Chapter 22: Happy Easter Island

The next morning, as the plane flew to its next destination, Owen woke up in first class. He farted and yawned, then turned to Heather, who was looking out the window. "Morning, Heather! You okay?", he asked. Heather sighed. "Yeah, I'm fine." Owen got up and looked around. He sniffed the air and ran over to the far end of first class, where he found a tray full of candy and desserts. He started drooling. "Sweet Christmas! Heather, is this your reward for winning the last challenge?" Heather nodded. "Can I have some?" Heather shrugged. "Sure." Owen cheered and started shoving sweets into his mouth. "Mmm, thanks! I totally owe you one!"

Confession Cam: Heather

"The only reason I picked Owen to join me in first class is because Noah and Courtney would bother me so much. Owen may be annoying too, but at least he isn't mean. And, I guess I can use his stomach to my advantage..."

Meanwhile, Noah and Courtney were talking in the economy class. "So it's agreed? We're voting off Heather next?", Courtney asked. Noah nodded. "As long as she doesn't get invincibility", he said. Courtney smirked. "Perfect. Because I can beat you and Owen with one hand tied behind my back." Noah smirked back. "I think not. With my brains and his bulk, there's no way you can beat both of us in the semifinals." Courtney rolled her eyes. "We'll see about that." Right on cue, Chris turned on the intercom. "Attention, passengers! Please prepare for landing!" The plane crashed into a rock and landed roughly. The contestants exited the plane, walked over to the rock and saw that it was a Moai head. "Another piece of world heritage destroyed", Heather said. Courtney and Noah nodded in agreement. "Yeah, let's hope Chris doesn't try this again next season", Courtney said. Then, Owen walked up to the others, carrying some candy. "Thanks again for the snacks, Heather! Noah, you want some of this?", he asked. Noah shook his head. "I'd rather not eat right before a challenge. You go right ahead."

After Owen finished eating, the contestants walked around. They found Chris, shirtless and covered in paint. "Iorana, and welcome to Easter Island, AKA Rapa Nui", he said. Owen looked around. "Rap music was invented here? I don't even see any streets!" Chris facepalmed. "No, it's the former home of a rich civilization that built its way to destruction. Why do you think I'm dressed like this?" "I thought you were just warm." Chris facepalmed again. "Moving on! Today, you, our final four, are going on an Easter Island egg hunt." "Ooh, for chocolate eggs?", Owen asked. Chris shook his head. "No, these eggs come from big, vicious, kill-you-in-a-second birds. Speaking of which, you each get a traditional Rapa Nui headdress." Chris tossed a headdress to each of the contestants, each with a different color.

The teens followed Chris to a group of giant heads, but not Moai heads. These heads were shaped like the former contestants. "Hidden in these head things are eggs that match the color of your... head things", he said. "Whoa, how poetic", Noah said sarcastically. "Your task is to find three eggs that match your headdress color, then make a break for the massive underground cavern system and book it all the way to the highest point on the island. Reach the top with all three eggs to begin the second part of today's challenge." "What happens if we drop an egg?", Heather asked. "You'll have to come all the way back here for a replacement. And no, you cannot carry backup eggs", Chris replied. "First to the top gets a big advantage in part two. Now, get going!"

The contestants started climbing and looking over the heads to find eggs. Heather soon found one in the Ezekiel head, and Courtney found one in the Gwen head. She smiled. "I knew my friend wouldn't let me down..." Owen checked the Lindsay head but couldn't find anything. Noah checked Duncan's head and found one. Heather moved on to the Harold head and found a second egg, while Owen found one in the Tyler head. She ran from there to the Leshawna head and got her last egg.

While Heather ran to the tunnel, Courtney found her second and third eggs at the Bridgette head. She ran into the tunnel after Heather, but soon saw Heather screaming and running in the other direction. Heather crashed into Courtney and they both crashed into a wall, right before a giant boulder rolled down the tunnel and almost hit them. The girls growled and glared at each other, then went back to get some new eggs. While they were walking back to the heads, Noah passed them, carrying three eggs. The girls glared at him and ran back to the heads.

Noah entered the tunnel and started walking along. Within a minute, a boulder rolled down the tunnel from above. Noah turned around and ran away, but fell and cracked one of his eggs open. The boulder rolled by and squished him. After a few minutes, Noah got up, groaning in pain. "Well, I guess that's why the girls had to turn back..."

This went on for quite a while, but eventually Courtney won. A while later, the other contestants all finished the first part of the challenge. They walked up to Chris, covered in bruises and broken eggs. "Finally! Took you long enough!", Chris said. "Well, time for the next part of the challenge. Courtney, as the first one to arrive, you get this catcher's mask." Chris threw the mask to her and she put it on. "Now, you must climb that giant pillar all the way up to the giant condor nest at the top." Noah gulped. "Giant condors?" "That's right!" Noah groaned. "Can we at least get some goggles or something?" "Nope! Oh, and in case you didn't already know, mama condors get even bigger than the dude birds, so the 'giant' in giant condor is no exaggeration. Twelve foot wing spans... like that!" Chris pointed up, and the teens saw a giant condor fly overhead, blocking most of the sun. "See, she's kinda peeved because you guys stole her eggs, so now you have to shimmy up to the nest and give 'em back, in the order in which you arrived here. Of course, mama's got a bunch more eggs up there, so she's bound to be a tad protective." The mother condor screeched down at the contestants. "Deposit all three of your eggs, and you win. And if you don't make it, we'll try it again! Ain't this fun?"

One by one, the contestants climbed up. Courtney reached the nest, and the condor tried to peck her. She smirked. "Ha! Nice try, bird brain, but with this mask, I-" The condor hit her with its wing and she fell down. Then, Heather tried climbing up. She got one egg in, then climbed back down to avoid the bird. Noah climbed up and tried to put his eggs in the nest, but the bird screeched at him and he fell backwards. His eggs fell out of the nest and landed on the ground, broken. Owen tried, but he couldn't reach the top. He climbed back down, panting and sweating. Chris sighed. "Okay. Courtney, try again." Courtney glared at the rock, screamed and charged at it. She climbed up, reached the top and punched the condor. It flew away, and Courtney dumped her eggs into the nest. "Ha! Take that, losers! I win! I win I win I win!"

Heather walked over to Owen and patted his shoulder. "Okay, I think I know how you can repay me for those treats", she said. Owen raised an eyebrow. "Really? How?" Heather smiled. "All you have to do is promise not to vote for me." Owen gasped. "But Courtney just won! That means I have to vote for either me or Noah!" Heather nodded. "Yep!"

Confession Cam: Heather

"Is it really being mean if he said he owed me one? The guy loves food, and I would love to stay in the game a while longer. Seems like a good trade to me."

After Courtney climbed down, all the contestants went back to the plane, cast their votes and went to the elimination room. Chris walked up to them soon after, carrying the ballots. "Okay, let's see who you all voted for!", he said. "The first vote goes to... Heather. The second vote goes to Owen. The third goes to Noah, and the final vote is for... Heather." Heather gasped. "Are you serious? I lost?" Chris nodded. "Yes, you did. But, I have some good news for you. This was just a reward challenge!" "What!? This is totally unfair!", Courtney shouted. Noah sighed and facepalmed, Owen sighed with relief, and Heather cheered. "Courtney, your reward awaits you in first class. Who gets to join you?", Chris asked. Courtney looked at the others. "Um... Owen." Owen cheered, and Heather groaned. "Well, so much for that favor..."