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The bus of losers pulled to the stop as it did every few days. After every elimination ceremony, another camper would join the loser's motel, having lost the competition. This time around, it was Ally who stepped off onto the path.
The bright streetlights reflected in her glasses, her eyes tired from the challenge before. Letting out a sigh, she pulled her denim jacket across herself and began to walk to the motel. There was a pit of shame, a pit that could only be described as a void of regret. Regret of how she had played, regret of not spending time with the people that mattered.
Before she could even approach the door, it opened and two people walked out: these people were barely strangers, rather two of the closest people to Ally. Hunter, wearing a pair of pajamas and sneakers, slowly made his way over to the woman, followed by their third counterpart, Tess, who wore a black vest and pants.
Ally gave the two a smile, grateful to see them again. They finally had the time to catch up like they said they would. However, the looks Tess and Hunter returned were far from welcoming.
Hunter spoke up first, his loud tone echoing across the night, "What were you thinking, Ally?! Becoming a villain? What the hell?! "
Ally's smile dropped, the pit in her stomach grew, almost consuming her whole. She could already feel tears form in her eyes, words unable to form and instead falling as waterfalls from her eyes, every blink splashing them onto her glasses.
Hunter began to rant, eyebrows furrowed and his face turning red from what could only be viewed as pure anger. The pit grew, the feeling beginning to choke Ally, the regret of it all becoming apparent. She gave a look to Tess, hoping for some reassurance or just a different view on Hunter's words.
Tess glanced at Ally, arms crossed against her chest. The raven-haired woman paused, then spoke, "Why, Ally? This game changed you. This is no different from what happened with Ellie." She looked stern yet softly at Ally, a long pause drawing the feelings out between them until Tess said her final thought:
"Who are you anymore, Ally? It feels like you're a stranger."
Ally felt her heart crack, the contents ready to pour like a tsunami yet the tangling vines of regret and shame held tight on her throat preventing any words from being spoken.
Hunter, once again, yelled, "This is bullshit. This is bullshit! What happened to 'caring about what others think'? Because, spoiler alert Ally, they fucking hate you!"
Crack. Her heart was ready to shatter, her mind racing like a game of Mario Kart, a game she loved to play with the two of them. Thoughts came through and left, only to make room for more, even more sharp and piercing than the last.
The two pairs of eyes were on the woman. She felt their stares, one of anger and one of resentment, shooting lasers through her body and heart, leaving it close to shattering.
So close.
So, so close.
It...
It was.
Ally fell to her knees, burying her head in her hands. Tears streamed like an endless waterfall down her cheeks, leaving puddles on the lenses on her face. She felt an uncontrollable scream leave her throat, sobs erupting through her shattered spirit.
God, what had she done?
Hunter sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers, "I can't deal with this." The tallest of the three turned and walked away, leaving the two girls in the silence of the night.
Tess paused, deciding what to do. She looked back at the motel, which the door of had just slammed shut from Hunter. The girl then looked back at Ally who was still breaking down in tears. She then kneeled to her level and placed a hand on her shoulder. Ally looked up at her, glasses damp and steamed up, cheeks red and eyes sore.
"Don't let Hunter get to you. I know you didn't play well and I know that three million got to your head. But that doesn't change who you are, Ally. Above a 'villain', a streamer and a gamer, you're Ally. And you're fighting just as well as all of us. We can move past this together."
Ally paused, feeling Tess' words sink into her. Tess gave her a smile, standing up and holding an arm out to Ally to which she took and got to her own feet.
The taller girl locked her fingers with the shorter girl's and the two of them walked towards the motel. The game didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was the time they got to spend together.