[Breakfast, The Next Week]

  Everyone sits around their tables in the dining hall, chatting about various topics.

  “Ugh, these waffles taste horrible; can I have more syrup?” Euphemia shouts, lifting a waffle drenched in syrup.

  “Ma’am, I feel like you’ve had enough syrup,” Mint tells her while chewing bacon.

  “Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Beatrix replies.

  “Why aren’t you eating?” Euphemia asks with hands drenched in syrup.

  “The rays from the sun should provide enough dietary fulfillment,” Beatrix responds as she goes to the door, opens it, and lies on the ground.

  “Are you vegan?” Euphemia asks, following her outside.

  “No, pretty sure she’s just dumb,” Joseph replies with crossed arms.

  “You aren’t even supposed to be here; go back to your team,” Euphemia commands, pointing to the door.

  “Whatever,” Joseph responds, walking back inside.

  “Oh, silly Euphemia, why are you so tense?” Beatrix asks.

  “Watching Goji get locked behind a cell makes me worried; I don’t want to be locked behind a cell for weeks,” Euphemia explains.

  “Awe, you poor baby,” Tobias comes out of the cafeteria, mocking Euphemia.

  “You can go back inside too,” Euphemia tells him.

  “No,” Tobias responds, pushing her off to the side. Euphemia screams and rolls down a hill.

  “Why would you push her when we needed to talk to her?” Blair shouts at him.

  “Fair point,” Tobias replies. “Hey Beatrix, mind if we borrow Euphemia?” Tobias asks.

  “My aura tells me. You wouldn’t listen anyway,” Beatrix responds.

  “Thanks,” Tobias responds as he runs up to Euphemia, and Blair follows.

  “Woah, that was fun; throw me again,” Euphemia remarks as she sits next to a tree, dizzy.

  “Are you sure this is the girl?” Blair asks with suspicion.

  “Eugh, obviously,” Tobias replies, offended that Blair even suggested his idea was mad. “Look, Euphemia, I have a deal for you,” Tobias remarks, putting his hand over the tree.

  “The last time someone asked me for a deal, they wante-” Euphemia gets interrupted.

  “We don’t care,” Blair responds with her arms crossed.

  “We form an alliance,” Tobias responds.

  “Oh my confection, that idea sounds impressive, but I can’t go behind Mint, Zion, or Beatrix’s back. Especially not Beatrix’s back.” Euphemia explains.

  “I think you can agree that me and Blair are the best members to ever be in this game,” Tobias remarks, pointing at himself with a cocky expression.

  “It’s season one,” Euphemia replies.

  “Whatever,” Tobias replies with an eye roll. “I’m a lucky trickster with a gambling addiction, and Blair is a raging she-male. If you work with us two, we’ll never have to fear an elimination.” Tobias explains. “That is a promise,” Tobias chuckles.

  "Well, Zion, Mint, and Beatrix are my friends,” Euphemia shouts.

  Blair takes a knee. “Be honest with yourself here; Mint and Zion would throw you under the bus. Their whole moral compass is bullshit. It’s a competition,” Blair remarks.

  “Be honest, we both know Zion is the Goji of the team,” Tobias builds off of Blair’s comment.

  “Why would you approach me?” Euphemia asks.

  “Because out of everyone here, you are the least worrying. Ruggardo and Phoenix are probably making out in private. Beatrix probably does drugs, Zion doesn’t shower, and Mint is so ‘moral’ it is genuinely insufferable,” Tobias explains, scowling.

  “And we have candy,” Blair responds as she dangles a box of candies over Euphemia’s head. Euphemia jumps up to grab it, but Blair raises it.

  "Oh, sorry, that’s not how things work around here,” Tobias responds with a grim chuckle.

  “Two conditions: Beatrix joins the alliance, and I get the candy,” Euphemia explains, salivating over what is dangling over her head.

  Blair and Tobias look at each other and nod their heads in agreement. Blair throws the candy box, and Euphemia jumps up, catching it in her mouth like a dog. "Awe, that’s kind of cute,” Tobias remarks.

  “Don’t be gross,” Blair responds.

  Meanwhile, the other team is discussing.

  “It’s bullshit; Joseph’s team lost the last episode,” Joseph shouts.

  “Now we are at a numbers disadvantage,” Percival grumbles.

  “Well, let’s nah pretend Goji was valuable,” Ayaan responds as she scratches her chin with her claw.

  "Yeah, we didn’t miss anything voting out that leech,” Yvonne continues.

  “He could’ve been useful in a tug of war,” Percival explains.

  “No, he couldn’t be; Matey was made to scrub the decks,” Ayaan remarks. They start hearing loud trumpets. Everyone turns their head, and they see a silhouette. “Oh, not again,” Ayaan grumbles.

  “I am all charged,” Clint shouts as he dashes down the stairs. He lifts a cafeteria table effortlessly.

  “Man, that’s nothing; Joseph can also lift a table,” Joseph shouts.

  “Wait, Joseph, Halt!” Ayaan shouts before Joseph flips the whole table over. The food rolls off the table, landing on Team “Pathetic Pals.” head. The food lands on them: pancakes, waffles, sausage, and other assortments.

  Yvonne pulls a fried egg off of her hair. “Good going, Joseph,” Yvonne sarcastically replies.

  “You’re welcome. Wait, where is that lavender girl?” Joseph remarks.

  “Yuko?” Yvonne questions.

  “Is Yuko nowhere to be present?” Clint asks, turning on his X-ray vision to scan the room.

  “It appears as if she has chosen to resume her slumber,” Percival tells them, with his outfit drenched in orange juice.

  “Guys, can I tell you a secret?” Clint asks.

  “We won’t be heeding,” Ayaan answers.

  “I like Yuko,” Clint tells them.

  “Wait, what?” Yvonne responds in shock. “It was so fucking obvious,” Yvonne shouts, hitting her forehead.

  “Okay, ye didn’t need to scream that, savvy?” Ayaan remarks, pulling on her ear.

  “It was rather transparent,” Percival comments.

  “Ayaan, I’m going to use the bathroom,” Yvonne remarks as she runs towards it.

  Ayaan just stands around while everyone else waits.

  “Are you going with her?” Percival asks.

  “Oh ye,” Ayaan remarks as she chases after Yvonne.

  “That imbecile,” Percival mocks.

  Ayaan and Yvonne pace around the bathroom. “Alright, so we need to keep Yuko and Clint separated,” Yvonne tells her.

  “We needs t' keep Clint away from humanity,” Ayaan remarks.

  Yvonne chuckles, “Alright, but in all seriousness. Clint is already a threat; him having an ally would spell a lot of danger for us,” Yvonne continues.

  “Fer the next challenge, we get Joseph,” Ayaan replies.

  “Of course, the only way to beat a nerd is with a jock,” Yvonne catches on. Yvonne and Ayaan run out of the bathroom and drag Joseph to the nearest closet.

  “Of course, the women want the bad boy,” Clint groans.

  “Joseph is anything but bad,” Percival replies.

  We cut back to Joseph, Ayaan, and Yvonne, who are in the cramped janitor’s closet.

  “We should’ve gone to the loom,” Ayaan tells them.

  “Loom?” Joseph asks.

  “It’s her Somalian slang; ignore her,” Yvonne tells him. “Now, we have an offer for you. Would you like to be in our alliance?” Yvonne asks.

  “Joseph doesn’t need an alliance,” Joseph replies. “Joseph is too good for one,” Joseph continues, flexing his muscles.

  “Well, what if we forced ye into one?” Ayaan asks.

  Joseph thinks about it and strokes his chin. “Nah,” Joseph denies the deal.

  Yvonne growls and grabs Joseph’s jersey “Can you do us a favor?” Yvonne asks.

  “Why didn’t you just say so?” Joseph asks.

  Ayaan groans. “We need you to keep Yuko and Clint away from each other at all times,” Yvonne tells him.

  “No way, man, too much work,” Joseph replies, holding his hand up.

  “Please?” Yvonne asks, pleading.

  “Fine,” Joseph replies. “Joseph’s going to eat breakfast,” Joseph replies, storming out of the janitor’s closet.

  “He is aware; he butchered the gruel, right?” Ayaan asks.

  “Who cares?” Yvonne replies, shrugging her shoulders. She walks out of the janitor’s closet with Ayaan. They regroup with their team.

  Dominic comes towards the contestants on a hoverboard. “What’s going on?” Dominic asks, sipping from a coffee.

  “Seriously? A hoverboard?” Ayaan mocks.

  “Jealous?” Dominic asks. “Wait a minute. Where is the military cadet, shy girl, and LARPer?” Dominic asks.

  “Mint’s doing the pledge of allegiance. I figure Zion is doing the same thing,” Euphemia tells him.

  “Get them down here, Phoenix,” Dominic tells her.

  “Do I have to?” Phoenix asks.

  “I just named someone random,” Dominic tells her.

  “Fine, I’ll do it,” Phoenix walks up the stairs, and Ruggardo follows her.

  Phoenix knocks on Mint’s door. “How does it feel sleeping with Blair?” Ruggardo asks.

  “Don’t get me started on her,” Phoenix answers. Phoenix starts knocking on the door harder.

  “Well, they aren’t coming out; we should just leave them here,” Ruggardo responds as he shrugs his shoulders. Ruggardo goes to walk off, but Phoenix grabs him by the hair.

  “I’d kick down the door, but I don’t want to pay for it,” Phoenix explains. Ruggardo and Phoenix just stare at each other.

  “Fine, I’ll do it,” Ruggardo shouts as he kicks down the door.

  They interrupt Mint and Zion kissing. "Ack!” Mint shouts as she throws a shoe at Phoenix, and Phoenix ducks.

  “You guys met a week ago,” Phoenix responds.

  “Love and justice are the same; you can easily identify both,” Zion responds.

  “What does that even mean?” Ruggardo asks with his fists balled up.

  “That is irrelevant, miss. Why did you kick down the door instead of just asking the host to open it up?” Mint asks.

  “I didn’t feel like walking down the stairs,” Phoenix replies.

  "Ma'am, that is destruction of property, and it is a crime,” Mint explains.

  “Prepare to taste justice and accept punishment,” Zion shouts, taking off his scarf.

  “We were punished enough when we saw you two kiss,” Phoenix replies. Ruggardo chuckles.

  “Can you keep it secret?” Mint asks, “This would severely damage my reputation,” Mint explains.

  “If you two can get Yuko, then fine,” Phoenix replies. “Shouldn’t she be in this room anyway?” Phoenix asks, looking around.

  “Yuko!” Ruggardo shouts.

  "AH!” Yuko shouts as she rolls off her bed and lands on the hardwood floor.

  “The next challenge is starting right now,” Phoenix replies.

  “Wha-what? We did the first challenge yesterday, though,” Yuko replies.

  “No, we did it last week,” Phoenix responds.

  “Wait, have you been sleeping all week?” Ruggardo asks.

  “I tried to wake her up. Even blowing my whistle, but she didn’t participate in my laps,” Mint continues.

  “Nobody did except Zion,” Phoenix responds.

  "Because I do not wish for my body to be unhealthy,” Zion responds.

  “Do you see yourself,” Phoenix replies, disgusted.

  “I’ve been sleeping all week; the f…first ch…challenge was str….stressful,” Yuko explains, pulling on her hair.

  “Your boyfriend, Clint, carried you across the finish line,” Phoenix remarks with her arms crossed.

  “B…Boyfriend?” Yuko responds, blushing.

  “Yeah, I mean, he’s worth a shot. He genuinely does seem to care for you,” Ruggardo replies.

  “N…No, T…Too stressful,” Yuko replies as she twiddles her thumbs.

  “Well, you guys get dressed and meet us downstairs,” Phoenix responds as she walks off and Ruggardo follows her.

  “Did you get them awake?” Dominic asks Phoenix, but she doesn’t answer.

  “Yeah, we did,” Ruggardo responds.

  “Weird girl,” Dominic remarks.

  Later, Zion, Mint, and Yuko walk down the stairs to regroup with the others. "Alright, you guys go split into your teams,” Dominic tells them. Percival, Clint, Coral, Joseph, Yvonne, Ayaan, and Yuko all go to one side of the room. Mint, Zion, Euphemia, Tobias, Ruggardo, Blair, Phoenix, and Beatrix go to the other side.

  “Alright, you guys will each be given a paintball gun, then sent to two opposite sides of the town. The challenge for today is a paintball game. You will be eliminated from this challenge if you get hit with a paintball. If you hit a citizen, you will be eliminated. If you are hit, you can’t fire your paintball gun. Lastly, SOME paintball guns will be built differently from the others.” Dominic explains the rules of the challenge.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Any questions?” Dominic asks.

  “We are missing a swashbuckler,” Ayaan tells him.

  “Yes,” Dominic responds, nodding his head.

  “It’s pretty unfair,” Ayaan replies.

  Dominic looks at her and says, “Everyone, get into your team's vans and get in your direction." Dominic orders and everyone gets into their vans. Ruggardo shrugs his shoulders, snatches bacon off of the plate, and shoves it into his pocket. Everybody gets to their destination, and the challenge begins.

  “Just in case I’m hungry,” Ruggardo explains.

  “Disgusting,” Phoenix remarks.

  Everybody gets to their destination, and the challenge begins. Team Pathetic Pals immediately starts digging into their crates to get a gun, but Ayaan thinks differently. She waits for the van driver to leave his vehicle with his key in his pocket. Ayaan snatches the key. He didn’t notice; he was too busy listening to music. Ayaan hops into the van and drives towards her team. “All hands on deck inside the barque,” Ayaan orders.

  “That can’t be a phrase,” Yvonne responds as she gets in the van, and Percival follows her.

  “Yuko and I will not get inside that car,” Clint rebuttals.

  “Fine, well take Joseph with you; the more the merrier,” Yvonne remarks.

  “I want to spend time with Yuko,” Clint responds.

  “Well, isn’t that honorable?” Yvonne responds sarcastically.

  “We want to win, so take Joseph with you,” Ayaan demands.

  “Fine, statistically, he could be useful,” Clint remarks. Clint flies off with his rocket boots, holding Joseph in one hand and Yuko in the other.

  “Where’s Coral?” Ayaan asks.

  “Percival, go to the back of the van,” Yvonne tells him.

  “Eugh, why?” Percival replies.

  “Not enough room up here,” Yvonne tells him.

  “Whatever, royalty has a tradition of sacrificing themselves for the commoners,” Percival explains as he gets in the back of the van. Ayaan drives off.

  “Didn’t know you had a driver’s license,” Yvonne replies.

  “It’s the same as piratin’ a ship,” Ayaan responds.

  The other team is also coming up with strategies.

  “It is crucial and beneficial that we all stay together,” Mint tells them.

  “Euphemia and Beatrix, we need you two,” Tobias interrupts Mint.

  “Sorry,” Euphemia replies, separating from the other four to regroup with Blair and Tobias.

  “Miss Phoenix and Mister Ruggardo?” Mint asks, only to turn around and see them gone. “This is not a great sign,” Mint responds.

  “Don’t worry, woman of my ivory dreams, I am with you,” Zion replies as he takes a bow.

  “Very well, let’s sprint to it,” Mint commands. The two of them take off.

  However, Euphemia, Tobias, Beatrix, and Blair are going a bit lighter.

  “Did we have to leave our friends?” Euphemia asks.

  “We are in an alliance; Mint and Zion would throw us under the bus when given the chance,” Tobias explains.

  “Mint and Zion’s hearts are pure,” Beatrix replies. “I did a reading of them,” Beatrix explains as she levitates.

  “Well, who cares?” Tobias replies with a shoulder shrug. “A pure heart is nothing compared to money. I’m a gambler; I see men with loving families turn into beasts when money is involved,” Tobias explains. “Men crawl as I drain every single dollar from their pocketbook,” Tobias continues with a snicker.

  “If you are such a rich gambler, why are you even competing?” Euphemia asks.

  Tobias stops for a second and thinks. “For fun,” Tobias replies.

  “Well, winning this game is my livelihood,” Blair responds.

  “Fascinating,” Tobias replies, tripping Blair.

  “What did you do that for?” Blair asks, standing back up and dusting herself off.

  “I did that for fun,” Tobias replies with a shrug.

  Ayaan is driving dangerously on the road. Numerous curves, twists, turns, aggressive roundabouts, and honking the horn whenever she is inconvenienced. "Aye!” Ayaan shouts as she drives past a red light. Ayaan suddenly stops, causing everyone to be shot to the front.

  “Aye, a dock!” Ayaan shouts as she points to a store with her hook.

  “Why are we stopping?” Percival asks as he stumbles out from the back of the van, vomiting everywhere.

  “To plunder some booty,” Ayaan shouts as she dashes into the store.

  “I will not be wasting time; good riddance, team,” Percival replies, flipping his hair back and walking off.

  “Whatever, I’ll join Ayaan,” Yvonne remarks, entering the store with Ayaan. She catches Ayaan ripping open a box of balloons with her hook hand.

  “Take it,” Ayaan orders, holding out the box.

  Yvonne takes a balloon out of the box. Ayaan drops the box and runs off; Yvonne follows her. Ayaan takes her paintball gun from the van, and Yvonne opens the balloon. Ayaan fills the whole balloon with paint.

  “Now, with this here balloon filled with crushed-up colorful rocks, when we throw one, it will explode, causing the paint to go e'erywhere,” Ayaan explains.

  “Not a bad idea,” Yvonne responds.

  “Obviously, I thought of it,” Ayaan remarks. “Aye, where’s Percival?” Ayaan asks.

  Clint continues to fly into the sky, holding onto Joseph and Yuko. “Man, can we sit down somewhere?” Joseph asks. “Joseph’s arm is getting tired,” Joseph replies.

  “I’m getting woozy,” Yuko remarks as she holds onto her head.

  “Data received,” Clint remarks as he lowers himself. Joseph hops off and catches Yuko when she jumps off. “She can catch herself,” Clint replies, growling.

  “Joseph was just being a gentleman,” Joseph replies.

  “How gentlemanly are you now?” Clint responds, aiming his paintball gun at Joseph.

  “Wait, guys, stop,” Yuko tells them. “We need to stick together,” Yuko reminds Clint.

  “You’re lucky the love of my life has protected you,” Clint replies.

  “‘You’re lucky the love of my life has protected you,’” Joseph mocks with a stank face.

  “Shh,” Clint tells him. “I’m sensing something,” Clint tells them as he turns up his volume and hears a familiar voice.

  “Wait, guys, I’m sensing something,” Beatrix tells her group at the same time.

  Clint jumps out of an alleyway, aiming his paintball gun and firing it. Blair swiftly kicks a trashcan to block the shot. Joseph does a barrel roll and aims his gun. “Retreat,” Tobias shouts, jumping into a manhole. Blair and Euphemia follow him; Beatrix tries to jump down but is hit in the forehead by Joseph.

  “Headshot,” Joseph announces, pumping his fist.

  “No scope,” Clint replies.

  “Damn it,” Beatrix grunts in frustration.

  Dominic appears on a motorcycle and takes out his megaphone. “Oh, and it appears Beatrix is out,” Dominic screams.

  Euphemia, Tobias, and Blair run around the sewers when they hear the news. Euphemia lets out a tear. “Damn it!” she shouts.

  “Luckily, I was standing over a manhole. We might be able to hide down here for the whole game,” Tobias tells them.

  “No way, I am missing out on the action,” Blair responds. She sees a gleam of light and hides behind a wall with Tobias and Euphemia.

  Clint opens up the manhole. “What’s the plan?” Joseph asks. Clint pushes Joseph down the manhole and covers it up.

  “Nobody is getting between me and my queen,” Clint remarks as he turns back to Yuko. They are about to leave the alleyway until Phoenix and Ruggardo appear.

  “Ruggardo, take cover,” Phoenix commands as she kneels and cocks her paintball gun.

  “How are you?” Clint asks.

  “Not all guns are equal,” Phoenix fires her paintball gun, and shells come out of it. Numerous paint goes flying out of the gun. Clint grabs Yuko and tries to fly off into the sky. “Ruggardo, get a good shot!” Phoenix shouts as she picks up a can and tosses it. Clint is tens of feet into the air, but the can hits Yuko, knocking her off of him. Ruggardo aims his paintball gun and fires it at Yuko.

  “Bullseye,” Ruggardo replies.

  Clint, in a quick decision, flies to block Yuko and aims his gun at Phoenix. Phoenix tries to barrel roll out of the way, but the paint is too fast; it lands on her foot. Clint also gets hit with it simultaneously; they are both out.

  “Phoenix and Clint are both out,” Dominic announces. Ruggardo grits his teeth and tries to carry Phoenix away.

  “What are you doing?” Phoenix asks.

  “Not leaving you here,” Ruggardo replies.

  “You fool, just win the challenge!” Phoenix shouts. Ruggardo drops Phoenix and runs off. Phoenix stands up and wanders off. “Don’t know why he tried to carry me. I was shot with paint, not a bullet,” Phoenix replies.

  “Yuko, I’m sorry,” Clint replies as he flies to the ground.

  “I need to get to that manhole,” Yuko shouts as she runs off. Clint flies to block her way, but Dominic stops him. “Eliminated contestants can’t interfere with the game,” Dominic responds. Clint moves out of the way, begrudgingly. Yuko slides down the manhole ladder and lands next to Joseph.

  “What’s happening?” Joseph asks as he poses.

  Meanwhile, Yvonne is driving, and Ayaan pouts in the passenger seat. “You aren’t driving,” Yvonne replies.

  “Oh, how reasonable, yeah, just leave me in this seat to rot like an apple,” Ayaan sarcastically grumbles.

  “Speeding is against the law,” Yvonne replies.

  “Women of fortune do not follow the law,” Ayaan shouts as she slams her fist on the glove compartment.

  “We should start looking for Percival anyway,” Yvonne explains. “We already lost Goji; we must have every member we can get,” Yvonne tells her.

  “Well, good fortune finding he,” Ayaan grumbles, leaning back in her chair.

  Meanwhile, Percival is stumbling around until he bumps into Coral.

  “Hehe… hey dude,” Coral replies.

  “What are you doing here?” Percival replies, disgusted.

  “I was walking,” Coral responds.

  "Well, you are dead weight, so don’t follow me,” Percival responds, walking off. Coral follows him anyway. “Do you not listen, you bloody migraine? Don’t follow me,” Percival commands.

  “Nah,” Coral responds as he continues to follow Percival.

  “Fine,” Percival grumbles, being followed by Coral.

  Five people are all underneath a dimly lit manhole. Tobias, Euphemia, and Blair wander around it aimlessly.

  “This is horrid and boring,” Blair replies.

  “I thought you valued strategy,” Tobias responds.

  “This isn’t a strategy; This is hiding like a little bitch,” Blair explains.

  "Whatever gets us that win,” Tobias remarks as he checks his nails. “Someone turn on their phone flashlight,” Tobias replies. Euphemia turns on her flashlight. "See, we are tens of feet below the competition,” Tobias replies with a smug smirk.

  “I’m going to play my favorite match 3 game,” Euphemia responds as she sits down.

  “So what are we okay with mediocrity?” Blair asks.

  “Yes,” Euphemia remarks, Euphemia accidentally clicks the call app and calls the contact 'Yuko.' They hear a small but faint ringing sound.

  “Why do you have Yuko’s phone number?” Blair asks.

  “I have Yuko’s number because she’s just a swell girl,” Euphemia responds.

  “How did you get it; she’s been asleep all week?” Tobias questions.

  “Nobody said she knew I had her number,” Euphemia remarks.

  “Doesn’t matter, go team go!” Blair shouts as she runs in the direction of the ringing.

  Meanwhile, Yuko looks at her phone ringing. “Who is ‘Best Friend’?” Yuko asks.

  “Stupid spam caller,” Joseph shouts in a fit of rage as he picks up Yuko’s phone and slams it onto the ground.

  “Wha-Why?” Yuko asks, exasperated.

  “Do you have a problem?” Joseph growls.

  "N...No,” Yuko whimpers as she crouches to pick up her phone.

  “Joseph’s sorry; Joseph’s just stressed down here in the sewers,” Joseph explains.

  “It’s fine,” Yuko responds as she pats Joseph on his back. She clenches the collar of her sweater. Yuko takes a deep breath and shushes Joseph. She concentrates on the dead silence. “D…do you hear scary footsteps?” Yuko asks.

  “Kinda, Joseph doesn’t hear much, though. After he went to the American football game of 2022,” Joseph responds.

  “We need to go now,” Yuko commands as she runs off, and Joseph runs with her. Blair, in the pitch darkness, walks right past Yuko and Joseph. Yuko is covering Joseph’s mouth as Blair looks around. Blair flares her nostrils, sniffing the surrounding area.

  “Goddamn it, the stench is covering their scent,” Blair mutters as she turns around.

  Joseph breaks free from Yuko’s grip and fires at Blair, but suddenly, Euphemia runs up and tackles Blair to the ground. “Hey, Blair, my favorite witch,” Euphemia shouts. The paint meant for Blair hits Euphemia instead.

  Dominic appears, holding a flashlight in his hand. “Euphemia is out,” Dominic shouts. The flashlight accidentally shines on every contestant down there.

  “Hey, you rats,” Blair shouts as she picks up Euphemia and throws her at Yuko and Joseph. Joseph is quick to dodge, but Euphemia hits Yuko. Yuko slams against a steel pole and realizes it’s a ladder. Yuko climbs up the ladder. Joseph runs, dodging paintballs from Tobias and Blair. Joseph picks up Euphemia’s unconscious body and uses it as a shield.

  Tobias grins. “Watch me get a lucky shot,” Tobias grins as he shoots a paintball, and it hits the outside of Yuko’s sleeve. Yuko quickly notices it and turns her sleeve inside out. Yuko opens the manhole cover, and Joseph throws Euphemia’s body back down.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be lucky?” Blair rants.

  Tobias just turns to Blair and shrugs his shoulders. “I think I did pretty good,” Tobias responds.

  “Did you hit one of them?” Blair asks.

  “I should’ve,” Tobias replies, with his eyes widened.

  Joseph and Yuko are dashing for the inside of a market to catch their breath. “Man, Joseph could’ve easily taken out the she-male and the creepy kindergartener,” Joseph replies.

  Yuko ignores Joseph and falls to her knees. She looks traumatized and even taken aback as she looks back down at her sleeve and comes to the dark revelation: she just cheated.

  During this time, Percival and Coral walk across the town until they overhear a loud shout from a megaphone. “Euphemia has just been knocked out,” the familiar voice shouts.

  “This challenge should be an easy win for us; they’ve already lost three members,” Percival tells him.

  “Dude, this is a challenge!” Coral shouts. Percival just stares at him and facepalms. “Uhh, dude, I hear boots,” Coral replies.

  “We are in a public town, or are you just now figuring that out for the first time?” Percival smugly asks.

  “They sound like Mint's,” Coral shouts before he hears a loud splat.

  “Coral is out,” Dominic shouts through a megaphone while on a motorcycle.

  Percival runs as fast as possible until he sees Ruggardo right infront of him and makes a sharp turn into an alleyway. Ruggardo is quick to spot him. Ruggardo runs up and unites with Mint and Zion. They start to run after Percival. Mint fires her paintball gun. Percival grabs a woman’s stroller and uses it as a shield. The paintball hits the baby in the face, disturbing its sleep.

  “Sorry,” Percival replies to the frustrated mother towering over him.

  “Mint is out,” Dominic shouts.

  “No, Mint!” Zion yells before he also gets shot out by Percival.

  “You can join him,” Percival remarks as he quickly vanishes.

  “It’s my civil duty to make sure that baby is fine,” Mint replies as she runs towards the child. Zion follows after her, and they go to assist the child. Ruggardo quickly turns the corner but doesn’t see anyone, but he does spot Percival’s abandoned shoe.

  “Goddamn it,” Ruggardo grumbles. He continues to walk off until a stray dog with brown, unkempt fur runs up and attacks him. “What do you want?” Ruggardo replies, trying to pull the dog away from him. However, the dog seems to stop attacking and starts digging into his pocket. Ruggardo realizes the dog was never attacking and instead wanted the bacon from his pocket. The dog appears to be a German shepherd.

  “You want the bacon, boy?” Ruggardo asks the dog with a big grin, holding a slice in his hand. The dog is quick to crouch. “Good boy,” Ruggardo replies as he strokes the dog’s chin and takes Percival’s shoe. He holds the shoe in front of the dog. He takes a big sniff. Ruggardo follows the dog and hears a man’s faint screams “No, no!”

  Ruggardo grins as he sees the dog dragging Percival by the pant’s leg. Percival tries to grip the concrete, but the dog’s pull is too strong. “NO, NO!” Percival shouts as he continues to get dragged. Percival bawls his eyes out and screams at the top of his lungs. Ruggardo just laughs as his dog drags Percival to him. Snot drips down Percival’s face, and his throat is sore from all the shouting. “HAVE MERCY,” he begs.

  “Keep begging; I like you like this,” Ruggardo commands sadistically. Ruggardo aims the paintball at Percival’s forehead. Percival cowers in fear and anticipation. Percival runs up to snatch the gun; the dog tackles Percival down. “Eat it, prick,” Ruggardo shoots Percival in the forehead.

  “And Percival is out,” Dominic announces. Percival starts Bahamian hollering so loudly that the glass in some buildings shatters.

  “This is nonsense, poppycock, foolishness, distasteful, atrocious, horrendous, revolting, despicable, and pure bullshit!” Percival screeches, with a sweaty forehead.

  “Hey, dude,” Ruggardo tells him. Percival looks up. “Shut up,” Ruggardo mocks, kicking Percival to the ground and walking off.

  Dominic turns the knob on his megaphone to ‘Ballistic.’ “Hello everyone,” he shouts into the megaphone. “There are only seven players left; that’s right, seven players left. From here on out, I will announce a new rule. You must make it to the town square in twelve minutes, or else you are automatically eliminated,” Dominic tells them.

  All seven contestants are in wildly different locations. However, this announcement not only makes them tense but also determined. They are determined to win the game they have been playing for at least an hour. Losing this challenge means losing a valuable member.

  Blair and Tobias look back at each other and decide to leave the sewers. They climb the ladder and close the cap. “We smell horrible,” Blair grumbles. A fire hydrant is forced open, and water comes rushing out, washing them.

  “Washing off the stench, I sure do love being lucky,” Tobias responds.

  “Do you talk about anything else? You are a walking four-leaf clover,” Blair responds, annoyed.

  “Awe, is the baby going to cry?” Tobias responds, smirking.

  “We need to get to the town square anyway,” Blair remarks.

  “Hey, do you guys need to get to the town square?” A bearded man with a heavy stomach asks.

  “What are you going to kidnap us?” Blair asks.

  “Take her, not me,” Tobias remarks, hiding behind Blair. Blair snarls.

  “I’m also going to the town square,” the man remarks.

  Tobias and Blair look at each other. “Oh shit, I think that megaphone also alerted civilians,” Blair tells Tobias.

  “Better hope I get a lucky shot then,” Tobias responds. “Take us to the town square,” Tobias tells him. Tobias and Blair jump into the back of his truck.

  During this time, Joseph and Yuko are quick enough to make it to the center of the town and see numerous people. “These people could be a problem,” Joseph responds.

  “W…We need t…to remove them,” Yuko explains.

  “Joseph, guess, but not really worth it,” Joseph replies, shrugging his shoulders.

  “We should hide inside that restaurant,” Yuko tells him.

  “Alright,” Joseph remarks as they both run into an establishment titled ‘Lover’s Meal.’

  Ayaan and Yvonne are near the Town Square. “Can this thing go any faster?” Yvonne asks.

  “If ye let me steer, it would be a hell of a lot peachy,” Ayaan grumbles, crossing her arms.

  “Ayaan, you nearly ran someone over,” Yvonne replies. “Also, stop playing with that balloon; it could backfire,” Yvonne remarks.

  “Only thing ye said that is worth listening to,” Ayaan replies with an expression of contempt, putting the balloon in a backpack. “Besides, who cares if I ran someone over? There is a recovery building,” Ayaan replies.

  “Wait, look,” Yvonne shouts.

  “What do ye spy?” Ayaan asks.

  “The weird boy who hangs out with the weird girl,” Yvonne replies.

  “Ruggardo?” Ayaan asks.

  “Yes, him. Who else?” Yvonne asks, annoyed.

  “Could have been Zion,” Ayaan replies.

  “Zion is already out,” Yvonne responds.

  “Oh ye,” Ayaan responds. “Anyway, let’s get him out,” Ayaan replies as she takes her paintball gun.

  Yvonne rolls down her window and shoots Ruggardo in a drive-by. Ruggardo is shocked by the paint on his face and sees a van driving by. Dominic lands from the sky. “And Ruggardo is out,” he screams into the megaphone. “To recap, Team Bumbling Bodies has two members: Blair and Tobias, while Pathetic Pals has four members: Joseph, Yuko, Ayaan, and Yvonne,” Dominic screams.

  Blair and Tobias hop out of the van and climb the tallest building for a leverage point. “It seems like we have this challenge in the bag,” Tobias chuckles. Blair aims her gun at the horde of citizens and gasps. “Why are you gasping?” Tobias asks eagerly.

  “Look,” Blair commands as she points at the restaurant.

  Joseph is sitting across from Yuko with his feet on the table. Yuko is across from Joseph, sweating. A couple across from them starts laughing. “First-date nervousness is so cute,” a brown-haired woman tells them.

  “Who? Joseph only dates college girls,” Joseph replies.

  “You two aren’t dating?” A black-haired man asks.

  “N…no,” Yuko mutters.

  “Unless she wants to, she’s as smart as a college girl,” Joseph responds. Yuko blushes.

  “You two are so cute,” the woman tells them.

  Blair and Tobias watch from the roof. “Imagine if that was us,” Tobias jokes.

  “I’d rather not,” Blair grumbles. Both of their attention is caught by a van blasting a loud sea shanty. “Is that Ayaan?” Blair asks.

  “Ahoy,” Tobias shouts, waving.

  Blair grabs Tobias’ ear and starts pulling on it. “You, nitwit, if you lose, it’s your fault,” Blair responds.

  “Ow, ow, ow, you need to stop pulling right now,” Tobias threatens.

  The sea shanty gets louder; Ayaan drives the van, and Yvonne hides in the back. “I spy Jockstrap and Narcoleptic,” Ayaan alerts. “I’ll pull up to the spot, ye jump out from the back, and we regroup,” Ayaan commands.

  “Alright,” Yvonne takes the order.

  Ayaan slams on the brake pedal, and Yvonne rolls out the back. Yvonne looks around; Blair slams her paintball gun onto the ground and shoots numerous clumps of paint at Yvonne. Yvonne slams onto the road.

  “It was a smart idea to take Euphemia’s gun. It has no cooldown,” Tobias compliments Blair.

  “Thanks,” Blair responds.

  “You are actually good for something, other than whining,” Tobias mocks. Blair’s small smile turns into a grimace.

  “Ayaan, Blair, and Tobias are on the roof,” Yvonne shouts.

  Dominic appears on a scooter, holds the megaphone to Yvonne’s face, and shouts, “YVONNE IS OUT OF THE GAME.” Dominic stands over her with a grin. Yvonne gets saliva on her face, and her hair stands up.

  “I hate you,” Yvonne replies.

  “But you can’t beat me,” Dominic taunts.

  “Oh yeah?” Yvonne growls as she jumps up to attack Dominic and phases through him.

  “This is a hologram, dumbass,” Dominic mocks, laughing at a defeated Yvonne on the ground. Ayaan looks out her window, and a ball of paint is fired. Ayaan swiftly hides her head back in. Ayaan thinks.

  “If I can’t leave this ship through the dock,” Ayaan thinks as she slams a hole in the front window, then grabbing her paint gun, slams a hole through the restaurant window. “Guys-” She shouts only for Joseph and Yuko to be right there. “So any reason ye guys are at a love cafe?” Ayaan asks.

  “L…Long story,” Yuko remarks.

  “What do you want?” Joseph asks, drinking water.

  “Those guys are making us come to them,” Blair grumbles.

  “Then follow me,” Tobias shouts, jumping from the tallest building and landing on a truck carrying a mattress; Blair quickly follows him. Tobias and Blair both stand around the crowd. Blair kicks down the restaurant door.

  “My gun has no cooldown,” Blair shouts, aiming it at Joseph.

  “A restaurant? I’m tired of paintball,” Tobias remarks, getting hit with a paintball from Joseph.

  “Are you serious? Aren’t you supposed to be lucky?” Blair asks.

  “I guess I wanted food more than I wanted to stay in the game,” Tobias shrugs.

  “You choose temporary pleasure ove-” Blair is suddenly interrupted by a missed shot. Ayaan stands around with a nervous expression on her face.

  “I was talking,” Blair responds, aiming her gun.

  “And I’m firing matey,” Ayaan fires numerous clumps of paint, and Blair dodges each one. Then gets a shot on Ayaan. Dominic hangs from an air vent and taps Ayaan on the nose. “And Ayaan is out,” Dominic tells her, falling out from the air vent.

  “Skedaddle, Matey!” Ayaan commands.

  Yuko runs towards the back. Blair growls and fires a shot; Joseph jumps between the clump of paint and Yuko. Yuko runs out of the back door. Joseph falls back. “JOSEPH IS OUT,” Dominic shouts. Blair grits her teeth and chases Yuko. Blair blasts through the backdoor and smiles when she sees Yuko pulling off the cover of a manhole.

  “Just you and me, I have a special gun, and I am smarter, stronger, and faster. I win this,” Blair brags.

  “No, I k…know someone more cunning than you,” Yuko responds.

  “Who?” Blair asks, cocking her paintball gun.

  “Ayaan,” Yuko throws a balloon into the air and jumps down a manhole. Blair shoots a shot; Yuko slides down the covering before the shot connects with her. The alley gets filled with paint. Blair tries to open the door, but Ayaan is leaning against it. Blair hollers as she is covered with paint. Ayaan opens the door, and Blair falls onto her back, covered in paint. “Oops, I didn’t mean to block the door,” Ayaan remarks. Meanwhile, Yuko is back in the sewers, shoving her sleeves in the water, trying to cover up the paint she got on her sleeve earlier.

  Blair crawls on the ground, and Dominic is standing over her. Dominic snaps his fingers. Buff men in black suits, all carrying giant speakers on their backs, appear. They slam the speakers onto the ground surrounding Blair. Dominic holds a microphone and puts in earbuds. Blair is horrified as she is surrounded by at least ten speakers. “BLAIR IS ELIMINATED,” Dominic shouts. Blair struggles to stand up from the ground as her legs wobble. “WHICH MEANS BUMBLING BODIES LOSE THE CHALLENGE,” Dominic shouts again. The marble floor begins to crack. Ayaan smirks. “PATHETIC PALS WIN THE CHALLENGE,” Dominic announces.

  Blair falls onto her stomach, woozy and drooling on the floor.

  All the other contestants overhear the message, and everyone is relieved the challenge is over.

  Yuko walks into the back, exhausted. Ayaan, Joseph, and Yvonne lift her into the sky. Throwing her into the sky, chanting her name. “You were right, Ayaan, that balloon came in handy.” Yvonne remarks.

  “Thanks,” Ayaan replies. Yuko grins as wide as she has ever grinned before, seeing herself being carried by her peers. Yuko smiles at the newfound level of respect. Tobias runs in and also starts lifting her.

  “Why are you here?” Yvonne asks.

  “Why can’t I be friendly?” Tobias asks.

  “No,” Blair screams, covered in paint.

  Tobias laughs hysterically. “Oh my God, you look like a Picasso painting, a canvas, Blairanardo Davinci,” Tobias continues. Blair grabs Tobias by his hair and drags him across the ground.

  “Where are you guys going?” Dominic asks. “I demand all of your team make it to the prison for the elimination before anything else,” Dominic tells her. Then a cop car is seen driving through, even running over a random woman.

  “Are you Dominic?” The cop asks. Dominic looks from side to side. “Yeah, we got a noise complaint and numerous accounts of disrupting the peace, vandalizing, and assaulting a baby,” the cop tells him.

  “How much?” Dominic asks.

  “Wrap up your elimination ceremony; I want to see where this goes,” the cop tells him.

  “You guys have two hours to get ready before elimination,” Dominic tells Blair and Tobias.

  [One Hour and Thirty Minutes Later, The Hotel]

  Blair steps out of the shower. “Finally,” Tobias complains.

  “I needed a shower; stop complaining,” Blair replies.

  “Anyway, I already talked to Euphemia and Beatrix, and I also made another deal with Phoenix and Ruggardo,” Tobias tells her. “We are 100% safe,” Tobias remarks confidently.

  [The Elimination]

  Bumbling Bodies: Beatrix, Blair, Euphemia, Mint, Phoenix, Ruggardo, Tobias, and Zion. All wait around the police station. “This episode's prize for being safe is cans of paint,” Dominic responds.

  “I have had enough of paint,” Blair grumbles, exhausted at the idea of it.

  “It is your first elimination, so this must be pretty worrying. However, you guys spectated the previous one. You know how this goes. The first person safe is Mint, despite hitting a baby; come grab your can of paint,” Dominic announces.

  “Sir, yes, sir,” Mint replies with a salute.

  “Zion and Euphemia, come collect some paint,” Dominic tells them.

  “Such a plentiful bounty,” Zion responds as he stands up from the chair.

  “YAY, I LOVE PAINT,” Euphemia screams as she lifts the can.

  “Ruggardo is safe,” Dominic tells him.

  “Please, be safe next, Phoenix,” Ruggardo tells her.

  “Now, one of you got four votes, and the other two only received two votes,” Dominic tells them.

  Phoenix, Beatrix, and Blair stare at each other. Blair grits her teeth, Phoenix keeps a stoic expression, and Beatrix meditates. Dominic lets out a sadistic grin because only he knows who is eliminated. Mint and Zion cross their fingers in the hope that Beatrix is safe. Tobias leans against a wall and yawns, Euphemia jumps around, and Ruggardo is sweating.

  “Beatrix, there are scented candles in your cell,” Dominic announces.

  Beatrix looks down disappointed but smiles with tranquility. “Being the second contestant eliminated is disappointing but also a blessing,” Beatrix replies as she walks towards her cell, but Euphemia runs and grabs Beatrix around her waist.

  “What are you doing, little buddy?” Beatrix replies, her voice breaking.

  “We should’ve voted Blair with Mint and Zion,” Euphemia replies.

  “Oh, I already knew Tobias was lying,” Beatrix remarks.

  “Did you see his aura?” Euphemia asks.

  “No, it’s just his personality. I didn’t tell you, though. You wanted to prove how he could change; I’m willing to love my position in this game just for your hope,” Beatrix continues as she pats Euphemia’s forehead. Euphemia cries into Beatrix’s sweater.

  “Just letting you know Phoenix and Ruggardo voted with Blair and Tobias,” Beatrix explains. “Lastly, never give up on your dream of helping Tobias; it makes you very honorable,” Beatrix remarks as she steps in her cell. The door slams behind her.

  Ruggardo smiles as Phoenix is safe, and the dog is behind him.

  “Are you seriously keeping that?” Phoenix asks.

  “Why not?” Ruggardo replies.

  “I’m terrified of big dogs,” Phoenix explains. Ruggardo laughs.

  “Why would you vote out your ally?” Mint asks Tobias.

  Tobias grins. “Blair wanted me to remove Zion, but I don’t know. The fat guy is funny,” Tobias answers, walking away.

  “I am not humorous,” Zion responds with his hands on his hips.

  “Well, there we have it: 14 contestants left, new alliances, a lot of charges, and a possible future prison sentence for me. See you next time on DOMINION TRIALS,” Dominic ends the episode.

  [Beatrix’s Audition Tape]

  An empty treehouse is seen as a somber tune plays; Beatrix slowly lowers herself into it as birds start to fly around. “My name is Beatrix. My hobbies include reading books, meditating, school, fortune-telling, and scented candles.” Beatrix replies. “You should pick me to be a contestant; I believe my tranquility will be a strong contrast to the rest of the cast,” Beatrix replies.

  [The End]