Episode 6 Part 2: Lost my Heart in San Francisco
Team Victory II…
"Alcatraz Island dead ahead!" Matthew called out, while he, Rachael, and Violet paddled furiously.
"Wonder if we'll get to meet Clint Eastwood?" Eryn asked excitedly. "Or Sean Connery!"
"Or Santa Claus." Matthew muttered as he continued paddling.
Team Madison…
"Nuts!" Ethan roared in fury. "They're getting away!"
"Well, that was kind of obvious." Jessica replied half-heartedly. They both have more people than us, by a considerable margin…"
"Well, maybe, if SOME of us put a little EFFORT into it…" He turned back to Samantha as he said this, but she, naturally, didn't hear him.
Then a single thought popped into his devious little mind.
With one hand still furiously paddling, he took out his cell phone with the other and sent a quick text to Samantha.
"Ever been to Alcatraz before?"
Samantha paused for a moment, her phone whistling as the message came in, then she rapidly responded.
"no"
"Well, I have. And doesn't the reception here in San Francisco kinda suck?"
"kinda"
"Well, let me tell you this, and I swear it's the truth: The reception on Alcatraz is sooo much better than anywhere else in this whole city. Trust me."
Ethan closed his phone and put it back in his pocket, waiting with a crooked grin as the message arrived on Samantha's phone. Her wild clicking stopped, her eyes widened, and the phone dropped into her lap.
With all her might, she began furiously paddling, nearly causing Jessica and Ethan to fall over from the sudden increase in speed. The two managed to regain their balance and join in, gradually gaining on Team Sahara…
Ding-ding!
Musical Number – Ode to San Francisco
Ethan: Being born in the province of Saskatchewan
Much farther than those borders I would never have gone
When I see this place, I can't help but stammer
I would rather beat myself with a hammer
I expected what kind of place this city'd be like
I must get out, even if I have to hitchhike
Louis: I remember the twister in Kansas
But I never, ever could have imagined this
All the bustle, culture and the hustle
Just seeing this is worth all the pain in my muscles
Being here is worth all of those dangerous bungee dives
I've never ever felt so alive
All: San Francisco, what a place
Not subtle, it's in your face
San Francisco, show your teeth
Moving at a rapid pace
Yeah! Yeah!
Matthew: San Francisco sure is like no other
But as a destination, to me, it's just another
When you're in a place like San Francisco
It's worse than being at a drunken Russian disco
Your first time here sure is an unforgettable day
But that won't stand in my way!
All: San Francisco, what a place
Not subtle, it's in your face
San Francisco, show your teeth
Moving at a rapid pace
Yeah! Yeah!
What city can compete with you?
None else can, and that is the truth
Can't wait to say goodbye to you
Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait…
Mary: Maybe later, we can see all the sights
But for now, we must keep up the ongoing fight
Keep up our chins up, and keep the fire strong
We have been in economy-class for far too long
I really don't think San Francisco's worth all that jazz
So onward to the end
To Alcatraz…
All: San Francisco, what a place
Not subtle, it's in your face
San Francisco, show your teeth
Moving at a rapid pace
Yeah! Yeah!
San Francisco, what a place
Not subtle, it's in your face
San Francisco, show your teeth
Moving at a rapid pace
Yeah! Yeah!
San Francisco, what a place
Not subtle, it's in your face
San Francisco, show your teeth
Moving at a rapid pace
Yeah! Yeah!
End
By the time the ridiculously long musical number had ended, Team Victory II had already reached the shore of Alcatraz Island.
"Alright! Onward to victory!" Matthew declared as he jumped out, landing up to his ankles in the water along the rocky shore and pulling the raft further up onto the shore with all his might.
Violet, Rachael, and Eryn were quick to jump out with him and follow him along the shore, up to the nearest path leading up to the desolate structure on top of the island.
"I've read up on this place before!" He announced as he ran up ahead of the others. "Follow me to the cell blocks! We'll start with A and work our way down!"
At that moment, Team Madison reached the shore, prompted on by Samantha's boost in paddling after Ethan mentioned the better reception. She even jumped out with Ethan and helped pull the raft, and Jessica, to the shore.
However, the moment both of her feet were on solid ground, her heart sank.
Her bars had dropped to half of a single bar.
"ETHAN!" She roared, without even looking up from her phone. "YOU LIED! THE RECEPTION HERE SUCKS!"
"I know. One more thing about this island that does." He replied with a smirk. "You can stay here with the raft. You'll just slow us down. Jessica, come with me."
And with that, the pair raced up the dirt path towards the building.
Team Victory II…
Matthew dashed down one hall, turned a corner, and stopped for a moment, taking in the sights with awe as his three teammates caught up to him.
The massive hallway spread out in both directions, a wide space between the cell doors of B-Block and C-Block on either side.
"Broadway." Matthew whispered.
"No, silly. Alcatraz, San Francisco!" Eryn replied. "This isn't New York!"
"Broadway is the name that the prisoners gave to this particular corridor. The widest and most exposed in the entire building." He informed her, with brief annoyance turning back to excitement. "This would be a great place to start looking."
He turned to his teammates and gestured his finger in two different directions. "Rachael, Violet: Head down that way. Eryn, come with me and we'll look this way. If anyone sees the cell with the logo on the door, give a holler."
The two pairs split up and ran down the massive hallway in opposite directions.
At that moment, the single pair representing Team Madison entered the corridor, with Ethan looking up one way and Jessica down the other. Each got a glimpse of the other team's members as they ran off.
"They're already splitting up and searching. We shouldn't follow them, or else it'll look like we're following their lead. Let's go this way!" Clamping a hand down on Jessica's wrist, he led her on through the prison towards B-Block.
Soon, they arrived in the center of B-Block. Ethan did a quick 360 around the area, then snapped his fingers. "This is the section of B-Block from where three inmates successfully escaped in June of 1962. This'll be an ideal location to start looking. You head that way, and call my name if you see our logo. I'll look down this way."
And with that, they split up as well.
Team Sahara…
The team finally arrived, alongside the empty raft of Team Victory II and Team Madison's raft, with a frustrated and fuming Samantha sitting inside, desperately trying to get some reception on the Rock.
Mary was still stunned to see the latter already there, so closely on the heels of Team Victory II.
"Remind me again how the heck those three sped ahead of us like that?" She asked as she and Louis jumped out and pulled the raft, with their other three teammates, to the shore.
Louis simply shrugged.
"Never mind it. Let's go." Taking Nicole's hand, he helped her out of the raft before turning and heading up the dirt path, Mary right behind them.
Anna tried to offer similar help to Isaiah, only for him to ignore her hand, stumble out on his own, and run past her while calling for the others to wait for him.
The five soon arrived in D-Block, glancing around in many different directions.
"This place is huge!" Nicole exclaimed. "How will we ever find it?"
Just then, there was a whining over the prison's ancient PA system, and the familiar, gruff voice of Chef Hatchet soon bellowed: "And, big shock, Team Victory II has won YET AGAIN."
In the brief pause after he finished this sentence, the familiar cheering of Matthew could be heard echoing down the halls from somewhere in the distance.
"So Team Madison and Team Sahara, ya'll'd best hurry it up! One of you will claim second place, and another will claim…you know, dead last. Which means one of your members will subsequently claim elimination. So get movin'!"
"Well, in answer to your question, Nicole: How will we find it? Fast. You and I will take this corridor. Anna and Isaiah, take that corridor. Mary, you head down and search C-Block."
"WHAT?! Me and Anna?!" Isaiah started to protest.
"Let's go!" Anna yelled out, grabbing Isaiah by the arm and dragging him down the corridor alongside D-Block. Louis and Nicole ran down the opposite direction, while Mary ran towards C-Block.
In another section of the prison, Ethan and Jessica took an equally frightened note of this new announcement.
"DAAAAAAANG IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!" Ethan roared, his fury echoing back and forth down the halls, even shaking the cell door's bars. The key ring shaking nervously in his hand, he dashed through the halls, glancing side-to-side rapidly at the cells passing on both sides, keeping both eyes peeled for the team logo.
Suddenly, with a powerful shock, Ethan felt himself slam roughly into an unseen object with a meaty smack and a dull clunk. After the initial impact against his forehead, his vision flashed back, then flashed on and off repeatedly like a flickering light as he crashed to the unforgiving, cold concrete floor. As he was too stunned to even issue an "Ow," he heard the other person's moan of pain in its entirety. And it was familiar.
"Jessica…you…idiot…" He mumbled, still trying to sit up with one elbow below him to prop him up, and another hand on his forehead.
"Oooooh…S…sorry…"
As Ethan leaned to one side and shook his head, he glanced up momentarily. Against the dull gray and green, he thought he saw a flash of pink. He lowered his head, paused, then looked up again.
As his vision settled down and the spots vanished, the image slowly but surely formed before his eyes: The Team Madison logo, crudely taped across two of the bars on the door of the nearest cell to his right.
"The…the logo!" He called out weakly, to himself more than to Jessica. "This cell!"
Mustering all his strength, he slowly staggered to his knees, then climbed to his feet, stumbling forward a couple feet until he slammed into the bars, instantly clinging to them with both hands…
…which resulted in him dropping the key ring just inside the cell door.
Even after the clang sounded, it took him a few moments to realize that the key ring was missing from his hand. He looked down and saw it, about six inches inside the cell. A few more seconds, then the panic set in.
Still clinging to the bars, he allowed his body to drop down until he was crouching. He warily let go of one bar, a sting of pain shooting through his head again, and reached between the bars into the cell, fingers extended as he desperately reached for the key ring.
He had to stretch just a little further…
Then his index finger and middle finger touched the ring. Using the top joints of each finger, he hooked the ring and jerked his arm back, pulling the ring through the gap in the bars.
Now clenching the key ring more firmly, he pulled himself back up using the cell door's bars, until he was level with the lock, just next to the pink logo.
Fumbling with the key ring for just a moment, he awkwardly slid the single key in through the hole…turned it once…
…then fell backwards as the door suddenly swung open, his weight pulling it open and shocking him so much that he fell backward and landed right on top of Jessica, who was still lying on the floor. She gave another "Oof," while he, once again, remained silent.
Then the voice blared across the intercom once more.
"And Team Madison has unlocked their cell door! Team Madison is finally no longer the losing team! Congratulations to the three of ya. Team Sahara, so sorry, but you must face elimination again for the first time in three episodes. See ya at the elimination ceremony!"
Normally, Ethan and Jessica would've been quick to celebrate their victory, but both were still stunned from the collision.
Ethan, however, managed to crack a faint smile, and his whole body relaxed.
Then, a muffled voice from underneath: "Efan, can you pleafe get off of me?"
Later, at the elimination ceremony…
A very divided and very frustrated Team Sahara sat in the bleachers of the dreaded elimination area in several small groups. Louis and Nicole sat in one corner on the top row, while Mary sat alone on the opposite end of the top row, glaring down at the bottom row. Anna and Isaiah sat on the bottom row, and the latter only allowed the former to sit near him because he was too depressed to notice her. However, for once, Anna wasn't necessarily enjoying sitting next to Isaiah either, as she looked just as scared for her chances.
"Alrighty then, losers! If it's any consolation, at least ya'll gave Team Madison a break. So whichever of you make it back to economy-class by the end of tonight, be sure to ask 'em to thank you. As you know, there are only four Barf Bags here tonight, and five kids who would like to have one. One of you, of course, will leave this Jet with nuthin' but a parachute and broken dreams. When I call your name, claim your Barf Bag.
"Louis and Nicole!"
The two shared sighs of relief and a smile as they caught their Barf Bags.
"Now, the three of YOU…"
Chef pointed one at a time at Mary, Anna, and Isaiah.
"…all received votes tonight. Two of you received the exact same amount of votes, while one of you received more votes than the other two combined. Thus, that person is out. So tonight, the last two Barf Bags simultaneously go to…"
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"…Mary and Anna!"
"WHAT?!" Anna screamed ferociously, despite a Barf Bag hitting her in the forehead and bouncing off. Mary, although slightly stunned at first, received hers with a satisfied grin.
"YES!" Isaiah cheered. "You guys actually came through for me!" He jumped up to the top row and gave Nicole and Louis a bear hug. "Thank you both so much! Thank you!"
"Isaiah?! What are you doing?! You just got voted off!"
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't handle it anymore." He confessed as he started to step down the bleachers towards the open door. "Mary presented a legitimate point. I have been slowing my team down far too often and far too drastically."
He took the parachute out of Chef's hand and strapped it on. "Eliminating this team's greatest weakness, even if it is myself, is the greatest thing I can do to restore my honor."
He walked right up to the very precipice of the open door. Turning back one final time to face Anna, he threw in one final sentence.
"That, and I just can't stand you anymore."
And, before Anna could even respond, he was gone.
Voting Confessionals
Louis – Isaiah, I'm only doing this because you asked me to. (Stamps Isaiah's passport)
Nicole – I was already convinced enough by Mary, but for Isaiah himself to come up and ask me to vote for him, this one really is a slam-dunk. (Stamps Isaiah's passport).
Anna – As if it isn't obvious enough. (Stamps Mary's passport).
Mary – Should I even bother? …Eh, I love doing this. (Stamps Anna's passport).
Isaiah – This may be shocking, but I honestly can't tolerate Anna anymore, I'm holding my team back, I can't tolerate Anna anymore, I'm the team's weakest link, I can't tolerate Anna anymore…did I mention that I can't tolerate Anna anymore? (Stamps his own passport).
Voting Results
Anna – Mary
Mary – Anna
Isaiah – Isaiah
Louis – Isaiah
Nicole – Isaiah
Total Votes
Isaiah – 3
Anna – 1
Mary – 1
Elimination Order: Mark, Eryn, Madison, John, Suzie, James, Lauren, Isaiah