~Her Mask~

AN: Hey guys. ^_^ Thanks for all the amazing reviews. But I gotta say, without a doubt, my favourite reviewer is CarmillaD . And I would of loved to be able to tell her this personally, but she doesn't have an account. T_T (I'm guessing you're a she, sorry if I'm wrong. ^_^;;) But her reviews are always my favourite and I always look forward to them. Anyway, enough of my rambling. ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

Courtney woke up to the birds lightly chirping and the soft snores of her fellow team mates, which surprised her. Chris had actually let them sleep in for once? On a challange day? Weird.

Moving sluggishly, the brunette heaved herself off of her bunk and started gathering some things up to take an early morning shower before anyone else awoke. But when she left the rickety old cabin and walked into the communal bathroom, she felt a shiver rise up her spine. Maybe it was because the last time she was here, Duncan had made her feel things she'd never felt before. She shook her head, trying to clear it, -as well as the blush that had made its way to her cheeks- then started undressing.

Duncan yawned and stretched his arms up over his head. He felt nice and well rested for once, but a tad on edge still. Even his dreams consisted of him wailing on Heather, or drowning her in the lake. He felt almost evil. Sure, he would like to think he was a tough guy and a bad ass, but he had never killed someone. Of course, the thought had crossed his teen aged mind many many times, but to actually go through with it? That just wouldn't be right. But...for Heather, he might make an exception.

Chuckling quietly to himself, he hopped out of his bed and strolled past the row of empty bunks, tugging on his shirts and dog collar as he went. He must of slept in pretty late, considering practically the whole cabin was empty.

There was a little nagging feeling in the back of the Punk's head that was urging him to go check on Courtney. But still trying to keep up with appearances, he ignored it and walked outside casually.

"Ready to talk?" Heather's obnoxious I'm-royalty-and-you're-nothing-but-pond-scum tone of voice was started to drive Duncan insane. It also brought back that slightly annoying, but overwhelming desire to protect Princess at all costs. Which currently meant informing Heather that she would end up seriously maimed if she didn't back off.

"Yeah. I am, actually. And I wanna clear up a few things-" Duncan was cut off as the intercom in the middle of the camp let out a high pitched whine that made everyone on the Island cover their ears or cringe.

"Campers! All of you, get your butts down to the Bond Fire circle for today's challenge!" Chris' overly perky voice echoed through the Island, making the teens groan but truck down to their requested meeting place.

"I hope you are all rested and ready! Because today's challenge is going to be bru-tal!" Chris separated the last word into two syllables while grinning like a kid at Christmas.

"Today, I was planning on a cooking challenge. But since the delivery truck seemed to have a little accident and couldn't make it here, we're switching it up!" He declared.

"Any guesses as to what it is?" The narcissist host asked the bored looking campers.

"Is it a 'Shove the Host into the camp fire pit if he doesn't hurry this up' challenge?" Duncan glared at Chris who raised his hands in surrender.

"Okay, okay. Yeesh, take a pill." He cleared his throat. "Today's challenge is going to be a scavenger hunt!"

There was a few grumbles and groans from the group, but no real disagreement.

"A scavenger hunt doesn't sound so bad. Kind of fun, actually! And totally easy! Woo!" Owen smiled widely and let out another whoop of excitment -along with some excited gas- and all the Campers gasped while scooting a little farther from the human fart machine.

"What?"

"DON'T SAY IT'LL BE EASY!" All the teens shouted.

"Why not?" Owen shrunk down lower on the wooden stump he was seated on.

"And did I mention you'll all be hand cuffed together in groups? And that the contest will last at least a day? Since some of the things you'll need to collect may only come out at night. Plus you'll be all alone in the woods with the bears and other dangerous wild life." Chris smirked.

All the Killer Bass' and the Screaming Gophers' glared at Owen.

"Hehe...oops."

"Now, for the teams of 2." The black haired male began. "Which, will be two campers from different Teams by the way." Chris added speaking once again. "We have... Beth and Harold, Geoff and LeShawna, Gwen and Sadie, Owen and Bridgette, DJ and Trent, Lindsay and Duncan, and Heather and Courtney."

Duncan choked and coughed a few times, but no one seemed to notice. Chris was explaining how the challange would work, but Duncan wasn't listening.

Heather. Princess. Alone. Woods. Was the only thing he could hear as it played over and over inside his mind.

Why couldn't God make the whole Heather thing easier on him? Did an evil force of some kind actually want Princess to be 'accidently' shoved at an angry bear by the Queen Bee?

"Uh, Doug, we gotta get started." Lindsay startled Duncan when she touched his shoulder, which caused him to jump.

"Huh? Oh. Sorry." Duncan took the handcuff from Lindsay's hands-while ignoring the fact that she got his name wrong- and connected their hands together with the uncomfortable metal cuffs.

"I am not being chained up to her." Duncan's head turned to look at Courtney who was glaring at Chris with her arms crossed and the same old angry and stubborn expression on her face.

"Sorry, Courtney. Teams have been made. Now you and Heather better get a move on." Chris was taking too much satisfaction from this. It pissed both Courtney and Duncan off.

"Come on, Chris. I don't mind switching with Princess." Duncan insisted while dragging Lindsay with him as he walked up to the Host and CIT.

Heather was still sitting on one of the stumps, observing the group with a watchful eye.

"Why? So cause you think Heather's so hot?" Courtney growled out, glaring at Duncan.

"What? No. Lindsay totally beats Heather in that department-"

"Forget it. I'll stick with Heather." Courtney snatched the metal handcuffs Chris was holding out to her, and walked over to the raven-haired female.

Perhaps the CIT was a tad bitter for Duncan not coming to comfort her the night before, okay, so maybe she was more than a tad bitter.

Well fuck. That didn't go the way I planned. Duncan held back a sigh. He had been so confident about keeping Courtney safe just over an hour ago, and now he was nothing but a blubbering idiot.

"Hey Duncan, I'll see you at the finish line." Heather smirked as she and Courtney passed the blond ditz and the delinquent.

And said delinquent noticed right away the tone the she-devil used, and what she really had meant. "I'll see you at the finish line. Too bad Courtney wont."

"Oh screw it." Tossing the morals Duncan's Mother had pounded into his brain as a kid out the window, -Number 1 being 'Never hit a girl'- he delivered a swift kick into the back of Heather's caff, causing her to tumble forward. Duncan made sure to grab a surprised Princess' arm before she fell down too, and smirked as Heather glared at the male.

Sure, his Ma would be ashamed of him, but it was worth it to have seen Heather take a face plant into the dirt.

What made everything even better was when Courtney started giggling. it was an adorable, light, and happy giggle. It brought the largest smile to his face, and made it easier for him to block out Heather's death glares and Lindsay's own giggles of glee.

"Well, that was sure unexpected. And awesome!" Chris yelled, instantly shattering the warm feeling inside of Duncan, and stopping the Brunette's fit of laughter.

Courtney cleared her throat and stared at Duncan's hand which was still holding onto Princess' elbow, he let go and turned to Lindsay who was still snickering at the now filthy faced bitch.

"Come on Linds." Duncan and the blond bombshell began walking forward, while Duncan kept glancing at a fuming Heather and a gleeful Courtney out of the corner of his eye. Something he'd keep doing till the females split off into a different direction then himself and Lindsay. Heather wasn't going to touch one hair on Courtney's head; Duncan would make sure of it, even if he had to give up on the challenge and leave the blond in the forest somewhere. Princess was his top priority.

This was gonna be a long day.

I can't believe he did that! I am going to destroy him! Heather shrieked from inside her head. She snarled at Courtney who would snicker every few seconds, taking way too much delight in the fact Duncan had made the raven-haired Queen Bee eat a face full of dirt.

I can't believe he did that! Oh my god, that was hilarious! Courtney thought inside her own mind, she hadn't felt like laughing this much since the time her Mother accidentally spilt Coffee on her Father's new white pants. It had been a completely juvenile thing to laugh about, as was this, but the look on her Father's face had been priceless. Just like the look on Heather's when she'd fallen.

"The first thing we need is a bird's feather." The mocha-haired girl looked down at the list, then over at her temporary teammate. Though she didn't seem to be listening. Courtney was nothing if not determined. She hated losing, so even though she possibly hated Heather even more, Courtney would work with the other girl and win this.

So we get all the items on the list, then head back to Camp. Once we're half way there, Chris will unlock our cuffs and we race to the finish line. Whoever is back first gets a point for their team. Courtney thought, silently reading the rules that were printed on the piece of paper in her hands.

"AH! Hey!" Courtney squeeked as Heather suddenly tugged her hand roughly, leading the Killer Bass member down a different path in the forest. It was mostly downhill, with lots of bushes and stumps, so Courtney was stumbling and getting poked and pricked.

"I think I heard a bird down here." Heather turned her face from the girl to hide a sinister smirk. Destroying Courtney would destroy Duncan, too. So easy. She reached for her her tube top, and reaching her hand into her bra for the well hid item inside.

"And then she was like, 'He did not date her!' and I was like, 'Oh he totally did.' and-"

"Lindsay, would you please stop talking?" Duncan begged, though the blond continued to chatter away.

Duncan sighed and casted another glance behind him. And without warning he stopped; jerking Lindsay backward by accident.

Dammit, dammit, dammit! I'm supposed to be watching out for Courtney. If something happens to her... Duncan shook his head. He wouldn't finish that thought.

"Lindsay, I'm gonna need you to stay here, okay?" Duncan hastily pulled out a key he fished from Chris' pocket when he wasnt looking, and unlocked the handcuffs.

"Wait? Like, where are you going?" Lindsay yelled out as Duncan took off into a run.

"Just wait for me there!" Duncan shouted over his shoulder and ran in the opposite direction the two had been walking in.

Princess, come on, where are you? Give me a signal! Duncan thought desperately.

And then he heard it. That unmistakable sound.

A gunshot.

AN: DUN DUN DUN!!!!! TO BE CONTINUED! ~REVIEW!