The two days free following the overnight camping challenge gave me a false sense of security for the next challenge. My mood was also lifted the day after we voted off Owen by Ella as she returned to her pink dress.

"I can't help Sugar, but I can help myself," Ella declared, and she spent the day singing to all and sundry. Geoff, Tyler, Country, and Anne Maria had to restrain Duncan and Eva once they got annoyed enough by Ella. Dawn quickly persuaded Ella to focus on her animal friends instead of the other contestants.

This serenity shattered during breakfast on the proper challenge day.

Chris whistled to catch everyone's attention as he walked into the mess hall. "Campers!" Chris announced with his usual grin on his face. "Your next challenge is a little game I like to call Phobia Factor! Prepare to face your worst fears!"

I was midway through a slice of bacon when the infamous challenge name was announced. Subsequently, I ended up choking on it for a couple of seconds. Dawn slapped me on the back, having to reach high, and managed to dislodge the stuck piece.

As I recovered my breath, Chris continued, "Now for our first victims, Heather!" he took a bunch of cards from his pocket. "Meet us at the theatre!" Heather took a long sip of her coffee as Chris announced what she would be going through. "It's sumo time!" Heather's eyes shot open, and she spat out all her coffee, like last time, onto Trent.

Chris made the following announcement right at Gwen, "Gwen. You, me, the beach. A few tons of sand." Gwen's eyes shot wide open.

"Anne Maria, Eva," the host then turned to the athlete and the Jerseyite. Eva ignored him as she lifted a spoon of food up to her mouth. "I believe you two and Lindsay have special beauty appointments today." Eva froze as she ended up dropping her spoon into her food. Anne Maria gripped her hairspray can so hard it burst.

I asked Chris, amid my wheezing, "How do you know about our fears?"

Unlike last time we didn't say them out loud. And I guessed some were fake, as Beth seemed unflustered at the worms. Harold was okay when the three ninjas ambushed him, who were likely interns in costume; he only failed by knocking himself out before hitting the trio. And with how Izzy showed no signs of fear during her time in the World Tour plane, I guessed she lied about having aviophobia to make a connection with Owen.

I lied about what I feared. The timebomb crack was meant to make me sound cool to the girls, especially Gwen, which backfired, kind of literally. Would I have to face another shark or bear this time?

"Glad you asked, Cody," Chris said and pulled out a familiar document. "You may recall in the application form, you were asked to put down any fears you had," he chuckled. "Should have seen you were being suckered,"

Suddenly the memories of what I put down this time resurfaced; I did put down bears and sharks, but I added a third fear and the possibility of how Chris would achieve that caused me to run out of the building and have an almighty panic attack. I grabbed a tree and shook so violently that it rained fur cones.

After Dawn managed to calm me down, we were brought to Ella's fear. As it turned out, it was nearly identical to what Beth claimed to be afraid of. Insects. Not only being covered by them but just insects in general.

Like before, we all gazed with dread at the paddling pool filled with worms. Expect Dawn, who smiled and waved at them.

"Okay," Chris said. "Each camper who manages to overcome their fear wins a point for their time. The team with the most points wins invincibility."

Dave winced. "You fear bugs, Ella?"

The Fairy Tale Princess shielded her eyes and cringed. "They're the only things that don't enjoy my singing; it's like they can't hear. They're just an unknown to me," Dave took her hand. "They try and get to know them," he encouraged. "Do it for me," he gave a grin.

Ella put on a brave face, closed her eyes, and slowly slid into the pool. Her face twitched with discomfort, and she jammed her mouth shut. Ella looked more convincingly afraid than Beth did. Still, she managed a full minute blindly crawl amongst the wriggling creatures.

Dave fainted.

Chris announced, "And Ella sets the bar way up there!" we all cheered as she climbed out. "Thank you," she said, then she noticed a worm dropping in front of her face and winced. "Can someone please help me?"

Dawn smiled and stepped closer. "Excuse me, little one," she said. "My friend wants you and your friends to leave her person. Could you please?" immediately, the worms slivered off Ella and burrowed into the ground. Dawn cupped a hand to her mouth and called down, "Thank you,"

After Ella, Lindsay and Anne Maria were subjected to the same fear. My guess that the Jerseyite feared a lack of beauty products had not been far from the truth, as it extended from her vanity. And Lindsay wasn't vain, as the Bombshell did not have the spare brainpower to be narcissistic; her fear was a purely honest dislike of looking unsightly.

Likely because of Anne Maria's more exacting idea of beauty, the fashionista pair's fear challenge was ramped up from the first time. Whereas Lindsay and Sadie wore ugly wigs before, Chris added poorly done makeup this time. And in Anne Maria's case, Chef hosed off her fake tan, showing her to have a paler complexion.

Then Eva got turned into a distorted mirror Neanderthal version of Ella. The athlete of the Bass wore a bright pink dress dropping past her knees. Her hair was made into pigtails, and she had hot pink lipstick, brilliant blue mascara, and a slight blush. She also wore pink high heels and long white gloves.

Everyone couldn't take their eyes off Eva as the girl, looking more pissed than ever, slowly stomped to her team. The wood she walked over cracked from the force. Lindsay approached Eva, smiled at her, and said, "Aww, you look so pretty!" However, Eva didn't exactly take it as a compliment. She punched Lindsay right in the face and sent the future model flying quite a few yards away, scuffing up her terrible makeup even further.

"Remember, Eva," Chris said, getting everyone's attention. "Like Lindsay and Anne Maria, you've got to keep all that on for six hours. If even one drop of make-up is whipped away, you're out!"

Eva grumbled violently and tightened her fist to the point where veins could be seen as the athlete quickly glared at everyone. "One joke about my appearance, and you're all dead." Eva practically growled like a beast at her teammates, making them all flinch. "GOT IT?" Everyone from the Killer Bass quickly raised their hands and backed away while rapidly nodding.

Heather looked at the scene with a smirk. I guessed the Queen Bee would attempt to annoy the Bruiser enough to make her flip out and lose the challenge, forcing her out of the game. But I glanced at Courtney and Tyler; I felt like last time, they'd be the ones on the chopping block.

Bridgette, Dawn, and Dave were next to begin their battle. Ella and I followed.

After leaving Bridgette deep in the woods and away from any previously used pathways, Chris led us to a clearing.

"Dawn," Chris addressed the aura whisperer first. "It's time for you to say goodbye to the great outdoors."

"But how?" Dawn stuttered. I stood by her and winced at how evident her fear was in her voice. "Look at where we are? There's nature for miles!"

"Don't worry, we thought of everything," Chris pulled out a walkie-talkie and spoke into it, "Bring them in!" Suddenly everyone jumped a bit as they heard the sound of a helicopter and looked to see a helicopter flying over the camp and carrying a pair of large metal boxes hanging underneath. The aircraft lowered and dropped the metal boxes on the ground while detaching and flying away.

Dawn's pupils turned to mere dots as she stared at the metallic cube. Chris walked up to a door built into the box. He opened the door and revealed a bunch of machines making beeping sounds of various pitches with added blinking lights. "Dawn, you must spend six hours locked inside this metal box with constantly operating machines for your challenge," Chris explained as Dawn shook. "Complete isolation from anything natural. Not even a single blade of grass is inside."

Dawn made a loud gulp in response as her shaking only got worse. "Not even one?" I made out from the moonchild's violent stutters.

"Nope!" Chris shook his head and chucked. "If you decide to chicken out, a key on the metal desk unlocks the door. At least, I think that's the right key."

I glared hard at Chris. But the host ignored me and looked at Dave. "And don't think you can get out of it, Dave," he walked over to the second container. "This one is especially for you," he opened it, and a rank smell, like the nasal equivalent of a foghorn, blasted us.

Inside this one was a genuinely disgusting toilet block. It was not covered in urine stains or faecal matter, but every single surface was smothered in what looked like grease.

"You've got to spend six hours in this filthy bathroom," he then glanced at Dawn. "Both installations have cameras inside so we can record your progress,"

I raised an eyebrow and pointed to the grease. "What that stuff?"

"Special grease we saved from Chef's kitchen," Chris explained, then chuckled. "The newer Producers insisted we use harmless substitutes. But they allowed us to remove all cleaning equipment, so no soup, mops, or toilet paper. And you're not allowed to have any of your own stuff, no hand sanitiser, wet wipes, or even a single handkerchief. Oh, and you have to take your coat and gloves off too."

Dave twitched and raised a shaky hand. "Can I return to the cabin and change my shoes to my spare old pair?"

Chris just grinned. "We thought you might make an excuse to run off and hide under the bedsheets," an intern walked up with a coat hanger and a pair of sneakers.

Dave scowled. "I'm not a child,"

"Then why don't you man up?" Chris said and gestured to the muck-filled chamber.

Ella took Dave's hand. "You supported me when I needed it, my prince. Now allow me to return the kindness. Since I am now free from any further tasks today, I shall stay outside the box to keep you company," she then took Dave's coat off. "I can also keep your personal effects on hand should you need them,"

"Same with me, Dawn," I replied. Only for Chris to step up. "Actually, Cody, we have a special guest coming who wants to meet you, and we need to get through some others before she arrives,"

At the confirmation of this mystery person's gender, my eyes widened, a cold sweat broke out on my sink, and my breathing hastened. "Let's get this over with,"

"Cody?" Dawn asked. "Twice now, your aura had become worse than when the bear attacked. What is making you so frightened?"

"I'll have to explain after I dealt with her," I muttered. Then I looked straight into Dawn's eyes. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Perhaps some Zen meditation can block out the sound,"

Ella stepped up. "I'll keep both of your company. My prince and my friend,"

"Ella?" Dave asked as he swapped his shoes and took off his bowler hat. "Why do you keep calling me your prince?"

"Less talking," Chris demanded. "Into the boxes you go!" he quickly shoved Dave and Dawn into their respective boxes and slammed the doors shut. "Come on, Cody,"

My ears rang, and my mind was so addled with confused nerves an intern had to drag me to other places. Unlike before, Harold overcame his genuine fear; however, I was too distracted to learn what that was. Leshawna failed to spend a minute in a box filled with Daddy Long Legs as harmless flies; the sassy sister didn't even last ten seconds. That seemed more sensible than Chef in a costume, probably another change from the new younger Producers.

Heather matched her performance from the first time.

I waited on the Dock of Shame and watched Chris bury Gwen, with Trent monitoring her. After covering the coffin, Chris and the others joined me on the dock. "Your special guest should be arriving any minutes now,"

As if on cue, an all too familiar shouting to me filled the air. "Oh my gosh! I love you guys! This is the greatest day of my life!" followed by short, over-excited breathing.

My entire body shivered and kept trembling, with the sharpest headache ever. Slowly I turned around a saw the boat dock.

On the bow was Sierra.

She stood about an inch shorter than in World Tour but wore the same outfit. My vision started blurring, and she approached. "Cody!" she screamed. "I dreamt of this moment, only you weren't wearing,"

Like with Fang and the first bear, my body acted before I had time to think. One of my big hands covered her mouth. Her eyes narrowed in a saucy manner, and she giggled before pushing my hand away. "You're so feisty!" she purred.

Chris laughed and explained, "Meet the number one Total Drama fan, Sierra! She started several blogs about Total Drama and each contestant. And she won our raffle a few days ago to meet her favourite contestant. Cody. In the meantime, she's done a lot of research and told us what Cody's fear was,"

"I called his aunt by pretending to be a telemarketer!" Sierra said, making everyone else back up.

"According to Sierra," Chris explained. "Cody's biggest fear is being stalked and harassed, and we decided now was the perfect time for the meet-up," he chuckled.

I remained silent and nonfunctioning, but according to everyone present, I looked like I saw a ghost.

"Cody," Chris began. "All you have to do is endure four hours of her caring for you, and you score a point." How he said caring for me made it known he precisely knew the nightmare child Sierra was. I took a deep breath and managed to calm myself. I spent two months with Sierra. If I could last four hours without another panic attack, she would be out of my new life, hopefully for good this time.

"All right," I said. "But don't expect me to stay in one place," I thumbed over to where Trent sat on the sand by the gravestone with the countdown clock. "I want to check up on Gwen first,"

Sierra immediately pounced on me and held my torso in her traditional hug. "Why Gwen? Don't you want to spend all the time with me? Your biggest fan?"

How her arms wrapped around my neck brought back the final moments of last time. The sharp jolt, the sudden heaviness of sleep, and everything going black. The headache and the ringing returned.

"Cody?" a muffled voice said. Something wet splashed my face; I shook my head, then came to. Sierra was still clamped onto me, but she looked soaked. In front of me, Heather stood with a bucket. The Queen Bee scowled. "You're not going to fail this like Leshawna did. Deal with this nutjob!"

'If only you had been like that in Paris,' I thought. "Thanks, Heather. I was miles away there," I then glanced at Sierra. "Do you know how many girls have called themselves my biggest fan since I grew to be this?"

"At least a dozen," Sierra replied factually. "But I mean it for real!" she took a picture from her pocket. One of me from before my hyper-puberty growth. "I think you were good-looking before your growth spurts. I just wanted to hug and squeeze you,"

I held my jaw tight to keep it from chattering. "If you had," I managed to say. "You could have snapped my twig of a neck," the return of that memory made me shiver. I jumped off the pier and walked along the beach without another word.

"Why are we going to see Gwen?" Sierra asked, annoyed. "Can't we go somewhere like a romantic forest clearing?"

"We can do something like that after I help dig Gwen out," I said. "I don't trust Chris will leave Trent be when Gwen needs him. So, I want to be a good teammate for her,"

Sierra grinned. "You're so sweet,"

I arrived just in time for the mime to scare Trent. As he ran, I caught the walkie-talkie.

"Trent?" Gwen's voice called on the device. I pressed the button. "It's Cody here, Gwen. A mime just ambushed Trent, and he's run off screaming,"

"Trent promised!" Gwen shouted back.

"It's not Trent's fault," I replied. "It's Chris who decided now of all times to make him suffer. If he's not back before the clock runs out, I'll dig you out," he cleared my throat. "Might be a bit hindered, though, since I have a cling-on," I turned the walkie-talkie to Sierra. "You want to say hi to Gwen?"

Sierra grinned and said, "I just want to know something your mom and brother couldn't answer. What breeds were the neighbourhood dogs that liked it when you filled your Community Pool with beef bouillon cubes?"

"Who the hell is that?" Gwen yelled with horror.

"That's Sierra," I explained. "Total Drama's current resident stalker fangirl. And she'll follow me like a bad itch for four hours!"

"That's your biggest fear? Crazy fangirls?"

"Stalking and harassment," I corrected. "And from what I can tell, Sierra is without equal in that department,"

Sierra giggled. "You know how to compliment a lady,"

"You know what?" Gwen said. "Just leave me here until Trent gets back to dig me out. I think being stuck six feet under is marginally better than being within arm's length of an abhorrent admirer,"

Sierra blinked. "Technically, you're only ten centimetres under the sand,"

"Just go, please!" Gwen shouted. I took the hint and ran off with Sierra clinging tight. We passed the cabins where Duncan stood facing the Céline Dion standee.

I returned to the two metal containers. Ella stood looking worried. She turned around. "It's so good you've returned, Cody. They've both been reticent for the past five minutes,"

Dread about what Dawn might be going through shot through me. I prised Sierra from me, pressed myself against the metallic cube, and banged a fist against it. "Dawn! Dawn, it's me! Are you ok?"

Nothing came from inside.

"Dawn? Dawn, come on, speak to me!" I pleaded, continued to bang against the box, and called out to the aura reader. "Dawn, please tell me you're,"

"I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

Ella and I flinched at the loud, muffled voice from the metal box. Just then, a loud clunk came from the door before it quickly opened. I gasped at how Dawn appeared. She looked even worse than after the Awake-A-Thon. Her hair frizzed up and beyond messy, her eyes constantly twitching and incredibly bloodshot, and she shook violently.

"Dawn!" I quickly knelt and gently hugged the moonchild, pulled her out of the box and set her feet on the grass. I didn't care that she failed to stay inside for six hours. "Dawn! Are you okay?"

"Zen didn't work," Dawn managed to squeak out. "So cold, much beeping. Nothing but machines. No nature,"

I shushed her with a soft tone. "It's okay. You're back outside. Your feet are on the grass. You're with nature again." Dawn's shaking slowed as I ran a hand through her hair to help straighten it up. I noticed Sierra looking impatient and jealous in the corner of my eye.

Another clunking sounded, and the other container opened, followed by a desperate wail. Dave slipped and stumbled out, utterly coated in grease. The Germaphobe dropped again and fell face first. However, his injuries were not his current concern.

"Sanitiser!" he yelled and held his arms out. "I need hand sanitiser!" before adding, "And sandpaper for scrubbing!"

Ella swiftly took hold of his grease-free upper arms. "David, take some deep breaths. You're going to be okay," the Fairy Tale Princess started singing too. "As the words sell the tune, and the moonbeams shine through. All I need to succeed in my plan. A champion rare, with a flourish and flare. And you're my man,"

Dave steadily slowed his breaths in rhythm with the melody. The pair spent a couple of second just looking at each other. "Wow, Ella," Dave said at last. "Usually, I freak out way more, but you've got an effectively calming effect on me."

Ella smiled. "I am happy to be of service, my prince,"

"Aww," Sierra cooed. "I knew they'd make a cute couple. Della forever!"

Dawn, Dave and Ella then looked at Sierra. Ella blushed with an assumed smile while Dave blinked. "Who's this?" he asked, and I explained.

"If you feel up to it, Dave," I suggested. "There's a waterfall nearby that you could wash the grease off. It'll be quicker than rushing back to the communal bathroom,"

Dave nodded. "That'll work to get this scary stuff off short term. I can deal with wet clothes better than dirty ones."

Ella took Dawn's hand. "Perhaps Dawn and I should go elsewhere so I can call upon my animal friends for comfort,"

I nodded. "A good call," it would also keep Dawn away from Sierra. The Uber-Fangirl's tendency to jump to conclusions would likely flare if I spent too much time with her.

After Dave washed his still-clothed body off, he walked back to the campgrounds, shaking from the chill. I stayed by the waterfall to keep Sierra away from the others.

"This is a romantic place you've brought me to," Sierra began. "Cody Emmett Jameson Anderson," she proceeded to ramble off the same facts she did during the flight to Egypt. I started using some of Dawn's mediation techniques to calm and distance myself from Sierra.

It worked somewhat, as I could feel her remove my sandals and sniff them like she did my spare sneakers. Then I felt fingers on my foot. Immediately I remembered what Sierra did, and I bolted awake. "Sierra? What are you doing?"

"Everyone loves a foot massage," she explained.

Instead of repeating the script, I scowled and shouted back, "I didn't ask you for one! You do know that counts as assault?"

"But I'm not hurting you," she reasoned, seemingly having no understanding of what assault legally meant. That would explain so much about her behaviour. She then reverted to some programming and continued the old timeline events. The Stalker Fangirl grabbed my foot again and continued rubbing it. "Did you know there's a pressure point between the tarsal bones that temporarily paralyses the body,"

This infuriated me. "Well, don't do it to me. That will count as assault!" I barely got my sentence through before she jabbed her thumb into the pressure point, and the searing pain coursed through my nervous system before I passed out.

When I awoke, Sierra started doing a speed run of her stalker hits. Because as my eyes fluttered open, her thumb was in my mouth. Like before, I shrieked because no matter how many times I experienced it, the event was still horrific, and secondly, because I knew where she kept her thumb.

Sierra giggled. "You're so cute when you're terrified!" then she grabbed my checks. "Quick! You've been out for nearly four hours, so I must do this quickly. Do you, Cody, take me, Sierra as your lawful wedded wife?"

My blood boiled, and I screamed into her face. "NO! NEVER!" I stood up, grabbed her waist, and held her as far from my face as possible. "Sierra, I do not love you. I never will. Your behaviour is inhuman and downright disgusting!"

Sierra started sobbing and crying in a manner I recognised. "And you can stop with the crocodile tears,"

"But," Sierra stammered. "This would have been my dream wedding,"

"Well, it wouldn't be mine," I countered. "Also, where do you think you got ordained?" I knew the answer from last time, but I wanted it on camera to get evidence for a restraining order should Chris try bringing her back for the World Tour.

"The Universe Life Church Monastery," Sierra admitted. I shook my head. "You must be recognised by the Ontario government to solemnise marriages first. So, no, Sierra, you can't achieve this dream,"

"Your aura," said a voice, and we down looked down and found Dawn standing beside us. "It looks like a tangled mess of muddy red, black, green, and grey Gordian knots. Your family have an unhealthy history of obsessive love disorder and celebrity worship syndrome. It would be best for everyone if you fully let go of your delusions,"

Sierra scowled. "Oh, so you can take my Cody-kins all for yourself?"

"I was never yours, to begin with!" I shouted back. Seeing no end to this, I chucked Sierra into the river, which proved too fast for her to swim against.

I let out a deep sigh. And a dainty hand placed itself on my massive mitts. "That was the best outcome that could have happened, Cody," Dawn said. "Still, your concern about her wellbeing is giving you a healthy amount of soft and bright blues mixed with purple and bright orange,"

I smiled another goofy grin. "Thanks, Dawn. How have the rest of us done?"

"For the Screaming Gophers, Trent successfully evaded the mime and dug Gwen out. Their relationship is slightly rocky, but your conversation with our artistic friend has softened her anger. Lindsay still has to reach her allotted time. But we are currently one point ahead of the Killer Bass, which Lindsay and Anne Maria will likely maintain. Heather managed to tease Eva into losing."

I nodded. 'As I thought. Has Geoff won? And without trash covering me to scare Bridgette, our surfer girl will likely pass. That only leaves Tyler and Courtney, like last time.'

Dawn took a long breath. "I still need time with nature to rebalance my energies,"

I nodded. "Yeah, and I need some time to purge Sierra out of my mind," the camera crew left us and returned to camp.

Dawn got into the lotus position. "Your aura was far more stressed at Sierra's presence than when Ant Clawer emerged. Did she do something worse than maul you?"

"Oh," I muttered. "Where do I begin?"

After a lengthy explanation, we returned to camp in time for Lindsay and Anne Maria to take the wigs and makeup off. The Bombshell gasped at the Jerseyite. "I didn't know how gorgeous you were without the makeup or tan,"

Anne Maria raised an eyebrow. "You think so, Blondie?" Lindsay nodded. "Definitely. You could get a super cute hunk as you are; only a little makeup to enhance your appearance is needed. I can show you if you want,"

"What about the poof?"

"You really pull it off,"

We then joined the rest to watch Tyler's test. Strangely this time, like with Geoff, despite Tyler cowering, he fulfilled the criteria of stepping into the pen and spending three minutes with the hen and her chicks meant the Producers deemed it a pass.

This changed things. I still could not fathom why the Killer Bass kept Courtney in after she lost triple winning points and previously showed herself to be bossy and little else. Tyler's blundering might not help long-term, but his attitude would have meant less friction.

Tyler now remaining would cause a distraction for Lindsay, thus occupying Heather.

"So," Chris announced. "We've got six points on both teams, and one Bass left," he turned to Courtney and smirked. "It's time to see if you can practise what you've been preaching,"

Chef Hatchet and the interns set up the high dive into the vat of jelly. "You can face your fear and dive straight into this pool of jelly and get the winning point for your team. Or you can wuss out and let it go to another tiebreaker,"

Courtney, like before, was unable to make the dive.

"Onto the tiebreaker," Chris said as he pulled out five cards from earlier. "I'm going to pick one member from each team who failed and give them a second chance," the host shuffled and pulled one out. "First for the Killer Bass, Eva,"

The Bruiser roared, followed by a fang-filled rant, "If you think I'm going dress up like a," she made a massive string of swears, making Geoff, Tyler and Duncan retrain her. Dave and I shield Ella and Dawn's ears, respectively. "Then you have another thing coming!" Eva finished with a raised fist.

Chris grinned. "So, you refuse to do the tiebreaker?"

"Yes!"

The host laughed. "Then that means an automatic loss for the Killer Bass. The Gophers win invincibility this week."

We cheered, and Leshawna wiped her brow. "Man, I don't think I could have lasted any longer than I did," Dave and Dawn nodded in agreement.

Once more, I watched the elimination ceremony from the vantage tree. Chris whittled down the names until he got to Courtney and Eva. Courtney for chickening out and forcing the tiebreaker, and Eva for refusing, which the Bruiser stayed unrepentant.

And it was Eva who went. I still needed to formulate plans involving Heather, Duncan and Courtney. It would distract me from my worries over Dawn.