Chapter 15: Unavoidable.

Whatever.

There were about two hundred monkeys staring down at us from a tree. Jasmine looked terrified, and Topher was simply confused. I, however, was much more concerned about how we were going to find Shawn to stop him from saying anything to anyone. In fact, the monkeys were about the third thing on my mind. The second thing was still thinking of a way to bring down Sugar.

I turned to Topher. "You, go find Max and Scarlett, and try and see if they have a solution." Topher nodded, and I watched as Jasmine was still in shock from the insect-like animals. I leaned in towards Topher, and whispered to him, "find Shawn, not them." Topher understood that I was sending him away, and darted off.

Now, I was stuck alone with the giant. I decided that since Topher was gone, it was about time to get her out of her funk or whatever it was. "Hey, tall lady!" I shouted at her, which quickly helped her to regain her focus. "Do you have an idea or are you just planning on looking at them?"

Jasmine was a bit upset about the way I spoke, which I wasn't sure why she was. "Do you have an idea?" she shot back at me. Rude.

Luckily, I was already ten steps ahead of her. "Yeah, I just sent Topher to find the other two so we can solve this as a team." Jasmine quickly looked around and realized the wannabe host was not with us. "Yeah, that's right," I added on. "Now, let's figure out a plan, because I really don't want to lose." If Maskwak lost today, I would be able to easily vote out Sugar with the people I had left working for me over there. Ah, being the villain was so much easier than just playing the game like it normally is.

Jasmine continued to study the monkeys, this time with more vigilance in her eyes instead of shock and sadness. Just as she was getting fully focused, we were interrupted by footsteps. "Apologies," Scarlett said, bringing Max with her. "We got separated."

"She separated us!" Max shouted, pointing at the giant. "And may I add we're not the last people back." Dang, he noticed Topher was gone super quick. I had to hand it to the purple rodent, he was getting smarter.

I let out a very fake sigh. "I guess he didn't find you guys, now he's lost." I turned up to the tree. "But we should get this coin first. We can meet up with Topher later and easily win this challenge."

Scarlett eyed up the tree briefly. "I take it the coin is with one of them?" Jasmine and I nodded, and Scarlett let out a heavy sigh. "Excellent," she muttered sarcastically. "Any one of these monkeys could be our monkey."

Max had a much more aggressive approach than sighing. He snatched the bracelet from Jasmine's hand and held it up to the pesky animals. "Who does this belong to?" he yelled at them, "speak!" While his plan was very stupid, I couldn't say it was more than what we tried. The monkeys could not appreciate that, though, and began flinging their feces at him. "Ugh, they're throwing mud!"

Oh, this was going to be funny. "That isn't mud," Jasmine muttered quietly.

"Well of course it's mud," Max retorted, "what else could it-" at that moment, he paused, and began shaking in a very terrified tone. Then, he ran off toward the beach to go wash himself off. I changed my mind. He was not getting smarter.

"Ugh, we're getting nowhere," Jasmine moaned. Ugh, I've had it with her complaining.

Scarlett then raised her hand. "I have an idea," she said quietly, "but I'd like at least four people here to do it, for the best results."

"So...we just have to wait now?" I asked with a hint of anger.

"Unfortunately," Scarlett replied. Well, that wasn't going to be fun at all. We were winning a lot, and I did not want this small chain of mishaps to wreck our challenge victory streak.

After those words, we sat in silence for a while, waiting for one of the boys to return. I could have used that time to strategize or even turn them against each other, but I simply didn't want to. After all, I could do it whenever I wanted.

The silence was piercing, and at the same time, I could still hear the hollering of the monkeys, who were just making fun of us at this point. Every once in a while, I would look up at them, just to make sure the tree of monkeys wouldn't go away. it honestly made me mad that there were so many of them. Maybe this was part of the challenge, and Maskwak had the same monkey tree somewhere in the forest.

The time for pondering came to a close, and both boys returned at the same time. "Apologies," Topher said to everyone. "I had an errand to run while looking for those two." He gestured at Scarlett and Max, who were also back.

Scarlett stood up and got in front of us like she was about to give a big presentation. With the words she was using, she may as well have. I followed a little bit of what she said. "Our best chance to find which monkey has the coin is by conducting a neuroscientific experiment. I mean, it's no secret there's hyperactivity in the mirror neurons of primates, right?" Never mind, I followed none of it. Everyone else also stared at her blankly. Scarlett seemed confused at first, but then sighed and gave a simpler explanation. "We play monkey see, monkey do."

"That works," I said, trying to stay positive. Everyone else chimed in with positivity as well. Scarlett didn't appreciate that. Not sure why.

"I've got a few coins," Topher said, passing one around to everyone. "Scarlett, do we just do that?"

Scarlett shook her head. "We need to submit them under the game first," she told us, pointing up at the pesky primates. "A few control rounds, followed by the coin round has the best chance of tricking them." I nodded, and everyone else got the coin, and then got in a line.

"C'mon, monkeys!" Jasmine called out to them. "Wave your hands in the air!" Everyone else began to do it too, and eventually I also did it. I didn't want to do it first, and run the risk of looking stupid. Because I wasn't.

Surprisingly enough, the monkeys actually followed her and did what she said. They even looked excited to do it. Topher was up next, and called out to them. "Cool guy double-point to the camera!" Topher gave off a very clean pointing pose, and everyone else looked dumb doing it. Max was actually struggling to keep up. Poor thing. He's probably a goner next time we lose.

Scarlett got out the coin Topher gave her, and flicked it forward. "Throw a coin in the air!" she shouted. All of us fired the coins forward, and the one monkey that had our coin did it too.

Jasmine reached up first and grabbed it in her very long and tall arms. "Gotcha!" she teased the monkey. "Thanks, mate!" The monkey seemed very upset that we pulled one over him. "C'mon, let's go!" she shouted, and all of us ran forward to try and get out of there.

Our run back started fairly simple. In fact, about halfway back, we started to recognize where we started, and we found sight of the meeting area. Jasmine was right, it did look different from the first few days we were in it, but I really didn't care.

As we were nearing the exit of the woods, all of us felt very confident. Unfortunately, all of that confidence was blown away when a net trap captured all five of us, sending us into the tree. "What the-" I muttered.

"Jasmine," Topher asked the tall lady, "you're...friend, let's call him, is a zombie nut, right? Do you think he made this to try and catch one?" If Shawn was the reason we lost, I would have no trouble eliminating him next time we had the chance. Jasmine wouldn't care anymore at that point.

Our current theory was destroyed when we heard Max laughing maniacally. "Haha! Wrong, fool! It was I, me! Hahaha!" Wait...Max made this? That's not right...he stank at everything. I mean, I guess he could have some skill in knots or whatever, but I didn't think he made it. Unfortunately, I didn't care who made it, I simply wanted out.

Speaking of out, our chances of winning were just about there too. We saw Maskwak coming back to the area, and Ella was singing to a bear, with Leonard waving a stick he found in the woods around. What an odd team, but they were about to beat us anyway. "I've never seen such a happy bear," Topher muttered, "not even in cereal commercials."

"Not funny," I told him.

Topher shook his head. "I meant it, that bear was way too excited."

Jasmine didn't care about our little banter. Instead, her focus was on Max. "If we lose this challenge, guess who I'm voting for?"

Max shrugged. "Uh, not a mind reader." Jasmine let out a yell before tying to pull the ropes apart again. Max laughed again at her struggle. "Escape is impossible!" he told her. "This trap was built by the world's most evil mind. There is no escape!" Right as he said that, the branch gave in to our combined weight, and fell on the ground. That was enough for Jasmine to loosen some ropes and get us back on the move.

"Max will hold us back," Jasmine told us quickly, starting to pull ahead of us, "I'll take the lead."

Once the rest of us hit the meeting area, Topher leaned over to me. "She's starting to steal your thunder again."

"Let it happen," I muttered back, "I think we lost already."

To our surprise when we had a clear view, Jasmine was about to put the coin in the machine, but, right at the last second, we were robbed. Sugar flipped the coin from a few feet back and it got in. Lucky shot.

"Woah, game over!" McLean told us. "Team Maskwak wins the challenge!" The four of them cheered, which stank, because now we were going to be even with them again. Their meal was some disgusting fish thing, or...something. What mattered was that I wasn't going to eat it anyway. He also told us we had to vote someone off, yada yada, but then he added, "and tonight, I need everyone at the elimination ceremony." Well, I knew that meant a team swap.

Team swaps were the worst. They threw a wrench in my plans, because I had the very high chance of losing Topher or Jasmine, and getting Sugar in return. Or, we could get someone like Leonard, and we'd lose even more challenges.

The walk back for us was pretty quiet. "What a lucky shot," Jasmine muttered to herself.

I shrugged next to her to show my indifference. "It doesn't matter, you did your best," I reassured her, even though I was super angry she messed up that badly. Luckily for her, someone messed up even worse. "Besides," I reminded her, "we already know who we're voting off."

I fell back toward Topher, who seemed to notice what I said. "So...we're not going for anyone specifically?"

I shook my head. "With everyone there, it's too risky. Max makes sense, so he goes." Topher shook his head in understanding, and left. I didn't see anyone else after that. I actually just went to the woods to take a break. I would have liked to go back to the beach, but every time I go there, I find Topher. This was the best way to not deal with anyone at all.

Once the sun eventually set, I returned to the tree fort, and right on cue, McLean sent us to elimination. The walk was still quiet and all, but it was much less tense, mainly because most of us knew who we were going to vote for.

Once we got there, Maskwak was already waiting for us behind the benches. How unfair, they got to watch the elimination without having to try and sneak away from everyone. "Welcome back," McLean greeted us. It had only been one time since our last loss, but it still felt like it was so long ago. "You guys were so close today, what happened?"

"Nothing that will happen again," Scarlett spoke up. "We're making sure of it."

McLean shrugged. "If you insist. Well, you know the drill by now. Amy, you're up."

I walked away from the fire and into the confessional. Once I was in, I grabbed the paper. "This has to be the easiest elimination ever," I said smugly, writing down Max's name. "I mean, the kid earned this. I will no longer have losers on my team, unless we get Leonard tonight. Even then, he might be of more use." I chuckled. No he wouldn't.

I got out and returned to the fire, with Jasmine being the next one to get up after me. When she returned, she had a death glare going right at Max. Oh, he was so out of here. One by one, everyone voted, and with the exception of Max, they all had the same stare. It was going to suck being at four team members, but it wouldn't be bad.

"Team Kinosewak has voted," McLean told us, grabbing the plate of marshmallows from Chef. "The following players are safe." Wasting no time, he threw out all four of them. "Jasmine, Scarlett, Amy, Topher." Easy win. "And the person going home tonight is Max."

But something didn't sit right with me. McLean was never this anti-dramatic. Was the team swap going to really ruin the game as much as I was anticipating? Well, regardless, Max wasn't sitting right with the news either. "What?" he shouted. "Revenge! You will regret ever having met me, Chris McLean!"

McLean didn't seem to care about what he had to say. "Yeah, little late for that," he said deadpanned. Max kept shouting, but McLean shouted over him. "But, Max is not going home tonight." Ugh, you're kidding me. Was this whole elimination really for a team swap? I thought the challenge had more than enough weight to be an elimination one. Content, Max sat down.

McLean then paced over to Maskwak. "It has come to my attention that a certain singer has sung her swansong." He stared down Ella. Uh, what was happening? "Sorry, Ella, but I received an anonymous note about it." McLean stared at the paper again. "Actually...it was an ag-nonymous note. But, whatever, you're going home."

Ella hung her head. She seemed really upset. Ugh, I guess that was my cue to step in again. "What are you getting at?" I shouted at McLean. "Why is she going because she sang?"

To my surprise, the other members of my team, save for Max and...Topher, were upset too. "That seems awfully random," Jasmine noted. "What's the deal here?"

I noticed then that Topher wasn't reacting. "Hey!" I shouted at him, "support her!"

Topher shook his head. "McLean made the rule last night," he said. "Ella was banned from singing." What.

"You knew?" I yelled at Topher. Oh, he was making me very upset right now. He knew that I cared about that girl, and yet he neglected to tell me that. I looked back up at McLean. "McLean, that rule is stupid and clearly targeting someone. Do you know how to host a fair show?"

McLean nodded. "I do, and this is my show! Unless you would like to take her place?"

I should have kept my eyes right on McLean, but instead, I let them wander over to Ella. Her sadness hit me right when I didn't need it to. I really wanted to keep her in the game so she could make friends. At the same time, I wouldn't allow it. Winning was more important. I closed my eyes and put my head down. "No," I eventually said, "she can go." I kept my head down after that. I didn't want to see the expression of betrayal that Ella probably had.

"So long, everyone," Ella said solemnly. "I enjoyed our time together. At least now, I am free to sing whenever I want, which is always!"

From out of nowhere, I began to hear music play. "Woah," I heard Topher mutter, and as I looked up, I saw a bunch of animals running towards us.

"Hey, what the-" McLean stuttered, "I didn't okay a musical bit!"

It was too late for that poor idiot to have salvation. Ella began singing, and it was incredible to see. All of that sadness I saw a moment ago disappeared into nothing. "My time on the show is finished and done, but that's not to say I didn't have fun!" As she sang, the animals got closer to her with a bird even landing on her hand. "I'll do my best not to cry, but now I have to say goodbye."

"No!" McLean shouted. "Knock it off!" It was too late. Besides, what was that senile fool going to do? Eliminate her twice?

"I came on Total Drama and survived it just fine!" she continued, "with only minor damage to the base of my spine." I hope that was just for a rhyme, because nothing was too hard so far. She should be fine...right? "I gave it my best try! But now I have to say goodbye."

Ella ran over to Jasmine. "I'll miss you all from tall to small," she then ran over to Scarlett. Then she slowly approached Max. "And even this little gnome." Hah. Eat dirt, purple man.

Then she came over to me. Oh no. "So long, my friend, please, don't be saddened." Trying not to look back, she ran over by the cliff. "And now I'm headed home!" Chef lunged at her, but she was saved by the birds. Chef crashed down below, and Ella safely lowered herself into the cannon. "I broke the rules and now I'm paying the price, and soon will be launched from this cannon device."

As she was lowered in, she finished her song. "I'll do my best not to die, 'cause now I have to say goodbyeeeee!" Her notes got higher as she was shot out.

"And, that's enough of that," McLean muttered. "As tempting as is to see how many kids I could stuff into a cannon, eight remain." I was so close. Seven more people to beat, and some of them already had their days numbered. This show was getting so easy.

As Mclean closed out the show, we began to walk back. "He's losing his touch," Topher told me, "I can feel it."

"You don't get to talk to me!" I yelled at Topher. "You had your chance, you could have told me about that rule! I could have saved her!"

Topher threw his arms up. "Okay, okay, but you were always going on about how she was your friend, and I thought-"

"You thought for me?" I hissed at him. "How great. How about I think for myself? I'm going away. Do not follow me." I ran off, leaving everyone behind, and eventually found myself at the beach again. The only place I knew where I at least had some solace.

As long as that McLean-loving brat didn't come to talk to me.

Hello, me again.

We're at about the midpoint through Pahkitew Island, a bit earlier than it actually, but since there's two night challenges in the merge, they'll be probably back to back, without any interaction time. As you know, the island's malfunction is a surprise to everyone involved.

I wanted to take a quick moment at the midpoint to thank everyone who stuck with the story after I took a month off. Things got busy for me, but I'm back to relatively consistent updates. Anyway, it looks like things are heating up, but can Amy get through it? Maybe.

If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to leave a review. I normally shill after every single chapter in the season stories, but this one felt different, so I decided not to, and I probably won't leave another AN until the end. If you have any questions about the story, my PM's are also open, and I'm pretty responsive.

Anyway, happy holidays, I'll see you (hopefully) next week!