Chapter 38 – Fourth Challenge (Final)
Defeat hit the Bass team hard. They knew what was coming: an elimination. And no one wanted to be the one chosen. But Cody, far from leaving things to chance, had a plan.
It wasn't just strategy. It wasn't just about surviving the game.
It was for a girl.
And everyone involved knew it.
Cody understood his position: he was on the opposing team. He had no obligation to help. But what he did have was influence—his ability to move pieces, to negotiate.
A favor from Cody carried weight.
So, before the bonfire, he moved quickly.
He found DJ near the kitchen, organizing a few things before the vote. DJ had always been someone with principles, someone fair. Convincing him wouldn't be easy, but Cody had the advantage of being someone DJ respected.
He approached with a casual greeting and got straight to the point.
"DJ, can you do me a favor tonight?" Cody asked.
DJ looked at him with mild suspicion before replying.
"Depends. What's it about?" DJ said.
Cody lowered his voice, making sure no one else could hear.
"Vote for Sadie. It's the only way to make sure Bridgette stays," Cody said.
DJ frowned, clearly uncomfortable.
"Sadie's never been a problem for the team. Why her?" DJ asked.
Cody exhaled calmly.
"Because if everyone doesn't vote for her, the vote will split—and Bridgette could go home," Cody said.
DJ stayed silent for a few seconds before sighing with resignation.
"If you really think it's the right thing… I'll do it," DJ said.
One vote secured.
Cody found Geoff in the common area, clearly upset about the elimination. Geoff wasn't someone who played with complicated strategies, but he did understand the value of protecting his friends.
Cody approached without hesitation.
"Geoff, I need you to vote for Sadie tonight," Cody said.
Geoff looked at him with doubt before replying.
"Why?" Geoff asked.
Cody gave a slight smile.
"Because that way, Bridgette stays," Cody said.
Geoff exhaled before nodding slowly.
"Well, bro, if it's to save Bridgette… count me in," Geoff said.
Another vote secured.
Duncan was sitting on the cabin steps, watching the camp with his usual laid-back expression. Cody knew Duncan didn't move easily—so he offered something more.
He sat beside him and spoke in a casual tone:
"If you vote for Sadie, I owe you a favor," Cody said.
Duncan gave a faint smile before looking up.
"And what do I get from one of your favors?" Duncan asked.
Cody leaned in slightly, confident.
"You know my favors carry weight. I'm not someone who leaves debts unpaid," Cody said.
Duncan exhaled before shrugging.
"Alright. But you better remember this," Duncan said.
Final vote secured.
Courtney, ever the analyst, was reviewing her notebook when Cody approached with a light smile.
She looked up with a neutral expression before speaking.
"Let me guess. You want me to vote for someone other than Bridgette?" Courtney said.
Cody nodded, still smiling.
"If you do, I owe you a favor. And not just any favor, Courtney… a Cody favor."
Courtney exhaled softly, crossing her arms with a calculating air.
"A favor from you, huh?" she said.
She paused before looking at him with slight intensity.
"And what would you do if I were the one at risk of elimination?" Courtney asked.
Cody tilted his head slightly before replying with a playful tone.
"Oh, Courtney, if you were at risk… I don't know what I'd do," Cody said.
He winked playfully, and Courtney, despite herself, felt a slight warmth in her face before looking away.
But finally, after a few seconds of silence, she sighed and nodded.
"Alright. But I want you to remember what you said," Courtney said.
One more vote in the bag.
Bridgette was at the edge of the lake, clearly nervous about the vote. When Cody approached, she looked at him with a mix of tension and anxiety.
He simply smiled before speaking.
"You're going to be fine tonight," Cody said.
Bridgette frowned.
"How can you be so sure?" she asked.
Cody exhaled softly.
"Because I made sure of it," Cody said.
Bridgette's eyes widened slightly.
"You did all this… for me?" she asked.
Cody nodded.
And then, without another word, Bridgette leaned in and kissed him.
The kiss was longer than the last. More charged with emotion.
When they pulled apart, Bridgette looked at him with gratitude before whispering:
"Thank you, Cody."
Cody, still smiling, looked up at the sky and let out a soft sigh before murmuring to himself:
"What I do for fun…" Cody said.
And with that, his strategy was complete.
The bonfire was near.
And Cody knew that tonight… would be unforgettable.
The atmosphere in the Gophers' cabin was charged with excitement and celebration. After their victory in the talent challenge, the team was enjoying the moment, forgetting the weight of the competition for a while.
Owen, as expected, was at the center of the chaos, improvising a completely uncoordinated but wildly entertaining dance.
Every step, every clumsy move made the others laugh out loud.
Heather and Courtney watched with a mix of amusement and mild exasperation. Trent tapped out a rhythm on the table, and Noah, ever neutral, simply observed with a faint smile.
Cody, after mingling with the others, dropped onto one of the sofas.
Gwen, without saying much, sat beside him, leaning slightly against the backrest.
The cabin's energy was perfect for unwinding after the chaos of the challenge.
For a while, they just enjoyed the scene.
Until Gwen, with a soft smile, broke the silence.
"So this was your big plan to make everyone see you differently?" Gwen asked.
Cody laughed before shrugging.
"I didn't plan that much… I just let it flow," Cody said.
Gwen raised an amused eyebrow.
"Flow? Including the moment everyone threw up during Bridgette's performance?" Gwen asked.
Cody laughed hard.
"Don't tell me that wasn't legendary!" Cody said.
Gwen shook her head, but couldn't help smiling.
"Legendary is a strong word for watching Owen empty his stomach three times in a row," Gwen said.
Cody leaned back further into the sofa, enjoying the moment.
"Alright, alright… maybe not elegant, but at least it was memorable," Cody said.
Gwen rolled her eyes before nodding.
"I'll give you that," Gwen said.
For a few moments, they just watched Owen continue his bizarre improvised dance.
But then, Gwen, with a more curious tone, glanced sideways at Cody.
"You know… there's something I still don't get," Gwen said.
Cody raised an eyebrow with interest.
"What's that?" Cody asked.
Gwen crossed her arms and leaned slightly toward him.
"The song. 'Toxic.' Why that one?" Gwen asked.
Cody let the question hang in the air for a few seconds before finally smiling with calm ease.
"There's a time for everything, Gwen," Cody said.
Gwen narrowed her eyes playfully.
"That sounds like you're dodging the question," Gwen said.
Cody exhaled softly, but his smile never faded.
"Maybe," Cody said.
Gwen studied him more closely, trying to read beyond his carefree attitude.
But before she could press further, Cody leaned in slightly and slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her gently against him in a casual gesture.
Gwen felt the motion, but instead of pulling away, she simply exhaled calmly.
"Alright, alright… I'll let it slide—for now," Gwen said.
Cody chuckled softly before nodding.
"Good call," Cody said.
And so, the two of them enjoyed the moment, watching Owen spin around among the Gophers, while chaos and celebration still echoed through the cabin.
The competition wasn't over.
But for now, they just wanted to enjoy the night.
Night had fallen over the camp, and the atmosphere around the bonfire was tense.
The Bass team stood lined up in front of Chris, who—as always—relished the drama of the moment.
The torch crackled as the votes had already been counted.
Bridgette crossed her arms, trying to stay calm, but her chest still carried a heavy weight. Sadie, on the other hand, clung tightly to Katie's hand, nervous about what was coming.
Chris took a breath before beginning the speech everyone was waiting for.
"Campers… you've spoken. And as you know, those who receive a marshmallow stay in the competition," Chris said.
He picked up the tray of marshmallows and began handing them out.
DJ was the first to receive his, followed by Geoff, Duncan, and Courtney.
Each took theirs without a word, though the tension between them was still palpable.
Finally, only two people remained without a marshmallow.
Bridgette.
Sadie.
Murmurs began among the campers. Some looked away, others waited anxiously for the result. Katie squeezed Sadie's hand tighter, fearing the worst.
Chris savored the pause before finally lifting the last marshmallow.
"And the final marshmallow of the night… goes to Bridgette," Chris said.
Silence held for a second—until surprise erupted.
Sadie's eyes widened in disbelief, while Katie let out a small cry of frustration.
"No! You can't separate us!" Sadie shouted.
Sadie, feeling the blow of elimination, let out a sob before hugging Katie tightly.
The others watched with mixed reactions. Geoff sighed uncomfortably, DJ lowered his gaze, Courtney simply crossed her arms firmly. Duncan, for his part, exhaled.
"Tough call…" Duncan said.
Bridgette took her marshmallow, but her eyes remained fixed on Sadie.
The pain of separation was real—but in her mind, someone else was waiting for her.
Someone who had made sure she wasn't eliminated.
As Sadie walked toward the Losers' Boat in tears, Bridgette sighed and looked up at the sky, remembering who had saved her.
Cody.
And now, after everything he'd done, there was a reward she owed him.
Because if one thing was clear…
It was that Cody had a special talent for making chaos worth it.
The vote was over.
But the story was far from finished.
The early morning was quiet at camp, the night air gently rustling the leaves in the trees.
But for Gwen, there was no peace.
The public humiliation Heather had caused still burned in her chest—the exposure of her journal echoing in her mind like a taunt she couldn't ignore.
She wasn't the kind of person to start conflict. But if someone forced it on her…
She knew how to respond.
And Heather had just crossed a line Gwen couldn't let slide.
Gwen stepped out of the cabin with silent footsteps, moving through the shadows of camp until she reached the boys' cabin.
She knew exactly who she was looking for.
Harold.
It was strange, yes—but Harold's knowledge of small and peculiar creatures gave Gwen an advantage she needed.
She approached his bed and gently shook him.
"Harold. Wake up," Gwen said.
Harold opened one eye in confusion before frowning.
"Gwen? Why are you waking me up at this hour?" Harold asked.
Gwen leaned in slightly, her tone serious.
"I need your red ant colony," Gwen said.
Harold blinked slowly, then opened his eyes wide in surprise.
"My red ant colony?" Harold repeated.
Gwen nodded.
Harold stared at her for a few seconds before smiling faintly.
"Is this for revenge?" Harold asked.
Gwen didn't answer right away—but her expression said it all.
Harold, a spark of excitement in his eyes, got up and pulled out a small container where he kept his prized group of ants.
"They're efficient. Fast. And they love exploring new places," Harold said.
Gwen took the container with a satisfied smile.
"Perfect," she said.
With the jar in hand, Gwen moved silently toward the girls' cabin. The wood creaked softly under her feet, but no one woke up.
Heather was sound asleep, her posture relaxed as if she had no worries in the world.
Gwen stared at her with a sharp gaze before slowly removing the lid from the jar.
The ants stirred, restless—ready to move.
Gwen released them.
First, they spread across the pillow. Then, they climbed up Heather's arms, following the fabric of her pajamas.
And finally… they reached her hair.
Heather didn't react at first.
But then—the first bite landed.
And the scream she let out was enough to wake the entire cabin.
Heather shot up, flailing her hands wildly.
But the ants were already on her skin, in her hair, crawling through her pajamas.
In a panic, she bolted out of the cabin, flailing like a madwoman.
And without a second thought… she dove straight into the ocean.
The splash echoed through the early morning, followed by more screams of frustration.
The girls peeked out from the doorway—some startled, some confused, others struggling not to laugh.
And from inside the cabin, Gwen watched the chaos with her arms crossed…
And a satisfied smile.