Warning: This chapter contains scenes of graphic stupidity among 10 contestants competing to embarrass each other.
The bus drove through the nearby city, "Alright campers, you guys ready for your next challenge?" Greg asked his contestants. Some questioning why they're all the way out here in the city, "Because today, you guys are playing some classic games from the TruTV hit show Impractical Jokers."
"Really? Sweet! I love those guys!" Brian exclaimed.
Grace then says, "Man, those guys are hilarious."
"What's Impractical Jokers?" Rose asked, having never watched any form of TV. Because why watch what you can't see?
"We'll tell you after the challenge." Maybelle told the blind girl.
"Alright, here's our first part of the challenge." The bus pulls up to a drive thru establishment, "To kick things off, 1 player from each team will be posing as White Tower employees. And you have to do and say whatever the other team tells you, you refuse you lose." Greg explained, "So who wants to start things off."
"Brian/Grace!" both teams stated.
"Sweet." Brian smiled, "I've always wanted to do an IJ game at a spoof of a favorite place for the jokers."
"Alright, our intern Damien will escort you inside." Greg said as a teenaged boy with spiky black hair in the intern assemble dragged the laidback couple out of the bus and into the restaurant.
Round 1: Brian
Brian was now seen at the front counter, now sporting a White Tower apron, blue shirt, and a visor over his hat. "So what can I get you?" he asks a customer.
Griff: After this guy orders, have no idea how to work the cash register.
Brian rolled his eyes at the command, 'Easy' he thought as the customer ordered. "Coming right up." Brian the looked at the register with a look of confusion, like a Classic TD player Lindsey trying to learn basic multiplication. "Ummmm" he then pushed a button, "Nothing." he then saw the register open up "GAH!"
(BZZT)
Brian: Me and my friends go out and play these challenges like all the time, you would not believe the stuff we got away with before we were banned for life.
(BZZT)
When the next customer came in, Brian was given the next command.
Linka: Only speak in old English.
"Good morrow sir, and welcome to the Tower of White!" the party dude announced in an old Victorian royal accent. "What is thou craving? Bringith to me, and I shall slay it!" Grace watched Brian's turn from the employee break room. Finding his old English kind of hot.
The customer looked over the menu, "I'll take... 2 medium cheeseburgers."
"2... burgers of cheese!"
"2 hamburgers."
"2... burgers of ham!"
"And its free." the customer joked.
"Your wit sire... is legendary!" When asked how much it cost, Brian kept up the last command "Tis confusion!"
DING
Round 1: Grace
Now Grace was on deck, wearing the same outfit as Brian did before. "Alright, here's my go."
Brian watched from the break room like Grace did during his run, "Wow, even in a fast food get up she's still attractive."
Grace was approached by a customer, "I'm here for a pick up order."
Maybelle: Right, order for Glitter McStuffyface?
Grace deadpanned at the name, "You... Glitter Mc... Stuffyface?"
"No, its Debra."
"Right, don't know where I got that from." Grace handed the take out bag to Debra, who left with a confused look to the girl.
Grace rubbed her temples as the next customer rolled up.
Rose: Sup Mustache.
Orion and Krystal approached Greg's cabin, which looked a lot nicer than what they were living in. "This looks like your parent's summer home." Orion commented.
"Please, our summer home has three pools and a 6 car garage." Krystal lowly scoffed.
"I see you're coming back to your old self." Orion chuckled.
"Lets just find what your friend wants." Krystal sighed before walking up the the cabin. Orion thinks to himself that probably didn't help, so he follows after her inside.
"Alright, according to Ryo's intel Greg should have files on the camp in his room. Which should be on the second floor." Orion headed up the stairs, Krystal followed suit.
"Did a kid really drown at this camp?" she questioned.
"Some say there wasn't, but that's why I applied to this show. To find out." Orion answered.
"Okay campers, we conclude Round 1 with both Brian and Grace winning." Greg tells the campers, "We now go over to our next challenge." the group was now in like an office building. "In Round 2, one Panther and one Grizzly will be competing as TV execs pitching tv shows written by the other team. Least amount of votes loses. So who's playing?"
"I'll go." Ryo offered.
"Linka, you're going." Uma told the boring girl.
"Who died and named you captain?" Grace questioned.
"Its fine Grace, I'll be fine." Linka said.
Round 2: Ryo vs Linka
The two were seated as a round table, the Grizzly said to the Panther "Hey, good luck."
"Aw, thanks. You too." he returned.
Soon they were joined by three adults who were here to judge the shows being pitched, "Thank you for coming, I'm Linka. I've been the head of TV development for 15 years, Ryo here is a bartender." Ryo turned to Linka for that comment. "Anyway we got some shows we'd like to pitch, Ryo would you like to start off?"
"I guess." Ryo picked up his cue cards "My first show is a little something called... Shallow Drowning. Follow 3 ministers as they bring pilgrimage to a sinking island. The residents are cannibals, the ministers are chubby, and the tide is rising."
The producers all looked confused and kind of mortified, made worse by how emotionless Ryo was when he pitched the idea. "I'm scared." one of them said. "But also kind of intrigued."
Linka then pitched her first show, "Alright, the first show I have on deck is called... Kirk and Darth. Now imagine, Captain Kirk from Star Wars, and Darth Vader from Star Trek." nearly everyone raised an eyebrow at the mixed up characters and their franchises. "Have to work together to save their home, Planet Earth."
Watching this, Orion questioned "Darth Vader... wanting to save the Earth?"
"That's what makes it weird." Maybelle told him.
Linka then finished reading her cue card, "Live long, and let the force prosper."
(BZZT)
Linka: Pretty sure that's not the saying, or that whoever wrote this didn't know which series who goes where.
(BZZT)
One of the producers shook her head, "I love it." the campers tried to keep their laughs in, "Just an interesting combo."
Ryo then flipped his card, "Alright, next up we have... Pizza Man. This series follows the struggles of a man in a dead end pizza job. After years of no tips, long hours, and an attack from a rabid dog, the titular Pizza Man snaps. How long will his murder spree last till he's brought to justice?"
The third producer then says, "I find that... strangely relatable."
Linka was up next, "Let's move on... Law & Order: SUV."
(BZZT)
Grace: Those unoriginal hacks!
(BZZT)
"Law & Ordrer: SUV, this police procedural and legal drama specializes in car crimes involving specifically... SUVs."
The lady producer seemed dumbfounded, "Why?"
"You saw the popular Law & Order series?" Ryo asked, "Well its like that, but with SUVs." Ryo clarified. "Anyway, next up."
After a few more weird, contrived, and otherwise disturbing pitches. "So after all that, who do you think had the best ideas?" Linka questioned, "Raise your hand if you think me." She only got one hand raised.
"Now if you believe my ideas won." Ryo got the remaining two hands. "Looks like I win, not bad for a bartender huh?" he looked to Linka.
"Quiet you."
Grizzlies: X
Orion and Krystal searched throughout Greg's living quarters, nothing a zebra colored carpet over marble tiled floors, a ten person hot tub, a queen sized bed with fresh blankets and comforters, diamond lightbulbs. Something you see in a rich person's bedroom. Along with several self portraits.
"We got nothing but a reality show host's vanity." Krystal said, putting away a Princess Beth doll.
"There has to be something." Orion said, trying to find what Ryo talked about.
"Well, you can continue to look into whatever conspiracy this camp has, I'm just gonna be soaking away the stress wrinkles I'm starting to grow in the hot tub we won." Krystal started to leave, but caught her foot on an elevated tile and fell down.
Orion stopped what he was doing and went over to her, "Krystal, you okay?"
"I'm fine, but if I were Greg I'd sue whoever tiled his floor." Krystal pointed to the piece that tripped her, Orion saw it and lifted it up, revealing a small compartment.
"Wait..." he reached down and felt something, which he pulled out to reveal a news article. "This issue is from... 1 year after the supposed drowning."
"What does it say?" Krystal asked.
Orion looked it over, "Lets see, Ronald Reagan winning the election, Lennon assassinated, 3 for 1 deal at Conner's Corndogs with no expiration date. Ah here, this section's about the camp." Orion showed her a column, "Two years after the disappearance of Jaxon Harvees, two counselors of Camp Diamond Lake were found dead. The victims were found with the word 'Guilty' carved into them, investigations went on for months before the case went cold due to too many reporters dying." he read.
"Should... we be worried?" Krystal asked, feeling a little frightened from what her crush read.
"I don't know. We should probably get going." Orion stood up, Krystal followed suit. "I'll give this to Ryo and see what he thinks."
Now the contestants were at the mall.
Greg announced, "Alright, for round 3 were gonna do something different. We're gonna have 4 of you go head to head tournament style, getting mallgoers to settle debates."
"What kind of debates?" Maybelle asked.
"That will be decided by your opponents, now who're the combatants gonna be?"
"Oh me!" Maybelle volunteered.
"Good idea, your approachable enthusiasm should help." Ryo said, "Okay, who else should we send in is now the question."
With the Grizzlies.
"I should go in, because I'm a master of convincing." Uma said.
"We trying to get people to settle debates Uma, not get them in bed with us." Grace retorted.
"Why can't it be both?" Uma shrugged.
"Lets just have Post and Griff go in." Grace said.
"You want to send the guy that looks like an orange Detective Slender Man?" Uma questioned.
"Rude." Griff replied in an offended tone.
"She kind of has a point, Griff's ensemble makes him look kind of creepy." Linka said.
"Why you little-" before Griff can strangle the flirty girl, Grace held him back.
"Look, if we let you compete with Post, can you not flash the person into agreeing with you?" Grace begged.
"Hey, I only did it once. Not like I make a habit out of it." Uma defensively said.
The other Grizzlies sighed.
Round 3: Andrius vs Post, Maybelle vs. Uma, winners face each other.
The smallest camper and resident rapper took the stage, "Its nothing personal, I just think you're wrong." Post said, getting into the game.
"Uh, you're wrong." Andrius responded.
"Perhaps the only way to settle this is an outside source."
"How about this guy?" Andrius suggested as a random mallgoer came by.
"Alright, hey sir. Can you help us settle something?" Post asked the stranger, who wore a green long sleeved sweater, jeans, and brown loafers.
"Alright, nothing better to do." the stranger shrugged.
"So here's the argument," Post started.
Rose: What's a worse way to die.
Post processed what the blind girl fed to him "What's a worse way to die?"
Brian: I say... getting crush to death by broccoli.
"I think... getting crushed to death... by broccoli." Post let out.
Griff: Andrius... you think... its getting kicked to death by a giraffe.
Andrius blinked before taking a breath, "And I think... kicked by a giraffe to death."
The stranger stared at the two with an odd look, "Okay, not the weirdest debate I heard."
"Have you ever felt a... giraffe hoof to your skull?" Andrius questions, "Its not a pretty sight."
Post returns with, "Well have you ever had a giant piece of broccoli fall on top of you? Crushing every bone in your body."
"Why not just eat your way to freedom?" Andrius retorts.
Post raises an eyebrow, "Its broccoli, nobody likes broccoli."
"But at least it's soft, unlike a giraffe hoof to the face!" He emphasized with a punch, "One hit and your done."
The stranger listened to their squabble, and sighed "You both make some valid points. But... I'm going with giraffe."
"The giraffe? Yes!" Andrius gets exclaimed.
"Rats." Post sighed.
The Panthers cheered for their teammate, Uma stared them down "Don't count your chickens until they hatch."
Grizzlies: XX
Maybelle vs Uma
The female twin and flirty Grizzly were now where their teammates were. Uma was given a stink eye, "What? What's with the look?" She asked.
"Don't think I forgot your hurtful words to Krystal." Maybelle glared at her.
"Why do you care?" Uma questioned, "Last I heard you two weren't exactly friends, probably never were friends to begin with."
"Still doesn't mean I can't defend my brother's future wife." Maybelle retorted.
"Aw, isn't that nice. Big bro and his girlfriend, next it'll be dates, then marriage, and kids before forgetting all about you." Uma snickered.
"Actually I'm the older twin." Maybelle corrected.
"Seriously?" Uma raised an eyebrow "I wouldn't have guess from your childish nature and naive outlook on life."
"Uh rude. No wonder Roman didn't want to get it on with you."
Uma growled at that, "Let's just do this challenge." Not wanting to be reminded of the one man she couldn't seduce. She then pulled a guy over, "Hey, help us out here. We're trying to settle a debate."
"O... Kay? What's the debate?"
Grace: What'sthe worst experience.
"Whats the worst experience ever." Maybelle said what was given to her.
Rose: Uma, you say... trying to teach your grandma how to use the internet.
The Grizzly gave her given argument, "I think, trying to teach grandma the internet."
Linka: Maybelle, you say... Watching the Emoji Movie.
"I counter that with, watching the Emoji Movie." Maybelle said. "I mean it's boring, nothing but productplacement, and it's plot is so meh."
"At least it only lasts 85minutes, it took my grandma months to use a computer." Uma countered.
"Well I don't believe that stereotype that old people can't use technology."
The stranger then said, "As someone who hasn't seen the Emoji Movie, and I'm still trying to teach my grandma how to email, I'm going with her." He pointed to Uma.
"HA!" She cackled at her opponent.
"Oh alright."
Panthers: X
As Uma and Andrius waited for their prompts, the Panthers discussed their game plan. "You think Andrius will do well here?" Maybelle asked.
"Well his social skills are limited and he's going against the camp slut." Rose comments.
With said campers, Andrius was silently pumping himself up. Until he got a hand in his shoulder, "You know, you're a lot more gifted than you give yourself credit for."
"Wha?" He looks up before getting an eyeful of Uma's cleavage, he looks away with a blush as the girl grabbed a hold of his hands.
"Wow, you have such small hands. I like that." Uma breathed.
"Uuuuuuuhhhhh"
"That combined with your kind heart, agility, and willingness to fight a monster like Roman could make any girl fall for you. Even someone like Deena."
"D-d-Deena?"
"Of course, I've seen how she looks at you when no one else is looking. Like me when I see a fresh d*#%."
"Uhhhh-"
"I mean she wants you." She deadpanned.
"Really?" Andrius asked, though still blushing he was still a little skeptical about someone like Deena having those kinds of feelings for him.
"Really. Though given her lifestyle she probably has had her fair share of 'fun times', she might be too much for you."
Watching all this, "Uma what are you doing?" Grace asked on her earpiece.
"What do you-" Andrius was then turned around by Uma as rested herself on his head as a stranger passed by.
"Hey sir, could you help us settle a little lover's quarrel." Uma asked feigning sweetness.
"A What?" Andrius questioned.
"You see, we were picking where to go on vacation and I wanted to the beach but he wanted to go camping."
"Is this part of the challenge?" He whispered.
(BZZT)
Grace: Yep, she's gone rogue.
Brian: Pretty sure the guys never improvised their own arguments.
Maybelle: Can she even do this?
(BZZT)
"I mean he picked the last 3, it would be nice to have my turn." Uma sighed in depression.
"Uhhh..." Andrius didn't know what to say here.
"Oh let the girl have it, I speak from experience. Happy wife, happy life." The guy said before leaving the two.
"What just happened?" Andrius questioned.
"What happens when you play chess and not checkers." Uma told him as she pinched his cheek.
"Greg is this allowed?" Grace questioned the host. The ringmaster just shrugged.
Panthers: XX
Orion and Krystal exited the host's cabin, "Well, the others should be back soon. Let's start heading back." Orion said.
Just then Krystal saw what was next to the cabin, "Uh what's that?" She pointed to a wooden structure.
Orion saw it and headed towards it, "If I had to guess, either where Chris keeps the corpses of his interns or..." he opens the door to find " a steam bath house. And it looks like it hasn't been used in decades."
"Oh thank goodness, I haven't had a good steaming since I started this show." He heard Krystal's voice before he turned to see her removing her dress. He looked away with a blush as she set the dress and her boots aside before heading inside.
She poked her head out the door as fresh steam poured out, "You... wanna join?" She asked with a light blush.
Orion felt flushed by the offer. After weighing the options, he figured it was a long walk back to camp and the case was taking a bigger toll on him than the competition. "Eh, sure. Why not?"
(5 minutes later)
The two sighed as they enjoyed the steam room, "I so needed this." Krystal let out, thankfully there were towels to conceal their bodies.
"I'll admit this does feel nice." Orion said. "You feelin better?"
"Yeah, I think a little relaxation was all I needed." Krystal replied, she then looked down. "Orion, am I a bad person?"
"Huh?" He asked.
"Be honest. What Uma said got me thinking, my whole life I let my money to cost by on in life." She admitted "I was felt a little self conscious because I haven't quite filled out in most areas. Add in that I treated other people like dirt, I don't know why you ever tried to be friends with me."
Orion twiddled his thumbs before moving over to sit next to her. "Look Krystal, I'll admit you weren't the easiest to deal with at first. But over time, I saw glimpses of the girl I know you can be. Not the shallow girl your parents want you to be, but the kind girl with a heart as golden as her hair."
Krystal looked towards him, her eyes sparkled from his words "You really... think so?"
Orion gently caressed her cheek, "I know so, if you just show it."
The two smiled at each other, faces competing in redness before they leaned in an kissed each other. What started as soft and gentle became a spicy make out, the two were in pure bliss.
The two then collapsed to the ground with the girl on top of the smart twin, the commotion caused something to fall from the rafters and hit Krystal in the head. "OW!"
"You okay?" Orion asked as their make out was halted.
"I don't know something hit-" she saw what fell on her, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!"
"What are you screaming at-" his question was interrupted when she showed him what hit her...
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... a dried up severed head!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The two then bolted out of the steamer screaming, leaving their clothes behind and dropping their towels. As they left a tall silhouette came by and picked up the discard clothes.
With the rest of the cast.
"Alright, for this final portion of the challenge, the last remaining contestants of each team will be competing in a little game called 'Over the Shoulder'." Grey explained as they were now in a grocery store.
"I believe I've heard of that." Griff said, "We pull items out of shoppers' carts and toss them to a teammate."
"Yes." Greg confirmed, "Except you'll be throwing to one of the counselors. Rose you got Katie, Griff you have DJ."
"Cool." Rose said as Katie approached her.
"Like, let's do this." Katie squealed.
Round 5: Rose vs Griff
The Panthers started off, they were a little worried about Ross's blindness being a factor. The camper and counselor were on opposite sides of an isle.
Rose listens to the sounds of carts coming by, when one stopped she sensed the owner had turned away from it, thinking quickly she swiped a bottle chocolate sauce.
She then got into position before tossing it back, and thankfully Katie caught it without the bottle exploding. "Yes."
Rose: 1
The blind girl then managed to swipe a grapefruit from the same cart before the owner rolled away, not noticing the change in occupancy in the cart.
Rose then tossed the grapefruit over her shoulder, and into Katie's hands.
Rose: 2
At the same time, Griff and DJ were playing their own game. Griff managed to sneak a bag of bread and toss it to DJ. Bringing his total to 3.
Griff: 3
Rose then grabbed a banana, which was then caught by Katie. This went on as both players had some close calls, with a gored bouncing off a rail into DJ's hands and Katie making a diving catch with a bag of bagels.
Pretty soon the two teams missed a catch with a tub of butter for the Grizzlies and a bag of lettuce or the Panthers.
When they reconvened on the bus, Grey announces the winner "Alright, after further review. Both teams caught a total of 7 items." The teams sighed at the tie, "However, the team that got that number the fastest... was the Grizzlies."
The Grizzlies cheered at their victory, the Panthers groaned.
"Panthers, I'll be seeing you tonight at the elimination ceremony.
The Panthers were all seated at the bonfire, Ryo noticed Orion and Krystal were a little shaken up. "What happened?"
"You would not believe." Orion told him.
"Alright Panthers, you guys have casted your votes. Time to see who's going home."
(BZZT)
Ryo: It wasn't easy, but going over all the data. It's for the best.
(BZZT)
"First marshmallows will go to the two Panthers exempted from the votes. Orion and Krystal." The two had enough awareness to catch their marshmallows.
"Brian, Ryo, and Maybelle."
The three caught their marshmallows, leaving Andrius and Rose as the bottom two. "Andrius, you choked out in your debate against Uma. Causing the tie breaker."
Andrius sighed.
"Rose, some may see your blindness as a potential hindrance."
"Oh really?" She questioned.
Greg continued, "Anyway, the final marshmallow goes to...
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... Rose."
Greg tossed the marshmallow to her, which went over her head before she said with her arm out "Alright, just toss it."
Andrius looked down, "I'm sorry I failed you guys."
"We're sorry too Andrius." Maybelle said.
"Trust us, this wasn't easy." Ryo added.
"No hard feelings." Rose told him.
"Eh, I don't blame yah." Andrius said before he went to pack his bags.
(BZZT)
Uma: Poor Andrius, a little bitty minnow in a shark tank. Sorry little man, but I meant what I said. And I hope this doesn't dissuade you and Deena for a 3 way. Hehehe.
(BZZT)
16th: Johnny
15th: Deena
On the bubble: Roman, Paige, Andrius.
(End credits)