As I mentioned, Stephanie loves horror movies! Thanks for reviewing, Gage the Hedgehog.

We had another break. Two, actually. But on the evening of the second day, Chris set up a horror movie for us to watch. If you remember, I had a conversation with Gwen about slasher flicks on our second day at camp, so it was great for both of us. Especially when it turned out Duncan was really into horror movies, too.

"He's coming out of the woods with a big hacking chainsaw!" Izzy exclaimed. "So cool!"

"Oh no, psycho killer man's going for the car!" Owen exclaimed, covering his eyes.

"Yo, fool couple, stop making out and start the car!" Leshawna yelled at the screen. She threw some popcorn.

"They're gonna be chainsaw sushi!" Izzy laughed.

"I agree with Leshawna!" I called out. "Can't they just look up for ONE minute?"

"Great Canadian cheese, now the car won't start!" Owen exclaimed.

DJ, who had been covering his eyes for most of the movie, risked a look at the screen. "Oh man," he said shakily, "I hate scary movies." Poor dude.

"Run, the psycho's gonna get ya!" Izzy cried.

DJ kept covering and uncovering his eyes.

"Here comes the bloodfest!" Gwen called. "Yeah! Right on!"

"More, more, MORE!" I started yelling at the screen.

Izzy narrated as the psycho killer left. "He's getting away! Yeah, good ending!" She suddenly jumped into Owen's arms. "Izzy loves scary movies!"

"So does Owen." Owen said, copying her third-person speech.

"Am I ever glad that's over." DJ said. "I really hate scary movies."

I put my arm around him. "It's okay, DJ, it didn't really happen, right? We're safe."

"What scares you most?" Duncan teased him. "The part where everyone meets a grisly death or the psycho killer with the hook?" At this moment, he brought out his fake hook and DJ screamed. Everyone else laughed.

I shoved Duncan playfully. "OK, Captain Hook, we've seen enough blades for one night. Put that thing away, you're scaring him."

"Aw, come on, Deej." Gwen said. "For a slasher flick, it was pretty tame." That was true. Apart from the bloodfest at the end, there wasn't that much violence.

"Not like Bloodbath II: Summer Camp Reign of Terror!" Duncan said.

"No way, that's my favourite movie!" Gwen exclaimed.

I shrugged. "Meh, it was OK. I prefer Scream." We started talking about the best parts of the movies.

"Awww," Heather said sarcastically. "Looks like Gwen, Stephanie and Duncan have more in common than bad fashion sense. It's just mindless guts and gore."

"Oh yeah?" I said. "What about The Exorcist? Scariest horror movie ever, mostly psychological."

"Horror movies aren't mindless." Gwen agreed.

"Yeah, they're loaded with psychological trauma." added Duncan. "Look at DJ." Who was now clinging to Leshawna like a lifeline, probably because she was closest.

We started discussing the challenge, but then, we were distracted when Chris and Chef suddenly left on the boat with terrified expressions.

But they left one thing – a backpack. With a newspaper claiming there's a psycho killer with a chainsaw and a hook on the loose.

"He's on the loose!" Izzy repeated, grinning.

"Oh, come on!" Heather scowled. "They don't expect us to fall for this! Scary movie followed by hasty exit followed by strategically placed lame prop?"

I rolled my eyes. "Maybe this is a challenge, Heather? You know, that thing you try to win each week?" But Heather didn't believe me. And half the group thought it might actually be real, because Chris left some of his hair gel.

"So let me get this straight." DJ said, his voice squeaky with terror. "Chris left us for dead – and now we're alone – while that escaped psycho killer with a chainsaw is on the loose?"

"No, we're alone while that escaped psycho killer with a chainsaw and a hook is on the loose!" Duncan corrected, bringing out his hook, making DJ scream again.

"I told you, dude, not funny!"

"Save us your Chicken Little routine!" Leshawna sighed unsympathetically. "Get a grip, bro!"

"I can't help it." DJ said fearfully. "I feel like I'm being watched."

I gave a sigh. "It's a reality show. You're probably just feeling the effects of the cameras."

Gwen suggested going back to camp to talk strategy, but Heather still insisted it was a hoax. "You little freaks might need the game plan, but I need a facial."

"Are you nuts, Heather?" I cried.

"First rule of slasher films: Never go off alone!" Gwen added.

"I might actually listen to you two if we were in a movie. We're being punked. You're so gullible. Hey, Chris, if you're listening, next time, rent one that takes place at a summer camp!"

"I repeat, Heather: Chall. Enge." I said, but she still wouldn't listen.

"And the bossy mean chick seals her fate." Izzy said, drawing a finger across her throat and making a throat-slit sound. So it was time to go to camp and talk about things.

Gwen drew a picture of all nine of us in front of the campfire. "Okay, guys, rules;" I said. "First, don't go off on your own."

"Rule number two," Gwen continued, pacing up and down, "If you do go off on your own, never go into the woods."

"Rule number three," I said "If you do go into the woods, never ever make out in the woods."

"Or you will die in the woods." Gwen added. She paused. "Where's Izzy and Owen?"

"Breaking rules one through three." Duncan said carelessly.

Next to disappear were DJ and Geoff. DJ needed the bathroom, but remembering the rules, he got Geoff to wait outside for him. That left the four of us.

At that moment, we heard screaming, so Gwen and I went to the bathrooms to check what was going on. DJ and Geoff were nowhere to be seen, but Heather was there, in a towel and face mask. "I'm fine." she said. "You might want to check on DJ. He ran out of here like he saw a ghost. Can I have my shower in peace, please?"

"That's a bad ide-" I began, but Heather glared at me before I could finish.

"Fine." Gwen said. "Suit yourself."

"If you do get attacked, don't come crying to us...you know, if you survive that long." I added.

"By the way, that's a great look on you." Gwen finished.

By the time we got to the campfire, Leshawna had gone. Duncan said she went to get some snacks.

"What is up with this group?" I sighed. "We only wanted to help."

"Yeah, that's what really ticks me off." Gwen agreed.

Duncan shrugged, creating two torches. "Live and learn, sweetheart."

"You really are a pyro, aren't you?" Gwen said.

"So? I like burning stuff."
"So you went to juvie for arson?" I asked.

"Like I'd tell either of you why I went to juvie." Duncan set the picture of everyone on fire. By that time, everyone was crossed out except for the three of us. Gwen ran to get some water, and I decided to go with her, you know, for safety. And by the time we got back, Duncan was gone.

We exchanged glances. "Okay, you know what?" Gwen scowled. "I'm getting a sandwich."

"Can I come?" I asked. "I'm starving, too, and I'm pretty sure Chef has something better than what he serves us in the kitchen."

So we both went to the cafeteria and made ourselves snacks. That was when we were found by what we thought was an actor. Yeah, the escaped psycho killer with a chainsaw and a hook.

We both just talked to the guy, asking did he want a sandwich before he killed us, and telling him to invest in a dental plan. Neither of us were scared, not even when he showed us he had a stub for a hand underneath his hook.

"Poor you." I said sympathetically. "Maybe the hook is a good idea."

That's when the rest of the group, plus Chris and Chef, burst in. "He's the real escaped psycho killer with the chainsaw and a hook!" they cried.

Gwen and I took one look at the guy. Then Gwen screamed and her foot shot up, kicking the guy in the face. I ducked his chainsaw and rammed my foot into his gut until he spoke.

"Ow!" he exclaimed. "Oh, that was totally uncalled for! Man, I am so out of here. I was treated way better in prison."

At the bonfire ceremony that night, no vote was required. Gwen and I had won the challenge, first. And second, the weakest player had to go. DJ was the only one who didn't face the psycho killer. Thing was, he freaked out at the sight of Heather in a face mask – that was why he'd been screaming. So it was time for him to go.

"But no hard feelings, dude." Chris assured him. "You will be missed."

"Group hug!" Owen called out. We all joined in, even Heather. DJ may have been a scaredy-cat, but we all liked him. He was the softest, kindest, sweetest guy on the island, even though he was also the tallest and most muscular. I knew I'd miss him.

We all waved goodbye to him. I nudged Duncan as we walked back down the dock. "So where did you disappear to?" I asked.

"I wanted to confront the killer, so I got everyone to leave the campfire pit." he explained. "If you and Gwen hadn't beaten the real killer, I would've won. Chef was the psycho, so I just got the chainsaw off him and unmasked him. Easy."

I laughed. "All too easy, it sounds like. I'm glad Gwen and I won instead."

Yeah, gotta love that episode. Well, I happen to be into horror movies, and Scream is a big favourite, along with Nightmare On Elm Street.