Author's Notes

Hi all! Clementine here! Sorry this chapter a bit of a long one this time, a bit chunky ^^; Hope you enjoy it though!

Aztec 13 - As usual I enjoy your little speculations, theories and ideas! I'm also enjoying that you like the suspense and drama, I hope this chapter satisfies some of that ^^ and there are definitely more flashback chapters to come!

lordgemini - I'm glad you enjoyed the style of the past chapters, they are fun to do and I enjoy writing a backstory for characters.

TheMoonIsCheese - Thank you!

Guest - Starting to create ships I see, well let's see what happens here then ^^

The sun was rising. Birds were singing and the sound of the wind could be heard.

Devin woke up to some footsteps and rustling, he suddenly sprung up, all alert.

He looked and saw Scarlett walking in, holding stacks of papers and books.

"S-Scarlett?" Devin yawned and rubbed his eyes. "W-what are.. You…?" he whispered.

"Hey" She whispered back and placed the books and papers on the ground. "Sorry I was gone all night, I had to do some things." she yawned and collapsed onto the sofa. "I'll… explain after my nap…"

"A-alright…" Devin yawned and laid back in bed, he dozed off.

"Ok ok, I'm sorry! God!" Devin woke up to some shouting. He recognised that voice. He perked up and saw Tyler standing there, arguing with Anne Maria.

"Not again…" He mumbled.

"I told ya before not to use my hairspray as a flamethrower!" Anne Maria shouted.

"I just wanted to try something! I didn't even use that much!" Tyler shouted back.

"Just don't touch my stuff gosh!" She folded her arms.

"Can you both shut the hell up!" Scarlett shouted as she sat up from the sofa.

The two instantly went silent.

"Jeez, I just wanted a nap" Scarlett frowned.

The two scoffed and then went to their beds.

"Gh.." She laid back down again.

Devin got up and walked over to Scarlett. "Morning. How was the night out?"

"Fine, got a lot of work done" Scarlett stretched and yawned.

"What exactly were you doing?" Devin questioned.

"I was studying…" She blinked.

"Studying?" He frowned.

"Well. Clearly from how long you simpletons have been here, this is going to be a long term thing. So I thought I'd make myself useful and actually use my power to study. Since I can read much faster, I can also study and memorise much better." She explained.

"So… what are you studying exactly?" He blinked.

"To be a lawyer. They make good money, I'm not sure if this world is the same in that regard but I did a bit of research and it seems like it's pretty similar. Suits me huh? I can graduate primary and high school pretty quickly too because the material is so easy." She smirked.

"Eh… I guess?" Devin yawned.

Scarlett got out a notebook from one of the bags.

"Eh? A notebook? What's that for? Studying?" Devin asked.

"Nah, this is a diary." She got out a pen. "This is just to record each day here. I want to keep track of how long I've been here really and give a good account of what's going on. Who knows maybe what I discover here may be groundbreaking when we get home" She smirked.

"Would you like something to eat?"

"Let me guess… more berries?" She commented.

"I guess so, Tyler did a good haul last night" He smiled.

She shook her head. "Don't bother." She grabbed a bag that was with the pile of books and papers and opened it, she got out some bread and butter. "Toast anyone?"

"Ooo bread!" Tyler said from the distance. "Uh, we don't have a toaster though."

She smirked. "Oh don't worry, you gave me an idea earlier." She got up. "Can I borrow your hairspray, Anne Maria?"

"Oh hell no. I know exactly what you're trying to do, I told Tyler not to do that already." She frowned.

"If you give me it, I'll buy you some ok?" She rolled her eyes.

Anne Maria paused for a second and then sighs. "Fine." She gave it to her.

Scarlett smirked and grabbed a lighter from her pocket. "Luckily this stuff was cheap."

"Where did you even get the money?" Devin questioned.

"Oh, I pawned off some stuff I had on me, nothing big." She smirked and grabbed some slices of bread. She then aimed the hairspray and lighter at the bread.

"C-can you do that outside! The treehouse is wooden you know!" Devin panicked a bit.

"Too late!" Scarlett smirked and proceeded to toast them.

"So cool!" Tyler smiled.

Devin looked worried. He watched as Scarlett made multiple pieces of toast and buttered it.

"See I told you those flamethrowers were good" Tyler smirked.

"Pfft like you would've thought of this" Anne Maria scoffed.

"Eat up." Scarlett gave everyone some pieces. "Way better than berries."

Devin bit into it. "Mhm not bad" he sniffed the slice "They smell a bit like Anne maria though"

"Even better then!" Anne Maria smirked and bit into one.

Scarlett watched as they had a bit of a laugh together, eating away, she gave a small smile.

Scarlett was walking with the gang.

Devin was ahead while Tyler and Anne Maria were bickering as usual in the middle. Scarlett trailed behind.

She was writing in her diary as she walked.

Day 31… That's officially pretty much the maximum amount of time a month can last. This month has been interesting… Still settling in. These… specimens have honestly grown to me a bit. Devin is smarter than he looks. Leadership skills seem essential to him. Anne Maria honestly is fun to be around at times. Hate the accent but she seems nice and wild. Tyler is… Tyler. It's hard to explain. Not a bad thing, just… Tyler.

"How long is this going to take Devin? I may have unlimited stamina but I'm also suffering from unlimited boredom here." Tyler complained as he walked.

"We're getting there don't worry." Devin smiled.

"What are we doing again exactly?" Scarlett asked.

"Sometimes the local river gets blocked by rubble and that's our main supply of water so we need to unblock it occasionally," Devin answered.

"Super annoying." Anne Maria commented.

"Mhm, alright then" Scarlett blinked and followed the river trail they were walking on.

They continued to walk for 20 more minutes until they saw the blockage. There was spewing water coming from random directions from a pile of rocks on the river.

"What exactly causes this?" Scarlett asked.

Devin shrugged. "No idea. It just happens, I just assume nature doing its thing."

"Maybe the rocks moved or something I don't know" Tyler stroked his chin.

"Rocks don't move on their own you dummy" Anne Maria complained.

"I meant with like wind or something." Tyler frowned.

"Guys guys, let's just get the rocks." Devin tried to calm them and walked to the pile of rocks. He started moving them aside.

The two nodded and proceeded to do the same.

Scarlett observed them for the moment, she saw Devin individually grabbing and throwing the rocks away while Tyler struggled a bit as he attempted to carry the bigger ones first.

"Why are you trying to get the big ones yourself?" Anne Maria asked.

"I got this ok ghhH!" He tried to pick up the rock.

"Tyler, you're going to hurt yourself you know." She frowned.

"J-just!" suddenly they heard a crack from Tyler's back. "Gahh!" He collapsed on the ground. "My back!"

"Told you." She sighed.

"Tyler! You ok there?" Devin stopped and looked over.

"I-i just got my back.. Gha!" Tyler struggled on the ground.

Scarlett sighed. "Alright… let me look." She walked over and crouched down.

"You know about medical stuff Scarlett?" Devin asked.

"I got bored and read up some medical journals and books while I was studying in Aendrikard. It was interesting and I learnt a few things." She pulled up Tyler's shirt.

"H-hey! We don't have that kind of relationship you know." Tyler complained.

Scarlett scoffed. "I'm just checking your back, now relax jeez." She used her hands to inspect and put pressure on his back.

"Oww…" Tyler complained.

"Awh poor Tyler" Anne Maria laughed.

"Hus- ow!" Tyler frowned.

"No real damage, just strained it a bit. Sit down for now and rest." Scarlett commented before getting up.

"Mhm.. alright. Thanks." Tyler mumbled as he walked to the side and relaxed. "No work for me I guess" He smirked.

Anne Maria rolled her eyes and continued removing rocks.

Scarlett walked over and helped.

"Not too many this time at least" Devin smiled. "Hey, Anne Maria can you give me a hand with this big one."

"Sure" She walked over and lifted up a larger rock with Devin.

"Ghhh.. there we go!" Devin smirked as they threw the rock away.

Tyler casually was taking a nap.

"I see he's already relaxed" Devin chuckled.

"It seems so," Scarlett said.

"Pfft, I know what will make this easier." She got out a stick of lipstick.

"Lipstick?" Scarlett looked confused.

"Ah. You haven't seen my power huh? Well just watch" Anne Maria smirked and held tightly on the lipstick, suddenly it started growing larger and larger into a huge stick of lipstick, she held it like a golf club and swung it, hitting each rock off into the distance. "Haha!"

"That's… odd" Scarlett blinked. "So you can enlarge any item?"

"No, just ones you use for makeup" Anne Maria smirked and continued to hit rocks.

"That's… very specific" Scarlett commented.

"Well, what are you going to do eh…" Anne Maria continued.

As the rocks started being removed, the water flow was coming back.

"Watch out there Anne Maria, the flow is getting heavy now," Devin commented as he stood back a bit.

Scarlett took a few steps back.

"I got this don't worry!" She laughed a bit in enjoyment as she continued to swing.

On one of her swings, the entire rock pile burst, water flow suddenly spewed making Anne Maria get hit directly.

"Ah!" Anne maria screamed as she was knocked around and then flopped onto the side, all wet.

"Gahh!" She complained.

"I-i warned you haha.." Devin tried to keep in a laugh.

Scarlett smiled a bit at the moment.

"N-not funny! Gahh!" Anne Maria complained.

Scarlett continued to smile and then watched as the river flew normally down the path.

What an interesting day this was...

Scarlett was writing into her diary. She yawned as she laid on the sofa.

Day 132… Yesterday was interesting… I'm noticing that a lot of these powers relate to each person who has them. This feels too coincidental though I feel I need more evidence first… I've finally finished most of my high school studies, off to college now to do them. This power is really doing its work. Last night I actually hung out with Tyler, it was… surprisingly nice. Think I laughed for the first time in ages that night. It was a weird feeling-

"Scarlett! You awake?" Tyler was heard from the bottom of the treehouse.

Scarlett smiled a bit and put her dairy down. "Alright, I'm coming." She got up and walked off to get down.

She climbed down the ladder and looked at Tyler. "What is it?" She questioned.

"Can you help me get some berries? Usually, I'd do them on my own but I thought having a bigger load would mean fewer trips you know?" Tyler smiled.

"Hm, sure" Scarlett gave a small smile and then walked off with him.

Meanwhile, Devin was roaming a part of the forest, following the path to Aendrikard.

Finally got enough money to go on a proper shopping spree.

He moved through some bushes.

"Ghh…"

Devin blinked.

Did I hear something?

"Eghh…"

Devin perked up and looked at where the sound was coming from. It sounded close.

"Ughh.."

"Hello?" Devin said.

"Oweie…"

Devin perked up more.

I know that voice…

He followed the constant moans and groans until he saw exactly who he thought it was on the ground.

"C-Carrie!?" His eyes widened.

Carrie was laying in a dirt pit, a bit dusty and muddy. She had a bag on her.

"H-huh… Devin?" She blinked and looked up at him. "Hey…"

"You… you're finally here" He tried to stop himself from crying but his eyes just kept watering. "S-sorry It's just been so long for me" he helped her up and looked at her. "Wow… It's like you never aged a single bit…You must've just appeared from the light"

"Uh, what do you mean?" Carrie asked.

"I'll explain later…" He suddenly hugged her. "I missed you…"

"I'm glad to see you" She smiled and returned the hug.

"Me too…" He sniffed. "Me too…"

Carrie and Dave arrived back at the treehouse.

"Wow, this is big, have you been staying here then?" Carrie asked in awe.

"Yeah, we have, me, Tyler, Anne Maria and Scarlett" He smiled. "You'll love to meet them! They are nice people" He helped her climb the ladder up.

"Are they… here right now?" She asked.

"I'm not sure, I know Tyler is out getting berries." He got up to the top with her.

Suddenly Anne Maria burst through the door. "Hey, Devin! Sorry, no time, I just realised today is the last day they are selling that limited edition hairspray in the market!"

"Hey, Anne Maria! I want you to me-"

"No time! Later!" She suddenly climbed down the ladder and dashed off.

Devin blinked. "Well… That was Anne Maria."

Carrie blinked. "Interesting girl."

Devin smirked. "Yeah, she's very quirky." He walked into the treehouse with her.

"Hmh" Carrie blinked. "Not a bad place heh…" She went through her bag and got out a few food ingredients.

"Hm? What are those?" Devin asked.

"Oh, I thought I'd make you guys something" She smiled.

"We don't really have stoves and such here." He frowned.

"Don't worry" She smiled. "I don't need heat for this meal."

"What is it?" Devin asked.

She put her index finger to her lips. "Secret… now please can you leave for a few hours?"

"Oh uh… ok" Devin blinked and walked out.

She smiled as he walked out. As soon as he left her smile became more neutral and then into a small smirk.

"So… easy." She mumbled as she started preparing food.

Tyler and Scarlett were walking back with buckets of berries.

"Berryyyyyy berrryyyyy!" Tyler was singing horribly out loud.

"Can you please… stop," Scarlett grumbled.

"But I was just getting to the good part!" Tyler said.

"Please…" She blinked.

"Fine fine." Tyler sighed and continued walking with her.

They strolled a bit more, the sun was going down now.

"I love sunsets you know." Tylers smiled. "They remind me of back home."

"They are ok I guess," Scarlett said.

"The sunsets there were beautiful as well" Tyler grinned. "I miss home…" He looked down a bit.

"I'm sure we will get back sooner or later" Scarlett tried to comfort him a little.

Tyler nodded. "Of course, that's what keeps me going" He smirked. "That and Linsday, wherever is she is" He smiled.

Scarlett nodded.

I admire his dedication.

All their dedication really… Feels weird actually growing to these people… I can actually say they are my friends.

The duo walked back to the treehouse, they saw Devin below the ladder.

"Uh, why are you sitting here Devin?" Scarlett asked.

"Oh! Because Carrie is making something in the treehouse right now." He smiled.

"Uh… Carrie?" Tyler blinked. "That girl you have a thing with? Is she here now or something?" He looked surprised.

"Yes! I found her while walking" His eyes sparkled. "I'm just so happy, now she's making us something."

"And she made you wait outside?" Scarlett blinked.

"Yeah, it's a secret thing." He smiled.

"Odd." She commented.

Carrie went through her bag and got out a salt shaker with a weird powder in it. She sprinkled the powder on her dishes and put them around the room. She wrote something on a piece of paper and placed it on the table next to the sofa. She smirked as soon as she placed it down.

"Devin! I'm done!" Carrie shouted from the treehouse.

"Oh! We can come up now." Devin started climbing the ladder.

Scarlett and Tyler raised their eyebrow as soon as Carrie spoke.

That voice… that definitely wasn't a Carrie.

Devin got up and walked in, he saw a bunch of salads placed on everyone's beds. "Ooo salads! I haven't had a proper salad in years honestly" He laughed to himself.

He blinked and looked around more. "Carrie? Where are you?" he frowned.

Tyler and Scarlett climbed up.

"Salads, how nice," Scarlett said.

"Oh, nice!" He smiled. "I really could use food right now, to be honest." Tyler smiled and walked to his bed. "So she made us these?"

"I guess so," Devin said. He noticed the paper by the sofa. "Huh…?" He walked over, picked it up and gave it a read.

"What's that?" Scarlett asked.

"It's a note saying that she's gone for the night… she said she will be back tomorrow." He blinked.

"It seems odd that she didn't even say goodbye in person" She frowned.

"Maybe she's shy" Devin shrugged. "I know she can be at times."

"How did she get out?" Tyler asked. "There's only one way in."

"Window I'm guessing," Scarlett said.

"Oh well," Tyler said and started eating the salad. "Eating time! Mmm!" He smiled and continued eating.

"Ah yes," Devin smiled and grabbed his to eat. "I'm just happy she's back you know" He ate his salad. "She did so well as well." He smiled.

Scarlett just frowned at her salad and ignored it.

The night lingered. It was about midnight. The gang were asleep in the treehouse.

The four of them could feel a bit of a disturbance in their sleep.

Scarlett moved around in her sleep and coughed. "Ack.. what.." her vision was blurry. It felt really hot.

She coughed more. She put on her glasses and saw that the whole area was smoking.

"W-what the ack.." She coughed more.

"F-fire!" Tyler shouted and coughed.

"W-what the hell! Ack!" Anne Maria coughed more.

They could see a fire blazing within the treehouse.

"D-Devin! You awake?" Tyler shouted.

There was no response.

"D-Devin!" Tylers shouted at the bed Devin was still laying on, suddenly a plank of burning wood fell from the top separating them from Devin.

"D-don't worry I got this!" Anne Maria grabbed some tweezers and tried to enlarge them. "H-huh? Why won't it work!" She shouted.

"I-i don't know!" Tyler was shaking.

"Gh!" Scarlett was shaking a bit.

"That's it!" Tyler shouted and suddenly ran through the wall of fire to Devin, he burnt himself a bit. "ARgh!" He saw Devin just laying there lifeless. "C-come on…" He picked him up and sprung through again. "Ack!" He felt more burning.

"L-let's go!" Tyler shouted.

They nodded and headed out through the small flaming inferno.

As soon as they got out they saw the ladder was destroyed.

"W-what do we do…" Tyler asked.

"We have to jump…" Scarlett said.

"That's so high though," Anne Maria said.

"We have no choice. Just try to land with your legs, don't put a strain on the more vital parts of your body." Scarlett said.

The two nodded.

Tyler breathed in. "A-alright…" He was holding onto Devin still. "Three…"

"Two…" Anne Maria said.

"One…" Scarlett said.

The three jumped off the treehouse and landed on the hard ground.

"Ack!" Tyler's legs broke as soon as they hit the ground. "M-my legs acakK!" He cried out in pain.

"Ghh! God!" Anne Maria shouted in pain.

"Gahh.." Scarlett winced.

There was a short pause as the three just watched the treehouse burn.

"O-our home…" Tyler looked sad.

"What happened…?" Anne maria sadly asked.

"I… don't know…" Scarlett mumbled and then looked over at Devin. "H-his… chest isn't moving."

"W-wait what?! H-he can't be… you know…" Tyler was visibly shaken.

Scarlett struggled to get up and then walked over to Devin's body. She checked for a pulse. "No pulse…"

"Can't you try CPR?" Anne Maria said.

"I-i'll try…" Scarlett kneeled down and started doing chest compressions.

"1.. 2… 3…"

Tyler started sobbing. "H-he can't be right…?"

Anne Maria looked down. "... mhm…"

"He took u-us in… this can't be over right…" Tyler looked down. "We never got to get home…"

"27… 28… 29…30…" Scarlett just looked down at Devin. She then opened his mouth and lifted up his head to perform mouth to mouth.

"Is… is it working?" Tyler asked.

"..." Anne Maria already looked in acceptance.

Scarlett stopped and looked at Devin.

"..."

She looked at Tyler. "He's gone." She was shaken also.

Tyler couldn't hold in any single tears. He just kept bursting into more wails. "W-who… who could've done this!"

They heard footsteps.

Anne Maria looked up, her eyes widened. "Y-you…." She suddenly stood.

Tyler looked at where Anne Maria was looking. "W-what.. I'm imagining r-right? L-Lindsay?"

"Lindsay? That's Vito!" Anne Maria glared.

Scarlett frowned and looked at the person. "..."

From her view, she could see Devin. Clearly, Devin is already laying on the ground deceased next to her.

"... Who are you really?" Scarlett asked.

The person blinked and smirked. "Figured me out huh…?"

Scarlett frowned at the person. "Why do you look like Devin?" She frowned.

"Devin? It's Vito!" Anne Maria shouted.

"That isn't Vito! It's an illusion or something." Scarlett shouted.

"O-ohh, so this isn't Lindsay?" Tyler said.

"No." The person said as they approached. His hands glowed green. "I promise i'll make this quick."

"Wait… why are you doing this?" Anne Maria questioned as she stood in a battle position.

Scarlett stepped back a bit and watched.

"It's… complicated. The less you know the better." He dashed at the two still standing.

Scarlett braced herself.

The constant sounds of rustling could be heard.

Scarlett looked over.

Tyler was grabbing onto their leg. "You may look like Lindsay… but you're acting like so not her!" He looked at the 2. "Go!"

"B-but-" Anne Maria stuttered.

"GO!" Tyler shouted.

They nodded and ran off.

The person glared at Tyler. "So be it."

"Do your worse" Tyler glared and bit their leg.

"Gah!" In reaction their hands glowed more, then they punched a hole straight into his chest, taking him down quickly. "Hmph." He kicked Tyler's body away and followed the other two's trail.

Scarlett and Anne Maria were running off.

"What do we dooo!" Anne Maria shouted.

Scarlett was thinking as they ran through the forest. "Keep going on the path to Aendrikard for now… Anne m-maria I need your hairspray."

"N-now?!" She asked.

Scarlett nodded. "Trust me."

Anne Maria nodded and pulled out some hairspray and passed it to her. "There."

Scarlett smirked. "Alright…" She looked back and saw the person heading towards them.

"Shit..!" Anne Maria gasped as she looked back.

The person ran at them, almost closing the gap completely.

Scarlett got out a lighter and sprayed a flamethrower at the person's face.

"GAAAAH!" The person screamed as fire burnt on them.

"Nice job!" Anne Maria smiled at Scarlett.

They continued on the track to Aendrikard.

"If they are determined, they may come still, so we got to keep going," Scarlett said.

Anne Maria nodded. "Got it."

They started walking across the bridge and headed along the usual path.

Anne Maria looked back and saw the person coming, they looked extremely pissed.

"GhhhRR!" The person growled.

"Ahh! It's coming." Anne Maria said.

"Got it." Scarlett shook her hairspray can, it was empty. "Do you have any more cans?"

Anne Maria shook her head. "Naw I got none." She looked worried.

Scarlett sighed. "And you can't use your powers still right?"

Anne Maria nodded. "Think it was whatever was in that salad."

Scarlett frowned. "Right…" She looked a bit defeated. She looked back and saw the person closing in.

"Hey, Scarlett?" Anne Maria said lightly.

"Yeah?" Scarlett looked at her.

"I know you thought of us as beneath you. I saw youse in total drama Pahkitew island after all." She smirked. "Just know despite my gripes, you were still a friend and I hope things go well for you."

Scarlett looked confused. "What are you… wait… don't you dare."

"Youse thought of it, you knew exactly what needed to be done. I'm ready" Anne Maria smiled.

"I'd rather go on my own terms, ever since we got here, you once told me 'it's all been borrowed time.' say hi to real Vito for me." She smiled and suddenly stopped and ran towards the person.

The person looked confused.

Scarlett had tears in her eyes as she continued to run.

Anne Maria dashed straight into them.

Scarlett didn't look to see what happened next. She just ran.

She kept running.

Eventually, she saw Aendrikard in the distance. She looked back and saw the person finally stopped, he looked like he had given up.

"... so be it." The person said to themselves.

As soon as Scarlett got to the entrance of Aendrikard she just fell to her knees.

I… I cant.

Why did this have to happen…

It always feels like whenever I make friends, something terrible happens. I should've said something as soon as that Carrie girl appeared. I suspected something and just didn't speak up.

I could've prevented it…

It's all my fault…

Scarlett laid there and just cried, letting it all out. Struggling to breathe as she sobbed.

The person collected the bodies of Tyler, Devin and Anne Maria and threw them into a pile.

They got out a phone, pressed a number and put it to their ear.

"... Is it done?" a male voice was heard on the other end.

"I got 3 out of 4. Tyler, Anne Maria and Devin." The person said.

"That wasn't the deal, you're on thin ice."

"Don't worry." The person looked at Aendrikard. "I know where they are."

"Unless you can find more of those with those powers, I suggest you keep an eye on her."

"On it." The person hung up.

The person on the other end sighed and put his phone down.

He looked through a book containing the names of every single total drama contestant and character.

"..." He crossed out the names of the three fallen.

He looked up and saw a little girl playing in the house he is in.

My daughter… We are almost there at getting enough power for you.

This time Ezekiel better do his job correct…

Or I'll have to get involved directly...