The Eighteenth Bonfire
The seven campers all stared at the tray of marshmallows set before them.
"The viewers have cast in their votes and made their decisions. The camper who does not receive a marshmallow must immediately return to the Dock of Shame, to catch the Boat of Losers. That means you are out of the contest. And you can't come back…EVER.
"The first marshmallow goes to Peter."
Peter smiled his usual cocky smile as he walked up and took his marshmallow.
"Matthew."
"Violet. Jennifer."
Mark glanced nervously at the two remaining marshmallows. Jeremy glanced at Isaiah, but Isaiah didn't notice.
"There are only two marshmallows left, and three of you. The next marshmallow goes to… …"
Isaiah was sweating hard. Jeremy was shaking.
"…Mark."
Mark walked up and took the marshmallow, then when he joined the others with marshmallows, he gave Matthew a hi-five.
"Jeremy and Isaiah. You are the bottom two, meaning that your individual performances were the worst: Last to bring in your animal, and the only one to not bring in your animal at all! And for one of, it's curtains!"
Jeremy's eyes widened.
Isaiah was sweating hard. He removed his square glasses and wiped off the lenses with a cloth he always had on him. When he finished, he put them back on and did not take his eyes off that last marshmallow.
"The final marshmallow goes to…"
Isaiah was brushing the sweat off his forehead. Jeremy wasn't so nervous, but he was still a little shaky.
"…"
"Oh, get on with it and send the geek home, already!" Peter yelled.
Chris just shrugged. "Meh. Jeremy."
Jeremy jumped off his seat and snatched up the final marshmallow. Isaiah sat there, frozen, letting the reality sink in.
"Sorry, Napoleon, you're outta here."
Isaiah got up and walked down the Dock of Shame. He appeared to be crying.
Or maybe it was just the sweat still on his face.
This Bonfire's Epilogue…
The six remaining campers all stood around the Bonfire, some eating their marshmallows immediately, some roasting them first.
Jeremy was still relieved that he was still gonna stay, but his happiness was shattered to pieces when Chris came up to him and said, "Dude, I hope you haven't forgotten what the penalty was for being last to bring in your animal."
Jeremy's face flushed, and he dropped his marshmallow stick. It and the marshmallow were consumed in the flames, as was his relief.
Then, a duffel bag was thrown to him. He was so stunned by it that he barely caught it and almost fell right into the Bonfire.
"There's all your stuff: toothbrush, pillow, clothes; all the essentials. Your new home awaits."
Chris gestured towards the woods in the direction of the Boathouse. Jeremy reluctantly walked into the woods. When he emerged on the other side of them, and was facing the infamous Boathouse, only one thing was racing through his mind.
This is gonna be a long week.
To be continued…
Author's Note: PLEASE READ THIS! Fedora Kid needs your help, readers! He has run out of ideas for challenges! If any of you out there would like to help, simply send in a challenge idea. And remember this: Each challenge must have a way for at least one person to gain Invincibility (you all probably know why). So send in your ideas, and it could very well be in the story!