Gwen awoke from the sounds of Jo and Heather getting ready for the day. With a yawn and a stretch, she hopped out of bed, grabbed some clean clothes, and left to have a shower. After she returned, she noticed she was the only one still in the girl's bedroom. Knowing this she she knelt down so she was eye level with Baby. The doll blinked once, then looked up at Gwen with that same happy glint.
"Good morning Gwen!" Baby greeted cheerfully. Gwen smiled and picked up her tiny friend bringing her into a hug. Baby hugged back. Well, the best she could. Gwen was about to set Baby back down, she just remembered something.
Freddy.
She didn't want to be alone for a second, and Baby had willingly told her how to be safe. So what was she going to do? Gwen then remembered something. Still holding Baby, she shuffled through her luggage and pulled out something she rarely wore: a black hoodie with teal accents. She put it on and stuck Baby in the hood, much to the doll's surprise.
"Gwen, what is this all about?" Baby asked
"Well, I'd like to have someone by my side if Freddy is gunning for me", Gwen explained, "And you know him best, so I just thought we should stick together."
Gwen felt Baby nod. "What about your boyfriend?"
Gwen frowned. "He wouldn't believe me. An eight foot tall robot bear walking around the island trying to kill me? That's something Duncan would brush off instantly. Besides, he's been blanking on me lately. He seems he only wants to be a couple when Courtney's around just to make her jealous."
"Who's Courtney?"
Gwen sighed lightly. "She was my friend and Duncan's girlfriend, but I messed things up by kissing Duncan. Now I have no friends, a jerk of a boyfriend, and... and... nothing." Gwen could feel tears forming in her eyes. Baby noticed how hard her breathing was, so she crawled onto Gwen's Shoulder and hugged her. This helped calm the goth down, who wiped her eyes. She then hugged Baby back.
"Thanks Baby", Gwen whispered.
"Don't mention it, Gwen. Just remember, even if you think you're alone, I'm here. You at least got one friend." Baby crawled back into the hood, so Gwen left to go get breakfast. Baby was whispering to Gwen that she won't talk around the others, especially Chris, but if she were to spark up a conversation with the goth, Gwen should try to not seem suspicious. Gwen ended up being the last one to get her breakfast, apparent from the missing plates and the empty sausage platter. Gwen made her way to the table, where Jo and Scott were planning, Duncan was eating, smirking at Jo and Scott bicker, while Alejandro and Heather was absent. Gwen sat down next to Duncan, who turned towards her, his famous smirk plastered on his face.
"Morning, Pasty." Duncan greeted. Gwen, who actually was spacing out, snapped out of her trance and shot Duncan a sheepish smile. Duncan cocked an eyebrow at this. " Ya' good, babe?"
This question caught Gwen off guard, as Duncan never asked those sorts of questions. One of the downsides of having a 'bad boy' boyfriend. She recovered, however, and answered him. "Yeah, I'm good. Just worried how Lightning's doing on Boney Island."
Jo overheard this and added her two cents. "Hope he doesn't find the invincibility statue. If we don't vote him off soon he'll be too strong for us to beat later."
Scott rubbed his chin in thought. "So maybe we should do it right away. Throw the next challenge." Baby made a quiet sound of questioning that only Gwen heard.
"What?" Jo scoffed, "And give up all this? No way." Scott agreed with her instantly and rambled on about the pillows. Gwen rolled her eyes, Baby quietly giggling from her hiding spot. The doll stopped, however, when she looked out the window. She nudged Gwen's head in the same direction, and Gwen paled. Right outside, in broad daylight, was Freddy. He perked up as Gwen stared at him, and waved at her. His face was shifted into a malicious grin, the eye Gwen stabbed still there, just not glowing. Duncan turned back to Gwen, confused by her fear. He looked out the window, only to see nothing. Gwen blinked in shock at how quickly he vanished. She shook her head and returned to eating. It wasn't before long till Chris called everyone down to the beach. As both teams walked to the area, Gwen tried to make amends with Courtney, only for the ex-CIT to brush her off. Baby patted Gwen on the shoulder, lifting her spirits just the littlest bit. Duncan chose this time to send a jab at Courtney by kissing Gwen on the lips. The goth heard Courtney growl, and she felt her heart strings twinge. After Duncan broke away and walked ahead, leaving Gwen alone with Baby.
"Is that what you were talking about?" The doll asked. Gwen sighed.
"Yeah, that is exactly what I was talking about", Gwen answered sadly. Baby was silent for a moment.
"Maybe you should dump Duncan?" Baby suggested.
"I've been thinking about. Even after World Tour ended, because of the flack and criticism I got."
"Was your mother angry with it?" Gwen's silence was enough of a yes. Something about it was off, however. Baby decided not to press further, as they were almost at the beach. The beach was divided in two by a line of rocks. In each half was an elevated platform, so Gwen climbed on her team's. Duncan shot Gwen a finger gun, only for the goth to completely ignore him. He was left flabbergasted while Chris chimed in about 'T.V. Couples' that Gwen chose to ignore. Lightning arrived on the boat, doing a triple flip onto the Villain's platform. After that, Chris explained the challenge. As a callback to season three's Paris challenge, both teams had to assemble a 3D puzzle, the pieces of which were buried in the sand. Chris tossed the Vultures shovels as a reward for winning the last challenge. One of those tossed shovels flew right at Gwen, but before it hit her, Lightning caught it and offered it to her. Duncan scowled at this. Lightning caught two more shovels, and began arguing with Jo and Heather. Gwen didn't pay attention however. No, instead she was focused on the forest, as she could see Freddy standing just behind the trees. He waved at her with that same menacing grin from before. Gwen just stared as all noise faded from reality, even Baby whispers were drowned out as static began to swallow her vision, leaving only a grinning Freddy standing. His voice suddenly cut in, echoing all around in her head.
"YOU CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM ME FOREVER, GWENDOLYN."
All at once the vision ended, Gwen hearing Heather and Jo arguing, Lightning digging in the water, and Baby whispering in her ear. She gasped for air and stumbled, nearly falling off the platform. No one seemed to notice this, except Baby. The doll began whispering in Gwen's ear again, but Gwen was losing her again. She could only hear sounds. Sounds of something recent. Shattering glass. Tires squealing. Screaming. Sirens. Her vision was getting blurrier and the ringing in her ears was getting louder. Freddy's voice suddenly cut in, repeating one phrase, over and over...
She's gone
ShE's gOne
ShE'S GOnE
ShE'S GONE
SHE'S GONE
SHE'S GONE
SHE'S GONE...
In an instant, Gwen fainted.
Gwen shot up from her unconscious state, finding herself in the infirmary, Baby resting on a table next to her. Baby shot up and hopped onto Gwen's lap.
"Gwen, you're awake!" The plush exclaimed. From her tone, it was obvious she was worried. "You just fainted! What happened?!"
Gwen just stared at Baby for a good few, long seconds. The she said flatly "Freddy happened."
Baby nodded and hugged her friend tightly, Gwen immediately returning the embrace. She was glad that Baby was so willing to be her friend. If not, She not only would be alone, but she would be at Freddy's mercy. Gwen looked outside. Still morning.
"How long was I out for?" Gwen asked. Baby pulled out of the embrace and looked up at her.
"Only for about an hour, surprisingly. From what I know, neither team had found any pieces yet. Though they did trigger a lot of boobytraps..." Gwen giggled. "I overheard Chris telling Chef that if you were awake when he came back, he would escort you back to the challenge."
Gwen groaned at this. Even after fainting mid challenge, she still had to participate. Gwen chose to pass the time waiting for Chef by talking with Baby, fully explaining her past experiences on the show. Baby watched Gwen intently as the goth told her of Heather's constant nagging and bullying, Trent's off-putting behaviour in Action, and the whole kiss debacle in World Tour. Gwen even told her plushy friend about her home life after World Tout. Even with all of Gwen's explaining, Baby felt like her friend was intentionally leaving something out. Before she could ask, however, she sensed Chef approaching. Quickly, she climbed up Gwen and hid away in the hood. Chef arrived right as Baby finished hiding. Gwen looked at the gruff cook.
"Glad so see you're okay, girly", Chef said.
"Uh... Thanks", Gwen replied. Chef nodded and led Gwen back to the beach. Gwen quickly darted her eyes around, making sure Freddy wasn't stalking her. To her relief, he wasn't. But while her mind was glad, her heart was wishing he was stalking her. Just so she could ask him one thing...
"How did you know?"
The rest of the challenge was largely uneventful, except for Mike getting smacked on the head with Scott's shovel. While the Vultures had a good lead for a bit, Lightning miscounted the pieces, earning the Hamsters their first victory. It was currently the evening, after Gwen had had Chef's questionable slop. Baby, disgusted by the meer sight of the slop, asked Gwen if this is what Chef usually cooked.
"Oh yeah", Gwen said, frustrated at the mention of the poor excuse of food. "He's always cooked this kind of slop for us, while he and Chris get actual food. No one can criticize him, though, because he's Chef. Back in Action, he forced DJ to be in an illegal alliance with him."
"That's terrible!" Baby exclaimed, "How can this show get away with all of this?"
"Two words: Ironclad. Contracts. Those stupid papers were so carefully crafted that none of use can escape them. We can only wait till the contracts expire. Or someone finds a loophole."
Baby nodded, still curled up into the hood of Gwen's sweater. She watched as the sun set over the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant autumn colours. Gwen noticed Baby's eyes sparkling at the sunset.
"I'm assuming you haven't seen the sunset all that much?" Gwen asked her tiny friend. Baby looked at her, a sad glint in her eyes.
"No. Anytime I was outside, I was deactivated. I couldn't see the fluffy white clouds or the bright blue sky. But I could feel the cool breeze on my body, and hear the birds singing their songs in the trees. Made me wish to see the outside world, just not in the way it happened."
Gwen smiled sadly and stroked the back of Baby's head with her hand. "Well, you're here now." Both friends returned to watching the sunset, entranced as the sky turn from orange, to pink, to purple. After a bit, a thought came to Gwen.
"Hey Baby", The doll looked at her, "Do you ever miss your old body?"
Baby nodded. "Always. That was me. I lost it unfairly because Elizabeth was so desperate to escape she didn't consider my feelings."
Gwen was silent for a moment, Then she said something that shocked the plush. "How about after this season, we go get it for you."
Baby looked at Gwen wide, shock filled eyes. "You mean it?" She sounded hopeful.
"Yeah. I've got nothing better to do. You can show me where to go, and we'll get your old body."
Baby was silent for a moment, before jumping down into Gwen's lap and hugged her tightly. Gwen returned it, only for their moment to be cut short as the intercom blared to life.
"Time for the elimination ceremony! Get your butts down to the campfire pit pronto!" Chris' voice ordered as it echoed across the the campgrounds. Gwen sighed, set Baby in her hood, and made her way to the fire. She took her place amongst her team on the stumps, the Hamsters sitting at a set of bleachers. One by one, the Vultures cast their votes in the confessional after Sam volunteered for exile on Boney Island. Gwen was the last one to vote, quickly scribbling a red 'X' over a photo of Lightning. Baby nodded in agreement, so Gwen cast her vote and left back to the campfire. Chris, ever the fan of dramatic tension, slowly handed out the marshmallows. Not surprising, Lightning was voted out. The Vultures followed Chris to a giant toilet, the appropriately named 'Flush of Shame', at the end of the dock, and stuffed Lightning in the water filled bowl before flushing. Water splashed out of the toilet, nearly dunking Gwen, but she was luckily just far back enough. After that, the Vultures left to get ready for bed. Gwen just needed to rest after the day she had.
In the dead of the night, all was peaceful. The Vultures were sleeping soundly, unaware a white and pink bear had just snuck through the window. Freddy looked down at Gwen, with Baby cuddled close, both fast asleep. His eyes glowed softly as he stared at their sleeping forms. In the blink of an eye, all three of them were gone, and the sound of the spa hotel's front door closing. Freddy's chilling laughter echoed across the island.
"Sweet dreams, Cupcake~"
Time for Gwen and Baby to play a little game...
