"Last time on Total Drama Island," he began, pacing casually as the recap footage rolled behind him. "Both teams set out on a canoe trip to deadly Boney Island. Cody hit on Gwen about eighty times, but he made up for it by setting her up with the guy she actually wanted to hang with, Trent. Good strategy, bro. Bridgette and Ronnie Anne cleared the air, but it was Cody who was the wingman VIP by getting Lincoln and Ronnie Anne to hang out. There were winners—and there were losers. Also known as, The Gophers."
"The last marshmallow was set to go to either Izzy or Lindsay," Chris continued, "but the RCMP swooped in and bam! Izzy hightailed it outta there! Hahaha. Man, I knew the girl was nuts, but I didn't know she was totally insane! However, one Gopher may have secretly done something even crazier when she brought home a creepy stick statue voodoo thingy from the deadly haunted island."
He turned to the camera, flashing a blinding grin.
"Will Beth live to regret her souvenir? And can my teeth possibly get any whiter?"
The camera zooms in on Chris's face as his pearl white teeth shine like diamonds.
Ding!
"Find out here on Total. Drama. Island!"
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The morning sun cast a soft light over the camp as Lincoln stepped out of the bathrooms, stretching with a content sigh.
"This crummy camp actually has some charm to it," he said, smiling faintly.
He made his way toward the beach, hoping to relax before the next challenge—until a too-sweet voice froze him mid-step.
"Hey, Linky~"
Lincoln didn't even need to turn around. His tone went flat. "Hello, Katie."
The pink-clad girl skipped up to him, her bubbly grin in full force.
"Hey, Linky! I was hoping you could help me."
Lincoln turned, one eyebrow raised. "Help with what?"
Katie twirled a strand of hair, her voice syrupy. "I have some fetch new bikinis and need your opinion."
Lincoln's face turned bright red. "I-I don't think I'll be good for that, Katie. Maybe one of the girls would help—Lindsay has a good eye for fashion."
But Katie only sauntered closer, hips swaying for emphasis.
"But I want you, Lincoln… to see me in them."
Lincoln was beyond uncomfortable, but his salvation came in the form of a helicopter thundering overhead.
Whup-whup-whup!
Inside the Bass cabin, the noise startled Duncan awake.
"Oh! Hit the deck! They're coming, man! They found us!" He dove under his bunk while the others rubbed their eyes in confusion.
Across the camp, in the Gophers' cabin, the sound made Leshawna sit bolt upright—only to crack her head on the upper bunk.
"Ow! Okay, that dude is really starting to get on my last nerve!"
Ronnie Anne, half-dressed in her pants and sports bra, looked over with concern. "You good, Leshawna?"
"Better than Chris'll be when I get my hands on him," Leshawna grumbled, rubbing her head. "Swear that dude gets some sick kick outta torturing us."
From across the room, Heather stirred with a yawn.
"Whatever. He just loves ruining our mornings."
Beth and Lindsay woke groggily as Heather immediately barked orders.
"Beth, Lindsay—go warm up the shower for me. Now! And remember—"
Beth rubbed her eyes, finishing the line for her. "Not too hot this time, I know."
Beth hopped down to get the water running while Lindsay started gathering Heather's clothes.
Ronnie Anne watched them leave, a frown creasing her face. Her gaze drifted back to Heather, who was still lounging smugly.
⸻
Ronnie Anne - CONFESSIONAL
Ronnie Anne glared at the camera, arms crossed.
"Heather's been running those two ragged for weeks."
Flashback 1: Beth sat in the lodge eating chips when Heather snatched the bag, took one bite, gagged, and tossed it back at her face scattering the chips.
Flashback 2: Lindsay, wrapped in a towel after her shower, reached for a hair dryer—only for Heather to snatch both the dryer and her towel, forcing the naked blonde to sprint for cover.
Flashback 3: Heather reclined in a chair using Beth as a literal footstool while painting her toenails.
⸻
Ronnie Anne - CONFESSIONAL
"Me and Leshawna should talk to them. Getting those girls away from Heather is too important—not because of the game, but because nobody deserves to be treated like that."
⸻
Back in the cabin, Ronnie Anne clasped a pendant around her neck—a silver hand charm with the thumb and pinky bent outward.
Leshawna tilted her head. "Ooh, new bling?"
"Yeah," Ronnie Anne said. "My abuela's superstitious, and after that…" She shuddered. "Island. Figured it might help drive off the demon over there."
She pointed toward Heather, still snoring in her bunk.
Leshawna chuckled, creeped out but amused. "Girl, I wish. But I'm not that lucky."
Ronnie Anne laughed softly, and the two shared a high-five before getting ready for the day.
——————
The morning rush was in full swing outside the camp bathrooms. Nearly every girl from both teams stood in a desperate line, legs crossed and faces strained as they tried not to burst.
"Ughhhh…" they groaned collectively.
Ronnie Anne walked by, raising an eyebrow at the sight before stopping beside Courtney.
"The heck's going on?" she asked.
"That's what I want to know," Courtney snapped, clearly on edge.
Bridgette groaned behind her. "What's the holdup?"
"Heather needs her private time," Lindsay replied miserably.
Leshawna was practically hopping in place. "How long's Queenie gonna be in there? I got urgent business!"
Beth winced sympathetically. "She could still be a while."
Gwen rolled her eyes, fed up. "Ugh! That's it. I'm going lumberjack style."
The group cringed as the goth girl stomped off toward the woods, muttering under her breath.
Suddenly, feedback screeched through the camp's loudspeakers.
"Krrchhh—Attention campers!" Chris's voice boomed. "I hope you're ready for the most challenging challenge yet! Breakfast in three minutes at the campfire pit!"
The announcement drew groans from the girls—three minutes was not nearly enough time.
Beth approached the bathroom door timidly and gave it a light knock. "Um, Heather?"
No response.
Ronnie Anne's expression hardened. She stormed up and pounded on the door hard enough to make the hinges rattle.
"Hey, Diabla! There's a ton of girls about to explode if you don't open up!"
Heather's voice drifted lazily through the door. "Thanks for the news, thunder butt. Can one of you come in here and lotion my back? It's peeling!"
The entire line of girls recoiled in disgust. Crickets chirped in the awkward silence that followed. One by one, every girl except Beth and Ronnie Anne trudged off toward the woods to follow Gwen's lead.
Beth hesitated, glancing between Ronnie Anne and the bathroom door.
"Beth," Ronnie Anne said firmly, "you don't have to put up with Heather—not how she treats you, or having to deal with that dragon-scale nightmare she calls her skin."
Beth fidgeted, guilt flickering across her face. "I can't ignore her. I need her help to win."
Ronnie Anne crossed her arms. "She needs you to win. You're too smart not to see that. The more you help that bruja, the more you're gonna depend on her. Cut the parasite off."
Beth looked down, torn. After a long pause, she sighed and opened the bathroom door anyway, stepping inside to face Heather.
Ronnie Anne watched her go, her expression softening into worry.
————
At the campfire pit, every camper had gathered—some alert and ready, others still half-asleep and slouching on the logs.
Chris stood before them, all smiles and sunglasses, his enthusiasm at full blast.
"Are you ready for today's extreme max-impact challenge?"
Owen shot both arms into the air, bursting with energy.
"We are ready!" he cheered, laughing loudly.
Leshawna shook her head. "This boy can't be serious."
Ronnie Anne pinched the bridge of her nose with a groan. "It's too early for this."
Without warning, Chris shouted, "Incoming!" and hurled a metal can toward the crowd. Gwen barely had time to flinch before Trent snatched it out of the air. He grinned at her, earning a small smile in return.
"This… is breakfast," Chris announced.
He tossed out more cans, one after another. Lincoln caught one and examined the label.
"Beans?"
Sure enough, each can was filled with baked beans—nothing else.
Heather made a disgusted face. "No. Breakfast is crepes, croissants—even Chef's crappy burnt eggs." She dropped her can in defiance.
Owen, however, was thrilled. "Beans, beans, they're good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you—"
Thunk!
His rhyme was cut short as Ronnie Anne's can hit him square in the forehead, knocking him backward.
Chris carried on, unbothered. "Today's challenge is about survival. We're going hunting."
He produced a green gun from behind his back, instantly lighting up Duncan's and Owen's faces.
"That's more like it," Duncan said with a grin.
The rest of the campers looked far less enthusiastic.
"I have an issue with this," Ronnie Anne said firmly. "I'm not hurting animals for fun."
Lincoln nodded. "Same."
"Totally," Bridgette agreed.
Harold squinted at the "weapon," realizing something. "Wait—isn't that a paintball gun?"
Chris smirked. "Why yes, Harold. It is."
Before anyone could react, he fired a round at Harold's shirt.
Splatt!
"Gah!" Harold grunted, looking down at the green paint now splattered across his chest.
Lincoln helped him up as Bridgette called out, "So we're not actually killing anything, right?"
Chris spun the gun like a cowboy. "Negatory! This is the first ever Paintball Deer Hunt! I'll announce the teams once we get into the woods. So… finish breaky."
A loud, echoing burp shattered the moment.
"UPPPPOHHHH!!"
Everyone turned to see Owen, surrounded by a pile of empty cans—over two dozen of them.
"Ahhh," he sighed contentedly. "Got any more?"
The campers stared, equal parts horrified and impressed.
Ronnie Anne raised an eyebrow. "Dude… is your stomach a black hole or something?"
Owen shrugs "probably."
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The campers trudged through the woods, sunlight streaking through the trees as Ronnie Anne and Leshawna lagged behind the group.
"Hey L?" Ronnie Anne whispered.
Leshawna turned, eyebrow raised. "Girl, why you whisperin'?"
Ronnie Anne motioned for her to stay quiet. "Don't draw attention. Leshawna, you've noticed how Heather's been treating Beth and Lindsay, right?"
Leshawna's eyes narrowed at the memory. She'd seen it—Heather barking orders, using the girls like servants, bullying them despite calling it an alliance.
"Is their alliance fallin' apart?" Leshawna asked.
Ronnie Anne nodded. "Big time. Beth's getting fed up—I can tell."
Leshawna watched ahead, where Beth trailed nervously behind Heather like a shadow.
"If we talk to her," Ronnie Anne continued, "we could get her away from Heather. We all hate that snake. She'd want real teammates—people who don't treat her like dirt."
Leshawna thought for a moment, then smirked. "Then we vote off Heather."
Ronnie Anne grinned wickedly, pleased they were on the same page. Helping Beth and hitting Heather's game at the same time? Perfect.
⸻
Both teams soon reached a wide clearing where Chris stood beside a wooden rack lined with paintball guns—four green, four red.
"And now," Chris announced dramatically, "for the team breakdowns! The Killer Bass hunters are—Harold, Lincoln, Geoff, and Bridgette! Locked and loaded with Bass Blue paint!"
He tossed each player a gun. Lincoln caught his and gave it a stylish twirl. "Now this is more my style."
⸻
Lincoln - CONFESSIONAL
"My Pop-Pop and I are undefeated in paintball and airsoft. He was a Navy SEAL, so I know my stuff. If you're watching, Pop-Pop and Gran-Gran, I'll make you proud."
⸻
Chris turned to the others. "And using orange paint are the Gopher hunters: Leshawna, Beth, Owen, and Lindsay!"
Owen pumped his fist, lifting the gun over his head like a hero. "Wha-hoo! This is awesome, man!"
Chris chuckled. "You also get these stylin' glasses and wicked camo caps!"
Chef handed out the hats and sunglasses as the campers geared up.
"The rest of you," Chris said, his grin widening, "are now deer. Here are your antlers, noses, and little white tails."
Ronnie Anne deadpanned, "Te odio."
Heather folded her arms. "Yeah right. I am not wearing that."
"There's no way I'm a deer," Duncan muttered darkly. He was born to be a hunter, not prey.
Chris plopped the antlers onto his head, followed by the glasses and fake nose. "Take these off, and your team is toast."
He presented the belt with the fluffy tail attached. With a long sigh, Duncan fastened it around his waist.
Owen snickered. As Duncan glared at the big guy
"Something funny?
"Oh, nothin', Bambi." Owen yanked the tail back and let it snap against Duncan's back.
Snap!
Duncan scowled. "You'd better be a good shot, tubby."
⸻
Ronnie Anne - CONFESSIONAL
Ronnie Anne slumped in the chair, still wearing the full deer outfit.
"Yeah, this is exactly what I signed up for." She tugged at the tail belt. "Wearing something that draws even more attention to my butt. Real boost to my self-esteem."
⸻
When Ronnie Anne clicked the belt on, Heather was already laughing.
"That tail's perfect," she sneered. "It actually Distracts from that wide-load butt of yours."
Ronnie Anne glared daggers at her, but Heather's laughter ended abruptly when—
SPLAT!
Heather yelped. "Aww! Charlie horse!"
She crumpled to the ground, clutching her leg, while Lincoln stood a few feet away, feigning wide-eyed innocence.
"Oh my god, I'm soooo sorry," he said with exaggerated shock. "The trigger was a little off."
The rest of the campers burst out laughing—everyone except Lindsay, who looked confused. Even Beth cracked a smile before Heather's icy glare made her freeze.
⸻
Heather - CONFESSIONAL
Her eye twitched with rage. "He. Is. Dead."
———-
The Bass "deer" trudged through the forest, fake antlers bobbing as they moved through the underbrush.
"At least we get a head start," Courtney muttered, adjusting her uncomfortable foam nose.
Katie fussed with her tail belt, then twirled a strand of hair.
"Do you think Lincoln was looking my way?" she asked with a sugary smile.
Courtney blinked, completely thrown.
"No… Katie, I don't think Lincoln is into you."
Katie's face twisted into irritation.
"Uh, he so totally is. My cuteness is unmatched now that Sadie's gone. Plus Lincoln's single. Why wouldn't he be into this?"
Duncan groaned so loudly a crow flew away.
He raised his fingers one by one, counting off.
"Maybe because—one: he's into the señorita on the Gophers. Two: you're clingier than a tick. And three: you're an idiot."
Katie's jaw dropped in offended fury.
DJ stepped in, trying to cushion the blow.
"Look, Katie… Linc told me he likes Ronnie Anne. And it's obviously mutual. Best to find someone else who's available, ya know?"
Katie huffed, crossing her arms dramatically before stomping off alone through the ferns.
Duncan shook his head.
"That girl needs to expedite a brain transplant. Like, yesterday."
DJ shrugged, unfazed.
"Probably. But I dunno about y'all…" He suddenly dropped to all fours, lifted his chin proudly, and pranced off into the woods like a majestic buck, tail bouncing with every step.
Courtney and Duncan stared after him in stunned silence.
"We have some weird competitors here," Courtney murmured.
Duncan nodded.
"Yup."
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The Gopher "deer" trudged through the forest, antlers bobbing and fake white tails swaying awkwardly with each step.
Gwen let out a long, exhausted sigh.
"This may be the lamest thing I've ever done in my life."
Ronnie Anne adjusted her belt with visible irritation.
"Ditto."
Cody, ever the optimist, tried to brighten the mood.
"Aw, c'mon. It could be fun."
The look he got—from Gwen's flat glare, Ronnie Anne's dead-eyed annoyance and Trent's confused and annoyed expression—made it very clear that no part of this was fun.
"Okay, catch you later," Cody squeaked, bolting ahead before either girl could verbally unload on him.
⸻
CONFESSIONAL — Cody
Cody sat wrapped head-to-toe in a full body cast, stiff as a board except for his eyes.
"I was so psyched to be a deer," he said through the only gap in the plaster. "I'm small, but I'm quick. Got lots of practice dodging spitballs in math class."
A chunk of the cast crumbled off his shoulder.
Cody winced.
"…Worth it."
⸻
Back in the woods, Trent, Gwen and Ronnie Anne continued forward—well, they did. Heather lounged on a nearby stump, filing her nails like she was at a spa instead of a death match in the woods.
Gwen paused.
"Are you coming?"
Heather didn't even look up.
"No. I'm going to wait for Lindsay and Beth and make them protect me for the whole game."
"Wouldn't that be against the rules?" Gwen asked.
Heather smirked.
"Do you see a rules person anywhere? Worry about your own fluffy tails."
Ronnie Anne scowled so hard her antlers tilted forward.
"I say this with all the hatred in my heart—I hope you get lit up with paintballs, perra."
She didn't wait for Heather's reaction. She, Gwen, and Trent walked off together, leaving Heather steaming in her seat.
After a few steps, Ronnie Anne leaned closer and smirked.
"Hey, I'm gonna branch off. Make it harder for the Bass to hit us—and give you two some alone time."
Gwen and Trent both froze, cheeks tinting pink. Then, slowly, they exchanged a shy smile neither tried to hide.
Ronnie Anne strolled off into the trees with a satisfied grin.
⸻
CONFESSIONAL — Trent
"Thanks, Ronnie," he said, smiling sheepishly at the camera.
⸻
CONFESSIONAL — Gwen
Gwen crossed her arms but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips.
"Best friend to have."
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The Killer Bass huddled tightly around the fire pit, whispering strategy as they checked the chambers of their paintball guns and tightened their goggles. Harold clapped his hands together, full of misplaced military confidence.
"And break!"
He snapped out of formation and strutted off like he'd just led a Navy SEAL briefing. Bridgette, meanwhile, stared uneasily at her paintball gun, turning it over in her hands as if trying to decide whether she was about to commit a felony or a prank.
Harold leaned toward her conspiratorially.
"Okay, you do realize this is all just pretend, right? And that it's just paint? So say, if you… like, hit Heather…"
Bridgette's entire expression transformed. Her eyes lit up like Christmas morning.
"Wait. Heather's a deer?" A wicked grin crawled across her face. "Hohoho…"
Lincoln locked and loaded his gun with a crisp click that sounded way too professional for a teenager in a summer camp game.
"She's prime game," he said flatly, as if announcing a military target. "I'll scout solo. You three travel together, cool?"
Bridgette, Geoff, and Harold nodded in agreement. Lincoln took off toward the treeline like a white-haired phantom.
Before anyone could move, Chris's voice blasted through the forest loudspeakers.
"Start your paintballs! Game on!"
⸻
Across the clearing, the Gopher hunters snapped into action.
"All right!" Beth cheered, raising her gun. "Let's go bag some deer!"
"Aha! I am down with that!" Leshawna said, rolling her shoulders like a boxer entering the ring.
Then something splashed.
Something very wet.
Owen stood there proudly, dripping from head to toe in a yellow liquid. The smell hit a second later.
Beth blinked.
"…What are you doing?"
"Masking my scent so the deer don't smell me coming," Owen declared triumphantly.
Lindsay and Beth stared, dumbfounded. But Leshawna's eyes widened in utter horror.
"Tell me that isn't—"
"Pee?" Owen said cheerfully. "Yes. Yes it is!"
"Ew!!" Beth shrieked.
"I've got some more if you need some," Owen added helpfully, holding up another jar.
The girls recoiled like a bomb had gone off—Lindsay gagging, Beth speed-walking backwards, and Leshawna looking ready to commit a murder.
"We're hunting other campers," Beth snapped. "You don't have to hide your scent!"
Owen looked down at himself in sincere disappointment.
"You mean I collected all this pee for nothing?"
He threw the jar aside, narrowly missing Beth and Lindsay, who screamed and bolted into the trees in raw terror. Leshawna shook her head, staring at Owen like he was a natural disaster.
"Dude," she said. "You are one sick ticket."
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Lindsay and Beth trudged through the woods together, branches snapping under their shoes as they circled back for what felt like the hundredth time. Lindsay was panting dramatically while Beth wiped sweat from her forehead.
"Aw, man," Beth groaned. "We're back to where we started, and we haven't seen one deer."
Almost as if summoned by their misery, a very familiar voice cut in.
"Ahem."
Heather stepped out from behind a tree, arms crossed, impatience radiating off her.
"What took you so long?" she demanded.
Beth blinked. "Were we supposed to come find you?"
"Hello? Alliance, anyone?" Heather scoffed.
Lindsay's face lit up at the word. "Ooh, ooh, me! Can I be in one?"
Heather sighed sharply. "You already are, Lindsay. That's the point! Now go find me some berries! I'm starving!"
She pointed off into the woods like she was directing a servant. Lindsay perked right up.
"Woohoo! Yeah!"
She skipped away happily, while Beth stood stiff, clearly not sharing her enthusiasm.
"Shouldn't we be, y'know, hunting?" Beth asked hesitantly.
"She is hunting. For me," Heather said with a flippant wave. "But actually, berries won't be enough. Go get me some chips."
Beth blinked, stunned. "…In the forest?"
"In the dining hall," Heather corrected sharply. "Now. And not barbeque!"
⸻
Beth – Confessional
Beth sat in the Confessional outhouse, staring at the camera with pure rage burning in her eyes.
"Okay. Heather can be so bossy. And in nature, hunters would never go find food for the deer!"
Her expression shifted instantly into wide-eyed panic.
"She won't hear this, right?"
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Owen moved through the woods with a strange, almost unsettling level of focus for someone his size. He crouched low, eyes narrowed behind the orange-tinted hunter goggles.
"The hunter," he narrated to himself in a whisper, "is a finely tuned machine. His senses heightened by the thrill of the chase."
He paused, inhaling deeply through his nose.
Sniff.
Sniff.
Owen's face lit up. He smelled his prey.
Not far away, DJ—still fully committed to his deer role—was calmly eating grass on all fours, a peaceful, almost serene expression on his face. He didn't seem to realize he was being stalked by a so-called "finely tuned machine."
Owen crept forward another step, whispering dramatically:
"Suddenly, our hunter spots a magnificent buck in the clearing. If he's to succeed, the hunter must demonstrate patience and control."
Frrrt.
Owen froze as the fart betrayed him. DJ's head shot up, eyes wide, scanning the trees.
Frrrttt.
DJ spun again, terrified, searching for the source of the ominous woodland flatulence.
⸻
Meanwhile, back near the dining hall, Beth crouched under a picnic table, clutching a bag of chips she'd managed to scrounge. She held her breath as Chef swaggered out the front door wearing a swimsuit and whistling cheerfully as he headed for the lake.
Beth relaxed. "Phew—"
THUNK.
She smacked her head on the underside of the table.
"Oh!"
Chef's whistling stopped instantly. His head swiveled around, eyes blazing with suspicion.
Beth froze like a statue.
Chef grunted. "…Ghk."
Deciding it must've been his imagination, he resumed whistling and wandered down to the beach. Only when he was completely out of sight did Beth crawl out from under the table and sprint into the main hall.
⸻
Back in the woods, DJ was still happily grazing, a small bird fluttering down to perch delicately on one of his fake antlers.
Owen whispered again, creeping closer.
"The hunter moves in… aware of every proton in his environment."
A sudden hiss cut through the air.
HSSSS.
Owen looked down just in time to see a snake slithering up beside him, baring its fangs.
"Aw, crap!"
Panic overtook every part of Owen's "finely tuned machine." He grabbed the snake and—without thinking—threw it straight at DJ.
DJ screamed and bolted, galloping away on all fours like a deer fleeing a forest fire.
Owen burst from the bushes, paintball gun raised triumphantly.
"Ha-ha! It's on, DJ! Your butt's a hamburger and I'm one hot barbeque!"
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Beth darted into the main hall, skidding across the floor as she grabbed the nearest bag of chips. She spun toward the door—only to freeze when she heard a familiar grumble echo past the door.
"Can't believe I forgot my sunglasses."
Chef's voice.
Beth nearly screamed. Instead, she dove beneath the closest table, curling in on herself as Chef's heavy footsteps thudded closer. He strolled into the main hall whistling, oblivious at first.
Beth tried to inch backward, but her cursed souvenir—the Boney Island tiki idol—slipped from her pocket.
Thunk.
Chef's whistling cut off instantly.
He sniffed the air like a bloodhound.
Sniff. Sniff.
Beth squeezed her eyes shut, holding her breath so hard her lungs ached. Chef stepped closer. One creak of the table legs gave her away.
Creaaak…
Chef moved right to the front of the table, hands lifting as he prepared to flip it and expose her—
CRAAAAASH!
A massive stone blasted through the kitchen window behind him, shattering glass and sending metal trays clattering across the floor.
"WHAT THE—?!" Chef barked, sprinting toward the noise.
Beth didn't hesitate. She burst from beneath the table and bolted through the front door, chips clutched in a death grip. Outside, Ronnie Anne waved from the bushes.
"Psst!"
Beth, panting and terrified, launched herself in her direction. The two girls sprinted away from the hall and the furious chef.
⸻
CONFESSIONAL — Beth
"So I'm running for my life from this psycho Chef when all of a sudden, it hits me! I'm doing this for Heather?! I don't even like her!"
Beth grabs her face in both hands, shaking her head.
"Thank God Ronnie Anne saw me and saved my butt before that lunatic Chef found me."
⸻
By the time they slowed down, both girls were deep enough in the forest that the main hall was out of sight. Beth leaned against a tree, wheezing for breath. Ronnie Anne bent forward, hands on her knees.
"You… hah… you good, Beth?"
Beth nodded, still catching air.
Ronnie Anne looked her over, brow furrowed.
"Beth… oh god… Heather made you do this, didn't she?"
At the name, Beth's eyes hardened—full of raw, pent-up fury.
"Yeah… SHE DID."
The anger only grew.
"I'm risking my life and a hundred grand just so she can live easier! I STOLE CHIPS FOR HER AND I HATE HER!"
Her voice echoed through the trees, sending a flock of birds shooting into the sky.
"I HAVE DEALT WITH SOME HEINOUS BLEEP AND SHE ACTS LIKE SUCH A PRINCESS WHILE I'M DOING ALL THE WORK! I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS BUT I WANT HER GONE!!! Hah… haahh… ahhh…"
She finally ran out of breath, collapsing onto the ground. Ronnie Anne stood beside her, her expression softening.
"Look… I know this stings," Ronnie Anne said gently. "You thought Heather was your friend, and she took advantage of that."
Beth lowered her head to her knees—until she felt Ronnie Anne slide down beside her and pull her into a side-hug. Beth jolted at the unexpected comfort.
"You're a great girl with a big heart, Beth," Ronnie Anne said. Then she stood and offered her hand. "And think about this… you definitely have a friend on this island."
Beth stared at her hand, stunned. Slowly, she reached up and took it, letting Ronnie Anne help her to her feet.
Beth looked down at the chip bag, then opened it and held it out. Ronnie Anne grinned and reached in, happily accepting.
The two girls shared a quiet moment—one of understanding, solidarity, and the start of a real friendship.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
DJ ran like a buck in full panic mode, sprinting on all fours as fast as his limbs could take him through the brush. His breath came in sharp, frantic bursts, every inhale louder than the last as he scrambled for safety.
Behind him, Owen bulldozed through the foliage, firing wildly while gasping for air between each shot.
"You're my burger now, DJ!"
Paintballs cracked through leaves and branches as Owen fired at anything that moved.
DJ launched himself over a narrow river in a single desperate bound. Owen tried to follow, but his aim was off — he slammed his groin directly into a small boulder hidden in the water. The impact made his whole body seize, and he tumbled into the river with a strangled groan, curling instinctively around his wounded pride.
DJ didn't look back. The hunter was down. That was all that mattered.
⸻
Ronnie Anne and Beth continued their walk through the woods, sharing chips straight from the bag.
"So she made me put on different color nail polish on all my fingers because she wanted to find the perfect one for the day," Beth explained with an exhausted sigh.
Ronnie Anne snorted. "I always wondered why you had a different color on each finger. I thought you were doing like a 90's thing or something."
Beth chuckled — only to jolt when Cody sprang out of a nearby bush like a startled meerkat.
"What's good, ladies?" he said brightly.
Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes. "Well, the mood definitely was. I'm impressed — I figured you'd look like an abstract painting by now."
Cody puffed his chest. "I'm quick with a lot of things, babe."
Beth smirked. "No wonder you can't land a girlfriend."
Cody's jaw fell open as Ronnie Anne burst out laughing and high-fived Beth.
"Dang, Beth," Cody said, still stunned. "When did you get all big bad?"
Beth beamed. "When a friend helped me see some things."
She fist-bumped Ronnie Anne as Cody blinked in confusion.
"What happened? Beth, have you bagged any deer yet?"
Beth rolled her eyes. "No. But I did risk my life to steal a bag of chips."
She held up the half-eaten bag — crumbs sprinkling from a tear in the corner.
And unfortunately, they had walked right back into Heather's territory.
Heather crossed her arms. "What took you so long? And why is Grande-Butt here?!"
Ronnie Anne's eyes narrowed, but Beth stepped forward, rage already building.
"She saved me from getting busted, so here."
Beth shoved the chip bag at Heather, who snatched it with no gratitude whatsoever.
"I hope you know what I had to go—go through to get those—"
"There's like…" Heather peered inside and gave the bag a shake. "Eleven chips left. And they're barbeque."
She tossed the bag onto the ground. Cody recoiled. Beth's hands curled into fists. Ronnie Anne looked ready to lunge.
"Go exchange them for dill pickle," Heather ordered.
Beth inhaled sharply — and snapped.
"No."
Heather went still. Cody looked terrified. Ronnie Anne looked proud.
"What did you just say?" Heather hissed.
Cody immediately retreated. "I'm just gonna… yeah." He scooped the fallen chips and ran.
Heather got in Beth's face. "Take it back."
Beth didn't budge. "No."
"Take. It. Back."
"No. I'm tired of being your slave. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a challenge to complete."
Beth turned on her heel and marched away. Ronnie Anne held up a hand; Beth slapped it without stopping.
Heather seethed, pointing at Ronnie Anne.
"You poisoned her against me, you fat butt snake, you better—"
She didn't finish.
Ronnie Anne drove her knee into Heather's stomach with one sharp, practiced motion. The queen bee folded instantly, collapsing to her knees with the breath punched out of her.
Ronnie Anne leaned down, voice low and steady.
"You're used to picking on people weaker than you. More trusting. More naïve. But let me make this clear. I will never put up with your crap. You get in my face, threaten me or my friends, and you'll be in traction. Got it?"
Heather nodded frantically.
Ronnie Anne stepped back. "Glad we came to an understanding, bruja. Hope you get shot."
Heather staggered upright — just in time for a paintball to explode against her back, splattering her with blue paint.
She yelped in shock and spun toward the trees. Another round hit her flat in the forehead, dropping her to the ground.
Lincoln stood between the trunks, paintball gun raised.
"Bagged me a doe. Pity it's the scrawniest and ugliest one."
Heather sputtered.
"That's it! You and your stupid girlfriend are so dead! I'm gonna—"
"Definitely not a trophy deer," Lincoln said calmly, "but it'd be cruel to let it live after being shot three times."
Heather froze as he aimed.
"Don't you dare!"
Lincoln fired a full volley, paintballs hammering across her back, arms, legs, and shoulders until she was coated in blue splotches and fresh welts. Heather collapsed again, groaning.
"That should be enough," he said before disappearing into the woods.
Heather shoved herself upright, shaking with disbelief and humiliation.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" and screamed at the sky in raw fury.
⸻
DJ continued his frantic escape up the steep mountain trail, paintballs whizzing past his heels. Owen lumbered behind him, firing between gasps, determination fading into pure stubbornness.
DJ reached the top — the same cliffside from the very first challenge. He froze as Owen raised the paintball gun at him.
"You're mine now, deer."
DJ shut his eyes—
And the gun jammed. The trigger clicked uselessly.
Owen blinked, tried again — nothing.
"The hunter knows that his prey will stay there… for a moment," he stammered, fiddling with the jam.
DJ rose to his full height, expression dark and volcanic.
Owen backed up, voice wobbling.
"Paralyzed in, uh… fear? And respect?"
DJ stepped closer. Owen saw every vein in his neck bulging with fury.
"The deer cannot best the hunter—" Owen tried weakly.
DJ stepped right into his space, towering over him. Owen swallowed hard.
"H-hey, dude. C'mon now. Let's talk about this—"
DJ grabbed him and hurled him straight off the cliff.
"AAAAHHHHHHHHhhhhhh…"
Owen let out a panicked scream until he hit the water below with a heavy splash. Luckily, he landed in the shark-free zone.
DJ snorted proudly, kicked dirt behind him like an actual buck marking territory, and bounded off down the trail.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Heather stormed through the woods, her body streaked with blue paint and covered in fresh welts. Every breath hissed between her teeth as she stomped up to Lindsay, who was crouched near a bush happily picking blueberries.
"Whoa, Heather, what happened?" Lindsay gasped.
Heather didn't answer. She just glared — a cold, venomous look that made the blonde shrink back.
"Follow," Heather snapped.
She marched ahead, still furious, as Lindsay scrambled after her.
"Wait," Lindsay said gently. "I have blueberries! See?"
She held them up hopefully, offering a peace gesture.
Heather smacked the handful of berries out of Lindsay's palm. The blueberries splattered against the dirt, and the hurt on Lindsay's face was immediate.
"Oh… oh…" she murmured, eyes stinging.
"Follow. Me. NOW!" Heather barked.
Lindsay flinched and hurried after her, terrified to fall behind.
A crow cawed somewhere above, as if the forest itself was judging Heather's mood.
⸻
Cody strolled through the trees without a care in the world, chomping on barbeque chips with loud, happy crunches.
"Mm… barbeque… king of chip flavors," he mumbled between bites. "Perfect balance… smoky… salty… mm."
Each greedy handful left a trail of crumbs behind him — and an unseen figure quietly followed the breadcrumb path he unknowingly created.
⸻
Katie wandered through a clearing, kicking at the dirt in a pouty sulk.
"Why wouldn't Linky be into all this?" she complained to no one. "Ronnie Anne just has that big butt. Mine is cute and perky. I should be his girlfriend."
A single paintball cracked through the air and splattered against her back.
"The heck?!" Katie yelped, spinning around.
Two more paintballs fired in quick succession, splattering orange paint across her clothes and hair.
Katie shrieked and bolted, flailing and slipping through the brush as she ran for her life.
Hidden behind a thorny bush, Beth lowered her paintball gun with a triumphant little smile — satisfied with avenging her friend.
"Hey! Beth!" Heather's voice came sharp and furious.
Beth winced, already knowing this was going to go badly.
"Oh. This is gonna suck," she muttered under her breath.
Heather stomped into view with Lindsay trailing behind her. The queen bee's entire expression radiated fury.
"We've been talking about you," Heather said coldly.
Lindsay blinked in confusion. "We have?"
"Zip it, Lindsiot."
Lindsay's face fell as Heather continued.
"We've decided to give you one last chance. If you take it back, you can rejoin our alliance."
Beth's brow furrowed. "Take back what?"
Heather folded her arms. "The N word."
Beth blinked. "…What N word?"
"No," Heather said dramatically, like it was the foulest term imaginable.
Beth rolled her eyes. "I don't wanna take it back."
Heather recoiled, scandalized, then exploded. "You are NOTHING without me!"
Beth's voice cracked with pent-up frustration. "Do you know why we keep losing challenges?"
Heather scoffed. "Because they're lame and stupid?"
"No!" Beth threw her hands up. "Because you're so busy being mean that you don't even try! All you think about is bossing us around. Ronnie Anne is a better team leader than you'll ever be, but you're too busy being jealous of her for actually being pretty to even see it!"
Heather gasped as though she'd been stabbed. She ripped off her fake red deer nose and hurled it at Beth's face.
Beth's temper snapped. "Oh, that's it!"
She squared up, ready to fight.
Heather curled her fingers in a taunting gesture. "Bring it, dweeb."
⸻
Owen dragged himself out of the ocean, dripping wet and breathing hard. He heaved himself upright and limped back onto land.
"You can leave the hunter with less ammo than he thought he had," he muttered defiantly.
He yanked off one shoe and tipped it over. Water poured out… followed by a disgruntled crab that skittered straight back to the surf.
"You can even leave him with toe crabs," Owen added, unfazed. "But you cannot break his spirit!"
He shouted the final line toward the sky like a battle cry.
A twig snapped behind him.
Owen froze, then dropped into a bush, gripping his paintball gun.
Leaves rustled as someone walked through the clearing, oblivious.
It was Duncan.
Owen's grin spread slowly, wickedly, as he whispered to himself:
"Fresh meat."
——————
Heather and Beth stood nose-to-nose, anger boiling hot between them.
"I am giving you one last chance," Heather hissed.
Beth shot back without flinching. "Why? Because you know you can't win without your little alliance?"
Heather jabbed a finger at her. "I can make your life miserable here!"
"You already do," Beth snapped. "Miss Come-Put-Lotion-On-My-Nasty-Alligator-Skin. What do I have to lose?"
⸻
Not far away, Leshawna trekked through the woods, muttering under her breath.
"Two hours of sneakin' around and I haven't shot a darn thing. What kind of messed-up person actually does this for fun?"
Loud shouting drifted through the brush.
"Fine! Be all alone then! Loser!" Heather screamed.
"It's better than working for you!" Beth fired back.
The bickering pulled Leshawna's attention. She pushed aside a bush — only to squint at the blurry shapes of two figures arguing.
"Bring it, dweeb!" Heather barked.
"Oh, that's it!" Beth shouted.
Leshawna shrugged, raised her paintball gun, and fired at the one who looked like she had antlers.
Orange paint splattered against the back of Heather's head.
"OW! Who was that?!" Heather shrieked.
Leshawna stepped out of the bushes, eyes widening when she realized who she'd hit. "Oh! I knew I should've gone to the optometrist before I came out here! Ha — sorry about that!"
Her apology did nothing to stop Heather's rage.
"You! Gimme your gun! Give it!" Heather screeched. She held her hand out behind herself, fully expecting Beth to hand it over.
Beth raised her own gun instead… and shot Heather straight in the leg.
Heather collapsed with a strangled gasp. "Ow! Another charley horse!"
As she clutched her thigh, Leshawna looked at Beth with a delighted grin. "Girl, you crazy."
Beth smirked back. "Heh. Just looked like a lot of fun when you did it."
The two shared a triumphant high-five, laughing together.
"Stop laughing!" Heather barked.
She forced herself upright and immediately snatched Lindsay's paintball gun out of her hands.
"Gimme that!"
Heather spun and shot both Beth and Leshawna in retaliation, peppering them with orange paint.
"Oh, now it is so on," Beth growled.
The three erupted into a chaotic paintball free-for-all, shouting insults and firing wildly at one another. Lindsay immediately dropped flat to the ground, arms over her head, butt in the air — the universal Lindsay pose of surrender.
Their chaos didn't go unnoticed.
Harold, Geoff, and Bridgette — the Bass hunters — burst into the clearing, taking one look at the mess… and decided to jump right in.
They opened fire with a hail of blue paint, pelting the three Gopher girls who couldn't shoot back fast enough.
Bridgette laughed, beaming. "This is really fun!"
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Duncan trudged through the woods, the underbrush crunching under his boots. Sweat clung to the back of his neck, and after a while, the sound of trickling water drew him toward a narrow creek. He knelt beside it, cupped his hands, and scooped up a mouthful.
He slurped loudly, sighing in relief.
Up in the branches above him, Owen clung to a tree limb, barely able to contain his excitement. His eyes were laser-focused on the delinquent crouched below.
"This is the shot of the day," Owen whispered to himself. "With one paintball… hunter and prey's mutual destinies will be fulfilled."
He raised his paintball gun and steadied it, finger tightening on the trigger—
And then his stomach betrayed him.
A loud, lingering fart rattled the leaves around him like a vibrating engine.
Duncan froze mid-sip. He sniffed the air once… twice… then groaned.
"Beans," he muttered.
He looked up through the canopy and spotted the large, trembling outline of someone hiding poorly in the branches.
"Owen!"
Another embarrassed sputter sounded from above.
Duncan smirked. "Nice try, Farticus! You almost had me!"
He bolted into the woods, disappearing behind the trees before Owen could recover.
Owen's stomach let loose one final, catastrophic blast — so strong it shook loose the branch he clung to. Leaves fell in a cascade as Owen lost his grip and crashed to the forest floor with a dull thud… followed by one last apologetic puff.
⸻
Cody — CONFESSIONAL
"I thought it was a cinch to win," Cody said, encased in a full body cast from neck to toe. "I almost made it all the way through without being hit by a single paintball."
⸻
Back in the forest, Cody tossed aside the half-empty bag of barbecue chips and spotted the blueberry bush Lindsay had picked from earlier.
"Ooh. Berries," he said brightly, reaching for a handful.
A deep, rumbling growl vibrated the air behind him.
Cody froze. Slowly, very slowly, he turned.
A massive grizzly stood there, towering over him, lips curled back from its teeth.
"Eyy… big fella," Cody whispered. "Want some berries…?"
The bear roared, a thunderous bellow that blasted the berries right out of Cody's hands. The boy shrieked and darted off into the woods as fast as his legs could carry him.
⸻
Bear — CONFESSIONAL
Now wearing Cody's plastic antlers and dorky deer glasses, the grizzly sat in the booth and licked the empty chip bag mournfully. When no more crumbs fell out, he let out a sad huff.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Owen picked himself up off the ground, limping as he pushed onward through the trees. He looked like a man on the edge—covered in bruises, mud, and failure—but his spirit refused to stay down.
"The hunter has been dealt many setbacks," he declared, staggering forward. "He has been beaten. He has been humiliated. He has been thrown off a cliff! And he will not be bested! God as my witness, I WILL BAG A DEER!"
He screamed to the heavens before continuing his beaten-but-unbroken march.
"¡Buen dios!" a voice muttered.
Owen turned. From the treeline, he spotted Ronnie Anne sitting on a stump, rubbing her foot in irritation.
"First thing I'm buying with the prize money is a new pair of sneakers," she groaned. "My feet feel like they're bleeding."
Owen brought a hand to his chin, his eyes narrowing with sudden inspiration.
⸻
Owen — CONFESSIONAL
"So I'm thinking about it," he said, steepling his fingers like a cartoon mastermind. "Chris only said to bag deer with the paintball guns we were given. He didn't say they had to be the other team's deer."
He rubbed his hands together like a pseudo evil genius.
⸻
Owen stepped from the bushes and dramatically pointed his paintball gun at Ronnie Anne.
"This is it!" he roared. "The hunter has found his prey! Now is the time for ACTION!"
He exploded out of the shrubs like an overeager grizzly. Ronnie Anne yelped and ducked as he shouted at the top of his lungs:
"YOUR FAT BUTT IS MINE, DEER!"
He fired. The paintball whizzed past Ronnie Anne, struck the stump behind her, pinged off a rock, ricocheted again, and—by some cosmic joke—slapped Owen directly between the eyes. He toppled backward onto the dirt with a miserable groan.
"Oh COME ON!" he wailed, covering his face. "What is wrong with me today?!"
A shadow fell over him. Ronnie Anne stood there, arms crossed, glaring down like the world's angriest game warden.
"The deer understands this is a challenge," she said coolly, leaning over him. "But what the deer wants to know… is what the hunter meant when he said 'your fat butt is mine.' The deer would like to know that."
She used air quotes with a stare sharp enough to peel bark.
Owen began sweating so hard it looked like his pores had given up on life.
"Hehehe… No judgement here!" he sputtered. "Plus some guys—me included—like girls who are big in the back! Hahaha!"
Ronnie Anne grabbed him by the shirt.
The camera cut away.
Owen's screams echoed through the woods as flocks of birds burst into the sky in a panic.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
⸻
Duncan was spray-painting his signature skull onto a tree when Owen's distant scream reached him. He paused, smirked, and shook his head.
"Why do you smell worse than usual?"
Duncan turned. Courtney stood nearby, arms folded, eyebrow raised.
"It's Owen's stink," Duncan said. "It's following me around like my juvenile record."
Courtney rolled her eyes and brushed past him. "Well, I'm heading back. This stupid game must be almost over by now."
She pointed west. "Camp is that way."
"No," Duncan said, pointing east. "It's that way."
Courtney huffed and marched west. Duncan shrugged and walked east—right into her. Their antlers collided, locking together with a tangled snap. Both of them grunted in surprise.
"Very funny," Courtney snapped. "Now let me go!"
"Hey, princess, this isn't my idea of fun either."
They struggled uselessly.
⸻
Duncan — CONFESSIONAL
"Sure, we could've taken those lame-o antler hats off," he said with a smirk. "But Miss Counselor-in-Training would probably go blab to Chris and get us disqualified. And hey… I kinda liked it."
⸻
Courtney tugged at the antlers again. "Now what?!"
Duncan grinned. "You wanna make out?"
Courtney's eyes flew wide with disbelief—just in time for Chris's voice to blare from the loudspeakers.
"Attention human wildlife and hunters! Please report back to camp! It's time to show your hides and tally up the scores!"
_________________________________________________________________________________________
At the infirmary tent, Cody sat completely bandaged from his bear encounter, wrapped like a human Q-tip with only his eyes showing. The rest of the campers gathered nearby while Chris strutted back and forth in front of them. The only people missing were Duncan and Courtney from the Bass, and Ronnie Anne and Owen from the Gophers. Katie stood alone with a single splatter of orange paint on her back, while Leshawna, Beth, and Heather were absolutely coated in both blue and orange paint, as if they had gone through a spin cycle with a paint factory.
Chris clicked his tongue dramatically.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Stealing from Chef. Eating chips in the woods. Being mauled by bears. Do you know what I see here? I see a very undisciplined group. I see a disgraceful mess. I see a massive waste of paint product." His grin widened. "And I have to say… that was awesome! Haha! When you guys opened fire on your own team? Wicked TV, guys."
Harold looked around. "Hey. Where are Duncan and Courtney?"
Gwen crossed her arms. "Same. Where's Ronnie Anne and Tons of Fun?"
"Yo, sorry I'm late."
Ronnie Anne strolled up casually, dusting her hands, looking like she had just finished a small act of violence.
Gwen raised an eyebrow. "What was the hold up?"
"You'll see," Ronnie Anne said with a sly smile.
Moments later, all eyes turned to the ridiculous sight emerging from the trees.
Courtney and Duncan staggered toward camp, their fake antlers completely tangled together. Both were trying to walk without tripping, grunting and bickering with every step.
Gwen snorted. "Oh, this is too much."
Ronnie Anne folded her arms. "Ha. Courtney, I didn't know you played like that."
"The girl can't keep her antlers off me," Duncan bragged.
Courtney responded by kicking him square in the kiwis, making him fold like soggy cardboard. His voice pitched into a squeak.
"Can't even bend over," he squealed.
Chris held up a hand. "Easy, Courtney. Our medical tent is really only equipped for one at a time, and Cody's pretty messed up."
He rested a hand on Cody's shoulder while Bridgette and Geoff worked on untangling the doomed pair. Duncan collapsed on the ground clutching his wounded pride.
"We have to wait until all campers are present to give—" Chris stopped mid-sentence as Owen finally hobbled into view.
"Owen. Dude. What happened to you?!"
The campers burst into stifled laughter. Owen was wedged inside a hollowed log like a cork in a bottle, with only his legs and head sticking out. He looked like he had fought both nature and gravity—and lost twice.
"To the owner of the white sedan," he said weakly. "You left your lights on." Then he tipped over and hit the ground unconscious.
Gwen leaned toward Ronnie Anne. "Your handiwork?"
Ronnie Anne nodded with zero remorse. "Hunter boy said my fat butt was his before he shot himself. Had to explain to him what not to say to a girl."
Gwen chuckled and fist-bumped her.
Chris clapped loudly to regain attention. "Well, since we're all here… and three members of the Gophers are dripping in paint…"
Lindsay turned around, revealing that her entire back was coated in blue paint.
"Make that four," Chris corrected. "And some of them aren't even deer. And since there's only one Bass with paint, I think we have our winner! The Killer Bass!"
Bridgette, DJ, Harold, and Katie cheered. Lincoln threw a fist into the air, grinning.
"You're off to a hunting camp shindig!" Chris announced.
Duncan and Geoff whooped in celebration—though Duncan's excitement was cut short by another painful reminder of Courtney's kick.
The Gophers, meanwhile, lowered their heads in disappointment. Ronnie Anne quietly kicked at the dirt, annoyed.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Later that evening, the Gophers gathered at the campfire ceremony. Owen had finally been freed from the log, though he remained battered and pathetic. Heather, Leshawna, Beth, and Lindsay were cleaned up and back in normal clothes.
Heather crossed her arms, already talking loudly. "I mean, seriously. Twice in a row? What is wrong with you people? I can't wait to see Beth get kicked off."
Beth flinched, but Ronnie Anne and Leshawna glared daggers at Heather.
"I just wish I could vote off three campers at once," Heather huffed.
"Too bad you only get one vote, bruja," Ronnie Anne shot back.
Heather glared; Ronnie Anne glared right back.
——————-
Cody - CONFESSIONAL
"Heheheh. Okay, I know I got mauled by a bear, but I'm feeling good about this. I'm a quick healer. And besides, Heather's as mean as a snake, dude. Her own team shot her like eighteen times. They'll never kick me off."
———————————————————————
Leshawna - CONFESSIONAL
"Who did I vote for? Well, Heather's been a pain in my butt from day one. But I gotta say… Cody."
———————————————————————
Owen - CONFESSIONAL
"Yeah, that Cody. Not so useful in challenges anymore."
———————————————————————
Lindsay - CONFESSIONAL
"I totally admire Belle for standing up to Heather, but she's so dead now."
———————————————————————
Ronnie Anne - CONFESSIONAL
"Heather. I admit Cody will be liable for a while, but he can be useful. Heather's been nothing but a conniving snake since day one. She has to go."
———————————————————————
Chris held the plate of marshmallows dramatically. "There are only eight marshmallows on this plate. When I call your name—"
Gwen cut him off. "Who does not receive a marshmallow must immediately return to the Dock of Shame, catch the Boat of Losers, and leave. Can't we just get this over with?"
Ronnie Anne chimed in. "Seriously dude, are you paid by the letter or something?"
Chris glared at the two of them, visibly annoyed. "Fine. Whatever. Spoil the moment."
He lifted the first marshmallow. "Trent."
Trent caught it smoothly.
"Lindsay."
Lindsay squealed and rubbed the marshmallow against her cheek.
"Owen."
Owen caught his by snapping it into his mouth like a Labrador.
"Gwen."
Gwen caught hers and flicked it away disdainfully—only for Owen to dive and swallow it whole.
"Ronnie Anne."
Ronnie Anne caught her marshmallow and immediately ate it while giving Heather a smug little smirk.
"Leshawna."
Leshawna collected hers and sent Beth an encouraging smile. Beth smiled back—until Heather shot her a glare that made her stiffen.
"Beth."
Beth gasped, tears forming as she clutched her marshmallow. Heather's face twisted with shock as Beth stepped back to join her safe teammates.
Now only Heather and Cody remained.
Chris lifted the last marshmallow. "Campers, this is the final marshmallow tonight."
A long suspenseful silence followed.
"Heather."
Heather practically snatched the marshmallow out of his hand and spun around, ranting. "You are all lucky, okay? Very lucky!"
Most of the Gophers rolled their eyes. Ronnie Anne, Gwen, and Leshawna kept shooting glares at her.
Chris pointed to the dock. "Cody. The Dock of Shame awaits, bro."
He paused, staring at the fully immobilized boy. "…Right. You can't move."
He sighed. "I guess we can help you get there."
"I'll do it!" Beth announced, already pushing Cody's chair.
The others gave their own goodbyes as she rolled him along.
"Bye, Cody!" Gwen called.
"Seeya, buddy!" Leshawna added.
"Take care, dude," Owen said.
Ronnie Anne walked up and smirked. "Thanks for all the help, dude, and you'll make some lucky girl very happy someday."
She leaned down and hugged him, pressing his wrapped head briefly to her chest. Even after the mauling, Cody looked thrilled.
Beth wheeled him down the dock as the others waved.
———
Beth leaned next to Cody, who tried to talk through his bandages.
"I know," she answered. "I can't believe I stood up to her either."
He mumbled again.
"I'm gonna be okay. Don't worry about me. And I still have my good luck charm! See? I got it from Boney Island last week."
Cody's eyes widened in panic as she showed the cursed tiki idol, but Beth cheerfully waved it off.
"Cool, huh? Bye Cody. Take care." She kissed his cheek and walked back toward camp.
A small click sounded under Cody's chair—the brakes. The wheelchair began rolling forward.
Cody let out a muffled scream as he plunged off the dock and into the water with a splash.
————-
After the ceremony, the Gophers headed back. Heather marched straight into the girls' side of the cabin, Lindsay trailing nervously. The queen bee slammed the door behind them.
Ronnie Anne stopped Beth, Gwen, and Leshawna outside. She pressed a finger to her lips, motioning them in close. She whispered her plan. All three girls grinned like little gremlins.
Much later, past midnight, Heather snored loudly on her bunk, unaware of the shadows creeping around her.
Ronnie Anne, Beth, Gwen, and Leshawna silently lifted Heather—mattress and all—and carried her right out of the cabin.
———————————————————————
Daylight shimmered across the lake. Heather stirred, scratching her head. Something pecked her scalp.
She smacked at it.
A seagull fluttered away.
Heather blinked blearily—then realized exactly where she was.
She was floating on her mattress… in a canoe… in the middle of the lake.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
Her scream echoed across the water, bouncing off the cliffs and trees.
———————————————————————
Ronnie Anne stood at the sink brushing her teeth. Beth combed her hair beside her. Gwen and Leshawna showered in the back. Lindsay and Bridgette walked in the changing room wrapped in towels just as Courtney entered a stall and tossed her towel over the door.
Heather's scream carried all the way to the bathrooms.
Beth smirked. "Guess she didn't like her wake up call."
Ronnie Anne shrugged, not remotely sympathetic. "Yeah, but who cares?"
"Not me," Beth said, laughing.
Ronnie Anne laughed too as the rest of the girls cracked up.