Chapter 18: The Psycho Killer

The next night after the bike race challenge, the campers were all sitting on the beach and watching a horror movie. Most of the campers were enjoying it, but DJ was covering his eyes. "Ah, man... I hate scary movies." "Here comes the blood fest!", Gwen announced. She, Izzy and Trent all cheered. "Now the killer's running back to the woods! He's getting away! Yeah, good ending!", Izzy said. "Izzy loves scary movies!" Trent raised an eyebrow. "Why are you talking about yourself in third person?" Izzy shrugged, and the tape stopped rolling. DJ sighed in relief. "Am I ever glad that's over! I reeeally hate scary movies." Gwen smirked. "Oh yeah, what scares you most? The part where everyone meets a grisly death, or the psycho killer with the chainsaw?" DJ screamed and hid behind Leshawna. "Okay, that was NOT cool!", he said. "Oh come on, DJ, for a slasher flick it was pretty tame. Not like Bloodbath Two, Summer Camp Reign of Terror." Trent smirked. "You actually liked that cheesy gore fest?" "I'm a goth, I like dark things." "And I like you", Trent said. Gwen kissed him. Heather laughed. "Wow, first you look like a zombie and now you admit you like death? Trent sure knows how to pick 'em." Gwen glared at her. "Oh, shut up." Heather ignored her. "So, anyone have any idea what our challenge will be tomorrow?"

Just then, the campers heard an engine starting at the dock. They ran up just in time to see Chris and Chef leaving on a motor boat. "Hey, where's the fire?", Trent yelled. "And you forgot this bag!", Izzy added. She started going through it and pulled out a newspaper. "Escaped psycho killer on the loose. Cool! Be on the lookout for a man wearing a hockey mask with a hooked hand and carrying a chainsaw!" "Oh, come on", Heather said. "They don't expect us to fall for this, do they? Scary movie followed by hasty exit followed by strategically placed prop?" "I don't know... they looked pretty spooked", DJ said. "Puh-lease. It's all part of their little stunt to freak us out." Izzy kept going through the bag. "If this was a stunt, would Chris leave behind his hair gel?" Katie and Sadie gasped. "Whoa, this might be for real." "I'm scared, Katie!" They hugged and shrieked, then Heather put her hands over their mouths. "Get a hold of yourselves! They're just trying to scare us, calm down. You're gonna be alright." "Heather's right", Leshawna said. "DJ, you get a grip too!" "I can't", he said, "I feel like we're being watched." "Hello, it's a reality show? We're always being watched!"

"Okay, look", Gwen said. "It doesn't matter whether this is real or a challenge. We need a game plan." "You little lambs might need a game plan, but I need a facial", Heather said. She walked off toward the communal baths. "Are you crazy? First rule of slasher films, never go off alone!" "I might actually listen to you if this were a dumb story, but this is just a challenge. I'll see you when it's over." Izzy laughed as Heather walked away. "And the nonbeliever seals her fate", she said. "I say we go back to camp and talk strategy", Gwen said. The others followed her to the beach, where she set up a diagram.

"Okay, rule number one: do not go off on your own. Rule number two: if you do go off on your own, never go in the woods. Rule number three: if you do go in the woods, never ever ever make out in the woods, or else you will DIE in the woods!" Katie raised her hand. "Can me and Sadie go get Heather? We're kinda worried about her." Gwen nodded. "Just stick together, alright?" "Of course we will!", Sadie said. Then, they ran off. On their way there, the psycho killer stepped out from behind a tree. Katie and Sadie shrieked and ran off into the woods. "I DON'T WANNA DIE!', Katie yelled. They ran to the edge of a cliff and the psycho killer approached them. They screamed again and he turned on the chainsaw... and removed his mask. Sadie looked at him. "Wait. Chef?" He nodded. "What the heck are you doing! You scared us half to death!" He shrugged and turned off the chainsaw. "It's part of the challenge. My job is to scare you punks until only one camper's left. Since you two are out, you're comin' with me to wait with Chris until the challenge ends." Katie sighed. "That's a relief..."

Back at the beach, Gwen had turned a page on the diagram sheets and filled it in. "Okay, now that I've drawn a chart of all the players, we can- where's DJ and Izzy?" "I think they both had to use the bathroom", Trent said. He was right. Over at the communal baths, Izzy was waiting outside while DJ went in. Then, the psycho killer Chef appeared. "Ah, there you are!", Izzy said. "I've been waiting for this! Bring it on, chainsaw guy!" She charged at him to attack, but he dropped the chainsaw and grabbed her by the arm, then put the hook around her neck. "Oh, crap..." He shoved her under his arm and picked the chainsaw up again, then walked back to the woods. Meanwhile, DJ walked into the restroom and found Heather there, shaving her legs. He screamed and ran back out, across the camp, over the cliff and into the lake, to the dock, then to the woods and into the tent where Chris, Izzy and the BFFs were waiting. Izzy slapped him to make him stop screaming. "Dude, you're safe!", Chris said. "The psycho killer was Chef! He was gonna scare the crap out of you, but apparently Heather beat him to it. "Bro, did you see her face?", DJ said. "That was some serious ugly goin' on!" "True, but you still bailed before Chef even found you. Speaking of which, who's he chasing right now?"

Gwen ran to the communal wash and found Heather. "Are you okay? I heard screaming." "I'm fine", Heather said, "but you might wanna go check on DJ. He ran out of here like he saw a ghost. Can I have my shower in peace, please?" "Ooh, I wouldn't do that if I were you." Heather glared at her. "Fine. Suit yourself." Gwen shrugged and went out. Heather turned on the shower, then heard something. "Hey, I'm trying to take a shower! Buzz off!" Chef walked in and turned on the chainsaw. "I'm serious, you guys-" she stepped out of the shower stall, saw Chef and shrieked. Chef carried her over to the tent, and Katie and Sadie hugged her. "Aww, poor Heather! Did Chef scare you?", Sadie asked. Heather looked away. "I'm just upset that he nearly saw me naked. I bet YOU guys were scared of the psycho killer act, though." Katie sighed. "Yeah, true enough."

Back at the campfire bit, Gwen found Trent sitting alone. "Where's Leshawna?", she asked. "She went to get some food." Gwen facepalmed, then crossed off Leshawna's picture on the chart. "Why doesn't anyone listen to me?" "I listen to you", Trent said. He stood up and went to kiss her, but she pushed him away. "Trent, no. Not right now. If we start making out, the killer's gonna get both of us." Trent sighed.

Leshawna tiptoed into the mess hall and looked around, then proceeded to the kitchen. She looked at the counter and smiled. "Brownies! Now that's what I'm talkin' about." She ate one, then picked up the tray, and the lights in the kitchen went out. She ran to the exit and found Chef waiting there for her. She backed up and Chef pushed her toward the corner. "Yeah? I've got sixteen years in the projects! Bring it!" Chef swung the chainsaw at her, but she dodged it and ran. Chef then chased her straight to the tent.

"You know what really ticks me off?", Gwen asked Trent. "That I was trying to help those guys." Trent shrugged. "Their loss, not ours." "Yeah, true enough. Hey, you wanna go get a sandwich?" Trent nodded. "Yeah, let's go." They went over to the mess hall and got their food, and then the psycho killer walked in. Gwen didn't even react. "I wasn't born yesterday, dude", she said. "Please. First we watch a scary movie with an escaped psycho killer with a chainsaw and a hook, and here you are running around." She got up and approached him. "Okay, I know actors without speaking parts don't get paid much, but seriously. Dude. Invest in a dental plan and some toothpaste. So, you want a sandwich before you impale me with your big scary hook?" Trent tried to pull Gwen away, but she pulled her arm free. "Trent, chill. I got this." She finished her sandwich, then turned to the killer again. "Look, you can drop the charade, okay? I know you're an actor with a hook prop, and frankly you're not that scary."

The psycho killer removed his hook hand, revealing a shriveled stump on his wrist. "Wow... how'd you make it all scabby like that?" Suddenly, Chris and the losers burst through the door. "Guys, it's the REAL escaped psycho killer with the chainsaw and a hook!" "What?" The psycho killer revved up his chainsaw and raised it over his head, and Gwen screamed and kicked him in the jaw. She did this until he fell over, and then Trent hugged Gwen. "Are you okay?" Gwen nodded. "I'll be fine, just get this guy behind bars or something!"

After Chris called the RCMP, he got all the others over to the campfire pit. "Well, it's obvious to everyone that Gwen won this challenge", he said. "And sadly, it's equally obvious that DJ lost. Time for you to walk the dock of shame, buddy." He sighed, and Trent patted his shoulder. "No hard feelings, man. Sorry you got kicked off." Izzy hugged him. "Say hi to Geoff for me if you see him, k?" He nodded and walked off to the boat of losers.