A/N: Reuploaded version of Prologues 2-4. Next chapter is the opening theme.
Miris Village.
Even the sound of the name itself doesn't sound quite right. On one hand, you will think that this place, despite it being a village, will have loads of people bustling about everywhere living their daily lives.
Chris peered from the window by backseat inside the old (but thankfully, working well) car he and a few staff members were riding on. Miris Village was quiet: just silence everywhere. Not even the slightest movement can be felt from the atmosphere. It was more creepy than peaceful. But if that's what the producers and the audience want, then that's what they'll get.
"This is Miris?" Chef asked the producer driving the vehicle in surprise as his expectations of the village were quite different than from what was presented in front of him. He expected more of a… happy place.
The producer seated in front, (who was also maneuvering said vehicle) just nodded towards the chef, followed by a quick 'mm-hmm' to acknowledge in case Chef didn't look at him.
"I thought we're gonna get welcomed by a huge crowd, not gonna lie." Chef added, leaning back towards his seat after his quick skim of the village.
Miris wasn't a very happy place. There were some houses and buildings here and there which were surprisingly built like buildings that could even stand still despite harsh weathers. There were a lot of abandoned buildings though, but since they looked a lot like the buildings that weren't, they would be hard to distinguish.
There was also a huge manor in the far right of the village. Presumably owned by Eloisah and Melody's family considering how they could (disappointingly) run a hotel.
In the far left however, was a tall, dark, and mysterious looking tower. Does anyone live there? No one knows. How long has it been built there? No one knows. Maybe it's abandoned… just like about one-fourth of this town.
"We are here." one of the staff members called out to get everyone's attention. As the vehicle came into a halt, the hotel building came into view.
Just like its office, the hotel didn't looked like it was been taken care of properly. The outside looked dusty as all hell. The sign was bound to fall apart. Even its glass windows looked like they couldn't be sealed shut. Poor management, that was probably the answer. Probably going bankrupt as no one would want to lodge inside a less-than-one-star hotel such as this.
Judging by the looks of the area as a whole, there was a chance that the producers could change their minds...
Eloisah stared at the entrance door, leaning on the lobby counter table anxiously anticipating the production crew of the show. Maybe not really the whole production crew, but at least just the host and the producer themselves.
Her eyes widened for a little bit as soon as she heard the melodic chimes placed right above the front door.
There entered Chris McLean, and the show's executive producer of the season. Eloisah couldn't read the producer's name tag so she had to squint her eyes tight.
Victor Oracion.
Wait.
Oracion?
"Miss Rosen." the producer's deep voice echoed in front of her, immediately snapping her train of thought out of the way. She blinked once, twice, and even thrice to get herself thinking straight… and to think that this would be the location of the next Total Drama season… that thought can't linger on her mind forever. "Is this by chance, the Miris Inn?" asked the producer, who looked around the seemingly abandoned place that needed a lot of embellishment.
"...Yes. Certainly. How may I assist you?" Eloisah asked. Though she knew the main reason why Chris and Victor were here in the inn, her eyes were still fixated on Victor's name tag.
As if Victor knew what she was focused on, he naturally adjusted the lanyard of said name tag… and turned back the name tag much to her dismay.
"We just want to seal the deal of hosting the season in this area," answered Victor in a matter of fact manner. "...if it is okay with you."
Eloisah tried her best to sound chipper. "Why, of course! We will just have to make a few adjustments and embellishments regarding to the-"
"No, Miss Rosen. We will have to start shooting a few days from now and I'm afraid there's no time to make such changes to this area." Victor declined. This just made Eloisah surprised. Already?
Chris cleared his throat as loud as he could to get the attention of the two. "Am I just third wheeling here?"
"My apologies, Mr. McLean. I am sure that I've asked Miss Rosen everything I need to know. Meet me back at the car." Victor acknowledge and left the two alone.
Chris nodded in response as the producer left, and his attention went back to Eloisah. "So, you've seen his name."
"So?"
"You know Eloisah, there's a reason why the producers chose this area." The host simply stated, jutting a hand on his chin in thought. "I'm not entirely sure about the ordeal, but you probably know. You'll find out once the season starts. Besides, we've got a cast that will work. For the most part."
Eloisah gulped. Why does everything have to move so fast?
"...That's fast."
The door right behind the counter opened to reveal Melody, who started looking nervously towards Chris then at Eloisah.
Chris gave a quick "ah" to acknowledge Melody's arrival. "I guess I should be leaving you two now then. Me and the staff have a lot to work on."
"I see, I see. You go on ahead, then. I'll just…" Eloisah glanced at the area for a bit. "Try and fix things a bit to their shape before the show starts."
"Okay, then. I'll be on my way out." Chris said, nodding a bit before heading out.
Eloisah let out a tired sigh as the host left. Glad this was over with, she thought. Chris seemed oddly different from how he spoke to her on the phone. Then again, same with her. Maybe it's because the fact that the producer had the same surname as her father still lingered on her mind.
"U-um…" Melody stammered. Her finger tried to point at something, but it seemed like… she was slowing down.
"You need some rest." Eloisah said in a surprisingly assuring manner, grabbing a pack of batteries she had stored in a drawer. "You've done enough work for today so you deserve that."
Melody nodded at her sister. She turned back to go back to the room with Eloisah following not too far behind.
"Eloisah, why do you hate me so much?"
"..."
"Why?"
"Because you're perfect, Melody! It was always you! ALWAYS YOU! Melody here, Melody there, Melody everywhere- I am sick of it! Even our parents probably forgot I existed. You were everything. You were just all shy and cute and smart and have guys falling for you left and right… I've always wanted to be like that and sometimes I just wish you never came into my life."
The speech of envy made by Eloisah was enough to tear Melody up and pierce through her heart. Neither of them knew the complete up and downs to life yet as they were still around fifteen years old and they were still growing up, but a feeling of jealousy and envy just burned Eloisah to the bone.
"W-what do I need to do?"
"To do what?"
"To make you love me?"
"Prove something to me."
Melody was confused. "P-prove to you about what?"
"That I am better than you. At something."
A trail of sadness left Eloisah's speech as they stared at the horizon in front of them. There was a body of water below them, perhaps a river of rushing water. The river looked pretty deep too.
"I have a plan. I will race you to the other side of that river. If I win, I will love you forever as a sister. If not…" Eloisah heaved a sigh.
...Before jumping onto the river, gaining a head start without Melody's consent.
"W-wait! B-but I don't know how to swim!"
"Just do it!"
The girl shivered in fear before taking a deep breath and dive in the river.
Eloisah on the other hand was proud of herself. Was it because she cheated? No, it was because she think she could finally be better than Melody at something.
"Eloisah!" Melody cried from the back. She was lagging too far behind. She couldn't swim either. Tears prickled her eyes though they weren't seen because of how many times she went under the surface and desparately clinged above again for some air. It was either she would cry and cry until until Eloisah could hear her or her life would slip out of her reach.
'No, just swim.' Those were the only words ringing throughout Eloisah's mind. She heard her twin screaming her name over and over again, but she was too stubborn to listen to her pleas.
When Eloisah hoisted herself up back into land, that was when she finally looked back. However, there was no sign of Melody.
"Mel?" she called out. "Melody?!"
At a far distance, she could see bubbles going up the surface and spreading on a small space of the river. In a flash, she dove back down and swam again.
She saw her sinking lower and lower. There was no time to go back up to the surface to gain some air as she swam lower to grab her. When she finally did, she did her best to swim back up. She could already feel her own life flashing before her eyes but fortunately, she made it to the surface and took in a huge gulp of air.
Swimming back to the land, she laid Melody down and pumped her chest. She didn't know how to revive someone who just drowned. She pumped and pumped and pumped, tried CPR, but nothing. She tried, and tried, and tried, and desparately tried, but still nothing.
That was when she gave up. She won, but she felt like a failure. And her prize was having her sister die all because of her.
...
Eloisah's pair of eyes snapped wide awake as the nightmare burned in her mind. To this day, she regretted it. She still did. That cry for help? She didn't listen. That feeling you know that someone's presence was dangerously lagging behind? She didn't even bothered to look back.
So who was this girl sleeping next to her? Was this girl really Melody?
The girl looked at Melody's sleeping form, tucking something on the back of Melody's neck with her hair. The batteries Eloisah had on her hand was now placed on the table.
A smile parted its way to Eloisah's lips. It wasn't a happy smile, but it was more of a bit satisfied kind of smile. She felt satisfied because she felt like she had Melody again. But she also didn't… because this girl asleep on her bed was only a replica.
CAST LIST RECAP
Boys:
1. Ian Walters, The Thief (Alexneushoorn)
2. Pharaoh Sky, The Fake Royal (Nobody245)
3. Kyle/Kahlin Mora, The Laid-Back Baseballer (Nikolai777)
4. Minghao Cheng, The Risk-Taking Cityscaper (Obsidian Paragon)
5. Bullet/Silver Balle, The Statue Performer (BaseballCapClyde)
6. Sungjae Kim, The Dancer with a Secret (lordgemini)
7. Ethan Voltion, The Competition Enthusiast (Tempokeep)
8. Connor Mendeleev, The Timid Author (Katastic Writer)
9. Leigh/Lysander Saigon, The Beverage Expert (Ecliptic Plasma)
Girls:
1. Arla Vallas, The Fiery Angel (Clown Princess Phoebe)
2. Keesha White, The Soul Singer (MorbidGinger)
3. Van/Vanessa Jordan, The Authentic Influencer (Mr. Ruff)
4. Quinn Aguilar, The Rebel (PROJECT-DRAMA)
5. Monica Rosette Lee, Little Miss Perfect (xxPrincxssxx)
6. Elodie Jane, The Pastry Alchemist Gal (Rogue Tundra)
7. Anne Banovic, The Class Clown (Grape Escape)
8. Mallory D. Grayson, The Valedictorian (SmartyMartyDiscoParty)
9. Aisling Avalon, The Fortune Teller (Phoenix Writer GPH)
Non-Binary:
1. Lake Sus, The Impersonator (MTDN)
