Alright guys, Final Five time! You've got some super interesting predictions on whats going to happen. I love it! Let's get on with the chapter.
Last time, on Total Drama Chaos. Our final 6 participated in a Gauntlet challenge that put all their skills to the test! However, the real juicy bit was the pre-challenge drama! Noah got all pissy and felt that he wasn't included enough in the alliance, so he swapped sides! It was all even steven then, with Noah, Courtney and Harold fighting against Justin, Gwen and Eva. The challenge was fierce, but in the end Gwen took the win, leaving know-it-all Noah and angry-at-everything Eva as our two vulnerable campers. It looked like Noah was about to get crushed in a tie breaker, but Justin the justice-seeker was "justin" time to quit and save both Noah and Eva from elimination. We're down to five now, and Eva and Gwen look to be in a tough spot! Can they squeeze their way out of this one? Find out right now, on the most dramatic episode ever! This is Total! Drama! Chaos!
The sun was streaming brightly in the sky, as it had so often in Wawanakwa.
Daylight seeped through the window and cracks in the shoddy cabin wall as Gwen and Eva slept. One could not say it was a peaceful sleep for the two ladies, though. Eva ground her teeth savagely in her sleep as she tossed and turned, causing the bunk bed she was on to shake violently. Fortunately she had chosen the bottom bunk at the beginning of the season, otherwise she might've been in for a fall.
As it was, Gwen, who slept on the top bunk of the adjacent bunk bed, was slowly moving towards the edge of the bed due to Eva's tossing and turning. After a few more seconds, the goth finally wriggled off the edge, landing on the ground painfully.
Needless to say, it was not a great way to start the day for the pale girl, who was now in a foul mood as she nursed her very sore knee. The goth grouchily looked over to Eva, who was still tossing and turning, and her scowl deepened.
"Hey, wake up!" Gwen angrily called, "Eva!"
Eva snorted awake, taking a swing at an imaginary foe. After a few seconds of frantic, enraged heavy breathing, she claimed down. Trying to find in Gwen, she eventually laid eyes on her, still on the floor. "What? Why did you wake me up?" Eva tried not to sound angry, "does Chris need us for the challenge or something?"
"No, but you knocked me off my bed with all your stupid thrashing!"
Eva scoffed, "I wasn't thrashing that bad; and besides, there are plenty of other beds-where even if I was doing this hypothetical thrashing, you wouldn't be affected!"
"Um, I was in my bunk first," Gwen retorted.
"Yeah, after you made me and the egghead switch cabins!" Eva grunted.
Gwen was about to retort, but relented when she realized Eva was right. "Ugh," she sighed, her head drooping in shame, "sorry Eva, I'm just cranky. I think I'm going crazy because I've been stuck on this island so long."
Eva let out a small laugh as she left her bed and walked over to Gwen. She offered her hand to the goth, who gladly accepted it. "Don't worry," Eva told her, "I get that feeling. There are some times where I wish I would just get kicked off already, but then I wouldn't be competing for the cash."
Gwen rubbed her sore knee as she hobbled over to the dresser to grab her clothes. "Yeah, well thanks for not blowing up at my bitchiness."
"I'm off to the bathroom," Eva said gruffly as she hoisted her gym bag over her shoulder, "See you at breakfast."
"See you!" Gwen called as she started to remove her nightgown.
(Confessional: Eva.)
Eva: *Eva shrugs* I can't blame Gwen for her grouchiness, this island does weird things to people. Its like cabin fever or something! *she shakes her head* Besides, I wouldn't be the ideal candidate to judge people for grouchiness, now would I?
(End Confessional: Eva.)
(Confessional: Gwen.)
Gwen: *Sighing* I miss you Duncan. At least you'd keep me sane if you were here, though I don't know if I would wish that on my worst enemy. *She smirks*
(End Confessional: Gwen.)
Over in the other cabin, things were a lot more peaceful. Courtney was already putting on her sandals, ready to start the day.
Noah and Harold were not quite as awake as the CIT, and were currently both in their beds, groaning and griping.
"C'mon, guys, we need to be vigilant and alert in today's challenge! We've got the votes, we just have to make sure both Gwen and Eva don't win immunity, and hope its just a solo immunity challenge."
"Yes," came Noah's muffled voice from under his pillow, "we're not toddlers, we know what needs to happen."
"Well if you're not a toddler maybe you should stop acting like one," Courtney said haughtily, grabbing her bathroom supplies and heading towards the door.
"Ooh, savage." One could practically hear the eyerolling in Noah's tone.
Courtney offered no further comment as she left.
Harold swung his legs out of bed and rubbed his small, beady eyes. Fumbling for his glasses, he asked Noah: "So, I don't mean to be rude, but you do know if we successfully eliminate Eva and Gwen that you're next to go, right?"
Noah removed the pillow from atop his head and shifted up onto his elbows, "yes, I'm aware. I just have to pray that the Final Three is a mentally based challenge so I have a chance at winning immunity. I also have to hope that Eva and Gwen don't win immunity, because the numbers won't be in my favor at all. Trust me, my dear nerd, even though I'm on the majority alliance, I consider my position in this game to be a bad one."
Harold chuckled, "Fair enough. It's been nice for me, I've just been laying under the radar since the merge hit, really, and it's been great. No ones even looked twice at me!"
"Yes," Noah deadpanned, "half the time I forget you're even here."
Harold missed the sarcasm, "well then my strategy is working perfectly!"
Noah just stared blankly at the camera.
(Confessional: Noah.)
Noah: I'm fairly certain the only reason Harold hasn't turned mega-emo is that when he's bullied in school he just mistakes it for compliments.
(End Confessional: Noah.)
(Confessional: Harold.)
Harold: *Grinning* I'm like a Stealth Fish! I glide along the bottom of the sea *he puts his hands together and wiggles back and forth* and my sweet scale pattern makes it super hard to track me. Then, when the time is right, WHA-TAW! *He does some karate poses* I burst into action and snatch the five million! *He lowers his arms* it's fool proof!
(End Confessional: Harold.)
(Confessional: Courtney.)
Courtney: I can see through Noah's snide remarks. He knows he's in a crap place in the game, but what annoys me is he doesn't much seem to care that he's in a bad place. Like, hello? Earth to bookworm, this is a contest for five million dollars! *She shakes her head* oh well, he's a vote I need so there's no use in dumping him. Besides, I'm done betraying people.
(End Confessional: Courtney.)
The five campers were all either in the bathrooms or walking towards them, ready to brush their teeth and wash their faces, still trying to cling to some form of cleanliness on the gross island.
Noah walked towards the boys bathroom just as Gwen was leaving the girls bathroom.
"Ah, Gwen, looking as perky as ever on these lovely mornings," Noah quipped, obviously still sore form the situation in which he left the alliance.
If Noah was sore, Gwen was covered in bruises. Saying nothing, the goth walked by him, purposefully slamming into the bookworms shoulder.
Noah, as weak as ever, went flying into the wall between the two doors, sliding down painfully. His toothbrush hit his head and he rubbed the sore spot, glaring at Gwen's retreating form.
"Bummer, dude." Harold lamented as he walked out, noting a sprawled Noah on the ground, "need a hand?"
Noah dusted his shoulders off, still on the ground. "No," was his dry reply, "I want to continue laying here with my neck at an awkward angle and my ass falling asleep from the stone floor."
Harold, noting Noah's crabby sarcasm, just shrugged, "alright, have fun down there then." He turned to walk away, but Noah was quick to fix.
"Alright, alright…jeez, will you please help me up?"
"That's better," the lanky nerd chided as he walked over and hoisted Noah to his feet.
"Ugh," Noah cracked his spine back into the proper position, "what fantastic way to start my day. I can already tell I can just tch" he put a check mark into the air, "mark this as a good day."
"You should be less cynical. You were better earlier this season." Harold noted, dusting his hands off and turning to leave.
"That's because I was enjoying myself earlier this season!" Noah called after the retreating ginger. He lowered his tone and turned to enter the bathroom, "back when I had actual friends here."
Courtney carefully floofed her hair out as she studied her face in the mirror. After twitching her nose a bit and looking for any blemishes or pimples, she carefully put her toothbrush, deodorant, floss, and face cream back into her bag in an orderly fashion.
She turned around and came face to face with Eva, who raised an eyebrow at her.
Courtney took a step back, startled, "uh, good morning."
Eva regarded Courtney with a stink-eye, but that faded when she heard Courtney's rather amicable greeting. "You're awfully pleasant," she noted, taking her toothbrush out of her pocket and grabbing the community toothpaste.
Courtney shrugged, "Well, if we're being honest there isn't really any reason for me not to be," the CIT pointed out.
Eva, who was now brushing her teeth, regarded Courtney in the mirror with a raised unibrow, "oh?" her voice was muffled from the toothbrush, "I thought you were all mad that I left you and Harold."
Courtney gave a small huff and crossed her arms, furrowing her brow as she leaned against the side of a bathroom stall. "Well, I was, at first. But I realized what your endgame was. You were eliminating someone that was rude and horrible to you, someone that was disliked in general. You were playing by morals, not strategy, and thats something I can respect, even if it did kind of screw me over."
Eva raised an eyebrow. She said nothing for a moment, taking the silence and using it to spit out her mouthful of toothpaste. "It wasn't morals, it was strategy," Eva finally grunted out, "my strategy is to take out the most powerful competitor in the game. For a long time that was Jo. Then it was Dakota."
"And now it's me," Courtney interrupted.
Eva nodded, "exactly. Its not really all that personal, though I guess with Dakota it was a little, but you see what I'm saying."
"I see exactly what you're saying." Courtney turned to the door. "Again, I can respect your strategy, but it doesn't mean I approve of it or like you for it."
"Funny thing," Eva snapped, her temper sparked at Courtney's dismissive tone, "I wasn't asking for your approval."
"But you have my vote." Courtney shot back, the closed door muffling her voice.
Eva growled, snapping her toothbrush between her fingers.
Breakfast was uneventful, and it wasn't long after the five contestants had handed their dishes back to Chef when Chris came strutting into the Mess Hall, grinning cheekily.
"Salutations, Final Five!" Chris saluted.
"Stop talking like a weenie." Gwen told him.
Chris ignored her, "if you would all follow me to the challenge site, that would be dandy." He gestured for them to leave the Mess Hall.
Chairs scraped wood as the contestants filed out the door. First Harold, then Eva, Noah, Courtney, and finally Gwen. As Gwen walked by, Chris 'accidentally' tripped the goth, causing her to stumble into the wall. Fortunately, she caught herself with her hands before her face made contact, but it was still painful.
"What the hell was that for?" Gwen snapped.
"Oh, so sorry!" Chris exclaimed, his voice dripping with faux-innocence, "I must've been thinking about that little comment you made and didn't see you there. My bad!"
Gwen rolled her eyes, "Y'know what, I accept that. She smirked, "though you got something on your shirt there, doofus."
Chris looked down in a panic, "not my shirt!"
Gwen flicked him in the nose, "boom, bitch."
Chris fell to his knees, eyes wide. He threw up his arms, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Gwen turned her back on him, "that's right. Suffer."
(Confessional: Chris.)
Chris: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! That was the ultimate burn! I'll be forever humiliated by that haunting moment! *A lone tear slides down his cheek.*
(End Confessional: Chris.)
Once Chris had recovered from his epic burn, he met the campers out on an unknown part of the island.
"Alright folks, today you'll be competing in a obstacle course!" Chris told them, getting ready to continue. He was interupted by Noah, however.
"What's up with you, Chris?" He deadpanned, looking annoyed, "do you have an obstacle course fetish or something?"
Chris looked confused and a little affronted, "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well first there was the obstacle course virtual reality challenge all the way back in the early part of the season. Then we re-did Chef's boot camp and did one there. There was also one in that quadrathlon we did, and now there's another one? What gives!"
Eva shrugged her muscular shoulders, "obstacle courses are fine in my book," she smirked.
Chris mulled over what Noah said, turning a bit pink. "Yeah, I guess we have had a lot of obstacle courses," he grudgingly admitted, "but its too late to change the challenge now, so you'll just have t deal. Now, follow me down the path to the course."
The host led the five teens along a dirt path.
"Y'know, in my defense, this course is a lot different than any of the other ones you five have done this season." he reasoned.
"Cool, I'm stoked." Harold pumped his fists.
The six finally reached the destination, and the five campers had to take a minute to fully understand what they were seeing.
The obstacle course had five different lanes, and it wasn't hard to guess what they were for. There were what looked like five different sections in the course.
Section one was a fifty foot high rock climbing surface, complete with colored handholds and footholds to grab. Each lane had a safety harness.
Section two and a slide down the fifty foot wall and a large, thirty foot pit. The floor of the pit was covered in chunks of cushiony foam, but an ominous sound played as a growling squirrel stuck its head out of the sea of foam before submerging quickly. The pit itself had three small two feet by two feet squares, accessible only by swinging ropes across the gap and landing perfectly on the square. A ladder shown heading down to the pit at the beginning side confirmed that failures only penalty would be time.
Section three consisted of another pit. This one was only fifteen feet, but had no square platforms. An Olympic grade trampoline stood on the first side of the pit, with a locked iron door on the other. Suspended on a string in the middle of the pit was a key.
Section four consisted of four very large red balls. Below them, about ten feet down, was a pool of water, about seven feet deep. The only way across was to bounce successfully across the four balls to the final platform.
The final platform was a home stretch. No obstacles at all except a half mile path to the finish line.
"So, this is how this is going to work," Chris explained, "it's really simple, actually. You five will be starting this course at the same time, and the last person to cross the finish line will be eliminated!"
The five contestants gasped in surprise, even Eva. However, Eva's was the only happy gasp.
(Confessional: Eva.)
Eva: *Grinning smugly* Hello, final four!
(End Confessional: Eva.)
(Confessional: Noah.)
Noah: *Looking defeated* Goodbye, final four.
(End Confessional: Noah.)
"Before we begin though, I have some news," Chris said slowly.
"And Chris News is usually bad news," Harold whispered to Courtney, who nodded grimly.
"When you all went to the hotel, I visited the losers at the Playa to see what is going on with them."
"Was Dakota in a full-body cast?" Gwen smirked, "I'd hate to see her after Anne Maria was done with her."
"No, she wasn't. She was pretty quiet, though." Chris remarked, "but thats not the point. Point is, I had them vote for their favorite finalist, and they chose you, Gwen!"
Gwen's eyebrows rose at this, but she said nothing.
"How is this relevant information?" Noah droned.
"Its relevant because Gwen won a reward from it!"
Courtney paled, "immunity?"
"No, but she's gets a two minute head start to the obstacle course."
"I'm surprised you didn't have them vote one of us off like you did in Island," Eva mused, eyeing the obstacle course hungrily.
"Oh, I had a fake vote, it was hilarious!" Chris told her, chuckling at the memory.
Eva tore her attention off the course to look at the host, her interest piqued, "Oh? Who'd they vote for?"
"Courtney, by like a mile, haha!" Chris chuckled, eyes glancing over to the CIT for a reaction.
And a reaction did he receive. Courtney turned a dark crimson and lowered her eyes to the ground, avoiding everyones gaze.
"Haha, excellent." Chris snickered, "Now, everyone enter the course so Gwen can get her head start."
Noah raised a hand, "can I just quit now and dodge the guaranteed humiliation-and elimination- that this challenge will bring upon me?"
Chris put a hand to his stubble-encrusted chin in mock-thoughtfulness. "Hmm…let me think about that…no! Haha, go humiliate yourself!"
Noah grumbled under his breath, but finally said, "fine, I'll just sit at the beginning and not do anything."
"Doing so will resort in your instant disqualification," Chris conceded, "but don't think for a second that I'll send your ass back to the fancy Playa with your buddies and girlfriend are waiting. Oh no, I'll send you back home, to your eight older siblings and monotonous life."
Noah opened his mouth for a snarky comeback, but shut it, looking sour.
"That's what I thought. Now get your ass over to the course, everyone is waiting for you."
It was true, Eva, Harold, Gwen and Courtney were all waiting in their designated lanes of the obstacle course.
"Alright, now that you're all here, I have to mention the reward for coming in first." Chris pointed out, walking over to the five but still outside the course, "the person to finish the obstacle course will have the advantage of throwing traps and hinderances as the people still doing the obstacle course."
"And how will those be activated?" Eva smirked.
"There's a control panel at the end of the course with screens and buttons and levers. None of them are marked, but they all do something really fun," Chris giggled, "now, when I press my airhorn," he took said airhorn out, "Gwen can go. When I press it again, the rest of you can go."
Gwen took up a running position as the other four did various warm ups and limbering exercises.
EEEER!
Gwen took off towards the rock wall, while the others could only watch.
(Confessional: Courtney.)
Courtney: They all voted for me? *She looks positively dismayed* Jesus, if thats not a wake-up call then I don't know what is…*she shakes her head* And to make things worse, with Gwen getting the head start and Eva being the beast she is, it looks like one of Noah, Harold or I is going home. *She looks nervous* I say that because Eva is obviously going to target me. I know I'm athletic enough to beat everyone sans Eva with relative ease, but beating Gwen will be tough. I hope she slips up. *her face contorts into a grimace* Either way, this is going to be tough.
(End Confessional: Courtney.)
(Confessional: Noah.)
Noah: *Deadpan stare* I'll see you soon, Dawn.
(End Confessional: Noah.)
Gwen ran to the rock wall and strapped herself into the safety harness. She grabbed the nearest handhold and hoisted herself onto the rock wall. She was making steady progress, but tragedy soon struck. Her clunky, knee-high boots slipped off one of the foot holds when she was about thirty feet up.
"Ahhhhhh!" Gwen screamed as she plummeted towards the hard dirt floor. Her safety harness did its job, though, and she stopped about two feet from the ground. Eyes wide and shaking, she took a minute to recover, breathing heavily and holding onto the rope for dear life.
Chris hit the airhorn again, sending the other four into the obstacle course.
Eva reached the wall first and strapped her harness in. Scaling the wall with incredible ease, she was halfway up the wall before most of the others had even strapped in.
Gwen, now in the process of removing her boots and slinging them over her shoulder, was passed by Courtney as well.
Gwen was now on the move, with Harold a small ways behind her and Noah still on the ground, looking intently at the rock wall.
Chris walked up to the bookworm. "So, you're really going to just suffer and go back to your home?"
"No," Noah retorted, looking irritated at Chris's interruption, "there has to be the most optimal path up this surface, and I'm going to locate it."
Chris scoffed, "as if I'd be that unoriginal, this wall is the most-"
"Found it." Noah stared climbing with remarkable ease.
Chris just huffed and walked off.
Eva was now nearing the top of the wall, but in her haste overestimated her jumping prowess and missed the next handhold by a couple inches. Scrambling for a foothold, she managed to catch herself, but not after falling a good ten feet.
Courtney, who was now only a couple feet behind her on her lane, picked up the pace.
Eva managed to hoist herself up onto the roof of the ledge and slid down the slide, whooping as she did so.
Courtney followed another half a minute after Eva, and Gwen another half a minute after her.
Several minutes later Harold, panting and sweating, pulled himself up to the top with Noah right behind him.
Chris, down on the ground, looked at the camera, "this might be closer than I thought." he commented.
A smash cut of the contestants doing the obstacle course ensued.
Eva easily swung on the ropes from square to square, grinning triumphantly as she did so. However, her overconfidence got the better of her once again, and she tried to show off and do the last one with no hands. Her sweat-slick thighs were too slippery for the rope, and she crashed into the foam pit. Seething with anger, she fought her way through the vicious small animals and chunks of foam to the ladder, ashamed
Noah said a silent prayer and slid down the slide, gaining far too much momentum for his own good. Screaming, he was sent flailing off the platform and deep into the pit. After a good twenty seconds of stillness, Noah burst from the pit, covered in small animals. He frantically swam towards the ladders, but a zoom out showed him going about two miles per hour.
Harold swung across the first rope and landed perfectly. He judged the second one and did that one well as well. He completed the third with little error, though he did slip a little upon landing. Grinning with pride, his face fell soon enough when he realized the only person behind him was Noah. His face now set with determination, he sprinted forwards.
Gwen had got through the rope and foam pit with ease, and was now staring at the trampoline, very frustrated. She had already tried twice to complete the jump but had missed both times by a fair margin. Frowning, she mulled it over, irritated at the time that was being wasted.
Courtney could see Eva's ponytail disappear right before she entered the iron door that lead to section four. Getting pumped up, Courtney got a running start and bounded off the trampoline, snatching the key in midair. Unfortunately, her legs just missed the jump, but she caught her elbows over the edge and was able to scramble back up. Sighing with relief, she unlocked the door and carried on.
As it stood:
Courtney and Eva were in section four.
Gwen was still stuck on section three, and Harold had just arrived.
Noah was still struggling with section two.
Eva surveyed the four red balls, for the first time in the course looking fairly stumped. She was done letting overconfidence get the better of her, so she decided to size up the situation before attempting to complete it.
"Hmm," the fitness buff mused as she looked at the balls, then back across the lane at Courtney, who was similarly looking stumped. Getting an idea, she waited for Courtney to finally attempt to jump it.
"Aggh!" Courtney screamed as she bounced on the red ball, landing on her feet. There was way too much give for her to be able to balance properly, and her legs gave out, sending her falling face first into the next ball. Her body did a scorpion as her legs went over her head, sending her flailing onto the third ball, which she hit the side of. With no more momentum propelling her upwards, she went ricocheting back into the second ball before falling down into the pool.
Eva raised an eyebrow at the sight she had just witnessed. "Bummer."
Gwen, having just failed her fifth attempt to get across the trampolines, seethed in anger. On her fourth attempt she had managed to snag the key, but was still having trouble.
"I can't get enough momentum," Gwen muttered, before a figurative lightbulb went off inside her head. "That's it, duh!" She took her boots, which she had discarded nearby, and threw them on. With the now hard surface underneath her feet, she was able to press into the trampoline enough to propel her to the other side.
Sighing in relief, she looked back to see Harold plummet down into the pit, cursing in Ancient Greek. Confidence renewed, she unlocked the door and ventured into the fourth area.
Meanwhile, far, far, back, was Noah, still trying to do the rope swings. He was covered in scratches and gnaw marks and was extremely pissed off.
"I hate this challenge!" He screamed as he swung on the rope, overshooting it by a good three feet and flailing into the pit of foam.
Once he had recovered and made it back to the start, he took a deep breath. Sizing up his options, he calmly swung, overshooting again, but making sure to hang on so when the rope swung back, he would drop on the platform.
It worked.
"Yes!" Noah cheered, before looking at the other two he still had to do, "crap."
He managed to land on the second platform, but lost his balance and fell back into the pit, getting gnawed on by small animals all the way back.
Eva grunted as she sprinted across the balls. She realized after her second attempt that the way to do it was to continuously move so the balls couldn't give enough for you to lose your balance.
She leapt for the other side, pumping her fists in victory when her feet made contact with solid ground. She ran for the half mile sprint and skidded to a half as soon as she crossed the finish line.
"Eva! Congratulations, you have won the challenge and thus secured a spot in the Final Four!" Chris congratulated.
"No time, gotta sabotage!" Eva called over her shoulder as she ran for the controls.
She surveyed the panel. There were five lines of buttons, with labels at the beginnings of the lines that had each contestants name on them. Eva found the Courtney one and mashed a fistful of buttons.
Courtney, who had just started the half mile stretch, yelped as an anvil fell in front of her. She dodged it and was then floored by a mattress that came out of nowhere. However, she was able to wriggle out from under it and continue on the path.
The camera cut to Eva' glare sharpening as she slammed buttons around on Courtney's line, unaware that traps were divided by section, and stuff was happening in all five sections of Courtney's aisle.
Courtney huffed and puffed as she sprinted away from an angry beaver, ducking under a bolas that had come soaring out of nowhere. She lunged for the finish line, but at the same time Eva fired a net at her.
The net wrapped around the CIT's ankles and brought her to the ground, but it wasn't enough to fully incapacitate her, and she dragged herself across the finish line.
"Yes!" The CIT exclaimed in relief, "I made it!"
"Courtney!" Chris exclaimed as the Latina girl tried to untangle her legs, "you are the second person to cross the finish line, and the second person in the final four! Congratulations!"
Eva ground her teeth, taking a quick look at the other screens. Gwen was attempting the big balls, as was Harold. Noah had finally completed round two and was working hard on round three, with little progress.
Eva steeled her resolve as Gwen completed the bouncy balls.
Smirking victoriously, the goth began moseying her way down the half-mile path.
Harold yelped as the ball he was on deflated and re-inflated very rapidly, causing him to spill into the water.
"Dang it!" The nerd spluttered as he resurfaced, "Eva must have finished, and if she's targeting me that means Courtney has too! I gotta move!" The nerd scrambled up back to the starting platform and steeled himself. "BOOYAH!" He yelled as he leapt from ball lot ball. He made it to the third before he slipped, missing ball four entirely and spilling out onto the water again. He hit the water with his fist, "DANG!"
Eva was now examining the buttons, seeing now with a clearer head that the line was divided into five different colored buttons, with different picture on each button. She was pondering which to drop no Harold next, when she overheard Chef talking to Chris.
"Yeah, that challenge was awesome in Season One, and we finally got rid of that punk," Chef agreed with Chris, his voice hushed, "it'll be awesome to reenact it tomorrow."
Eva's eyes widened as she fully processed what Chef was saying. Sweat dripped down Eva's face as she concentrated on the screen. She took a deep swallow, then moved her finger pressed a button.
A hundred yards from where the fitness buff stood, a large, square metal cage fell onto Gwen, trapping the goth in its clutches. To make it worse, a stray bar fell from the top of the cage and hit Gwen in the side of the head, knocking her into the side of the cage, causing the girl to lose consciousness and slump to the ground.
"Whoa!" Chris exclaimed, "I did not see that coming!"
To make matters worse, Harold finally made his way across the red balls, and began his sprint down the half-mile path. He saw Gwen passed out in the cage, but spared no more than a concerned glance as he crossed the finish line.
Once he crossed though, his concern became imminent. "Chris, Gwen's knocked out, she needs to receive medical attention!"
"She's fine, just a clang to the head. There's no blood, and we'll examine her after she either wakes up and escapes the cage or Noah completes the race." Chris waved a dismissive hand at the nerd, "but you're number three to cross the line. Welcome to the Final Four."
Harold, despite the stressful Gwen situation, smiled, "wicked!"
Half an hour later Gwen was still passed out, but Noah had finally, finally made it across the big balls.
He was now half walking, half crawling his way down the half mile, his eyes bugged out and covered in injuries.
Another fifteen minutes of pitiful moving later, he came upon Gwen, still conked out in her lane.
Noah's eyes widened as he took in the still goth lying on the floor. "Gwen!" He called out, scrambling across Harold's lane to get to her. He ran up to the cage and rattled the bars, "Gwen, are you okay?"
Gwen groaned at the noise and her eyes fluttered open. Taking in her surroundings and rubbing her very sore head, she looked up at Noah. "Whu…what happened?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Noah replied, squatting down so he was closer to eye level, "when I showed up you were sitting here all unconscious, and it took me a while to get here."
Gwen groaned, taking in the cage around her and gasping, "Eva! She won the challenge, so she must've done this to me!" She shakily got to her feet and tried the bars. When they didn't give at all, she groaned, slumping in defeat. "Well, looks like I'm done," she said hollowly.
"Wait!" Noah noticed the hole made by the falling bar at the top of the cage. It was about two feet above Gwen's head. "There's a hole up there, you can climb out using the bars, you're strong enough."
Gwen got up to her knees, but wobbled. Catching herself on the bars, she steeled herself and tried to climb.
"I can't, there is no horizontal bar for me to get a foothold on," Gwen pointed out, "and even if I was strong enough to just use upper body strength to climb out, I'm too woozy." She sat back down against the bar of the cages, across from Noah. "Ugh, you were right," she said bitterly, gazing down at her knees, "you were goddamn right. Eva betrayed me."
Noah looked confused, "but why? She has nothing to gain, she's at an even bigger disadvantage now."
"Who cares? Ugh, I should've listened to you!" Gwen kicked the opposite bar with her boot, startling Noah. Unfortunately, the only thing that gave was Gwen's foot, and the goth winced in pain. "I'm sorry Noah, you were right, I should've included you in the decisions, you know what you're talking about, and I was an idiot not to see it."
Noah shook his head, "No, I should've been more willing to talk things out after you eliminated Dakota; try and reason with you instead of just bailing. That wasn't cool of me."
A smirk played at the corner of Gwen's mouth, "how about we're just both idiots?"
Noah smirked back, "guess so."
"Now go on, I want to get to my comfortable boyfriend and bed as soon as possible, I have a killer headache." Gwen gestured to the finish line which was in sight of the both of them.
Noah hesitated, "but I was kind of banking on going home today. I want out, Gwen, and I-"
"Noah, don't be a quitter," Gwen interrupted him, "you're better than that. I know it, Dawn knows it, and I think you do too. So man up, and win the money okay? Now get your ass moving, this isn't a discussion." She waved him off.
"But, but…" Noah tried to find something good, "ugh, fine. You win, Gothball."
"See you at the finale, Egghead."
Standing up and dusting himself off, Noah walked over to the finish line. He crossed it with grim determination on his face.
"And Noah gets the fourth and final place in the next challenge!" Chris called, "Rodney, Chef, go free Gwen, please.
The two muscly dudes went over and lifted the extremely heavy cage just enough so that Gwen could crawl under it. Once she was out, she met the rest of the contestants and Chris at the finish line. Her eyes first fell on Eva.
"Traitor," the goth hissed at her.
Eva's response was a shrug, "I have my reasons, you were the strongest competitor I could take out. I'd rather go in banking on winning solo immunity against these three than have to worry about you turning on me."
"Take your reasons and shove them up your-"
"Gwen!" Chris interrupted her, "as the final person to cross the finish line, you have been automatically eliminated from Total Drama Chaos. Guess you don't get that double finalist status after all."
Gwen just crossed her arms, "whatever."
"The Boat of Losers will be here to pick you up shortly," the host informed her, "if you would please go pack your bags."
Gwen just sighed and walked off to her cabin.
Courtney walked up the steps to Gwen and Eva's cabin and opened the door without knocking.
Gwen, who was bent over her suitcase, rummaging through it, jumped a little at the noise. Straightening herself and turning around, her face knitted into a scowl when she saw who it was, "what, come to rub it in?"
Courtney felt a twinge of annoyance at the goth's assumption that she was present for negative purposes, but pushed it down.
"No, Gwen, I just want to set something straight with you before you go…" Courtney trailed off, uncertain how to proceed.
Gwen sat down on her bunk and crossed her arms and legs, looking skeptically at the CIT. "Well, I'm listening."
"I just…" Courtney struggled to find the right words, "I've just been doing a lot of thinking, and can't get over how stupid an selfish this game has made me over these past four years. I got totally hooked into the reality TV sickness, and I've treated you, among others, horribly for it. You especially with the whole Duncan thing. I can't even think about that now without cringing, its like I'm watching it from someone else's point of view, telling them to just clam it already."
Gwen looked surprised by the CIT's words, "and what's brought this on? Chris telling you that the campers voted for you?"
"Yes," she admitted, turning pink in shame at the thought, "among other things. I just realized I need to grow up, and I thought that the best way to start that was to apologize for what I've done…if…well if you'll accept it." Awkward and stiff, Courtney held out her hand in a handshake for Gwen.
Gwen stared at the hand for what seemed like an eternity. Just when Courtney thought she was going to let it sit there until she dropped it, Gwen got up and walked over to her. The CIT was shocked when the goth pulled her into a hug, which Courtney hesitantly returned.
"That means a lot, Courtney," Gwen said, pulling away from the girl that used to be her enemy, "I've been doing the same kind of thinking, realizing how stupid it is for us all to sit here hating each other for the sake of cash and TV fame. I'm glad you've realized it too."
Courtney smiled slightly, still a bit miffed by the hug, "I'm glad you agree, but… I must ask, what was the hug about? That doesn't seem like you at all."
Gwen shrugged, turning back to her suitcase and zipping it up. "Chalk it up to my excitement to be out of this hell-hole," she chuckled dryly, turning back to the CIT. "Guess I better go, I've got a boat to catch."
"Bye," Courtney told her, "I wish we had done this earlier this season."
"That makes two of us," the goth admitted as she exited the cabin, "if Noah loses, I'll be rooting for you."
Courtney smiled into air after the goth left, feeling a huge weight lift off her shoulders.
Gwen ran into Harold on the way down to the Dock, and the nerd had offered her a fist bump, one that she had accepted graciously. After waving goodbye, she reached the dock, where Chris and Noah were waiting for her.
"I'm going to miss you," Gwen said with a slightly wavery voice as she gave Noah a hug to rival Owen's famous "rib-crushers", burying her face in his neck.
Noah groaned slightly at the pressure around his midriff, but hugged the goth back, "I'll miss you too, Gwen. Hopefully it won't be long before I see you again though, and hopefully it'll be because I'm in the finale."
Gwen smiled slightly, releasing Noah from the hug.
"Oh sweet air," the bookworm winced, probing his ribs in an overdramatic fashion.
Gwen laughed, "you're such a jerk."
Noah just waved her off dismissively, "Pfft, that's why you love me."
The goth just shook her head and walked down the Dock of Shame, where the Boat of Losers was waiting. She boarded the Boat and gave a final wave to Noah and Chris before it sped off.
Chris lowered his hand from his return wave as Noah walked off, looking bummed. "And our most popular competitor has been eliminated in a shocking twist! Who will be eliminated next? Will there be any drama about the challenge now that Chef has spoiled it? Find out next time on Total! Drama! Chaos!
Elimination Order: Blainley, Staci, Beth, LeShawna, Cameron, Sierra, B, Lindsay (1), Sam, Izzy (1), Scott, Zoey, Katie, DJ, Bridgette, Anne Maria, Lightning, Heather, Alejandro, Duncan, Owen, Cody, Sadie, Dawn, Brick, Geoff, Mike, Izzy (2), Kasimar, Trent, Jo, Lindsay (2), Ezekiel, Tyler, Dakota, Justin, Gwen.
Final Four: Courtney, Harold, Noah, Eva.
Gwen's reasoning for being eliminated:
Gwen was supposed to be the classic veteran badass protagonist. She played a great game and made a bunch of friends, but eventually she too had to go. I loved writing her and her dynamics with Noah, Justin, Eva and Courtney. I'm also really pleased with the scene between her and Courtney after the challenge.
Welp, down to four! And we hit 788 reviews, you guys rule!
Some review questions:
- What do you think of Gwen's elimination?
- Eva betrayed Gwen, whats her reasoning behind it?
- Do you actually think I'll get this finished by October 17th?
See you guys hopefully later today with the next chapter!
Ciao!