Last time, on Revenge of the Island! The campers took to the field to try their hand at athletics! Some wound up breaking the aforementioned hand. And also foot. Ouch! Topher decided that he was no longer obsessed with yours truly and conspired to have me ousted. Dawn and Scarlett gave him conflicting advice and eventually he settled for the brainy redhead's ploy. Unbeknownst to him, Scarlett has some ulterior motives, and Topher was sent packing. Who will fall next? Find out right here, on Total! Drama! Revenge of the Island!

Intro plays.

The Rats' boys' cabin is dark and quiet, save for the restless murmurs of Lightning talking in his sleep.

"Lightning scores a touchdown… Lightning wins the Super Bowl…"

Scott lays wide awake in the next bunk over, extremely irritated.

SCOTT CONFESSIONAL: With Topher gone, the entire Rats' dudes' cabin is just me and Lightning. Last person I'd want to be stuck in an overnight cabin with. He HAS to go next. The merge is coming and I want at least ONE NIGHT with the cabin to myself.

Unable to take another moment of Lightning's commentary, Scott rolls out of his bunk and steps outside. He spots Scarlett already up, seated on a log. She's hunched over a thick, daunting book dense with text and diagrams.

Scott hesitates before approaching. Scarlett doesn't acknowledge him as he nears.

"Uh, morning," Scott tries.

"Mm," Scarlett responds quietly without looking up, her tone dismissive.

Scott shifts uncomfortably, then clears his throat. "I was thinking… we should go for Lightning today. There's already people who don't—"

"No gambles today," Scarlett interrupts, finally lifting her gaze from the book to pierce Scott with her sharp, calculating stare. "Today, we win. Decisively."

Scott blinks, caught off guard. "Uh, okay? And if we don't?"

Scarlett's eyes narrow. "We will win."

"And if we don't?" he presses.

"Then we go for Dawn," Scarlett says crisply, as if the decision is already etched in stone.

Scott frowns, feeling left out of the loop. "Is this because—"

"Because of Topher," she cuts in, preempting him.

"Stop—"

"Interrupting you," Scarlett finishes, her tone flat and disinterested. "No. I don't have time to talk. I'm thinking. Goodbye."

Before Scott can respond, Scarlett's eyes are already back on the pages of her book, her fingers absently turning the page. Realizing there's no further room for conversation, Scott scowls and stalks off.

SCOTT CONFESSIONAL: I've talked to chickens who are better at conversation than Scarlett. Uh- not that I talk to chickens regularly. Or at all. Heh.

SCARLETT CONFESSIONAL: I've never been this stressed. (She stares blankly at the camera, unmoving, her face emotionless.)

In the Rats' girls' cabin, Dawn sits cross-legged in a lotus position, serene as ever. Jasmine lounges on her bunk, picking her teeth with a toothpick, while Samantha adjusts the braces on her injured hand and foot, her expression pinched with frustration.

Samantha groans. "So am I just supposed to limp through challenges now?"

Dawn opens her eyes, her voice calm. "It's only in the mind. Rosa Luxemburg had a pronounced limp since she was an infant."

A long pause follows.

Samantha furrows her brow. "Who's 'Rose of Luxembourg'?"

Dawn sighs softly. "Nevermind…"

Samantha shakes her head, deciding to move on. "Anyway… I've been meaning to ask you something, Dawn. What did Topher mean with all that stuff about Scarlett?"

Jasmine looks up, tossing her toothpick into a nearby trash bin. "Yeh, he was goin' on about her to us, too. But I didn't buy it."

Dawn tilts her head slightly. "Why not?"

Jasmine shrugs. "He just seemed like he was throwin' her under the bus to save himself."

Dawn glances at Jasmine with her usual calm but piercing gaze. "You assume the worst in Topher but not in Scarlett. It is best to purge this uneven bias," she says, her tone neutral but firm.

Samantha frowns. "But why Scarlett, of all people?"

"It's all over her aura. Can't you tell?" Dawn replies, as if it's obvious.

"Uh, not really, Dawn," Samantha replies. "She's just kind of quiet. Smart."

Dawn nods slightly, her voice growing softer. "Silent but smart, just like B."

Samantha's expression changes immediately, alarm and shame flashing across her face. She looks down, memories flooding back of the day she threw B under the bus. "What are you trying to say?" Samantha asks cautiously, slightly accusatory.

Dawn's voice remains calm but unwavering. "I know what happened between you, Amy, and B. I didn't bring it up to the team because I knew your relationship with your sister was already fragile. Unfortunately, B became a casualty of your unresolved animosities."

Jasmine sits up straighter, frowning. "What? Samantha, what is she talking about?"

Samantha hesitates. "...Amy ripped up my sail in the boat challenge… and I had to blame B to save myself."

Jasmine's eyes widen, but she holds in her disappointment for her distressed friend's sake. "Why B? Why not Amy? She's the one who did it, after all."

Dawn's gaze sharpens. "Samantha, was it you who first suggested B was to blame?"

Samantha shakes her head slowly, realization dawning. "No… someone else was pushing B's guilt… Scarlett."

"Exactly," Dawn says with a small nod. "B was a bigger threat than Amy. Amy's poor temperament would've gotten her eliminated soon enough anyway. Scarlett took advantage of the situation to instead remove a trusted and capable member of the team, B."

Jasmine crosses her arms, skeptical. "This all seems a tad forced, if you ask me."

Dawn turns her serene gaze toward Jasmine. "You're free to talk to Scarlett yourself if you don't believe me."

In the communal bathroom, Brick stands at the mirror, carefully combing his military-style crew cut, a task that seems entirely unnecessary given its short length. Beside him, Shawn applies deodorant in silence.

"Do you think Ella will talk to me today?" Brick asks, his tone brimming with excitement.

"Is that a trick question?" Shawn replies. "She always talks to you."

Brick's face lights up. "I feel as giddy as a schoolgirl! Watch this."

He attempts to click his heels in a joyful leap but miscalculates, landing hard on the slick tile floor with a loud thud.

Still sprawled out, Brick grins up at Shawn. "She taught me that. Cool, right?"

Shawn seems disinterested. "Sure, man."

Brick gets back on his feet, brushing himself off. He eyes Shawn curiously. "Are you still upset about failing your moral code?"

Shawn stiffens, scowling. "Stop saying it like that. I didn't do anything wrong, man. Things just… spiraled out of control."

"But you were involved in deceiving Anne Maria," Brick presses, his voice calm but firm.

Shawn sighs, his frustration evident. "That's just part of the game. This million dollars better be worth it."

Brick tilts his head, genuinely curious. "That's why you're here? The money?"

"Yeah, man. Why are you here?"

Brick's expression turns thoughtful, almost noble. "To challenge myself. Build character. The million dollars is nice, sure, but teamwork, resilience, determination? Those are priceless."

SHAWN CONFESSIONAL: Brick's a decent guy. I just wish he was less moralistic. But maybe he's right. I was too vindictive and wound up hurting one of my friends.

Shawn walks across camp when suddenly a burlap sack is thrown over his head.

"Hi-ya! Ha!" Shawn yells, throwing wild karate chops into the air. His movements are useless and uncoordinated, and he topples to the ground in defeat.

Across camp, similar chaos unfolds as other campers are ambushed and bagged one by one.

A short time later, they're all crammed into the back of a rickety truck. Grumbles and muffled protests echo in the cramped, dark space.

Eventually, the truck screeches to a halt. Chef, now decked out in a full hazmat suit, yanks the sacks off their heads one by one. The group blinks against the sudden sunlight, revealing a decrepit mine entrance looming before them. Chris appears on a large TV screen nearby, his signature smirk firmly in place.

"Good, you're here... finally!" Chris announces, clearly enjoying their discomfort. "Today's challenge: find a golden Chris statue in your team color hidden somewhere in this old abandoned mine. First team back wins!"

Jo glares, brushing dirt from her clothes. "What was the point of putting bags over—Agh!"

Her protest is cut short as Chef unceremoniously drops a heavy backpack onto her shoulders.

"Don't worry," Chris says through the screen, barely containing his laughter. "There are enough packs for everyone!"

Scott picks his up with effort and glares at it. "What did you put in these, rocks?"

Chris wags a finger. "Ah-ah-ah! No peeking! Those pound bags are purely for your torment and my amusement. Enjoy!"

Cameron inspects a small device clipped to his wrist. "Uh… chemical badges? Why do we need to measure our exposure to toxic waste?"

Chris leans closer to the camera, feigning innocence. "No reason! Except that I rented the mine out to store hazardous material. Relax—it's perfectly safe down there… for 90 minutes."

Jasmine's jaw drops. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Are you demented?!"

"Nope!" Chris replies cheerily. "Which is why I'm in a studio right now. But don't worry, it's totally fine. If your badge turns orange, you've got 15 minutes left. Red? That's your 5-minute warning. And if you see a skull and crossbones, we'll dedicate the episode to you! No way it'll come to that, though. I sent Dakota down there for, like, three hours last week, and she turned out… fine…ish."

The group exchanges horrified looks, remembering Dakota's manic breakdown, as Chef gestures impatiently toward the mine entrance.

Chris claps his hands and barks, "Now move it, peeps!"

Ella raises a tentative hand, her voice delicate but insistent. "Can you at least give us a hint about where to find the statues?"

"Funny story: the statues have gone missing," Chris grins wickedly. "Someone or something down there must have taken them," he adds with ominous flair.

Mike nervously posits a question. "Uh… is it well-lit down there?"

Chris smirks, shaking his head. "It's a mine, bro! Pitch black all the way. There are flashlights and a lantern inside. First come, first serve."

The group exchanges uneasy glances, but Chris presses on. "Anywho, time's a-wasting, and so are your healthy blood cells. So, GO!"

Chef, still in his hazmat suit, motions aggressively toward the mine, leaving no room for hesitation. The campers hesitate for a moment longer before breaking into a scramble, rushing toward the ominous entrance to claim the best supplies.

Scarlett immediately darts ahead, her sharp eyes scanning for supplies. She spots a crate of flashlights and grabs them all, leaving the Mutant Maggots with a rusty matchbox and an ancient-looking lantern.

Scarlett turns to her team and briskly hands out the flashlights. "Here."

Jasmine nods. "Nice job, Scarlett."

Scarlett hands Jasmine a flashlight, as well as two extras. "Hold on to the extras," she instructs.

The Toxic Rats press forward into the mine, their flashlights cutting narrow beams through the darkness.

Behind them, the Mutant Maggots fumble with their limited supplies. Jasmine pauses mid-stride, stealing a glance over her shoulder at the other team. Her gaze lands on Shawn and the mismatched gear in their hands. She sighs, feeling a pang of guilt. Quietly, she slips the two extra flashlights from her bag, coughs conspicuously, and nudges them across the cave floor toward the Maggots with a gentle kick.

JASMINE CONFESSIONAL: I couldn't just leave the other team there without a reliable light source. Even if Shawn wasn't there, I can't just abandon them. When lives are on the line, divisions like teams are meaningless.

Jo groans, shaking her head at the lantern. "Aw, we got stuck with the lame one."

"Not so fast." Shawn bends down and picks up the two flashlights that Jasmine had discreetly kicked over.

Zoey grins. "Nice! Good save."

"Thank goodness," Brick adds, letting out a sigh of relief. "It's way too dark in here for just a lantern."

Sky steps forward, taking the lantern and matchbox. "I'll hold onto it, just in case," she says, striking a match, lighting the lantern, and carefully pocketing the matchbox.

The Toxic Rats reach the rusty elevator shaft, their footsteps echoing in the cavern.

Lightning grins and pumps his fists. "First! Sha-sweet!" he shouts, leaping enthusiastically into the creaky elevator car.

The moment he lands, the brittle structure gives way with a metallic groan, sending Lightning plummeting down the shaft. "Sha-aaaaaaah!" his voice fades into the depths below.

The rest of the team rushes to the edge, peering down into the darkness.

Scott grimaces. "Uh… so is he, like, alive, or what?"

From below comes Lightning's faint, dazed voice. "Lightning's… alright!... Hey, ref, is this the Super Bowl?"

Scarlett straightens, her expression neutral. "We'll have to climb down the cable. Come on."

Scott steps forward eagerly, ready to go first, but Scarlett blocks him with an outstretched arm.

"I'LL go first," she says firmly.

With precise movements, she gathers her skirt conservatively, ensuring no one has a view, and begins to descend the fraying cable with confidence and control.

Scott frowns, his face turning slightly red. "Oh, come on! I wasn't gonna look… I'm a gentleman!" Grumbling under his breath, he follows her down, his grip tight on the cable.

Samantha lingers at the edge, fumbling with her crutch and staring nervously at her injured foot and wrist. Her face twists with unease. "What am I supposed to do?" she asks, her voice tinged with frustration.

Jasmine steps forward without hesitation. "Here," she says. "Climb on my back."

Samantha hesitates, then carefully wraps her arms around Jasmine's shoulders. With a grunt of effort, Jasmine begins shimmying down the cable, strong and determined. Samantha smiles faintly.

Finally, Dawn approaches the cable, her serene face momentarily troubled. She takes a deep breath and follows after the group.

SAMANTHA CONFESSIONAL: Jas is like the big sister I never had.

The Mutant Maggots arrive at the elevator shaft, peering into its depths with a mix of wariness and disappointment.

Mike sighs. "Uh… what now?"

Cameron adjusts his glasses, scanning the area. "There's another path. Let's take that."

The team moves as one, following a sloping passageway that leads to an open cavern. In the center, a set of four minecarts rests on rusty rails.

Zoey's eyes light up. "Minecarts, look!"

Sky steps forward, examining the setup. "Four carts, eight of us. Two per cart should work."

They quickly pair off: Jo and Sky claim the first cart, Mike and Zoey take the second, Cameron and Shawn hop into the third, and Brick and Ella into the fourth.

Mike squints at the rail system. "So… how do we get these things moving?"

Brick spots a lever near the back. "What's this do?" He pulls it without waiting for an answer.

The sound of grinding metal fills the cavern as the lever shifts the rail behind his cart. The sudden jolt pushes his cart forward slightly, which in turn bumps into the cart ahead. The domino effect sends all four carts lurching forward, their wheels screeching as they pick up momentum on the steep decline.

"Uh-oh," Zoey mutters, gripping the cart.

Cameron raises his arms enthusiastically. "My first rollercoaster!" The track grows steeper, and Cameron's excitement is short-lived as the carts careen forward uncontrollably. "I don't like it!" he screams.

The rail ahead leads to a junction split into three separate paths. Mike and Zoey's cart veers left, with Cameron and Shawn's following close behind. Jo and Sky's cart speeds down the middle track, and Brick and Ella's cart wobbles precariously as it takes the rightmost track.

Meanwhile, the Toxic Rats continue their trek through the mine. As they walk, Scott fiddles with his flashlight, frustration growing on his face.

"Aw, nuts," he mutters as the light flickers and goes out completely.

Scarlett doesn't break stride. "Jasmine has the extras," she says without turning around.

Jasmine looks guilty. "Err... I may have... not taken them."

A loud voice cuts through the tension. "Uh-oh! Fumble!" Lightning chuckles, clearly still slightly delirious from the fall.

Scarlett stops and turns to face Jasmine blankly. "I specifically told you to take them, did I not?"

Jasmine winces, rubbing the back of her neck. "I couldn't just leave the others with some rusty old lantern, alright?"

Scarlett narrows her eyes but doesn't respond, a tight, silent expression settling over her face.

Samantha, sensing the brewing tension, steps in. "We've still got five working ones. Don't worry."

Jasmine shoots her a grateful look. "Yeah, you understand," she says. However, the ambiguity of the interaction with Scarlett weighs on her mind, compounding with Dawn and Topher's warnings from earlier.

Brick and Ella's minecart screeches to an abrupt halt, slamming into a barrier at the end of the track. The sudden jolt sends them both flying forward and tumbling onto the rocky ground with a pair of startled cries. The flashlight they'd been using hits the floor and breaks, going out completely. Both groan as they stagger upright.

"Ella! Ella, are you alright?" Brick exclaims, trying to hide his nervousness.

Ella reaches out blindly and grasps a hand. With a grateful sigh, she lets it pull her to her feet. "Yes. Thank you for lending me your hand."

Brick hesitates, confused. "My hand? But I don't even know where you are!"

"But then who—" Ella's words are cut off by a muffled yelp as something pulls her away into the shadows. Suddenly, everything is silent.

"Ella?" Brick cries. No response. "Anyone?" Only the echo of his own voice responds.

It doesn't take long for Brick's will to snap. "AAH! AAH!" he starts panicking.

Mike, Zoey, Cameron, and Shawn's minecarts jolt to an abrupt stop. Cameron groans and vomits loudly.

"G'ah!" Shawn recoils, shuffling as far back as the cart's confines allow.

"Cam, are you alright?" Zoey asks.

"Kinda," Cameron mumbles weakly.

Mike frowns, his expression shifting to unease. "Hey, is anyone else's badge making a kind of weird clicking noise?" He gestures toward his chemical badge, which emits an ominous crackling sound.

Cameron's eyes widen, the realization making him quickly forget his nausea. "That sounds like a Geiger counter! We must be near high levels of radiation."

Shawn immediately swings his flashlight around the room. The light catches on a stack of neon-orange barrels, their surfaces glowing faintly in the dim cave.

"Uh oh," Shawn mutters.

Zoey squints at the barrels. "What is that stuff?"

Mike leans closer to read the label, his voice steady but tense. "It says 'glow paint.'"

"Of course!" Cameron exclaims. "Radium used to be used in glow-in-the-dark displays. That stuff is highly toxic."

Shawn narrows his eyes, suspicion blooming. "Wait a minute…" He pans his flashlight lower, illuminating the small print at the bottom of one of the barrels. He reads it aloud. "'MiltonCo LLC'?"

The name strikes a familiar chord to Zoey. "Milton… isn't that Dakota's last name?"

Jo and Sky's cart hurtles through the blackness of the cave, the rush of air snuffing out their lantern in the process. With a jarring halt, the cart slams to a stop.

"Ugh," Jo grumbles. "Relight that lantern, Sky. I can barely see a foot in front of me."

"Way ahead of you," Sky replies. The sound of a match striking fills the cave, followed by the sight of the lantern's warm glow. The light reflects off a massive pile of glittering gold and jewels.

"Holy mackerel," Jo breathes, her jaw dropping.

"Woah!" Sky exclaims, amazed.

"It's like El Dorado in here!" Jo mutters, stepping out of the cart. Sky follows suit.

Sky's gaze locks onto a small, familiar statuette. "Look! The Chris idol!" she says, reaching out and snatching it.

Jo, however, is less impressed with the idol. "Who needs that? There's got to be way more than one million dollars' worth of riches in here!" She starts stuffing her pockets greedily.

A voice, melodic and polite, cuts through their excitement. "That's very pretty, but… I'd most value a route back to the surface, kind sir."

Sky freezes. "What is Ella doing here?" she whispers.

The two quickly duck behind a large boulder, peeking over its edge. In a clearing lit by dim, dangling lightbulbs, they spot Ella seated on a makeshift throne. Surrounding her are piles of treasure, and a very sickly, feral-looking young man showering her with offerings. His tattered green sweatshirt and blue jeans are barely holding together, and his pale-green scalp is sparsely covered by wiry hair. Hunched over, he lurches and moves like an animal, his glowing eyes focused intently on Ella.

Sky's jaw drops. "Is that… Ezekiel?"

Jo narrows her eyes. "The homeless kid from last season?"

"Home-schooled," Sky corrects.

"Well, he's clearly homeless now, too," Jo mutters, refusing to admit her mistake as usual.

The feral Ezekiel offers Ella a delicate ring, raising his eyebrows with a bizarrely suggestive look of expectant marital confirmation.

"Oh, my," Ella says, clearly flustered. "I'm flattered, really. But—"

Before she can finish, a small rock soars through the air and strikes Ezekiel square on the head. He growls, clutching his scalp in pain.

Jo steps out from the shadows, sneering. "Hey, FrankenZeke! Get lost!"

Ezekiel straightens, his eyes narrowing as he turns toward them with a dark look. He snaps his fingers, and two enormous, hairless gophers lumber into view.

"Uh-oh," Sky whispers, backing away.

Ezekiel gestures toward Jo and Sky. With a monstrous squeal, the gophers charge.

"AAH!" Jo and Sky scream, and bolt from the scene.

Brick stumbles through the darkness, the faint glow of his chemical badge the only thing guiding him. He hears the distant cries of Ezekiel's subterranean creatures.

"Hello?" Brick calls out, his voice trembling and feigning authority. "Who goes there? State your name and rank!"

A bright light cuts through the gloom. Before he can react, Sky and Jo come barreling toward him, Sky clutching a lit lantern.

"Out of the way!" Jo yells, panic in her voice.

"Huh?" Brick barely has time to register their presence before they all collide. The lantern shatters as it hits the ground, plunging them back into darkness. Unbeknownst to Sky, the Chris statuette also slips from her pocket, landing with a soft thud nearby. Brick scrambles to his feet, his boot catching on a protruding rock in the process. The cries of the creatures grow louder, their monstrous forms closing in.

"Oh no!" Sky gasps.

"What are those things?!" Brick cries, his voice cracking in fear.

The leading creature sniffs the air, suddenly recoiling with a high-pitched wail. It paws and scratches furiously at its nose, clearly overwhelmed by the pungent odor now wafting from Brick's discarded boot.

"My boot?" Brick realizes.

Realizing the effect, Brick yanks off his other boot and grips it like a weapon. He holds it out in front of him, aiming it at the creatures.

"Stand down!" he barks, his voice gaining a commanding edge. "That's an order!"

He waves the foul-smelling boot at the creatures. They screech in distress, their heightened senses unable to tolerate the stench, and begin to back away.

Brick laughs, a mixture of relief and newfound confidence swelling within him. "That's right! You better run!" He continues advancing, brandishing the boot like an armed police officer, as the creatures retreat.

Ezekiel lumbers toward Ella, dragging out a battered but familiar metal briefcase and presents it to her.

Ella gasps softly. "Is that… last season's prize money?"

Ezekiel nods proudly.

"My goodness!" Ella clasps her hands together, her face lighting up. "One million dollars!"

Ezekiel eagerly opens the briefcase to reveal its contents. The anticipation in Ella's expression quickly fades as she peers inside. The money, reduced to a heap of blackened ash from last season's volcanic finale, spills out in charred flakes.

"Oh…" Ella murmurs, her voice dropping. "That's… unfortunate."

The silence is broken by the sound of footsteps and voices. The Toxic Rats team files into the lair, their flashlights casting erratic beams over the cavern.

Scott tries to take in the bizarre sight before them. "What in the world…"

Dawn steps forward with wide, empathetic eyes. "Oh, you poor soul! How you've suffered."

Ella straightens slightly, assuming Dawn is speaking to her. "Oh, really, it hasn't been—"

Dawn completely ignores her, her full attention on Ezekiel. She takes his grimy hands in her own, her expression one of heartfelt concern. "Your spirit is covered in soot and grime."

Scott wrinkles his nose. "So is his body. Can we please get out of this creepy place before—"

A shrill beeping cuts him off as all their chemical badges flash yellow in unison.

"—that happens," he finishes, slightly more panicked.

Scarlett reminds everyone of the main goal. "We need the statuette."

Dawn turns to Ezekiel, her voice soft. "Have you seen a relic shaped like Chris McLean?"

Ezekiel lopes over to a rocky corner. Illuminated by the flickering light of stubby candles is an ominous makeshift shrine. At its center sits a gold Chris statue, its eyes deliberately scratched out. Above it, a photograph of Chris bears a red X scrawled over his face.

Dawn gasps. "A shrine of the ancient curse of Xebeche…"

Samantha raises an eyebrow. "I don't know what that is, but if anyone deserves a curse, it's Chris."

Dawn crouches near the shrine. "The candles indicate the curse has already been activated."

Scarlett is impatient and unfazed. "Just take the statue."

"No!" Dawn cries, her hand shooting out. "Does anyone have oak resin? I can't touch a cursed relic without—"

"Oh, for goodness' sake," Scarlett mutters, rolling her eyes. Without hesitation, she grabs the statuette from the shrine.

Dawn recoils. "Scarlett! The dark energy!"

The scene is interrupted when Chris's voice crackles through the mine's loudspeaker system. "Greetings, campers!" His tone is sickeningly cheerful. The camera cuts between the scattered groups of contestants across the cave system, each freezing mid-step to listen. "Both teams have their statuette, and the badges have turned yellow," Chris continues. "So, it's about time you ditch those bags and get the heck out of there!"

Cameron's face lights up with hope. "Someone on our team must have found the statue!"

Shawn's brow furrows. "What's in these bags anyway?"

Chris's response is gleefully flippant. "Oh, nothing much. Just industrial explosives."

"Too far, McLean!" Jo shouts, outraged as she rips the bag from her back.

Chris continues unabated. "I've got to seal up the mine somehow! And those 'chemical badges' you've been wearing? Just a countdown to when the explosives are set to blow. You're welcome!"

The contestants rip off their heavy bags, panic propelling them into frantic movement. Flashlights bob wildly as they sprint for the nearest exits.

Meanwhile, Brick has successfully driven the massive, hairless creatures back into Ezekiel's lair. He picks up a discarded flashlight in the process. Jo, sharp-eyed and tense, scans the room in frustration.

"Where's the exit?" Jo demands.

"We don't have much time!" Brick emphasizes, his anxiety rising.

Jo throws him an exasperated glare. "I know!" she snaps. "Thanks for stating the obvious!"

Sky's hand flies to her pocket, her expression shifting to one of alarm. "Wait… the idol! Where is it?" she gasps.

Before anyone can respond, a panicked cry echoes from deeper within the lair. Samantha, lagging behind with her injury, stumbles over a hidden nest. The nest's inhabitants, two small, hairless gopher pups, let out high-pitched squeals. Their distress immediately draws the attention of the larger creatures.

The enormous gophers halt their retreat, ears twitching at the sound of their young in danger. With a deafening screech, they turn, baring their teeth and charging toward Samantha, who lies helplessly on the ground, her injured foot trapping her in place.

Jo spins toward Brick. "Brick! The idol! You're the only one with a flashlight—go back and find it!" she orders, her voice sharp and commanding.

Brick looks from Jo to Samantha, indecision wracking his face as the creatures close in on the injured girl. "But…" he protests weakly.

"That's an order!" Jo barks.

Brick hesitates, torn between duty and instinct. His gaze locks on Samantha, who screams again, her voice tinged with terror. "Help!"

He straightens, his expression hardening with resolve. "Leave no one behind!" he says firmly. "That's the cadet motto!"

Without another moment's hesitation, Brick charges forward, flashlight in one hand and his trusty boot in the other. He swings the boot wildly, its foul stench driving the creatures back in a snarling retreat. Reaching Samantha, he crouches down and lifts her onto his back with surprising ease.

The chemical badges on everyone's shirts flash orange.

Jo looks over her shoulder, her jaw clenched. "There's no time! Forget the idol! Let's get out of here!" she shouts, already bolting for the nearest tunnel exit.

Outside the cave, Chris and Chef stand side by side, both clad in hazmat suits. Chris casually leans against a large rock.

"I've got ten bucks that says they don't make it," Chris says.

From deep within the cave, the faint sound of screaming echoes louder and louder. Chef folds his arms, raising a skeptical eyebrow. "Better pay up."

The contestants come barreling out of the cave entrance, their faces painted with terror. Brick stumbles out last, still carrying Samantha on his back. As the last pair of feet clears the threshold, a deafening series of explosions rocks the ground, sending dust and rocky debris into the air. The cave mouth collapses.

Chris discreetly takes a ten dollar bill from his pocket and hands it to Chef before he turns to the group with a smile. "Welcome back to the surface world!" Chris exclaims. "Wasn't that exciting?"

Jasmine's face is stricken with concern. "There's still someone down there!" she cries.

Chris blinks. "Really? Who?" He pauses. "Do they have good lawyers?"

Jasmine glares at him. "It's Ezekiel! The kid from last season!"

"Oh, him?" Chris waves dismissively. "Who cares? He's survived worse." He immediately drops the issue, turning his attention back to the group. "Anyway, let's see those statues!"

Scarlett steps forward and hands over the Toxic Rats' Chris statue. Chris inspects it, turning it over in his hands and frowning slightly at the scratches and scorch marks.

"This is… acceptable," he says, begrudgingly. "But it's kind of damaged. If the Maggots have theirs in better condition, they win!"

Sky looks at the rest of her team. "We kind of… lost ours," she admits, hanging her head down.

Chris gasps theatrically. "Wow. Bummer!" His grin shows that, in truth, he's not particularly disappointed. "All that work for nothing! Wonder whose fault that is, Brick?"

"I had to save Samantha!" Brick retorts. "She was in danger!"

Chris leans forward slyly. "Oh, I didn't say it was the wrong call," he teases. "But it was the losing call!" Chris pauses, his smile dropping while he raises an eyebrow. "Also, where are your shoes?"

Brick looks down awkwardly at his shoeless feet, embarrassed and too flustered to explain where his boots went.

JASMINE CONFESSIONAL: I hope the teams merge soon. These challenges are getting more dangerous, and being so tribalist could result in someone getting really hurt. Or worse. I respect Brick immensely for seeing beyond team lines… I just hope his team can do the same.

JO CONFESSIONAL: All he had to do was go back and retrace our steps with the flashlight! 30 seconds! He could still have saved Samey or Samantha or Samira or whatever the heck her name is now. Plus, you can't REALLY get hurt on this show. Those monster things were just animatronics to scare us. And 'Ezekiel' was just some intern in makeup. Right?

Shawn approaches Mike, Zoey and Cmeron outside the cabin in the late afternoon light.

"Mike, I just wanted to apologize for the thing with Anne Maria," Shawn says, his voice guilt-ridden. "It wasn't my idea to take advantage of you like that."

"I know," Mike replies. "I just… I get really defensive when it comes to… that part of me."

Shawn nods. "It was all Jo and Sky's idea."

Mike sighs, glancing toward the girls in question in the distance. "I'm beginning to have enough of their ruthlessness."

Zoey chimes in. "Sky was fine at the beginning of the show. But Jo's really bringing out the worst in her."

"So, do we go for Sky or Jo?" Shawn asks.

Zoey folds her arms decisively. "Jo. Maybe Sky can return to normal without that influence."

Cameron, who had been silent until now, hesitates before speaking up. "But Jo helped me out yesterday," he says thoughtfully. "I don't think she's all bad."

Mike shakes his head. "Well, we don't exactly have the option of waiting for her to warm up to us."

Samantha approaches Brick in the camp center on her crutches. She softly speaks up.

"Brick, I didn't get the chance to say it in all the chaos, but thank you for saving me," Samantha says, her voice sincere.

"All in a day's work, ma'am," Brick replies. "I admire your resolve, though—staying in the game despite your injury."

Samantha chuckles lightly, though her expression shows a hint of worry. "Do you think you'll survive the vote tonight?"

Brick pauses, tense. "I trust my team to make the right choice," he finally replies.

Samantha leans in slightly. "I have a pretty solid relationship with Jasmine. When the teams merge, do you want to, maybe, form an alliance?"

Brick looks at her, surprised by the offer. "An alliance… why, sure," he says after a moment. "It's good to know someone is watching your back."

"Exactly," Samantha replies, a small smile playing on her lips. They shake hands briefly, sealing their pact.

The campfire crackles under the black sky as Chris steps forward. "Bonsoir, losers!" he announces. "Welcome to the campfire ceremony! As you know, whoever receives the toxic marshmallow, as decided by your vote, must leave the island, lose their chance at a million dollars, and have their failure witnessed on international TV—all before being legally considered an adult. Cool, huh?"

Zoey crosses her arms, her expression uneasy. "When you put it like that, I kind of wonder why I even signed up for this show in the first place."

Chris shrugs nonchalantly. "Fame. Glamour. A desperate attempt to be validated by being on television. You know, all that good stuff. Anyways, on with the marshmallows!"

Chef steps forward with a tray of marshmallows. Chris plucks a few from the plate and starts tossing them to the contestants.

"Shawn."

"Cameron."

"Zoey."

"Mike."

"Ella."

The five receive their tokens of safety as Chris turns back to the group. "Which means Brick, Jo, and Sky remain without a marshmallow. How are you all feeling?"

"Impatient," Jo snaps. "Come on, already."

Chris smirks. "It's called suspense, Jo. Something you'll have to endure for a little longer because…" He draws out the pause. "The next marshmallow goes to Sky."

Sky exhales in relief as she catches her marshmallow, though her expression remains uneasy for Jo's sake.

Chris stands before the remaining Toxic Rats as the tension in the air thickens. "And the final marshmallow goes to…

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…Brick."

Brick exhales audibly, his shoulders dropping in relief as the marshmallow flies through the air into his hands.

Jo throws her hands in the air. "Ugh. I knew it. I knew it!"

Chef lobs the toxic marshmallow at Jo, but it misses her entirely.

Jo scoffs. "Missed me, Cy Young."

Chef raises the detox hose and blasts Jo in the face. A torrent of water drenches her and knocks her onto the ground.

Chris grins. "Jo, sorry to see you go. I must admit, I did like how you consistently made life miserable for everyone else."

Jo sits up, pushing wet hair out of her face. "People are just frightened when they see someone so driven."

Cameron turns to Jo. "It was more of a tactical play. The teams are going to merge soon, and you would've been a major threat in individual immunity challenges. I can't say I hold you with as much hostility as the rest of my compatriots. It was a hard choice."

Jo smirks, her irritation softening slightly. "Thanks, four-eyes. Fight with all you've got for me, eh?"

Cameron smiles, nodding. "Of course."

Jo stands up, still soaked. "Don't worry, it's not a complete loss. I got some of this!"

Reaching into her pocket, she pulls out a handful of gold and gemstones from the cave.

Chris's eyes widen. "Wait a minute! Where'd you get those? Give me that!"

Jo steps back, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Nope. I gotta go. Like you said, I can't come back. Ever. Bye!"

"Chef! Stop her!" Chris demands.

Chef shrugs and stands his ground. "She said she admired me in that truth challenge. It's more respect than you ever gave me."

She dashes toward the dock as Chris sputters incoherently, unable to stop her. The Boat of Losers pulls away, with Jo onboard, her smirk unwavering as she waves goodbye. "Good luck surviving without me, losers!"

"But… but…" Chris sputters, but it's too late. He turns to the camera, irritated. "Who will try to pull a fast one on me next? Will Jo escape with those riches or will my legal team determine that they're rightfully mine? Find out next time on Total! Drama! Revenge of the Island!"