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Day 01 – Emily
If Trevor and Derek wanted to debut the new season with a foreboding atmosphere, they had the perfect weather tonight, Emily thought. Tonight’s dusk brought along an almost mysterious mist towards Stiwaki, with soft rumblings of thunder in the distance. She stood behind the dilapidated Ferris Wheel of Stiwaki. A haphazard mass of leaves and branches were thrown around the bottom half of the compartments of the ride to conceal her presence. Emily grimaced as she looked at her grimy hands and nails with dirt. Of course Derek had tasked her with setting the camouflage all up in such short notice, as she arrived at the campground with only half an hour to spare -
Forgetting her surroundings for a moment, she breathed in and out deeply, letting the mist wash away her problems. It was so cool and refreshing, a far-cry from the stifling air and heat during prison life…
She opened up her eyes. If she didn’t want to get thrown into jail again, the former production assistant had to stay focused. After the shelter-building challenge, both hosts would lead the teams back here to announce the winner and the twist that would go along with it.
That twist being Emily Campbell herself.
But before she could reminisce about how that came to pass, Emily heard voices slowly approaching from the distance. She squatted down in her hiding place, and as she looked through the foliage, managed to start to hear what the contestants were saying as they all came in front of the Ferris Wheel. She drifted towards the right, where the red team began to congregate.
“Scandeleux!” Amelie crossed her arms, “Did they really have to make us trudge all the way here to announce their verdict!?
“Come on Amelie, it’s not that bad,” Hannah smiled and placed a hand on her, “At least by walking here we got to see more of the carnival. Like this,” She gestured to the huge structure Emily was hiding behind, “imagine the view atop the Ferris Wheel!”
Amelie shot the bartender a look of disgust, “Oie blanche! One would have to be an idiot to step foot on that deathtrap! Hmph!” As she watched her turn away, Emily rolled her eyes. How she expected to get far in this game acting while acting like that was anyone’s guess…
Her gaze shifted to where the blue team was, where her eyes settled on three of the new competitors she recognized from the cast photos she managed to glance at when talking to Trevor days earlier: Lynda, Anastasia and Marissa.
Like Amelie, Anastasia was not happy with the delay, “Why are they giving such fanfare over who won the tarp? Those three should be letting us rest up for the challenge tomorrow.”
Emily’s eyes widened. Three? Did Trevor and Derek rope someone else in to help run things this time? But no, Trevor never told her –
“Now ‘missy did ya really think it’d be that easy?” Lynda tutted, “It’s the fourth season of this shindig.”
The older woman crossed her arms rather smugly, causing the Russian to roll her eyes, “I didn’t expect this to be easy. But for them to gather us up here like this… “
“Ana has a point that this seems fishy. Maybe there’s a twist?” Emily watched as Marissa put a reassuring hand on the models shoulder, who looked back at her with a rare-smile. Now it was Emily’s turn to roll her eyes. She had been in the industry long enough to know a budding romance when she saw one. Still… they both looked cute…
Together. They looked cute together, of course.
“Okay people listen up!”
Emily’s head whipped around to see Trevor, Derek and… Oliver approach her from behind. Trevor offered her a nervous smile as Derek and Oliver went around the Ferris Wheel to begin to address the contestants, “How are you feeling?”
“Peachy.” Emily grit her teeth, “Why didn’t you tell me about Oliver?”
“Derek and I had no idea he was joining the show until a day ago,” Trevor chuckled, though without a hint of humor, “Last minute negotiations with the network; the only way they would give us back the rights for the show is if we had a supervising producer.”
“By us you mean me?” Emily crossed her arms.
Trevor’s eyes widened and he held his hand up in defense. “Derek and I screwed up too! Remember season one?”
As Emily watched her former friend flinch back, her stomach sank. They used to be so close, but now anytime he was forced to be near her he was so nervous and jumpy. Not that she could blame him… “Whatever…” She turned away and sighed. “Is Derek going to announce who won soon?”
Trevor relaxed a tad, “Oliver is, he was the judge for the shelter building challenge. We’ll start once I get out there… which should be right now.” He turned away briskly to join his partner and producer in front of the wheel. Emily sighed once more and squat back down in her hiding place.
No turning back now…
Day 01 - Anastasia
As every second passed waiting, Anastasia was becoming more and more convinced of Marissa’s theory that a twist was about to befall them. The tiki torches surrounding them to illuminate the area of the Ferris Wheel had such a dramatic flair which gave her a feeling that Derek and Trevor were going to announce something bigger than who won the tarp…
“You alright, Ana?”
Anastasia broke her stare from the wheel and turned to Marissa. Once her eyes met hers, she felt at ease, “I was just thinking about what type of twist this could be. Obviously those two didn’t drag us here all for a tarp.” Her gaze turned back towards the wheel, “This wait is just… agonizing.”
“Well whatever the twist is, I believe our team can handle anything Trevor and Derek throw at us.” Marissa smiled, turning her view to the wheel as well, “At least we get a nice view while we wait.”
Anastasia couldn’t help but steal a glance at the woman beside her. She looked like a natural leader; confident and strong yet with a cheerful attitude to inspire anyone following her to weather the storm. The model flushed, “You’re right… this view is… pleasing.”
Unfortunately, Trevor, Derek and Oliver walked around to the front of the wheel to break divert Anastasia’s eyes from that view.
“Okay people, Oliver has judged your shelters and is ready to make his decision!” Derek called out.
Oliver held up a clipboard and tapped on it with his pen as he began, “Judging this from all angles…” The pudgy man gulped nervously but pressed on with a smile, “I have to give Blue Teams more solid foundation the win!”
Everyone on Blue Team except for Anastasia and Alessio erupted in cheers.
“Yes! I knew using part of the Ferris Wheel carriage as the base would slay.” Nathalia smirked.
Isabel walked over to the publicist and smiled, “Praise be!”
Logan whooped once more before turning to Alessio, “Isn’t it great dude, we won our first challenge!... Alessio?”
The painter was currently staring at the tiki torches which lit up the wheel, “Simply captivating how the red and orange flames seem to be transfixed on this blue haze of a fog, no?”
“Uh… sure?”
Even from afar, Anastasia couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the painter. How on earth did he expect to win the competition if being so… weird? Her view soon turned to the crestfallen Red Team, specifically the young goth Tristan, “Sorry guys, I really thought they’d dig the ‘Vibe Tribe’ look.”
“Sorry Tristan,” Oliver began, “While I appreciate the effort you put into the design, having an all black exterior would attract a lot of sunlight which might make it too hot during the day. Plus…” He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, “After working with Nina… I’m kind of spooked by the horror aesthetic.”
“Good call,” Trevor walked forward, nodding in agreement, “Nina is someone you do not want to mess with. I’ll never forget how angry she got after I forgot to give her sugar in her cappuccino…” He shook his head, “Anywho, Blue Team! Congrats, you have won your tarp! We’ll deliver it to your shelter shortly. But before that… I’m sure you’re all wondering why we gathered you all here.”
Anastasia hardened her eyes. Marissa was right, this was a twist.
Ted raised an eyebrow, “There’s something else?”
“Another advantage?” Richard guessed hopefully.
“Yup! In addition to the tarp you will also receive a special advantage over red team for the duration of the competition!” Trevor said.
“Or disadvantage depending on how you look at it!” Derek stepped forward and snickered, earning a frown from his boyfriend, “Either way, due to Oliver giving you the nod over Red Team, a familiar face will be joining you in the competition on your team!”
It took a good few seconds, but soon a cacophony of gasps could be heard from the crowd once they parsed together what Trevor and Derek meant.
“Bloody hell…” Spencer shook his head in disbelief. “Another player on Blue to put us at a numerical disadvantage.”
“A twist like this… and so early…” Anastasia looked up at Marissa pondering, a hand on her chin. “Wait… familiar face?”
“Come on out, Emily!”
Anastasia’s jaw dropped. “Who?”
Day 01- Emily
“Come on out, Emily!”
Emily took a sharp breath in. This was show-time, whether she liked it or not.
The former interviewer emerged from her camouflage and walked around to the front of the Ferris Wheel. Most of the cast looked at her with surprise, their faces plastered with either surprise or fear… all except for one.
“Eee!” Natalia fanned herself, positively star-struck, “No way… Emily’s on our team!? She’s so mother!”
“Oh, wow! I didn’t know she was your mom?” Lynda turned to the publicist.
Emily glared daggers at the two as her face flushed red, “Excuse you, I’m not old enough to be –
“Now, now, Emily…” The redhead turned to find Derek walking over towards her. The shit-eating grin on his face caused her own to grow hotter, “Don’t want to antagonize your own team on the first day, now would we? Or would her highness want to return to a life behind bars?”
“You –
Emily pointed to Derek and was prepared to fire back with a retort… but none came to her mind. She half just wanted to slug him right then and there, but she knew bait when she saw it and this was it. If she so much laid a finger on Derek than she’d be thrown back in prison… and he knew that. God, it infuriated her.
Emily’s eyes glanced behind Derek’s head to Oliver and Trevor. Oliver looked downright annoyed at this development while Trevor looked at the two with worry. Her eyes soon locked with his for a brief moment before he turned away.
That alone felt like a punch in the gut for Emily. “Whatever…”
She turned away from Derek and huffed over to her new team. Immediately she saw Natalia try to wave her down, but Emily brushed her off, instead electing to stand far away at the other end of the line-up, hoping beyond hope that she could stay as inconspicuous as possible that she wouldn’t be able to attract much more notice until Trevor and Derek release them.
Unluckily for her, she chose to stand next to someone to nice to not offer a friendly greeting.
“Welcome,” Marissa offered her hand towards the approaching redhead with a smile, “Name’s Marissa, happy to have you join us.”
Emily looked back at the future soldier with the slightest twinge of pink on her cheeks. Marissa’s outstretched arm showcased her muscles really well, and her kind eyes looking back into Emily’s nearly caused her to feel dizzy. She cautiously accepted her hand, “Uh, I’m Emily… but you already knew that. And I wish I could say I was happy to be here as you are having me.”
Marissa shrugged, her smile not breaking. “Regardless, you seem resourceful. And you must be here for a good reason.”
Emily’s eyes widened, “I –
“Excuse me Derek, but why is Emily here?” Spencer raised his hand, “Given her less than stellar record on working for this show, why would you want her competing on it?”
“Come on dude,” Tristan winced, “Isn’t that a little harsh?”
“He does have a point though… didn’t she go in prison after All Stars?” Zaid looked over in Blue Team’s direction and held up his hands in defense, “Uh, no offense!”
Emily groaned and put her head in her palms, earning a look of concern from Marissa. Derek looked dryly to his boyfriend, “Do you want to handle the explanation, Trev? This was your whole idea.”
Trevor frowned, “I’m not going to just embarrass her in front of everyone, Derek. If Emily wants to tell others the plan then that’s her choice.”
Derek shrugged, “Whatever you feel is best, babe.”
“Plan?” Ted couldn’t help but smirk as he stroked his beard, “Interesting…”
It was taking all of Emily’s effort to not bolt out of there right there and then, but luckily Oliver came to her rescue and broke up the discussion, “Okay guys, that’s enough. We have a big challenge planned for tomorrow so I think it might be for the best if everyone returned to their shelters to get a good rest.”
“Oliver’s right. Blue Team, congrats on winning your tarp and your extra player,” Trevor tossed the rolled up tarp towards the Blue Team, which was caught by Logan, “We’ll see you all at noon for your challenge.”
Upon being dismissed, Marissa looked to her team and spoke up, “Alright guys, great job today. We won not one but two advantages over Red Team, which is going to put us on a solid footing for tomorrow. So let’s give a warm welcome to one of those two, Emily!... Emily?”
Unbeknownst to all of them, Emily had darted off the second that they were dismissed for the evening.
Isabel held her hand up to her chin, “Wasn’t she just standing next to you?”
Marissa blinked, “I… thought she was?” The soldier looked off towards the distance, “Maybe she headed back to our shelter early?”
“Er, how does she know where that is though?” Logan asked. “Didn’t she just get here?”
“Despite her… motivations last season, Emily’s resourceful.” Marissa explained. “I’m sure she can find our way to our place on her own. Now come on, let’s head back and give her a proper blue team welcome!”
“Count me in,” Natalia smiled giddily.
“Me too,” Richard added, “Always want to let everyone know that they’re included and such.”
As everyone began to walk back to their shelter for the night, Anastasia couldn’t help but stare at the path the rest of her team was walking on. Her eyes narrowed.
Something wasn’t right with Emily and she was going to get to the bottom of it one way or the other.
Day 01 – Emily
Despite it being the dead of night, the camp of the Stiwaki Carnival seemed to be buzzing with life. Even now, hiding under her sleeping bag that she hastily threw onto the ground, she could hear the constant chattering of wildlife from beyond the Ferris Wheel cart that was the Blue Teams shelter. In spite of the noise, this wasn’t what was keeping the redhead so wide awake. In prison she was used to hearing the noise of prison brawls and quarrels from cells over, and the sounds of nature she was hearing right now were much preferable to sleep to.
It was the state of fear of being thrust into this situation.
Once Emily had found the shelter by following Alessio’s fallen paintbrushes, she pretended to be asleep as soon as possible once the others returned. Some tried to approach her (Natalia was particularly persistent), but after enough vague excuses of not joining the rest of them for dinner, they had left her alone. But even now that they were all asleep, she felt unease around them all.
They had all watched the show and knew of her past sins and now she was expected to align with them so easily? All to avoid the specter of a lengthy prison sentence!?
Still… at least Marissa seemed nice.
But the last time she opened up to someone on this show was Trevor, and look how that turned out…
Eager to shake these thoughts, she positioned herself on the floor to be able to look out at one of the windows on the top of the kart. A lone hole in the tarp that they won allowed the light from the stars to reflect off the colored interior of the kart, allowing themselves to be bathed in a sea of crimson.
It was mesmerizing, so much so that she was sure that she was certain that she was dreaming.
And grateful from that respite from reality, she remained transfixed, not knowing what tomorrow would hold.