Chapter Text
I never enjoyed boat rides, they always make me sick. The wind on my face wasn't that bad.
I find it weirdly satisfying to be able to take the hair out of my face, I’m glad that my hair finally grew out to look decently. This year the audience won't watch me running around bald.
I wonder where they are taking us, the trip is way longer than ever before. That makes me quite anxious about what Chris has planned for us. I wouldn't be surprised if we spent a whole season on Antarctica. He would laugh at us as we’d all be freezing.
I look behind myself, it's hard to ignore all the talking and giggles. How do they have so much energy when having to wake up at six am for the take off?
I roll my eyes and they land on Lindsay flirting with Tyler.
That girl, the reason why I lost my hair. We haven't talked ever since the first season. There is not much to talk about anyway. I used her to get far in the game and then she got mad about it. She was so naive, in a way she had it coming. Lindsay is navie and stupid but I guess it was nice to have someone to talk to. Whatever, I shouldn't be thinking about her that way.
My peace gets interrupted by a person leaning on the barrier next to me, followed by a nasty smell of sweat mixed with cheap male perfume.
“Hey, Heather.” Harold let out his annoying deep voice.
“What do you want, Harold?” I groaned.
“Nothing, just saw you standing here on your own. I thought I might come up to say hi.”
Why him? Out of all people, this weirdo I once somehow opened up to has to keep bothering me.
“Your hair grew out.”
“Yeah.”
I can't believe Harold was the first person to point out my new haircut. I guess this is because others don't like me that much.
“Excited for the new season?”
“I guess.”
Despite the awkwardness of our conversation, he still stays. What's his deal? Is he looking for an ally? Harold smells bad, is annoying and nerdy but he does know how to scheme. He did get Courtney kicked out in the first season. Cheating is cruel and unfair but not getting caught is pretty admirable.
The redhead weirdo stays with me during the rest of the ride. We don't say much, I hold myself back from letting out a few comments about our other companions. Harold is not the good person to gossip with.
“Guys, look! We're here!” I hear Lindsay’s excited voice.
“This looks weird…” Tyler’s scared tone is followed by a lot of other confused whispers.
I can't help but along with everyone else turn around to see what the fuss is about.
My eyes then landed on a huge round wall on an island we were heading to.
It was different from what we have seen before, this place really looked like some sort of military prison, with a bunch of cameras and traps that I’m sure were going to keep us from leaving.
“This is almost like prison.” Duncan chuckled.
No one laughed at his joke, which wasn't surprising.
“But this isn't prison, right?” Gwen let out anxiously.
That question was left hanging in the air as no one could have been sure. I could definitely see Chris hosting a season in an actual prison far from society.
My stomach sank when the gate behind us closed.
I keep a neutral face, it's probably just Chris trying to scare us. He’s so extra, just like I feel extra annoyed when I think about him, not to mention him being here.
We got out of the boat, which wasn't as big of a relief as I thought it would be.
“What is this? Wait till my lawyers here about this.”
Courtney says that but everyone knows she or her lawyers won't do anything. Despite her big tantrums, Chris’s team took her phone away along with everyone else's. The no technology policy is extremely strict this year.
“This reminds me of the summer camp my parents used to send me for summer! Best six months!” Izzy laughed as she jumped out of the boat right into Owen’s arms.
Happy couples make me want to puke. Izzy and Owen are a perfect example of that along with Lindsay with Tyler. Thank God Geoff didn't come this season, he won't be making out with Bridgette the whole time.
Speaking of which, I hear Bridgette’s giggle behind my back along with a less familiar voice.
The blonde surfer was being helped to get out of the boat by a tall, muscled man.
Brown hair, bright green eyes and that smile.
I can see right through it.
It seems flirty but two faced, he’s playing them.
I can hear it in the way he talks, in the way he acts. Right when blushing Bridgette walks away he helps out Lewshana, in exactly the same way and she falls for it the same way too.
He offers to carry her things, then she walks away all giggling. As he picks up her bag, we make eye contact.
His eyes staring right into mine for a good minute. He winks, I roll my eyes.
As if I would fall for this.
I make a mental count of every other person that comes out of the boat.
Dj, Ezekiel, Noah and Cody followed by a purple haired girl I have never seen before.
She kept talking to Cody who was clearly uncomfortable, she even ignored the tall flirty guy.
There's seventeen of us. Two new people.
I have to win this, I am not taking another humiliating elimination.
“Make your way to the stage on the beach.” Chef commanded and pointed at the direction where we should go.
We do as he says.
On the beach, there was a stage and on the stage the devil himself:
Chris McLean.
“Welcome, campers! It is lovely to see you all here in the third season of Total Drama!”
He paused as if he was waiting for an applause.
I wish I could tell you he was met with a silence that would calm down his ego but the purple haired girl cheered really loudly.
We all looked at her weirdly.
“Oh, sorry I’m just a huge Total Drama fan!” She laughed with her stupid voice.
She has been here for so little but she's already giving me a headache.
“I'm happy to hear that!” Chris winked.
“Anyway, how are you liking our new island?”
“What’s up with the walls?” Gwen asked.
“Oh those guys? They're here to make sure none of you escape obviously.”
“Escape? We're in the middle of nowhere and there's water everywhere.” I let out.
“And why would we want to run away if we chose to be here?” Purple girl made a surprisingly good point.
“You’ll get it later. Now, allow me to introduce two new contestants! Sierra and Alejandro!”
Good thing I get to know their names without asking for them. I wouldn't want to exchange a word with those people.
“This season, we’re trying something a little different so I hope you're ready for it!”
I don't like how this sounds.
“That sounds suspicious.” Harold commented.
“He’s probably just saying that to scare us.” Lewshana replied.
“Well, yeah but do you think we will have anything to fear?”
“Oh, don't be so dramatic.” She groaned.
“Before we start, I will remind you of the rules real quick. Soon you'll be separated into three teams, then you will face a bunch of challenges. The losing team of a challenge will come to the execution place where they will vote off one of their teammates.”
“Execution place? That sounds really lame.” Duncan chuckled.
“No, it doesn't not. It's a fire place but we do executions here so it's an execution place.” Chris argued.
“Execution? C’mon, you’re so extra.” Duncan laughed again.
“We'll see who will get the last laugh.”
It could be my imagination but that sentence sounded more like a threat than a joke.
I bet Chris’s manipulation is playing with my brain, he wants us to be more scared for the views. I can't let him get to my head.
“Before we start the first challenge, we have to separate you into three teams. Chef will bring out a bag with paper slips, there are blue, yellow and pink ones. You find the people with the same color as you and those are your teammates.”
We follow Chris’s instructions and take a line to grab a paper slip from Chef.
“Pink team stands on the left, yellow in the middle and blue on the right.” Chris adds in the meantime.
I take the paper which ends up being pink.
Not my favorite color but will do, not like it matters.
I stand on the left and examine the people walking up to me.
“You have blue? I have pink… I guess we won't be on the same team then.” Courtney said to Duncan with disappointment in her voice.
“Don't worry, babe. It will be more fun this way.”
“If you say so… but try to go easy on my team!”
“I can't promise you that.” Duncan chuckled before going to his people.
Courtney stands next to me, soon we get another person to join us.
“I can't believe I’m in the same team as you.”
Gwen complained.
“The feeling’s mutual.” I replied.
“Whatever. I’m a great leader so I can work with all kinds of annoying people.” Courtney bragged.
“You must be amazing at working solo then.” I told her.
“I am actually- wait a minute- ugh”
Courtney was clearly frustrated she fell for my insult but I was satisfied.
“Alright move it people! We don't have all day!” Chris rushed everyone.
“Gwen! I’m so lucky to be in your team!” Cody ran up to his goth crush.
“It's not really her team, y’know?” Courtney interrupted.
“Oh shut it, Courtney.”
For once, Gwen said something smart.
Two people were near the bag with two last slips, Izzy and Sierra.
Sierra let out an annoying cry.
“Noooo, it's blue and I wanted to be with Cody!!”
“We can switch if-” Izzy was interrupted by Chris yelling again.
“Didn't you hear me when I told you to hurry up?!”
The two went their separate ways.
I take a look at my team,
The bossy Courtney, goth pick-me Gwen, crazy Izzy and lame Cody.
I don't have much feelings for my teammates except slight annoyance. Most of them don't like me and one doesn't know me. It’s not like ending up with anyone else here would bring a different result.
No one here likes me. I guess there's Harold with a tiny bit of sympathy for me and Lewshana who said she considers me her friend when I was getting eliminated last season. They’ll get over it once the game starts. They always do.
Don't get me wrong, I don't feel pity for myself. I get it, I wouldn't like me either if I was them. I came here to play, not to make friends, their opinion doesn't matter.
The blue team was made of Duncan, Sierra, Alejandro, Noah, Owen and Tyler. While the yellow one included Bridgette, DJ, Ezekiel, Harold, Lewshana and Lindsay.
“Perfect. This year, I’m feeling generous enough to let you pick your own team names.”
“You have five seconds. Team blue go!”
He pointed at the group which was caught off guard. They were rushly whispering to each other until Sierra yelled loud and clear:
“Team Chris is really really really hot!!”
That met with a reaction of shock from not only her teammates, I couldn't contain my laughter.
“I love that!” Chris chucked.
“No! Wait, we didn't agree on that!” Duncan protested.
“Too bad! I’ve already written it down!”
Have fun being associated with that for the next few weeks, that ought to be good.
“Aw man, why did you do that?” Tyler asked.
“Sorry, I’m just such a Total Drama fan! I’ve watched all the seasons multiple times!” She giggled.
“And you're a Chris fan? Are you sure you paid attention?” Noah argued.
“Hey, I am sure I paid attention! I run the most followed Total Drama fanpage!”
“Moving on! Yellow team!” Chris interrupted them and pointed at the next group.
“Team Victory!” They shouted all together.
When he was about to turn to us, my group started discussing the name of our group.
“Since there's no man in our team, we should be called Team Amazon!” Courtney suggested.
“Hey…” Cody let out, we ignored him.
The rest of us agreed to the name.
“And… pink team?” Chris asked us lastly.
“Team Amazon!” We replied.
“Amazing! Chef will take your things and you come with me to the Execution Place!
“He’s really gonna keep calling it that way, huh?” Gwen sighed.
“With this energy, he might start calling the show Bad Host Show.” Duncan smirked.
Gwen laughed at his not so funny joke and he seemed pretty satisfied by it.
I know what the look he gave her meant but I’m not gonna do anything about it.
“Let's go, guys.” Courtney commanded.
We walked off the beach, not far was the place Chris talked about.
I couldn't help but notice the big white house in front of me. A golden sign above the door told us it was Chirs’s house, I suppose Chef lives here too. The most odd thing about it was the electric fence around it.
A bit to the right there were three, small, gray houses, it's safe to assume they're ours.
The contrast between those places lights a small fire in my chest.
At the end of the day, we go to the poor, dirty rooms while he lies in his big villa that we would never be able to enter. Even though we were the ones working our asses off the whole day, he is the one who gets to put it on a comfortable bed.
And that electric fence, it's like he's mocking us. A message telling us that we can't have what he has.
Don't get me wrong, if I had a lot of money and fame, I would also get myself a big house and laugh at people who are joining programs to get what I have. Maybe that's it, Chris loves mocking people with less money than him so much that he decided to host a show about it.
That's cruel, not surprising though.
I guess there's a reason why many hate celebrities. Imagine not having anything better to do than hosting a show where you bully teenagers on tv.
Yet, it's pretty much what I always wanted to be.
Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be rich and famous. It wasn't because I wanted to be an actress or a singer. I didn't really have any talents or interests growing up.
I didn’t have a dream job, I wanted to do nothing but still have everything.
I wanted to reach this kind of not giving a shit that even if the world was burning, I could sit in my big house and just watch.
That's the person I saw myself as.
Of course, getting all of that isn't easy. So, that's how I ended up here.
I don't care how many seasons I will have to go through and how much hair I will have to lose.
I will get my hands on that million dollars.
I take a look at my competition once again.
All those people from random places, bunch of nobodies, I hate that it applies to me too.
It's all a game to them but not to me.
I watch as Chris takes his place on a podium near the fireplace (there's no way I am calling it ‘Execution place’).
“Alright teams, are we ready-”
He gets interrupted by an annoying voice.
“Waitttt!!! Chris!!!!” Sierra was waving her hand, trying to get the attention of our host.
“Yes, Sierra?” He groaned.
“You know, I’m your biggest fan ever… I was wondering if you maybe let me switch teams so I can be with Cody…?” She blushed in a creepy way.
“What’s her deal? Are you guys a couple or something?” I turned to Cody.
“No! I don't even know her!” He defended himself.
“Oh, I’m just a huge Cody fan! But we might be a couple one day…”
The way she plays with her hair when he talks about him makes me cringe. I hope Chris doesn't let this psycho in our team.
“I could switch! I want to be on Owen's team!” Izzy volunteered.
“Alright! Whatever! Just get on with it!” Chris yelled.
Sierra happily ran to Cody and wrapped her hands around him while Izzy did the same to Owen.
“No more switches! Got it? This was an exception!” He raised his voice again.
It feels like Chris is falling for Sierra’s praises.
I wonder if she actually loves him or just does it so he likes her.
Maybe, having this girl on our team will help us more than we thought.
Another idea about her usefulness lights in my head. She’s new, meaning she doesn't hate me like everyone else. I could get her to like me and not vote for me. I'm sure I can get her to get rid of Gwen when time comes, Cody really likes her which would make her jealous.
“For your first challenge, you will be exploring the area a little bit. Only a little bit because we need to leave some surprises for the later episodes.” Chris began.
“So, are we going to get maps of the place?” Bridgette asked.
“Funny you ask! Around this place we have hid nine envelopes for each team. The envelopes contain parts of maps of this place. The first team to get all of them and bring it back here wins! Easy!”
“So that's the theme of this season? Weird island? Haven’t we done that before?” Noah commented.
“Yeah, he’s got a point.” Owen agreed.
“Patience! Patience! You’ll learn everything in time!”
The way he said this and then laughed gives me chills, there's something so unsettling in his voice.
“Where do we even start looking?” Dj raised another question.
“Maybe here, maybe not! You're on your own kids! See ya!”
Chris jumped of his podium while waving to us with his papers.
“I think we should start looking here.” Gwen suggested.
“Not like we have anywhere else to go.” I sighed.
As we begin to look around the place, I glance at what other teams are doing.
Team Chris ran back to the beach while Team Victory was still talking.
I'm pretty sure the first envelope is here. There has to be a reason why Chris told us to come here instead of starting the challenge on the stage.
I kneed down to look under the seats and soon reached my hand for the pink envelope.
“I got it!” I cheered.
“Open it!” Courtney commanded.
The four of them gathered around me as I opened what I found.
The paper inside of it had a piece of paper with a badly done drawing.
“What is this supposed to be?” Gwen questioned.
“I think it's a part of the stage!” Cody pointed out.
“Where do you even see that?” Courtney commented.
“Here!”
Cody pointed at the picture, I tilted my head to attempt to see what he was seeing.
“Cody's right! We should go there!” Sierra cheered right to my ear.
“I don't know…” Courtney doubted.
“What other ideas do you have then?” I added.
She didn't answer.
We moved ourselves to the place Cody talked about.
I'm pretty sure we're ahead of everyone, I don't think Team Victory still moved.
“I think it's this part!”
Cody led the girls. I took a short look at Team Chris who was trying to find the first envelope on the stage.
“It's not here.” Courtney groaned.
“Maybe we should dig.” Cody suggested.
“Great! Then dig, Cody.” I said.
“Why me?”
“Cause it was your idea and you're the only boy around here? Now dig.” Courtney complained.
“You can do it, Cody! I'm sure you'd be a great digger!” Sierra said.
The only boy of Team Amazon began digging as the rest of us watched.
It's true that it would be more successful if we all started digging but I don't feel like getting on my knees and getting sand in my nails.
“I found… a yellow one…” He pulled out a yellow envelope from the group.
“Well, we need a pink one. So, keep digging.” I told him.
“It can't be far…” He sighed.
I took the yellow envelope out of his hands and looked around the place.
“What are you doing?” Gwen turned to me.
“Making the challenge more difficult for our opponents.”
As Team Chris just left the area, I threw the golden envelope deeply under the stage and then covered it with sand.
It will take them a while to find it here.
“That's cheating.” Gwen interrupted my moment of pride.
“Did Chris ever mention we can't touch envelopes of other teams?”
“Just because he didn't say it, doesn't mean it's allowed.”
“Well then, go dig it up.” I crossed my arms.
“What?”
“Go dig up the envelope and put it where it was. We’ll see who everyone will vote for once you help the opposite team.” I smirked.
She glanced under the stage then at me. After that, she went back to our teammates.
“So, what's the next stop?” I asked proudly.
“More sand? I think it's gonna be deeper on the beach.” Cody replied.
“Let's go before Team Victory gets here.” Gwen pointed at one of our opponents coming.
We moved near the water, I couldn't help but stare at the giant walls for a moment.
What are you planning, Chris McLean?
The challenge wasn't very entertaining, we found the next envelope then moved to the bridge and then the port where we got two more.
I made sure that every time we saw envelopes of other players, I would move them a little.
It's not like I was making it impossible for them to win, I was just making it harder. That's not cheating if you think about it. Chris never said we can't do it and the envelopes would be hidden in this area anyway. The other teams won't even know I moved anything.
After we left the river, the more challenging part of the plan came in.
The envelopes were all stuck in Chris’s electric fence.
“How are we supposed to get this? We’ll get electrocuted.” Courtney complained.
“Maybe the fence isn't turned on?” Cody said.
“I wouldn't count on it.” Gwen disagreed.
“What would be the point of an electric fence if it's not turned on?” I added.
“Let me try!!” Sierra yelled.
She was holding a long stick she found near the river. I guess it was a good idea since electricity doesn't go through wood, I wouldn't expect her to know that, though.
Sierra helplessly jumped and waved her stick around. She's the tallest person here and can't reach it, it's a bad sign.
“Get on Cody’s back!” Courtney commanded.
“Why mine-”
“Just do it!”
Sierra did exactly what Courtney told her. Cody let out a really pathetic sound as Sierra pressed her shoes on his shoulders.
I wonder how Chris was expecting us to get this. I have seen very few interns around this year. I bet they all quited, considering how insufferable their boss is.
“I got it!!”
As Sierra cheered, she and Cody fell on the ground with a loud thud.
“At least it's better than getting electrocuted.” Cody groaned.
“Are you okay, Cody??” Sierra helped Cody stand up.
“I'm okay. What about you, though?” He replied nervously.
“I'm okay as long as you're okay.” She hugged him.
“This is very disturbing to watch.” I let out.
“I know, right? And why him anyway?” Courtney agreed.
“How much more of this will we have to witness?” Gwen complained.
“Not a lot if we get rid of one of them soon.”
Courtney proposed the idea, I wanted too but I bit my tongue this time.
Sure, not having to watch Sierra and her weird obsession with Cody would be nice but we might need her. She is Chris’s favorite and she is probably the only person in this team who I could get on my side.
Then again, their second choice could be me. Gwen and Courtney disliking Sierra is to my advantage. Getting Cody to vote for her wouldn't be hard ethier. Then no matter what I do, Sierra is out.
“Well, I’m not planning on losing anytime soon. So, let's keep moving.” I said.
We took a look at our next map piece which clearly showed three houses with colors of our teams.
“That's an easy one, I can see them in the distance! Let's go!” Cody got excited.
As we ran off, I witnessed as the yellow envelope slowly fell out on Chris’s side of the fence.
That's gonna be hard to get out but not any of my business.
We got to those dirty brick buildings that we were supposed to sleep in for the next few weeks.
“Ours should be in our house.” Gwen pointed out.
Near the entrance there was Chef, he didn't make eye contact with us but still talked.
“Each house has two rooms and one bathroom. Rooms are technically separated for genders but do whatever you want.” He explained.
“Wait, a minute! I just remembered there is no confessional here!” Courtney noticed.
“Oh yeah, I knew something was missing…” Gwen agreed. “What's up with that?”
Chef shrugged without a word.
“Anyone getting a feeling Chris is being extra weird this season?” Gwen asked.
“What does Chris’s biggest fan have to say about that?” I turned to Sierra.
“I do feel like he is being pretty odd… I bet it's all part of his amazing show plan.”
Why is she so obsessed with so many not very attractive men? Cody, Chris, if she ends up liking Alejandro too, I’ll puke.
“Sure. Let's get the envelope.” Gwen sighed.
When we enter our room, it doesn't look better inside than outside but it's what I expected.
I go upstairs, to the bathroom. I have a feeling that the envelope will be there.
As soon as I get in, Cody runs in there and slams the door.
“What was that?”
“I told Sierra that I’m going to pee so she stops hugging for one second.”
“With me in the bathroom?”
“She doesn't have to know you're here.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Help me look then.”
We began searching through the room. I noticed a first aid kit behind the mirror, which is odd because normally we had a hospital wing and Chef would take care of our injuries.
We’re very much on our own now with whatever happens to us. I’m not sure how I feel about that.
I take the little red box and open it.
On top of the bandages and plasters, there was a pink envelope.
“I found it!”
“Good job, Heather!”
I'm not gonna say it out loud but it felt nice to be appreciated at least a bit.
I was about to exit the room when Cody stopped me.
“Would you mind if we stay here for one more minute?” There was a lot of nervousness in his voice.
“What? We have a challenge to win!”
“We're very ahead anyway and I just want a little break from Sierra… Please?”
I raised my eyebrow.
“I’ll vote for whoever you want on the nearest elimination, promise!” He put his hand on his chest.
I couldn't say no to that.
“Fine. You get three minutes.”
“Thank you!”
He sat on the floor, I sat next to him.
The bathroom wasn't in the best condition but it was better than what we had before. I wonder how hard it's gonna be to get here in the morning.
I glance at Cody. We're on the first day and he's already tired of her. Maybe Sierra will have to go after all.
I have this stupid feeling in my chest when I look at him, telling me that I feel bad for him.
“You know, if you want to make this team work we’re gonna have to do something about this.” I said.
“But what? She's crazy about me and I don't even know her. You think we should vote her out?”
“Well, she's annoying so getting others to vote on her wouldn't be hard but…”
“But what?”
“Think about how useful she could be if you play it right.” “I’m not saying that we won't vote her out but we're not planning on losing anytime soon so until then we could use her to our advantage.” I explained.
“I guess… But using her like that…”
“Oh, c’mon. She'd do anything for you anyway. It's not ‘using her’ if you ask her to do something and she says yes.”
Cody stayed silent for a minute then spoke again.
“I think you might be right.”
“Ofcourse, I am.”
“Thanks, Heather.”
He smiled at me, I smiled back.
It feels a bit warm inside, did I actually make a friend?
“It has been four minutes.” He chuckled nervously.
We left the bathroom and met with others in the hall.
“Did you guys find it?” Courtney groaned clearly tired.
“Heather did!” Cody gave me the credit.
“There's just one left! We're so winning this!” Gwen cheered.
I pulled out the paper piece.
“I saw this place earlier, let's go.” I said.
With excitement we rushed to the last building.
Inside it was nothing else but a dining hall. I bet when Duncan sees it, he will make a joke about it looking like a prison cafeteria.
We ran all over the place to find the last piece of the map, it didn't take very long. We unwrapped it and it showed us the fireplace.
“We can go back now! Quick!” Courtney commanded.
We sprinted out of the cafeteria, with a corner of my eye, I spotted Team Chris getting there.
We made it to Chris who began clapping right after we gave him what we found.
“Good job, Team Amazon! You win this challenge!”
We cheered. Winning the first challenge is always a good sign.
“Wait but those maps are missing parts.” Cody pointed out.
“I never said they were supposed to be useful. Besides, I can't uncover everything to you. That’d be spoilers!” Chris laughed.
“Whatever, at least we won.” I shrugged.
“Yeah! You should be really happy about that.” He said with slight mischievousness.
I was about to say something when another team came running.
“And Team I am really really really really hot in second place!” McLean announced as Alejandro gave him their map pieces.
“At least we're not last.” Noah spoke.
“Speaking of which, looks like Team Victory chose a wrong name for their group.” Chris laughed. “I guess we're gonna have to wait for them.”
I wonder if they're still at the electric fence, that must have taken a while
We sat down and waited for them to come, it took a good hour but they eventually appeared.
“There they are! Team Victory or more like Team Losers! Because I will be meeting you at the ceremony tonight!” He announced.
Team Victory collectively sighed.
“That's not fair! It was really to get those you know! Like, behind an electric fence? C’mon!” Bridgette complained.
“You can complain how much you want but you're still losers!”
“Oh and one more thing! As much as only Team Victory will be voting, I would like all the teams to come to the elimination!” Chris added.
With that hanging in the air, we headed to our rooms.
“Looks like Cody has one part of the room all to himself. Lucky.” Gwen said as we entered the house.
“I could keep you company, Cody!!” Sierra volunteered.
Fear appeared on Cody's face almost immediately. I wanted to wait for him to stand up for himself before saying anything.
“I’d prefer not…” He mumbles nervously.
“Would you look at that! Keys to our rooms are here, looks like we will be able to lock ourselves for the night.” I stepped in.
“How would we go to the bathroom then-” Fourtnetly, Gwen said that quiet enough that Sierra didn't hear her.
“Oh yeah, it's safe that way since the main door doesn't have a key.” Cody added.
I nodded.
Before this conversation could go any further, I left to our room and the girls followed me.
“I call dibs on the top bed!” Sierra yelled out.
“Wait me too!” Gwen followed her.
“Hey, I wanted one!” Courtney complained.
Whatever, I don't care which bed I get.
I put my bags on the bed above Sierra’s and then lye down.
My situation in this team is looking good so far.
Cody has to vote on whoever I want and Sierra is the least favorite member.
We work together quite well, for now. Hopefully, Courtney’s bossiness won’t get in the way.
This bed is uncomfortable, maybe this season’s theme is prison after all.
Gwen and Courtney are loud, I can't focus.
“Do you guys have to be so loud?” I raised my head.
“She started it!” Gwen replied.
“No, I didn't!” Courtney argued.
“It was totally Courtney who started by the way.” Sierra added laughing from above.
“I don't care who started it, you better figure it out because I will not be listening to all this yelling.”
I got up from the bed.
“I called dibs on the top bed first and she is trying to take it away from me.” Gwen complained.
“You're arguing over something so childish? How typical of you.” I rolled my eyes.
“Hey, I am not childish! I-I can't take this! I’m going to Duncan!”
Courtney stormed out of the room, leaving her bags behind.
“I guess, the bed is mine.” Gwen put her things on the top bunk.
“Maybe if she will sleep with him, we will have some peace.” I said and went back to my bed.
Time passed slowly but it did.
I was a bit annoyed with how we all had to be at the elimination ceremony of Team Victory.
Why should I watch them get sent home? I would learn it eventually when I wouldn't see them the next day. What a waste of my time.
Still, when it got dark, we all sat at the fireplace. It was crowded, like always at the beginning.
There was dead silence as people from Team Victory took the middle seats.
Chris had an evil smile on his face while Chef didn't express any emotions with his hands behind his back.
“Welcome, at the first execution ceremony of this season!”
Why is he calling it like that?
“I have counted the votes, one person from Team Victory will be eliminated tonight!”
Chris seemed to be more excited for this than usual. Almost like we were getting to the main point of his show plan.
I have a bad feeling in my stomach.
“Everyone who gets a marshmallow is safe.”
Chris began throwing marshmallows to people whose names he called.
“Bridgette,”
“DJ,”
“Harold,”
“Lewshana,”
“And the last marshmallow of tonight goes too…”
“...Lindsay.”
Lindsay catches her prize and sighs with relief.
While, Ezekiel stands up in shock.
“Oh, c’mon! You voted me off first again? That's not fair, guys!” He complained.
“Sorry but you were the least helpful one.” Bridgette admitted.
“This is so stupid.” He groaned.
“This is very sad but it's time for the elimination.” Chris grabbed Ezekiel’s arm.
“Huh? Shouldn't I be going to the boat?” He asked as Chris made him stand right infront of the fire place.
“Not exactly. Could you get down on your knees for me, please?”
Ezekiel gave us a look of confusion, then did what our host told him to.
“Alright… What are you planning, dude?”
Chris went to the podium and grabbed something from Chef. I couldn't tell what it was as he hid it in his shirt.
“We're doing things differently this year, the punishment for getting voted of will be…”
This happened so quickly, so unexpectedly, yet I will never forget the wave of terror than went through me at that moment.
In a blink of an eye, Chris McLean pulled a pistol and shot in the head of Ezekiel.
The shot was loud but the silence after it was even louder.
Ezekiel collapsed on the ground with red liquid coming out of his head. His wide eyes had fear in them and they were frozen like that forever.
“...death! The punishment for getting voted out is death!” Chris laughed.
I sat there without moving with my mouth open.
Is this real? Is this really happening?
Ezekiel, this random guy we never got to know better, is dead now.
“What the hell Chris?!” Duncan was the first person to stand up. Good thing he did because it helped me get my eyes off the body.
“That's how the game goes! Because this year's theme of Total Drama is death! Killing! Murder!”
He was enjoying this. I didn't know if I wanted to throw up or punch him in the face, either way I didn't do anything.
Bridgette walked up to Ezekiel.
She checked his pulse, all of us knew she wouldn't feel anything.
“How could you?!” She cried.
“Get used to it! Because this is just the beginning!” Chris replied.
“Nuh uh! I am not taking part in a killing game!” Leshawna protested.
“Me neither! Wait until my lawyers hear about this!” Courtney spoke up.
I couldn't hold it in, I had to join in.
“This is ridiculous, Chris! This isn't a game, you justkilled a man!” I stand up, my voice is shaking just like my legs.
“Me? You're the one who voted for him.” He chuckled.
“We didn't know you would kill him!” Dj added.
He was enjoying this, he was really enjoying this.
I wanted to scream out that burning feeling of rage in my chest but I stood in one place looking like a complete idiot.
“Oh, c’mon Bridgette said it herself, he wasn't really helpful.”
“I didn't mean it like that!” Bridgette let out a painful cry.
“You little -”
Duncan, full of aggression, moved to Chris.
He swung his fist but was taken away by Chef. When he tried to fight him too, Courtney pulled him by his arm away.
“He has a gun, Duncan! Stop it!” She hissed.
It was clear he hated the fact that he can't punch Chris in the face, McLean laughing wasn't helping. But Courtney was right, poking a guy holding a gun wasn't a good idea.
“Now that we have that behind us, I can introduce you to the new rules!” He clapped his hands.
“Everytime you vote someone off, they will die! The last person standing will go home alive and with million dollars!”
As he said that, he walked around. At some point he stopped infront of me and stared directly into my eyes.
“You can't make us play this.” I let out quietly.
“I thought you liked playing games.” He chuckled.
“Fuck you.” I hissed.
“Oh and one more thing! You have no choice. Anyone who attempts to leave the island or won't participate in the challenges or the voting, will be killed.” He made the last word very loud and clear. We were all sure he meant it.
Lastly, he turned to the camera and said this:
“Who will die? Who will live? And who will get their hands on the million dollars? Find out next time on Total Drama: Killing Spree!!!”
He walked away, the cameras were taken away too. The silence came in again.
I looked around the mess that just happened.
Courtney holding onto Duncan's arm, with wet cheeks. He wasn't moving but his chest was very fastly.
Owen in the back having a panic attack shaking his friend Noah who was clearly dissociating. Izzy was attempting to make her boyfriend get off Noah.
Meanwhile, Lindsay is hiding her face into Tyler’s chest.
Sierra turned to Gwen and with a quiet voice asked her if this was real. Gwen nodded.
She hugs Cody, he accepts it. Gwen joins in.
I can't help but glance at the body once again.
Bridgette was crying into Ezekiel's hoodie.
She had Lewshana’s hand on her back, and Lewshana had Harold’s on hers.
Harold's second was on Dj’s arm.
Team Victory had eachother's back.
They're not going to make it through this, they care for eachother too much. The eliminations are going to ruin them.
They're going to ruin all of us.
All of us?
I'm the only one not having anyone to turn to.
Am I?
My eyes land on Alejandro.
He didn't move, he didn't stand up, he was frozen.
His face is blank with one tear rolling down his cheek.
He’s just like me.
We know that because we don't have anyone to turn to now, we can get voted off next.
But what we also know is that people with nothing to lose play killing games better.
This was the moment it came to me that the game I thought I knew so well wasn't actually just any game.
I will never look the same at the people around me, now that I know that they have to die if I want to survive.
And I will not be dying in this shithole.