Hello, dear readers! The long awaited chapter has come! And in unrelated news, I found my iPod! That aside, we shall begin this story with minimum delay.
For those of you wondering, we won't be finding out what happened in Nigeria. At least, not yet. That little adventure may appear on the next Aftermath. I'm not saying!
As always, comment, review, suggest, and request below!
Enjoy!
"Last time on Total Drama: Pahkitew's Vengeance! I sent the contestants into cyberspace to do battle with my handsome, charming, as well as deadly alternate ego. Alan and Paul showed that they had some mad skills, and we finally found out what was ailing Toni. And in an unfortunate event, my handsome alternate ego, The Chris King, was defeated by the Rampaging Rhinos. The Extreme Eagles sent Monique the Newbie packing, and I was forced to let Toni and bunch of the other losers take a trip to Africa for some family time," Chris narrated, walking down the dock and flashing his infamous smile to the camera. "And just to add insult to injury, Kiko finally has her fancy watch working!"
"What insanity will ensue? Do you need a clue? Lets do! Here, on Total! Drama! Pahkitew's Vengeance!"
(theme song plays)
Caroline was breathing heavily, hugging herself tightly as she hid in a large tree hollow. It was just starting to turn morning, the sun peeking up just over the horizon. The girl hadn't gotten a wink of sleep for the past three days, constantly on the run and in hiding. The only time she ever got any peace was during meal times, but those weren't exactly enjoyable either; her last meal had tried to eat her face and nearly did had Mitchell not burned it to a crisp and killed it.
What she was running from, she didn't quite understand. It looked like someone she knew, someone she cared about. It had the same powers as that same person she cared about. But it certainly didn't like that person she cared about. Micheal was supposed to be overseas with Toni, Paul, and Anuok, fighting to free Toni's mom in Nigeria. It seemed however, Micheal had double crossed both sides, for he had been the one to chase her around the island, constantly trying to kill her.
How did she know it was Micheal? For one, she had mostly been chased by alien creatures and extinct animals, morphs only Micheal had access to, everything from Nisilaha and Tolkobee to Mammoths and Velociraptors. During one attempt to stay safe out on the lake, she was even attacked by a Mosasaur, the gigantic sea reptile nearly eating her alive before she got back to the safety of the shore. And even then she was ambushed by a .
Another reason she knew it was Micheal was that she could easily see the Animatrix on whatever form he was; a red and silver colored color or belt with a fanged symbol on the disk. And to make matters worse, he constantly kept on saying that he hated her, that he despised her guts even and wanted to rip them out for the world to see. He would taunt her about her life back home, about how she would never have any friends, how people would always hate, even about how gullible she was to think that he actually loved her.
All these thoughts rushed through her head as she cowered in the safety of the tree hollow. Micheal hadn't appeared since breakfast and had left her alone for the better part of the day. She was just about to leave the tree hollow, believing Micheal had given up on trying to kill her, when the sound of giant leathery wings met her ears. She screamed and tumbled out of the tree, hitting several branches on the way down before landing in a bramble patch at the base of the trunk. Groaning, she pulled herself free and collapsed on her back, looking up at the sky to see the shadow of a Pteranodon pass overhead, making its way towards the docks.
"At least he's ignoring me," she whispered.
Confessional
"This. Is. Awesome!" Kiko cried. "I've never felt so alive! Chasing Caroline around and around and making her think her boyfriend hates her guts is the best!She is gullible!" she exclaimed. "Is this how Micheal feels whenever he uses his watch? Because if it is, it's AWESOME!"
Change Confessional
"This is not awesome," Caroline sobbed, hugging her knees up to her chest, not even caring about the rancid odor that hung over the outhouse. "I thought I found someone who actually liked me for me! I mean, I've dated at least two other guys, and both of them have only ever wanted to get into my pants; both of them ended up getting mauled by hawks and badgers, but still! Micheal was the first one who actually loved me for who I am!" she cried. "And now, even he doesn't like me anymore."
Change Confessional
Anuok is scribbling something on her notepad, a worried expression on her face as she finishes writing and holds the paper up to the camera. "Dark times are ahead." it reads.
End Confessional
"Attention victims! It's time for your weekly dose of pain and humiliation! Meet me on the beach in five minutes, or someone will be going home early, Torpedo of Shame style!" Chris's annoying voice rang out over the loudspeaker. The announcement was so loud, even the four contestants up in the air could hear it, Micheal wincing and nearly plunging into the ocean when the loud whine met his ear holes.
"Geez, does he ever shut up?" Toni grumbled, hissing at the bruises that decorated her arms and legs. The team had mostly made it away from Nigeria unscathed, save for a bullet wound to Paul's shoulder, a head injury to Anuok's skull, as well as sense of humiliation on Micheal's part. But, they had succeeded in their mission and rescued Toni's mom from the army and made them swear never to touch her or Toni again, albeit with some minor damages.
"You were awesome back there," Toni told Paul as the pterosaur swopped low over the camp grounds and landed on the beach as the rest of the contestants were walking out of the forest. Paul turned red and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "It was nothing," he said. Anuok rolled her eyes and jumped off of Micheal's back, Toni and Paul following as a red light enveloped the Pteranodon and reverted it back to its human state. "Geez, you guys weigh a ton!" Micheal grumbled, wincing at the cracks in his back.
He pushed the pain aside however, when his eyes caught sight of Caroline standing on the edge of the forest, her wide, brown eyes on him. Micheal gave a friendly wave, expecting Caroline to come over to him, hugging him tightly after being separated for three days. Instead, the girl panicked and ran away, taking cover behind a confused Maurananei. Just as confused as Maurananei, Micheal was about to walk over to Caroline and talk when Chris walked up to the group contestants, all hope of checking up on his girlfriend evaporating into thin air.
"Today, you losers will be participating in a challenge that we have been getting many, many, many requests about. Today, you will all be singing in Total Drama Idol!" Chris announced. Some of the contestants actually seemed excited by this as Chris continued on. "You have ten minutes to chose and prepare a song of your choosing. When it's your turn, you will have the option of picking any three contestants from the audience to play instruments or sing back up; your performance will be judged before a panel of specially selected judges, of which your team's ultimate victory depends on!"
Confessional
"A singing challenge, eh?" Wilson plotted. "Not good; Wilson can not sing to save his life, so it looks like I'll have to step in. I just hope no one will notice." he growled, his voice deep and raspy and his eyes a deep shade of purple. He then suddenly wheezed and jerked, his eyes turning back to blue.
"Okay, seriously! What is happening to me!?" Wilson cried.
End Confessional
"So, Tajira? Do have an idea what song you're going to sing?" Mitchell asked as he, Tajira, and several other contestants busied themselves in a small clearing in the woods. Maurananei was delicately warming up her voice as Alan was, for some reason, practicing magic tricks. Trey was hopelessly playing air guitar, missing his real guitar incredibly while Caroline quietly talked to a pair of squirrels and sleepy turtle. Micheal was nowhere to be seen, which was starting to frighten Caroline.
"What, are you saying, I don't have good ideas? That I'm brainless!?" Tajira cried angrily.
"No! That's not at all what I was saying!" Mitchell protested.
"Oh, can it Sparky!" Tajira yelled, slapping Mitchell across the face and not even flinching when a thin trail of smoke curled off from her nails. Before Mitchell could say anything, Tajira stomped off into the forest, anger written all over her face.
"What did I do?" Mitchell wondered, his fellow contestants shrugging their shoulders with confusion. "No offense to you Paul, but the new contestants sure are touchy." Maurananei said, brushing her hair with her fingers.
"None taken," said Paul's voice. When the others looked around, the boy was nowhere to be seen. "Where is that sound coming from?" Alan wondered as he finished pulling an incredibly long rope of tied hankies out of his sleeve. He then felt a tapping on his shoulder and turned to see Paul's smiling face. That was however, all he saw, just Paul's face floating in midair in front of Alan. With an almighty scream, Alan jumped back and landed in Maurananei's arms, smiling sheepishly before the tough girl carelessly let him fall to the ground. "What in the name of Micheal's Animatrix is going on here!?" Maurananei wondered as Paul suddenly materialized out of thin air.
"What, did Chris forget to tell you that I can become invisible? Or at least, blend in to my surroundings?" Paul asked, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Yes." Trey sighed, wishing he had his guitar back in his empty hands. His wish was soon granted when his guitar suddenly fell from the sky and landed in his lap, Trey gasping with relief and shock. He glanced with an impossibly happy look on his face at a large Pteranodon that hovered overhead; Caroline screamed and ran away as fast as she could. The flying reptile descended to the ground and landed there as a red light washed over him and changed him back into Micheal, who was instantly tackled to the ground by an infinitely happy Trey. "Where did you find it!?" he cried happily. Micheal smiled. "I actually found it in the hand of the Pyscho-killer with a Chainsaw and a Hook, who no longer has a chainsaw and a hook. And he actually doesn't have any hands anymore." he added as everyone around them flinched.
Before any of them could ask about the grizzly details, Chris's voice rang out loud over the loudspeakers (after a loud and on purpose whine that hurt everyone's ears). "Campers! Report to the stage on the beach in five minutes, or the Torpedo of Shame gets an early dinner!" he yelled. One by one, the contestants begrudgingly began the long walk to the beach, some happier than others. By the time they all got to the stage, it was almost noon, and Chris was none to happy about it.
"What took you long?" he whined, impatiently tapping his foot. "You'd think finding a giant stage with my glorious face on it would be easy to spot!"
And indeed, the stage the contestants would be forced to perform on had a giant, bronze statue of Chris's famous mug, smiling down at the invisible audience before him. To the contestants, it simply gave them the chills. The stage itself was pretty standard with a wooden platform ringed with bright red, velvet curtains and spotlights hanging from the rafters. Down in front of the stage were a row of rickety lawn chairs with three office desks behind them. "Now then, one by one you will come onto this stage and humiliate – I mean, perform the song of your choosing. As previously stated, you will be able to choose up to three people to play whatever instruments you choose," Chris explained. "Your performance will be judged by me, and the newly repaired and upgraded Fangbot 3.0," Chris announced, gesturing to the left side of the stage where Fang waved and showed the contestants his rows of teeth, causing Caroline to hide behind Maurananei as the shark's eyes locked on her. "And our third and final judge will be returning special guest, Ella!" Chris cried, gesturing to his right as the Fairytale Princess happily skipped onstage with a flock of colorful birdies flying after her. She smiled brightly at the contestants and opened her mouth to sing, Chris slapping his hand over her face before she could.
"Ella! You're not supposed to sing," Chris frowned. Ella sadly nodded, but still had a pleasant smile on her face as she neatly jumped down from the stage and skipped over to the contestants. "Hello! Nice to meet all of you!" she cried happily, gathering Mitchell, Caroline, Micheal, and Toni into a group hug. She moved on over to the others and proceeded to hug and compliment each and every one of them before making her way to her spot at the judges table, where a very annoyed Chris awaited. "Alright! Micheal, you're first up!" the host announced, slapping another hand over Ella's mouth as she dared to sing.
Chef Hatchet, decked out in a sparkling pink dress that showed off his muscles and a small pink chef's hat walked on stage, some of the more weak minded contestants (Caroline, Alan, and Zelda) covering their eyes as everyone else but Maurananei watched with disgust. "All of us have a monster within us, some more than others," Chef began, casting a side look at Chris. "Our first contestant will be singing "Monster" by Skillet. Honestly, bands come up with such strange names," Chef grumbled as he walked off stage.
The red curtains slowly opened to reveal Micheal at the front of the stage with a microphone on a stand. Behind him on a slightly raised platform was Trey, obviously happy that he got his guitar back and was getting a chance to play it. To his left and behind him was Maurananei on another raised platform, Mitchell directly behind Micheal and at a set of drums, a nervous look on his face. Micheal looked over the audience and gulped nervously before turning around and throwing a thumbs up to Trey. A thumping low bass cord played for a few beats before being joined by Maurananei and the steady thumping of the bass drum as Micheal began to sing.
"The secret side of me, I never let you see! I keep it caged, but I can't control it!
So stay away from me! The beast is ugly! I feel the rage, and I just can't hold it!"
At this point, Mitchell cracked the drums, smacking his sticks all around to the beat and rhythm as Maurananei got into the feeling of the song, a creepy and satisfying smile on her face as her fingers danced over the strings.
"It's scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the halls! It comes awake, and I can't control it!
Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head! Why won't somebody come and save me from it, make this end!?"
The song went into the chorus, Trey and Maurananei rocking their fingers across the guitar's strings as Mitchell practically attacked the drums. The audience was really getting into the song, bobbing their heads to the song as Chris listened carefully, tapping his hand to the beat. Fang watched intently, though his gaze would occasionally drift between the stage and Caroline. Ella was keeping her eyes glued to the performance, her usual happy smile plastered on her face.
"I feel it deep within! It's just beneath the skin! I must confess that I feel like a Monster!
I hate what I've become! The nightmare's just begun! I must confess that I feel like a Monster!
I-I feel like a Monster! I-I feel like a Monster!"
The music quieted down a little as Micheal went into the next verse, his eyes locking onto Caroline with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. He clearly had something planned, and for once, Caroline was scared.
"My secret side I keep, hidden under lock and key! I keep it caged, but I can't control it!
'Cause if I let him out, he'll tear me up, break me down! Why won't somebody and save me from this, make it end!?
I feel it deep within! It's just beneath the skin! I must confess that I feel like a Monster!
I hate what I've become! The nightmare's just begun! I must confess that I feel like a Monster!
I-I feel like a Monster! I-I feel like a Monster!"
The music suddenly died down a little, the guitars wailing less and less and the drums being tapped instead of being smashed, marking a clear solo nearly devoid of any music. The twinkle in Micheal's eyes got bigger as his hand quickly reached for the Animatrix on his wrist.
"It's hiding in the dark! It's teeth are razor sharp! There's no escape for me, it wants my soul, it wants my heart!
No one can hear me scream! Maybe it's just a dream! BABY, it's inside of me! Stop this Monster!"
The loud, heavy rock music nearly died down completely, the only sound being the steady whine of Trey's guitar as he played a single long note that changed every now and again.
"I feel it deep within! It's just beneath the skin! I must confess that I-" Micheal stopped singing for a split second and jumped into the air, flipping backwards as he hit the Animatrix and letting the red light engulf him completely. Micheal's arms became more muscular, his legs stronger and longer. He soon became so ripped that he lost his shirt, it being torn off his body and tossed away. His skin became patchwork, stitches holding random colored flesh together as the Animatrix symbol appeared on his right pectoral. Metallic bolts sprouted up from his shoulders, wrists, and neck as thick black hair sprouted from his head and down to his chin, stopping. The final transformation was the sudden growth of two large conductor like coils, crackling with electricity as he came back down and landed on the stage with a loud thumb!
"FEEL LIKE A MONSTER!" Micheal growled in a deep voice as he grabbed the microphone and bent down to roar into it, drawing cheers, whistles, and whoops of approval from the cast and judges.
"I feel it deep within! It's just beneath the skin! I must confess that I feel like a Monster!
I hate what I've become! The nightmare's just begun! I must confess that I feel like a Monster!
I feel it deep within! It's just beneath the skin! I must confess that I feel like a Monster!
I'm gonna lose control! It's something radical! I must confess that I feel like a Monster!
I-I feel like a Monster! I-I feel like a Monster! I-I feel like a MONSTER!
"
The music then stopped, and the performers on stage walked to the front and took a single bow, Micheal nearly falling off the stage under the weight of his heavy conductors that danced with electricity between them. Moments later, the red light washed over him and changed him back to his normal, human self as the instrumentalists hopped down from stage and Micheal awaited his score from the judges.
"Dude, as much as I hate to admit it, that rocked! The Frankenstein monster transformation was a nice touch," Chris announced.
"It's called a Pabaisanite." Micheal told him.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Learn to take a compliment," Chris grumbled. "You get 8 out of 10."
Micheal bowed, his grin broadening when Fang gave a toothy grin and pulled up a sign with a large, black 9 on the card. It was all down to Ella. "As much as I love hearing everyone sing, the lyrics seemed a tiddly bit . . . depressing," she said, the thought actually seeming to cause her physical pain. "Nevertheless, I give you a 10 out of 10!" she cried happily.
Micheal fist pumped and jumped off the stage, flashing Caroline a joking smile, only to get a frightened look from his girlfriend.
Confessional
"What's up with Caroline?" Micheal wondered. "Am I doing something wrong?"
Change Confessional
"Hmm. Micheal's getting suspicious," Wilson noted, his deep raspy voice eching in the musty confessional outhouse. "And any hope of driving a wedge between Paul and Toni has just gone South. If Alan and Zelda don't work, I'm gonna have to execute plan B: Total Drama Mayhem!" he cackled.
End Confessional
"If your ever someone who is horrible with directions or don't know your geography, this song is for you," Chef announced, reading over a small piece of paper. "Toni will be singing "A Place with No Name" by Micheal Jackson. This the intro I've ever been forced to read. Even worse than that crazy farm girl from last season." Chef grumbled, walking off stage just in time to dodge a rotten tomato from the audience.
The curtains then opened to reveal four people standing on platforms of varying levels. Paul, naturally, had a dark blue electric bass around his guess, a big grin and happy grin on his face as he began to play a low cord that sent vibrations through the stage. Anuok, a somewhat bored expression on her face began to play odd notes on the electric keyboard she had been given as Micheal kept beat and rhythm on the drum set towards the back. The most surprising part about the up coming performance however, was Toni. She wearing something that resembled a pure white, two piece bikini, each piece connected by a strip of cloth right down the middle and with loose white cloth around her waist as she through her boyfriend a sexy smile, clapping in time with the beat.
"As I drove across on the highway, my jeep began to rock.
I didn't know what to do so I stopped and got out, and looked down and noticed I got a flat."
Micheal then kicked it up a notch, banging on the drums a little as Paul let out a loud note on his electric bass.
"So I walked out, parked the car like sideways, so I can find what I can fix.
I looked around there were no cars on the highway. I felt a strange feeling like a mist."
"I walked down towards the end of the road and in the fog a woman appeared.
She said don't you worry my friend I'll take care, take my hand, I'll take you there." Toni sang, flashing Paul a sexy smile as she swung her hips to the beat. The music then got louder as the chorus came around.
"Woah-oh, take me to a place without no name! Take me to a place without no name!
Take me to a place without no name! Take me to a place without no name!"
"As she took me right through the fog, I see a beautiful city appear.
Where kids are playin' and people are laughin' and smiling and, no one's in fear."
"She said this is the place where no people have pain, and in love and happiness.
She turned around looked down at my eyes and started cryin'. She grabbed my hand, you got a friend!" The music increased significantly as Toni shook her hips, putting on a show for the audience and judges. She smiled at Paul and continued singing her sweet voice. To the guitar player, her voice was more alluring than a siren's.
"Woah-oh, take me to a place without no name! Take me to a place without no name!"
"Take me to a place without no name! Take me to a place without no name!"
The music quieted down a bit as Toni danced over to Paul lightly wrapping her arms around him as he played, pecking a kiss on his cheek and tracing her fingers around his face, neck, and collar bone as she began to sing her sweet song once more.
"She started likin' me kissin' me and huggin' me. She didn't really, really want me to leave!"
She showed me places I've never seen things I've never done. This place really looks like a lotta fun!"
"I seen the grass and the sky and the birds and the flowers surrounded by the trees.
This place is filled with love and happiness, and not a world could I wanna leave."
"So then I went in my pocket took my wallet on out with my pictures of my family and girl
This is the place that you choose to be with me when you thought you could be in another world!"
The music roared as Toni pulled Paul up onto center stage with her, wailing into the microphone as the judges watched with interest. Paul and Micheal began to sing backup with Toni, Anuok remaining silent as usual as she slammed her fingers into the keyboard.
"Ooh-ooh, Take me to a place without no name! Take me to a place without no name!"
"Take me to a place without no name! Take me to a place without no name!"
"Take me to a place without no name! Take me to a place without no name!"
"Take me to a place without no name," Toni barely whispered, pulling a startled Paul into a deep kiss. The musician paused but quickly leaned into the kiss as well, lacing his arms around his girl as the audience roared and cheered, some of girls sighing lovingly as the guys wolf whistled. Micheal and Anuok threw Paul a thumbs up as they walked off stage, Paul following a few moments later.
"First, let me just say that the outfit scored you some major points," Chris grinned, only to be whacked upside the head by Paul, who gave him a venomous look.
"Step off, Host Man." he growled.
Chris ignored him and continued on. "You get a 9 out of 10." He then turned to see how Fang voted, and the amphibious shark held up a sign with a number 9 on it while staring at Toni with a look in his beady eyes; whether he was madly in love with her or imaging her served on a plate slathered tartar sauce with a lemon wedge was up to debate. That left Ella, who was her usually happy self. "I love the song! It was catchy and beautiful, just like that outfit you're wearing!" she gushed. "10 out of 10!" Toni smiled and walked off stage, pulling her boyfriend into a tight hug and kissing him.
From afar, Micheal watched the happy couple. What had happened between him and Caroline? The last girlfriend he had required too much attention and simply couldn't stand to have their time together interrupted by Micheal's double life. He put up with the relationship until she literally told her to take the Animatrix off of his wrist and destroy it; the relationship ended swiftly.
Unbeknownst to Micheal, or anyone else in the competition for that matter, Wilson peered out upon them with devious eyes. He quickly hid behind a tree, making sure no one else could see him as he focused himself. He suddenly wheezed and the sound of bones grinding and groaning filled the air as Wilson began to change. Like some nightmarish werewolf transformation, Wilson painfully grew taller, his legs becoming thin sticks and his arms growing long and wiry. His skin slowly began to darken, turning into a chocolate brown as his fingers became bony and his nails longer and unkempt. His hair was slowly sucked back into his head until it was little more than black fuzz around his scalp, his eyes glowing an odd purple color. The most dramatic change however, were the changes in his clothes. His clothes changed into a dark maroon undertaker tailcoat and a pair of black pants with a purple vest that didn't exactly cover his entire midriff. A red cummerbund was strapped around his waist a a pair of white spats over his black shoes. As if that weren't creepy enough, a black top hat with a large red feather over a human skull magically appeared on his head and a long cane tipped with serpent holding an orange orb in its jaws appeared in his hands. Several tailsmen and bead necklaces appeared around his neck, the largest of these being once that had crocodile teeth run through the string. With the transformation complete, Wilson stepped back out into the light, a completely different person.
"Wilson? Wilson. Where is Wilson?" Chris practically yelled, easily becoming impatient with his time being wasted.
"Over here, my good man," Wilson said in a surprisingly warm and deep voice. Everyone whipped around to look at him and nearly jumped out of their skin upon setting their eyes on the new Wilson.
"Wilson, dude," Paul asked, barely able to speak. "Is that you?"
"You'd be surprised what I can do with a bit of costuming and make up, little man," Wilson chuckled, leaning on his cane and winking. The cast all shared confused looks, but seemed to buy it as Wilson climbed on stage. Toni however, was not among them and was watching him with suspicion and disdain; she had already witnessed Kiko and Zelda plotting to make a copy of Micheal's Animatrix, but there was never any proof that she could find. She was sure the attempted experiment had failed and that the girls had given up on the ridiculous idea.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Chef came back on stage, having lost the pink dress that Chris had forced him to wear; Maurananei didn't seem to care either way and was gazing upon him lovingly as Chef continued to do his job. "Wilson will be singing "Friends on the Other Side"from the movie The Princess and the Frog." Chef announced into the microphone, skipping the usual dialogue upon Chris's request. The cook then went to step off stage when Wilson suddenly grabbed him with surprising strength and hauled him back into the lime light, a reluctant Chris waiting there for him. Way off in the back of the stage, hidden in the shadows where almost no one could see them, were Paul playing an assortment of drums and other percussion instruments as Caroline nervously fingered her clarinet. To make matters worse, Micheal was also there, a saxophone attached to his neck with a black strap and his attention away from his girlfriend.
"Don't you disrespect me, little man!" Wilson suddenly shouted at Chris, Caroline jerking the instrument to her mouth to play the odd note.
"Don't you derogate or deride. You're in my world now, not your world. And I got friends on the other side." Wilson whispered, the lights on the stage darkening as if he and his two companions had entered a dark room. A spotlight sudden turned on from above, shining down on a table with a white cloth on, three chairs seated around it.
"That's an echo, gentlemen. Just a little something we have here in Louisiana, a little parlor trick. Don't worry." Wilson reassured Chris and Chef a low, moaning echo repeated the boy's previous words. The music suddenly kicked up into a jazzy rhythm as Wilson began to sing.
"Sit down at my table, put your mind at ease. If you relax it'll enable me to do, anything I please." Wilson sang sweetly, his long black shadow playfully tripping Chef as Wilson shoved the two men over to the table; the two of them shared a discrete high five before continuing.
"I can read your future! I can change it 'round some, too. I'll look deep into your heart and soul-"
"You do have a soul, don't you, Chris?" Wilson asked Chris who shook his head with a sadistic smile.
"-make your wildest dreams come true!" Wilson finished jumping on the table as Chris and Chef sat down. Now the real fun would begin as the music turned mysterious and creepy.
"I got voodoo, I got hoodoo, I got things I ain't even tried!" Wilson exclaimed, pulling out dead chickens, snakes, tailsman, potions, and some bizarre, fiery demon chest from his pockets and tossing them over his shoulder without a care. "And I got friends on the other side."
Chris and Chef got comfy, looking around wildly when the same voice from before repeated it's master's last sentence. Their attention was soon diverted when Wilson skillfully pulled out a deck of tarot cards seemingly from nowhere.
"The cards, the cards, the cards will tell, the past, the present, and the future as well!
The cards, the cards, just take three. Take a little trip into your future with me!" Wilson demanded, Chris eagerly taking three cards from the deck, elbowing Chef when he was a but reluctant to do so.
Now you young man are from across the sea. You come from two long lines of royalty," Wilson sighed, showing Chris his past on a tarot card.
"I've always thought so." Chris chuckled as Wilson silenced him and continued with his performance.
"Your lifestyle's high, but your funds are low. You need to marry a lil' hunny whose daddy got dough!"
"I won't really have to get married, will I?" Chris whispered Chef. The cook shook his head and Chris relaxed as Wilson continued to sing, the music getting louder as the fortune telling went on.
"Now y'all gotta get hitched, but hitchin' ties you down. You just wanna be free, hop from place to place," Wilson described, making Chris's cards vanish into another deck he skillfully pulled out of nothingness. "But freedom, takes green!"Wilson added, making the money symbol with his fingers. The music then soared as Wilson waved his hand over the dealt out cards and changed them into hundred dollar bills.
"It's the green, it's the green, it's the green you need! And when I look into you're future it's the green that I see." Wilson finished Chris's fortune, handing him a tarot card of him surrounded by beautiful ladies on a lily pad-shaped pile of money.
Wilson then turned to Chef, insulting the first chance he got. "On you little man, I don't want to waste much time. You've been pushed around all your life! You've been pushed around by your mother and your sister and your brother. And if you was married, you'd be pushed around by your wife." Wilson sighed, quickly gathering Chef's cards and holding them like a flip book, running the image past him, despite there only being three cards.
"But in your future, for you I see, is exactly the man you always wanted to be!" Wilson finished, handing Chef a tarot card of him rolling money surrounded by pretty woman (who thankfully did not resemble Maurananei) and with Chris bowing down to him as a lowly servant. Chef nervously took the card, grinning evilly at the image and glancing between it and Chris, who was blissfully unaware of Chef's possible future.
"Shake my hand," Wilson demanded, cross his arms over his chest and holding his hands out to either man. "Won't you shake a poor, sinner's hand?" he asked again, Chef eagerly grabbing Wilson's hand the same time Chris did.
"Yes," Wilson hissed, the light fading and turning hues of purple and green as the music got louder and louder, a loud drumming beating out all the other noise. Hundreds of bats suddenly appeared out of poofs of pink colored smoke, a pair of python's quickly wrapping themselves around Chris and pinning his hands to the chair, squeezing tighter and daring him to struggle (of which, he did). Wilson now had a white skull painted on his face, the skull from his hat noticeably missing as the boy continued his dark dance, voodoo dolls popping out from under the table and swarming the stage,
"Are you ready!?" Wilson asked, the voodoo dolls repeating his question.
"Are you ready!? Transformation central!" Wilson sang, the dolls keeping up the act.
Reformation central!" Wilson yelled, waving his hands as they were coated in dark green and purple smoke, swirling and whirling around him, Chef, and Chris as the music got louder and louder.
"Transmogrification central!" Wilson yelled, thrusting his hands forward and blasting Chris with the spell, cackling as Chris cried out in pain.
"Can you feel it? You're changin', you're changin', you're changin', all right! I hope you're satisfied!
"But if you ain't, don't blame me! You can blame my friends on the other side!" Wilson cried, pulling out the last few words as he danced with the voodoo dolls and the music soared Chef panicked and wildly looked around as his entire world was filled with Wilson's evil and crazy laughter, his dark and seemingly, alive shadow filling the sky as voodoo dolls of all shapes and sizes crawled around the ground, dancing to the rhythm and carrying a rather ugly looking frog over to Chef before throwing it into his shaking hands. Chef nervously glanced up as Wilson seemed to grow bigger with every maniacal cackle he took, the music suddenly stopping as all light vanished.
"Hush . . . ." Wilson finished, his white skull mask glowing in the darkness before fading away.
The audience was stunned to say the least. If any of their performances had been climactic before, it was nothing compared to what they just saw. And as soon as the darkness had come, it had vanished, the stage suddenly being filled up bright light again as Wilson walked to the front of the stage and bowed deep, a deeply disturbed Chef shivering behind him as the frog in his hands hopped to the front of the stage to stand next to Wilson. The boy grumbled under his breath and clapped his hands together, saying a quick word before flicking a finger at the amphibian. The frog was suddenly coated in green and black fog before seemingly changing back into Chris. The audience cheered and clapped at the performance as Micheal and Paul dragged a traumatized Chef off stage; Caroline opted to hide from her boyfriend again.
"Well, uh, based on the state that Chef's in, I give it a 9 out of 10." Chris announced as he walked back to his seat, giving a mocking, reassuring pat on Chef's shaking shoulder.
Fang held up a sign holding the number 7. When asked why, he simply pointed his eyes and the stage.
"Normally I don't like such negative or dark songs, but since it's from one of my favorite movies, I give it 10 out of 10!" Ella cried happily. Wilson smirked and walked off stage, humming his song quietly to him under the watchful eye of Toni.
Confessional
"Okay, something's up with him." Toni stated, jerking with a thumb outside the outhouse.
End Confessional
Caroline bit her lip as her name was called; it was her turn to perform the song she had chosen, "Just a Little Faster" by There for Tomorrow. She had only a few minutes to warm up and choose her fellow musicians. The song she was thinking of involved a guitar, so Trey was in obvious shoo-in. She also needed someone on drums, and she noticed no one had bothered to use Tajira yet; perhaps she would be a good player. As for the second guitar, she had to choose between Maurananei or Micheal. She was honestly terrified of Micheal, who seemed to show love to her one minute and then utter hatred the next. He didn't seem to know what the heck was going on, leaving her with Maurananei to pick. She really needed Micheal to hear this song.
She sucked in a deep breath as she walked up on stage, sweating as she walked up to the microphone and her band mates walked on behind her. Trey gave Caroline a reassuring smile, Tajira generally ignored her, and Maurananei gave her thumbs up; it was time. She barely heard Chef introduce her as the judges all watched with anticipation. She ignored them as the music started up, a constant trill between four notes by Trey. Tajira smashed her sticks into the drums as Maurananei joined in. She barely heard the music however. All she could focus on was Micheal, watching him watch her with intent.
"You keep calling it a crash and burn, just wait your turn, you might have time to speak."
"There barely was a lesson learned, 'cause in return no favors back to me!"
"I'm sure it tasted oh so sweet but it was never good enough for me!"
"I bit the tongue behind my teeth, it was never good enough for me!" Caroline sang into the microphone. "Just a Little Faster" by There for Tomorrow was the perfect song to explain what was happening to Micheal, and she was singing it with passion.
"You said you always keep your word! Show me what you're after!"
"I thought you promised me the world! Tell me what you're after!"
"Go on and take you way too far, 'cause here we are, waiting once again!"
"You said you always keep your word! Show me what you're after, just a little faster!" The chorus died down a bit as Caroline caught her breath, her eyes tracing to Micheal. He was watching with a slightly worried and pained expression on his face, as if he didn't quite know what was going on, but trying his best to figure it out.
"Are mine the only eyes that see, so steadily this cut and dry routine."
"Even when you're by my side, I still need time to feel the company!"
"I'm sure it tasted oh so sweet, but it was never good enough for me!"
"I bit the tongue behind my teeth, it was never good enough for me!"
"You said you always keep your word! Show me what you're after!"
"I thought you promised me the world! Tell me what you're after!"
"Go on and take you way too far, 'cause here we are, waiting once again!"
"You said you always keep your word! Show me what you're after, just a little faster!"
"Hold your breath now, the bad blood's wearing thin from the pain that settles in when we learn too much too soon!"
"Hold your breath now the bad blood's wearing thin from the pain that settles in when we learn too much too soon!"
Caroline sucked in a deep breath. Time to bring her on home and get it through to Micheal. She gazed upon him with sad eyes as Maurananei played a small solo and Caroline began singing the words.
"You said you always keep your word! Show me what you're after!"
"I thought you promised me the world! Tell me what you're after!"
"Go on and take you way too far 'cause here we are, waiting once again!"
"You said you always keep your word! Show me what you're after!"
The music began to die down as Caroline sang the final words, tears nearly coming to her eyes when she caught sight of Micheal. His head was bowed low into a submissive posture; he looked hurt. Caroline finished her song.
"It was never good enough for me!"
"Show me what you're after, just a little faster!"
She was breathing heavily as the music stopped and the musicians walked off stage, Tajira twirling her drum sticks between her fingers Trey and Maurananei threw her thumbs up. Gulping, Caroline walked to the front of stage to receive her score.
"Honestly, I can't really say I liked your song, Caroline," Chris said without a care, earning glares from most of the cast. "I dunno, maybe it's because I've already heard so much rock and roll today or something. Either way, you receive a 6 out of 10." As most of the cast booed and hissed, Fang held up a sign with a picture of a crossed out picture of Caroline on a plate slathered in tatter sauce and with a lemon wedge. Underneath it was a crude scribbling of the number 8. Caroline flinched upon seeing before turning to Ella.
"Oh, you know me! I simply can't say no to anyone!" the princess cried happily. "10 out of 10!" she exclaimed, Chris throwing her an annoyed look.
"Yeah. Next!" Chris yelled. Caroline gave a slight bow and went to hop off stage, slipping behind the curtain and into the shadows. She soon found the door leading to the outside and reached the knob, only to feel a strong force curl its way around her wrist and hold it there, squeezing it lightly. Caroline opened her mouth to scream, but a large hand slapped over her lips, silencing her.
"Shhh! It's just me." Micheal whispered. This did not ease Caroline's nerves.
"I just wanna talk."
Caroline relaxed about 5 degrees as Micheal released his hold on her. He sucked in a deep breath and began speaking in a slow, calm manner that Caroline knew she sometimes used on nervous animals. "I want to same that I'm sorry," he began. "I honestly have no idea why you are terrified of me all of a sudden. Whatever's going on, Anuok, Paul, and Toni can all confirm that I was with them every second in Nigeria."
"How do I know you're not lying?" Caroline asked, scared. "How do I know you don't have some animal that can teleport or something!?"
Micheal scoffed at the idea. "Teleporting? No biological creature can do that with the help of some kind of machinery. And I swear on my Animatrix that I would never do anything to hurt you in anyway." he reassured, a pleading look in his eyes. Caroline wanted to believe him, she wanted to believe him for all she was worth. But the proof was almost unavoidable.
"O-o-okay." Caroline finally said. Micheal smiled and gently took her hand, leading her out of the stage's wings and out into the audience. Unbeknownst to them both, Kiko was watching behind the safety of a thick curtain, her eyebrows narrowing when she heard the conversation.
Confessional
"Argh! Nothing is working!" Kiko cried in frustration. "Somehow, I've got to split those two up for good!"
Change Confessional
"Problem," Wilson said to himself, still looking like his alter ego with his stick-like legs bent up to fit into the outhouse confessional. "Micheal and Caroline are starting to forgive each other, and Kiko can't seem to do anything right," he summed up, stroking his short mustache. "Solution? Send Kiko over the edge and watch the fireworks." he grinned maliciously.
End Confessional
"Ugh, how many more of these do we have to go?" Chris wondered aloud with clear irritation in his voice. "This challenge is cutting into my pedicure time!"
The contestants ignored Chris as Paul walked up on stage to the front of the microphone. Now, while most of the contestants had opted only to sing for their performances, Paul had wanted to play his new guitar, acting as one of the band members. Just a little behind him and to his left was Toni, a red tinge to her face as she rested her hands on a black keyboard; apparently she knew how to play the instrument. Towards the back was the large, looming figure of a Pabaisanite wearing a pair of black and red pants, twirling drumsticks around in its large fingers.
"You wanna sing and dance, you do the intro!" Chef called from somewhere off stage, clearly annoyed. "I'm taking my official 'me time' back in my quarters with Mr. Rubbers!"
"What? We're in the middle of a show here!" Chris yelled angrily as the contestants gave each other confused looks and shuddered at what Chef would possibly do during his 'me time'; the thoughts that raced through their minds were not entirely pleasant.
"Don't care, Pretty Boy!" Chef yelled back, ending the conversation. Chris frowned and huffed, falling back in his chair and gesturing for Paul to continue on.
"Um, I will be singing "Crazy 4 U" by R5 with my lovely girlfriend, Toni, on the keyboard, and Micheal on the drums. Hopefully we'll still have drums once this song is over." he added upon noticing Micheal's transmutation. "Uh, dude? Why'd you transform?" he asked as Toni's face turned even redder.
"Hand slipped, okay?" Micheal grumbled. Paul shrugged and began somewhat peppy cord, singing into the microphone after a few beats.
"I played it safe. I kept my foot up on the brake. I never really took a chance in life, and didn't live for today."
Toni then started to play on the keyboard in the higher octave as Micheal gave a short roll and went into the rhythm, his large hands threatening to destroy the drum set his towering frame dwarfed.
"Oh, girl, and then I met you. Opened my eyes to something new. You know you set me free like no one else, and got me actin' a fool!
"Don't you know changed my life, girl cause now I'm livin' and it feels so right! Yeah . . ."
"You got my heart beat pumpin' and its going insane. You got me jumping outta aeroplanes!"
"And that's why . . ."
I'm crazy its true, Crazy 4 U!"
"You got me base jump livin' and I can't look down! You know you short circuit my brain! I can't lie . . ."
I'm crazy its true, Crazy 4 U!"
The music died down a little from the chorus as Paul moved on to the next verse, tapping his foot to keep in time with the rhythm as he cast a look at Toni, who's face was a hot red. Yes, she loved singing her song for Paul's enjoyment, seducing him slightly with the outfit, but she found that he got even more attractive, hotter even, when he singing his song for her and only her.
"Midnight dipping in the pool, or sneaking out up on the roof."
You're unpredictable and girl that's what, that's what I love about you!" Paul sang, winking at Toni as she grinned like the Cheshire Cat.
"Don't you know you changed my life, girl, cause now I'm livin' and it feels so right! Yeah . . ."
"Don't you know changed my life, girl cause now I'm livin' and it feels so right! Yeah . . ."
"You got my heart beat pumpin' and its going insane. You got me jumping outta aeroplanes!"
"And that's why . . ."
I'm crazy its true, Crazy 4 U!"
"You got me base jump livin' and I can't look down! You know you short circuit my brain! I can't lie . . ."
I'm crazy its true, Crazy 4 U!"
The music dulled to a nearly inaudible roar as Micheal stopped hammering on the drums altogether. Toni had reduced her playing to only a few notes as Paul lightly strummed his guitar, singing into the microphone while dragging it over to her. A very difficult task for someone singing, playing a guitar, and keeping beat at the same time, but Paul was one of the few who seemed able to multitask to an extreme.
"No I didn't lose my mind when I fell for you, and I'm gonna love you girl like you never knew."
"Don't you know you changed my life, girl cause now I'm living and it feels so right. Yeah . . ."
The music suddenly went into overdrive as Micheal practically smashed the drums to pieces, Paul giving a wild motion as he strummed his guitar, barely holding onto his guitar pick as Toni slammed her fingers into the keys.
"Don't you know changed my life, girl cause now I'm livin' and it feels so right! Yeah . . ."
"You got my heart beat pumpin' and its going insane. You got me jumping outta aeroplanes!"
"And that's why . . ."
I'm crazy its true, Crazy 4 U!"
"You got me base jump livin' and I can't look down! You know you short circuit my brain! I can't lie . . ."
I'm crazy its true, Crazy 4 U!"
"I'm crazy its true, Crazy 4 U!"
"Im crazy its true, Crazy 4 U." Paul barely whispered, sweeping Toni off her feet and leaning her back, kissing her full on the lips in front of the crowd as the song ended. The audience, mostly Trey, Caroline, Zelda, and Ella, went nuts; Tajira looked like she could care less, but if one looked closely they could see the corners of her mouth curved upwards into the slightest of smiles; Wilson looked indifferent, a fake smile on his face as he stroked his mustache maliciously, brewing as Kiko looked like she would exploded, her left wrist jammed into her pocket; Maurananei was no where to be seen.
"My work here, is done." Micheal said with a smirk on his patchwork face, getting from the obliterated drum set and hopping off stage as Toni and Paul made out for a few more seconds before parting, both of their faces shades of red. They both turned to face the judge, Paul with his arm around Toni and with her head resting on his shoulder, a smile on both their faces.
"Toni, get off the stage!" Chris demanded, a stern look on his face. "You've already gotten your score!"
"I say, she stays right where she is." Paul frowned, narrowing his eyes at the host.
"Well, you have no say! None of you do!" Chris yelled, clearly irritated at having lost control of his own show. Ella cringed and tried to look invisible as Caroline hid in the crowd.
"What about me?" a deep voice rumbled from behind Chris. "I'm pretty sure Paul and Toni have a say in this. And if you want to keep that fancy hairdo of yours, I suggest you stop your whining and give Paul his score." Chris visibly flinched and turned around to find Micheal, still in his Pabaisanite form and with his arms folded over his broad chest, his conductors crackling with an alarming amount of blood red electricity. Barely twitching a muscle, a jet of electricity struck the desk's surface to Chris's left, barely burning his hair as a black soot mark sprouted from the desk.
"Next time, I won't miss." Micheal warned the host.
"Ah! Paul, you get 10 out of 10 for being original in your song choice! And because I want to keep my hair on my head . . ."
"Are you implying that you're bald?" Toni smirked.
"Who told you!?" Chris cried before realizing what he had said. Out loud. In front of the contestants. And the entire viewing world. On international TV. The host quickly hid under the desk as everyone turned to Fang, who simply held up a sign with the number 9 crudely written on it.
"10 out of 10!" Ella squealed happily, clapping her hands eagerly. "I simply love romance! A prince and princess united under love at last!" she sighed happily.
"You could say that." Paul chuckled. "Say, has anyone seen Maurananei? I think it's her turn."
"Ha! Eat it, ghost! Eat it!" Chef cried happily as his thumbs rapidly tapped the buttons on his hand held gaming device. The feel of warm, almost boiling, water against his skin felt good and relaxing after what he had to endure; being forced to dress up in a dress in front of the camera was not fun.
True, he did collect girly dresses as a hobby, but that paled in comparison to some of Chris's dark secrets. The cook sighed heavenly as he beat the final boss in his game and sat back in his hot tub, enjoying the luxuries he had received from being a co-host. Sure, Chris had more expensive and upgraded versions of whatever Chef had, but he was in his own private quarters, his impenetrable Fort of Solitude where no one could disturb him or bother him for as long as he wanted.
"Hiya, handsome." a silky voice purred seductively. Chef yelped and nearly dropped his device into the hot tub with him, screaming like a little girl upon finding Maurananei standing next to him, resting her head on his broad shoulders and seductively tracing a delicate finger over his collarbone.
"What are ya doin' in here!?" Chef yelled, half in anger and half in fright; the girl was seriously starting to scare him. Not only she try to flirt with him whenever she laid eyes on him, but he had begun to notice several things had gone missing over the past few days; his wooden spatula, his favorite cook's hat, a spare apron, and even the hair on his short beard. He shuddered at the thought and threw Maurananei his best glare, but she didn't even flinch under it, instead giggling like a little girl.
"Checking up on my Chefy Wefy, of course!" she explained, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Chef, the big, bad, muscled hash slinger who could face the worst of the worst, was now shivering under the mere words of a head-over-heels-in-love girl. With a scream of fright, Chef jumped out of the hot tub, trying to make a run for it. Unfortunately for him, Maurananei grabbed him by his trunks and yanked him back into the hot tub with a splash, slipping off her own clothing and revealing a brand new, white bikini that was very revealing and climbing into the tub with him.
By now, Chef was incredibly creeped out as Maurananei sidled up him and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, tracing a single finger over his well defined muscles. She then gave him a sexy smile and lightly stenciled her tongue over Chef's collarbone, finding him to taste surprisingly well; Chef however was getting beyond uncomfortable. It wasn't until Maurananei's white bikini bottom floated to the surface of the water and he felt her hand on his swim trucks did he finally have enough.
"Listen here, crazy girl!" Chef roared, jumping out of the hot tub in a spray of water. "I don't like you! I haven't liked you, and I never will like you! You are beyond crazy! Even beyond that creepy Izzy girl!" With a final scream of fright, Chef ran out of his private quarters as fast as his legs could carry him. Maurananei simply sat there in the boiling water of the hot tub, not noticing that her bikini top had, for the second time she was in the contest, slipped off her and leaving her stark naked. With a final sob of despair, Maurananei sunk beneath the surface of the hot tub, waiting to drown for all she was worth.
It wasn't until she had nearly drowned did a pair of strong arms pull her out of the hot tub. Anuok sighed and climbed up onto the rim of the hot tub after laying Maurananei on the floor and covering her up with a towel and jumped off, performing an anvil drop and landing on Maurananei's chest. Water spat out from Maurananei's lips as Anuok continued to perform CPR until the color had fully returned to Maurananei's face and she sat up, wrapping the towel around her bare self.
"Anuok? What happened?" Maurananei asked.
Anuok rolled her eyes and mimicked Maurananei drowning in the hot tub, much to Maurananei's disappointment. With a heavy sigh, she bowed her head and seemed to get smaller as she curled up on herself, tears starting to drip from her eyes and onto the wet marble floor; Anuok merely held her and rubbed her back soothingly as Maurananei continued to cry. The wimpering girl felt Anuok leave her presence and looked up to see Anuok holding out her notepad, reading "I foresaw you drowning in the hot tub, but I do not know the full story. Do you want to talk about it?"
Maurananei sniffed and sat up, leaning against the side of the hot tub as Anuok held her hand, listening carefully as Maurananei told her what had happened, how Chef had outright rejected her without a care in his twisted, black heart, thought Anuok visibly cringed at Maurananei's methods of seducing.
"Did you ever think that Chef may not like you?" Maurananei read over another note Anuok had scribbled out. "A couple times, I guess." she answered with shame in her voice. "I just thought I found someone like me, someone who had suffered like I had. Guess I didn't."
Anuok nodded and gave her hand a light squeeze. Maurananei gave a weak smile and suddenly pulled Anuok into a tight hug, Anuok relaxing once she got over the shock. "Thanks, Anuok. You always know just what to say." Maurananei said with a smile.
Anuok rolled her eyes at the joke before the sound of baying dogs and claws scrabbling on hard, wood flooring met their ears. A few minutes later, a pair of bloodhounds, one of them wearing a red collar around its neck, bounded into the bathroom and sat down in front of the two girls with watchful eyes. Paul came in a few minutes later, clearly winded as he leaned against the door frame. "Finally found you," he panted. "Tajira's almost done, Maurananei. And from the rude gestures she's giving the judges and the way Ella's broken down and hidden under the table, Mitchell's hiding in the curtains, and Trey is currently taking safety in the tallest tree available, I think she got a bad score."
"Are you going anywhere with this?" Maurananei asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"It's your turn," Paul gulped before noticing Maurananei's discarded clothes on the floor and her swim suit floating in the steaming hot tub. "Is Maurananei naked?"
Anuok nodded.
"Okay, just wanted to be clear." Paul noted before leaving the bathroom, the two bloodhounds trotting at his heels.
"You sure about this?" Maurananei asked Anuok. The silent girl gave her a thumbs up from her station behind a pair of large turn tables that the producers had somehow managed to buy with the limited budget they were on. Paul twirled a slightly rusted trumpet in his hands, looking slightly annoyed at not being able to play around with the turn tables. Alan stood awkwardly off to the side, not quite sure why he was on stage, but Maurananei gave a reassuring look, the first in a very long time; for once, she wasn't threatening his life.
"I'll be singing "I Wish" by Cher Lloyd and T.I. Because I have a few words to say to a certain someone." Maurananei finished with a low growl of annoyance. She gave a signal for Paul to start playing as Anuok turned on the turn table.
"Baby, I seen the chick you're with, wish that I never did freakin' perfect and five foot ten, just wanna punch her lip."
"'Cause I know I've been wasting time trying to catch your eye. Yeah I know that I been so blind thinking that I'm your type"
"And now I'm at home, I'm all alone, 'bout to pick up the telephone."
"Got to call my genie so he knows, yeah"
"I wish I was tall, I wish I was fast! Wish I could shop with a bag full of cash!"
"'Cause if I want you, I gotta have that!"
"I wish I had style, I wish I had flash! Wish I woke up with a butt and a rack!"
"'Cause if I want you, I gotta have that!"
"Baby, I'm gonna keep it real, boy you're the one I want. I don't own any five inch heels, just got my Nikes on."
"Never thought I was insecure, boy look at what you done. I don't know what I studied for, clearly I like 'em dumb."
"And now I'm at home I'm all alone, 'bout to pick up the telephone. Got to call my genie so he knows, yeah."
"I wish I was tall, I wish I was fast! Wish I could shop with a bag full of cash!"
"'Cause if I want you, I gotta have that!"
"I wish I had style, I wish I had flash! Wish I woke up with a butt and a rack!"
"'Cause if I want you, I gotta have that!"
Alan gulped and suddenly stole the microphone away from Maurananei, rapping in as deep as voice as he possibly could, Maurananei's face turning a light shade of pink.
Confessional
"Okay, I don't know if this is due to the effect of some all powerful being or something," Maurananei began, attempting to ignore the stink that filled the outhouse to the brim. "But Alan actually kinda looks . . . cute when he sings. But if you tell anyone that I will wring your scrawny neck!" Maurananei threatened the camera.
End Confessional
"Hey, now don't you wanna do some, baby, with the roof gone, baby."
"Aston Martin look retarded like the coup gone crazy. I'm not sure what kinda fella you like, but I can give you paradise, have it however you like."
"I'm talking solitaire iced out, ring, watch, necklace ain't no talking reckless, girl, I'm certified respected, girl."
"Yeah, you like to run your mouth, well you're about to learn a lesson, girl."
"Yeah, you the one but I'll replace you in a second, girl and I ain't even trying to see you naked, girl!"
"Wait, there I go exaggerate, clearly carried away. But what I'm saying you could true that I wanna be wherever you at."
"So you wishing you could kiss me. Do you really wanna do that, eh? Make a wish, girl!"
The audience clapped politely as Alan took a quick bow and handed Maurananei back the microphone, scampering off to her right where he proceeded to do some break dancing to the beat of the music that was both amazing and embarrassing at the same time. Maurananei tried to hide the pink tinge of her cheeks and continued singing her song, throwing Chef an angry look and flipping him the finger.
"I wish I was tall, I wish I was fast! Wish I could shop with a bag full of cash!"
"'Cause if I want you, I gotta have that!"
"I wish I had style, I wish I had flash! Wish I woke up with a butt and a rack!"
"'Cause if I want you, I gotta have that!"
"I wish I was tall, I wish I was fast! Wish I could shop with a bag full of cash!"
"'Cause if I want you, I gotta have that!"
"I wish I had style, I wish I had flash! Wish I woke up with a butt and a rack!"
"'Cause if I want you, I gotta have that!"
The music then wore off in a somewhat unorthodox way that sounded like the band members had been suddenly taken out by assassins as Maurananei took the microphone and broke over her leg with ease, roaring and pounding her chest like an angry gorilla as the audience applauded; whether it was because they liked the song or because they were scared was up to debate.
"Stop clapping, ya worthless maggots!" Chef yelled from his spot at the judges table; Chris had run off to some unknown location, most likely to take care of his receding hairline. "Ya get 5 out of 10 points, and not just because of recent events. Pervert Boy's little rap-thing was horrible."
Alan frowned and let his shoulders dropped as Fang held a sign with the number 8 on it. Ella, having finally managed to recompose herself after Tajira's 'tantrum', gave Maurananei a 10 out of 10. Maurananei bowed and flipped off Chef again before leaving the stage, the audience laughing at Chef's annoyed face.
"Alright, people! We're nearing the end!" Chris suddenly announced, coming out of the wings of the stage and acting like he had never been gone. It was hard to ignore though, when he had a large sombrero sitting on his head that nearly covered his entire face.
"Any particular reason you're wearing a sombrero?" Mitchell asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No! Absolutely none!" Chris said, perhaps a little too quickly, yanking down the brim of the oversized hat so that it covered his eyes. "Now then, will Kiko please come up and give her performance so that we may get going? It's a half hour show, ya know." the host reminded them, much to their annoyance.
Kiko frowned and made her way to the back of the stage, signaling for Trey, Mitchell, and Micheal to follow her on. Zelda gave her a suspicious look, but Kiko ignored it as she and her temporary band mates made their way on stage. Before she made on her way out into the spotlight however, a slender arm quickly pulled her into the shadows. Kiko nearly screamed and activated her Animatrix before realizing who is was.
"What do you want, Wilson?" she hissed quietly.
Wilson frowned. "Our little plan's falling apart at the seems. You need to sever all ties between Caroline and Micheal for this work. Because, in case your itty-bitty mind didn't notice, he's the only thing that's standing between you and me getting that sweet mil."
"Fine. And while you're at it, take off that ridiculous get up of yours." she grunted, pushing past him and walking out on stage. Wilson watched from the shadows, and pulled out a handful of fine dust, holding it in front of his face and ready to blow it out on stage when he thought it was needed.
Confessional
"Kiko serves her purpose for the moment," Wilson said simply, his eyes darkening as he continued. "But the second she becomes a liability, she's going' home!" he cackled, drawing his finger over his throat with a sickening slicing sound. As if that wasn't unsettling enough, his head popped off his shoulders and landed in his lap. As the head cackled maniacally, the body patted around with its hands before finding the head and putting it back on the shoulders, as if nothing had happened. "Neat trick, huh?" Wilson asked with a wicked grin.
End Confessional
"Hello, all you beautiful judges!" Kiko called out into the microphone, the audience cringing when it whined and shrieked before falling silent once more. "I'll be singing "Forget You" by Cee Lo Green. It would have been "Beep! You", but the editors would have to edit out have the song."
"Ain't that the truth." Mitchell grumbled behind her. Kiko whirled around to throw him an angered look, the pyro-teen opting to duck behind his recently repaired drum set surrounded by other various percussion equipment. Trey tried to look impervious to Kiko's glare, but ended up trying to hide behind his guitar. Only Micheal, sitting at a grand piano of all things, seemed unaffected and gave Kiko a "hurry up already" gesture with his hand. Kiko frowned as she turned away, Micheal cracking his fingers and striking a few chords on the piano to begin the song, Mitchel beating on a box to start off the percussion section.
"See you driving 'round town with the guy I love and I'm like 'Forget you'!"
"I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough, I'm like 'Forget you' and forget him too!"
"Said, if I was richer, I'd still be with ya. Ha, oh ain't that some ssh!"
"And although there's pain in my chest, I still wish you the best with a 'Forget you'!"
"Yeah, I'm sorry, I can't afford a Ferrari, but that don't mean I can't get you there."
"I guess he's an X-box, and I'm more Atari, but the way you play your game ain't fair."
"I pity the fool that falls in love with you, oh!"
I've got some news for you. Yeah, go run and tell your little boyfriend."
The audience watched with stunned glory as Kiko sang, not noticing Wilson watching from the shadows with mixed expressions in his eyes. He was incredibly impressed with her singing skills, and from what he could glimpse, she seemed to be singing the song at a certain person, watching her steely gaze trace down to a slightly oblivious Zelda. All in due time,he thought with a wicked smirk, slinking off stage under the cover of the shadows.
"See you driving 'round town with the guy I love and I'm like 'Forget you'!"
"I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough, I'm like 'Forget you' and forget him too!"
"Said, if I was richer, I'd still be with ya. Ha, oh ain't that some ssh!"
"And although there's pain in my chest, I still wish you the best with a 'Forget you'!"
"Now I know, that I had to borrow, beg and steal and lie and cheat!"
"Trying to keep ya, trying to please ya."
"'Cause being in love with yo ass ain't cheap!"
"I pity the fool that falls in love with you, oh!"
"I've got some news for you. Ooh, I really hate your ass right now!"
"See you driving 'round town with the guy I love and I'm like 'Forget you'!"
"I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough, I'm like 'Forget you' and forget him too!"
"Said, if I was richer, I'd still be with ya. Ha, oh ain't that some ssh!"
"And although there's pain in my chest, I still wish you the best with a 'Forget you'!"
"Ooh, ooh, ooh."
"Now baby, baby, baby, why d'you wanna wanna hurt me so bad?" Kiko sang with an almost pleading look. It was false though, her eyes swirling like pits of venom as she slowly, ever so slowly edged towards the grand piano, her movements so slow, only Wilson seemed to notice them; the witchdoctor was watching it all unfold with great interest, snapping his fingers and summoning a bag of popcorn for him to eat while waiting for things to go South.
"I tried to tell my mamma but she told me, 'This is one for your dad'!
"Yes she did."
"Uh, why? Uh, why? Uh why baby? Oh, I love you! I still love you, oh!"
Kiko was now right next to the grand piano, leaning it against it with an almost casual posture. Zelda cocked an eyebrow and screwed her eyes as she studied Kiko's look, how she was slowly inching her fingers closer and closer to an oblivious Micheal. She could see the pure evil in her eyes as she was enjoying putting her plan in motion, and Zelda gasped; she had been used all this time, and only now was her brilliant mind realizing it. And if what her incredible brian was telling her was true . . . .
A quick look at Anuok, the girl looking like all hell was about to break lose, and her assumptions were correct. And the worst thing was that she could do nothing bu watch as Kiko continued to edge closer and closer.
"See you driving 'round town with the guy I love and I'm like 'Forget you'!"
"I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough, I'm like 'Forget you' and forget him too!"
"Said, if I was richer, I'd still be with ya. Ha, oh ain't that some ssh!"
"And although there's pain in my chest, I still wish you the best with a 'Forget you'!"
And then, faster than anyone could blink, protest, or even attempt to stop it from happening, Kiko yanked Micheal off the piano bench and planted a deep kiss on his lips, even going as far as sticking her tongue through his lips and giving him the French Kiss. The entire stage and audience fell completely silent as the two parted, Micheal giving Kiko a swift kick to the shin before frantically looking out over the crowd just in time to see Caroline running off into the woods as fast as she could run, tears streaming down her eyes.
"NO!" Micheal wailed, dropping to his knees and screaming to the sky as Kiko smirked.
"Mission accomplished." she said quietly, walking off stage without another care as Wilson watched with a deep smirk on his face, slowly clapping at Kiko's performance. Not only was Kiko ditching Zelda the Naïve Genius, but she had singlehandedly killed the first relationship to sprout on the wasteland of Pahkitew. Oh, the irony,he thought maliciously.
"And with that, the Extreme Eagles are victorious!" Chris announced, flinging off his sombrero without a single worry of his receding hairline.
"What!?" Tajira roared, the crowd giving her a wide berth. "Kiko just destroyed a happy couple! That makes you HAPPY!?" she seethed angrily, visibly foaming at the mouth.
"Yep! And since the Extreme Eagles are the winners, Kiko is safe from the night's elimination!" Chris announced happily, Tajira getting even angrier if that was even possible. A look from her, Maurananei, Mitchell, Toni, Paul, and Trey signaled that Kiko's days were numbered; Micheal however, was simply numb and unresponsive to anything anyone said to him. Eventually, Anuok dragged him off stage, mentally cursing herself for allowing the horrible event to happen.
The night seemed dimmer, if that was possible. The moon didn't seem to shine as brightly as it did before, and the stars seemed to have lost their twinkle. The bonfire didn't seem as warm and inviting as it used to be, more like it was upset and enraged at the same time, blaming every camper that was unfortunate enough to be in the elimination ceremony for the horrible performances. "When I call your name, come and receive your marshmallow," Chris instructed. "If I do not call your name, you must-"
"Walk down the Dock of Shame and be launched out of the Torpedo of Shame and you can't come back, ever," Micheal recited glumly. "Can we just get on with this?"
Chris frowned, but his expression brightened as he held up a single marshmallow. "Alan, Trey! You're safe." Both boys gladly took their marshmallows, throwing Micheal sympathetic glances as they sat back down.
"Zelda, Wilson." Chris said, tossing Wilson his marshmallow; the boy had ditched his 'witchdoctor costume' for his regular clothes and look, a slightly confused look on his face. Zelda's marshmallow simply bounced off her face as she sulked.
"Three campers left, and only one marshmallow," Chris recited with a grin on his face. "Speaking of which, where's Caroline?"
"Probably bawling her eyes out," Micheal whimpered, clutching his dark hair tightly in his fists, as if trying to rip them free of his head.
"Oh, yeah! You totally just ruined any chance of you two ever getting back together, am I right?" Chris smirked as the Rhinos all shot him glares that would have turned him to stone if looks could have killed. Chris ignored them. "Oh, well. Doesn't matter anyway, seeing as she's safe." he said, popping Caroline's marshmallow into his mouth and chewing. "That means it's down to you two losers." he added, pointing to Tajira and Micheal.
"And the final marshmallow goes to . . ."
Tajira narrowed her eyes and folded her arms across her chest, as if daring Chris to say Micheal's name in front of her. She wasn't ready to go home, not like this. She had so little going for her, and she had so much more potential! It couldn't end like this!
Micheal sighed heavily and buried his head into his arms, holding his pounding skull with his fingertips as Zelda reached out with cautious fingers and rubbed his back, trying to make him feel better; in reality though, she was trying to comfort herself as well, for she knew that Kiko would not remain quiet for much longer. Sooner than they all thought, there would soon be Hell on Earth.
"Micheal." Chris finally said, tossing the watch wearer his marshmallow and watching without a care as it bounced off his head and into the bonfire pit, instantly turning black and disintegrating into dark ash. While most of the campers seemed relieved or indifferent, Tajira was furious.
"WHAT!? YOU VOTED FOR ME!?" she screamed.
Confessional
"Since nobody on our team really deserved to go home, Micheal least of all people, I definetly had to go with the scariest person out there," Alan admitted sadly. "Sorry, Tajira."
Change Confessional
"I'm not saying I'm scared of Tajira," Trey began shivering slightly. "But I'd like to keep my kiwis intact at the moment."
End Confessional
Chris watched as Chef picked up Tajira without a care, easily holding the screaming and thrashing girl as he marched down the dock and hopped into the submarine. There came a slight scuffling sound as the submarine shook a bit, the sound of breaking furniture drawing concerned looks from the campers before the submarine fired off a screaming torpedo into the distance.
"Well, it's definitely been the most dramatic bonfire ceremony yet," Chris concluded. "Will Kiko survive to the finale? Will Micheal and Caroline get over themselves? And what the heck is up with Alan? Find out next time on Total! Drama! Pahkitew's Vengeance!"
And that's it! Memo to self, never write another karaoke challenge.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a so g for their OC to sing. There sure were a lot of them! As I have nothing else to say, I must ask you to comment, review, suggest, and request below and tell me what you think is going to happen next chapter. I assure you, it will be nothing like Total Drama has ever faced before! And yes, we will find out what happened in Nigeria next Aftermath.
Hasta Luego!