The Roads Diverge

Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.- G. K. Chesterton

Episode 2:

"Well this is going to suck," noted Gwen stating what was on everyone's mind.

"Yes. Yes it will," Grinned Chris, "But for me it'll mean RATINGS!"

"Here's how things are going to work," elaborated Chris, "For the first challenge you must jump off this a thousand foot cliff and into the smaller ring below. The larger ring surrounding it is filled with man-eating sharks."

At that moment several of said sharks jumped into the air much to the apprehension of the contestants.

"He can't be serious can he?" asked Tyler looking around.

Leshawna just sighed, "He probably is."

"A tally will be done on all your teammates who jump and successfully land in the safe-zone. The wining team will get an advantage for the second part of this challenge and set of crates."

Several crates were pointed out on the beach.

"Inside those crates are supplies you'll need for the second part of the challenge," Chris threw out dramatically," For a wicked Hot tub! The winning team will allowed to keep their hot-tub tonight. As for the losers you'll be sending someone home."

"Killer Bass you're up first."

"So who wants to jump first?" questioned Bridgette in her wetsuit.

"Ladies first?" mocked Noah before Bridgette turned to the others.

Cody just shrugged his shirt scrunching up in the process, "I'm brave not suicidal."

"Such gentlemen," sighed Bridgette in disappointment before swan-diving into the safezone. Take a few strokes around herself, Bridgette treaded with ease.

"Come on down the water's great," encouraged Bridgette.

Cody smiled at her words before shrugging, "Okay here goes!"

Then he dived into the lake as well landing in the safe-zone. Noah and Ezekriel followed suit after him with minimal fuss and into the safe zone.

The quartet waited silently waited until Chef came by on a boat to pick them up. At the top of the cliff there was a completely different story.

"Well I don't know about those three losers," snidely crossed out Heather, "But I'm not jumping. I'll get my hair wet."

"If she's not doing it then I'm not," Lindsay backed out.

'Hmm, possible alliance.' Heather smirked in her thought, only to snap out of it as Leshawna growled to her.

Leshawna had noticed where this was going and decided to stop the train wreck, "Oh you're doing it."

"Says who?" retorted Heather.

Leshawna hissed back, "Says me. I'm not losing this challenge just because you didn't want to get your hair wet you spoiled daddy's girl."

Everyone on the bass backed off seeing the fight.

"Back off, Ghetto-glamour, too-tight-pants-wearing, rap-star wannabe!" The girls gasped.

"Mall-shopping, ponytail-wearing, teen-girl-reading, peeking in high school prom queen!" Leshawna shot back.

"Well at least I'm popular," retorted Heather back at Leshawna.

Everyone on the Bass gasped at the statement.

"You're jumping," argued Leshawna.

Heather just snipped back, "Make me!"

Leshawna seemed to have taken her statement to heart and decided to lift the half-asian teen and throw her into the safe-zone.

"You are so dead Leshawna," yelled out Heather from the water.

"Hey at least I threw you into the safe zone," Leshawna shouted back before whispering to herself, "Now let's see if I can make it."

Luckily Leshawna did

"I thought this was a talent show?" cried out Lindsay.

"Yeah ..." chuckled Christ before stating, "No."

Lindsay just cried out a bit before jumping into the safe-zone.

"Um Chris do I have to jump?" questioned DJ fearfully.

Noticing his hesitation and relishing it Chris just nodded, "Are you afraid of heights?"

"Since I was a little kid," nodded DJ.

"Well then if you don't want to jump," explained Chris, "You'll have to wear these 'A Chicken Hat' and take the long ride down."

Then Chris proceeded to make several clucking noises despite the fact that he would not have been able to do the same stunt.

"Okay," meekly accepted DJ before riding down the escalator.

"Alright!" gleefully laughed Izzy before jumping into the safe zone, "Izzy rules."

By now only Beth and Courtney were left both of which were showing their fears in completely different ways.

"I have to go with DJ on this one," accepted Beth, "I don't think I can jump."

"Okay here's your chicken hat," shrugged Chris before passing to the girl on her way down to the elevator.

"Chris I have a medical condition that prevents me from jumping off cliffs," lied Courtney, "It's a fact if you'd read my file."

Chris however wasn't buying it, "Do don't have to jump but it might cost your team the win and wicked hot tub?"

The warning didn't faze Courtney it anyway who just brushed it off, "Please. I've seen the other team. I don't think five of them will jump."

The Gophers glared at Courtney's statement. She was referring to Katie, Sadie, Harold and Tyler but they didn't know that. She would be proven wrong. Dead wrong.

"Alright," shrugged Chris, "Your funeral."

Courtney walked to the elevator wearing her chicken hat must to the exasperation of her team-mates.

"NEXT up is you Screaming Gophers!" he shouted out, "Now if even nine of you jump I'll give you the carts to help lift the crates."

"Well I guess I'll go first," swaggered Tyler before jumping, "EXTREME!"

The Screaming Gophers winced when they saw him hit the buoy. Thankfully though Tyler had landed on the inner side and thus found himself in the safe zone.

"Might as well," shrugged Duncan unflinchingly as he jumped into the safe zone.

Gwen sighed, "Here goes nothing."

She too landed in the safe zone along with Geoff and Trent.

"Well I hope the chemicals in the water don't damage the pores of my skin," thought out Justin, "But I'll cross that bridge when it comes to it."

Then he landed right next to Geoff.

Eva glared at the two giggling girls beside her who were tip-toeing to the edge and but were still hesitant about jumping. Rolling her eyes she pushed them off the ledge. Honestly if it had been up to her she would have shoved her entire team off but everyone had been compliant and courageous so there was no room to complain.

Confessional:

Noah grinned wistfully, "Now there's a girl with some attitude."

Confessional ends.

Harold followed after her but landed less ... spectacularly.

"My kiwis," cried out Geoff after seeing the anguish on Harold's face. Most of the guys just reluctantly nodded.

Leshawna and Cody had been watching the following events from afar looked at each other.

"This doesn't look good," he admitted.

Leshawna nodded, "So far. We can still win this."

"I don't think so," grunted Cody, "I mean I can carry a crate if need but not many of our team has ..."

"Enough muscle?" finished Leshawna.

"Yeah," agreed Cody.

Owen having seen that his team had basically won the first part of the challenge seemed to be debating with himself on whether to jump or not. On one that it wasn't necessary. On the other hand he really wanted to prove his worth to the team.

"You can do it Owen," shouted out Trent in encouragement

Confessional

"I don't know," Owen admitted, "If I hadn't jumped I knew that I was the one getting the boot. But I'm not a strong swimmer."

Confessional Ends:

"I'm going to die now," Owen whined, "I'm going to fucking die now."

Despite this the fat boy decided to take one for the team and with a running start leap off the edge.

"AH!" he screamed out.

Then hit the water with a splash and caused a huge wave to forming from the impact. The other contestants screamed from the wave including the Killer Bass who were on the shore.

"Okay that was great. Gophers you win the advantage and the cart.," cheered on Chris, "Now for a break!"

XXX

For the Gophers the challenge couldn't have been easier. Every single member of their team had jumped and quite fortunately there was very little tension between the members. Later events would prove just how wrong they were when the Bass eventually would make their comeback. But right now all they were doing were singing.

"Twenty-nine bottles on pop on the wall. Twenty nine bottles of pop take one down pass it around. Twenty nine bottles of pop on the wall," they all sang out while pulling their crates.

The Bass were having a different story.

"Okay we need to coordinate and manage how we're going to distribute the loads," ordered Cody.

"And who made you in charge? I'm the CIT," shouted back Courtney, "You should be listening to me."

"Well then," huffed Cody before motioning her forward, "If you have a better idea I'd like to hear it."

Her silence was the answer the Bass needed.

"Okay," agreed Heather, "We need to know how much we'll be lifting precisely."

"A quarter of a ton," measured Noah, "That's a lot to carry by hand over a few kilometres."

"How much can everyone lift?" asked Cody backing her up.

DJ reported, "At my high-school football team we had to lift quite a bit to get ready for our games. I could easily lift half of this."

"But how much can you carry over a few kilometres?" asked Bridgette, "I mean ..."

"I can lift just as much as you can but will need help from someone else. Preferably the weakest person here," Cody stated, "But DJ you should only take two crates and at that. No need to tax yourself."

Noah stepped forward, "That would be me."

"Remember though," reminded Cody, "You'll probably be the last one out of all of us so we'll send someone back to help you with the crates."

The three boys then shuffled off and started carrying their various crates away leaving half of the equipment to the rest of the Killer Bass.

"Okay then we have four crates and eight people," Courtney finished trying to steer the conversation away in her favour, "Everyone buddy up and pick up a crate"

Courtney paired up with Bridgette, Beth with Heather, Leshawna with Lindsay and Ezekiel with Izzy.

With careful management the Bass actually made good time carrying their crates. Ironically this was aided by the fact that there weren't as many crates as there could have been. Had even one more been off then it would have spelt disaster and the system wouldn't have worked at all.

"Move faster!" shouted Courtney, "We have to take the lead from the Gophers."

"Well we wouldn't be in this situation if some of us had jumped," shot back Leshawna.

"You can't get rid of me I'm a – " attempted Courtney before Bridgette interrupted her.

"Yes a CIT. We get it."

Everyone on the Bass's team made steady progress to the camping grounds except for DJ. Courtney and Bridgette were the last of the four groups because the former had to deal with a fly biting her eye.

"Okay everyone," commanded Heather, "Start building. Cody go help out DJ."

Not one to argue Cody just nodded and jogged off.

"That scrawny geek?" questioned Courtney, "I mean seriously you expect him to help DJ out?"

"In case you forgot," noted Noah, "That scrawny geek somehow managed to lift the majority of two crates."

"We'll you help him," noted Beth before glancing at Heather silently asking for an answer.

Heather vaguely answered, "Not my story to tell and I don't even know a quarter of it. All I can say is that he's a bit of a wimp but he's not weak."

"Right," drawled out Noah, "Okay people how are we opening these crates?"

Beth queried, "On the farm we always had power tools but ..."

"You have to open them with your teeth," elaborated Trent from the other team, "Chris told us to tell you otherwise we'd get disqualified for unsportsman behaviour."

"Glad to know the host cares," accepted Leshawna, "Okay people. Let's work on this hot tub. The Gophers are at least a third way done. We gotta move!"

"Aren't you missing a couple of White girls?" noticed Leshawna as he helped Ezekiel put together several components of the hot-tub.

By now the Killer Bass had realized there was a certain level or redundancy in what they got which made sense. They had chosen the crates at random and if they had thus picked up the wrong crates they'd be no drama or competition between the two teams. Nevertheless they were being stretched thin as it was.

"Yeah they went to take a drink," elaborated Gwen.

Harold just chuckled, "If you mean with their butts."

"Okay," backed off Courtney.

"Come on people," shouted out Leshawna in encouragement, "We can still win this."

"We're still waiting for Cody and DJ to bring their boxes," pointed out Beth as she tried to work her section, the heater, of the tub with Lindsey.

"Well we better hope they make it soon or they're off the block and to the dock," Courtney shouted out, "We can't afford any dead weight."

"Like you're one to talk," sniffed out Heather glaring at the chicken hat. Personally she didn't care one way or another if Cody got kicked off the island but it wouldn't d to lose such a valuable team-mate so quickly. Then she noticed Leshawna working quietly on her part.

Seeing her chance Heather walked down to Leshawna as the African-Canadian girl was working on her portion with the home-schooled boy. While Ezekiel did seem to have some issues working with Leshawna he didn't seem to act out on it ... yet.

"Hey Leshawna," greeted Heather grabbing the girl's attention ", I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for being a total bitch back on the cliff."

"You for real girl?" asked Leshawna seemingly willing to give Heather the benefit of the doubt.

The half asian girl lied raising a hand, "Sure. Truce?"

"Truce," accepted Leshawna shaking her hand.

However only when her back did Heather give Leshawna a mocking smile. Sucker.

"Did you really mean that?" questioned Lindsay taking her attention off of the heater.

"No," admitted Heather to her fellow team-mate, "But there's a saying. Keeping your friends close and your enemies closer."

"But do you consider me a friend?" questioned Lindsey as she put a battery into an empty seal.

"Sure," admitted Heather only thinking the first statement, "For now."

Once DJ and Cody came back the entire team kicked themselves into overdrive. With Katie and Sadie still out, the Gophers were somewhat slowed down but not by much. Nevertheless they had barely managed to finished the tub when Chris ended the round.

"Times up!" he shouted making the two teams stop what they were doing and part ways.

The host walked down between the two teams inspecting each individual hot tub with precision.

He dipped a finger the Gopher's hot tub, "This is one wicked tub."

Then he inspected the hot tub the bass made frowning as his finger touched the cold water.

"Why is the water still cold?" questioned Chris.

The Bass came down to inspect the hot-tub themselves and realized that he was right. The water was still quite cool. That raise several suspicions, especially since everyone had done all they could. The hot tub wasn't the best in the world but it should have been functional.

Courtney narrowed her eyes, "Who was in charge of the heater?"

"That would be us," admitted Beth pointing to herself and Lindsey reluctantly.

"Okay now you know someone to blame," chuckled Chris, "Bass you're on the chopping block. Screaming Gophers ... enjoy your wicked hot tub for the rest of the summer."

XXX

The Screaming Gophers cheered and laughed at their victory reliving the atmosphere of excitement and accomplishment. Things however were much more subdued at the Bass's table. An example of this was the fact that Cody still hadn't taken off the shirt he had worn during the challenge and his hands were calloused from intensive climbing.

Bridgette, Leshawna and Noah glanced at each other silently communicating.

"So who do we vote off?" questioned Ezekiel breaking the silence and pointing to Beth and Lindsey, "I mean those two girls did screw up."

Confessional: Ezekiel

"My plan is simple," stated Ezekiel, "Since our team has the most girls we have to eliminate them one by one. Otherwise they'll continue to drag us down. Today just proves it."

Confessional Ends

"I agree with him," noted Leshawna.

"Hey I kept working on the hot-tub," defended Beth, "We made a mistake but there's nothing that could be done by did everything we could. I think."

"I didn't. I added my hair-dryer's batteries to the tub," Lindsey stated absentmindedly, "That should have been enough to power the heater Lebrawna."

"First of its Leshawna," Leshawna corrected, "Second where did you even find a place to put the batteries in the tub?"

"I think there was a hole somewhere in the middle," Lindsey strafed on ignoring the looks she was getting from her team-mates, "I'm pretty sure that should have been more than enough. Or the right place for the hot-tub."

Confessional: Heather.

"I can see where this is going," Heather moaned, "Way to dig your own grave Lindsey. I need to think of another possible candidate for my alliance now. Maybe two since Beth might be out."

Confessional Ends.

Courtney whispered to Cody, "So we're voting her off?"

"For now," he accepted crossing his arms. He knew Courtney hadn't jumped but that was small potatoes to Lindsey's folly, "You actually need a brain for this show."

"Good," smiled Courtney seeing her chance. That was two votes in her favour.

"We'll I'm out," sighed Noah walking away from the table before looking at Lindsey, "See you at the Dock of Shame."

"NO!" screamed Tyler from across the table gaining the attention of both teams.

Covering up quickly, "I mean no salt on the table."

"Whatever," huffed Leshawna, "Let's just get this over with."

XXX

"Welcome Killer Bass," Chris grinned, "To your first ever marshmallow ceremony. Here all but one of you will receive a marshmallow and that one loser will have to take their stuff and walk down the dock of shame to the boat of losers. And they will never come back."

"So now let's start with the votes," Chris stated holding up the plate of marshmallows and throwing them to the appropriate contestants one by one.

"Noah."

"Leshawna."

"Bridgette."

"Izzy"

"Heather"

"DJ"

"Ezekiel"

By now Cody, Courtney, Lindsey and Beth were the last four. All of them had slight frowns with Courtney glancing at Cody. Seeing her side-glance Cody just slightly shook his head emphasizing that he didn't vote for her.

"Courtney"

"Thank you," grinned the CIT before turning to Cody with a frown. She might not have known the boy much but he had kept his part of the bargain.

"Cody," threw out Chris as the nerdfighter caught the marshmallow with a smile.

Now the final two remained at the campfire.

"Lindsey and Beth," tooted Chris holding up one marshmallow, "The two of you were each responsible for today's loss in a variety of ways. Beth you didn't jump off the cliff and let Lindsey screw up the hot tub. Lindsey you cost your team the chance for a tie-breaker and a possible win."

The two girls nervously looked at each other and then back to Chris. Relishing in the tension Chris finally threw the last marshmallow.

"Beth you stay for another day," he answered, "Lindsey I'm sorry to say it's the dock of shame."

The blonde bombshell slowly trudged her belongings to the dock before waving goodbye at her team-mates.

"Good-bye everyone," she waved off sadly, "I know I didn't get to know you long but it was great."

The other members of the Killer Bass also waved their various goodbyes with Beth herself hugging her team-mate as she left the dock. Once Lindsey was gone the Bass went to their cabins walking past the cheering Gophers who were chilling in their hot tub.

"To the Screaming Gophers!" they cheered.

Glaring at the cheering team Courtney indicated the camera woman to come forward.

"Mark my words! The Gophers can enjoy their victory for now but there can only be one winner for the million and it's me!" she said pointing toward the camera and the audience, "So the other team better watch out because this girl is going to the top and nothing, I repeat, nothing will stop me."

Chris stood on the dock with grin at Courtney's final statement, "Now it has been a crazy episode. Who would have actually thought we would see Lindsey of all people go first? Can the Bass find a way to turn things around? Find out next time on "

"Total!"

"Drama!"

"Island!"

XXX

Votes:

Beth: I vote for Courtney. She's a real pain and didn't even jump.

Bridgette: I vote for Lindsey. Sorry.

Cody: I vote for Lindsey. It has to be done.

Courtney: Thankfully I'm safe to tonight. But only if Lindsey's gone.

DJ: I vote for Beth.

Ezekiel: Let's see Beth or Lindsey? Okay I choose Lindsey.

Heather: I vote for Lindsey. Dam that's one possible alliance mate gone.

Izzy: Izzy votes for Cody. There's something just not right about that boy.

Leshawna: Lindsey should be going home.

Lindsey: I don't know. Why does everyone keep saying Lindsey will be the one going home?

Noah: Okay so out of the three chickens all of which are on our team by the way I have to choose Beth.

Tally:

Cody - 1

Courtney – 1

Beth – 2

Lindsey - 7

XXX

The cool breeze crept across the face of the man who had made much of this possible allow for his dark brown hair to wave in the wind. Who had planned for everything to come into place. The man who would shake the world.

When he whispered the world listened. When he roared the galaxy trembled. It can be said that this man came back from the dead through sheer force of will. A man who had journeyed to the seven hells and crawled out. The man who killed Gods and walked among a different plane of existence compare to other mortals.

That man was Jermayne Eamon Scott Desmond and he was waiting for someone. People didn't waste his time. Every second of his time wasted cost him $1,250 at least and Desmond kept a tally on those that truly annoyed him.

But right now the Cerulean coloured eyes of the man were glancing at the spot of his guest. Normally he wore a hood for such scenarios but he knew the person that would make his appearance. Oh he knew him to well.

A blue and white portal appeared and shimmered into existence allowing various particles to take shape and breathe life into itself. Life and death used to be so separate and final but that barrier had long since been broken for either of them. Then a figure formed right in front of the portal and his guest arrived.

Emerald was what Desmond called him.

"So did you like your first day here?" asked Desmond as he looked down on the contestants enjoying their meal. The Killer Bass were much more subdued than the Gophers but he easily picked himself enjoying the moment.

"Of course I did," stated the other man just as tall and muscular as Desmond, "It was the day my life truly changed. You changed it."

"We all know your life changed a long time ago," retorted Desmond talking about decades past. The two knew what the conversation was about but didn't press further.

Despite Emerald's intense power, despite his accomplishments he knew he was nothing compared to the man who was more than a decade his senior. They're powers grew with age. Old age worked differently for beings like them and Desmond was no exception.

"Yes," reported Emerald, "It's done. The boy will walk down the path of our choosing."

"Fate and destiny it is then," Desmond accepted.

"We made our own fate Desmond," spat out Emerald, "Don't diminish our accomplishments for arbitrary terms."

"Can't say it didn't make sense Emerald," smiled Desmond before apologize, "For what it's worth I'm sorry it had to come down to this."

The two men stayed silent for over a minute. If it came to violence this island, the surrounding provinces and states would become a battlefield of lightning. The two would face each other in a mirror match and Emerald would die. So would Desmond.

"You know Desmond," shot back Emerald, "I used to hate you. Almost everyone here used to. But then I became you and I realized that you were right. This was the path of least bloodshed."

"Hard to see the big picture behind a pile of corpses," accepted Desmond ", But I can gladly say it wasn't a mistake."

"Do you ever regret what you're going to do?" asked Emerald, "I mean all the suffering or horror that's you'll put everyone through. Heather, Gwen ..."

"I know what I did," interrupted Desmond, "But like I said it has to come to this. Go home Emerald. Go back to your timeline, love your family like your life depended on it and never let go."

"I will," nodded Emerald once before creating a portal for him to walk through. Not willing to leave on a despairing note, "For what it's worth time-travelling is fun."

Then he disappeared though the blue portal.

Desmond just laughed inwardly at his words before gazing down at the campers.

Enjoy your time together and cherish these moments because from here on out none of you will ever be the same.