It was the day after the medical challenge. DJ was snoring as he slept on the ground with a stuffed animal. Justin, Rodney and Duncan were kicking a soccer ball around. Heather and Lacey were lounging in a chair while Leshawna, Harold, Izzy, Owen, Destiny and Paul played a hand of cards. "Izzy," Owen asked, "Do you have a BLT?" Izzy gave him a confused look. "I'll also take a five." Izzy just took his cards and shuffled the deck in different ways, to the others' amazement.
Confessional: Harold (Screaming Gaffers)
"Izzy thinks she's so cool, but did she spend three whole entire summers at Magic Steve's Magic Camp? Allow me to demonstrate my mad magic skills by producing the ace of spades!" He made a picture of him standing naked on the Dock of Shame with a pillow covering his lower half appear. He quickly noticed the picture. "Oh." He gave a nervous laugh. "How did that get in there?"
End Confessional
"I can't believe you managed to steal these from lunch," Lindsay told the others as she held a bag of sandwiches. She took a bite out of one. "Yummers!"
"I call this the Egg Salad Fireworks," Beth announced as she did some cheerleading moves. She tossed a few sandwiches up in the air. "Drumroll!" However, Owen snatched the sandwiches up before they fell. "Owen!" Beth complained. "Stop stealing my sammies!"
"What are you talking about?" Owen fibbed with bits of sandwiches in his mouth.
"You disgust me, Owen," Leshawna muffled as she and the others munched on the swiped goodies.
"Yeah," Heather agreed between bites, "What kind of pig are you?"
"You're ALL stealing them?!" Beth protested.
"Hey, guys," Ethan began as he joined them, "Has anyone seen-?" He noticed Destiny eating another sandwich. "The interns' lunch," he finished. Destiny noticed the knight and tried to hide the sandwich behind her back. "I just saw them on the counter," Beth explained to Ethan. "I didn't know they were yours. Sorry."
"It's okay, Beth," Ethan assured her. "Just ask next time, okay?"
"You are too nice, dude," Destiny told him as she and Paul had an arm-wrestling contest.
"He's one of the most selfless people I know," Paul added as he stared at Ethan chatting with Beth. He continued to look until he felt his arm being painfully twisted. "Pinned!" Destiny exclaimed as she pinned Paul's arm. "Boom!"
"Can't you ever be gentle?" Paul complained. "Your grip's stronger than Mad Dog's."
"Great Gin Blossoms! You're a Courage the Cowardly Dog fan, too?!"
"Isn't that a cartoon for nine-year olds?" Leshawna wondered.
"No way! It's a cartoon, but with screepy stuff to make it so fun to watch! Paul, what's your favorite villain?"
"Katz is a strong contender," Paul thought, "He's the most iconic, although I like Benton Tarantella and Big Toe the most. You?"
"Hmm...either the Cajun Fox or the Black Puddle Queen. Even then, they don't beat the screep factor of the Cruel Veterinarian." Destiny and Paul gave a shudder before sharing a laugh. "You two are doing well considering one nearly stabbed the other with a syringe," Lacey scoffed as she flipped through a magazine.
"I forgave that incident," Paul replied, then added, "For the most part."
"What does that-?" Destiny muffled as she ate another sandwich. "Mmm, this is SCRUMPTIOUS!"
"I'm inclined to agree," Justin added. "Chef's food has gotten so good!" He and Duncan noticed DJ snoring.
...
The scene flashed back to last night. It was raining cats and dogs as DJ prepared some sandwiches in the kitchen. Lightning crashed as a glimpse of Chef appeared behind him. "LAUNCH!" Chef demanded. DJ gave a yelp before tossing a small spoon at his face. Chef just clapped. "Maybe it's time to stop cheating," DJ recommended. "Being in this alliance with you...it makes me feel all kinds of wrong inside."
"This is not about right and wrong, son," Chef told him. "It's about you and me winning that cool five mill." The duo then heard a rattling from the trash can. "I knew it!" Lacey exclaimed as she popped up. "I knew there was something fishy with you two!" The can tipped over, spilling her and trash on the floor. "You two are in an illegal alliance," she continued as she stood up and brushed off some onion peels, "And I'm gonna end it here and now!"
"You will not do anything, intern!" Chef barked back.
"Oh, yeah? Who's gonna stop me? You have no power!"
"If you breathe a word of this, not only will you be fired, but I'll make sure the police take a good, long look at your gang's bar." A wave of concern washed across Lacey's face. "You wouldn't dare," she seethed.
"Try me, lackey," Chef challenged before marching off. DJ chattered his teeth with fear as Lacey now had a worried look.
...
"This is fun, huh, bestie?" Beth asked Lindsay as they ate some more sandwiches. "Imagine if there was no challenge today."
"Oh, my gosh," Lindsay happily replied. "We could totally just hang out and braid each other's hair. I would love that, bestie."
"Some of us are trying to keep up our strength to actually win the competition," Heather argued as she walked over.
"We don't think there is one today."
"There better be. I am here to win five million dollars, and the faster I eliminate you two pathetic, spineless followers, the better."
Confessional: Lindsay (Killer Grips)
She held up an X-ray of her head and neck. "You see those little bumps back there? Those are totally a spine. I'm not a follower. Like at cheerleading, I'm right in the middle of the pyramid. And when all my sisters and I decide on something, like where to go shopping or whatevs, I'm always the third vote. That's not-" She stopped for a second. "Oh. Well, I can change. If that's okay with you guys."
End Confessional
"Attention, all Total Drama victims!" Chris announced over the loudspeakers. "Please meet me in the northeast corner of the studio palooza. Bring logenzes. The screaming's gonna hurt."
"There is a challenge," Beth said. She turned to Lindsay. "Just promise me we can still do the hair braiding."
"I think I'll do a French," Lindsay replied.
"Before you say anything," Paul told Destiny as she opened her mouth, "No costume changes. I don't want a repeat of that medical drama."
"Oh, come on!" Destiny pouted. Paul just dragged her off and joined the others. "Any clue what Chris has planned?" Justin asked Ethan as he pulled him over.
"Afraid not, my good man," Ethan replied. "He doesn't disclose that information to us. Although I did hear him speak to Lara about some sort of outfit for the theme today." Justin gave a defeated sigh before walking off. "You have any wishes to see what is planned?" Ethan asked Lacey.
"Meh, I guess," Lacey shrugged as she set down her magazine. Soon, they were all gathered in the directed area. "We walk all the way over here and Lieutenant Slick can't even be bothered to show up," Heather complained as she paced.
"Maybe he's racked up too much overtime figuring out new ways to torture us," Justin put in as he leaned on a spotlight.
"Yeah," Paul muttered as he dragged Destiny over to them, "That seems to be his favorite hobby." The group heard Chris scream. He fell and was impaled on a light, splattering blood on everyone. Everyone screamed, though Beth could hardly get out a scream. "I'm a little grateful Sky isn't here to see this," Rodney said. "She would've fainted at all this blood."
"Or spewed out some buke," Destiny moaned as she tried to wipe the blood off her dress. Justin waved a hand over Chris's motionless face. "Guess the producers don't like paying overtime," he commented.
"I'm worth every dime," Chris suddenly spoke up.
"Ahh!" Destiny shrieked in fright. "He's back from the dead!"
"Oh, man," Duncan complained. "I was just gonna call dibs on your boat."
"And his wheels," Paul added.
"It's the magic of cinema, boys and girls," Chris announced as he removed the light from his chest. "I'm absolutely, perfectly, Chris-ally fine. Wanna see how it's done?"
"No!" everyone else protested.
"Our crackerjack effects team seals fake blood into a thin membrane of plastic called a squib. Little baby burst on impact. An old-fashioned optical illusion helps sell that I've been impaled."
"Can we just get on with this?" Duncan asked with some annoyance.
"I can't believe you're so unscareable," Lindsay told Beth. "You didn't even scream."
"I did on the inside," Beth explained. "I just can't do it on the outside."
"Huh?"
"When I was ten and they were doing my tonsillectomy, there was a freak accident and the doctor's earring fell in my throat. Can't scream worth a darn."
"Get out!"
"Serious."
"Time for today's totally, terrifying, blood-curling horror movie challenge!" Chris announced. "To figure out which team does which challenge, a Scream-Off! Think of every great horror movie you've ever seen."
"Oh, my gosh, you guys," Izzy rambled, "Did you see that one with the possessed rug that learned to walk and smothered cats? Or did I make that up?"
"All horror movies have one thing in common: fantastic screaming from actors...and the killers that snuff them. To show you an example, our intern Lara will demonstrate." Lara, now cosplaying as Monika from Doki Doki Literature Club, walked over. "I thought I told you to dress up scary," Chris complained. "That's not scary; it's preppy!" Lara just pointed to Destiny, who was cowering behind a confused Leshawna.
Confessional: Destiny (Screaming Gaffers)
"I noticed Greggy had picked up this new game and asked to play it, but he kept being bashful about it and chose to hide it. I'll admit I let my curiosity get the better of me and I managed to find out where he squirreled it away and played it. Figured out why he hid it. Just an innocent dating sim, right? WRONG. I ended up having nightmares for two weeks."
End Confessional
"Girl, calm it down," Leshawna told Destiny. Unknown to them, Paul was creeping up behind them with a large green mask. "S-s-so much screepiness," Destiny stammered. "First Chris rising from the dead, then seeing Monika...I'm not sure if I can handle anything else!"
"OOGA-BOOGA-BOOGA!" Paul shouted as he wore the mask over his face. Destiny let out a shriek before clutching Duncan's head in fright. "Too much!" she cried out. "It's too much!"
"Can't...breathe," Duncan strained as his face started to turn blue. Paul laughed at the sight until Leshawna smacked him on the head. "Ow!" he complained. "What did I do?"
"Whatever," Heather scoffed as she rolled her eyes at the scene. "What do the rest of us do?"
"The rest of you will be screamers," Chris explained. "If your serial killer can make you scream the loudest, your team wins." Soon, the teams were busy discussing their plans. "We have to pick Duncan, of course," Heather decided as she held a hockey mask and a bottle of fake blood. "Have you seen someone so serial killer-y?"
"I'm terrified of him on a daily basis," Harold commented as he shook in fright.
"Plus, he nailed the other acting challenges," Leshawna thought.
"If Duncan's slashing, no doubt we'll all be shouting," Destiny added. "Looks like we have our serial killer." Heather started to pass the supplies to Duncan. "DJ's gotta do it!" Chef cut in as he passed the mask to him.
"But it's the first time our team's ever agreed on anything," Harold argued.
"DJ is doing it."
"Listen, Chef," Duncan told him, "Maybe you can stick to your area of expertise with the sandwiches and I'll stick to mine." Chef grabbed him by the head and twisted his arm behind his back. "Do you like having your arms attached to your torso?" Chef asked Duncan with a smirk.
Confessional: Duncan (Screaming Gophers)
"Arms are good. They throw things, feed you things, there's something to put in your sleeves. And if there's one thing I learned in home ec class, always listen to the dude with the knives."
End Confessional
Chef tossed Duncan aside and put a hockey mask in a scared DJ's hands before walking off. "Since when does Chef interfere in challenges?" Leshawna wondered. "Smells kind of funny to me."
"Oh," Harold interrupted, "That's me. Sorry." He pulled two moldy sandwiches from his pocket. "I was saving them for later."
"That what you meant?" Destiny asked Leshawna.
"You guys gotta let me be the killer," Justin told the Grips. "The mask offers good protection for my beautiful face."
"But we need scary," Rodney argued. "So I should be the killer." Lindsay was about to say something when Izzy cut in. "Okay, I am such the better scarer," she declared. "My own dog is terrified of me, okay."
"But you're as cute as a bug in a rug," Owen gushed, to Izzy's displeasure.
"Hey, you guys," Lindsay spoke up. "Uh, Beth?"
"Later, Lindsay," Justin told her. "I want to be the killer, okay, and that's it."
"You're not scary enough," Rodney pointed out. "It should be me!"
"But look at my scary face!" Izzy added. She did a face that was more silly than scary. "Aw, that's not scary," Owen gushed, "It's adorable." Izzy growled at him. "This is a scary face."
"Beth is going to be our serial killer, and that is THAT!" Lindsay suddenly declared. The Grips stared at her in a stunned silence. "Beth's a non-screamer," she explained. "We have to have her as the killer or we're going down."
Confessional: Lindsay (Killer Grips)
"Can I tell you that felt so delicious! It was almost better than being pretty! Well, almost."
Confessional: Rodney (Killer Grips)
"I have to admit, Lindsay's got some solid thinking by picking Beth as the killer. Why didn't any of us think of that?"
End Confessionals
Harold and Heather were in a dark forest, with Harold shaking in fear. His nose ran a little, making him sniffle. "Gross!" Heather gagged.
"Dude, you should see a doctor about that," Justin advised him as he and Rodney walked over.
"I have allergies, alright?" Harold whipped back. "Gosh!"
"Alright," Chris announced as he observed the set from his director's chair, "Justin, Rodney, Harold and Heather, prepare yourselves for your killers to enter. And then, I want huge, massive, ginormous screams! We'll be measuring the volume on our Scream-O-Meter. Lights! Camera! Action!"
Beth crept up to Justin and Rodney. "Boo!" she shouted.
"Um, eek?" Rodney nervously reacted.
"Ah," Justin blandly cried out. "I'm so scared." The Scream-O-Meter barely picked up anything. "I'm sorry," Justin told Beth, "I can't risk my pipes any further. What good is a face like this without my warm yet manly tones to back it up?"
"Oh," Rodney moaned as he rolled his eyes. He turned to Beth. "I know Lindsay picking you as the killer was a pretty good idea," he told her, "But seriously! You're not that scary."
"I don't think I can do this," DJ thought as he hid behind a tree.
"You kinda have to," Lacey pointed out with a depressed tone. Chef came up and screamed at them, making DJ run off until he bumped into Harold and Heather. "Watch it, you oaf!" Heather scolded.
"Hey, DJ," Harold greeted. "What's up?" DJ looked over at Lacey, who just shrugged her shoulders. "Please," Heather scoffed. "Like DJ of all people could scare-" DJ put on his mask and growled, making Harold scream and Heather give a yelp of surprise. "With a solid 50 on the Scream-O-Meter," Chris announced, "Let's notch one up for DJ, Heather, Harold and the Screaming Gaffers!" Heather caught a glimpse of Lacey, who whistled as she cleaned the tree she was behind.
"There is some serious indignity going on in this scenario!" Leshawna protested as she sat in a portable potty. "I mean, I'm being filmed sitting on the potty!"
"That was an accidental tinkle on-screen last season," Lindsay said as she sat in another portable potty. "I'm not doing it again. And how am I supposed to be scared when I know Beth is coming in any minute, and she's not scary at-" Beth burst in and screamed, making Lindsay give a blood-curling shriek.
DJ opened the door. "Oh," he moaned as he turned his eyes away. "I'm sorry. I-I busted in on your private moment. Boy, is my face red."
"You wanna win?" Leshawna asked him. "Do the scene, DJ!" DJ gave a meek growl.
Lindsay kept screaming. She heard some liquid running, making her moan. "You were doing so good," Beth complimented as she lifted her mask up. "I'm not being scary anymore. Look."
Leshawna tried to hold back a laugh. "I'm sorry," she said with a laugh. "I'm sorry. I just...I'm supposed to be afraid of this marshmallow? This...this big old kitten of a DJ?" Her laughter made the portable potty shake. "And that's round two to Beth, Lindsay and the Killer Grips," Chris announced as he walked over. "With a pee-fueled 85 on the Scream-O-Meter." As he walked off, Chef and Lacey popped up from behind the portable potty. "If DJ won't step up," Chef decided, "The other half of the alliance has to."
"You're not-" Lacey protested but a glare from Chef silenced her.
"Alright, guys," Chris told Owen and Izzy as they sat on a couch. "This is the tiebreaker scene. You're gonna have to act your faces off."
"Oh, boy!" Owen exclaimed as he read his script and looked at Izzy. "I'm not the world's greatest actor..."
"Oh," Izzy giggled. "How horror movie is this? We have to make out."
"I LOVE THIS BUSINESS!" Owen and Izzy immediately started to make out. "Awkward," Chris commented. Destiny was looking over her script. "We have to WHAT?!" she protested. "No way! I don't kiss criminals! I'd rather get eaten by Larry!"
"That makes two of us, lady," Duncan agreed as they tossed away their scripts. Chris was watching the scene from behind the couch. "Don't forget, kiddies," he told them as he popped up, "It's five million bucks!" Destiny and Duncan shuddered as he left. The duo closed their eyes and let their lips touch, but as soon as their eyes opened, they recoiled in disgust. "What lipstick are you wearing, worm-flavored?" Duncan gagged.
"You should blalk!" Destiny snapped back. "You taste like street!" She moaned just as DJ popped up with a knife. "My lips may never recover!" Meanwhile, Owen and Izzy were happily making out just as Beth jumped up onto the top of the couch with a knife in her hand. "I'm gonna chop you into little teriyaki bits!" she growled. She noticed the duo hadn't reacted. "Um, guys?" Beth asked.
"Oh," Owen realized as he broke from his kiss. He and Izzy gave a playful scream before resuming their makeout session. On the Gaffers' side, Destiny, Duncan and DJ noticed a shadow of Chef. They looked up and saw him laughing and wielding a running chainsaw, making the trio scream at the top of their lungs and DJ even fainting from the sight. "Oh," Destiny moaned as she looked down and saw the wet spot on her dress, making her cross her legs and turn red.
"Well," Chris announced as he walked over, "Looks to me like DJ and the well-named Screaming Gaffers have won this one, seeing as they buried the needle. Join us after the break to see if DJ's still alive. DJ? Come in, DJ."
(cue commercial)
Everyone but Destiny was over where DJ had fainted. "Is he breathing?" Beth asked with concern.
"I think he's saying something," Lara noted.
"Mama?" DJ wondered. In his dream, he was on puffy clouds when he noticed his mama facing away from him. "Mama!" DJ exclaimed as he ran to her. "I'm here! Mama!" His mama turned to face him, a frown plastered on her face. "It's me, Mama," DJ explained. "It's Poopy-Doo. Your little Devon Joseph Poopy-Doo."
"The son I raised would never lie," his mama replied. "Or cheat!" She slapped DJ in the face, snapping him back to reality. He was rubbing his cheek as he sat on the couch and Lacey was standing in front of him. "I need to see Chef," he told her. Lacey slapped him again. "Lacey!" Destiny scolded as she stayed on the couch.
"He's still talking crazy," Lacey nervously explained.
"Chef's in a meeting with the producers," Chris informed them. "A disciplinary meeting. He's in trouble. Not allowed to mess with the challenges like that."
"I knew something was up," Leshawna noted.
"You're like Albert Einstein," Harold told her, "With better hair and girly bits."
"Please, Harold," Destiny told him, "Don't talk like that."
"How come you haven't moved from that spot?" Paul wondered.
"Um, it's just comfy on this couch here."
"Sure, it is. I know someone else who would like it. Oh, Monika..." Destiny gave a yelp before running away, making Paul laugh. "What's so funny?" Lara asked him as she walked over.
"The little pup isn't completely housebroken, so to speak," Paul replied as he pointed to the wet spot on the couch.
"Gross, Paul. And a little bit mean."
"Really?" One of Destiny's boots was thrown at his head, knocking him over. "You think?" Lara pointed out.
"Moving right along," Chris announced, "It's time to pack up those overnight bags, loser Grips. You and your sleeping bags are spending the night in the dining hall. Gaffer winners, back to the comfort of the trailers for a little R and R. I'll see you there in half an hour."
"This isn't such a bad place to spend the night," Owen assured the Grips as they sat in the dining hall. "It's full of good memories...of food."
"More than memories," Izzy giggled. "I just found half a piece of cheesecake under here."
"I think I love you!"
"Guys," Chris called out to them, "You mind joining us here? I'm about to tell you why this film lot was abandoned and closed."
"Because it's a death trap?" Justin pointed out.
"Hush, my child. This film lot is perfectly safe on this plane. But in the other dimension..." Chris turned on a flashlight and shined it under his face, spooking Owen. "Juanita Rent-A-Cop," Chris began, "A dedicated security guard who worked here for 25 loyal years until her mysterious death, right here, on this very spot!" The Grips had a look of fright. "Now, her desperate and uneasy spirit walks the lot." Chris shined the flashlight on the tent, revealing spooky shadows outside. "No one has ever managed to spend the night in this craft services tent."
"Because they were killed by falling sets?" Justin wondered.
"Because of the haunting!" Chris informed him. "Your task: spend the whole night here without leaving this tent. If you manage to do so, your team gets invincibility and nobody goes home. Track any psychic phenomenon using these ghost meters. And just in case..." He passed Beth a tiny flashlight, which made a firefly as bright as the sun. "Gee, thanks," she sarcastically told him.
"The Killer Grips are sitting in the craft services tent like sitting ducks," Chris told the Gaffers as he joined them by the trailers. "Your task is to make like special-effects gurus and frighten the pants off them. Or at least scare them enough to get them out of the tent before dawn."
"How are we supposed to scare them?" Heather wondered.
"It's your call. But if you get them out, your team wins invincibility and nobody goes home. Oh, just so you know, I told them some cockamamie story about a security guard who died on set." Chris gave a chuckle as he walked off. "Oh, no," Destiny gulped as she fiddled with her earrings. "What if the guard turned into one of those screepy ghosts that can possess people?"
"BOO!" Paul shouted from behind her, making her scream and leap into Harold's arms.
"Do not fret," Harold assured Destiny, "I shall protect us!"
"Put me down, Dweeb," Destiny irritably ordered, making Harold drop her with a comical THUD.
"Man, you are just too easy to scare!" Paul laughed as Lacey, Ethan and Lara walked over.
"Knock it off or I'll kick you where you'll squeal like a piggie!"
"Gotta give her props for creativity," Duncan commented as Lacey nodded her head in agreement.
"Anyway," DJ cut in, "How are we gonna pull this off?"
"Just turn out the lights," Leshawna replied. "Beth's afraid of her own shadow."
"Chainsaws," Duncan pitched in, "I love a good chainsaw!"
"I got it!" Harold realized as he walked off.
"Got what?" Lara wondered as the rest of the Gaffers walked off.
"Heck if I know," Lacey shrugged.
"Thank you, my lovely assistants," Harold told the Gaffers and the interns as they gathered outside the craft services tent. "Now the Magnificent Harold is ready to scare our opponents into submission with the Phantasm Ball!" He held up a sheet that was tied to a fishing line. "I can't believe we're putting our team's fate in the hands of the Great Dork-O," Duncan scoffed.
"You will quake, mortal, before all I learned at Magic Steve's Magic Camp," Harold declared. "Behold!" DJ reeled the line a little, making the sheet float. Duncan and Leshawna gave each other an unsure look. "That's it?" Lacey scoffed. "No one will buy that."
"Hmm..." Destiny thought. "Oh, I know what it needs!" She pulled out her makeup kit. "Harold, could I add some glowing paint to your phantasm ball?"
"Good idea," Harold replied. "Have at it." Destiny began to apply the makeup to the sheet.
"Do you have a seven?" Owen asked Lindsay as they, Beth and Rodney played Go Fish.
"How do you always know?" Lindsay wondered in amazement. "It's like you're psychotic."
"I think you mean 'psychic', Lindsay," Rodney corrected. Beth tried to let out a scream as she noticed something. "I know, right, Beth?" Lindsay agreed, completely oblivious. "Owen's totally got SNP."
"ESP, Lindsay," Rodney corrected. Beth pointed to the glowing phantasm ball floating in the tent. Everyone else but Lindsay screamed and ran towards the exit. "Wait!" Lindsay called out as she looked at the ghost meter. Everyone just ignored her. "I SAID WAIT!" Lindsay shouted. Everyone skid to a stop just before they reached the exit. "The ghost meters aren't reading a thing," Lindsay pointed out.
Confessional: Lindsay (Killer Grips)
"I am really grooving on this suggesting business. I think it totally fits me! With Dave out of the game, I'm kinda leading my team. How do you like me now, Heather?"
End Confessional
Lindsay put a hand over the phantasm ball. "Sandy salt and vinegar, she's gonna die!" Owen cried out. Lindsay pulled off the sheet, revealing a soccer ball on a fishing line. "Oh, my gosh!" Beth exclaimed. "It's just a trick!"
"Just a ball and glowing paint," Rodney realized. "Whoo, that's a relief!" Duncan walked over to Harold and kicked him in the crotch, making him fall over. "You stuck a hook in my soccer ball?" he bitterly asked.
"It was all in the name of magic!" Harold defended. "You have to admit, it was quite-"
"Zip it, Harry Houd-weenie. I'm taking charge now." In the kitchen, Duncan was whipping up some fake blood in a bowl. He took a taste. "Hmm, needs more corn syrup," he thought.
"True," Lacey agreed as she looked over. "Not scabby enough."
"I'll get you some," DJ offered.
"Respect, Duncan and Lacey," Leshawna told him. "It really looks like blood."
"Devil's Night, my brothers and I used to wait outside kindergarten with this goop dripping off us," Duncan recalled. "One year, I gave a dozen five-year olds seizures."
"That's nothing," Lacey boasted. "I once had this fake blood dripping off me one Halloween night, and I made it look like I was all covered in knife gouges. I snuck into the middle school when they were doing this big party, and a class of seventh graders ended up puking. And I was only ten years old."
"And...respect deleted," Leshawna decided with a glare. DJ passed a bottle of corn syrup to Duncan and Lacey. "You really know your way around the kitchen, huh?" Harold asked, impressed. DJ just gave a bashful shrug. Heather then held the bowl of fake blood while Duncan peeked through the curtains. "Do you have a ten?" Beth asked Justin.
"Maybe," Justin replied. "Care to make it interesting?" He and the others gasped as they saw the fake blood seeping through the walls. Everyone but Lindsa ran towards the exit. "Wait," Lindsay told them. She sniffed the air. "What do you smell?"
"Fear," Owen nervously answered as everyone stopped just before the exit. "And fear smells like...ketchup?"
"Exactly," Lindsay pointed out. "Lick the walls, Owen." Owen nodded his head no. "I said LICK THE WALLS, OWEN!" Lindsay ordered.
"Wow," Izzy breathed out, "When you're freaking me out, it's time to cash in the chips!" Lindsay put a little of the fake blood around Owen's mouth, which he licked up. "Tasty," he said. He continued to lick the walls. "Just another trick," Rodney realized. "Good work, Lindsay."
"Thanks, Ronny," Lindsay replied. Duncan just looked on with disappointment. "Anyone else have any brilliant ideas?" Heather wondered, now covered in fake blood. "Anybody who's not Duncan or Biker Chic?"
"DJ hasn't said anything," Leshawna noted, "And anybody that quiet's gotta be thinking something."
"I don't like scaring people," DJ nervously said. "Mama says it's not gentlemanly and-"
"Well, Mama ain't here, isn't she?"
"And Papa Duncan wants to win and go to bed," Duncan added with irritability. "So..."
"Come on, DJ," Destiny encouraged.
"Okay," DJ sighed in defeat. "But we'll need everyone to work together."
"Even this joker?" Destiny wondered as she pointed to Paul.
"Hey!" Paul complained.
"Can you make some sort of dog-shaped decoration?" DJ asked him. "And Destiny, I'll need some music to go along with it."
"Sounds swiller!" Destiny exclaimed.
"Uh, you sure about this?" Lacey voiced out. "Won't we get in trouble for helping the Gaffers?'
"What happened to your 'devil may care' attitude of yours?" Paul asked as he pulled out a wrench. Lacey just looked down at her feet.
Confessional: Lacey
"I'd like to sock his mouth, but I'm trying to keep a low profile. I don't want any more trouble from Chef ever since I found out about his alliance and forced me into secrecy. As much as I hate this job, I really need it to support my club back home. They're like a second family to me, and I don't want anything bad to happen to them."
End Confessional
"Give me all your twos!" Lindsay demanded. The lights were suddenly switched off. "Um, is it okay if I give you my twos later?" Beth nervously asked.
"Night has fallen," Duncan whispered into a walkie-talkie.
"Excellent work, Eclipse," DJ quietly replied as he noticed the Grips huddled together. "Foxy Lady, you there?"
"Foxy Lady at the ready," Leshawna assured him.
"Remember, everyone," Lindsay told her teammates, "This is just Chris trying to scare us, and Lindsay's team doesn't give up."
"Lindsay's team?" Izzy inquired. They heard Leshawna wail through a megaphone, and then saw a figure in a police uniform floating in mid-air. "That's a go from Magic Harold and his charming assistant," Harold reported from the lighting as he held the figure by a rope.
"It's a poltergeist!" Owen cried out. Everyone started running towards the exit but Rodney held them back. "It's probably another trick," he told them. "Like the first ghost and the blood..."
"Ceberus and Hades, you ready?" DJ asked through the walkie-talkie.
"You know I've been ready," Destiny replied as she pulled out her guitar and Paul twisted a bolt into place. "Let's rock this, Hades!" Paul pulled a switch on a machine while Destiny started playing on her guitar. "Wh-where's that music coming from?" Izzy gulped.
"Put on your war paint!" Destiny sang with a foreboding tone, spooking most of the Grips. She motioned to Paul, who twisted a knob that displayed red shadows on the tent. "You are a brick tied to me that's dragging me down," she continued to sing, "Strike a match and I'll burn you to the ground
"We are the jack-o-lanterns in July
"Setting fire to the sky
"Here, here comes this rising tide so come on!" Harold moved the rope so the figure moved to the rhythm, and the shadows morphed into a large dragon, making Rodney hold onto the Grips tighter. "Put on your war paint!" Destiny continued. "Cross walks and crossed hearts and hope to die
"Seal the clouds with gray lining
"So we can take the world back from the heart-attacked
"One maniac at a time we will take it back
"You know time crawls on when you're waiting for the song to start
"So dance along to the beat of your heart
"Hey youngblood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?
"I'm going to change you like a remix
"Then I'll raise you like a phoenix
"Wearing all vintage misery
"No I think it looked better on me
"I'm going to change you like a remix
"Then I'll raise you like a phoenix!" The shadow then morphed into a three-headed dog with wings that looked like they were ablaze. It snarled at the Grips. "AHH!" Rodney screamed. "RUN FOR IT!" Everyone but Lindsay ran out of the tent. "Wait," Lindsay called out, "The ghost meters still aren't going off!" DJ tossed a fork at the ghost meter's button, making it go off. Lindsay screamed as she ran out of the tent. "And that's how we win it!" Leshawna cheered as she watched from the exit. Paul turned the knob back on his machine, making the shadow vanish. "Nice one, Hades," Destiny complimented.
"Man, that was so fun to pull off!" Paul laughed. He noticed a figure that looked like The Huntress. "Oh, ha ha, Destiny. You're not scaring me with that stunt."
"Wh-wh-wh-what stunt?" Destiny gulped as she backed away from the figure. Paul did a double take as The Huntress raised her ax up, preparing to chop them. He and Destiny screamed in fright as they ran off as fast as their legs could carry them. "Paul?" Ethan wondered as he noticed the duo running past him. "Destiny? What are you-?" He noticed the girl and reached for his sword. "You best not try to harm them," he told her. The Huntress just giggled before lifting her mask up, revealing herself to be Lara cosplaying as The Huntress. "You?" Ethan breathed out in shock.
"Hey, someone has to stop their fright war somehow," Lara shrugged. "What better way than by scaring their pants off?" In the tent, the police figure lifted her hat up, revealing herself to be Heather. "Yes!" she cheered. She noticed DJ had a somber look as he walked over to her. "DJ? Are you okay?" DJ looked up and gasped as he saw his mama with a frown. "Mama hates a cheater, Devon Joseph," she scolded. "I'm very disappointed in you, Poopy-Doo."
"Hello!" Heather demanded as she continued to dangle from the rope. "Is anybody gonna help me down from here?" The rest of the Gaffers joined DJ inside the tent, while unknown to them, Lacey was watching with a guilty look.
Confessional: Lacey
"Ugh! I hate this feeling of guilt about keeping DJ's alliance secret! But what choice do I have? If I talk, I'll get fired and Chef will call the cops on my gang. I know how bad juvie can be, and I don't want them going in there because of me. The only thing I can hope for is DJ to do something, but he always has been and always will be nothing more than a marshmallow." She buried her head in her hands. "Oh, I wish Sarah was here even if it's just to give me a hug."
End Confessional
The Killer Grips were seated at the Gilded Chris ceremony. Chris, in his usual blue tuxedo, walked up to the podium. "And now, fraidy cat Grips," he began after everyone voted, "It's time to announce who will not win a Gilded Chris this week. Who deserves to go home, bitterly disappointed, tears in their eyes?" Chef, in his usual pink dress, walked over with the awards. "And the Gilded Chrises go to...Izzy...Beth...Rodney...Owen. Still on the chopping block: Lindsay and Justin."
"What?" Lidsay wondered. "I can't be going. Why would people be mad at me? Beth!"
"You were a little...bossy," Beth gulped.
"Hello. It's called 'leadership'."
"And the final Gilded Chris goes to..." Chris announced. Lindsay had a concerned look while Justin had one of confidence. "..."
"..."
"..."
"STOP!" DJ interrupted, to everyone's surprise. The Gaffers and the interns were gathered on the stage. "I'm gonna do what I should have done long ago: make Mama proud," DJ decided. "I'm voting myself off." Lacey gave a small gasp. "Not exactly what I had in mind," she thought.
"DJ!" Chef barked out as he walked over. "Heh. Why don't you and I have a chat before you do anything stupid."
"No, Chef!" DJ countered. "I'm not listening to you anymore! Chef and me...we had an illegal alliance." Everyone but Lacey gave a gasp of shock. "He's been tutoring me in tough," DJ explained, "Coaching me through the challenges, and when Lacey found out, he blackmailed her into silence." Chris had his arms crossed in annoyance as he shot Chef a glare. "It's true," Lacey admitted with a sigh. "I feel so dirty keeping this from everyone."
"I'll miss you all," DJ told the others.
"Wait, wait, wait," Owen cut in as he ran over. "You've been cooking all the delicious food? The pizza, the cheesecake, the sandwiches?"
"Dude, you can't leave," Duncan told DJ.
"Yeah," Justin agreed as the Grips walked over, "Can't we just vote Chef off instead?"
"I'm sorry, but I gotta make it right," DJ declared, "For Mama."
"Aw..." everyone else gushed.
"I think I might cry," Ethan sniffled as he wiped away a tear.
"We'll miss having you around, you big marshmallow," Lacey told DJ as she gave him a hug. Soon, DJ waved as he entered the Lame-O-Sine. "Can you still send food?" Owen asked as it drove off. "Pretty please with delicious sandwiches on top?"
"Well, folks," Chris narrated as he walked over, "Looks like Owen's gravy train just high-tailed it out of town. Now that he survived this week's fright fest, will Owen be able to bear the most horrific, stomach-churning, gut-wrenching challenge ever?"
"What is it?" Owen mufled.
"Chef's cooking!" Owen screamed and fell to the ground. Chris just laughed at the sight. "I love this game," he commented. He noticed Owen puked on his shoes. "Dude! Not the shoes!"
Episode nine is finally here, just in time for Halloween! So, DJ left like canon, but I consider this his best arc in the whole series. Him getting roped into an alliance with Chef and then standing up to the man is just so impressive. The only thing I really added was Lacey finding out about the alliance but being forced to keep quiet about it, and it gives a look into her character. (Hope I did it well, LaCuevademisgustos.)
Other than that, most of the stuff remained the same, like Lindsay taking charge and the Gaffers scaring the pants off of the Grips.
Now, for a horror-movie quote:
"Don't anyone say 'April Fool's' again or I'll rip them apart!" Kit
-From April Fool's Day
The song Destiny sang was 'The Phoenix' by Fall Out Boy.
The interns Lacey, Paul, Ethan and Lara are all OCs created by LaCuevademisgustos.
The next episode will be full of danger and disasters...well, more than usual. Until next time, this is Dunsparce519 saying enjoy and have a happy Halloween!