A/N — Welcome back, dear readers, to the second chapter of Love in the Dark. I don't have much to say, but what I do have to say is this: in this chapter, I aimed to showcase the gradual development of Ezekiel and Heather's connection, highlighting the moments of vulnerability and growth that bring the both of them closer. The dynamics between Ezekiel's earnest determination and Heather's sharp wit create an interesting contrast, paving the way for captivating dialogue and compelling character exploration.
Once again, thank you for following and liking the story so far, and I can't wait to upload the next chapter.
On the day I was born
The nurses all gathered 'round
And they gazed in wide wonder
At the joy they had found
The head nurse spoke up
Said, "Leave this one alone"
She could tell right away
That I was bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
Bad to the bone
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
B-B-B-B-Bad
Bad to the bone
I broke a thousand hearts
Before I met you
I'll break a thousand more, baby
Before I am through
I wanna be yours, pretty baby
Yours and yours alone
I'm here to tell ya, honey
That I'm bad to the bone
— George Thorogood, Bad To The Bone
Chapter Two
Bad To The Bone
Heather tossed and turned in her bed, her mind restless as she slipped into a deep slumber. The world around her faded, and she suddenly found herself standing in a dimly lit room. The air was heavy with tension, and a sickly sweet scent hung in the air. Confusion swept over her as she tried to grasp her surroundings, but before she could make sense of it all, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows.
There he was, Alejandro, the charming yet conniving competitor that she had begun to hate. But something was off about him. His usual suave demeanor was replaced with a sinister smile, and his piercing green eyes glowed with a wicked glint. Heather felt a shiver run down her spine, but she refused to show any ounce of fear.
"Heather, my love," Alejandro said, his voice dripping with faux affection, his words laced with a venomous tone. "We are destined to be together, forever."
Heather's heart pounded in her chest as she took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to escape this twisted reality. But she found herself trapped, unable to move or speak. She was at the mercy of this dark version of Alejandro, a nightmare that she had experienced before was now brought into her life again.
The room morphed into a lavish mansion, filled with opulent furnishings and decadent trinkets. But the beauty was just a facade, masking the toxicity that lingered beneath the surface. Alejandro approached Heather, his movements calculated and predatory.
"You belong to me, Heather," he hissed, his hand wrapping tightly around her arm. "No one else will have you."
Heather recoiled at his touch, desperately trying to free herself from his grasp, but his grip only tightened. She could feel her strength draining, her spirit crushed under the weight of his control.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and Heather was trapped in a vicious cycle of emotional torment. Alejandro's love was possessive, suffocating her every breath. He manipulated her, taunted her, and isolated her from the world outside. The dream became a never-ending nightmare.
After everything that had happened to her, Heather now stood before a mirror, her reflection a mere shell of her former self. Her once vibrant eyes were hollow, her once fierce spirit diminished to a mere flicker. She had become a puppet, dancing to Alejandro's twisted desires.
The dream shifted once more, and Heather found herself in the middle of a raging storm. Thunder roared overhead, and rain poured down relentlessly, mirroring the turmoil within her heart. Alejandro stood beside her, unaffected by the chaos around them.
"You are nothing without me, Heather," he sneered, his words lashing out like the lightning from above. "You will always be mine."
Heather's mind screamed for release, for freedom from this torment. But the dream offered no solace. It only magnified the chains that bound her, shackling her to a loveless, toxic relationship. The storm grew fiercer, the wind tearing at her fragile resolve.
And then, as suddenly as it had begun, the storm ceased. Heather found herself standing on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a vast abyss. Alejandro stood beside her, a malicious smile curling his lips.
"It's time to take the final leap, my dear," he whispered, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure.
"No!" Heather's voice finally found strength, her desperation fueling her defiance. "I won't let you destroy me!"
With a surge of newfound determination, Heather turned away from Alejandro and took a step forward, away from the edge. As she did, the dream shattered, the fragmented pieces fading into darkness.
Heather's eyes fluttered open, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She was back on the Jumbo Jet, the nightmare relinquishing its grip on her. Relief washed over her, but the unsettling feeling lingered.
She had seen the depths of darkness within Alejandro, witnessed the destructive power of a toxic love. The dream served as a haunting reminder of the dangers of losing oneself in the pursuit of validation from others, something Heather herself had personally seen with her own eyes, and she vowed to never let herself fall victim to such toxicity, to never let anyone control her happiness or sense of self-worth.
Trembling slightly, Heather rose from her seat, determined to break free from the memories of her dream and trying to forget about it as she headed down to the main area to eat with everyone else. As she did so, she vowed to herself that she would never be a pawn in Alejandro's schemes.
Unfortunately, in these types of situations, emotions typically got the best of her.
And she loathed it.
Ezekiel's keen gray eyes scanned the bustling common area of the Jumbo Jet. Amongst the chaos of contestants going about their business (Chris had announced over the intercom that they would be arriving in Tokyo, Japan shortly), he noticed a familiar face wearing an expression of distress. Heather, her usually composed demeanor shattered, looked lost and tense, even though she tried to prove otherwise. Concern washed over Ezekiel — she was his teammate, after all — and without a second thought, he made his way toward her.
"Heather!" Ezekiel called out, catching up to her just as she reached the corridor that lead to the cargo hold. "You look pretty stressed out, eh. Everything okay?"
Heather's gaze met his, a mix of surprise and relief flickering in her eyes when she spotted him. She hesitated for a moment, her guard still up, but then she nodded. "Actually, I could use some fresh air from all this chaos. You mind joining me?"
Ezekiel furrowed his brow, sensing there was more to her request than met the eye. Nonetheless, he nodded in agreement. "Sure thing, eh. Let's head to the cargo hold."
The two made their way down the dimly-lit corridor, their footsteps echoing against the metal floor. The familiar scent of musty cardboard and leaking liquids filled the air as they reached the entrance to the cargo hold. Ezekiel swung open the heavy door, revealing the vast expanse of crates and equipment inside.
"Here we are," Ezekiel said as he gestured for Heather to step inside.
Heather nodded gratefully, stepping into the dimly lit space. The ambiance of the cargo hold felt oddly comforting much like the previous night; it was a refuge from the craziness of the competition. She found solace amongst the stacks of crates, and Ezekiel's presence only added to the sense of security.
Ezekiel closed the door behind them, shutting out the noise of the plane. He turned to Heather, his expression softening. "So, what's been goin' on? I can tell something's been eatin' at ya, eh."
Heather's guard began to crumble, her body language betraying her vulnerability. I hate this, she thought to herself. I hate this so much! She sighed, her voice laced with a mix of exhaustion and resignation, trying her best not too look weak in front of the prairie boy, even though she didn't sense him judging her in any way, something she needed to get used to. "It's... It's Alejandro. I had this terrible dream, Ezekiel. It was me being trapped in a toxic, loveless relationship with him."
Ezekiel's brow furrowed with concern as he took a seat on a nearby crate. "That sounds rough, eh. What happened in your dream?"
Heather took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "In the dream, Alejandro had this hold over me. He controlled every aspect of my life, isolated me from everyone else. It was suffocating, Ezekiel, and I couldn't escape. I felt like I was losing myself, piece by piece… like I was nothing."
Ezekiel's eyes widened, his empathy for Heather growing with every word she spoke. He leaned forward, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, that sounds awful. But it was just a dream, right? You know it's not real."
Heather nodded, her eyes welling with tears she desperately tried to blink away. "I know it was, but… it brought back all those memories of how I myself was once manipulated during my previous relationships. How I let other men get under my skin, how I compromised myself for their approval, even if it was for nothing. I wasn't quite the same back then like how I was during the first season."
She never knew why it had bothered her when none of it had mattered in the end. Both parties knew the relationship was purely there for their own social status. But Heather herself never expected those "relationships" to go any further than what they already were.
Ezekiel's grip on her shoulder tightened, a silent gesture of support. "You're a strong person, Heather. I've seen it before. Don't let Alejandro's actions define you. Trust me on that, eh."
Heather's voice quivered as she continued. "I thought I was over it, that I had moved on. But this dream... I hate it. I thought I was stronger than this."
Ezekiel shook his head gently, his voice filled with reassurance. "Hey now, don't be so hard on yourself, and from what I've seen, you've come a long way, Heather. You've proven yourself that you're not completely heartless. You have flaws, and that's okay. You're only weak if you let yourself be that way. The Heather I know, though, wouldn't let someone like Alejandro beat her."
Tears cascaded down Heather's cheeks, her vulnerability laid bare in that moment. She hated how she felt and looked, even though the teen in front of her was comforting her in any way that he was able to. She looked up at Ezekiel, her voice laced with gratitude. "Thank you, Ezekiel. You've always seen something in me, even when no one else did because of who I was." And still am, she added silently. "You've been a friend to me when I needed it the most."
Ezekiel's eyes softened, a gentle smile spreading across his face. "You're welcome, Heather. Friends stick together, eh. And you're not alone in this. If you ever need someone to talk to, or just a shoulder to lean on, I'm here for you. We're teammates, after all."
Heather wiped away her tears, a glimmer of strength returning to her gaze. She nodded, a sense of determination shining through. "I appreciate that, Ezekiel. And I won't let this dream define me. I'm going to rise above it and prove to myself that I'm someone who's weak."
Ezekiel grinned as he stood up, extending a hand to help Heather to her feet. "That's the spirit, eh! You got this, Heather. I believe in you."
Heather accepted his hand as she stood up, her grip firm and resolute.
"Well," Noah remarked dryly as he brushed rice off his head, "guess I can cross 'Falling into a giant rice bowl' off my bucket list."
After nearly avoiding their supposed deaths, along with singing a song, the seventeen contestants found themselves in Tokyo, Japan for their next challenge.
"Yes!" Harold cheered. "Japan! I know everything about this place."
"What you know just sent us falling from the sky!" Leshawna snapped as she glared at her teammate.
"Now, Leshawna," Alejandro said as he patted Harold's shoulder, "I, for one, am glad that we have a man who knows his culture. It could be useful for your team whenever we visit a new location."
"Thank you, Alejandro," Harold said, puffing out his chest in pride. "Glad to know there's someone here who appreciates my knowledge."
"In fact," Alejandro continued, "I myself have also learned the arts of Japanese. Leshawna," he said, turning towards her, "anata wa tenshi no yō ni utsukushīdesu."
"Say what now?" asked Leshawna, raising an eyebrow.
"I said 'you are as beautiful as an angel,'" Alejandro translated in his smooth voice, causing Leshawna to blush and giggle as Harold looked at him in envy.
Heather, meanwhile, looked at Alejandro from afar, her eyes narrowed. Ezekiel stood next to her as he watched as well, trying to look as though he appeared innocent if Alejandro looked their way.
Not long after, they soon stood in a room with a giant pinball machine in front of them. The challenge seemed simple: each team needed a member to go into one of the large balls with an animal. Then, they would have to score as many points as possible while the rest of their teammates helped them out. It took a few minutes to start, though, when the animals were brought out by Chris' interns.
"Do you have any knowledge about different kinds of animals?" Harold ranted as he glared at Chris. "Pandas are native in China, not Japan. Gosh!"
Much to everyone's surprise, Chris had agreed, calling his interns again while sporting a serious expression on his face. With a mighty shove, Chris tipped the cages over and demanded — as the interns screamed when the pandas proceeded to attack them — that they quickly find another animal that was native to Japan.
Two minutes later, scratched and bruised, two of the interns brought three green pheasants instead. The animals looked harmless, but everyone knew to still be a bit cautious. For Team Amazon, Ezekiel volunteered, for Team Chris, Alejandro had chosen himself to do it, and for Team Victory, DJ, despite his protests, had chosen by his teammates, being attacked by the pheasant as soon as he had it in his arms.
"Alright, teams, get ready!" Chris shouted through a megaphone. "On your marks... get set... roll!"
At those words, the challenge begun.
In an instant, the contestants pushed off with all their might, the giant balls quickly gaining momentum. Inside their hamster balls, the contestants clung onto the pheasants as they tumbled and rolled through the streets. The pheasants themselves squawked and flapped their wings, seemingly enjoying the wild ride. The points for each team, meanwhile, were rapidly changing as everyone tried their hardest to make sure they got a good score. After ten minutes, the hamster balls cane to a stop.
Ezekiel came out of his, looking pale while the pheasant calmly sat atop his toque. Alejandro exited while calming his pheasant with a soothing voice (all the girls except Heather and Sierra awww'd at the display). Finally, DJ collapsed into the floor, looking as bad as the interns, while the pheasant walked away from the area as said interns chased after it while carrying the other two pheasants.
The contestants gathered around, their hearts pounding with anticipation.
"In third place, with a score of 127,820 points, it's Team Victory!"
Said team exchanged disappointed glances, but held their heads high.
"In second place, with a score of 134,925 points, it's Team Amazon!"
Heather smirked, satisfied with their performance despite the loss, especially when Alejandro smirked right back at her.
"And in first place, with an impressive score of 145,630 points, it's Team I Am Really Really Really Really Hot!"
Alejandro, Gwen, and Courtney erupted into cheers while Sierra wrapped Cody into a bone-crushing hug, congratulating each other on their hard-fought victory.
With that out of the way, Chris stood at the front of the group, a mischievous grin on his face. "And now, contestants, for the second half of the challenge. You'll be starring in a commercial for the latest sensation in the candy world: the Yum Yum Happy Go Time Candy Fishtails!"
As soon as Chris mentioned candy, the contestants perked up, their eyes widening with anticipation and apprehensiveness.
"Yum Yum Happy Go Time Candy Fishtails? What are those?" Noah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"They're the newest, most exciting candy product to hit the market," Chris explained, holding up a package of colorful, fish-shaped candies. "These little treats are flying off the shelves, and today, you'll get the chance to create a commercial that'll make them even more popular!"
A helicopter appeared overhead, and Chef Hatchet, Chris's loyal and slightly terrifying sidekick, rappelled down to join them, carrying a camera crew and a stack of scripts.
"Listen up, maggots!" Chef bellowed. "You'll be divided into three teams for this challenge. Each team will create their own commercial for the Yum Yum Happy Go Time Candy Fishtails. You'll have to come up with a catchy jingle, an exciting concept, and, of course, act your hearts out!"
The contestants exchanged excited glances, eager to show off their creativity and acting skills.
"Team Amazon, you're up first!" Chris announced, pointing at the Ezekiel, Heather, Bridgette, Lindsay, and Tyler. "Time to prove your worth, ladies and gents."
Heather smirked confidently while Bridgette and Lindsay exchanged worried looks.
"Team Chris Is Really Really Really Really Hot," Chris continued, gesturing toward Alejandro, Courtney, Gwen, Cody, and Sierra. "You're next."
Alejandro and Courtney nodded in agreement, ready to give their best performance. Cody, on the other hand, seemed more interested in the candies that he was already munching on.
"And last but not least, Team Victory," Chris said, indicating DJ, Owen, Noah, Izzy, Harold, and Leshawna. "Show us what you've got."
DJ grinned, Noah and Leshawna shrugged, Harold looked determined, and both Owen and Izzy were enthusiastically pumped, ready to tackle the challenge head-on.
Chef handed each team their scripts and instructed them to head to a nearby film studio, where they would find various props and sets to shoot their commercials.
With the shooting complete, the contestants eagerly gathered for the screening of their commercials of the Yum Yum Happy Go Time Candy Fishtails inside the Total Drama Jumbo Jet.
The teams watched their commercials, their eyes filled with anticipation and nerves. Each commercial had its unique, and bizarre, charm and entertained them in different ways. The tension in the air was palpable as Chris and Chef prepared to deliver their verdict.
"Alright, folks, that was some seriously entertaining stuff," Chris announced, his eyes alight with excitement. "But there can only be one winning team. After careful deliberation, the winning team of the commercial challenge and immunity is... Team Chris Is Really Really Really Really Hot!"
The members of said team erupted in cheers, their faces beaming with joy and relief. Gwen, Courtney, and their other teammates couldn't contain their excitement as they embraced one another. They had managed to showcase the bizarre combination of candy and fishtails in a way that was both humorous and memorable.
Chris grinned as he continued, "And since Team Chris Is Really Really Really Really Hot won, and since Team Amazon came in second, that means that Team Victory will be facing the elimination ceremony. One of you will be saying 'sayonara' to the competition. Gather your thoughts, people, because tonight's elimination will be probably be a tough one."
With the challenge behind them, the contestants retreated back to the Jumbo Jet, reflecting on their performances and strategizing for the next part of the competition.
Confessional
Ezekiel sat nervously in the confessional booth, shifting his weight from one foot to another. After his return to the competition, he had felt like an outcast, an unwanted addition to the cast. However, his recent interactions with Heather had changed his perspective on the game and the people around him.
"Uh, hey there, eh. I gotta say, being back in the game has been, like, whack. But, y'know what? I've been surprised, eh. Heather and I, we had some beef in the past, what with everything I said, eh, but she's been different lately. We actually started talking, and she's not as bad as I thought. I mean, don't get me wrong, she can still be kinda harsh, but she's got some good in her, too. We've bonded over our shared goal to make it far in this competition, and I think I can trust her..."
(static)
"I've always been a lone wolf, not caring about anyone but myself," Heather said, crossing her arms. "But now, Ezekiel's presence has changed that, and it scares me. I can't let emotions cloud my judgment; I have to focus on winning. But, being around him makes me feel... different. Ugh, I can't believe I'm even considering this. It's a weakness, and I can't afford to be weak. Winning is all that matters, and if it means betraying him later, then… then so be it!"
Yet despite what she said, she knew that this wasn't the case.
(static)
In contrast to Ezekiel and Heather's genuine emotions, Alejandro's confessional was a display of calculated manipulation and cunning strategy. He reveled in the art of deception and had elaborate plans to play the contestants like pawns on a chessboard.
"My dear amigos, you are about to witness the grand scheme of Alejandro Burromuerto. The time has come for Team Victory to fall under my control. Oh yes, those pitiful souls are ripe for manipulation. I shall exploit their weaknesses, their insecurities, and mold them into nothing more than elimination fodder. As for my own team, Courtney's leadership skills will be my leverage over her, while Cody's inability to charm Gwen will be my tool to sway him. And poor, naïve Sierra — she'll do whatever I tell her to do if it involves Cody. I will orchestrate the ultimate alliance, one that will grant me complete control over this game. As for Gwen herself, I don't know anything about her at the moment, but I'll take my chance the second I see an opportunity. After all, those contestants are merely stepping stones in my path to victory."
(static)
"Oh, isn't it adorable how Heather and Ezekiel are getting along now?" Sierra swirled as she held a Cody plushie. "I knew they'd become friends eventually. Heather just needed some time to warm up to the true, sweet Ezekiel. But Alejandro is a different story. He's playing everyone, and I don't trust him one bit!"
(static)
"I have my eye on Heather and Ezekiel," Courtney said as she wrote something down on her PDA. "They seem to have formed an odd bond, and I can't decide if that's good or bad for our team. As for Alejandro, I've dealt with my fair share of smooth talkers in the past, and he's just another one. The rest of us need to be careful not to fall into his traps."
(static)
"I don't trust Alejandro as far as I can throw him," Gwen said. "But I have to admit, I'm impressed with how far Ezekiel has come. He's no longer the annoying homeschool guy, and Heather seems to have softened up a bit too. It's weird, sure, but I guess that's what this competition does to people."
(static)
"Team dynamics so far are unbearable, especially with hearing about Harold quitting, and it's getting hard to predict who will be eliminated next," Noah said as he looked up from his book. "I've been observing Alejandro's moves, and they're pretty slippery — like an eel."
(static)
"I don't know about Heather and Ezekiel's little friendship, especially based off what other people are saying," Leshawna admitted, looking a cross between skeptical and determination. "It's like they've both matured a bit and realized they have common ground or something. But Alejandro? Uh-uh, that guy is shady, and I know for a fact that Harold will try his best to win the game for me rather than quit to 'impress' me. I've got my team's back, and we'll need to watch out for him together."
A/N — So yeah, the whole losing streak of Team Victory in canon will, more or less, still be the same here, but that doesn't mean it's going to happen every time since I'm planning on having other competitors be eliminated as well.
Secondly, I'm also writing the characters to be a bit more smarter to Alejandro's manipulations instead of easily falling for them in canon because I felt that they would know that someone in the game, besides Heather, would try and do anything to win.
Anyways, please feel free to share your thoughts in your reviews.