Tbh I never expected to write this much, but I'm not going to question it and continue to pump out chapters. This one picks up with the survivors on the yacht where they start to really feel the weight and gravity of the situation they are in. Can they handle the horror, or will they too fall victim to the zombie apocalypse?
WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, swearing, sexual activity and character deaths.
The yacht continued moving through the night, the ten survivors eager to leave the horrors of what happened on the island behind them. But as they sailed off into the unknown, there were more than a few who were still despairing over their futures.
DJ had finally fallen asleep on the bed he'd been given to rest on and attempt to recover from his wounds. Bridgette had managed to clean the wound as best she could by putting pressure on it; she prevented him from bleeding out. But, even with minimal medical knowledge, she knew this was only a temporary fix. DJ was going to need actual medicine or a doctor's aid if he was going to survive this.
"This is horrible," Bridgette muttered, referring to many different things, "if things are really so bad on the mainland, how are we going to get what we need? What if there are no doctors?"
"There most likely won't be." She was surprised to hear it was Noah who had spoken. Apparently the bookworm had just entered the room and he seemed to have a hardened facial expression, "Society is crumbling as we speak. I imagine the governments of the world aren't going to hold up much longer and soon it'll be complete chaos."
"But we don't know that for sure," Bridgette attempted playing devil's advocate, "it could've been contained-"
"You heard Topher on the news earlier," Noah reminded her, "the virus that makes these zombies has gone global. There's nothing we can do to get rid of them. It's hopeless."
"And what of him?" Bridgette gestured to the sleeping DJ, "Are you going to tell me it's hopeless to think we can save him? Do you think we should just let him die? Cause I don't want to hear it Noah, I know you don't care about people but I do and-"
"Bridgette," Noah interrupted her, "I do care about people, don't think I don't. If it's possible, I think we should help DJ, it's just a question of whether or not it's possible."
Bridgette found herself feeling guilty. She'd always known Noah was a cynic and very sarcastic, but she'd always just assumed he was selfish and hated the rest of them. But she saw the look on his face: he was experiencing the same anguish as she was. It dawned on her that, like her life, his life had been dominated by this show and its cast for years. Watching the people she'd grown to love over the years was the most gruesome thing she'd ever witnessed; Noah was no different.
"I'm sorry." Bridgette said sincerely, "I didn't mean to snap at you, I'm just really worried about DJ. And everyone really."
"Don't worry about it, luckily I'm not an emotional person who cries whenever my feelings are hurt." Noah said and Bridgette supposed that classified as forgiveness, "If you want my help convincing Courtney to help DJ, you'll have it."
"You think we need to convince Courtney?" Bridgette raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"You haven't noticed?" Noah sounded slightly surprised, "With Chef gone, Courtney's taken charge of the group. With Duncan predictably worshipping her, Katie and Trent being too despondent to be of any use, and Alejandro and Heather being Alejandro and Heather, Courtney had it easy in terms of becoming the leader."
Bridgette was silent to think on this for a moment and Noah gave her one last thing to think about as he left, "Courtney hesitated to save Trent but when Heather made the yacht accessible, she instantly thought of her own survival. I can't say I blame her for that, but it makes you wonder a bit. Is she really trustworthy?"
Noah left her alone to collect her thoughts. She gave DJ an encouraging look and squeeze of the hand, even though he wasn't conscious, and murmured aloud, "I sure hope she is."
Katie had long since left DJ's bedside, per Bridgette's insistence, and she was currently leaning over the rail and looking out into the black night sky. With the wind howling and the temperature dropping, the former BFFFL was regretting her clothing choices and she stood shivering for her mistake. She made a mental note to mention finding more clothes for everyone to wear once they got to the mainland. They were all covered in someone's blood, be it their own or a zombies'. Katie still saw Sadie every time she closed her eyes, though now she saw something different in conjunction with that memory. Now she saw a flash of white light as a bullet left the cartridge of a gun; she saw Blaineley firing at DJ and she watched him fall to the ground into a pool of his own blood...
"Katie?" She jumped when she heard a voice from behind her, "What are you doing out here all alone? Shouldn't you be trying to rest?"
It was Alejandro, which surprised her; the Spaniard had never spoken directly to her ever. She supposed it wasn't really his fault given that they'd never competed together on the show, and she was in the peanut gallery during his debut season which took him all the way to the finale. She and Sadie had actually briefly had a fight over which of the two of them they thought Alejandro would like better, but their friendship eventually prevailed. Katie withheld tears at the memories.
"I can't sleep," Katie said honestly, "whenever I try, I can't stop thinking about everyone and those zombies..."
"I feel that señorita," Alejandro nodded in agreement as he too leaned against the railing, "I keep feeling a sense of uselessness. Like I could have done more to try and save more lives."
"There wasn't much else you could've done, and you did plenty." Katie reassured him, "I saw you protecting Noah, and I know you don't like him."
Alejandro scoffed, "I did, not that it matters much. It seems that no matter what I do, I can't earn the trust of anyone because of my actions in Total Drama World Tour. Noah despises me, Duncan and Courtney hardly acknowledge my existence, Geoff and Bridgette avoid me like the plague, and Heather has been...difficult."
Katie felt a twinge of sympathy and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry people treat you like that. I feel similar though; people always assume I'm just a dumb little girl who can't do anything because I didn't last very long on the show. And now everyone has their relationships or their best friends, and I have..."
She trailed off but now it was Alejandro's turn to comfort her, "If it makes you feel any better, I do not perceive you as worthless. Someone as beautiful and intelligent as you ought to make her opinions more well known to the group."
Katie couldn't help herself from blushing, "Thank you Alejandro, it does make me feel better."
"We're all we have at the end of the world," Alejandro said quietly, "we may as well be friends."
"Yeah," Katie smiled in spite of herself, "I'd like to be friends."
Trent watched from a pool chair as Geoff paced nervously about the deck. The party animal was scratching his head, as if pondering whether or not he should do something. Trent observed with little interest; all he could think about was Gwen. He couldn't help but feel like it was his fault his former girlfriend hadn't made it out. If they just hadn't gone back for him...Gwen along with all those she was with might've survived. They should've survived. It wasn't even just Gwen's life he felt responsible for. There was Harold's, LeShawna's, Izzy's, Sierra's, Cody's and Chef's too.
"Seven people," Trent's voice cracked as he whispered to himself, "I have the blood of seven people on my hands."
Geoff didn't seem to hear him as he thought long and hard over whatever was torturing his mind, and finally he decided to say something to Trent, "Dude, can I tell you a secret?"
Trent raised an eyebrow, "Really man? After all the shit that's happened, you have drama or something?"
"This is important," Geoff insisted and the urgency in his eyes made Trent bow his head for him to continue, "Bridge is pregnant."
"What?" Trent exclaimed loudly and Geoff told him to keep it down, "Why didn't you tell anybody before now?"
"We were planning too!" Geoff explained, "Once we were all assembled for the competition, we were going to make an announcement. But obviously that never got to happen and well...here we are now."
"Do you realize what a nightmare this is?" Trent asked and Geoff nodded as if he knew all too well what the implications were, "How long has she been pregnant?"
"Not too long," Geoff admitted, "it's been about two months. That's why she's not really showing just yet, and why she's been able to fight through the pain to survive today. But soon, she isn't going to be able to fight or run or do anything like that. How am I supposed to protect her? Because without her...I don't know what I'll do."
Trent understood the predicament, and what it would mean to not only Geoff and Bridgette, but the group as a whole. If Bridgette became a liability, the more hardcore members of the group might stop protecting her in order to save themselves. Trent could easily see Heather or Alejandro doing something like that, as sickening as it sounded.
"I'll help you." Trent decided, "No matter what, when she needs help or whatever, I'll help you guys through it."
"Really?" Geoff sounded hopeful as he wrapped Trent in a bear hug, "Thanks dude, you're the best!"
"No problem," Trent's breath was ragged as the hug was unbearably tight, "you were the one who told Courtney to wait for me. I owe you my life man."
"Glad we can trust each other bro!" Geoff exclaimed, a bit of joy springing back into his step.
"What else are friends for?" Trent couldn't help himself but smile; the party boy's happiness was contagious. The deaths of all seven still weighed heavily on his mind, but for their sake and for his he knew he had to survive. And he had to make sure no one else lost their lives to those zombies; not on his watch.
Duncan had just finished relieving himself when he happened upon an open door on the yacht revealing one of the other bedrooms. He would've just continued on his way to reunite with Courtney at the driver's area, but he heard crying coming from inside. Curiosity won out and he pushed open the door slowly to see who it was.
It was Heather. Alone in the room, the queen bee was on her knees and trying to keep her crying quiet so as not to disturb others who might happen by. Naturally this wasn't the case with Duncan, but the delinquent found himself actually feeling sympathy for the queen of mean: a rare occurrence.
He sighed and approached, "Heather, you alright?"
Heather immediately stopped crying and shot to her feet to glare at him, "I'm fine! And I was not crying, got it?"
"Whatever floats your boat," Duncan shrugged it off and Heather relaxed, "why are you not off with Alejerkdro?"
Heather wiped away any remnants of tears from her face and her frown returned, "I don't have to do anything with him, you do realize this right? And I don't really want to talk about him right now considering what's just happened."
Duncan nodded in understanding. Despite losing his feelings romantically for Gwen, he was doing his best to push the realization that he would never see her again from his brain. He was trying to hold it together, so he understood exactly where Heather was coming from: if she thought too much about who she truly cared for, she would have to fear losing them.
"Don't feel guilty about killing Blaineley though," Duncan told her, "Chef killed Justin earlier because he had too. You killed Blaineley because you had to. She was totally nuts and had already shot DJ; she would've taken the yacht and watched us all die. You actually saved lives doing what you did."
"I know," Heather sighed, "though I'm sure that's not how other people are going to view it. They'll all say 'oh Heather's just been waiting for the chance, now she has it' even though it isn't true. How am I ever going to regain trust?"
"Hey don't be like that," Duncan actually found himself disappointed that Heather would start being down on herself, "you were one of the smartest and most successful competitors in the history of Total Drama. You are crafty and clever and you're not as bad as most people seem to think. I understand the real you Heather, and you're a fighter. Don't get down in the dumps, stand up strong and fight through it. You'll be fine."
"Wow, who would have thought the ex convict used to be a motivational speaker." Heather mocked, though they were both smiling, and she actually gave him a hug, "Thanks Duncan, I needed a pep talk."
After a moment of hesitation, Duncan wrapped his arms around Heather as well, "Don't mention it, and I mean that. Don't go around telling people I was soft on you or Geoff will never let me hear the end of it."
Heather laughed, "I won't. Oh and Duncan, maybe you should give this pep talk to Courtney. As much as she and I have our many differences, I think she might be in danger of falling off the deep end and you're the only person she remotely listens to. I'm sure she'd appreciate it coming from you over someone else."
"You think so?" Duncan couldn't keep the hopeful tone at bay, "You think Courtney cares?"
"Definitely," Heather told him confidently, "Courtney's crazy about you."
Duncan looked stoked and he had a renewed energy to him, "I was right, you really aren't selfish Heather. I like the new you: encouraging with a hint of that iconic sassy edge."
"What can I say, I'm a queen for a reason." Heather said with a flip of her hair, prompting Duncan to laugh, "Now go talk to Courtney, okay?"
"Will do." Duncan gave a mock salute before he marched himself out of the room and went off to find the CIT he so desperately cared for.
Heather waited for a few moments, as if expecting someone else to enter, and sure enough she was right. He stepped across the threshold after ensuring no one else was around, turning to close and lock the door behind him to give them privacy.
"How did it go with Duncan?" Alejandro asked as he closed the distance between him and Heather.
"My performance was flawless." Heather boasted, much to Alejandro's delight, "With my friendship with Duncan solidified, I have a direct line to Courtney's ear and to controlling the group as a whole."
Alejandro's smirk grew wider, "Excellent my little devil, most excellent."
He kissed her nose and she asked, "And what of your game with the wonder twin?"
"Katie? Child's play." Alejandro stated with a laugh, "Preying on weakness has always been a specialty, and now I have secured her friendship as well. If we continue to forge these friendships with the group..."
"It'll be that much easier to assume control at the right moment." Heather finished the statement, "The plan is going perfectly."
"I love it when we get to scheme together," Alejandro admitted and kissed her on the lips, "I've never felt a connection with anyone like I do with you."
"Just shut up," Heather said in between kisses and her hands moved to take his shirt off, "we're going all the way tonight."
"I've been waiting a long time to hear those words from you chica." Alejandro said with delight.
And while the two engaged in amorous activities, neither one told the other that they actually genuinely appreciated both Katie and Duncan's friendly words towards them respectively. Neither of them expressed their doubts about their plan, or that they weren't even sure they wanted the plan to succeed. After putting down Blaineley for trying to act selfishly, did they really want to act in a similar vein? Well, any conversations would have to wait till later for obvious reasons. Though unlike Geoff and Bridgette, at least they used protection.
Courtney had underestimated just how long it was going to take to reach the mainland by yacht. She cursed as she finally recalled that on the original season, all the contestants had simply been on the yacht at once and for drama's sake they'd have the boat drive away and "come back" with another contestant. This was to save time from the, apparently, ridiculously lengthy trip from the island to Canada's mainland.
"You do realize we could just sleep on the boat and call it quits for the night, right?" Noah asked as he approached.
"I think we'll have to," Courtney said with a deep sigh, "at least we won't be attacked by any more of those zombies if we do. Though it's not like anyone's going to be able to sleep."
"True enough," Noah agreed as he sat down in a deck chair nearby, "I imagine this may be some of our last night's alive."
"Do you have to be such a downer?" Courtney snapped, though inside she agreed with him.
"I'm a realist, there's a difference." Noah replied in his usual monotone sarcasm, "Sadly, in this set of circumstances, there's nothing to be happy about."
"We escaped the island with our lives, isn't that something to be happy about?" Courtney asked.
"Less than half of us did," Noah pointed out before narrowing his eyes, "and DJ is probably not going to last either. He needs medicine badly, as well as a professional if he's going to have a chance."
Courtney bit her lip, "I know. We'll do our best when we get to land to get DJ what he needs. I still can't believe Blaineley would shoot him..."
"That's one of the more believable things that's happened in the last twenty four hours." Noah stated, "But I'm holding you to your word Courtney; we are helping DJ no matter what."
"I want to help everyone if I can," Courtney said sincerely, "there's just no guarantees anymore. Look what we've been reduced to in less than one day. If the mainland is even worse, how are any of us going to survive?"
Noah studied her curiously for a few moments and said nothing. Initially, he expected Courtney to just be power hungry and be thrilled at this opportunity to lead the group. But the worry and fear in her eyes made him realize she was just as conflicted as he was and she cared just as much. Maybe he shouldn't have judged her so quickly.
"We'll survive so long as we have a true leader," Noah finally said, "and I think you'll make an excellent commander."
"You think so?" Courtney smiled at him and he nodded, "Thanks Noah, I appreciate that."
"Get some sleep." Noah told her, "I'll keep watch and let you know if any trouble arises. We'll reach the mainland early tomorrow morning."
Courtney obliged to Noah's request and began walking towards one of the several rooms she could sleep in on the yacht. She passed by the first one and saw Bridgette was still tending to DJ, and Katie was also asleep with her head in her arms leaning against DJ; it seemed she had returned to his side after all. Courtney and Bridgette shared a brief moment of eye contact, but the surfer quickly looked away. Courtney didn't want to push it; the surfer was probably near her breaking point already.
She passed another door which was closed before she finally chose the third door as the room she wanted to be in for the night. She walked right in and turned to close the door, but she jumped when she saw the silhouette of someone behind the door.
She prepared to scream but the person spoke, "Relax princess, it's just me!"
"Duncan!" Courtney roared with both anger and relief, "I thought you were one of those zombies! Don't scare me like that!"
"I wasn't planning to, but I thought you weren't afraid of anything." Duncan said, a smirk forming on his lips.
"I'm not!" Courtney insisted and crossed her arms, "Jump scares do not count as being afraid of something."
"Nice to see you back in your usual argumentative mood." Duncan noted with a smile.
"I'm not argumentative!" Courtney exclaimed and Duncan gave her a look, "Ugh, you are such a jerk."
"Yeah, yeah, come here." Duncan said and before Courtney could react, he planted a kiss on her lips for the first time in a long time. He had forgotten just how great kissing her felt; it was as if all his problems melted away in that split second and it was just him and Courtney. Together.
Courtney pulled away, looking slightly shocked, though her face was clearly flushed. Duncan looked into her eyes and said softly, "You asked me earlier why I call you princess, and other nicknames, remember? Well, I never got to give you an answer so here it is. I care about you Courtney; I miss what we used to have. Every time you're in danger, my heart stops for a second as I realize that it could all be over. When you were surrounded by zombies today, the only thing I cared about was reaching you and making sure you were safe. I didn't even care if I died in the process."
"Duncan," Courtney said his name quietly, clearly touched by his sentiments, but he continued.
"Calling you those pet names reminds me of what it used to be like before I fucked up. I am so sorry for what happened on Total Drama World Tour, and I hope you can forgive me for what happened eventually." Duncan actually allowed a few tears to spill onto his face.
Courtney moved her hand to wipe them away and she cupped his face with her other hand, "Listen to me Duncan: I forgive you. And I care about you too. When I lost sight of you and Heather earlier...I thought you were dead and I'd never get the chance to tell you how I feel."
Duncan wrapped her into his arms and she made no move to stop him. They hugged in a comfortable embrace for a while, neither needing to exchange any further words. They understood each other, they cared for each other. And maybe they even loved each other.
And that's a wrap on entry #8! I know there were no deaths this time around, but considering the amount of characters I've killed off in the last few chapters, I think it's alright that this one was a slow, character building chapter. Next chapter the survivors will reach the mainland and the action will pick up once again.
Will DJ manage to survive his injuries? Are Heather and Alejandro actually going to go through with their potentially sinister plan? And how will Trent and Geoff help Bridgette with her pregnancy? Find out next time on Undead Drama!
DEAD: Sadie, Owen, Justin, Eva, Lindsay, Ezekiel, Tyler, Beth, Chris, Sierra, Blaineley
ALIVE: Heather, Duncan, Geoff, DJ (injured), Bridgette, Trent, Courtney, Katie, Noah, Alejandro
UNKNOWN/PRESUMED DEAD: Gwen, LeShawna, Izzy, Harold, Cody and Chef Hatchet