’d like. There will be voting ceremonies at the end of each day, from now on… Oh, and my second announcement - a second immunity totem is hidden around the island! Stay on your toes, everyone, and I’ll see you all in a few minutes!”

_

“Ow, ow, hey! W-watch the arm!” James groaned, nudging against Yul’s firm grasp.

He was angrily pulling the Brazilian man along the woods, almost immediately after hearing Kristal’s latest announcement.

“Stop yapping, and keep looking! Because this time, I’m not gonna let you wander off on your own so easily! We’re finding this totem together, and then I’m deciding what to do with it. Got that??” The Korean angrily released his arm, pointing at him.

“Jeez, okay, just calm down. It’s not that serious-”

“I’ve had enough of your bullshit, James! You’re gonna stop being a twink empath, and you’re gonna find that totem for me! We finally reached the merge, which means you need to get your shit together. In case you’re too dumb to understand, you need me to get farther in this game, so if you don’t fucking grow up - I’m kicking you to the curb, loser!” Yul rambled on.

He raised his hands, his face genuinely looking tired. “F-fine, fine! Just… chill. I’ll help you, okay?”

“As you should. Keep your eyes open and check literally every single thing in this goddamn forest… We’ve got work to do.”

Confessional ~ James

“Meu Deus - Yul is… insufferable! He just goes on and on about threatening to ‘expose me’ to Aiden and spreading lies, crap like that… I-I think I might be starting to lose it. I knew influencers were cruel, sure; but Yul is a sadist! How can a choreographer be capable of such brutality?”

He sighed. “I… guess this is my karma, huh. This might be selfish, but now I feel like I understand how Aiden was feeling - even if only a little bit. You can’t escape this guy, he’s always everywhere. Just like signing a contract with the devil. If I even try to jump ship, he’s going to ruin my life. And I’ve got no one else but him and Ally to rely on… And I still don’t fully know what she thinks of me, right now… But I guess it won’t really matter if I can’t get out of this. I just have to play along, for now.”

He covered his face, in distress. “Seu… idiota!”

_

Karol was by herself near a smaller pond area, surrounded by trees. She was picking up a fallen bird’s nest, carefully placing it back on one of the thicker branches.

“There you go… Looks like the wind hasn’t eased up around here. Poor birdies…” She huffed, glancing down with genuine regret.

Unbeknownst to her, Lake and Rosa were spying on her from behind a tree. They glanced at each other, somewhat hesitant. Eventually, Rosa took the first step ahead, with Lake following right after her.

“Err… Hello, Karol.” Rosa spoke up, trying to sound as confident as she could.

Karol stood up, turning to her with a glare. “...What.”

Lake froze a little - but Rosa persisted. “Ehh… I suppose I’ll cut to the chase. We were wondering if you were open to making a small alliance with us; in order to eliminate Yul. He is sabotaging things from behind the scenes, and has been a major threat for all of us. Especially now that we have reached the merge… What do you say?”

The Karen eyed her, up and down. The small gust of winds filled the gaps of the tense silence - until she finally gave an answer. “Hmph. Maybe. Is it just you two? Not very imposing for strength in numbers.”

“O-oh, actually, we do have a few potential allies… Such as Aiden… Kai-”

“HIM??”

Uh oh. Rosa, what did you go and do…

Lake cowered behind Rosa, as the latter was even more shocked by her crazy outburst. “Y-yes…? Is there something wrong, Karol?” She tried to keep her nerve, crossing her arms and faintly glaring at the woman.

Karol scoffed. “I can’t believe you would even involve yourself with that worthless junkie! He’s a horrible example to society!”

Rosa face-palmed a little, barely believing the words that came out of her mouth. “Wh- what? Alright, miss; you are being very unreasonable here. Kai is an incredibly sweet person, your hatred for him is irrationa-”

“DON’T tell me I’m irrational! Now, get the hell away from me - before I dial the park rangers to kick you out of the camp for… littering!”

“...Wait, she can do that?” Lake muttered, genuinely confused. Rosa rolled her eyes, with a huff. “Karol, please. Kai voting with us won’t harm you, it is just necessary to get Yul out of the competitio-”

“I’d rather have a broken leg than side with that junkie! You deliquents should stay away from Aiden, if you know what’s good for you. Now… get OUT of my sight!” Suddenly, Karol brushed past the pair, nearly shoving them out of her way - and stormed off, angrily.

Lake and Rosa glanced at each other, exhausted from the psychological torture they’ve just been exposed to. 

Confessional ~ Karol

“Disgusting! This is just disgusting! That Rosa will be a horrible influence for that Lake girl… How can you possibly get involved with a strung out junkie?? Stay around that low-life for too long, and soon enough - you’ll end up in prison for vandalism, or worse! There’s no use waiting anymore. I have to bring up this alliance to Aiden, before he gets in trouble.”

_

Near the Turtle’s cabin, sat Aiden, totally alone. He picked that spot since it was the least populated, but also because it reminded him of Maggy.

He had his phone pulled up, as he stared at the record button, pondering intently. He then shook his head, and pressed the button, recording a story.

“Hey, guys…” He sighed. “Sorry… I wish I could be more hyped up, but DC isn’t exactly being a cake-walk. My friend Maggy just got voted off yesterday, because of the most unfair challenge ever, and another dumb twist to go along with it… Like, the challenges are actually getting really difficult, and I feel like my social game is kind of tanking by the minute. I don’t know how much longer I’ll end up staying here since we’re in the merge now, but - I hope you guys are having fun. Meanwhile, I’ll try my best. Miss you, Maggy! …Aiden out.”

Aiden stopped the recording and fiddled with his phone, sending it as a story.

As the video uploaded, he let out a tired huff, leaning back against the front stairs. Uncomfortable, but he didn’t really care.

A few minutes went by - and several comments were already popping up.

“OMG AIDEN DWWW YOU’LL BE OKAYYY WE LOVE U KING”

“Maggy ate so hard #robbeddiva we hate kristal in this household”

“aiden literally what’s going on between u n kai LMAOO TALK ABOUT IT???”

“your flop era is lowkey serving…”

“UR DOING SO BAD LMFAO ur on ur way to serve dan core with the way uve been losing. atp u better pray u find a decent alliance”

“Guyssss he’s so sadddd i wanna give him a huggg”

“YOU WERE RIGHT ABOUT MAGGY BEING ROBBED HARDER THAN ALEC BC WHAT WAS THAT”

“This Disventure Camp thing is all fake, he’s a paid actor.”

“L + ratio + trash gameplay + cry about it”

“Did james leave u alone yet pFFTT”

Whew, talk about a mixed comments section. He rolled his eyes, looking up at the sky and sighing. 

“…Aiden?”

He gasped, jolting upwards at the sudden voice. He huffed as he spotted Karol standing in front of him.

“Oh! …K-Karol, hey. What’s up?” Curiously enough, Aiden noticed the fact that the woman didn’t seem to look as angry as she usually did. 

“Hello, I… hope I’m not interrupting. I just wanted to discuss something strategic with you. I’m not sure if you’re in any alliances right now, but if you’re not - I’d be open to teaming up.” Karol spoke earnestly, catching Aiden even more off guard.

“Uhh, t-teaming up? Well…” He stopped for a bit to re-think his current situation. His social game right now wasn’t that bad. He had a few allies, some less reliable than others - but regardless, this new opportunity with Karol felt like one worth considering.

“...You know what, sure. Let’s see where this goes.” He gave her a thumbs-up, which made her smile.

Confessional ~ Aiden

“I don’t really know what Karol’s deal is. She’s usually super angry and loud with the others, but… for whatever reason, she hasn’t been that way with me. This alliance feels a little iffy, I know - but I also didn’t see the point in turning her down. This could pay off later down the line.” He spoke, sounding unsure - but remaining hopeful.

_

Ally was lying against a tree, by herself. Her face showed an empty smile as she mindlessly played with her Switch - a futile attempt to distract herself from yesterday’s chaos.

Lake and Rosa made their way towards her, calmly. After all, it’s not like she’d pull a Karol on them… Well, that’s what they hoped, at least.

Rosa glanced at the girl from the side, murmuring to her. “This should be easy, but let’s handle this carefully.” Her companion nodded.

Finally, they reached the girl; which made her lower the device and glance in their direction. “H-huh? You guys?” She asked, a slightly flat tone in her voice.

“Hello, Ally. We don’t want to bother you, but we wanted to propose something to you. The game has been very difficult and chaotic, and we thought you might have been looking for an alliance, to keep yourself safe. Yes?” Rosa prompted.

She hummed, indifferent. “Man… I mean, I don’t know. I honestly haven’t been focusing on the game, to be honest. But… I guess it wouldn’t hurt to hear you out.”

“Thank you. There’s no pressure, really… But you may have noticed that Yul has been a major threat - especially after yesterday - and he seems frankly untouchable. We are starting to suspect he might be cheating to advance through the competition, and he needs to be stopped.” Rosa warned.

Ally paused her game, setting her Switch on the grass. “Whoa, cheating? …I-I mean, I guess that’s to be expected of a jerk like him. He’s… also kind of the reason why Tess got eliminated, huh…” She stood up, glancing down in guilt.

Rosa nodded. “No doubt. Well… like I said; no pressure, but… we would genuinely appreciate your help. The three of us have a good chance of taking him out, especially if someone flips on him - or if one of his enemies vote for him, as well.” The shorter girl gestured at Lake, prompting her to nod in agreement.

The gamer pondered. “...Okay. I’ll do it; but I just hope this won’t end badly. It’s just you two, right?”

“Yes, just us. Rosa and I have been avoiding others, to avoid arousing suspicion…” Lake explained.

Suddenly, Ally squinted her eyes at Lake - proceeding to widen them in surprise. “Whoa. Wait, Lake, is it just me - or did you do something with your hair…?”

Rosa crossed her arms and immediately smiled at her, while her friend seemed flustered. “A-ah! Hehe, err… yes, I have. You could say I grew tired of old, blonde me…” She gently ruffled her own wig.

Ally smiled. “That color looks great on you. You’re kinda giving cosplay queen right now!” She giggled, making Lake shrink in embarrassment - her face burning - yet, she couldn’t help but feel a flutter of happiness at her words.

And with Ally’s compliments boosting Lake’s confidence, the three shared a light-hearted moment, laughter filling the air.

Confessional ~ Ally

“Man, I totally wasn’t expecting those two to come up to me… That was kinda fun. Made me forget the Tess thing for a while.” 

She suddenly paused, holding her left arm and huffing. “...But only for a while. I know that focusing on Yul is clearly the best game move right now, but; James is still working with him. Like… does that mean he’ll take it personally? Are they actually friends? …Something just feels so off, but - I haven’t seen James at all since yesterday. Is he… avoiding me?” 

Ally looked even more distressed, her posture sinking as she pressed her hands to her face.

_

Meanwhile, Lake and Rosa were making some distance through the woods - trying to find a single hint of the totem’s whereabouts.

The taller girl suddenly sighed. “If only we knew how James found that envelope… We must hope he also hasn’t gotten his hands on the totem, yet.”

“Let’s remain hopeful, Lake. We just have to think outside of the box…”

*nudge*

“H-huh?” Rosa stopped in her tracks as she felt that she knocked something away with her shoe after she stepped through one of the bushes.

As she was about to kneel to inspect it, Lake gasped from afar, calling out to her friend. “R-Rosa, there might be something on that tree! Come look!” She ran ahead, leaving Rosa by herself.

Before following Lake, she rapidly checked what she walked into…

“O-oh, my…! T-the totem…” She murmured to herself, a wide smile spreading across her face as she reached for the hidden immunity totem.

Rosa grabbed it tightly, standing up and taking a better look at it - it definitely seemed legit.

*rustle-rustle…*

“W-wha? …I-is someone there?” She questioned, her tone anxious. She looked around herself, but spotted nothing in the bushes - though she swore she heard something.

“Rosaaa? Are you coming?” Lake called out again. This pulled Rosa back into reality, making her quickly put her totem away in her back pocket, and rushing over to her friend.

“...Shit, she found it…!”

“Keep your voice down, moron! Let’s just dip…”

As Rosa finally caught up to Lake, the latter seemed very excited as she waited in front of a tall tree. “Hey, there you are. I believe the totem could be up there, there’s a strange object - just out of my reach… Can you help me?”

In that moment, Rosa found herself hesitating - looking to the side with a guilty frown.

Confessional ~ Rosa María

“Well… this is a tough call. I could tell Lake about the totem, or I could act like I never found anything. Look, I don’t want to sound like a bad friend - or worse, a hypocrite - but, something about those bushes felt off. If someone is watching us, showing her now might put her in danger.”

“That said… I wouldn’t exactly call Lake a huge target. The only ones who might go after her are Yul, James, or Karol. But me? After the way Karol reacted when I mentioned Kai… I have a feeling I’m the one in real trouble.”

“I’m sorry, Lake - but I have to give this game everything I’ve got. For my little girl.”

Rosa let out a slow sigh, casting a conflicted glance at the camera before looking down.

_

“O-oh! Of course, I… I’ll help. I’ll give you a boost.” Rosa said, her tone somewhat different from her usual calm and collected self.

Lake definitely caught on, but didn’t think much of it. As Rosa clasped her hands together and made a steady foothold for her friend, she braced herself for the lift. 

“Alright, see if there’s anything up there.” Rosa added - Lake proceeded to step onto her hand, carefully holding onto the tree. Rosa used all of her strength to boost her upwards.

“O-okay! I am close… Nearly up there…” Lake muttered. 

Suddenly, Rosa wobbled, her footing slipping under her weight. She took an awkward step on the uneven grass, causing Lake to lurch slightly to the left.

“W-whoa! R-Rosa!”

And with that sudden shift, Rosa’s precious totem jostled free from her pocket, tumbling unnoticed into a nearby bush. Womp womp.

“G-grab onto the tree!” Rosa shouted, regaining her footing. Lake instinctively complied, clutching the trunk and carefully sliding back down as Rosa stumbled, barely keeping herself upright.

Catching her breath, Rosa glanced up. “D-did you see anything? I-I’m sorry about that…”

Lake shook her head, still frowning. “I-it’s okay, but… I think I only found a pine cone. Sorry, Rosa. I was wrong.” She looked down, hugging her arm in disappointment.

Rosa placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “No worries. It was worth a shot, right? Let’s just… keep looking.” Lake nodded at her words.

With that, they moved on, disappearing deeper into the woods; leaving the lost totem behind.

_

“O astral energies… Please, align me with your lucky charms - and bring me good fortune…”

Well, would you look at that. The bushes seem like they’re getting pretty populated today; and it seems Kai’s trying to use his… positive affirmation GPS system to find the totem. Hmm… 

Anyway - he was pacing around the bushes. Was something about them giving him a ‘good’ vibe? Probably… but hey; he’s trying his best.

Kai had both of his index fingers held up to his head - for max astral connection? Maybe. He also had his eyes closed as he walked aimlessly.

Suddenly, he stopped in place, putting a bit more force into his not-so-legit mind powers. 

“Mmmmmphhh… I can feel it - the totem is calling to me…” He murmured, dramatically.

Finally, his eyes snapped open. And guess what? Rosa’s lost totem was right there, in front of him. 

“W-whoooaaaaa… This is like, epic, duuudeee… I knew my positive affirmations would do the trick!”

Score one for the hippie. He knelt down, scooped up the totem, and casually tucked it into the inner pocket of his vest.

As he made his way out of the bushes, a familiar voice called out to him.

“Kai? H-hey there.” 

“Namaste, brother Aiden!” He bowed, making Aiden giggle.

“N-Namaste… Uh, were you looking for the totem, back there?”

Kai jolted - not from surprise, but as if Aiden just read his mind. “Oh! …Indeed, I was. And the spirits have smiled upon me, as I’ve managed to sense its very presence!” He pulled the totem out from his vest, with a very genuine smile. 

Aiden was honestly surprised - what Kai did just now was pretty reckless, but to him, it showed how transparent he was. Fitting. He couldn’t help but chuckle. 

“Ohh, haha - I… don’t think showing the totem around is a smart idea, man.”

With his words, the hippie’s face fell. “...Oh. Y-you’re right…” 

“H-hey, it’s okay. I won’t tell anyone - besides, I think you earned it. You’ve been in a pretty bad spot; so you should hold onto it.”

“R-really? Don’t you want it, instead?” He extended the totem towards the e-boy. 

“That’s really sweet, Kai - but nah, I think I’ll be okay. Just be careful with it, alright?”

He nodded, putting it away. “I will.” Kai then stopped for a second, reading Aiden’s face. “...Aiden, I’m sensing some grief. Are your thoughts clouded by what happened to Maggy?”

The e-boy held his right arm, squinting his eyes in guilt. “I-I… yeah. She was so nice, and it sucked to see her go. Then again - we only have James to blame for it. As usual.” He rolled his eyes, angrily.

Kai pondered, spacing out a bit. “Maggy’s growth ever since I met her has been nothing short of incredible. Oh, and… I apologize for not helping you when Yul sabotaged you. Me and Maggy saw it all.”

He giggled, though he clearly felt embarrassed. “Ah, so you caught me crapping my pants on that rope? H-hah.”

The hippie shook his head, his face neutral and serious. “You shouldn’t be embarrassed of your fears. Like I told you - you must face the darkness within yourself. That challenge was the first step… And something tells me your journey isn’t quite over yet.” He chuckled dryly.

Aiden sighed, in relief. “Kai… thanks. I feel like I needed to hear that.” He paused, lowering his head to the side. “But… I’m still not sure what to do. The most dangerous people left here are James and Yul, but it feels like we just can’t beat them; they’re so slippery.”

“A-ah! That reminds me; yesterday, I caught James spying on Maggy and Tess. And what happens after? Poof, they’re both gone. Kinda suspicious, don’t you think?” Kai remarked, his tone laced with doubt.

His eyes sharpened - it was impossible for him to be shocked by that realization, but a sudden burst of anger made his fists tense up. “Damn… As if things weren’t bad enough already. We can’t just let him get away with this.”

Kai nodded. “Right.” He then held onto his shoulder, with a smile. “Anyway, do keep in mind - whatever you decide - I’ll assist you however I can.”

“I know… Thanks.” He smiled back.

Confessional ~ Aiden

He held his face with his hand, looking up in wonder. “Kai always seems to know what to do. I wish I could be more like him, sometimes…”

_

The dim blue glow of the LED screens flickered across the producer tent, casting shifting shadows as Kristal scribbled notes into her notebook.

Lost in thought, she barely registered the approaching footsteps behind her.

“H-hey, Kristal?”

Oliver’s hesitant voice cut through the quiet, making her pause - but only for a second.

“Not now, Oliver. I’m brainstorming challenge ideas.” Her tone was flat, distracted.

“R-right, sorry… I just, um… wanted to ask you something. It’s kinda about, uh… life advice?”

That finally made her look up, genuinely caught off guard.

“…Huh? That’s new. What is this even abo-”

Before she could finish, the tent flap rustled open.

Marcus stepped in, and beside him, Nina strolled in on the floor, her painted wooden eyes staring straight ahead. “Hii, losersss…”

“Marcus. Nina.” Kristal turned her head toward them, barely looking up from her notes. “Everything go smoothly with the intro recording?”

“Yep! We crushed it.” Marcus claimed, filled with pride.

Nina scoffed. “You mean I did? I had to swoop in and save you from making a fool of yourself on live TV!”

Marcus scratched the back of his neck, looking flustered. Before he could defend himself, Oliver chimed in. “It actually turned out great, Kristal! Nina’s narration was really entertaining.”

“Ahh, perfect. Keep it up, Nina.” Kristal flashed her a thumbs-up.

The doll crossed her arms. “You do realize that if you let me host the show, the ratings might actually spike; for once.”

Kristal chuckled. “We don’t need another lawsuit. Besides, you’ll get plenty of screen time in the nex-”

*beep-beep!*

The sudden ring of a phone cut her off. Everyone’s attention snapped toward the desk as Kristal swiftly picked it up.

“Kristal McLane speaking…?”

“Oooh, is it Christoff…?” Nina suggested, sarcastically.

Kristal listened intently to the phone, her expression unreadable as a faint, unintelligible voice crackled through the receiver.

“…Mr. Müller?”

The moment she said the name aloud, the room tensed. Marcus, Nina, and Oliver exchanged surprised glances.

More muffled speech came through. Kristal’s brows furrowed slightly. “…Yes, she is. Yes…”

Then, suddenly…

“What??” Kristal blurted out.

Oliver stepped closer, eyes narrowing in concern. “W-who is that? What’s he saying?”

Kristal lowered the phone slightly, whispering just loud enough for them to hear. “It’s Lake’s father. He… wants to pull her from the show. Says it’s a ‘bad influence’ on her.”

“ W-what?? But-” 

A sharp burst of angry words fired off from the other end of the line, making Kristal press the phone back to her ear.

“…Well, Mr. Müller.” She said, her tone carefully neutral. “She’s already this far into the game. That would cause… complications.”

The voice kept going, insistent. Kristal exhaled, nodding slightly as she listened. “Uh-huh… I see. Yes. I suppose if you insist, we could come to an arrangement…”

Oliver, looking more distressed by the second, took a step closer and nudged her arm. “K-Kristal, think about this for a second. This is just… w-wrong. It’s against our guidelines, too.”

Kristal covered the receiver with her hand. “I know that, but…” She hesitated. “He’s offering money to make it happen. If our ratings aren’t cutting it, then-”

“Kristal, please.” Oliver’s voice was firm, almost desperate. “Think about what this’ll do to Lake. You’ll destroy her. A-and if we do this, we’re no better than Christoff.”

That last part hit differently.

Kristal’s grip on the phone tightened. Her mind flashed back to the dare challenge - the moment she had forced Lake to confront something she wasn’t ready for. The humiliation. The pain.

This was reality TV. You didn’t stay on top by playing nice. The best shows, the most successful hosts, they all pushed boundaries. The battle for ratings depended on it. And yet…

She found herself hesitating.

Mr. Müller kept talking, but she barely heard him anymore; his words blending into the static of her own conflicted thoughts.

Then, finally, she spoke.

“...Mr. Müller, we cannot accept that offer.”

The voice on the other end immediately grew louder, more aggressive.

“No, you listen.” Kristal’s tone sharpened. “You willingly signed your daughter up for this competition, and our guidelines explicitly state that contestants cannot leave before the show is over. I’m not breaking my own rules because of your immaturity.”

Her fingers curled tightly around the phone as she braced for his response. But this time, she wasn’t backing down.

As expected, his voice rose in anger.

Kristal, however, simply scoffed. “Ha! Are you threatening me? Cute. Let me remind you, Mr. Müller - I have connections. You really don’t want to push my buttons, because if you do; I just might call my father. And trust me, he won’t be happy to hear that someone’s been harassing his precious little girl…”

Her tone turned ice-cold as she leaned back. “This is my final warning. Leave your daughter in our care, and stop wasting my time.”

Silence - he hung up.

Kristal smirked, setting the phone down with a huff.

“...That’s what I thought.”

The room was silent, for a moment. Kristal didn’t even realize what she just did - or at least, how significant it was.

“Atta girl.” Marcus was the first to break the silence.

Oliver felt confident enough to praise her. “T-that was amazing, Kristal!”

“Meh. I guess it was fun to see you threatening that loser.” Nina muttered.

She turned to everyone; their positive reactions making her a bit flattered. “A-ah, it was… Nothing. I wasn’t gonna let him walk all over us.” Kristal explained.

“Well, even if Christoff is a good-for-nothing excuse of a dad, at least he’s still useful to deal with losers like that guy.” The puppet added.

Kristal sighed. “Yeah, I suppose… Wait, Marcus - what time is it right now?”

The blond checked his watch. “Nearly noon, ma’am.”

“Alright, we’ve waited long enough. Time to start up the next challenge.” The host said, a faintly more determined tone laced within her voice.

Confessional ~ Oliver

“This might sound weird coming from me, but… I actually felt proud of Kristal just now. Yeah, she can be ruthless, but I don’t think people realize the kind of pressure she’s under. Running a reality show isn’t easy - especially when she’s constantly trying to outdo her father, who’s already a giant in the industry.” Oliver explained.

“I just wish she didn’t feel like she had to chase perfection all the time. She’s so much better when she’s just herself. That’s the version of her I respect the most.” He continued, ending the sentence with a smile.

_

Kristal’s voice boomed through the speakers, carrying across the camp with the subtlety of an air raid siren. “Hello again, campers! It’s challenge time! You should all head to the beach - no need for swimsuits, this time. Just grab a seat on the challenge podium by the shoreline, and I'll fill you in on the details!"

Following the instructions, the campers assembled at the challenge area, taking their seats in two separate rows on the designated bleachers.

Kristal clapped her hands together, a sly grin on her face.

“Howdy, howdy... Let’s get straight to the point. As I said before, you’ve all made it to the merge. That means you’re the best of the best; at least, for now… But as always, I’m more than happy to make you fight for your place in the game. From this point forward, every challenge will benefit only one person. So, I hope you’ve already built some strong connections; and figured out exactly who you want to take down. Got it?”

The eight remaining campers exchanged uneasy glances before nodding.

“Fantastic! Time to explain today's challenge. This one’s called Confess or Stress! And trust me, you will be stressed if you refuse your chance to score. Here’s how it works: I’ve gathered some lesser-known facts about each and every one of you; things you’d rather keep buried… I’ll read out a statement about something one of you has done, and if you own up to it, you gain a point. If you stay silent, no one will know it was you… but you’ll lose a point.”

She ensued explaining. “Everyone starts at zero, and yes, your score can go negative, so staying quiet will only drag you down further. The first camper to reach four points wins immunity - and an incredibly valuable advantage - a double vote at tonight’s elimination ceremony. Sound good? …No? Too bad! Let’s get started.”

As Kristal finished, the campers stiffened, their faces filled with unease.

Confessional ~ Ally

“Th-things we’d rather keep buried… S-shit.” Ally’s hands trembled as she hugged her arms tightly. “I can’t stop shaking… Kristal already humiliated Lake. I can’t let that happen to me too. B-but maybe… maybe if I just stay quiet, no one will suspect a thing?”

“But then… I’d lose a point.”

She pondered, deep in thought, a clash in her mind.

“Ugh… A million dollars, huh? Is it really worth dragging up memories I swore I’d forget?”

Her grip on her arm tightened as anxiety twisted in her chest.

_

Confessional ~ Yul

“Ooh, finally! This low-budget flop of a show is finally getting interesting!” Yul smirked, leaning back with a self-satisfied grin. “All my hard work clearly paid off - I made it to the merge, and my followers better not forget this moment.”

Suddenly, he flashed a scowl. 

“But - damn it, Rosa had to be the one to find the totem? Ugh. That girl’s too unpredictable; who knows how she’ll use it? If I can’t have it, I need to make sure it goes to waste… Looks like I’ll have to get creative. If I play this right, I can bait her into using it completely wrong . And once that flop’s out of the picture, I’ll be one step closer to running this game.”

“The only thing better than an immunity totem? A double vote to take out whoever I want . And that’s on period.”

Yul flicked his wrist outward.

_

Confessional ~ Rosa María

“This challenge has me on edge. Kristal is unpredictable, and I wouldn’t put it past her to pull something cruel just for the drama. I’m especially worried about Lake… If Kristal tries to humiliate her again, I have to step in. But - drawing attention to myself could put my own game at risk. Balancing loyalty and strategy feels impossible… Maybe that’s why Yul and James are so unfazed. It’s easy to play without hesitation when you don’t let your heart get in the way.”

Rosa hugged her arms tightly, her brows knitting together in deep concern.

_

Kristal stood at the center of the bleachers, pulling a card from a box perched on a nearby stand.

“First question!” She called out, her voice echoing over the murmuring campers.

She glanced at the card, then smirked.

“…Which one of you pushed an old lady down an escalator?”

The sheer bluntness of the question - paired with the horrifying realization that someone here had actually done that - sent a wave of alarm through the group.

Everyone tensed.

Well… everyone except Yul, who stretched his arms with an exaggerated yawn before casually pressing the button in front of him.

“Um, duh, me??” He answered, completely unbothered.

A horrified silence followed.

“W-what the hell??” Ally blurted out, her face twisting in disbelief.

Rosa’s jaw nearly dropped. “Y-you monster! ” she shouted, stepping in protectively as Lake recoiled beside her.

Kai simply hummed. “He’s not even trying to hide his evil aura anymore…”

Yul groaned dramatically, waving a dismissive hand. “Blah, blah, whatever! It was for a TikTok trend, okay? You normies really wouldn’t get it.”

“A TikTok trend?? ” Aiden snapped, his arms crossing tightly as his glare locked onto Yul. “What if I pushed you off an escalator? Wouldn’t be so fun then, huh?”

Yul burst into laughter. “Oh my God, you sound like Alvin the Chipmunk from all the way back there! Pipe down, twink!”

James shifted uncomfortably but said nothing, flashing a nervous glance at Yul - clearly unsure if he should step in or stay silent.

Kristal let out a long, exaggerated yawn before clapping her hands together. “Alright, alright, enough theatrics! Yul scores one point for owning up to his crimes… Moving on; next question!”

Confessional ~ Yul

Yul scoffed, leaning back with a smug grin. “Pfft! The real crime here is Aiden’s tragic skunk-stripe dye job. Like, hello?? I’ve seen plenty of e-boys pull it off way better. Even Hunter outclasses him.”

He paused, suddenly flustered, before quickly doubling down.

“I-I mean, whatever! I just think Aiden’s REALLY ugly and should probably be arrested by the fashion police. Y-yeah, that’s it!”

He jabbed a finger at the screen, his face slightly pink.

_

Kristal plucked another card from the stack, scanning it with mild amusement.

“Hmm… Ah, this one should be a nice break from the last question. Which one of you had their first kiss during the Kiss-a-thon challenge?”

Aiden stiffened, his body tensing ever so slightly—though his reaction went mostly unnoticed due to James suddenly chuckling.

“O-hoo, now this one I’m curious about…” He mused, leaning forward with interest.

Yul scoffed. “Pfft, it’s gotta be a massive freaking virgin. Like Kai… Or Ally.”

“H-hey! What was that for??” Ally snapped, only to be promptly ignored.

Kai hummed, tilting his head. “I understand why you’d assume, but I have kissed someone before… Well, I don’t know if it counted , but-”

“Oh my God , we don’t care if you kissed another junkie, Kai.” Yul interrupted, rolling his eyes. “In fact, why don’t you just shut up and-”

*Ding!*

The sharp chime of the buzzer cut Yul off mid-rant. His head snapped toward the source of the sound. “H-huh??”

All eyes turned to Aiden, who sat with his head lowered, cheeks burning as he hesitantly raised his hand.

“I-I… I did.” He muttered. “W-whatever.”

James’ expression shifted in an instant, his smirk vanishing as his eyes widened. “T-that… that was your first kiss?”

Aiden refused to look his way, instead glancing off to the side with a stiff nod.

Before anyone could process the moment further, Yul exploded with laughter.

“BA-HAAA!! So the evil twink stalker was your first kiss?! Oh my God, this is priceless!!”

Aiden’s face turned an even deeper shade of red as he whipped around, practically seething.

“S-shut up, okay??” he snapped, clearly distraught.

Confessional ~ James

James clenched his shirt tightly, his eyelids twitching with frustration.

“…I don’t even know what to think anymore. Things between me and Aiden just keep going downhill. I was his first kiss - but since he hated it, that’s how he’s gonna remember me, forever. ”

He ran a hand through his hair before pressing it against his forehead, exhaling sharply.

“ Creepy guy who stole a kiss from him… ” He muttered bitterly. “What a mess… How will he believe me if I tell him that-”

He cut himself off, staring at the ground, a guilty look in his eyes.

“…Never mind. He won’t, either way.”

_

Kristal plucked another card from the box, smirking.

“Ooh, spicy! Aiden earns a point for honesty. Let’s keep the momentum going. Third question - which one of you passed out the first time you tried weed? ”

*Ding!*

The buzzer sounded almost instantly, making Kristal jolt. “Whoa! That was… quick. Who-”

Before she could finish, Yul scoffed loudly. “Ugh, of course it’s you.”

All eyes turned to Kai, who had calmly pressed his button, his left hand now resting casually on the table.

“Well…” He hummed, completely unfazed, “I’m not ashamed to admit it. It was very overpowering at first… but still fun!”

Karol, who had been silently watching until now, suddenly snapped. “ I KNEW IT! You despicable junkie!”

“Yeah, you tell ‘em, Karen! ” Yul quipped mockingly, earning a sharp glare from Karol.

Rosa let out an exasperated sigh at the pointless outburst.

Kristal cleared her throat, cutting through the noise. “Scandalous… but a point’s a point. Kai is now on the board. That makes three campers with a single point so far.”

She pulled out another card, her smirk deepening.

“Moving on… Question Four.” She tapped the card against her palm for dramatic effect. “Ahh, this one’s very dark and personal - so brace yourselves. ”

The shift in tone sent a ripple of unease through the group.

Kristal let the silence hang for a beat before reading, her voice disturbingly casual.

“ Due to an absent father, which one of you considered aborting your child? ”

The words cut through the air like a knife.

The tension was immediate - most of the campers stiffened, a few visibly recoiling. The bluntness of the question alone was jarring, but one person, in particular, froze.

Rosa María.

Her face paled as her breath hitched, Kristal’s words pulling her back into a place she didn’t want to revisit.

Beside her, Lake instinctively placed a hand on her shoulder, their eyes meeting for a brief, understanding moment.

“W-wow, that’s, uh… that’s heavy… ” Aiden muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

Most of the others remained silent - some staring at the floor, others exchanging uneasy glances. Even Yul - sat quietly, arms crossed, gaze unreadable.

Kristal suddenly cleared her throat, the sound slicing through the thick atmosphere like nails on a chalkboard.

“Five seconds left to confess!” She reminded them, her tone as chipper as ever. “Remember, you’re not required to own up to it… but it’s still your loss either way.”

Rosa’s hands clenched into fists. This woman…

Confessional ~ Rosa María

“Hmph… I knew it. Kristal still hasn’t let go of her monster phase.” Rosa exhaled heavily, shaking her head.

“I didn’t want to relive those painful memories. Sofia’s father? He never wanted her. Never cared, not even for a second. I never saw him again after I told him I was pregnant. Sofia wasn’t in my plans… but some things happen so fast, you barely have time to think before you leap.”

She looked down, her voice quieting.

“That’s why I’m so careful now. So paranoid. My parents tried to pressure me into giving her up, but… I don’t regret keeping her. Not for a second. She’s my world now. And I must keep going; for her sake.”

_

Kristal lazily glanced at the timer.

“Aaand… time’s up! Looks like someone just lost a point.”

The LED screen on Rosa María’s stand flickered.

-1.

Kristal flipped to the next card, a smirk playing on her lips.

“Moving on! Question Five; still somewhat controversial! Which one of you has shoplifted before?”

Karol’s eyes immediately lit up with suspicion, her gaze snapping toward Kai as if certain he was the culprit.

Meanwhile, Rosa flinched. Her fingers hovered near her button as she hesitated, glancing at her current score. That was, until… 

*Bing!*

Before Kristal spoke up to pressure the campers, the buzzer sounded.

All eyes darted toward Rosa’s stand, where the button flickered.

A few campers gasped. Lake’s eyes widened in surprise.

Rosa sat with her head slightly lowered, eyes closed, her expression unreadable. But before anyone else could react, she let out a quiet breath and spoke first.

“…I had to feed my daughter that day. That’s all I have to say.”

The tension in the air was thick; but, of course, Karol was already seething.

“You filthy little thief!” she snapped, practically hissing. “What gives you the right to steal from others?! Do you even work?!”

Rosa barely flinched, meeting Karol’s glare head-on. “That was before I had steady work. I was struggling - juggling Sofia and job-hunting - so… I did what I had to do.”

Karol scoffed, crossing her arms with a dramatic huff. She turned away, clearly done with the conversation. Rosa, unbothered, crossed her arms right back and mirrored the glare. Then-

*Bing!*

Another buzz. Another confession.

…Yul?!

A few heads whipped around in surprise as Yul lazily rested his elbow on the podium, rolling his eyes.

“Ugh, big deal!” He groaned. “Back in Korea, I probably stole way more than Rosa when I was a kid. Get on my level, sis.”

Even for Yul, his tone was noticeably more subdued than usual - something Rosa definitely picked up on.

Karol narrowed her eyes at him. “Hmph. No surprise. You’re a liar - and every liar is also a thief.”

Yul smirked. “Boo-hoo, call the cops.”

Kristal, surprisingly amused , let out a small chuckle. “Hah. Alright, then. Two confessions, two points. That puts Yul at two points total! Let’s keep this going.”

Confessional ~ Yul

“Okay; before ANY of you start judging me, I had to confess. I literally can’t lose this challenge.”

He leaned back, shrugging casually.

“But yeah, it’s true. Back in Seoul, there was this guy who ran a general store, and let me tell you - he had amazing candy. Buuut , here’s the twist… the dude was a total asshole. And he hated me. Like, actively went out of his way to be a dick. So, y’know… he was basically begging me to steal from him.”

Yul smirked, arms crossed. “And I did. A lot, too. Not because I needed the food, or anything. I just wanted to get on his nerves… And the best part? He never caught me.”

For a second, he looked way too pleased with himself; until he suddenly paused, as if struck by a thought. His expression shifted.

“…Uh. Unless he’s watching this, right now… In that case - fuck off, Mr. Lee.”

He flashed the camera the middle finger.

_

Kristal plucked another card from the box, barely containing her amusement.

“Question Six! Which one of you has written fan-fiction that vaguely revolved around your own personal life issues?”

A brief silence followed.

“…Fan-fiction?” Karol frowned. “What even is that?”

Yul hummed, leaning back lazily. “Eh, just some nerd-dweeb-loser thing. Don’t stress it, Karen… Wait - that’s not you, is it, Ally?” He shot her a smug look.

Ally huffed, crossing her arms. “No. A-and don’t call me that.”

Meanwhile, Lake sat stiffly in her seat, avoiding eye contact - her fingers anxiously twitching against her knee.

Kristal hummed loudly, dragging out the silence. “…Aaand that’s the five-second limit! Someone just lost a point.”

A soft beep echoed from the LED screens. The culprit? Lake. She winced as her score dropped, frowning.

“Alright, moving on!” Kristal continued. “Seventh question - which one of you has catfished someone before?”

*Bing!*

All heads turned toward Yul’s podium.

“Yours truly.” He announced without hesitation, grinning ear to ear. “No regrets. YOLO.”

A collective groan rippled through the campers. “Ew, catfishing??” Ally grimaced.

“Sis, bye. You don’t think catfishing is justifiable? Seriously? You can literally use it to catch creeps when they slip. Ever seen To Catch a Predator?”

Ally flinched but ultimately rolled her eyes, deciding the argument wasn’t worth it.

Aiden scoffed. “Yeah, as if you had even one good intention…”

“Oh, please! That guy deserved it.” Yul insisted, flicking his wrist. “He tried to gag me in a Twitter thread. Can you believe?? …So, obviously, I had to pretend to be a super hot girl, gaslight him for a few months - then dump him. Easy.”

Silence. Blank stares. Even Kristal arched a brow.

Meanwhile, unnoticed by most, James’s LED quietly flickered as his score dropped. He swallowed hard, fiddling with his hands, clearly uneasy.

Kristal cleared her throat, snapping the tension. “Well! Yul’s now at three points. Someone else lost one. Let’s keep it going! Question Eight…”

She grinned, glancing at the card. “Which one of you organized a full-blown protest to try shutting down a McDonald's?”

Yul burst out laughing . “Oh my God , what?! Oookay - Kaaaren , you have some explaining to do!” He snickered, flashing Karol a teasing grin.

*Bing!*

Karol slammed her button with fury.

“It was for the good of mankind!” She declared, dramatically. “Those poor animals are constantly suffering because of these accursed fast food corporations!”

Yul wiped a fake tear from his eye. “ Riiiight. And how’d that work out for you?”

Karol huffed, crossing her arms. “Those cowards called security and dragged me and my friends out.”

“Ooh, friends?” Yul gasped in mock surprise. “Didn’t know you had any!”

Kristal stifled a laugh. “Welp, another point earned. Karol’s officially on the board!”

She plucked the next card. “Question Nine! Which one of you deleted a post you spent a lot of time on, just because it got zero likes?”

Yul immediately cackled. “ HAA! That is PEAK loser behavior.”

*Bing!*

Aiden let out a quiet sigh, shifting in his seat. “Mmph. I don’t really care. It sucked, but… I’m over it.” He muttered.

Yul practically howled with laughter. “Hah! You FLOPPED! You just admitted you were in your flop era!”

And just as he tilted his head back in amusement; a seagull swooped out of nowhere, aggressively kicking Yul in the head.

“W-WAHHH!!!”

The bird flapped away as quickly as it had come.

Yul groaned, rubbing his forehead, before blinking in shock at his reflection on the camera monitor. A fresh scratch ran across his forehead. “W-what the fuck?!” He snapped.

Kristal beamed. “Ooooh! The wildlife makes a karmic comeback! Fascinaating!”

Most of the campers erupted into laughter; Aiden struggling the hardest to keep it together.

But one camper wasn’t laughing… Karol sat there, oddly satisfied; almost like she had expected this outcome.

Kai, noticing the look on her face, widened his eyes.

Something was off.

Confessional ~ Kai

“I knew it… Karol definitely has some kind of mystical connection with the wildlife. She doesn’t just coexist with nature; she commands it.”

He paused, eyes slightly wide. “Such an aura is… otherworldly. ”

His tone was a mix of admiration and mild unease.

_

“Alright! Now that we’ve thoroughly assessed Yul’s devastating scratch wound, let’s keep things rolling...” Kristal cleared her throat, plucking another card.

“Question Ten! Which one of you has made a group of online kids cry?”

…Silence.

Out of everyone, Ally had the strongest reaction; her body went rigid the second the question left Kristal’s lips.

Her pulse quickened. The mere mention of it made her stomach twist. She froze, trying desperately not to make it obvious; but the discomfort was all-consuming.

Her hands instinctively twitched away from the button, terrified of owning up to the truth. But before she could even contemplate that outcome… 

*Bing!*

The buzzer chimed - all eyes snapped toward Yul.

“Meh.” He shrugged, looking completely unfazed. “They deserved it. Kept flooding my live chat begging for Bobux or whatever; so I just told them they were all gonna be ugly, old, and bald one day…”

The campers all stared at him, silently perplexed; Lake - in particular - furrowed her brows at the comment.

Yul blinked. “...What? It’s true. Someone had to tell them.”

The awkward tension in the air was thick. Thrown off by the silence, Kristal was the first to break it.

“Aaand… with that confession, one camper lost a point. But; more importantly - Yul has officially scored four points - making him the winner of today’s challenge! …And with that, he also earns the extra vote advantage for tonight’s elimination…”

Yul smirked, pumping his fist. “Hell yes! In your face, losers!”

Annoyed muttering rippled through the remaining campers. Lake and Rosa exchanged a nervous glance, their expressions tense.

“Well then!” Kristal clapped her hands together. “That wraps up the challenge! Hope everyone’s mentally and strategically prepared for the voting ceremony! …Cheers!”

Confessional ~ Ally

She let out a deep sigh, as if about to unload a weight she had been carrying for far too long.

“…I-I know this might not come out right, but that - right there - is exactly why I’ve been so on edge.” 

She hesitated for a moment before pressing on.

“Something happened a while ago. Something that kinda wrecked a huge chunk of my online presence - my internet life, my career… if you can even call it that. I swear it’s not as dramatic as it sounds, but… the backlash I got? It was unforgiving.”

Her shoulders tensed, fingers twitching slightly. “Maybe it’s selfish of me to say that, but I’ve been struggling to wrap my head around it. And then, Yul just… admits to it; so casually - like it’s nothing...”

She slumped back slightly, staring off for a moment before turning back to the camera with a sigh.

“…It’s just been really damn hard trying to juggle everything. When something huge happens - something that gets totally blown out of proportion, because of other people - you start to feel alone. And it’s exhausting.”

Her voice dropped slightly. “I’m still not over it. I still don’t know how to fix this, how to get my crap together for once… And then there’s Yul - who makes it look so easy.”

Her expression hardened. “But - he’s still an awful person. And me…?”  

She simply shook her head. “…I don’t even know…”

_

A few hours had passed since the challenge, the sun inching lower as evening approached.

Rosa, Lake, and Ally huddled together beneath the trees, their conversation kept to hushed whispers.

Lake was the first to break the silence. “W-what’s our best move here…?”

Rosa tapped her fist against her palm, deep in thought. “If someone flips, he’s done for. But if that does not happen…”

Ally shifted uneasily, her eyes darting around as paranoia crept in. The tension was palpable; none of them could shake the feeling that they weren’t as alone as they hoped.

_

Not too far away, Yul and James stood together, watching the trio from a distance.

Yul’s gaze was sharp, practically drilling holes into the girls as he scoffed.

“Hmph. What the hell are those flops scheming…? Ally, too?”

James hesitated. “U-uhh… I dunno. Maybe they’re just talking?”

“They better be.” Yul muttered, his voice low and dangerous. “If Ally even thinks about crossing me… she’s gonna regret it.”

James swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably. The thinly veiled threat didn’t sit well with him.

Trying to shake off the tension, he cleared his throat. “So… what’s the plan, Yul?”

Yul didn’t even turn to face him. He simply flicked his wrist, dismissively.

“Don’t stress it. We stick to the plan.” A confident smirk curled on his lips. “This should go down flawlessly … especially with that totem of hers.”

_

Kai sat near an isolated campfire, rubbing his hands together against the flickering warmth.

A light tap on his shoulder made him glance back - Aiden stood behind him.

“Kai. Hey.”

The hippie gave a small nod. “Hello… Are we still going through with our idea?”

Aiden hesitated, glancing around nervously. “Y-yeah. I think it’s the only way…”

Before he could say anything else, soft but deliberate footsteps approached from behind.

Aiden stiffened. A firm tap landed on his shoulder this time. Karol.

She locked eyes with him, her expression unreadable. “Aiden. A word.”

Before he could even say goodbye to Kai, she lightly grabbed his arm and led him away.

Kai, still seated by the fire, watched them disappear into the distance; his brows lifting slightly in confusion.

_

After a long while, as the sunlight completely depleted, the camp being engulfed in the darkness of the night, the campers gathered by the campfire, ready to partake in the voting ceremony.

Kristal stood confidently, her face being lit up by a dim torch. “Why, hello… I’m sure all of you are relieved that this challenge finally didn’t end up in a tie situation... But don’t relax just yet.”

Some of the campers shot nervous glances around, as they sat still on their individual tree stumps.

“Anyway… I hope all of you planned this thoroughly - if we end up with another tie, I assure you I will be very angry. Now - carry on!”

_

Aiden writes down a vote onto the paper, looking nervous, but resolute.

Ally jots something down, biting onto her pen afterwards.

Rosa seems to do some kind of prayer before writing her answer.

With that, all of the votes have been cast. Everyone returned to their seats.

_

Kristal leaned casually against the voting stand, tapping a finger on the stack of votes.

“Well, well. It seems that someone managed to find the totem,” she announced, her voice laced with intrigue. “You know the drill - if you’d like to use it, now’s your last chance. Otherwise… forever hold your peace.”

Rosa’s breath hitched.

Her hands instinctively patted her pockets; her expression drained as soon as she realized the cold, hard truth.

The totem was gone.

"W-what...?" she whispered, barely loud enough for anyone to hear.

Across the campfire, Yul shot James a knowing smirk. The exchange was quick, almost imperceptible; but it was clear something was being set in motion.

Then, before anyone could react… 

“HOLD IT! Stop the presses!”

Yul suddenly leaped to his feet, hands raised dramatically.

Kristal arched a brow, unimpressed. “Oh, what now, Yul? If this is another one of your attention-starved antics-”

Yul waved her off with a grin. “Pfft, no, no; this is serious!” He turned, dramatically pointing at Rosa. “You see, Rosa María… we know you’ve got the totem.”

Rosa stiffened.

“And in fact? We all totally voted for Little Miss Baldy over here!” Yul gestured at Lake, who jolted at the sudden attention. “So unless you use that totem, poof! She’s outta here, off to Floptropica!”

A heavy weight crashed down on Rosa’s chest.

Aiden and Kai immediately exchanged concerned glances - this was their chance to intervene.

Lake’s voice wavered. “W-what?! Rosa, y-you had a totem and didn’t tell me?”

“N-no, Lake! It’s not like that!” Rosa stammered, eyes wide with panic. “I found the totem before, yes, but I… I don’t have it anymore.”

“Oh, cut the crap!” Yul sneered. “We saw you find it, clear as day.”

Before Rosa could form a response, Kai suddenly cleared his throat.

All eyes turned to him.

“…Actually?” Kai admitted, stepping forward. “I’m the one who has the totem.”

“W-WHAT?!” Yul’s voice cracked, genuinely taken aback. James looked just as startled.

Rosa’s brows furrowed in utter confusion. “K-Kai?? How do you have my totem?”

Kai raised his hands in defense. “I didn’t know it was yours! I just… found it lying on the ground near the bushes.”

Rosa’s jaw clenched. “N-near the bushes… Damn it! I must’ve dropped it in the forest…” Her gaze snapped back up, pleading. “Kai, please; you have to help Lake!”

Aiden tugged at Kai’s arm, his voice urgent. “Kai, wait! Something’s off. I swear, I’ve seen this happen before in Season One; where the-”

“Oh my GOD, Aiden, shut UP!” Yul groaned, rolling his eyes. “It’s literally true. I used my extra vote on Lake, so either way , she’s going home! OR, we get a tie and she’s still in harm’s way! Is that a risk you wanna take, Rosa??”

Rosa froze. The pressure was overwhelming. Her eyes darted back to Kai; desperate.

His shoulders tensed at the sight. He sighed. “Aiden, I… have to do this.”

Steeling himself, Kai stepped forward, holding out the totem to Kristal.

Kristal smirked. “Ooh, now this is getting fun.” She leaned in slightly, examining the totem in his palm. “You’re sure about this?”

Kai nodded. “Yes. I’m using the totem on Lake.”

A cocky grin twitched on Yul’s lips. He relaxed , wiping his forehead in mock relief.

Kristal turned the totem over in her hands before declaring, “It’s legit. And just like that, Lake is safe. ”

Lake, Rosa, and Aiden barely had time to breathe as Kai retreated back to his seat.

Kristal stretched her arms. “Whew! That was a lot. Now - let’s read the votes.”

She plucked the first slip from the stack.

"First vote… James.”

James blinked , caught off guard.

“Second vote… Yul.”

Yul’s smirk faltered. His glare flicked toward the trio of girls, who met it with equal intensity.

“Third vote… Rosa.”

Rosa stiffened, her hands instinctively clenching her shirt.

“Fourth vote… James.”

James’ shoulders tensed.

“Fifth vote… Yul.”

Yul’s eyes narrowed at Kristal, his unease growing.

“Sixth vote… Rosa.”

Her breath hitched.

Kristal’s voice remained steady. “That’s two votes James, two votes Yul, and two votes Rosa.”

Aiden and Kai shared a tense glance.

Kristal grabbed another slip. “Seventh vote… Yul.”

The room practically hummed with tension.

“Eighth vote…”

A pause.

“…Rosa.”

Rosa’s stomach twisted.

Kristal smirked. “That’s three votes Rosa, three votes Yul, two votes James.”

One vote remained. The air was thick with suspense.

Aiden couldn’t take his eyes off Kristal.

Lake held onto Rosa’s sleeve.

Yul drummed his fingers against his leg, his nerves peeking through.

Kristal flipped the final paper over, reading it aloud… 

“The next camper eliminated is…

Rosa María.”

Silence.

Kristal snapped the paper closed. “With four votes - counting an extra - you’re out.”

Lake gasped. “N-nooo!” She clung to Rosa’s arm, unwilling to accept it.

Rosa stayed quiet for a moment. Then, slowly, she looked up.

Her eyes lingered - first on James. Then Yul. The obvious culprits.

But something in her expression shifted.

Her gaze held just a little longer on Karol.

And suddenly… the picture became clearer.

She inhaled deeply, pushing herself up from the stump.

Kristal motioned toward the exit. “No time for theatrics. Bus stop’s that way.” She turned to Lake. “You can walk her out if you’d like.”

Yul slouched back in his seat, but his eyes flicked to Ally.

It was obvious now. She wasn’t on his side.

As Lake turned, she scanned the group. Her expression was hard to read; but her glare landed squarely on James, Yul, and Karol.

She knew.

“…Come on, Lake.” Rosa murmured, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Lake hesitated. Then, slowly, the two walked off into the night.

_

As they reached the bus stop, Lake was still struggling to process it all; her hands clenched at her sides, her breath uneven, fighting the urge to lash out.

By contrast, Rosa remained calm. Almost… accepting.

She turned to Lake with a small, knowing smile, offering a shrug. “Well… I suppose this is where my journey ends.”

Lake’s shoulders sagged. Tears welled in her eyes. “R-Rosa… this is my fault. Just by being my friend, it put a target on your back. Of course Yul was going to take advantage of that…” She looked away, guilt twisting in her chest. “I-I hope you can forgive me.”

Rosa chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Oh, Lake. What are you saying? There’s nothing to forgive.”

Lake sniffled, looking up at her. “…You don’t regret anything?”

Rosa’s smile grew a little. “ Not one bit. Meeting you was extraordinary, Lake. In a way… you remind me of an older Sofia.” She giggled. “Ehehe… feisty, but with a good heart.”

A small smile cracked through Lake’s sadness. Rosa took a step closer, her tone turning gentle but firm.

“Listen to me. This is unfortunate; but don’t let it shake you. Focus on yourself. Play your own game. And above all…” She placed a hand on Lake’s shoulder. “Don’t let anyone else dictate who you’re supposed to be.”

Lake swallowed hard, her chest tight. “R-Rosa, I…”

Rosa gave her a knowing look. “No need to say anything. Just keep moving forward. We’ll see each other again - it’s inevitable.”

A long pause. Then, a smile.

And before either of them knew it, they were in each other’s arms, holding onto the moment.

A loud rumble echoed from down the road. In a flash, the bus pulled up, its doors swinging open.

Rosa gave Lake one last squeeze before stepping back, flashing her a reassuring grin. Then; she turned and boarded the bus.

Lake stayed behind, watching as it rolled down the dirt path - her hand raised in a silent wave.

As the bus disappeared into the distance, she lowered her arm, exhaling deeply.

Somehow, she knew… this wasn’t the end of her journey. It was just the beginning.

_

The camera cut to Kristal, standing by the campfire, the moon glowing behind her like a spotlight on the night’s aftermath.

“Well… that was certainly melodramatic. ” She exhaled, stretching her arms. “But I’d say we’ve dragged this episode on long enough, don’t you think? Time for everyone to get some much-needed rest.”

Her smirk grew as she folded her arms. “Tonight, we watched a hopeful soul like Rosa María walk out of the competition. And now? The real game begins. With every elimination, we’re sinking deeper into the shadows; where alliances crumble, trust is a myth , and no one is truly safe.”

She tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “And of course… Yul continues to prove himself as the self-proclaimed king strategist. But the thing about sitting on a throne?” A playful pause. “Those at the top will always fall the hardest.”

Kristal let that sink in before flashing a dazzling grin. “That’s all for now! But if you’re dying to know what happens next… well, patience is a virtue. Keep calm, stay relatively sane, and catch it all - right here - on the next episode of… Disventure Camp!”

The flames flickered behind her as the screen cut to black.

Chapter Text

The screen flickered from black to gray to white before settling on Kristal, standing confidently at the camp’s entrance.

“Last time on Disventure Camp! Lake and Rosa thought they were being sneaky, slipping backstage for some emotional bonding! …I was a little annoyed that they stole a wig without permission, but hey - it made for great drama, so I’ll let it slide. They schemed against Yul, who’s still dominating the game. Meanwhile, a second immunity totem was announced, sending Yul into full scavenger mode.

Lake and Rosa tried recruiting Karol for an alliance, but the moment Kai’s name came up, she practically gagged and refused. Instead, she secured an alliance with Aiden. The girls took another shot, this time approaching Ally, and finally struck a deal.

Then came the real game-changer - Rosa found the totem… only to lose it, straight into Kai’s hands. And to make things spicier, he let Aiden in on the secret.

At the challenge, tensions boiled over as brutal truths were exposed - except for Yul, who thrived in the chaos, refusing to hold back and scoring an extra vote advantage with his complete lack of shame. The girls' alliance set their sights on eliminating Yul, but Aiden had other plans, flipping on Karol and siding with Kai.

And then? Chaos at the voting ceremony. Yul channeled his inner Fiore, manipulating Rosa into playing a totem she didn’t even have anymore. Kai, trying to save Lake, made a last-minute move with his totem - but it was a tragic misplay. The real target? Rosa. Eliminated.

Now, only seven remain, and the competition is deadlier than ever. And trust me… this episode will be to die for! Stay tuned!”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp. 

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

Over at the now-abandoned Tigers’ cabin - its purpose rendered useless after the merge - Yul stood with a smug grin plastered across his face.

“HAH! I’m still feeling that rush from last night’s elimination! Floposa María must be so disappointed. Womp womp!” He taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.

James, meanwhile, sat on a tree log, his face buried in his hands. He remained silent, completely tuned out, as if Yul’s gloating had already faded into white noise.

Noticing this, Yul frowned. “Hey. Yoo-hoo?? Earth to James?! Quit spacing out on me! This moping crap is getting old.”

James snapped out of it - though his exhaustion was clear. “Sorry, I guess.”

“...You guess??” Yul scoffed, crossing his arms. “You’d better respect me, FlopCD! Or did you forget that I can personally make sure you go home feeling even worse than you already do?”

James forced himself to stay composed, resisting every urge to roll his eyes. Defying Yul - especially in front of him - was practically social suicide. He was already walking a fine line as it was.

“…I’m sorry, Yul.” He muttered, keeping his tone as neutral as possible.

“Hmph! You’d better be.” Yul huffed, clearly satisfied with himself.

Confessional ~ Yul

“James better remember his place! Without me , that little twink Aiden and his stupid hippie boyfriend would’ve sent him packing ages ago. But I’m the one calling the shots! Now that I’ve taken out a social powerhouse like Rosa, my path to number one is getting clearer by the second!”

His smirk faltered slightly as he crossed his arms.

“Gotta keep an eye on Lake, though. She and that tragic little bob might try coming for me.” He scoffed, then pointed at the camera with a cocky grin. “Hah! I’d love to see her try.”

_

Alone in the grove, Lake leaned against a tree, her gaze distant, lost in thought. So caught up in her own mind, she didn’t hear the soft footsteps approaching.

A gentle tap on her shoulder snapped her out of it. She turned to see Ally standing there.

“Ally?”

“Hey.” Ally said softly, offering a warm smile. “I thought maybe you could use some company.”

Lake gave a faint nod as Ally sat beside her. “Thanks. I… I’ve just been feeling really alone since Rosa left.”

“I get that.” Ally replied, her voice calm. “When Hunter and Tess were voted out, it hit me too. Rosa had this… kindness about her. She made things feel a little less harsh around here.”

Lake sighed, her expression heavy. “I keep thinking it’s my fault. Yul was targeting me, and Rosa - she was just trying to protect me. Our friendship made her vulnerable.”

Ally shook her head firmly. “No. That’s not on you.”

“But…”

“This is what Yul wants.” Ally interrupted gently. “He wants us isolated. Doubting ourselves. He feeds on that. If we start blaming ourselves, we’re giving him exactly what he wants.”

Lake paused, processing her words. Then, slowly, she nodded. “You’re right… I can’t let him get in my head. I need to fight back. For Rosa.”

“Exactly.” Ally gave her a confident grin, pointing at her playfully.

Lake smiled for the first time in a while. “Thank you, Ally.”

Confessional ~ Ally

“I know that, deep down, I’m still not over losing Hunter and Tess. It sucks, having people you care about torn away like that. But - I couldn’t let Lake spiral into the same place I’ve been. Not when someone like Yul is still out there, playing his twisted little game. The least I can do is be there for her - because I get it. And I’m done sitting back while Yul keeps hurting people. Not this time.”

_

Further along the lakeside, Aiden peeked out from behind a tree, his eyes shaky as they fixated on Karol.

Ever since the last elimination - where he’d gone against her vote and targeted James instead of Rosa - they hadn’t spoken. Karol had been avoiding him, and he could feel the distance growing.

Feeling the weight of regret, Aiden stepped out from hiding and slowly approached her. She stood quietly at the water’s edge, her back turned.

“...K-Karol? H-hey. I just wanted to say I’m sorry - for not going with your vote. I... I needed James out. He’s been messing with my head ever since the kissing challenge, and I just-”

“Mmph. You don’t need to explain,” Karol interrupted gently, turning to face him with a surprisingly calm expression.

“...Huh?”

“In the end, Rosa still went home. Ironically, thanks to Yul.” She said, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “I get it - you had your reasons. But if you want to stay in this game, I’d seriously suggest turning your attention to Yul. Just a friendly warning.”

Aiden blinked, still processing. “Wait - you’re not mad? At all?”

“Why would I be?” Karol said evenly. “I never expected anything from you. That alliance was more of a gesture - a way to keep you safe. But now... Yul’s beginning to make his presence known. Not just as a threat, but as a force quietly creeping to the center of this game. If we let him keep building momentum, he won’t just outlast us - he’ll control everything. So… what do you say we actually work together this time?”

Aiden nodded, still a bit stunned. “O-okay... yeah. Let’s do it.”

Confessional ~ Aiden

He let out a small sigh. “Karol… she genuinely throws me off. It’s not that I don’t trust her, but the way she talks to me - like I’m different from the rest - it’s just weird. Maybe it’s because I treated her kindly back then? If that’s the case, I guess it’s finally paying off. Either way… she’s right about Yul. I’ve been too caught up in my own mess to see it clearly. It’s time I start paying attention.”

_

The hours slipped by around camp. And kept slipping. Noon came and went - normally the time Kristal made her usual announcements - but today, there was nothing.

The silence lingered longer than expected, unease beginning to settle in. No sign of Kristal. No sightings of any crew. Just the forest, the campers… and a growing sense that something was off.

By the time the sun dipped below the trees and the moon bathed the camp in its pale glow, the remaining contestants had gathered together, restless.

“Okay - seriously, what the hell is going on?” Aiden asked, his voice edged with concern. “Did Kristal just… take the day off without telling anyone?”

Lake frowned. “No clue. This is weird. She usually makes her announcements before noon. I don’t think she’s ever skipped a day.”

Yul chuckled dryly. “Maybe she finally got sick of your whining and bailed. Who’s up for hunting down the prize ourselves?”

But before anyone could fire back, the camp speakers crackled to life.

“Helloooo there, campers…” A chilling, unfamiliar voice echoed from the speakers.

Aiden perked up. “Oh, finally! She’s here!”

But the voice continued, calm and eerie. “Ah - but I’m afraid I’m not Kristal. She’s been… indefinitely detained.”

“W-What?? What’s that supposed to mean?” Ally asked, her eyes darting around. “Who are you?”

“Tsk, tsk… didn’t they ever teach you? Ignorance is bliss. As for the staff - don’t bother looking for them. They’ve all been claimed by The Scentress.”

“Th-the Scentress?” Aiden stammered, wide-eyed. “What the hell are you talking about?!”

“If I were you… I’d start running. She’s just arrived at camp… and she won’t stop until the forest is dead quiet. Survive until dawn, or unmask her - those are your only options.”

A brief silence fell, before Kai tilted his head. “...Should we actually be listening to the creepy voice?”

Yul scoffed. “Kai, shut up.” He stepped ahead. “Hey, Kristal! We know it’s you. Just drop the act already.”

Yul’s defiance was cut short by a sudden, blood-curdling scream from the bushes.

“W-WAHHHHH!!!”

“What the hell??” Karol snapped, turning toward the noise.

Frantic footsteps pounded the ground - and out burst Oliver, wild-eyed, pale, and gasping for air.

“...Oliver?!” Aiden exclaimed. “Where were you??”

“I… I-I… s-she was moving so fast…!” He stammered, trembling.

“Who was? What are you talking about??” Lake stepped up, genuinely worried now.

“N-no time! You guys need to run! Like - NOW!”

Before he could even continue, a taller figure’s shadow crept out from the bushes, a hand reaching for the back of Oliver’s shirt - yanking him back with brutal force.

“A-AHHHHH!!!”

“Oh, SHIT!” James shouted, stumbling back.

A strange cloud of thick, smoky mist erupted from the foliage - and it didn’t take long before more movement flickered within.

Suddenly, Oliver - seemingly unconscious - was hurled through the bushes, his body limp and his expression frozen, shocking all the campers.

“O-oh my God! What the hell is going on??” Aiden shouted.

From the same thicket, a tall, ominous figure stepped out - a woman, wielding a large perfume bottle like a weapon. She wore a form-fitting gray bodysuit intertwined with flower roots, a deep pink dress, and a dramatic, theater-style mask. Atop her head sat a matching dark pink hat, adorned with a wilting flower.

Nobody moved. The campers were frozen in place, unsure whether to run or scream.

“I-is that the Scentress?? H-holy shit…!” Ally stammered.

“RUUUN!!!” Lake screamed, snapping everyone to action as she bolted - Kai scrambling to follow her lead.

Karol grabbed Aiden’s arm and yanked him along, while Yul forcefully dragged James behind him. Ally hesitated, frozen in panic - then spun on her heel and dashed left into the trees.

With that - the night had only just begun. And so had the hunt.

_

Back at the Turtles’ cabin, Yul had deemed it the perfect hiding spot. Naturally, James was there too - though Yul had no intention of actually protecting him.

“Whew, no way that flop’s getting in here.” He muttered, clutching the cabin key tightly. “The rest of them can drop like flies for all I care.”

James hovered nervously nearby, clearly unsettled. “I-I… I still don’t know what’s happening. This is all just-”

“Yeah, well, whatever twisted stage play this is, I’m not stepping outside to find out.”

Their conversation was cut short by a sudden, sharp knock against the cabin door - making both of them jump.

“HEYY!! Is someone in there?? C-can you open up, please?? I feel like she’s getting closer…!”

“W-who the hell is out there?!” Yul squeaked, panic creeping into his voice.

“U-uh… h-hello? Who’s out there?” James called out, uneasily.

“Ally! It’s Ally - just, please, open up! I can hear her…”

Yul groaned. “Get the hell outta here! Door’s locked, and it’s staying that way!”

“W-what?? Guys, come on, please!”

“Find your own hiding spot, loser!”

James stood frozen, caught in yet another impossible choice - protect the one friend he had left, or stay silent and keep feeding Yul’s ego-driven grip on him? His heart pounded. His stomach twisted.

But something in him finally broke.

He was done. Done being cornered, done being Yul’s pawn.

“Yul, please! I don’t want her to kill me!”

“Not my problem, sis! Guess it’s game over for you, hu-HEY!!”

Yul yelped as James suddenly yanked the key from his hand.

“J-James, what the hell?! LET GO!!”

A scuffle broke out - brief, one-sided. James shoved him to the ground with surprising ease.

“Ugh - y-you idiot! What are you doing?!”

Ignoring him, James rushed to the door, swung it open, and pulled Ally inside. She stumbled in just as he slammed it shut and locked it behind her, slipping the key into his pocket without a word.

Ally doubled over, catching her breath. “H-holy crap… thank you! I-I heard something in the bushes, it was driving me insane…”

She and James exchanged a glance - just long enough for Yul’s furious voice to snap between them.

“YOU!! What the hell was that?! How dare you!”

James barely flinched. “Relax. The door’s locked.”

“That’s not the point!” Yul shrieked, jabbing a finger at him. “You disobeyed me, you pathetic little freak! I’ll - I’ll expose you!”

Ally blinked. “Umm… what?”

“Don’t listen to him - I think he lost it.” James muttered.

“SHUT IT! I’ll tell Aiden everything! You’ll regret this!”

James scoffed. “Go ahead. I’m tired of your bullshit. You’re a manipulative, heartless freak, and I’m done letting you hold anything over me.”

The bluntness in his tone made Ally glance at him, eyes softening.

“Y-you little-!” Yul stammered, but before he could finish, the lock behind them started to jiggle. A quiet, ominous click.

“W-wait… huh?” Yul stammered.

The door swung open with a violent kick. There, silhouetted in the moonlight, stood the Scentress - still and looming.

“W-WAHHH!! SHE’S HERE!!” Yul shrieked, stumbling back.

“H-How the hell did she open the door?!” James gasped.

“M-maybe she grabbed the key from Oliver!” Ally guessed, panic rising in her voice.

Yul growled through his fear. “F-Fuck you losers - I’m out!” He lunged for the window - only to be yanked back mid-step.

James had grabbed a fistful of his shirt. “Nope. Time to face the music, Yul. Enjoy your spotlight.”

“W-WHAT?! N-NO! LET GO!!”

With one final shove, James flung him forward - straight into the Scentress’s path.

“Oh, damn!” Ally blurted, eyes wide as the killer loomed closer. James tugged her arm. “Move! Let’s go!”

As they scrambled out the window, Ally took one last glance - Yul clawed at the floor, screaming as the Scentress grabbed hold of him.

“GUYS! NO!! COME BACK!!”

His scream tore through the woods as they disappeared into the night.

_

“K-Kai, are you sure you know where you’re going…?” Lake whispered, glancing nervously around the dim forest path.

“Fear not.” Kai replied, confidently pressing forward. “My clairvoyant senses have never failed me.”

The two moved along the trail, aiming for the Turtles’ cabin - an odd, out-of-the-way spot they hoped no one would think to search. Still, Lake couldn’t shake the creeping unease prickling at her skin. Something was off. She could feel it.

“Aaaand… we’re nearing salvation.” Kai announced proudly, eyes still shut as he walked.

Up ahead, a shadow shifted.

“U-uhm… Kai?” Lake warned.

“Yes, yes… the energy is strong here. I can feel it…”

“Kai - wait.”

She froze. He didn’t.

“Safety is within reach… Just a few steps ahea-”

Kai’s eyes opened - only to lock onto a towering silhouette in front of him. He barely had time to react before a burst of gas hit him square in the face. His expression twisted in surprise, body jerking back before he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Lake gasped - frozen for a beat - before her instincts took over. Without another word, she spun on her heel and vanished into the trees, her footsteps swallowed by the night.

Confessional ~ Lake

Lake sat stiffly, eyes wide and breath shaky. “T-this is a nightmare! I knew following Kai’s ‘spiritual guidance’ was a bad call, but I didn’t want him to get killed because of it!” 

She paused, glancing down, voice dropping. “What am I supposed to do now…? Maybe I really can’t rely on anyone. Every time I do, they end up hurt. I-I need to lay low - hide on my own until sunrise. It’s the only way…”

_

“O-ow, ow! Karol, chill!” Aiden winced as she tugged him through the trees.

“No time to waste.” Karol replied sharply, her grip unwavering. “I’m getting you somewhere safe - then I’ll draw her attention away.”

She led them through a narrow path, emerging into the clearing near the old Turtle cabin.

Aiden’s eyes widened. “Wait - are you seriously planning to use yourself as bait?”

Karol didn’t even hesitate. “Absolutely. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

He hesitated, visibly torn. “O-okay… if you’re sure.”

Karol suddenly halted, clutching his arm tighter. “Hold on. I heard something.”

“W-what?” Aiden asked, alarmed.

“We’re not alone. Move.” Her tone was low and urgent.

“K-Karol, wait!”

Just as they stepped into the clearing, a rustle erupted from the nearby bush - and out leapt the Scentress.

“A-AHHH!” Aiden shrieked.

Karol shoved him back. “Run! Now!”

“N-no, I’m not leaving-”

“GO!” She barked, pushing him into a sprint.

Aiden bolted, leaving Karol face-to-mask with the figure.

She squared her stance. “I’m not scared of you, freak! I won’t even need to call the park rangers on you. I’ll handle this myself!”

With a bold swing, Karol threw a punch - but the Scentress ducked and retaliated with a blast of sweet-smelling gas to her face.

“G-ghhh…!” Karol staggered, limbs wobbling, before crumpling to the ground.

Another one down.

_

After abandoning Yul to his fate, James and Ally wandered deeper into the pine grove, branches crunching beneath their feet. Neither of them spoke at first - until Ally broke the silence, her voice tense.

“Jeez… I know Yul was a jerk, but I still feel kinda weird about that…”

James exhaled sharply. “Honestly? He had it coming.”

“Yeah… you’re not wrong.” She admitted. “Better him than us, I guess.”

“Exactly.”

A beat passed before Ally glanced over, fidgeting slightly. “So, uh… I hope this doesn’t sound annoying, but - have you been avoiding me lately?”

James blinked, caught off guard. “What? No - nothing like that.”

“I mean, if something’s wrong, you can tell me…”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “It was Yul. The guy’s been breathing down my neck. He didn’t want me talking to anyone - especially you.”

Ally frowned. “Ugh. Figures. Sorry - I didn’t mean to jump to conclusions. I was just wondering…”

“It’s okay.” he said quietly. “But we should focus. Kristal’s missing, Oliver might be…” He paused. “…Gone. So - what now? You think we’re gonna make it out of this?”

Ally hesitated. “Honestly? It feels like one of Kristal’s twisted games. Elaborate horror challenge, maybe.”

“Huh… makes sense. But, how do we win?”

“Well, that voice said ‘make it to dawn’ or unmask the killer. If we can sneak up on her somehow…”

Her words trailed off as they both looked up - only to find themselves cornered. A steep, jagged cliffside towered in front of them, surrounded by thick forest on either side. There was no way up, and no way forward.

“Great. Dead end…” Ally muttered.

James glanced around. “Maybe we ca-”

Abruptly, they both froze as the sound of movement echoed through the trees.

Ally’s eyes widened. “W-what was that…?”

Suddenly, a tall silhouette emerged from the shadows near the base of the hill. As she stepped into the moonlight, her identity became unmistakable - the Scentress.

“D-damn it, we’re cornered!” Ally gasped, stumbling back.

James looked around frantically. “W-what do we do?!”

“I-I don’t know!” She blurted, panic rising.

With nowhere to run, the two pressed themselves against the rocky wall, bracing for the worst.

...But the attack didn’t come.

The Scentress was inching toward them - agonizingly slow, one deliberate step at a time.

Ally cracked an eye open, impatient. “...Oh, come on! If you’re gonna take us out, just get it over with!”

The masked figure halted mid-step. Then, without warning - she charged.

And that was the last either of them saw.

_

“D-damn it, damn it…” Aiden muttered under his breath as he dashed through the forest path, heart hammering in his chest. “Karol… please be okay…”

The Tigers’ cabin came into view - quiet, empty. No sign of the killer. No one else in sight. It wasn’t much, but it was his best chance to breathe.

He hurried up the steps, yanking open the door; unlocked, thankfully - and slipped inside, slamming it shut behind him. No time to barricade. No time to think. Karol’s last words kept echoing in his mind.

“Okay… okay, maybe behind the closet…”

As he crept toward it, something caught his eye; a black plastic flower pot, speckled with dry dirt. Familiar. His eyes softened.

“W-whoa… this was Rosa’s.”

The thought barely had time to land before he heard footsteps outside. His heart dropped.

Without hesitation, he grabbed the flower pot and ducked behind the closet, pressing himself into the shadows.

The door creaked open. She was here.

The Scentress stepped in with slow, deliberate movements, her perfume bottle in hand. She stalked the room, knocking over furniture, tossing blankets aside - methodical, hunting.

Then; she knelt to check beneath the bunk beds.

That was it.

Aiden lunged. With all his might, he swung the flower pot at the back of her head.

“HAH!”

“U-ugh!” She grunted, stumbling forward - then collapsed. The pot clattered to the floor.

Aiden stared, breathless. “O-oh my god… did I?”

The killer lay motionless.

“…Nice job, Aiden.” He whispered to himself, heart pounding. “Guess Rosa was watching out for me, after all.”

Cautiously, he stepped closer. “Time to get my Scooby-Doo on…” He reached for the mask.

Suddenly - a blur of movement.

*PSSSSHT!*

A burst of gas hit him square in the face. “A-AGH!”

He staggered back, coughing violently - but his legs gave out almost instantly.

His body slumped onto the bed, unconscious.

The Scentress sat up, brushing herself off with a quiet, satisfied hum. She stood, hoisted Aiden over her shoulder, and silently exited the cabin into the night.

_

Lake tore through the woods, heart thundering as she searched for somewhere - anywhere - to hide.

The cabins were too obvious. If the killer was smart, that’s where she’d go first. Lake needed something less predictable.

Her eyes landed on the old cafeteria lodge.

“Think outside the box…” She whispered to herself, pushing through the bush and making a break for it.

But then - footsteps. Heavy. Fast. Getting closer. Her pulse spiked.

“Crap, crap; move!” She hissed, pushing her legs harder.

The lodge came into view like a beacon. She bolted up the steps, grabbed the door handle - unlocked.

She slipped inside, slammed the door shut behind her, and pressed her back against it, breathing hard.

“She saw me. She must’ve seen me…” She panted.

She turned to the nearest table and tried dragging it to block the entrance, but it barely budged.

“Ugh - no good…”

She needed a weapon.

Scrambling behind the kitchen counter, she yanked open drawer after drawer. Spoons. More spoons. A ladle.

“Seriously? Who stocked this place; Kristal??”

Her eyes flicked to the room; then caught a glint. Something metallic sitting on one of the cafeteria tables, catching the moonlight through a dusty window.

“A knife…?” She whispered.

Hope surged. She leapt over the counter, rushing to grab it - only to hold it up and realize…

“…It’s a butter knife.” Her expression dropped. “Seriously??”

Suddenly, the door flew open with a thunderous kick.

“AHH!!”

The Scentress stepped inside, tall and silent and terrifying. Her silhouette eclipsed the moonlight, casting long shadows across the tiled floor.

Lake backed away, gripping the butter knife with trembling hands. “S-STAY BACK! I-I’m armed…!”

She swallowed hard. “With a… butter knife.”

The killer tilted her head, letting out an almost curious hum.

Lake’s panic flared. Without thinking, she hurled the knife like a last-ditch Hail Mary.

It whizzed through the air and clinked against the wall beside the Scentress, missing her by inches.

Lake seized the opportunity, ducking behind the cafeteria counter.

She held her breath, heart pounding, inching toward the far side where the shadows were thicker. She just needed to slip around the Scentress; if she could make it out of the building fast enough, maybe she could trap her inside.

The killer’s footsteps echoed through the room; slow, deliberate, circling.

Lake peeked around the corner. Clear.

Now or never.

She bolted for the door, gripping the handle - twisting it fast. However, it wasn’t budging.

“N-no; come on!” She gasped, frantically jiggling the knob again and again. Locked.

Before she could try anything else, a hand clamped down on her shoulder.

“A-AHH!!”

A sharp burst of perfume hit her face. Her lungs seized. She stumbled, coughing, vision blurring as she spun toward the Scentress.

“N-no, g-get…!” She cried, trying to claw at the mask; but her arms went limp. Her knees buckled. She collapsed.

The Scentress stood still, towering over her final victim. There were no more footsteps. No more screams.

Just silence.

Now all that remained… was to wait for dawn, and lay the bodies where they belonged.

_

For a long while, there was only darkness.

Heavy. Endless. Still.

Then; something shifted. A distant hum. A faint vibration beneath them. Voices, low and muffled, started bleeding into the void.

“…Took you… enough…”

A throat cleared. 

“Campers? … CAMPERS!”

A sudden chorus of gasps broke the silence.

“W-whoa!”

“H-HUH?!”

“Wh-what the hell??”

“NOOO!”

The chaos of realization unfolded.

The campers jolted awake in a small, dimly lit room. As their vision sharpened, they spotted three familiar figures standing at the front - and one of them was holding something.

“...What the actual fuck??” Yul’s voice sliced through the noise first, true to form. He sprang to his feet, face contorted in outrage. “JAMES! You absolute DUMBASS; you LEFT me to die!”

James leaned his head back with an exasperated sigh. “If only you’d stayed dead.”

“Ugh… m-my head…” Ally groaned, rubbing her temples.

From the corner, a hazy voice drifted up. “H-haha… the spirits… they’ve spared me again…” Kai muttered deliriously, clearly still processing the afterlife; or lack thereof.

“Th-the manager… must summon the manager…” Karol whimpered, flat on the ground.

A long, dramatic sigh cut through the room.

“Okay, okay - enough dramatics. Campers. Wake up.” Kristal said, deadpan, clearly over it.

“We are awake, Kristal! What the hell was that?? Where have you even been?!” Aiden snapped, clearly still shaken.

“Oh, you know… just a little midnight horror surprise!” Kristal replied, smiling far too smugly. “Did we scare you? Be honest.”

Oliver let out a sleepy giggle behind her. Nina snorted. Marcus remained completely unbothered.

“You’re kidding me, right?! That was psychotic!” Aiden continued, voice cracking from disbelief.

Lake stepped in, more furious than shaken. “You should be ashamed! That was one of the most horrifying, miserable experiences I’ve ever had!”

“Oh, blah blah.” Kristal waved her hand. “You guys should be grateful! That challenge was a nightmare to organize. Poor Oliver hasn’t slept in forever.”

Oliver yawned behind her. “No regrets…”

Ally adjusted her glasses, still groggy. “I-I knew it…! But, uh; where is the Scentress? Who was she?”

Nina’s doll voice chimed in with glee. “Ooh, excellent question, Allyson! Kristal, shall we do the honors?”

Kristal smirked. “Why not? Might as well show you the face behind the mask - y’know, the one who absolutely smoked all of you last night. Honestly, I’m embarrassed. Not a single one of you lasted until dawn or managed to unmask her. Pathetic.”

She turned toward the door. “Ohhh, Scentress? Time for your big reveal!”

The campers exchanged uneasy glances as the masked figure stepped into the room, still in full costume; petal-draped dress, perfume bottle holstered at her hip, dramatic flair intact.

“Everyone…” Kristal announced, her voice theatrical. “I give you… the Scentress!”

With a flourish, the figure removed her mask.

“Riya Sharma! Our dazzling Bollywood menace is back!”

Yul practically recoiled in horror. “W-wha… RIYAAAAA?!” His voice cracked in full panic.

Riya beamed as she bowed with grace. “Surprise! The one and only. And the one who wiped the floor with all of you!”

Karol’s reaction was less enthusiastic; she crossed her arms with a sharp glare and muttered something under her breath. Clearly, the return wasn’t welcome on all fronts.

Lake’s eyes lit up. “R-Riya! I can’t believe it. I thought you were gone for good!”

Riya grinned. “So did I. But apparently, fate had other plans.”

Aiden rose from where he’d been sitting against the wall, blinking in confusion. “B-but… the perfume. I swear I knocked you out. What even was that?!”

She laughed, almost impressed. “Aiden, sweetie; sometimes the best acting trick… is just playing dead.”

Aiden pouted. “Okay, sure, fine. I walked right into that one. B-but the gas…?”

Oliver piped up, adjusting his glasses. “Oh! That was totally safe. A mild sedative blend. No real side effects; probably.”

Ally frowned. “Another sedative?? Where do you even get that stu-”

“Don’t ask boring questions.” Kristal cut in dryly. “We’ve got more important things to cover.”

She clapped her hands. “Now! As I was saying; Riya was never truly eliminated. She’s been chilling in a private suite behind the scenes, watching everything unfold. But after last night’s performance? She’s officially back in the game. And - since none of you managed to win the challenge - she gets the vote advantage!”

Yul let out a dramatic groan, throwing his hands in the air. “NOOO! That should’ve been ME! James, you fucking traito-”

“Can it, coconut-head!” Nina snapped. “No one wants your dramatic flop monologue right now.”

Kristal cleared her throat. “Now then; back to business. The voting ceremony’s just around the corner, so start locking in your alliances and figuring out who’s going under. And as for you, Riya…” She flashed a sharp grin. “Choose wisely.”

Riya smirked. “Oh, I always do.”

_

Not long after they left the producer tent, James found himself pacing through the woods; Yul trailing behind him, clearly fuming.

“Hey! Don’t ignore me! You’re dead if you don’t vote with me, do you even remem-”

James stopped. Calmly, he turned to face him, expression unreadable.

“Yul.” He said, exhaling. “I told you; I’m done. You don’t control me. Not anymore.” He paused, then continued. “And honestly? I think you’re the one who should be worried. How many enemies do you even have at this point? Lake’s practically gunning for you, after what you did to Rosa.”

Yul scoffed. “Pfft! I don’t give a shit about her, or her pathetic little bob. She’s not a threat.”

James raised a brow. “Right. And Riya? Want to explain what happened when she got eliminated? Because I’m willing to bet you were involved. And now? She’s back - and she’s got an extra vote. It’s over, Yul. You’ve got nowhere else to run.”

He didn’t wait for a response. Just turned his back and walked away, like Yul wasn’t even worth the breath.

Yul stood frozen for a second, before kicking the grass with a bitter snarl.

_

In a quieter corner of the camp, Lake, Kai, and Aiden gathered together, tension lingering in the air.

Aiden was the first to speak. “Alright… if we’re doing this, we have to play it smart.”

Lake crossed her arms, her expression firm. “Agreed. But more importantly; no more falling for Yul’s tricks. We can’t afford to give him another inch.”

Kai glanced at the ground, his posture weighed down by guilt. “I… I still feel terrible about Rosa. Lake, I’m sorry. I should’ve seen through Yul’s lies. Honestly, I’ve been a disaster at every voting ceremony. The target keeps shifting, and I keep missing it.”

Aiden gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “Hey; don’t beat yourself up. If anything, I’m the one who dropped the ball. I’ve been so distracted with James… I let that get in the way. Yul’s been scheming right under our noses, and I ignored it. So… I think it’s time I rectified that mistake.”

Lake gave a solemn nod. “Then this is our chance. We can finally make things right. For Rosa.”

Kai raised his hand, eyes steady. “And for Connor… Hunter… Maggy. I owe them that much.”

Aiden clenched his fist. “Then let’s end this. Yul’s done.”

Their decision was made. There was no turning back.

_

“You know… I’m really glad you’re back with me.” Ally said, walking alongside James through the woods. “Yul’s not gonna be breathing down your neck anymore, right?”

“Damn right.” James replied, his tone lighter than usual.

They stopped near a clearing, moonlight casting pale shadows between the trees.

“I’m proud of you for standing up to him. He really had you under his thumb.”

“Not anymore. Honestly? I think this is it. Yul’s finally out of time.”

Ally raised an eyebrow. “Wait; are you saying we should...”

Before she could finish, the grass rustled beside them.

“Hello, you two…”

They both turned; Riya emerged from the trees, smiling with ease, as if she hadn’t just played a horror villain hours earlier.

“Riya?” James blinked. “You… came to say hi?”

She laughed lightly. “Please, James - I’m not that sentimental. I came with an offer. One I think you’ll want to hear.”

James and Ally traded a quick, questioning look; uncertainty flickering in their eyes. Ally tilted her head slightly, turning back to Riya with cautious curiosity.

“...Alright. We’re listening.”

_

Karol stood alone near a quiet patch of the camp, her eyes scanning the surroundings with purpose; clearly expecting someone.

“H-hey… Karol.”

The voice made her turn. It was Aiden.

“Aiden.” She said, her expression unreadable. “I was looking for you.”

“Yeah… sorry I vanished. And… thanks for earlier, in the challenge. I really thought you were done for.”

She folded her arms. “No need for thanks. Just tell me; where were you, and what have you been up to?”

He paused, visibly uneasy. “I know I left you out of the loop last time, and I’m sorry for that. But I want to make it up to you. There’s someone I think we need to vote for.”

Karol raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And who, exactly, do you have in mind?”

_

As the last traces of sunlight vanished beyond the trees, the forest fell into a blanket of night. One by one, the campers made their way to the glowing campfire; its flickering light casting tall, dancing shadows across their faces.

Kristal stood at her usual post, silhouetted by the flames behind her. “Well, well… looks like it’s that time again. Someone’s goose will be cooked.” She smirked. “But, no use speculating. Let the votes do the talking. You know the drill; get moving.”

_

Ally let out a satisfied giggle, flashing her vote for Yul toward the camera. “I’ve been waiting for this moment. Honestly? I’ve never felt more at peace.”

In stark contrast, Yul furiously scribbled on his ballot, panic written all over his face. “Shit, shit… this has to work. Please, PLEASE let that twink Aiden and his hippie boyfriend screw this up again… I need a miracle. But - I’m not going down without a fight!”

James calmly wrote his vote, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he folded the paper.

Kai, nearly fumbling the pen, steadied himself before scrawling out his vote with quiet focus.

Lake’s eyes burned with intensity. No hesitation. She marked her vote with firm, precise strokes; her expression stone-cold.

With the final votes cast, the campers returned to their seats, a heavy silence falling over them as the fire crackled in anticipation.

_

“Brilliant.” Kristal clapped her hands once before turning to the stand. “Let’s get started.”

She plucked the first slip. “First vote… Yul.”

A subtle twitch ran across Yul’s face.

“Second vote… Yul again.”

Across the fire, Ally and James shared a knowing glance. Yul’s fist clenched.

Kristal’s tone sharpened. “Third vote… Yul. That’s three.”

She drew the fourth with a playful hum. “Oh, and this one’s a double. Yul again. That’s five votes.”

Yul hissed under his breath, visibly unraveling.

Kristal picked the fifth vote, glancing at it dramatically. “Yul. Six votes.”

Yul’s jaw tensed. He looked seconds away from combusting. Karol watched him, arms crossed, visibly pleased.

“Seventh vote… James.”

James raised a brow, barely fazed. Yul, however, shot him a venomous side-eye.

Kristal grabbed the final slip but barely lingered. There wasn’t a need.

“Eighth and final vote… and the next camper eliminated from Disventure Camp is… Yul.”

“N-NOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooo!!!”

James stifled a laugh. “Oh man, here comes the meltdown.”

Yul shot up from his tree stump like a firecracker, whirling around to face the others, pure rage in his eyes.

“I CANNOT believe this! Seriously? This is the brain trust I lost to? You people are the human equivalent of a dropped Wi-Fi signal!”

He took a dramatic breath, then pointed like he was on a roast stage.

“Ally! Your channel’s been circling the drain since 2021! Drama or no drama, maybe try OnlyFans; your Twitch ain’t cutting it!”

“Aiden! Your little Blu-ray reviews? Girl, be for real. Either time travel back to 2012 or start playing Roblox like the rest of the flop crowd!”

“Riya - you’re a glorified screenhog with a theater kid complex. Congrats on your rigged win.”

“Kai! I genuinely hope you OD on essential oils and astral-project into a coma!”

“Karol? Even ThatVeganTeacher is more influential than you. Go grab a ukulele and pray for TikTok clout!”

“James… not a single twink on Earth would touch you with a 10-foot pole. Just accept the loneliness, babe!”

He marched up to Lake, looming. “And Lake? That bob cut looks like a rejected LazyTown costume. Stephanie did it better on a bad day!”

That was it.

Without a word, Lake stood up and kneed him square in the groin.

“W-WAUGH!!”

Yul buckled like a house of cards, stumbling back as everyone burst into laughter. Everyone except Lake; who just smoothed her skirt and sat back down like nothing happened.

“Alright, that’s enough. Yul, you know where to find the bus. Thanks for the drama, though. You made this very entertaining.” Kristal spoke.

“F-freaking whatever! I’m outta here, bozos!”

_

Yul stormed up to the bus stop, sulking beneath the wooden overhang, arms crossed and scowl deep.

“Ugh. Whatever. At least it can’t get any worse.”

A crack of thunder rolled in from the distance.

His eyes flicked up. The sky had turned gray in a snap. Fat raindrops began to fall, slowly at first; then with spiteful intensity.

“…You’ve gotta be kidding me.” He grumbled.

Just as he sighed in surrender, a pair of headlights appeared down the road. “Yes! Finally!” Then his smile faltered. “Wait… wait, no; no, no, NO!”

The bus zoomed toward him, hitting a monster puddle in the road. A tidal wave of muddy water drenched him from head to toe.

“UGHHHH, COME OOON!!” Yul shrieked, seething.

Soaked, shivering, and at the absolute limit of his patience, he trudged into the bus without a word. The doors slammed shut, and the vehicle rolled away into the rain.

_

Confessional ~ James

James let out a deep sigh of relief. “Finally… thank the stars. I don’t think anyone here wanted to deal with Yul for one more second.” He paused, a faint smile creeping in. “But more importantly; I’m free. No more getting pushed around or talked down to.”

His expression softened, just slightly. “Though… I gotta admit, I’m a little surprised Aiden didn’t vote for me. Not this time. I wonder what changed.”

_

Confessional ~ Lake

“This one was for you, Rosa. I really hope I made you proud...” Lake’s voice wavered a little. “But… if I’m being honest, I feel kind of lost without her around.”

She looked off to the side, her expression uncertain. “I know the right thing is to keep going; to prove myself to everyone still here - but it’s getting harder to shake this feeling. Like I don’t quite belong. Maybe it’s time I start thinking more seriously about what comes next…”

_

Confessional ~ Riya

She let out a satisfied hum, flashing a confident smile. “Hello again, everyone! Miss me? I obviously can’t see the audience, but if any of my fans were rooting for my return; thank you.”

Her tone turned sharp with pride. “Getting my revenge on Yul? Incredibly satisfying. He was… one of the reasons I got the boot - Karol too, to an extent. But Kristal and Oliver had other plans… They let me stay backstage, and while I was there, I got access to a lot of camera footage. Let’s just say I’ve done my homework. That’s why I knew exactly who to talk to when I came back; James and Ally were the right pick.”

She took a breath, softer now. “Still, I do wish I could talk to Connor one more time. But I know he’s cheering me on from the sidelines. I won’t waste this second chance - because they don’t come around often. Time to play smart, and aim high.”

_

Kristal stood beneath a production tent as rain pattered against the canopy, distant thunder rumbling beyond the trees. Cradled in one arm was Nina. “Ugh, another episode ending in a downpour… how poetic and inconvenient.”

“Oh, stop whining. The rain adds atmosphere. Very fitting for the horror theme.” Nina replied smugly. 

Kristal rolled her eyes. “Fair enough. Credit where it's due; you really nailed the horror challenge. Sure, Oliver handled most of the setup, but your performance was... surprisingly effective. Not bad for a doll.”

“Hmph! I keep telling you, I could run this show if you'd let me. But nooo, legal liability this, workplace hazard that…”

“Tragic.” Kristal deadpanned. “Anyway - let’s bring this episode to a close. I’d call this a cathartic one. Yul finally got his karma, and I’m sure the viewers at home are rejoicing.”

“As if anyone liked him to begin with.” Nina muttered.

Kristal smirked. “Well, with Riya back in the game, things are about to shift dramatically. James has finally shaken off Yul’s leash, and his bond with Ally is strengthening. Aiden and Kai are finally using their brains, and Lake’s uncertainty makes her path unpredictable. Karol’s... still Karol. All in all, the stakes are rising, the tension’s building, and the game’s heating up.”

She struck a pose as the camera zoomed in slightly.

“This is Kristal…”

“And Nina…”

“And you won’t want to miss what’s coming next on… Disventure Camp!”

Chapter Text

“Previously, on Disventure Camp! Yul was back at it again - bossing James around and bragging about his so-called masterplan. 

Meanwhile, Lake was still reeling from Rosa’s elimination, but Ally showed up just in time with a little emotional support. 

Aiden thought Karol was furious at him for flipping during the vote; but surprise! She wasn’t. They patched things up, and Karol even suggested they vote together from now on.

Then? Things got weird. Night fell, the hosts disappeared, and our confused little campers were left to fend for themselves against the Scentress in a twisted horror-themed game of hide-and-seek! One by one, they dropped like flies; until Lake was the last one standing. But plot twist! The “final girl” didn’t quite make it to the final scene. Womp-womp.

After the chaos, everyone finally learned the truth - the Scentress was none other than Riya Sharma in disguise! Surprise comeback, anyone?

And finally; finally - James broke free from Yul’s control and shut him down hard. With no allies left and a long line of enemies waiting, Yul was rightfully booted out of the game in spectacular fashion. Adios, drama king.

I’m your host, Kristal, and this is… Disventure Camp!”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp. 

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

It was early morning. Lake had just finished washing her hands in the women’s restroom, gazing quietly into the mirror. Her reflection looked uncertain; like the thoughts swirling in her head were just too much to push down. She wiped her hands, sighing softly as she turned to leave.

“Oh!”

“Ah! I-I’m sorry!”

She had nearly walked right into someone; Riya, who looked just as surprised. The actress gave a polite smile, brushing off the moment.

“It’s alright. Good morning, Lake.”

Lake gave a small wave. “Morning…”

Riya paused for a second, tilting her head. Something in Lake’s voice didn’t sit right. It was stiff, unsure - too guarded. Riya had picked up on things like this before, both on and off stage.

“Is everything okay?” She asked gently.

Lake stiffened. “Y-yes. Everything’s fine.”

But Riya wasn’t convinced. She offered a soft look, voice calm. “You know… in my experience, bottling things up only makes them feel heavier. And I’d really hate to see you carry that weight alone.”

Lake hesitated; but she knew Riya was right. There was no point pretending, not in front of someone so kind.

“...I just feel like I don’t belong here. Like I wandered off from everyone else and… now I can’t find the way back. Does that make sense?”

Riya’s expression softened. “It makes perfect sense. I’ve felt that way too, more times than I can count. Like you’re stuck between where you were and where you’re supposed to be.”

Lake looked down at the floor, quietly. “Exactly…”

“Lake. You’re bright and thoughtful, and stronger than you know. I’ve learned the hard way that dwelling on the past or stressing over the future only makes things harder. The present’s where we have the most power. And you’ll be okay. You really will.”

It took a moment, but Lake finally nodded. “I… think I understand. Thank you.”

Riya smiled warmly. “Good. Just keep holding on to that, alright?” She glanced toward the door. “Oh shoot; I left my toothbrush back in the Turtles’ cabin. Strange how we’re still using those even after the merge, huh? I’ll be back.”

She waved as she stepped out, leaving Lake standing quietly at the sink.

She looked at herself in the mirror again, her eyes uncertain.

“…Will it really be okay?” She whispered.

_

Karol was pacing the forest clearing, arms crossed tightly, her fingers digging into her sleeves. Every lap she made around the area seemed to add to her tension.

Aiden watched from a few steps away, his concern growing. After a while, he finally spoke up.

“Karol? Are you okay? You seem… really on edge.”

She came to a stop, hands on her hips, her back still turned to him. “…It’s Riya.”

That caught him off guard. “Riya? Why? What about her?”

Karol turned to face him, her expression sharp but composed. “We didn’t part on good terms. I had a hand in her elimination, and now she’s back. There’s bound to be tension. And more importantly - you shouldn’t trust her.”

Aiden hesitated, caught off guard by her bluntness; but nodded anyway. “Alright… if you say so.”

Karol’s serious expression softened slightly. “Good.”

Confessional ~ Aiden

“Sheesh, didn’t see that one coming. Guess Karol’s got some bad blood with Riya too. I mean, I wanna support her, sure… but Riya did help take down Yul. And - honestly? That was a win for everyone. The guy was pure chaos, and she actually helped pull it off. So… I don’t know. Maybe Karol’s just being a little too paranoid.”

_

The cafeteria was unusually quiet; only Kai, James, and Ally were there. Kai sat by himself at a corner table, seemingly deep in meditation. James shot him a cautious glance before leaning in toward Ally.

“Alright... I think it’s safe to talk here.” He whispered, breaking the silence.

“Cool. He seems harmless enough. We just gotta keep our voices down.” Ally replied with a slight shrug.

James nodded. “Anyway, I’m still thinking we should aim for Karol. I’ve noticed Aiden’s flipped a couple votes from her to me before. Their alliance? Feels pretty shaky.”

Ally tapped her chin, thinking. “Yeah... come to think of it, Aiden’s been weird around you lately. I mentioned your name once and he got super awkward. Any idea why?”

James sighed, resting his head on his hand. “It’s... complicated. I can tell you later. Right now, we need to stay focused.”

“Got it.” Ally smiled reassuringly. “Honestly, Karol’s a smart vote. She’s not exactly a strategic genius, but she’s unpredictable; and that’s dangerous. Still - are you sure we shouldn’t try pulling Aiden into this?”

James shook his head, a faint sadness crossing his face. “I’d rather not.”

“Hey, no worries. We’ll manage. Maybe Riya can help us instead.” Ally offered, nudging him lightly.

Meanwhile - across the room, Kai cracked one eye open, quietly observing them from his seat.

Confessional ~ Kai

“Fascinating... the tides of emotion are growing stronger, and everyone’s hearts are at war. James and Ally share a bond; tightly woven by the threads of friendship. Dangerous, yet potentially useful. 

My spiritual instincts have long warned me that Karol is a threat... a wild spirit, unpredictable like the creatures of the forest. I should vote for her. But Aiden is close to her, and I fear hurting him. 

Still... I cannot fully trust James. If I approached him with an alliance, he’d likely reject me and paint a target on my back. Perhaps it’s wiser to simply cast my vote - silently - and see where the winds carry me.”

_

At a quiet, tucked-away corner of the camp, the sharp crackle of Kristal’s speakers suddenly blared through the trees, scattering a few startled birds into the sky.

“Morning, campers! Bet you're all thrilled I didn’t leave you hanging with radio silence this time. But don’t get too cozy - it's time to brace yourselves for today’s challenge! It’s going to be a little... unconventional, so stay on your toes. Meet me at the clearing in the forest. Ta-ta!”

_

As instructed, all seven campers gathered in the clearing. Kristal stood waiting with Oliver beside her, casually holding Nina in one hand.

“Hello there, everyone! So, how does it feel to finally exist in a Yul-free environment?” Kristal teased.

Aiden let out a relieved huff. “My eardrums are grateful. His cackling was unbearable.”

“Absolutely. That little menace belongs behind bars - preferably park ranger bars!” Karol added, arms crossed.

Kai pressed his palms together serenely. “The forest has finally found peace. Myself included.” His words earned a side-eye from Karol.

Ally sighed. “Honestly, why was he even invited? Guy was a massive bigot.”

Meanwhile, Lake stood oddly quiet. Riya noticed, slightly puzzled; Lake didn’t look regretful about Yul being gone, but she wasn’t exactly celebrating either.

James shrugged lazily. “...Yeah. What they said.”

Kristal cleared her throat with a knowing smile. “Wonderful! Well, with a major threat like him gone, you'd think the path to victory would be easier, right? Think again. From here on, one mistake is all it takes to lose everything; and believe me, mistakes are very easy to make.”

She walked to the center of the clearing, sweeping her arm out dramatically.

“Today's challenge is called Silent Scavenger. Each of you must hunt down a single totem hidden somewhere in this forest. There are seven totems total, and you’ll know yours when you see your name written on it. Once you find it, you must bring it back to me immediately.

The catch? No talking. No shouting. If you’re caught speaking - or making any big sounds - Nina will spot you, and you’ll be instantly disqualified.

You are allowed to sabotage other campers’ totems to slow them down, but you can't hoard or hide them on your person. The first camper to return their totem wins immunity.

Good luck, scavengers! Try not to choke under pressure!”

_

Aiden and Karol set off into the woods, silently agreeing to stick together without exchanging a word. They moved cautiously, eyes scanning the underbrush for any sign of the artifacts.

Karol’s gaze sharpened as she spotted something glinting in the brush - a totem. She crouched down, turning it over to inspect it. Written on the side, clear as day - Kai .

Her lips tightened in frustration. An idea sparked in her mind; sabotage. 

Glancing over her shoulder to make sure Aiden wasn’t watching, she casually flung the totem deep into the woods, sending it flying out of sight.

Before she could even stand up again… 

“AAAHH!!” 

Aiden’s startled cry broke through the forest. Karol whirled around, alarmed; only to see Nina stepping into the clearing, laughing gleefully. “Hah! Barely even lasted a minute, chump! Better luck next time!” Nina taunted, pointing at Aiden.

“H-hey! You jumped out of nowhere! How was I supposed to not react?!” Aiden protested.

“All’s fair in love and war; and scare tactics!” Nina teased, twirling around mockingly.

Karol’s nostrils flared. “Watch your tone, you stupid doll! You’re harming the local ecosystem with all your obnoxious screaming!”

Aiden’s face dropped in slow realization just as Nina beamed. “Busted! Disqualified, both of you!” She sang. “Man, that was almost too easy.”

_

Kai wandered alone through the forest, doing his best to rely less on his so-called “psychic” instincts this time. At the very least, he had his eyes open. That was progress.

He came to a sudden halt as he nearly collided with someone; Riya and Lake, also combing through this side of the woods. All three of them froze in surprise.

Before Kai could raise a hand in greeting, Riya shot him a sharp glare and waved him off, her expression reading loud and clear - go away. She didn’t want interruptions.

Kai nodded awkwardly and backed off, hands raised in surrender.

With a quiet sigh, Riya turned to Lake and gave her a small nudge on the shoulder. Lake looked up, and Riya pointed toward a denser patch of trees. Lake nodded and headed that way.

Alone in the quiet grove, she crouched low, carefully checking beneath logs, under leaves, and around the twisted roots of trees. Her fingers brushed past moss and dirt as she scoured every nook.

Finally, she spotted it - partially hidden beneath a fern. A small artifact. She reached for it and turned it over.

Her name was etched into the side - Lake.

She stared at it for a long moment.

But instead of relief or triumph… her face faltered. No smile. No satisfaction. Just hesitation; and silence. She held the totem loosely, deep in thought.

Confessional ~ Lake

“I… I can’t do this anymore. Not like this. It’s like I’ve reached a fork in the road, and no matter which way I go, it feels wrong. Trying to keep going - pretending like everything’s fine - it just feels empty. Like I’m lying to myself. And the truth is… none of this feels worth it, right now.”

_

James and Ally were quietly combing through a shaded patch of the grove, already a few minutes into the challenge. No luck so far.

Their communication wasn’t perfect without words, but they managed - silent gestures and the occasional eye-roll did most of the work.

Ally was just about to signal a change of direction when something rustled above them.

Suddenly, a flash of movement burst from the tree branches; accompanied by a high-pitched screech.

“HAHH!!”

The two flinched, startled; but neither of them made a sound.

From the leaves, out tumbled Nina, dramatically landing in front of them.

She blinked, visibly annoyed.

“...Seriously?? You didn’t even flinch properly?! Ugh, so unfair!”

She crossed her felt arms, glaring.

“Whatever! I’ll get you losers next time!”

With that, she turned and vanished back into the forest.

James and Ally exchanged a look; then simply shrugged, unfazed.

_

Lake quietly returned to where Riya had been searching. The actress flinched at first, surprised by the sudden appearance; then relaxed, offering a small wave. 

Lake approached and gave a slight shrug, shaking her head to indicate she hadn’t found anything.

Riya nodded, understanding without a word. With a simple gesture around the area, she encouraged Lake to help her search here instead.

The two resumed, moving wordlessly through the forest clearing; checking behind trees, brushing through tall grass, peeking into bushes.

Minutes passed in quiet concentration. Lake stopped.

She crouched down, lifting something half-buried beneath a patch of moss. A totem. Turning it over, she read the name etched on the back - Riya.

Her eyes widened; but she didn’t hesitate.

Standing up, she jogged back to Riya and presented it to her. The actress blinked, clearly surprised.

Riya reached for the totem, but paused. Lake’s gesture was more than just kind - it was deliberate. It echoed what Riya had done for her once, not long ago.

Was it right to accept this… again?

Before Riya could make up her mind, Lake gently pressed the totem into her hands.

There was no doubt in her expression; no regret, no hesitation.

Riya exhaled slowly and gave a small nod. She wrapped her fingers around the totem, the weight of it matched only by the quiet understanding between them.

She would carry it forward. For Lake.

Confessional ~ Riya

“I don’t know how Lake can be so selfless. Maybe she sees it as returning the favor, but… I still can’t shake the guilt. 

This totem could’ve meant everything for her, and yet she handed it to me without blinking. I don’t fully understand her - maybe I never will - but I do know I just got back into this game. I’ve fought hard to earn this second chance… so I have to keep moving forward. No matter how conflicted I feel.”

_

Kristal stood near the edge of the forest clearing, thumbing through her phone with a weary look.

“You look half-dead.” Nina piped up from her place in Kristal’s arm. “Tired? Or just bored out of your skull already?”

Kristal sighed. “Quiet, Nina. Designing this challenge took effort.”

“Please. Oliver did all the real work. You just stood around looking mysterious.”

Kristal rolled her eyes, opting not to dignify that with a response.

Just then, Riya emerged from the trees, jogging toward them with a totem in hand. She was breathing heavily but stayed silent, holding up the object as she approached.

Kristal raised a brow. “Well, well. What have we here?” She took the totem from Riya, inspecting the name carved into its side. “Hmph. Looks like it’s the real deal.”

She blew a sharp whistle, startling a few birds nearby.

“And with that - Riya wins the challenge, and earns immunity at tonight’s voting ceremony!”

Riya lit up. “Yes! …Wait - can I talk now?”

“Yes.” Kristal replied flatly.

Grabbing her handheld mic, she turned toward the forest. “Attention, campers! The challenge is over. Start preparing for tonight’s elimination. And please - don’t waste my time.”

_

Some time after the challenge, Lake sat alone beneath a tall tree, not far from the small bathroom cabin. Her gaze was distant, lost in the quiet swirl of her thoughts; something that had become more common lately.

She didn’t notice Oliver at first, passing by with a broom in one hand and a bucket in the other. He nearly walked past her entirely before pausing mid-step. Something in her expression made him stop and double back.

“Uh… Lake? You okay?” He asked gently, his soft voice cutting through the silence.

She blinked, startled from her daze. “O-oh. Oliver, right?”

“Yep, that’s me.” He smiled awkwardly. “I was just heading to clean the bathrooms, but… you looked kinda down.”

Lake hesitated. She didn’t look directly at him, but she spoke up anyway. “I just… feel lost. And I feel stupid for only realizing it now. I thought I was strong enough to push forward, to keep going - but doing it alone? It’s… exhausting.”

Oliver’s expression softened. “Oh… is it about tonight’s vote?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s not that. I don’t even care about the vote. I just… don’t know what I’m doing here anymore. I really miss Rosa. She always knew how to guide me when I was spiraling.”

Oliver crouched down slightly, just enough to meet her line of sight. “I won’t pretend to know what you’re going through,” He said, sincerely, “but… if I’ve learned anything being on the sidelines, it’s that sometimes, the only thing that makes sense is listening to what your heart says; even if it’s not what your brain wants to hear.”

Lake was quiet for a moment, before giving a small nod. “...Thank you, Oliver. I think I needed that.”

“Anytime. You’ve got this.” He smiled, standing back up and heading off toward the bathrooms.

Lake watched him leave. For the first time in a while, her face showed something new - calm, maybe even clarity.

_

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the glow of the campfire and surrounding torches lit up the voting grounds. One by one, the campers gathered around the ceremony site.

Kristal stood tall, her usual smirk in place. “Alright! Everyone’s present. I’m sure Riya’s feeling secure with her immunity... I hope the rest of you have chosen your targets wisely.”

Lake sat near the edge of the group, her hands clenched tightly around her skirt. Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. She knew she had to act.

“But enough stalling. Let’s get to vot-”

“W-wait!” Lake’s voice cracked through the tension.

Kristal blinked. “Lake? Don’t tell me this is a totem situation…”

“No, it’s not about that.” Lake said, stepping forward. “I just… need to say something. To everyone. Before we vote.”

Kristal hesitated, then gestured for her to continue. “Make it quick.”

Confused glances were exchanged as Lake took center stage, her expression composed but heavy.

“When I joined this competition, I didn’t do it because I wanted to. I was pushed into it. And honestly? I was just going through the motions. I didn’t expect to feel… anything. But then I met Rosa.” Her voice wavered. “She saw me. She gave me hope; when I didn’t even realize how lost I was.”

A few of the campers softened, their expressions shifting.

Lake pressed on. “I thought that if I won, maybe I’d find a purpose; or at least, use the money to escape the pain waiting for me at home. But now I realize... no prize could keep me safe from people who want to hurt me. And if I keep going, I’ll just be pretending things are okay. But they’re not. They haven’t been, for a long time.”

Riya placed a hand over her heart, visibly shaken.

“So I’m asking; please… let me leave. Not because I’m giving up, but because I finally know what I need. I want to find Rosa. I want to figure out who I am, outside of this game. And I want someone kind by my side when I do.”

Kristal stood stunned, her bravado momentarily stripped away.

“You… you’re sure?” She asked, more softly than usual.

Lake nodded. “I’m sure. This isn’t defeat. It’s just the right path; for me.”

Kristal exhaled, something unspoken tightening behind her eyes. “Then… I won’t stop you.”

“Thank you.” Lake said with a faint smile. “And, Kristal… I’m sorry for what I said to you before. I was wrong. Maybe you understand more than I gave you credit for.”

Kristal didn’t answer. She just nodded, eyes flicking away.

“I’ll walk her out.” Riya suddenly offered, rising from her seat. “She deserves that much.”

Lake nodded. “I’d like that.”

And with that, the two girls walked off into the night, shoulder to shoulder.

Kristal watched them go for a moment longer, then shook herself out of it. “Well. That was… something. I guess this voting ceremony is officially canceled. The rest of you; get ready. Tomorrow’s challenge won’t be any easier.”

The remaining campers exchanged solemn glances. Some were quiet. Others were still processing. But one thing was clear - something had shifted.

_

The two walked in silence, the forest quietly rustling around them as the wind whispered through the trees. The night was cool, calm, almost eerily still - as if the world itself was holding its breath for what was about to happen.

Riya stayed close beside Lake, still trying to process everything. Not long ago, she had given up her place in the game for this girl. And now, Lake was walking away from it on her own terms; without hesitation, even knowing that Riya held immunity in her place.

They arrived at the old wooden bus stop.

“Well… this is it.” Lake said softly, turning toward Riya.

The actress hesitated. “Lake… are you absolutely sure? There’s no changing your mind?”

Lake gave a quiet nod. “I’ve been turning it over in my head since Rosa left. And the more I think about it, the more I know this is right. There’s nothing left for me here - not really. I need to see her again. I need clarity… and peace.”

Riya’s voice was tender. “I… I get it. I just didn’t expect it to be so soon.”

Lake smiled gently. “Before I go… I want you to know something. No matter what happens next, I’ll be cheering for you. And I hope your career brings you joy, truly.”

The words struck Riya deep. Her eyes welled up as she pulled Lake into a hug. “Thank you. That means the world to me. And… I hope you find exactly what you’re looking for. You deserve that.”

A quiet laugh escaped Lake’s lips. “I hope so too.”

A horn echoed from up the road. The bus approached slowly, headlights piercing through the trees.

“Well… guess my ride’s here.” Lake said with a small, wistful smile.

Riya stepped back, brushing at her eyes. “Goodbye, Lake.”

“Goodbye, Riya.”

With one last glance and a soft wave, Lake boarded the bus. It pulled away moments later, leaving behind a trail of dust and a very quiet night. Riya watched it disappear into the dark, her heart full and heavy all at once.

_

At a quiet edge of the camp, Kristal stood alone, her usual sharp expression softened by something more thoughtful. She sighed, glancing toward the camera.

“Well… this wasn’t the turn I expected. Lake’s departure came out of nowhere, but I can’t say I blame her. Not everyone joins this show chasing prize money; some are just trying to outrun something worse. And trust me, I know a thing or two about awful parents…”

She paused, composing herself before straightening her posture.

“Still, it was a quieter episode than usual. But don’t get too comfortable! My next challenge will definitely shake things up. I can promise there won’t be any easy exits next time.”

A confident smirk formed on her lips.

“Who will survive the madness ahead? Stick around and find out… on the next episode of Disventure Camp .”

With a subtle nod, Kristal turned her back to the camera as it faded to black.

Chapter Text

“Previously, on Disventure Camp …” Oliver began, his voice carrying a hint of detachment. 

“Tensions ran high among the campers - nothing new there - but one thing stood out; doubt. It seemed like everyone was second-guessing someone… or themselves.”

“Kai thought about inserting himself into James and Ally’s alliance after overhearing them strategizing, but backed off once he realized it probably wouldn’t work out; at least, not yet…”

“Then came the challenge; total silence. A tricky one, especially for this crew. I didn’t catch it the first time, but watching it back... Lake actually found her own totem. She just stared at it, then left it behind.” He paused, the emotion sneaking into his tone. “That poor girl…”

“But back to the facts; Riya won immunity. Though... it didn’t help her much in the end.”

“Oh, and uh - Lake and I had a little conversation… wait, should I even mention that? Uh; never mind, let’s move on…” He fumbled with the camera, flustered.

“At the ceremony, things took an unexpected turn. Lake stood up and told everyone she was stepping down; said she didn’t see the point in staying, that she wanted a calmer future. I hope she’s doing okay over at the motel…”

He took a breath. “Anyway, I know the mood’s been kind of heavy lately, but Kristal swears this episode’s going to ramp things up again. So please don’t tune out!”

“Six campers remain. I’m Oliver, the camera guy; and this… is Disventure Camp!”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp. 

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

Kristal sat backstage, something clearly off about her. Her posture slumped, eyes blank as she stared at the live camera feed. She wasn’t really watching; just… staring. Lost.

The door creaked open. “H-hey, Kristal? I just finished filming the intro…”

“...Huh? Oh. Thanks, Oliver.” Her voice was flat as she returned to gazing at the monitors.

Oliver stepped in a little further, nervously fidgeting with his hands. “M-Miss Kristal? Is… something wrong?”

She turned in her chair, her gloomy air hardening into something a bit more stern - not angry, just tired. “How can you even ask that? Of course something’s wrong.”

He flinched. “I-I’m sorry…”

Kristal sighed and looked at him. “No, I’m sorry. I just… I still can’t believe Lake chose to leave. I feel guilty. Like… like I failed her somehow. Maybe if I hadn’t snapped at her earlier in the season, she would’ve stayed. Maybe she would’ve believed in herself more. I just; ugh, I was so stupid.”

“Kristal, no - you’re not stupid!” Oliver rushed out. “Y-you helped her! You kept her awful parents out of the picture. You… you were more of a parent to her than they ever were. Heck, even more than Christoff was!”

That gave Kristal pause. “...You really think that?”

“I-I do! You already did the right thing. Even if you weren’t perfect, you stood up for her when it mattered. If you hadn’t stepped in, Mr. Müller would’ve taken her back; and who knows what would’ve happened. But with you… she had a chance.”

Kristal slowly nodded, the weight on her shoulders lifting just slightly. “...Yeah. Okay. You’re making sense. As usual.”

“J-just doing my job.” Oliver said, bashfully. “Still, I wonder how Lake quitting is gonna affect things around camp… y’know, strategy, vo-”

Suddenly Kristal sat upright. “Votes! Right; I nearly forgot!”

Oliver blinked. “W-wait… forgot what? Is this gonna be like the water challenge again, or…?”

Kristal waved it off. “No, no - that mess was because of those shady sellers and their junk equipment. I didn’t do my due diligence, but this time; it’s different. The challenge isn’t broken - it’s just… unfair. In a hard way.”

Oliver tilted his head. “Uhh… unfair how?”

She smirked faintly. “Unusual kind of unfair. But nothing they can’t handle.”

_

Aiden stood alone near the edge of the lake, tucked away in a quiet corner of the forest. He stared out at the water, lost in thought.

“...Aiden?”

He flinched slightly at the voice. Soft, familiar, but not quite welcome. Riya.

Her sudden appearance sent a ripple of unease through him. Karol’s warning echoed in the back of his mind. Still, Riya approached with a gentle smile. “Didn’t mean to scare you. I was actually thinking... maybe we could work together?”

Aiden hesitated, words catching in his throat. “U-uh… I - I think I’ll have to pass. Sorry. I’m just… not in a place to make any promises right now.”

Riya blinked, caught off-guard by the awkward refusal. Something felt… off. But she kept her tone pleasant. “Hmm. That’s a shame; but - no worries! Maybe another time, then?”

“Y-yeah. Maybe. I should… I should get going,” Aiden mumbled, already backing away.

He turned and walked off without another word.

Riya watched him go, expression unreadable.

Confessional ~ Riya

“Something’s up with Aiden… He has to be aligned with someone. The only question is; who?”

_

Ally sat slumped on the porch of the old Tiger cabin, Nintendo Switch in hand. She was playing Minecraft - not for fun, but as a distraction, trying to shake off the weight in her chest.

Her thoughts drifted back to the last elimination. 

“...Lake…” She mumbled, and let out a heavy sigh. “Not even Minecraft can cheer me up. Maybe I’ll just blow up a village in Creative…”

“A-HEM!”

The loud, deliberate throat clear came out of nowhere. Ally barely flinched; just lowered her console and frowned at the source; Karol.

“Well, well…” Karol scoffed. “Wasting your time on video games, I see. Are you sure your brain’s still functioning? Or has it rotted from all that screen time?”

Ally rolled her eyes, already exhausted. “Whatever you say, Karol…”

“Hmph! Typical. You kids never know what you want. And I bet you’re just as lost when it comes to your next vote.” Karol’s voice sharpened. “Be careful not to choose the wrong side, sweetheart.”

Ally stiffened. That wasn’t a suggestion; it was a threat.

“…W-what?”

But Karol was already walking away.

Ally stared down at her Switch for a moment, then flicked it off. Once Karol was out of sight, she slipped back inside the cabin, tucked it away, and bolted out the door; disappearing into the woods with a determined look in her eye.

_

Not far from the cabins, James sat alone on a rock by the lake, silently tossing pebbles into the water. He tried to skip one, but it just plopped and sank. Typical.

His eyes stayed fixed on the ripples, frustration building behind his furrowed brow.

“Your technique could use some work.” Came a voice - oddly calm, vaguely familiar.

James flinched, turning around with a scowl. “...Ugh. You?”

Kai smiled faintly. “No need for hostility, brother. You just need to align your chakras-”

“Just stop talking.” James snapped. “I don’t want to hear it.”

Kai paused, arms raised slightly in mock surrender. “I was just going to say…”

“Not. Now.” James tossed another rock. It sank immediately.

Kai backed off a step. “You know, Karol’s more the type to scold you about hurting nature. Speaking of her…”

“Man, go away. You’re literally the last person I want to talk to.”

Kai tilted his head. “Is that so? I can think of someone else.”

That struck a nerve.

James shot to his feet, jabbing a finger at him. “Are you mocking me? First - you spy on me, now - you’re pestering me. If you’re looking for a fight, just say it.”

“I’m… not.”

James clenched his fists, rage flaring; but he let out a sharp breath and slumped back onto the rock, resting his chin on his hand.

“James?”

“What.”

“Are you sure you don’t want chakra help?”

“...No.”

A few seconds of thick silence.

Kai crouched nearby. “You know, maybe I’m not who you think I am. You’ve got your judgments about me, but I don’t hold the same ones about you.”

James grumbled. “You don’t… know me, okay?”

“I know enough, James.”

Before James could fire back, hurried footsteps crunched through the trail.

Ally burst into view, panting. “F-finally… found you…”

Ally slowed as she approached the two, eyebrows lifting when she spotted Kai. “...Huh? Wait; since when are you two actually… friends?”

James scoffed. “We’re not. I don’t even know why he’s here.”

Kai beamed. “Perfect timing, Ally. There’s something I need to discuss with both of you; regarding Karol.”

Ally groaned. “Oh, great . Because I also came to talk about her. She came out of nowhere and basically threatened me.”

James blinked. “Wait, what ?”

“Yeah. She saw me on my Switch and acted like that was some personal crime. Then she told me to ‘watch who I vote for’ - like, barely even trying to sound subtle.”

James rubbed his face. “Fantastic. One more reason to vote her out. If she drags Aiden into her dram-”

“Wait, please…” Kai cut in, lifting a hand. “That’s actually why I’m here. I… want to vote Karol out, too.”

Both James and Ally stared at him.

“...Seriously?” Ally asked.

Kai nodded. “Yes. Her energy is deeply toxic. I can feel it weighing on the camp. She’s dangerous, and it’s time we restored some balance.”

James narrowed his eyes. “Right. How convenient , considering you voted for me earlier. For all we know, Karol sent you to spy on us. Or Aiden did.”

Kai held up his hands calmly. “I don’t wish to hurt Aiden. But I fear Karol’s hold over him; and what she might do next. She’s… keeping him close. Too close.”

James rolled his eyes. “Maybe let Aiden make his own decisions instead of treating him like he’s… brainwashed.”

Before things could escalate, Ally stepped between them. “Alright - chill . Look, I think Kai’s being real. Karol is dangerous. And if she’s scheming with Aiden - and maybe even with Riya? We can’t ignore that.”

She looked between them. “So… I say we take the shot.”

James exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. “...Fine. Whatever.”

Kai gave a small smile.

Ally held out her hand. Kai placed his over hers. James hesitated, then rolled his eye and added his on top.

They raised them slightly; a quiet pact.

“Alright.” Ally said with a smirk. “Let’s get that hag out - unless she pulls off an immunity win, or something…”

James groaned. “Ugh. Don’t say that. Now we’re cursed.”

“Well… there is a blessing I know. It’s said to guard against curses and dark energy.”

_

As always, Kristal’s booming voice sent a flock of birds scattering from the trees.

“Alright, campers! I hope you’ve shaken off the gloomy vibes, because it’s time to re-focus. Today’s challenge comes with a twist; and the stakes are higher than ever. Meet me at the campfire.”

_

As instructed, the six remaining campers gathered by the campfire.

Kristal greeted them with a mischievous grin. “Welcome! As I said earlier, today’s challenge is going to be a bit more intense. Actually… it might just be your toughest one yet.”

Aiden crossed his arms. “Harder than that totally rigged aquatic challenge? Doubt it.”

Kristal pointed at him sharply. “Down, Aiden.”

She continued. “Here’s how it’ll work: later tonight, Marcus will drive you all out to the start of a trail deep in the forest. From there, you’ll have to navigate your way back to camp; on foot, in the dark.”

A few campers shifted uncomfortably.

“You’ll be paired into duos that I’ve already selected. Each pair gets a small backpack with basic supplies; just enough to last the night, so use them wisely. Now here’s the twist…”

She leaned in with a grin.

“The last team to make it back? Both players are eliminated.”

A wave of gasps rippled through the group.

“W-what?!” Aiden sputtered. “Oh, this is bad…”

Karol scoffed. “This is preposterous! …But if you think I’ll fold under pressure, think again!”

Kristal chuckled. “Now that’s the spirit. Let’s see if you can back it up. Here are your pairings…”

She gestured casually.

“James and Ally.”

The two exchanged a look and high-fived.

“Riya and Aiden.”

Riya blinked in surprise, while Aiden shifted uncomfortably under Karol’s pointed glare.

“And lastly… Karol and Kai.”

Kai blinked. “Wait, really?”

Karol’s reaction was much louder. “Of course you stuck me with this half-baked hippie! Ugh, useless!”

Aiden mumbled under his breath. “Karol…”

Kristal clapped, unbothered. “Hey; beggars can’t be choosers. You said you weren’t giving up, right? Let’s see if you meant it.”

She stepped back and folded her arms. “Now, get ready. I want all of you at the bus stop by 11PM sharp. Good luck; you're gonna need it.”

_

11PM arrived, and the six campers gathered at the bus stop, each taking a seat beside their assigned partner. Marcus sat at the wheel, silent as ever, while Nina peeked out from the front row, her unblinking stare giving Aiden a sudden chill.

Ally sighed and leaned toward James. “Man, I’m seriously worried. This whole challenge is nuts… I just know my sleep schedule’s gonna implode.”

James nodded, arms folded. “Yeah… it’s all or nothing now. So much for that alliance strategy.”

“Guess I really did jinx us, huh?”

“Maybe. Let’s just focus on surviving the night.”

Toward the middle of the bus, Aiden sat stiffly beside Riya, avoiding eye contact. The silence lingered until Riya gave a soft hum and broke it.

“Well… it’s kind of ironic that we ended up as a team, isn’t it?”

Aiden gave a nervous chuckle. “Y-yeah… I guess it is.”

In the back row, Karol sat stone-faced, her arms crossed tightly and her scowl sharp enough to cut through steel. Kai sat beside her, cautiously peeking her way.

“...Ma’am, would you care for a bit of chakra guidan-”

“Not. A. Word.” Karol snapped. “You listen, and you follow. Do exactly what I say, when I say it. Got that, junkie?”

Kai shrank back with a sigh. “Understood…”

Confessional ~ Kai

“Talk about cruel irony; getting paired with Karol right after I plotted to vote her out. And right after I tried to build an alliance, too. Every time I try to make a smart move, luck turns against me. Even if Karol should go, I’m stuck. If she loses, I go down with her... and that’s not a risk I can take.”

_

Finally, the bus rumbled to a stop at the edge of the forest trails. Each pair stepped off, one camper from each duo slinging a backpack over their shoulder. As Marcus drove off into the night, the teams exchanged brief glances; then silently scattered into the woods, each choosing a different path rather than risk following someone else's lead.

_

Karol led the way, flashlight in hand, marching ahead with purpose. Kai trailed behind her, uneasy.

“Um… you might not want to use the flashlight just yet. It’s not even that dark.”

“First of all…” Karol snapped, not looking back. “I told you not to question me. Second, I doubt there’s a single ounce of wisdom in that head of yours. You look like the type who’d strangle a raccoon and roast it over a fire.”

Kai recoiled. “W-what?! I’d never! I’m vegan; I don’t even step on ants if I can help it!”

Karol came to a sudden stop, glancing back with sharp skepticism. “Yeah, sure. Just keep moving and keep quiet.”

Kai sighed, lowering his head as he trudged after her.

_

James gripped the flashlight tightly, leading the way with visible hesitation.

“So, uh… any idea which way to go?” He asked, glancing around.

Ally paused, thinking. “Okay; this might just be my gut talking, but I’m pretty sure we were dropped off somewhere west of camp. If we keep heading that way, we might find it.”

James didn’t look convinced, but there weren’t any better ideas. “Alright… guess it’s worth a shot.” He glanced up at the sky. “Yikes. Looks like it might rain…”

Ally gave him a look. “Great. And now you’re the one jinxing us.”

_

Riya led the way through the dark woods, flashlight in hand, with an awkward Aiden trailing behind.

She glanced back, flashing him a playful smirk. “Hey, no need to be scared. I’m not role-playing a killer this time.”

Aiden chuckled softly. “Haha… yeah. Sorry again for hitting you with Rosa’s flower pot.”

“Oh, that was Rosa’s?” She laughed. “Eh; water under the bridge.” Her tone shifted, a little more curious. “So… I don’t mean to pry, but I’ve been wondering - why did you hesitate when I asked about an alliance?”

He exhaled, rubbing his neck. “I guess I can say it now. It’s Karol. She’s been kind of… possessive? She wants us to be a tight alliance and doesn’t really like me talking to the others. And for some reason… she treats me differently. Like she’s got this weird connection to me.”

Riya raised an eyebrow. “Karol, huh? That’s… unexpected. She’s hard to read. Definitely a wildcard.”

Aiden looked off into the trees, his eyes catching a glimmer of moonlight reflecting off a distant lake. “...I keep thinking about Lake. I hope she’s okay.”

Riya sighed. “Yeah. I tried to convince her to stay, but she was set on leaving. Still… if Rosa brings her peace, I respect that choice.”

Aiden hesitated, then asked... “So… did you get close to anyone in this whole game? We haven’t really talked much before now.”

Riya smirked. “Ooh, I don’t know - you tell me.”

He smiled sheepishly. “Well… I think I’ve grown close to Kai? He’s just… really supportive. Kind. He stood up for me a few times. He’s got this calm energy… I like that.”

Riya grinned. “Sounds like boyfriend material.”

Aiden nearly tripped. “W-what?? No - I mean; maybe? I-I don’t know… it’s complicated.”

She shrugged. “Hey, you never know. You’re young. Sometimes it’s worth seeing where those feelings go. If he makes you happy…”

“It’s just - I don’t even know if he likes me that way.” Aiden muttered. “It’s… confusing.”

Riya raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you two kiss during that challenge? Don’t tell me you forgot.”

Aiden blushed hard. “Ugh; how could I forget? The kiss was… fine, I guess. But that whole challenge? I’d love to erase it from my memory.”

She laughed. “Totally fair. But since you shared, I’ll return the favor. I really bonded with Connor. He was working through some stuff, but still made time to support me; especially when I was freaking out about my career. He’s a genuinely sweet guy.”

Aiden nodded. “Oh, Connor! Yeah, I remember him. We talked on the first day, on the bus. What happened to him?”

Riya’s smile faded. “Yul. The guy found an immunity idol right before the vote. Everyone else voted for him - he voted for Connor. Just like that, Connor was out. Right after the kissing challenge.”

Aiden frowned. “Wow… guess that challenge kinda sucked for all of us.”

Riya noticed something shift in his expression. A heaviness, like he wasn’t just talking about the challenge itself. But she let it go. For now.

They kept walking, the forest stretching ahead.

_

The forest had grown darker. It was 1AM now, and faint thunder rumbled in the distance.

Karol found a small clearing and quickly set to work building a campfire. Kai stood nearby, watching with a mix of admiration and confusion.

“Uhh… how are you planning to light that? I’m pretty sure Kristal didn’t give us any matches in the backpacks…”

Without responding, Karol pulled a lighter from her pocket and flicked it on. The fire sparked to life, soft flames dancing in the quiet night.

“Whoa…” Kai muttered, surprised.

She shot him a glare. “Stay out of it, hippie.”

Kai held up his hands, saying nothing more as the fire crackled between them.

Confessional ~ Karol

“I’ve spent plenty of nights out in the woods, looking after the local wildlife… This isn’t anything new to me. Of course I keep a lighter on me; just in case. I come prepared. Honestly, I’m a lot more capable than people give me credit for. Everyone thinks I’m just some cranky ‘Karen’ - hmph. Let them think that. I’ll prove them all wrong.”

_

Meanwhile, Riya and Aiden had found a surprisingly scenic spot - a wide hill shaded by an arched tree that shielded them from the rain. From where they sat, they could see the distant lake shimmering in the moonlight, surrounded by scattered wildflowers.

“This place is so pretty…” Aiden said softly. “Do you think we’ll make it back before anyone else?”

Riya gave a confident hum. “I’m not too worried. Back when I was stuck backstage with Kristal, I had access to tons of camera feeds and maps. I did my homework; I know these trails pretty well. I doubt anyone’s beating us there.”

“Oh. That’s… actually really smart.”

She smiled. Then, after a pause, she leaned in a little. “You know, Aiden… I really think you should rethink your alliance with Karol. She’s dangerous. If you ever feel ready to cut ties, just say the word; we could easily take her down together. She wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Aiden hesitated. “I-I don’t know… she’s always been kind to me. Turning on her would just feel… wrong.”

Riya looked down, then nodded. “I get it. But don’t let guilt trap you. You have to make your own choices, not ones she pushes you into.”

“...Yeah. Easier said than done, though.”

“We’ve all been there. But - hey… now’s probably not the time for heavy reflection. Looks like a storm’s rolling in.”

With that, the two settled in for the night, sheltered under the tree’s branches, the lake glimmering quietly in the distance.

_

“Ugh, we’re totally lost! So much for your genius plan, Ally.”

“H-hey, that’s not on me!” She shot back. “It’s not like Kristal handed us a map or anything!”

As they argued, the flashlight in James’s hand started to flicker.

“...T-the battery; oh, come on!” Ally groaned. “That was our only flashlight…”

She glanced up. The clouds above were darker than ever.

“This storm’s about to hit any second…”

Thunder rumbled in the distance as the first drops of rain began to fall.

“Perfect…” James muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Ally scanned the horizon, desperate for anything - any sign of shelter. That’s when she saw it; a faint silhouette in the distance. A squat, weathered-looking building, barely lit by the moonlight.

“W-wait; look! Over there! That might be a cabin or something. We could take shelter!”

James didn’t hesitate. “Then let’s go!”

They sprinted through the rain, arms over their heads, James clutching his bag and the dying flashlight.

The building’s door creaked open - thankfully, unlocked. Inside, the place was rough - half the roof had caved in, letting rain dribble in through one corner, but it was still drier and safer than outside.

“W-whoa… that was insane.” Ally panted, shaking out her sleeves.

James set his stuff down and looked around. “What even is this place? Just a random shack?”

Ally stepped toward an old table in the center, eyeing a dusty radio panel and scattered tools. “Looks like a ranger station, maybe? Abandoned, though. Storm’s still going.”

James checked his phone; no signal, but enough battery to check the time. “...It’s 2:30 AM. Storm’ll probably pass soon, but either way, it’s late.”

“We may as well crash here for the night.” Ally said, settling against the wall.

James sighed and slid down beside her. “Yeah… not exactly five-star accommodations.”

A quiet moment passed before Ally spoke again. “...Hey - before we pass out, there’s something you never followed up on.”

James glanced at her.

“You said you’d tell me what was going on with you and Aiden.”

He didn’t answer right away, just gave her a look; guarded, uncertain.

Ally softened. “Look, you don’t have to if you’re not ready. But I do have something I wanna say. Something I’ve been holding in for a while. And honestly… I think you’re the only person here I could tell without being totally judged.”

James tilted his head, curious.

“Maybe if I talk, it’ll make it easier for you to open up too.”

He thought for a moment… then nodded. “Alright. We’re not sleeping anytime soon, anyway.”

“…Okay.” Ally paused, steeling herself. “This is kind of a lot, so just… bear with me.”

James nodded.

“A few months ago, I was doing a normal Twitch stream. Playing COD, just expecting the usual trash talk from random dudes. But this one match… these kids showed up. Super toxic. Clearly hacking. And I guess they heard me talking, saw my username; whatever. Next thing I know, they’re flooding my stream.”

She sighed.

“They were relentless. Saying awful stuff in the chat - worse than the usual trolls. My mods weren’t online that day, and I was getting pissed. So I dug around, found one of their gamer profiles linked to a tiny YouTube channel. Like… three subs. Cringe Minecraft let’s plays. I was mad, so… I snapped.”

“Snapped how?” James asked gently.

“I pulled up one of their videos on my stream. Started trashing it live. Just; full-on dragging them, hoping they’d back off and stop spamming me.”

She looked down.

“My viewers went off. They started spamming them - leaving hate comments, dislikes, the whole thing. And then one of the kids… started crying. On mic. And suddenly, I realized how far I’d taken it. But it was already too late.”

James blinked, caught off-guard. “Damn…”

“Yeah. Some people watching were super weirded out. Said I went too far, acted immature. I didn’t know what to say, so I just ended the stream.”

She rubbed her arms, voice quieter now.

“After that, things spiraled. Twitch gave me a short suspension; not the worst part. My friends? Streamers, casuals, people I’d known for years… most of them just cut me off. They said nothing. Just left. I only have a few who stuck around, but even now, I still get hate. Even in servers with my old friends, people talk about it behind my back.”

Her voice cracked, and she took off her glasses to wipe her eyes.

“I’m so tired of feeling bad about it… and it got worse after my grandpa passed. Ever since, I’ve felt… completely alone.”

James leaned in a little, heart heavy. He reached out and gently brushed away a tear.

“Hey… you didn’t deserve all that. Maybe you messed up, but those kids were harassing you first. That doesn’t make what happened okay; but it doesn’t make you evil, either.”

“I-I know… I just; I don’t know what to do anymore. I came here thinking maybe I could prove something. Or at least win enough money to patch up the wreck my life’s become.”

James sat with that for a moment. It was a feeling he knew too well.

“…Have you… thought about apologizing?” He asked.

Ally gave a dry laugh, her eyes red. “Of course. A million times. But it never helps. Everyone thinks you’re faking it, or trying to save face. Nobody believes in growth anymore.”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah… I get that.”

She glanced up at him. “Anyway… I’ve talked enough about me. If you’re up for it - maybe you could tell me what’s going on with Aiden?”

James exhaled. “Yeah… I think I can, now.”

He hesitated for a second, then met her eyes. “Do you remember the kissing challenge?”

“Ugh. Unfortunately.”

“Well… my kiss - with Aiden. I… made a whole scene out of it. At the time, I thought it would be good for views; but… I think I took it too far, and didn’t consider the consequences.”

Ally’s brows furrowed. “Oh…”

“Yeah. Ever since then, things have been different. He’s distant. Cold. I think I really hurt him.”

She frowned. “I didn’t realize… that’s rough.”

“Worst of all - I’ve been too scared to apologize. Probably for the same reasons as you.”

Ally stood up abruptly, fists clenched. “…You know what? I’m sick of feeling helpless. We need to get through this challenge, and then fix things. No more waiting.”

James blinked. “Wait; are you sure?”

“Yes! My grandpa always said - face your demons. So I will. And… I’ll help you face yours too. You can’t wait until the last second, or you’ll miss your chance. And don’t even think about texting him; apologies like this need to be real. In person.”

He hesitated… then nodded. “Okay. Maybe in the morning.”

“That’s the spirit.” She smiled, finally. “We’ll fix this. Then, maybe… I can start fixing myself, too.”

James smiled back, touched. He never expected to bond with Ally, let alone find someone willing to stand by him through his mess. As the rain kept drizzling outside, the two settled in for the night, a little less alone than before.

_

Morning finally broke. Around 9AM, Kristal stood waiting at the center of camp, joined by Oliver, Marcus, and Nina.

“Ugh, this challenge was a dumb idea. They’re going to take forever…” Nina groaned.

“Have a little faith, Nina.” Marcus said calmly. “They’ll show up soon enough.”

“That’s because you haven’t seen those slackers in action, grandpa.” She snapped.

Kristal, meanwhile, looked distant. Oliver noticed.

“Uh… Kristal? Are you okay?”

She sighed. “Yeah. Just… thinking about Lake.”

Marcus nodded solemnly. “You did everything you could for her. What matters now is keeping her safe from her parents.”

Oliver looked uneasy. “I mean… I dunno how much we can really do. Her parents could try suing us. They’re filthy rich.”

“Oh my god.” Nina groaned. “Can we please stop talking about Lake? You guys are like a stuck vinyl.”

Kristal didn’t respond; her eyes locked onto something far off in the woods.

“Wait…!” She pointed. “I think someone’s coming!”

Sure enough, two figures emerged down the forest trail, silhouettes growing clearer in the morning sun.

Kristal’s tone shifted with excitement. “Karol and Kai! Looks like we’ve got our first arrivals!”

As they crossed the finish line, Karol halted with a snarky grin. “Let that be a lesson; never doubt me, losers!”

Kai trudged up behind her, breathless. “I’m just glad that’s over…”

Kristal nudged Oliver. “Oliver - the camera.” He scrambled to set it up, focusing on her as she stepped in front of the lens.

“Ahem! With Karol and Kai claiming first place, that leaves just two teams: Riya and Aiden… and James and Ally. Who’ll make it back first? Stay tuned; we’ll find out in just a few minutes.”

_

Riya and Aiden jogged briskly along a rising forest trail.

“Come on, Aiden; keep up!” Riya called out as she vaulted down from a ledge to a lower path.

Aiden reached the edge she had just jumped from and froze, staring at the drop. “T-that’s… too high. I don’t think I can make it.”

Riya glanced back and sighed. “Yes, you can. Just sit on the edge and slide down - I’ve got you.”

He slowly lowered himself to the ledge, nerves building, then dropped. Riya caught him by the arm, steadying him with ease.

“W-whoa - oof!”

“See? Told you. Not that hard.”

“C-cool… thanks.”

“You’re welcome, Aiden. Now let’s move; time’s ticking.”

_

Ally and James pushed forward through the dense forest, their steps quick but tired.

“Come on; we might still have a shot. I think…” James said, glancing around.

Ally squinted ahead, scanning the trees. “My gut’s telling me we’re close. I swear I’ve seen that crooked trunk before…”

James nodded, picking up his pace. “Alright, let’s hustle. Maybe we’re not as behind as we think.”

“Even if we are, we go down swinging.” Ally said with a determined smile.

With that, the two pressed on, doing their best to make up ground.

_

As the morning sun broke fully through the treetops, Riya and Aiden burst through the final trail, breathing hard but triumphant.

Kristal’s voice echoed from the camp center. “And we have our second team; Riya and Aiden!”

Aiden doubled over, hands on his knees. “We made it…?”

Riya grinned, catching her breath. “Told you we wouldn’t get lost.”

Moments later, distant footsteps grew louder. Ally and James stumbled through the path, exhausted.

Kristal winced. “Oof… and that means James and Ally are the last to arrive.”

Ally groaned, wiping her forehead. “No way…”

James sank to the ground with a heavy sigh. “We were so close…”

Kai’s brows lifted slightly in quiet sympathy, while Karol stood with her arms crossed and the faintest smirk tugging at her lips; less out of relief, and more from petty satisfaction at seeing the pair eliminated.

Kristal gave them a moment, then raised her voice. “Sorry, guys. The rules are rules. You both are eliminated.”

James slowly sat up from the ground as Ally glanced down. After a quiet moment, they exchanged a small, understanding nod.

Kristal clapped her hands. “Alright; let’s take a short break while Marcus gets the bus ready. You’ll have a chance to say a proper goodbye before we send you off.”

_

A short recess passed, and soon, Kristal gathered everyone back at the unlit campfire grounds. James and Ally stood on one side beside her, while the remaining four contestants lined up across from them.

Kristal turned to address them. “Well, well; out of all the duos we’ve had, you two might just take the prize for best friendship. It’s rare to see something that genuine in a competition like this. But… as they say, all good things must come to an end. Time to head to the bus stop.”

Ally shifted on her feet, hesitating for a moment before raising her hand. “W-wait! Before we go… there’s someone I’d like to ask to walk us out.”

The remaining contestants exchanged glances, surprised. James gave her a quick, uneasy look.

Ally took a breath and called out. “Aiden… can you come with us?”

Aiden looked stunned, caught off guard. Karol shot Ally a brief glare, while Riya glanced over at Aiden and gave him a quiet, supportive nod. He hesitated, then sighed. “O-okay… sure. If you want me to.”

Kristal raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing at her lips. “How interesting… Well, since Aiden’s tagging along, you’d best get moving. Thanks for playing, James and Ally.”

With that, Aiden joined them. Ally offered a final wave to the others, and the trio turned to begin their walk toward the bus stop in silence.

_

Eventually, they arrived, the morning air still cool and heavy with everything left unsaid.

Ally gave James an encouraging pat on the back.

James stepped forward, nerves tugging at his breath. Aiden stood nearby, arms crossed, visibly uncertain. After a pause, James took a deep breath and spoke.

“I… need to tell you something. Something real.”

Aiden’s expression tightened, but he nodded. “O-okay. I’m listening.”

James exhaled. “Back when we first met, I wasn’t being completely honest. I was chasing attention. The media eats up that kind of thing - a cute couple, drama, attraction - and I thought; hey, maybe if I stayed close to you, showed it off a little… I’d get the spotlight I wanted.”

Aiden looked away, jaw clenched.

“But then… I got to know you. And it stopped being about that. I wasn’t pretending anymore. What I felt was real; but… I was too selfish to realize how I was affecting you. Forcing that kiss on you was… wrong. I crossed a line - and I didn’t think about how that would make you feel.”

James lowered his head. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, Aiden. You don’t have to. But - I just couldn’t leave this place without at least trying to make things right.”

Silence. Aiden stared at the ground for a moment, then back at James.

“…I was hurt. Really hurt. Not just by the kiss, but by how little you seemed to care at the time. Like… my feelings didn’t matter.”  Aiden admitted.

James nodded, guilt written all over his face.

“But - thank you… for saying this. For being honest. That… means a lot.” Aiden continued.

He gave a small sigh. “James - I forgive you. Not because it didn’t hurt, but because I don’t want to carry that weight forever. Just… promise me you’ll work on being better. So you don’t hurt someone else the way you hurt me.”

A soft smile crept onto James’s face. “I promise. And… thank you.”

Aiden gave a small, tired smile in return. “We’ll probably see each other again. Who knows how or when, but… yeah.”

With that, Aiden turned and walked away, disappearing into the morning haze.

James watched him go. Ally stepped up beside him, smiling. “I’m really proud of you.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you, you know…” James replied, a little choked up.

“Oh, come onnn…” Ally answered, playfully.

Moments later, the bus pulled up. James and Ally exchanged a look, then boarded together; maybe not victorious, but lighter than before.

_

The camera flickered to life, revealing Kristal standing alone in front of the unlit campfire, her usual grin shining through the early morning gloom.

“Phew! What an episode, huh?” She chuckled, brushing some imaginary dust from her shoulder. “Big emotions, big stakes, and plenty of juicy drama; honestly, I should be thanking the campers for the content. This might’ve been our most explosive episode yet.”

She paused, glancing off thoughtfully.

“Buuut… let’s not forget it was also a little bittersweet. With James and Ally gone, the camp just got a whole lot quieter. Their friendship was one of the strongest bonds in the whole game - loyal, steady, hard to come by. And now? They’re out of the picture.”

Kristal then clapped her hands together with renewed energy. “But hey! Silver lining; we’ve officially entered the Final Four! That’s right - only four campers remain, and the finale? Much closer than you’d think. The pressure’s on, and anything could happen. Who’s going to outwit, outrun, and outlast their way to the crown? Who’s got your vote?”

She winked at the camera.

“I’m Kristal, your ever-fabulous host - and this was… Disventure Camp!”

Chapter Text

“Last time, on Disventure Camp! Riya tried to form an alliance with Aiden, but he was unusually withdrawn. Karol issued a barely veiled threat to Ally, warning her to be careful who she voted for at the ceremony. Meanwhile, Kai made an awkward attempt to bond with James; who wasn’t interested. Ally stepped in to make peace between them, resulting in a new alliance.

But all their concerns about the upcoming vote were blown away by a shocking twist - the challenge involved an automatic elimination of two campers! The contestants had to navigate the woods overnight in pairs, facing various obstacles along the way. Alongside the tension, we got some dramatic revelations from Ally and James. Sadly, those same two were eliminated for being the last pair to arrive.

Now, only four campers remain - we’ve reached the final four! Who will be eliminated next? Stick around to find out. Let’s get started!”

-xx-

The theme song starts. A camera flies through Driver Marcus and his puppet Nina in the bus, with the host Kristal striking a confident pose by the sign of the camp. 

The camera headed to the lake, where Maggy, Aiden and Hunter were on a canoe, fishing. Hunter caught a fish, reeling it up and grabbing onto it, holding it up gleefully. Aiden claps his hands at his achievement. Maggy then jumps cheerfully, which causes the boat to tumble and her two friends to fall in the water, as she observes in shock.

Kai is peacefully meditating in front of the cabin entrance. Yul shows up, yelling at him. Suddenly, a crocodile appears from behind, and chases Yul viciously, making the latter run away in fear. Karol appears, whistling over to the crocodile. It approaches her and she hugs it lovingly.

Tess and Ally are sitting beside each other in the forest, with the latter holding a Nintendo Switch, focused on her game. Tess is drawing silently. James then appears, sitting down next to Ally, waving at the pair. Ally waves back, and suddenly James pulls out his phone, preparing to take a trio selfie. James and Ally strike a pose, and Tess covers her eyes as the blinding flash of the camera occurs.

Later in the evening, Connor, Riya, Lake, Rosa and Oliver are roasting marshmallows by the campfire. A squirrel shows up, next to Oliver’s foot. Once he notices it, he lets out a huge scream, running to the forest. The group stare at each other, confused, and then they all laugh it off.

Much deeper into the night, every single one of the fourteen contestants reunited by the campfire. Karol and Yul glared at each other in disgust, until Connor popped up in the middle of them, wrapping his arms around the two, with a huge smile on his face. Of course, this only made the pair more annoyed. The camera zoomed out, showing the host Kristal beside the voting urn, flipping her ponytail and saluting the viewers.

-xx-

The camp was quiet that morning. Aiden sat alone at one of the wooden tables in front of the Tigers' cabin - the same spot where he and James had last talked, what felt like ages ago.

He absentmindedly scrolled through his phone, letting out an annoyed huff. “I really shouldn’t be doing this to myself, but the curiosity is killing me…” He muttered.

Giving in, he opened TikTok and searched for clips from the competition. The public was all over it; fans had clipped dozens of moments, some overlaid with memes or random text for effect.

As he kept scrolling through what felt like an endless stream of comments, only a handful really stuck with him.

OH MY GOD the way yul roasted everyone in his elimination?? Also yeah who even talks about blurays anymore lmfao

Yul was carrying this and now he’s gone. >:/

Actually, all of you are wrong, Riya is clearly the best.

Omw to make a lake stan account after kicking y*l in the nuts. This diva deserves edits and recognition

I hate ally, one day i said hi in her stream and she was mean :(((

I’M SURPRISED this show is still running considering all the weird shit Kristal did. Is no one cancelling this??

Kai has to be a paid actor PFFT he is having way too much fun with this

i still can’t believe aiden is somehow still here bruh, imagine not making any good strategic moves and being carried by kristal’s trash rules and karol. Get him out plss

Omg i didnt know the vegan teacher was in this show

big brother ain’t got shit on disventure camp. 

#justiceforoliver because I’m pretty sure Kristal isn’t paying him!!!

YOU GUYS BETTER SHUT IT ABOUT AIDEN,, karol’s the one who only made enemies this entire season and shes somehow still in!! LEAVE AIDEN ALONE >:(

Lake’s exit actually messed me up. I hope she’ll be okay after this.

ALLY IS SO FAKE LMAOOOO imagine trying to gain sympathy points for drama that u fabricated yourself!! snake behavior, all those streamers are the same

Ugh im sooo sick of aiden being so rude to james like hes literally just being nice to himm they couldve started a romance but noo!!!

Aiden got some nerve being mad at james when he agreed to the kiss in the first place….hypocrite much??

Aiden couldn’t help but sigh at the comments; especially the last two. He tried to fight the urge to get emotional, but before he knew it, his eyes were welling with tears.

He huffed and wiped his eyes. “D-Don’t be a baby… stop, okay…?”

Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder and jolted in surprise. “W-Whoa!

“Aiden, it’s me… I’m sorry.” A familiar voice said.

He wiped his eyes again, still catching his breath from the shock. “...K-Karol?”

“Yes. Are you okay? You’re crying. What happened?” Her expression was guarded, but her voice was sincere.

Still wiping his eyes, he glanced at her; his eyes red. “I… Look, i-it’s really stupid. I don’t want to bother you, Karol…”

Karol sat beside him without hesitation. “You’re not bothering me. Please, tell me. Did someone do something to you? Was it that junkie, Kai? Or maybe that two-faced Riya…?”

“N-No, no… it’s not like that, Karol.”

“Then… what is it?”

Aiden looked away, running his hand across the table as he turned off his phone. “It’s something I’ve been dealing with since the kiss challenge.”

Karol huffed. “That challenge was disgusting. We have Kristal to thank for that mess.”

“Y-Yeah… well, it’s… when James kissed me. I…”

As soon as he mentioned it, Karol’s eyes widened slightly. She seemed to connect the dots. “...I see. I thought you were upset because that filthy junkie kissed you, but now that you mention it… James made a big scene out of it. I feel foolish for not realizing it sooner. Are you okay?”

Aiden sighed. “It’s not your fault. And honestly, I don’t know. I’ve always struggled with things like that - intimacy, identity… just trying to figure myself out. And I’ve realized I’m not the kind of person who’s comfortable when people get… too forward. Too touchy. So when James kissed me; even if it didn’t last long - it left a mark I can’t shake off.”

He paused. “And after that… we’ve just been distant. Awkward. For a long time.”

Karol’s brows knit with concern. “Oh, Aiden, honey… I’m really sorry. That guy’s a self-absorbed clown. He only cares about himself and getting attention. By the way; what happened when he and Ally called you over to the bus stop before they left?”

“T-that’s the weird part… James actually apologized. And it felt genuine, too. But… that just makes me feel worse.”

“...Why’s that?”

“Karol - I told him I forgave him, but I don’t know. I think I was too harsh with him. And either way, things have just been so damn awkward since then. Now it feels like the internet’s totally split on me. A lot of people are saying I overreacted.”

Karol scoffed, visibly irritated. “Please. Those keyboard warriors don’t know a thing about you. And no - being upset when someone crosses a boundary isn’t overreacting. You’re not some object for people to mess with. We’re human. We hurt. No one gets to decide how you’re supposed to feel. I… if I’d realized sooner, I would’ve done something to support you, Aiden.”

Aiden waved his hands, flustered. “I-it’s fine! You’re already helping… I just didn’t want to dump this all on you. And it’s not just the kiss thing, it’s… everything. I’ve always had awful self-esteem. Especially when it comes to how I look. Funny thing is, I actually auditioned for season one of this show.”

“Oh? You did?”

“Yeah. Got turned down for being too ‘plain’ apparently. That really stuck with me. Ever since then, I’ve felt… invisible. I mean, I try not to let it get to me, but compared to everyone else, I just don’t stand out. Even though my parents are really supportive, I can’t seem to see what they see. Whenever I think about putting myself out there, it’s like; I just assume people will hate it. Or think I’m trying too hard. When I look in the mirror, I feel like I’ve got nothing going for me. No confidence, no looks… nothing. I can’t even bring myself to swim in my trunks - I just feel too awkward. Not good enough.” Aiden’s voice dropped with quiet shame.

Karol let out a breath, clearly trying to find the right words. “Aiden, look… you don’t owe anyone a performance. You don’t have to win people over or prove anything to be valid. Some people are always going to judge - but that’s on them, not you. You’ve got your own style, your own thing going. I mean, I’m the one still stuck in the past. And even if I don’t understand half of these new trends, you pull them off way better than most of your generation.”

Aiden’s eyes softened, touched. “A-aww… thanks, Karol. You always seem so strong and wise when it matters most.”

She gave a small, tired smile. “That’s because I’ve lived it. People never accepted me for who I was. My parents told me to marry a nice man. I never wanted to; and when I expressed love toward women, I got ridiculed for it. So I turned to nature. Animals don’t hurt you with words. They don’t lie or manipulate. They make me feel safe… so I protect them. That’s how I give back. Do you get what I’m saying? Stick with people who see you for who you really are, who treat you right. You’ll never win over the fake ones - and you shouldn’t have to try. It’s not about impressing people. It’s about showing up for the ones who care.”

Aiden slowly nodded, his eyes welling up again; this time not from pain, but from relief. Karol genuinely understood. “I-I get it… and thanks, Karol. I already feel a little better.”

Karol smiled gently, for once looking more at peace than weary. “Then I’ve done my job.”

Confessional ~ Aiden

“Man, I’m really glad Karol’s around. I’ve been feeling terrible for so long… and it’s comforting to know she genuinely gets me. It all makes sense now; why she acts the way she does. She’s not cold or cruel… she’s just been hurt. But that doesn’t make her a bad person.”

_

Confessional ~ Karol

“I’ll admit - it nearly brought me to tears, seeing Aiden like that. He reminds me so much of myself when I was younger. Everything he’s feeling… the hurt, the betrayal from people he thought he could trust; it’s all too familiar. I can’t help but feel responsible for him. As long as I’m still in this competition, no harm is going to come to that boy. I gave him my word, and I intend to keep it.”

_

Kristal was pacing around the backstage area, glancing nervously at the cameras as she muttered to herself. “Ugh, this probably isn’t going to work…” 

She glared down at the messy notes in her notepad, trying to make sense of them, but eventually gave up and tossed it onto a desk with a sigh. 

Dropping into her rolling chair, she let it spin once before stopping to face the cameras. “How are we supposed to pull off snow with the budget we’ve got? …Stupid. This is so stupid…”

She didn’t notice Marcus stepping into the production tent. “Howdy, Kristal! Everything good?”

She spun around again to face him. “Not even close, Marcus! This challenge is a mess. We can’t just cover an entire field in snow; it’s way too late to get a snow machine, and we don’t have the money for it anyway.”

Marcus tapped the large notebook he held behind his back. “Well, this might be good timing, then…” He stepped closer and dropped it on her desk.

Kristal narrowed her eyes. “What is that?”

He gave her a grin. “Was pokin’ around Trevor and Derek’s old storage stuff. Found this just sittin’ there.”

Kristal opened the notebook, and her eyes lit up when she saw the first page labeled “Challenge Ideas!” 

“Oh, this is perfect! Total lifesaver. Thanks, Marcus.” She gave him a thumbs-up.

“Just doin’ my part.”

She paused, glancing up. “...Wait, where’s Nina?”

Marcus gave a casual shrug. “Ah, you know Nina. Sometimes she gets sick of me and just wanders off. She’ll show up again.”

Kristal nodded and quickly buried herself in the notebook, flipping through pages, already focused on salvaging the day’s challenge.

_

Over in the cafeteria, Oliver was the only intern on duty, tidying up while Kai finished off his vegan sandwich. Oliver was focused, carefully collecting the trays left behind by the contestants. There weren’t many, but dropping even one would be enough to get scolded by Kristal. He let out an annoyed sigh. “Ugh, Marcus should be the one doing this…”

Kai glanced over with mild curiosity, side-eyeing him from his seat.

Struggling a bit, Oliver lifted the trays onto the counter; an awkward task, considering his short height.

“Oliver, I’m sensing some… chaotic energy from you.” Kai spoke suddenly, breaking the silence.

Oliver chuckled sarcastically. “Oh, really? Maybe that’s because I’m stuck cleaning everything by myself - again.”

“No, no… it’s deeper than that.” Kai replied, tilting his head. “It feels like you’re stuck at a crossroads. Like you’re unsure - torn between your present and your future.”

Oliver froze, staring at him. “W-wait… how did you - how did you know that?”

Kai just hummed thoughtfully. “It’s in the air. Trust me; there’s nothing worse than being stuck between a bad present and an uncertain future…”

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the hallway. “Hah! That sounds like something a scammer would say!”

They turned to see none other than Nina - the puppet doll - strolling into the cafeteria, without Marcus in sight. “Oliver, please tell me you’re not actually buying into this guy’s crystal-magic nonsense.”

“N-Nina?? Why aren’t you with Marcus?” Oliver asked, startled.

“None of your business, gnome-boy. So, what are you two dorks rambling about?”

Kai glared at her, clearly uncomfortable. “Y-you… you reek of darkness. You’re a vessel of bad vibes!”

Nina rolled her button eyes. “And you’re a walking incense stick with no brain. I thought hippies were supposed to be mellow?”

“N-Nina, please don’t start a fight…” Oliver mumbled, glancing between them.

“Hah! As if I’d waste my breath on this weirdo. Anyway, I overheard you two earlier; what was that all about?”

Oliver sighed. “It’s nothing, really. Just… something I might want to talk to Kristal about.”

Nina smirked. “Ooooh, are you in looove with herrr?”

“Ew! No! Can you stop making everything about that?!” Oliver recoiled, visibly disgusted.

“Hahaha! I’m sorry, it’s just fun watching you squirm. So - if it’s not a crush, then what is it?”

“It’s just… I guess you could call it life advice. Something I think Kristal could actually help me with. But she’s busy right now, so… maybe I’ll bring it up when the show’s over.”

Nina tapped her chin, trying to piece together what he meant. “Hmm… whatever. If you’re lying, at least bring her flowers.”

“Ughhh, you’re the worst, Nina…” Oliver groaned.

The puppet snickered as she walked out of the cafeteria. “Byeeee, losers!”

_

Karol stood quietly in her usual forest clearing, keeping a careful eye on the nearby wildlife.

Unnoticed at first, Riya lingered behind a tree, watching her with a sharp, determined gaze. After a moment’s hesitation, she stepped forward. 

“Karol. We need to talk.” 

Karol didn’t look back, letting out a slow breath. “Save it.”

Riya kept her tone steady. “Come on; I’ve seen through your cold act. I’ve known plenty like you. You act like a protector, but deep down, it’s about control. That’s what you’re doing to Aiden, isn’t it?”

Karol finally turned, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t bring him into this.”

Riya exhaled slowly, lips barely parted before she continued. “He’s not a kid, Karol. What are you protecting him from - Kai? Me? Life itself?”

“You don’t know anything about him. Or about me. But manipulation? Yeah, you nailed that part. Take a long look in the mirror.”

Riya gave a quiet laugh. “Nice try, but I’m not the one steering Aiden’s choices. I don’t need to baby him to prove I care. He deserves to figure out his feelings without someone hovering over him like a guard dog.”

“Oh, so that’s it. You want to get in his head. Well, I’m not letting that happen - not from you, and especially not from that drugged-up trash.”

Riya crossed her arms. “And now you’ve really shown your hand. You clearly don’t understand Aiden at all. Have you even seen how he lights up around Kai? They’re friends, Karol. Real ones. Keeping him isolated isn’t protecting him; it’s hurting him.”

Karol’s voice rose as her fists clenched. “That’s enough! Leave. Now.”

Riya tilted her head. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you; when the person you’re trying so hard to protect… ends up hurt - because of you.”

Without another word, Riya turned and walked off, leaving Karol behind, stewing in silence.

_

Kristal’s voice suddenly blared through the camp’s speakers, slicing through the quiet. 

“Alright, campers! Time to gather up; your next challenge is about to kick off!”

Before long, the remaining four contestants made their way to the usual meeting spot.

“Good, everyone’s here… Now, unlike the last round, you won’t have to worry about a double elimination. Oliver’s been monitoring the feedback, and yeah, turns out that twist wasn’t a crowd-pleaser.” Kristal admitted.

Aiden crossed his arms. “Well, yeah - kind of ruins the whole strategy thing, but what do I know?”

Kristal rolled her eyes, clearly over Aiden’s sarcastic quips. “Moving on. This time, there’s a reward up for grabs; an extra vote at the next elimination. And trust me, that could be huge with only four of you left before the finale.”

She raised a diagram for them to see. “Alright, here’s the deal; each of you will begin in separate zones across the camp, with two balloons attached to your back. You’ll be equipped with a dart gun and a pair of safety goggles. The goal? Burst everyone else’s balloons. If you’re the last one with at least one balloon still standing, you win. Anyone who gets eliminated; just make your way to the waiting area.”

She strolled back and forth in front of them. “Don’t get trigger-happy; you’ve got limited darts, so you’ll need to scavenge for supply crates hidden around the camp. They’re stocked with extra ammo. This is an every-player-for-themselves match, but - alliances? Totally fair game. Just remember, if you team up, you can trade balloons - but be smart about it.”

Kristal clapped her hands once. “Alright, get moving. And remember; one extra vote can change everything.”

_

Karol began on her own, like the rest. She had wandered close to the cabin grounds, figuring it was a smart place to start. 

“Someone better not be hiding in there…” She mumbled. With her dart gun at the ready, she stepped inside, sweeping every corner with her aim. 

The place looked empty. A single sunbeam lit the dim Tigers’ cabin, and right under it - perfectly placed - was a supply crate. 

“Jackpot…” Karol muttered, crouching to open it. She loaded up on darts, stuffing them into the small holster at her waist.

But then; footsteps. Her eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, she sprang to the side and pressed herself against the wall, holding her breath. 

The balloons on her back gently bobbed as she braced for action. The footsteps came closer… then a shadow entered the doorway. Dart gun in hand. 

“FREEZE!” Karol barked, stepping out with her own weapon raised. 

“Ahh! Karol! I-it’s just me!”

She exhaled, lowering her aim. “Aiden… sorry. Thought you were someone else.”

“It’s fine… actually, I’m glad I ran into you. Think we should stick together?”

Karol gave a firm nod. “Agreed. I’ve got spare darts; go ahead and grab some.”

_

Kai wandered through the thicker pine trees and dense undergrowth, not exactly lost; just unfocused. He wasn’t known for sharp direction or strategy. Instead, he let instinct and emotion guide his steps.

“Alright… my first move should be… uh, I don’t know…” Kai sighed. “Meditating is so much easier than this…” He muttered aloud, unaware someone else was listening.

Hidden behind a nearby bush, a dart gun slowly rose; aim steady, ready to fire. 

Riya’s finger rested on the trigger, her sights locked directly onto Kai’s back. 

She could’ve taken both balloons out in one shot. But then, she hesitated. Her old mantra echoed in her mind; use them, don’t lose them. 

She sighed and stepped out from the bush. “H-hey, it’s me, Riy-” 

“W-whoa!” Kai yelped, instinctively firing off a dart. It zipped through the air and popped one of her balloons. 

“N-no! Kai, seriously?! My hands were up!”

He cringed, lowering his dart gun. “Riya! I’m so sorry; I didn’t know you were trying to talk!”

Riya groaned, smacking her forehead. “You just cost me a balloon for nothing…”

“Wait - take one of mine.” Kai offered, already unclipping one from his belt. “I don’t mind.”

She eyed him for a moment before accepting. “Fine. Deal.” She tied it to her back, adjusting the strap.

“But listen to me; we really need to partner up here. We have to take out Karol. She’s the biggest threat around, and if she wins that extra vote, we’re done. She’s unpredictable - she’ll bulldoze through us without blinking.”

“Alright… I agree. Let us partner up, then.”

Riya raised a finger. “One more thing. No matter what happens; we vote together. Against Karol. I’ll need you to convince Aiden too, because I doubt he’ll want to.”

Kai hesitated, eyes dropping to the dirt. “Well… I know how he is. That plan doesn’t sound very probable, and I can’t foresee it happening in any possible future…”

“Either way, you must try. Promise?”

“Okay… so, I suppose we should hunt down the queen bee of the operation.”

“Yes, let’s…” Riya replied.

_

Aiden and Karol moved quietly through the woods, weaving between trees and broken paths. Aiden drifted a few steps ahead, scanning the area; though clearly distracted.

Karol noticed. “Hey. Slow down,” she warned. “Stay behind me. Who knows what kind of traps the others have set - especially Riya. That woman could sell you a lie with a smile.”

“O-oh… right. Sorry.” Aiden dropped back a few paces, clutching his dart gun and watching their rear. “I’ll keep an eye out. Just in case they try to flank us.”

“Good.”

The pair stopped at the edge of a shallow slope. Below them lay a small clearing; wide open, exposed, with scattered benches and plenty of places to hide. Karol’s instincts screamed caution.

She raised a hand. “Hold it. Stay back.” Aiden froze.

Karol crept forward, crouching low, scanning the clearing with her dart gun raised. The vantage point gave her a decent view, but something felt off. Too quiet.

“NOW!”

A shout ripped through the silence, and two figures - Riya and Kai - burst out from behind a rock.

“W-wah!” Karol gasped. 

“K-KAROL!”

Aiden didn’t hesitate. He jumped in front of her, pulling her back just as two darts flew past.

*Pop! Pop!*

“A-Aiden! You…!” Karol caught her breath, looking him over.

Aiden grinned, slightly winded. “Hah… that was close. Good news is - your balloons are still good!”

Karol’s eyes narrowed. “Yours aren’t.”

He looked up. “Wait; what? Both? Oh man… I didn’t even get to fire a shot…”

Karol scowled. “I told you to stay behind me. That was reckless!”

“I know… but I protected you. That was worth it.” He smiled, then turned serious. “Go. Hide somewhere safe. I’ll stall them.”

She hesitated; just for a second - then gave a quick nod and bolted into the woods.

Aiden stepped back into the open clearing, hands up. “Hey, chill! I’m out, okay?”

Riya blinked, lowering her dart gun. “O-oh! Sorry, Aiden! Reflexes!”

He carefully slid down the slope. “It’s fine. I’m just heading to the waiting area.”

As he passed, Riya stepped in his way. “Wait; before you go… do you know where Karol ran off to?”

Aiden raised a brow. “Wouldn’t that be cheating?” He gave a polite smile. “Nice try though. See ya.”

He walked off, leaving the two behind. Riya watched him go, then gave a sharp look to Kai.

“Kai. Go talk to him. Fill him in on our voting plan.”

Kai frowned. “But… I’m still in the game. I can’t jus-”

*POP!*

His last balloon burst.

“R-Riya?! What the heck?!” He turned to her, baffled.

She gave him a sheepish grin. “Sorry! I figured Karol would sniff you out from a mile away. I’ll handle her myself.” She leaned in slightly. “But now that you’re out, you can be useful. Convince Aiden to vote with us against her. Can you do that?”

Kai rubbed the back of his head, sighing. “Alright… guess I’m on support duty now.”

“Thanks, Kai.” She turned, eyes narrowing toward the woods. “Time to hunt.”

_

Aiden sat alone on the weathered bench in the waiting area, perched dangerously close to a narrow cliff's edge. Below, a steep drop led to a glistening lake flanked by jagged rocks; a beautiful view, if not for the sheer terror it instilled in him.

He shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore the pit in his stomach. His gaze wandered up to the sky, unfocused.

With a sigh, he pulled out his phone and stared at the screen, the reflection of sunlight dancing across it. His brows furrowed.

“Maybe I should just chuck this thing into the lake…” He muttered. His tone was sarcastic, but there was a weight beneath it - a kind of quiet longing for the relief that might follow.

“Careful…” Came a gentle voice from nearby. “That might upset the local ecosystem.”

Aiden jolted. “K-Kai? What the; how are you already out?”

Kai walked up slowly, looking a little sheepish. “Yeah… let’s just say I didn’t predict that one. Got caught off guard.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes. “…Riya got you, didn’t she?”

Kai hesitated, then nodded. “She did. And… she sent me to talk to you. About Karol.”

Aiden’s face dropped. “Figures.”

“She wants to make sure Karol doesn’t win. Said we should all vote against her. She asked me to convince you.”

Aiden leaned back, exhaling hard. “You know what? I’m not even mad. I’m just… tired. Everyone’s so locked into this game, but I’ve got bigger things on my mind.”

Kai glanced over at the cliffside, a knowing smile touching his lips. “Ah. So it’s not Karol or Riya you’re worried about. It’s the view, huh?”

Aiden laughed nervously. “Yeah. Just one more thing I’ll probably never grow out of.”

Kai was quiet for a moment, then suddenly walked toward the edge of the cliff.

“W-wait - what are you doing?” Aiden called out, alarmed.

Kai turned back with a soft, reassuring grin. “Come here.”

Aiden blinked. “What?”

“Come stand by me.” Kai said, holding out his hand. “You don’t have to look down if you don’t want to. But you should. Just for a second.”

Aiden hesitated. His instincts screamed to stay put; but something about Kai’s calmness made it hard to say no. Slowly, carefully, he approached, stopping just short of the ledge.

Kai extended his hand again. “I promise - I’ve got you.”

Aiden swallowed hard, then took it.

Kai took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. “A wise monk once told me; the best way to face your fears is to stare them down, plain and simple.”

Aiden breathed sharply. “I-I don’t think I can do that…”

“You can,” Kai said simply. “We’ll look down together. Just for a few seconds. You’re not alone.”

With a deep breath, Aiden stepped forward, just enough to see over the edge. The lake below shimmered like glass, its serene waves lapping against sharp rocks. His heart raced. His grip tightened.

“Easy - breathe in… breathe out. I’m here.” Kai said gently.

Aiden did as he was told. His chest rose and fell in a slow rhythm. For a moment; just a moment - the fear receded.

“…Huh.” He muttered. “This would actually be beautiful. If it didn’t scare the hell out of me.”

Kai chuckled. “That’s the trick. You’ve gotta learn to see the beauty past the fear.”

Aiden nodded slightly, still gripping his hand. “Maybe… someday.”

_

A tight grip on her dart gun, Riya crept through the forest with slow, deliberate steps; like every twig underfoot might give her away.

In a sense, her life did depend on this. Losing to Karol wasn’t an option.

She knew Karol wouldn’t fall for easy traps - too clever, too experienced. But Riya had to try something.

“Kaaarol…” She called out, voice laced with mockery. “You can run, but your guilt always gives you away! I’m going to find you, no matter wh-”

*Thwip!*

A dart hit the ground inches from her foot. Riya gasped and flinched back.

“Better watch your step…” Karol’s voice echoed from the woods, calm and commanding.

The towering pines seemed to close in around Riya, swallowing up her confidence. She took a shaky breath and clenched her jaw.

“I’m not scared of you, Karol.” She hissed, then darted toward a cluster of rocks, diving behind cover.

“Come out and face me!” Karol shouted.

“I could say the same to you!” Riya shot back.

She crouched low, straining to catch any movement. A rustle in the bushes. Karol was repositioning. Smart.

Riya checked her dart gun, reloaded, and peeked over the edge of her cover - nothing. She ducked again.

“You know - you can't protect Aiden from everything. Sooner or later, he’ll have to face the world alone. That’s life, Karol.” She called out, her tone shifting to something more pointed, more personal.

No answer. Just the wind and the whisper of shifting leaves. The silence made her pulse quicken. She peeked again.

*POP!*

A balloon burst above her head.

“Agh!”

Karol’s voice rang out, fierce and unflinching. “Don’t waste your breath trying to play therapist! I know exactly what you are. I won’t let you - or that junkie monk - poison Aiden with your garbage!”

Riya groaned, rolling away from her spot. She ducked around a cabin and took cover behind an old wooden table. “See? You’re not even listening anymore! You’re so far gone, you can’t tell right from wrong!”

Still no reply. That meant she was thinking; or moving.

Riya pivoted out - fired blindly into the woods. 

*POP!*

“Gotcha!”

Karol’s voice snapped back, annoyed but undeterred. “This isn’t over, chump!” She vanished again.

Riya, emboldened, stepped into the open. “What’s the matter? Out of hiding spots?”

She darted forward, scanning every shadow and thicket.

“It’s time to end this.” Riya shouted, dramatic as ever. “Time to close the curtain on your little act!”

Still no answer.

“…Karol?”

*POP!*

Her last balloon burst. She barely had time to register it.

From above, Karol dropped down from a perch she’d been hiding on, smirking like she’d planned this all along.

“You were saying?” She asked with a dry chuckle.

Riya froze, fists clenched, seething in silence.

A loudspeaker crackled to life. “Aaaand Karol wins the double vote, being the last camper standing! Riya was close… but not close enough! Campers, disperse!”

Confessional ~ Riya

“N–no! Ugh, no, no, no… I can’t believe this. I really thought I had her. I figured if I kept pushing the Aiden angle, she'd crack - get reckless. But no. She kept her cool like some kind of emotionless ninja. Maybe… maybe taking out Kai was a mistake. He could’ve distracted her, bought me time. Ugh. Way to go, Riya... brilliant strategy, sabotage yourself.”

She rubs her face in her hands, sighing.

“I just have to hope Aiden sticks to his word. That whatever Kai said… actually reached him.”

_

Confessional ~ Karol

“Hah! Pathetic. Riya really thought she could play mind games with me; soften me up with all that emotional bait about Aiden. As if I’d fall for that. I saw right through it. While she was busy fishing for an opening, she forgot to watch her own back. Rookie mistake.”

She smirks, folding her arms.

“Now I’ve got the double vote… and two very big problems left on the board. Hmm… which one should I knock out first?”

Her smile twists, voice dropping into a mischievous tone.

“…Decisions, decisions.”

_

As the last traces of sunlight vanished and night fully settled over the camp, the contestants gathered around the flickering campfire. Shadows danced across their tense faces - each one silently bracing for what came next.

Kristal skipped up to the voting stand with a giddy bounce, barely containing her excitement.

“Finally! I knew throwing in a double vote would spice things up!” She chirped, clapping her hands once. “And judging by the looks on your faces, this is definitely going off the rails. Only one of you’s getting snuffed tonight, so; chop chop! Cast your votes!”

_

Riya drew in a deep, dramatic breath before scribbling down her vote; her fingers crossed tightly, as if clinging to a last shred of hope.

Karol, calm and confident, smirked to herself as she penned the name she’d been waiting to write.

Kai whispered a quiet prayer, setting the pen down with gentle finality.

Aiden hovered over the ballot, hesitating... then, with an unusual sharpness in his eyes, made his decision.

With the votes cast, the campers quietly made their way back to their seats, the tension around the fire growing heavier with each step.

_

Kristal clapped her hands once, loudly. “Alright, enough dramatic silence; let’s get to it.”

She stepped up to the ballot box, flipping through the votes like a deck of cards.

“First vote… Karol.”

Karol stiffened slightly, arms crossing as her eyes cut toward Riya. No surprise there.

“Second vote… Riya.”

Riya looked away, avoiding Karol’s gaze. She wasn't about to let her see a flicker of doubt.

“Third vote… Karol.”

Karol shot a glare at Kai. He didn’t return it; he just stared ahead, unreadable.

“Fourth vote… Riya. That puts us at two votes Karol, two votes Riya.”

A ripple of tension moved through the group. Karol and Riya locked eyes. Kai kept his head low. Aiden looked like he was trying to disappear into the bench.

Kristal held up the final slip with a grin. “This is it - the last vote… and the next camper leaving Disventure Camp…”

Riya held her breath, fists clenched at her sides. She stared straight ahead.

Karol sat perfectly still, her jaw tight.

Kai’s eyes flicked between them.

Aiden looked down, unable to watch.

Kristal flipped the card.

“…Riya. That was Karol’s bonus vote. Three votes Riya, two votes Karol. And just like that… Riya, it’s your time to go.”

Riya blinked, then let out a breath - part frustration, part disbelief. She pinched the bridge of her nose before rising to her feet.

Karol leaned back with a small, triumphant smirk.

“I… I…” Riya started, eyes locking briefly on Aiden. Something in her gaze twisted, disappointment overriding her anger. She shook her head.

“…Aiden. Kai. Come with me to the bus stop. Please.”

Karol sat forward, sneering. “Oh, come on - seriously?”

Kristal cut in sharply, “Sorry, Karol. You don’t get to veto a goodbye tour. The choice is up to them.”

Kai stood without hesitation, wordlessly.

Aiden hesitated, torn, then slowly got up. “Y-yeah… okay.”

Karol slammed a fist against the wooden bench, silent fury on her face.

Kristal watched the trio disappear down the trail, a glimmer of amusement in her eye as she turned back toward Karol with a sly smile.

_

The trio made their way down the dimly lit path toward the bus stop. Riya led the way, her pace sharp and determined, boots hitting the dirt like punctuation marks. Behind her, Aiden and Kai shared uneasy glances, their silence as heavy as the night air.

Riya came to a halt at the edge of the clearing. She turned on her heel to face them, her expression unreadable. The bus hadn’t arrived yet; but her time was already running out.

She drew in a deep breath, steadying herself. Then, her gaze locked onto Aiden.

“This is for both of you...” She began, voice low and firm. “But - Aiden… you need to hear me. Really hear me.”

Aiden nodded, sheepish, shoulders slumped like a scolded pup. He couldn’t meet her eyes.

“I’m not angry.” Riya said softly. “But I am disappointed. I truly thought you were ready to stand on your own. To make a choice because you believed in it - not because Karol told you to.”

Aiden opened his mouth, a tremble in his voice. “R-Riya, I-I’m sorr-”

She raised a hand, stopping him cold.

“No. Don’t apologize. It’s not me you’ll need to answer to. It’s your future self. The one who’ll have to live with the consequences.”

She stepped a little closer, her voice lower, more urgent. “You don’t understand the position you’re in. Karol might mean well; sure. But I’ve seen people like her before. Controlling. Possessive. Driven by some twisted sense of loyalty. Maybe she even believes she’s protecting you.” 

The actress folded her arms, her voice walking the line between thoughtful and cutting. “She might mean well. That won’t always protect you. Your thoughts, your feelings - at some point, they’ll stop mattering. You might see her as a protector now… but when the mask slips - and it will - I’m not sure you’ll recognize who’s really standing in front of you.”

Riya’s eyes narrowed.

“One day - she will force your hand. She will put you at a crossroads, and you won’t even realize it until it’s too late. You’ll think you’re making a choice - your choice - but it’ll be hers. And when that moment comes, I hope you remember my words - the road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

A low rumble echoed in the distance; the bus was approaching.

She turned slightly, then glanced at Kai. “And Kai… thank you. For believing in me. You’ve got a good heart - but you’ll need a strong one, too, for what’s coming.”

Kai nodded, quiet and resolute.

Aiden kept his head down. He didn’t speak. Couldn’t.

Riya smiled - small, bittersweet - and turned away as the bus pulled into view. The headlights cast long shadows behind her as she stepped aboard without looking back.

And just like that, she was gone.

Confessional ~ Aiden

Aiden sat in silence for a few seconds, eyes heavy, before finally glancing toward the camera.

“…I feel awful about voting Riya out. Just; genuinely awful. I know she’s not perfect. She can be sharp, manipulative even… but something about what she said stuck with me. Like there was truth under all that frustration. Still… I think I would've felt even worse voting out Karol. So, I couldn’t - not after everything we’ve been through lately.

She doesn’t seem like someone capable of - what Riya warned me about. But then again… this game changes people. Or maybe it just reveals them. I honestly don’t know anymore. I don’t even know how I’m still here, or what I’m doing half the time.

But… I’ve still got Kai. I’ve still got Karol. That… has to count for something - right?”

_

The camera flickered back on; this time, capturing an eerie image of Kristal standing stiffly by the roaring campfire, her smile a little too wide.

She broke the stillness with a crisp clap of her hands. “Leave it to the Bollywood starlet to deliver a dramatic emotional mic drop, huh? Honestly, I did warn you things were only going to spiral further.” 

Her grin sharpened. “And now… here we are. The Final Three - Karol, Aiden, and Kai. Not exactly the trio I had in mind at the start - but hey, that’s the chaos of Disventure Camp for you.”

She took a small, theatrical pause, then launched into a reflective monologue. “I pegged Rosa as a top contender - a social force, full of grace - but her kindness made her a target. 

Yul? Practically a villain mastermind. He slithered past challenge after challenge with lies and manipulation. I admired the strategy, not the attitude. 

And James and Ally? Shocked me when they fell; had such strong momentum.” She tapped her chin. “Riya, though… she was playing to win. But Karol outmaneuvered her. With Aiden under her thumb, her path to the finale is all but paved. And now I can’t help but wonder… was Riya right, all along?”

Kristal leaned toward the camera, almost whispering: “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

She suddenly perked up, humming playfully as she adjusted the camera, zooming in on her own face. “Oh, and for the audience at home - something special is coming next episode. Will I spoil it? Ha! Absolutely not. But feel free to speculate - I live for your wild theories.”

She backed up again, throwing her arms open dramatically. “Keep watching, keep posting, keep obsessing; trust me, I see it all. And Oliver’s practically a zombie from reading every single comment you send in.”

Kristal winked. “I’m Kristal McLane, and this was… Disventure Camp! ”

Chapter Text

I felt the wind lightly tickling my face, coming from the open windows of the bus - the vehicle gently speeding through the dark street, only lit by street-lights.

Marcus warned me earlier that the route to this so-called motel would take a longer while. Honestly, it was fine. I… needed the time to reflect. 

Right now, I don’t really know how to feel. How to process this whole journey, I mean. It feels like I’ve been through a thousand different scenarios, and it seems like my story ends here… in this bus.

But, that’s just the pessimist in me. I suppose there is still something to look forward to. Or someone. Still, though - this feels so… depressing. Like the last day of school. Never again seeing a good old friend you used to spend time with, without failure.

You may say I am exaggerating, but nobody really talks about these moments in life. Those… quiet, calm ones - where you can’t help but stop and take it all in. Take in everything you’ve done that led you up to this very moment. 

My actual career future looked pretty rocky, for the longest while. But Connor gave me hope… I’d say he’s the only hope I have left in my life. I never liked depending on people, but - he’s different. There’s something there, you know? A… connection, I suppose.

Anyway, I’m just going to stop focusing on this train of thought. What is genuinely haunting me right now is my Disventure Camp journey. This game truly tested who I am as a person. It played with my social skills, my morality, and many other factors. I had to fight to stay here, and it was only by luck that I made it this far. And I would say I left empty-handed, but… that wouldn’t be true in the slightest.

If there is one thing this game taught me, is how desperate people can get when money is put on the line, and how anyone is capable of betrayal and manipulation. And it’s only a matter of time until you, yourself, get put in that position. To betray, or be killed. Maybe this is a really morbid way to look into it - after all, this is just a silly reality show. It’s not like anyone actually thinks about these things. The viewers watch this for the entertainment and drama - and the contestants are only in it for the prize. 

But now that I truly think about it, Disventure Camp just helped me realize how we all have our limits, and how our priorities will always be tested. One person would sacrifice themselves to save many, and one person would do the exact opposite for their own benefit. It’s… something that happens so much in the real world - everywhere - and merely realizing this fact only serves to make me more depressed. Not everyone makes it, in the end. It’s all about luck, and sacrifices. There is really no such thing as skill… 

Wow, that was very depressing. My mind really is becoming a prison. I should probably just move on…

You know, ultimately - I’m still really worried about Aiden. I honestly feel like I failed to get through to him, and do something for the greater good. Something that doesn’t have to do with a cash prize, just… teaching someone young and vulnerable a valuable lesson. I worry for what Karol may do to him - or force him to go through. Just like what this game has done to me, I fear Karol will repeat and spread this cycle to test Aiden’s loyalty. And… I can only hope he is strong enough by then to make the right choice. One that he wants to do.

Suddenly, the bus jolts - probably from a bump in the road - which snaps me out of my thoughts and pulls me back to reality. I glance toward the front seat, where Marcus is sitting, curiosity creeping in.

“Sorry ‘bout that, darlin’ - but… we’re here! The Loser’s Motel…” His thick Southern accent colored every word he spoke.

“Yep! I’m sure you’ll feel right at home, Riya. It was nice working with you.” His little… puppet doll thing also crackled to life.

I stood up from my seat, a little dizzy from the entire experience. Not because of his driving, or anything - just… you know. “O-oh. Alright, um… thank you for the ride.”

“You’re welcome. Just go check in at the lobby so you can go get yerself a room. Good evening, ma’am.” He answered. I suppose he was trying to be comforting, but it didn’t quite work. I merely nodded and walked out of the vehicle.

I sized up the motel, as the bus sped down the road behind me. This particular place was so peculiar - it almost felt like I was in a dream. The dark street, surrounded by pinetrees, only the moon and faint lighting coming from the motel’s flickering sign serving as light sources. I took a deep breath and walked up the entrance, finally entering the lobby.

Despite the well-lit interior, the lobby was practically empty. I peer over at the guest book. There was something written on it…

#GoodVibesOnly - Connor

Hunter was here - Hunter

Oops, I guess - Tess

Marshmallows! - Maggy

Yul is a snake! - Rosa

This motel is TRASH!! Also, fuck you Rosa :) - Yul

Yul, you are indeed a bastard - Lake

Nobody likes you, Yul - James

Yul, kindly STFU - Ally

Welp - I guess saying Yul’s made quite a few enemies here would be the understatement of the year… 

Still, it was weird seeing all these entries written down without a single person in sight. Maybe everyone's asleep? …Then again, that doesn’t quite add up. The night’s still young, after all.

My eyes glance over to a post-it note, attached to the same page. It was signed by Kristal.

Hello, future loser! Your room key is in the key basket. You should see it to your right. Also, dear Yul - STOP messing with the basket, or I’ll be forced to shave your head clean. Toodles, Kristal

I squint in confusion at the note before quickly locating my room key. Now I suppose the next order of business is for me to get some rest in my new hotel room. Frankly, I’m exhausted. Although - I can’t help but wonder where everyone else is. Oh well, I’ll find out tomorrow. 

I was just heading toward the stairway when a muffled voice caught my attention from behind a nearby door. Then came footsteps. Could it be…? The door creaked open, and two figures stepped out.

“O-oh, shoot, Riya!”

“Riya! You made it!”

Hunter and Rosa. Honestly, seeing them was probably the most relieving feeling I’ve had in this entire day. I couldn’t help myself but to rush and hug them. Hunter was alarmed, but Rosa returned the gesture.

“Y-you guys!” I blurted out. I wasn’t particularly close to either of them, but it was just nice to know I wasn’t alone with my thoughts anymore.

“Whoa, someone’s affectionate.” Hunter pointed out. To be frank, he wasn’t wrong.

“Give her a break, Hunter. This elimination was very tough on her.” Rosa explained. Took the words right out of my mouth.

I pulled away from the hug. “Sorry about, you know… this.”

“It’s fine, dude! Connor couldn’t wait to see you…” Hunter added. Oh, Connor, I also can’t wait to see you again.

“Right back at him. Um, are you two the only ones awake now?”

Rosa giggled, while Hunter gave a hearty laugh. “Hell no! You know how we roll.”

“Yes, everyone’s still awake. And you have much to see of this motel yet, Riya. It’s a really nice place.” The teen mom commented.

“I’ll bet…” I responded.

Hunter hummed, clapping his hands. “Well, here’s the deal - you could go to sleep, if you want to…” He gestured at the room stairway. “Or… you could mingle.” He then gestured back at the door they came from.

After his offer had been laid out on the table, I had to consider it. A sigh escaped my mouth, and my answer was pretty clear-cut.

“...Well, the night is still young…”

“Yes! That’s the spirit!” Hunter expressed his cheerfulness, practically snatching my hand and guiding me out the door. Rosa followed right behind us.

With every step, I got more curious about where they were taking me.

_

“Welcome to the Aftermath Bar.” Hunter said as we stepped inside. The exterior was dressed up with glowing signs and little details that made the place look surprisingly fancy. I could already hear muffled pop music from outside; but once we were in, it hit full volume.

My eyes scanned the room. The lighting was low, and clusters of campers filled the tables, each group sticking to their own clique. Before I could take it all in, Rosa spoke up. “Hello, everyone! Our newest guest has arrived…”

Dozens of eyes landed on me. For a second, it felt like I was back on stage again.

“Riya!”

“Riya’s back!”

“The Bollywood flop??”

“Shut up, Yul!”

I didn’t pay much attention to everyone’s chatter - my eyes were locked on the one person I’d been waiting to see. And there he was. Silent. Almost in disbelief. Sure, he’d watched the elimination… but now I was actually here, in the flesh.

“…R-Riya… Riya!” Connor finally managed, standing up from his seat.

I didn’t think; I just ran. So did he. And before I knew it, we were in a tight hug.

“I-I’ve missed you so much!”

“I missed you too!”

Some of the other campers had started gathering around us, just watching. I guess they were caught up in the moment too.

Then Hunter stepped forward, arms casually crossed. “Alright guys, very cute reunion; I get it. But maybe let these two catch up in peace?”

Connor shot him a grateful smile. “Thanks, Hunter.”

We headed off toward his table. We had a lot to talk about.

_

Yul stood by the bar, scowling in quiet frustration. His eyes darted across the drink selection, clearly unimpressed. It didn’t take long to realize the source of his mood; he couldn’t find anything he actually liked.

“Ugh! The drinks here suck! I mean, who even likes bourbon?? That shit is for senile old men - I want my Starbucks!”

“...You’re making a ruckus.” A deadpan voice cut through the music behind him, sharp enough to stand out over the background noise.

Yul scoffed, turning around. “Ohh! Tess. What an unpleasant surprise.”

“What’s unpleasant is your loud tantrum. You need to cut it out.”

He let out a cackle, in plain disbelief. “Not Wednesday Addams trying to gag me?? Sis, you should go back to MySpace and gather all the emos up before they go extinct.”

Suddenly, Tess arched an eyebrow, a spark of confidence lighting up her face. “Can you say that again? I didn’t quite hear you.”

The Korean flinched as he felt a presence behind him. Slowly, he turned; only to come face to face with his arch-nemesis - Maggy, looming over him with quiet menace.

“W-WAHH! U-uhh… F-forget I said anything!” He stammered, before bolting off in a panic.

“…What was that all about?” Maggy asked, raising a brow.

“I think he was just lonely.”

The two girls exchanged a small giggle.

_

Rosa, Lake, James, and Ally sat together at a corner table in the bar.

“So… that’s your final decision, Lake?” Ally asked, leaning in.

“I... yeah. I think so.” Lake replied, nodding with quiet certainty. “I’ve made up my mind. I think moving in with Rosa could actually work. We’ll make it work - right?”

She turned to Rosa, who smiled and gave a reassuring nod. “Of course we will, Lake.”

Rosa then looked across the table at the other two. “And you two… I just want to say I’m really proud of how far you’ve come. Especially you, James - for apologizing to Aiden.”

James shifted a little in his seat, trying to smile. “Yeah… I mean, I did it. But honestly? I still feel awkward. Part of me wonders if things between us will ever go back to the way they were. Probably not.”

“You shouldn’t dwell on it too much.” Rosa said gently. “You already did your part.”

“Oh, and Lake did hers; by kicking Yul in the nuts.” Ally added with a laugh.

That sent the whole table into a fit of giggles.

But as the laughter died down, Ally’s eyes drifted toward the bar. There, she spotted Maggy and Tess, giggling about something. Her smile faded, and her brows drew together in a quiet, uncertain frown.

Confessional ~ Ally

“I… feel so petty for admitting this, and for feeling this way - but I still didn’t really get over this strange jealousy; of Maggy, I mean. I know I said I was over it, but… it wasn’t what I really felt.”

“Sure, Tess and I talked a little bit. Though, I didn’t want to get in the way, if she was actually having a good time with Maggy - so I’ve been avoiding her for a while. I just don’t want to be selfish, you know?”

She lets out a sigh, perplexed. “But… I probably should just try to clear the air between us. I’m the one making this a problem, after all. I just don’t even know where to start.”

_

Riya and Connor continued their conversation, both fully tuned into each other.

“Wow, Riya - you were really dominating out there,” Connor said. “The stakes are getting intense, huh?”

“Yeah… you could say that,” Riya replied with a small laugh. “I’ve been lucky to get this far, but those finalists? Definitely not the easiest group to deal with.”

“You’re telling me. Still, I’m really proud of you. And of Kai, too - he’s really stepped it up. Karol, though… total powerhouse.”

Riya let out a huff at the mention of Karol. “Right… Karol.”

Connor winced. “Oh, sorry. I forgot things were tense between you two.”

“It’s fine, Connor. Don’t worry. Honestly, I’m more concerned about Aiden. Something’s going to go down between him and Karol… and I could’ve stopped it. But Aiden wouldn’t listen, so…”

Connor gently took her hands. “Hey. Look at me. You did what you could. I’m proud of you; for staying focused, for playing smart. You took down Yul, helped Lake... you did good.”

Riya glanced down, unsure. “You really think so? Even after I tried working with Yul?”

“You were playing the game. And you owned up to it. Your actions later proved where you stood.”

Then he laughed. “And come on, that horror challenge? You killed it - literally. We were all on edge watching you go full slasher. You scared the hell out of us!”

Riya flushed slightly. “Oh… haha, yeah. That was a wild time.”

Just then, Hunter slid into the seat beside them.

“Ooh, the horror challenge, right? Iconic.” He grinned. “I have no idea how Kristal gets away with stuff like that.”

Riya gave a half-smile. “She definitely has her… methods. But yeah, I wiped everyone out in that challenge.” She leaned back with a smirk. “And hey, the boys' alliance wasn’t a complete disaster. Kai’s still in, after all.”

Connor and Hunter grinned and high-fived. “Hear that, pops? We’re still standing!” Hunter said proudly. He then let out a dramatic sigh. “Wish I could’ve played a cleaner game. But Yul was always creeping around… like a horror villain of his own.”

Their laughter abruptly stopped as they noticed movement behind a nearby pillar. All three turned to see Yul awkwardly lurking; then scrambling to casually walk away once caught.

The trio exchanged a look… then Riya burst out laughing. “Okay - that was honestly kind of fun. But I think I’ll go mingle with the others. Maybe check in on Lake.”

“O-oh! Sure, sure, go ahead…” Connor encouraged her, watching as she walked off. He let out a long sigh.

Hunter chuckled. “Dude. You are so in love with her.”

Connor fumbled for words. “Y-you could say that… Now that she’s actually here, I’m starting to feel a little insecure. Like, is this even a good idea? It all sounds kind of crazy now.”

Hunter scoffed. “Pops, come on. What could possibly go wrong? She clearly likes you. Just go for it.”

“Y-yeah, I know… I just wanted it to be special. I was thinking about giving her a gift.”

“Ooh, I like where this is going.”

“I brought one of my dad’s perfume bottles. Thought it might be something nice… something personal.”

“Oh, she’ll love that. She’s got that whole classy vibe going on.”

Connor reached down and rifled through the bag near his feet, pulling out a small box. He stared at it, nerves building.

“Well…” Hunter said, stretching, “I’m off to bed. You’ve got this, Connor. Just don’t overthink it, alright?”

Connor blinked out of his thoughts. “Huh? Oh - yeah, yeah. Thanks, kid.”

Confessional ~ Hunter

“Man, Connor’s totally head over heels for Riya. It’s all he’s been talking about since we got to the motel. I really hope it works out for them.

And… speaking of love and all that - I guess I still wonder what’s out there for me. Like, will I ever find someone?

From what I’ve seen, it always happens when you least expect it.

But hey, I swing both ways, so the dating pool’s still lookin’ pretty full.”

_

Yul sat alone at a table, scrolling through his phone with a blank, almost gloomy expression.

James wandered by, nearly missing him entirely - until something made him stop. He looked over, taking in Yul’s unusually defeated demeanor. Most people wouldn’t give it a second thought. But James… couldn’t help himself. With a quiet sigh, he stepped over.

“Enjoying the solitude?” He asked, dryly.

“Piss off, James.” Yul muttered.

James crossed his arms. “You know, you kind of brought this on yourself.”

Yul chuckled bitterly. “Wow. Look who found a conscience. You were just as bad, if not worse - so don’t come preaching to me, saint.”

James stayed calm. “I won’t deny who I used to be. But Ally… she made me believe people can change. That I could change. So I took that chance, and I’m doing the work. You? You’d rather stay bitter than admit you need one.”

Yul turned his gaze back to the table. “Just… go.”

Without another word, James walked off - leaving Yul staring after him, conflicted and silent.

Confessional ~ Yul

“Ugh, I’m so sick of this! I don’t need anyone else - not even that fucking twunk! I’m doing just fine by myself, and I don’t need to change, ‘cause that’s stupid.”

“The only thing I miss are the early days where I was dominating and gagging everyone in this competition. But then Riya came along and pissed on my winning streak. A-and you know what?? I ACTUALLY lost followers on TikTok! Yeah! And my posts are starting to flop!”

He scoffed, almost in disbelief. “Those fucking Aiden stans… annoying little shits.”

_

As the night began to wind down, Oliver stood behind the bar, quietly cleaning up; rinsing out glasses, wiping the counter. Connor wandered over and took a seat, watching him for a second.

“Well if it ain’t Oliver the Great.” He greeted with a smile. “Always got your hands full, huh?”

Oliver chuckled nervously. “Y-yeah… seems like it. People keep saying that lately.”

Connor squinted, studying him a bit more closely. “You’ve got that look in your eye. Like a guy who’s thinking real hard about something.”

Oliver hesitated, but gave in. “...I guess I am. It’s kind of complicated, though.”

“Well, I ain’t exactly a genius, but I’ve lived enough to know a thing or two. Go ahead - what’s on your mind?”

Oliver exhaled, setting a glass down. “Okay, well… I’ve been thinking about taking a big leap. Career-wise. I mean, I’ve been doing little jobs forever, but maybe it’s time I try something bigger. Something that really matters to me.”

Connor raised an eyebrow. “That does sound serious.”

“Yeah. But I don’t know if it’s too risky. Like; what if I fail? What if I mess everything up?”

Connor nodded thoughtfully. “Well, that’s always a risk. But sometimes, the scariest steps end up being the ones worth taking.” He paused. “Tell you what - I’ve been looking for ways to do something meaningful, give back a little. If this thing’s important to you… I could help. Financially, I mean.”

Oliver’s eyes widened. “W-wait, are you serious?? I mean; you really don’t have to…”

Connor laughed. “I know I don’t have to. But I want to. Let’s call it a good deed. Riya’s got me thinking that way lately.” He leaned forward slightly. “Now - gimme the details, tiny man.”

_

Eventually, everyone turned in for the night. By morning, they were all up and gathered outside, relaxing in the front of the motel - a reworked parking lot now styled like a cozy outdoor lounge.

_

Rosa, Hunter, Lake, and Connor were all seated at one of the benches under a small, makeshift parasol.

“So then the lady completely lost it - demanded a refund and started yelling she wanted to talk to the manager…” Rosa recounted, diving into another story from her retail days.

Hunter chuckled. “Are you sure that wasn’t just Karol?”

The group burst into laughter; but it was cut short when Yul suddenly approached their table.

“Hey! …You guys.”

Everyone looked away, clearly uninterested.

“Oh, come on, I just need to say something.”

Lake rolled her eyes. “Unless it’s an apology, keep walking.”

“Ugh, whatever. Just listen - Kristal said she needs a few of us out back to set up chairs. Apparently there’s gonna be some kind of event or whatever.”

The group exchanged puzzled glances. “Event?” Connor asked.

“Yeah, that’s what I said, old man. I’m not thrilled either, but I’d rather deal with chairs than Kristal blowing a gasket.”

Rosa crossed her arms. “Yeah, hard pass.” 

“Same here.” Lake added.

Connor shook his head. “No thanks.”

But Hunter sighed, stretching. “Eh, whatever. I could use a walk. Lead the way, Yul.”

“H-Hunter, wait…” Rosa called after him, but he was already walking backward with a grin.

“I’ll be fine! Can’t be harder than leg day.”

The rest sat in silence for a beat.

Connor leaned forward. “Sooo... should I have asked for his number in case Yul pulls something?”

Rosa stifled a laugh. “I think he’ll manage, Connor.”

_

Over by Kristal’s setup area, a handful of campers were organizing chairs.

Maggy hauled a hefty stack with ease, while James struggled to carry just two.

She glanced back. “Need a hand, James?”

“I-it’s fine.” He puffed, gently placing the chairs down. “I just wish I had your super-human strength.”

“You don’t have to carry everything.” He added, straightening up. “I mean that metaphorically, too.”

Maggy paused for a second, then shrugged and dropped a few chairs behind her. “...Alright. Knock yourself out.”

James smiled and picked them up. After a moment’s hesitation, he spoke again. “Uh, hey - Maggy. Just so you know… I didn’t mean to be weird around you. I guess I was… jealous, back then.”

Maggy blinked, surprised, but nodded. “Yeah. I figured. But it’s fine now.”

James let out a breathy chuckle. “Glad to hear it.”

Just then, Yul and Hunter walked up. Yul took one look at Maggy and groaned.

“Oh great. If Miss Amazon here’s already on it, why do we even need to help?”

Hunter raised a brow. “You should be more worried about your attitude than chairs, dude.”

Maggy stared Yul down, her silence enough to make him backtrack.

“Okay, okay! I’ll help! Damn!”

She dropped a small stack of chairs into his arms; he crumpled under the weight with a dramatic grunt.

Nearby, Maggy spotted Ally fumbling with a couple of chairs and walked over.

“Need a hand?”

Ally jumped a little. “O-oh! I’m good, really, I can manage.”

Maggy gave her a knowing look. “Well, James just told me something smart - no one has to carry everything alone. Chairs or otherwise.”

Ally hesitated, then sighed. “...Yeah, alright. Thanks.”

“Y’know… Tess really missed you.” As they worked together, Maggy added gently.

Ally froze, caught off guard. She didn’t know what to say. “A-ahh… I see. I missed her too.”

“I’ll bet. You should really talk to her, sometime. I can give you girls some space, too.” Maggy then paced away, still holding several chairs.

Confessional ~ Ally

“Ok - I’ll admit… Maggy keeps surprising me. More and more I find that this jealousy thing just doesn’t really have a leg to stand on, anymore. I guess it’s time for me to officially move on - like how I helped James move on from Aiden.

Now… I think I need to try talking to Tess and Hunter about this internet drama situation. Maybe they already know given how Kristal puts mics and cameras everywhere, but either way - I just wanna know where they stand on this. And… what they think of me now.”

_

Tess wandered over to the row of chairs, eyebrows furrowed as she tried to make sense of what was going on.

Ally, still fussing with a crooked chair, glanced up; and froze. Her eyes widened. Without thinking, she quickly made her way over.

“H-hey! Tess! …Hi, hehe…”

“Hey, Ally,” Tess replied, with a soft smile that, for once, wasn’t guarded. “What’s all this?”

“Uhh, something about Kristal throwing an event? I’m not really sure, it’s kind of chaotic… But, actually; can we talk for a sec?”

“Sure.” Tess nodded. The smile stayed. It felt… strangely comforting.

Before Ally could continue, Hunter strolled up, grinning ear to ear. “Whoa! Look at this - Ally and Tess reunited! Should I hop in so we’ve got the full Team Hunter reunion?”

“Team Hunter?” Tess and Ally said in unison, then glanced at each other in surprise.

“O-oh! Sorry. Am I crashing something?” He asked, sheepishly.

Ally shook her head. “No, no; actually, stay. I… wanted to talk to both of you anyway.”

They leaned in a little closer, giving her their full attention.

“So… maybe this isn’t the best time, with all the noise and chairs, but - have you heard about the, um… controversy? The thing I didn’t really tell you about?”

Tess and Hunter exchanged a look.

“Yeah.” Tess said gently. “We heard. The ranger shack had cameras and mics.”

Ally let out a long breath. “Figures…”

“Ally.” Tess said firmly, stepping forward. “You don’t owe us any kind of explanation or apology. What you said to James that night - that told us everything we needed to know. You were honest. And you were trying - not just for yourself, but for someone else too. That takes… a lot. You’re selfless.”

“Y-yeah!” Hunter chimed in. “Exactly. You don’t need to beat yourself up forever. You made a mistake, and you owned it. That counts for more than people realize.”

Ally bit her lip, clearly moved. “I-I really appreciate you guys saying that. But… I don’t think I can just move on without doing something. I want to speak out. Not some empty Notes app apology, but… a real one. No excuses. Just the truth. Maybe it’ll help someone. Maybe it’ll show people that I am trying.”

Hunter nodded seriously. “As one of your original subscribers? I’m all for it. You’ve always kept it real, and this would just be another example of that. Besides… that whole thing wasn’t fair to begin with. You got harassed, you reacted. That doesn’t make you evil; it makes you human.”

Tess cut in. “You made a mistake, yes - but so did those kids. They pushed you, and they’ll learn from it. Just like you did. Sharing that growth with your audience? That’s real accountability.”

Ally’s eyes welled up. She threw her arms around them. “T-thank you, both of you. We weren’t together for long, but… I really treasure the bond we had.”

Hunter sniffled dramatically. “Aww, Ally, don’t make me cry out here in front of the folding chairs!” He laughed.

With that, Team Hunter shared a quiet, yet heart-warming moment.

_

After some time, Kristal gathered everyone in front of the neatly arranged chairs, stepping up to address the crowd.

“Alright, campers! I know you’ve all gotten very comfortable lounging around the motel these past few days; but that ends today!” She announced with a grin. “I’ve put together a little surprise quiz challenge!”

The group murmured, intrigued.

“Don’t worry.” She added quickly. “No embarrassing or personal questions this time - my bad for the TMI round before. This quiz is all about things that happened during the competition - so if you’ve been paying attention, you’ve got a shot.”

She held up a clipboard.

“Here’s how it works - I’ll ask a series of questions. You’ll all write your answers down and reveal them when I say so. If you don’t know, don’t show them. Each correct answer gets you one point. The first three campers to hit 7 points will win.”

Kristal paused for dramatic effect.

“There’s no penalty for wrong answers, so don’t be afraid to guess! And the winners? They’ll earn a small cash prize and get to influence the finale challenge.”

The campers erupted into excited chatter and cheers. Kristal smiled.

“Take a minute to get ready; then we start. Good luck!”

Once everyone had settled, Kristal launched into the first question.

“Alright - Question #1. Who was the first person in the entire competition to find and use an immunity totem?”

There was a bit of chatter - low murmuring.

“Hey! You guys can’t slip each other answers, I forgot to clarify that. Just carry on… in silence.” Kristal clarified.

With her disclaimer in mind, the campers wrote down their answers.

“Okay - now show your answers!”

Maggy and Tess didn’t lift theirs up. Ally, James, Rosa and Lake answered Kai.

Connor, Riya, Yul and Hunter answered Yul.

“The correct answer is Yul! Connor, Yul, Riya and Hunter gained one point.”

Yul scoffed. “Um, duh! Of course it was me. And - might I add, that was the most iconic totem play in the history of this crappy little show.”

Kristal coughed. “Nice try, Yul - but Fiore did it better. Next question! …Who was the first pair of campers to share a kiss on the Kiss-a-thon?”

Ally groaned. “That challenge again??”

“Come on, guys, just power through it. Do it for the cash!”

With that incentive, the campers started scribbling.

“Time’s up… y’know what to do.”

Tess, Rosa, and Yul didn’t have an answer. Connor, Hunter, James, Ally, Riya, Lake and Maggy answered Riya and Ally.

“And the correct answer was… Ally and Riya! Indeed, nice one, guys. Glad your photographic memory game is on point! Next question… who was the last pair of campers to kiss on the same challenge? Save your groans, this is the last question about this challenge, ok?”

“S-shoot… I forgot…” Ally muttered, hiding her paper.

Lake and Tess didn’t have an answer. Riya, James, Maggy, Hunter, Yul, Rosa and Connor answered Aiden and Kai.

“Our correct answer for this one was… Aiden and Kai! Point goes to the majority.”

“Uh, yeah, unfortunately I can’t forget that… traumatic sight.” Yul cut in, rolling his eyes.

Kristal cleared her throat. “Alright, next one - and no more kissing nonsense. On the very first episode, when you all had to race to the camp, who was the last pair of campers to arrive?”

Rosa, James, Ally and Riya didn’t answer. Yul answered Kai and Karol. Tess, Maggy, Hunter, Lake and Connor answered Oliver and Maggy.

“Time’s up again! The correct answer was… Oliver and Maggy! Point to everyone who got it right.”

Kristal pulled out another card. “Right… fifth question. This one may be tricky! Who was the very first female camper to get voted off?”

There was a slight pause in the crowd, before everyone wrote down an answer.

“Alright, let’s see those answers.”

Tess and Maggy didn’t answer. James, Ally, Rosa and Lake answered Rosa. Yul, Hunter, Riya and Connor answered Riya.

“Ooh, tough one, huh? Well, to anyone else who got it wrong, the right answer was Riya.”

The old members from the Tigers all shot each other confused glances, shrugging.

“Question Six! Ahh, and this one’s worth 2 points, by the way!”

The crowd was slightly agitated upon hearing this.

“Which camper, amongst yourselves, likes to draw the most?”

Many of the campers struggled with this question. However, Ally, Tess and Maggy jotted down their answers.

“I sense some confusion! But let’s see if anyone got it right.”

Maggy, Tess and Ally answered Tess.

“Ooh, great job to the girl trio! The answer is correct - Tess is the token artist amongst you.”

Ally and Maggy both smiled at Tess, while she changed her usual serious expression to a flustered smile.

“Ugh, how were we supposed to know that?” Yul murmured.

“You guys are starting to rack up numbers! Currently, Riya, Maggy, Hunter and Connor are in the lead. The rest of you really should try catching up if you want that cash prize. Next question! Who was the first contestant to lose in the horror challenge?”

Connor let out a loud hum. “Hmm… why can’t I remember that?” 

Hunter giggled. “It’s because you had a little too much to drink, pops.”

“O-ohh! That’s… right.”

The campers wrote down their answers - except for Lake, who was struggling to think of who it could have been.

Yul had an annoyed frown on his face as he wrote down an answer.

“Okay, time’s up!”

Connor and Lake didn’t show their answers. Everyone else answered Yul.

“Very good! The correct answer was Yul!” Kristal confirmed. “Let’s carry on, we’re getting quite close to having a first winner here…”

“Right, so this one’s a little nerdy. What was the first game that Ally and Hunter played this season?”

Yul was about to groan again, but kept himself from doing so. He abstained from answering. 

Connor’s eyes sparked a bit, but he still looked confused. He wrote down an answer.

Hunter and Ally simply shrugged and answered. It’s not like they could forget this, after all.

The rest simply abstained, not knowing what to even write in the first place.

In due time, the three campers showed an answer. Kristal squinted her eyes at Connor’s answer. “That’s… your answer, Connor?”

He stammered a bit. “U-uh, I mean, yeah! That’s what they were playing, right?”

Ally leaned her head to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of what he actually wrote down. She couldn’t help but grimace. “I-I mean… good effort, but I don’t think that’s what Kristal meant…”

“Indeed, Ally. I specified a game - not a console. Therefore, Connor - ‘Switch’ is not a valid answer. The correct answer, provided by only Hunter and Ally, was Fortnite!”

Some in the audience complained in murmurs. Kristal cleared her throat. “Anyways! We have our first winner! Hunter, the first camper to score 7 points.”

“Yay! Heck yeah, I did it! …So, uh - what do I get, again?”

“Well, you have the chance to gain a cash prize - but, I’ll reveal the actual reward now. You get to pick one of the three finalists for you to help in the final challenge of the season. Who will you pick, Hunter? Aiden… Karol, or Kai?”

Hunter didn’t even hesitate to answer. “Obviously… I’m gonna go with my buddy Kai! I gotta back him up!”

“That’s right! Boys stick together!” Connor cheered. Some of the audience clapped at Hunter’s victory.

“And of course he picked the stupid junkie again…” Yul muttered.

Kristal tried to shush them down. “Alright, alright, that’s enough. Hunter, you’re out of the game for now - because we still need two more winners for this to be over. Let’s carry on. Question Nine - in the dare challenge, who was tasked with punching someone in the face?”

The Korean let out a quiet scoff - everyone, him included, wrote down an answer.

“Okay, showtime!”

With that, everyone flipped their papers, showing “Maggy” as the answer. Kristal was pleasantly surprised. “Ooh, finally, everyone gets it right!”

As Maggy held up her answer, she caught a whisper from nearby - it was James, grinning like he was barely keeping it together. “Hey, Maggy… that punch? Epic.” He said under his breath, lifting a fist for a bump. She let out a quiet laugh and bumped him back, both of them clearly still amused. 

Across the way, Yul noticed and let out an exaggerated throat clear, desperate to be acknowledged; but no one paid him any mind.

“And with this, we actually have our second winner! Maggy, it’s your lucky day.”

The girl rose up from her seat. “R-really?? Yes!”

Kristal raised a brow at her, faintly gesturing at her to hurry up. 

“O-oh! Right. Um, I’ll… go with Aiden. I mean, Karol kinda scares me. D-don’t tell her I said that.” She turned to the row of campers, her tone slightly menacing. “Don’t.” Everyone either nodded or averted their gaze.

The host coughed. “Alright - with that, we only have one final person, who will have to stick with Karol. But remember, Karol or not, you’ll still get a cash prize if things go your way. So why pass up the chance, huh?”

Yul spoke up again. “Likeee… to be honest, I’d rather lose all of my money than having to lift a finger to help Karol. Come on, don’t tell me you guys don’t agree…!”

He glanced around, but not a single person responded. With an annoyed huff, the Korean crossed his arms and sank back into his seat, stewing in silence.

“Good talk, Yul. Anyway, only one of you may win this chance, now. Riya, Connor and Yul are the closest contenders for one final return. Things are heating up!”

Rosa scoffed. “There is no way on earth I’m letting Yul win a single smidge of money. Lake, we must step up our game…”

“Right.” She answered.

“Alright, Question Number Ten! You must think back to the very first day of your arrival… when you came over to the camp, on the bus - who was Connor sitting with?”

“Oh, come on, this is sooo rigged!” Yul complained.

James sighed. “Would you stop complaining, for once? Besides, I thought you didn’t want to win this if it meant working with Karol.”

Yul tried to answer, and nearly stumbled over his own words. “I-I… yeah! I mean, fuck winning, e-especially if it means I’d need to help that wrinkly old hag… ugh.” He didn’t sound very convincing.

“Guys. Answers!” Kristal ushered them.

But no one really had an answer. That was way too specific of a detail - but not specific enough for one person. Connor himself.

Kristal sighed. “Alright - time up, I see nobody really knows…”

“Hey, sure I do!” Connor lifted his paper. “It was Aiden!”

A smile crept up on Kristal’s face. “Yes! And the final winner is… Connor!”

The old man rose up from his seat and lifted his fist. “Yeahhh!”

Riya hummed. “Oh, Connor. Nice job - but having to work with Karol is terrible luck, huh?”

“...Oh. Yeah, yeah, I suppose…”

The actress shrugged, a smile on her face. “But either way, I don’t mind. You may even be able to help her come to her senses.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Kristal clapping her hands. “Okay, everyone! Winners, come stand by me.”

Maggy, Hunter and Connor stood in front of the crowd. “Congratulations to the three of you! Later in the afternoon, you will be able to support your respective finalists as we are nearing the challenge. I already warned Karol, Kai and Aiden about the situation, but they still have no idea about who will be their helpers. Well, this has been very fun, but I’m afraid our little quiz is now ov-”

“W-wait!” Connor’s voice rung out, him raising a hand. “I… s-sorry, I don’t mean to make a scene, but… I figured now was the best time for me to do something.”

“...Do something? About what?” Kristal prompted.

“There’s… something I’d like to say to someone. Well, all of you, but still.”

Those words upset Kristal a little - reminded her of that tough time with Lake, but she still relented. “I… of course. The stage is yours, Connor.” She sat down, and so did Hunter and Maggy.

Yul groaned. “If this guy gives a speech, I swear I’ll blow my brains out. Please, just no…”

Connor cleared his throat anyway. “Right. So… before all this, I was honestly just lost. Kinda drifting. I had the means to do anything I wanted - any wild idea, any adventure - but none of it gave me purpose. I felt useless. Stuck.”

The campers started paying attention.

“But… that changed because of one person here. Someone who gave me hope, a direction. Helped me feel like I mattered. So while I appreciate everyone here, there’s one person I want to thank the most…”

He looked right at her. “Riya. Would you come up here?”

Caught off guard, Riya still stepped forward, curious.

Connor took something out of his pocket and gently took her hand. “I’ve been wanting to give you something meaningful for a while now.” He revealed the perfume bottle, and her eyes widened.

“C-Connor, this is… wow…”

But he wasn’t done. “Riya… will you be my girlfriend?”

Riya froze; then lit up. “I-I… Yes! Yes, I will!”

Cheers erupted. The two hugged tightly as the campers went wild, clapping in full force. It was the kind of moment that made hearts melt… well, not all hearts.

Yul sank lower in his seat, visibly pained. “I hate it here.”

Meanwhile, Kristal - absolutely floored, and snatched up a nearby camera to capture the moment herself. Then she turned to Oliver and waved him over. They slipped away to a quieter corner.

_

“Phew. Finally! They were so loud I couldn’t even hear myself think.” Kristal muttered.

“I-I’m still shocked that Connor actually went through with that…” Oliver said, clearly still processing.

Kristal smirked. “Well, viewers… we’re almost at the end. I hope you’ve all enjoyed the ride; especially this episode. Trust me, it was a pain to plan. And okay, I’ll let you in on a little secret…”

She leaned toward the camera. “I may have helped Connor with that last quiz question. The fans wanted him back, and… it just felt right. But hey; don’t tell anyone.”

She straightened up. “Now, we’ve got our three helper winners: Maggy, Hunter, and Connor. Each one will team up with one of the finalists - Aiden, Kai, or Karol - for the final challenge.”

“It’s going to be intense…” Oliver added.

Kristal nodded. “So! Who will rise to the top? The strongest, the fastest… or maybe the smartest? Stick around and find out next time; on the grand finale of… Disventure Camp!”