Author's Note:
Next chapter for this story. But first, time to answer stuff in the reviews.
Aleheather4ever: Don't worry, there will be some of Alejandro and Heather in this story.
Pika Sean: Thanks. I randomly came up with this idea after watching the How It Should Have Ended Dub for Jaws. I watched it and then thought "What would it be like if the Total Drama cast ended up in a Jaws like situation?" Hopefully I keep your interest throughout the story.
And now, let's get this chapter started.
"Looks like a lot of people want answers to all this," Trent commented as he and Gwen approached City Hall. Already dozens of people were filling into the building.
Gwen nodded, saying nothing as they walked inside the building. People were already taking seats, with the two of them sitting near the back of the room.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Gwen asked. "If McLean is trying to calm everyone down or cover this up, he won't let me speak."
"I'm sure that everything will work out. He can't silence you in a crowd full of people."
Gwen was about to speak again when McLean entered the room from a side door, taking a spot at a podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming tonight," he began. "I wanted to take this opportunity to address your concerns regarding—"
"Regarding the monster that's roaming our island?!" a woman shouted from the crowd.
McLean chuckled. "People, people, I assure you that there is no big scary monster running around killing people. My people have assured me that the animal involved in the recent killings of those two girls is a bear."
"What about what happened last night?" a man called. "Is it true that it's a shark that's out there?"
"Of course not," McLean assured him. "I mean, come on, a shark that can walk on land? This isn't Saturday Night Live, after all."
"Then how do you explain what I saw that night?!" Gwen blurted out, standing up. McLean's eyes floated to her, a look of annoyance on his face.
"Yeah, the girl's right!" another man yelled. "Can you explain how we have someone that saw the monster clear as day?"
McLean chuckled again. "Well, I'm sure that a toxicology report will prove once again how easily drugs and hallucinogens can make children see things that aren't really there."
"I wasn't on drugs," Gwen protested, but her protests were lost as a flurry of voices began to rise up in the room. She sheepishly sat down again, where Trent patted her back in comfort.
"Everyone just calm down!" McLean called, causing everyone to quiet down a bit. "Now, I know you're all scared of what goes bump in the night, apparently. But I assure you that this beast is not a threat now that we know that it's out there. My officers are searching for it even as we speak. We'll find this bear and take it down."
"What if your officers don't find it?" another woman asked. "Or what if it's a shark, like that girl said?"
"It's not a shark, ma'am," McLean repeated. "We all know that this creature has to be something real, not something that comes from the drug addled minds of a delinquent and his girlfriend."
"What?!" Gwen yelled. "Duncan and I aren't together like that!" Her shouts began to cause another uproar in the room, one that even Chris couldn't seem to calm down.
That was when there was a loud screeeeeeeech. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Gwen, like everyone else, winced in pain before turning towards where the noise came from.
Sitting in the corner, shadows mostly covering him, was a huge black man in a dark green tank top, shorts, and combat boots. He had casually used a large knife to cause the scratching sound on the nearby chalkboard.
Gwen knew of this man, though not a lot. What his real name was, no one knew, but to the island inhabitants, he was known as Chef Hatchet. People suspected that he was a former soldier, or at the very least a mercenary. Now he lived in seclusion in a cabin deep in the woods, working as a hunter for hire.
"You all know me," Chef grunted. "You know how I make my living. And what you have here is a problem with a wild animal. A shark that goes on the land and the water."
"Sir, how is that—" McLean started.
"How the hell should I know?" Chef snapped. "But the bite marks on the dead girl's body match that of a shark bite. The evidence shows that it's some sort of mutant shark. And I can catch it and kill it for a hundred thousand dollars."
McLean looked like he was going to explode. "A—a hundred thousand dollars?" he repeated.
"Your sorry excuse of a police force won't catch it," Chef warned. "This creature is smart, avoiding detection and capture at all costs."
"And what makes you think you can do better than Boney Island's finest?" McLean challenged.
"Because the toughest challenge your officers have had to catch in the last decade was a drunken mugger," Chef replied, clipping his knife to his belt. "But me…I do this for a living."
He stood up. "A hundred thousand dollars," he reminded him. "With that, I'll get you the tail, the fins, the legs—hell, I'll get you the whole damn thing."
McLean was silent for a moment. "Thank you, Mr. Hatchet," he eventually said. "I'll take that under advisement."
Chef nodded stiffly before turning around and heading for the door, leaving the building.
"Excuse me, Mr. MacDonald?" This came from Lindsay, who Gwen realized was also there that night. As she looked around, she saw a few others in her class too: Harold, Tyler, Geoff, Noah, and Beth to name a few.
"Will this affect our luxury cruise?" Lindsay asked.
"No, my dear, I can assure you that the Drama Corporation has already reached out and told me that the cruise aboard the Wawanakwa will go as planned," McLean told her. "And…it's McLean."
"Is that really such a good idea?" Noah spoke up dryly. "After all, if that shark is out there, isn't going out onto the water dangerous?"
"Both attacks happened on land for the most part," McLean explained. "The Drama Corporation feels that this means the creature, whatever it is, will stay on the island for more food."
Noah scoffed. "Is that supposed to make us feel better?"
McLean seemed to think about it for a moment. "How about this," he said eventually. "Why don't I go along on the cruise to prove to you all that there is nothing to be afraid of?"
The crowd murmured in response to this.
"All righty then!" McLean grinned. "I guess I'll see all you kids on the Wawanakwa in a few days." With that, he turned around and walked back out the door he came in, despite the crowd still calling for answers.
"Right. Because having the mayor aboard makes me feel a whole lot better," Trent muttered under his breath.
Gwen couldn't agree more.
"Yes, I know the risks of going out on that boat," McLean said into his phone as he sat in his office. He listened quietly to whoever was on the other end.
"Look, as long as your men can take care of things at the lab and be on standby in case the asset comes after me, everything will be fine," McLean said eventually. He paused again as the one on the other end of the line talked some more.
"Yes, I know the ship will be taking us close to the lab and the cleaners haven't finished scrubbing the place yet. But with any luck, none of those kids will go snooping around."
The person on the other end seemed to be asking a question now.
"What if they do?" McLean repeated. He thought about it quickly, then grinned.
"If they do, then either shoot them…or let the asset deal with them."
Alive: Alejandro, Beth, Blaineley, Bridgette, Chef Hatchet, Chris McLean, Cody, Courtney, DJ, Duncan, Eva, Fang, Geoff, Gwen, Harold, Heather, Izzy, Justin, Leshawna, Lindsey, MacArthur, Noah, Owen, Sanders, Sierra, Trent, Tyler
Dead: Katie, Sadie
At long last we have the introduction of Chef in this story! For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Jaws, Chef here is taking the role of Quint the shark hunter, except in this story he hunts more than just sharks. I'm extremely excited to explore Chef's character in this story.
And, starting next chapter, this story will really get into full swing with the characters finally getting onto the Wawanakwa. It will be then, more or less, that the death count will rise to include more than just Katie and Sadie as it has been for the past several chapters. Don't forget that there is a poll up on my profile where you can vote on who you think will survive the story.
Anywho, that's all from me. Make sure you hit that favorite/follow button to stay informed on updates, and don't forget to drop a review to let me know how I'm doing. Until next time, this is Guest 1138, reminding you to stay hydrated out in the sun. Ciao!