Enjoy!:

Chapter 7: Day 2

Dipper, Mabel, Robin, Peter, and Cameron ended up going into the forest to try to figure out what the gunshot was all about.

After two minutes of running, they crossed paths with Carl, Elton, Lyrica, Allicia, and Raven. The two groups stopped once they saw each other.

"Oh, thank goodness!" said Dipper. "We heard the gunshot and didn't know what to think. I feared that it was one of you who got shot."

"We had a similar idea," said Lyrica. "We thought that maybe someone, one of the contestants, had smuggled a gun in here, there was an altercation that got heated, and the gun was fired."

"I can assure you that that did not happen," Mabel said. "I guess it might have been someone shooting a wild animal."

"Uh, we've been out here all day, and the only wild animals we've seen are two freakishly fast wild boars!" said Raven.

At that moment, the ten of them heard someone moan.

"Did you hear that?" Peter asked.

"Yeah, it- it sounded like someone was in pain," Lyrica replied. "We should go check it out."

The kids walked cautiously in the direction that the moan had come from. Ten seconds later, they all stopped and stared at what lay on the ground in front of them.

A man who looked to be six feet tall, wearing a black polo and khakis lay on his stomach, his pale, bald head turned towards the kids.

"Oh my gosh," breathed Robin. "Were you shot?"

The man slowly nodded.

Robin noticed something on the ground a few yards beyond the man's body and walked towards it.

Cameron stepped forward. "Don- don't worry," she stammered. "We'll get you help."

The man shook his head. "Tso heh tytt. Apt su rtt onodt ubeta loo tsti," he murmured.

"What was that?" asked Dipper.

"I don't know gibberish?" suggested Allicia.

"Or not," said Carl.

"Either way, we need to get this man help," said Peter.

But at the moment, the light left the man's eyes.

Interview

Carl: When I saw him die… I didn't know what to think. Besides in movies, I've never seen anyone die in person. Lake Mary is a pretty crime filled area, which is a little weird since it's next to Sanford, a very crime filled area.

CM: Um, you forgot the process.

Carl: Does it really matter. Besides, I kinda just said where I'm from.

CM: (Angry sigh) Fine! Have it your way!

Story

"Unbelievable," said Raven slowly. "I can't believe that he's dead."

Robin came back over holding two items. "You'll never believe what I just found over there! A handgun and a lanyard holding an ID matching the man."

"Oh, how convenient," snapped Lyrica.

"What do you mean?" asked Peter.

"We never saw the guy get shot, but right after he dies, Robin shows up with a gun," said Lyrica. "The rest of my theory is sort of self explanatory."

"You think he killed him?" asked Dipper. "That's not what happened at all! I was with them when the gunshot sounded!"

"But Lyrica does have a point," said Elton. "I hate to believe this, but how did he know where to find the gun."

"I didn't!" Robin snapped. "I saw it behind his body!"

"Did you really?" asked Allicia. "Or were you originally trying to hide the evidence."

"Okay, even if I did have the gun, why would I need to kill him?" Robin said. "He's just thirty six year old Paul Kaufman, ABC cameraman."

"How am I supposed to know what goes on in the mind of a murderer?" Elton fired back.

Peter glowered at him. "Listen up, I can tell you right now that Robin is now the murderer!" he yelled. "Come on, we're out." He and Robin marched back towards Home Base.

Elton turned on Dipper. "And why were you covering for him? Were you helping carry out the murder?"

"No, he wasn't!" Mabel snapped. "This is all ridiculous. We support Robin and Peter, especially since we saw that they were not the ones who killed Paul." She and her brother headed back towards Home Base, leaving Cameron to face the others.

"Well, who do you believe?" demanded Elton.

"Well, I don't like taking sides in conflicts, especially since this only our second day," said Cameron. "But I can guarantee that you are wrong." She turned and ran after Dipper, Mabel, Peter, and Robin.

Everyone was back at Home Base by 7:30, and thirty minutes later, Patrick and Mackenzie arrived, with camera men and women following them with the cameras on and recording.

"Can everyone come outside, please?" asked Mackenzie. "Patty and I have something to tell you."

Five minutes later, all eighteen contestants had encircled the host, executive producer, and a couple of camera personnel.

"As most of you know, at 6:35 pm, a gunshot was heard through the forest that surrounds the Home Base," Patrick said. "When I heard it, I immediately sent a search team to see what happened, with your safety in mind. It took us an hour to find the body of Paul Kaufman, one of our camera specialists, with a bullet in his chest. We had a team of paramedics at hand, but they pronounced him dead at the scene."

Nervous glances were exchanged.

Elton glared at Robin, who scowled back.

"We don't know who brought the gun or fired it, but once we find out who the guilty culprit or culprits are, he, she, or they will be prosecuted on the federal level on several counts of murder and manslaughter charges," said Mackenzie.

"Also, I just got off the phone with ABC, and we've worked out a deal regarding the future of this show," Patrick told the contestants. "Starting tomorrow at nine am, and ending thirty minutes later, if you follow the path behind the cabins that leads to the gated area, you can press the button that dismisses you from the show, and you can go home with $10,000. We hope that most of you will stay here to pursue the million, but we understand if it's too much for you to handle."

With those final words, Patrick and Mackenzie left the Home Base.

That night, Robbie had been peacefully enjoying his dream of making out with Wendy when he was shaken awake.

For a second, he couldn't see a thing since it was pitch black, but then he heard Lil' Gideon whisper, "Get up and follow me! We need to talk."

Robbie felt a pit in his stomach. He knew the moment would come when he'd have to make a decision. He wasn't ready yet.

Gideon grabbed Robbie's arm and led him onto the porch of the boys' cabin.

"I need your decision now!" snapped the psychic once they were outside. "Tomorrow, Dipper and his sister will likely be leaving like a coward, so it's now or never. Or, tomorrow morning or never, since that's actually when I'll start."

"I still don't know," said Robbie. "The process seems kind of risky."

"But it'll be worth it," Lil' Gideon urged. "Think about all of the embarrassment and misery you suffered through after Dipper found out about the mind control CD I gave you. Don't you think its payback time?"

Robbie thought for a second. "Yea, it is. I'm in."

Gideon smiled. "Wonderful doing business with you. Off to bed now."

Robbie happily went back to his bed and closed his eyes. What he didn't see was as Lil' Gideon walked up the back stairs of the cabin, the psychic stopped and pulled out his 2 book.

"Good night, little fella," Gideon whispered as he patted the spine. "I've got a big day tomorrow."

That doesn't sound good. What do you think? Please leave a review and let me know.

~Jameer14