The soundstage had been transformed. What was once a sterile medical set was now a gothic nightmare. Fake cobwebs draped over the lighting rigs like gray lace. Fog machines hissed continuously, pooling around the ankles of the campers. In the center of the room stood the Craft Services Tent, but it had been modified to look like a haunted shack. Wooden planks were nailed over the windows. Fake blood streaked the canvas. A sign above the flap read: *ABANDON ALL HOPE, YE WHO ENTER HUNGRY.*
Chris McLean stepped out of the shadows, wearing a tattered vampire cape and holding a candelabra that flickered with real fire. He grinned, his teeth looking slightly too sharp in the dim light.
"Welcome, campers, to tonight's episode of *Total Drama Action*!" Chris's voice echoed with reverb. "Tonight's genre is Horror! And what says horror more than… starvation?"
The campers shifted uncomfortably. The Killer Grips huddled together on one side. Lindsay was clutching Tyler's arm. Justin was checking his reflection in a spoon, even in the dark. Geoff looked relaxed, but Beth was visibly trembling.
"The Screaming Gaffers," Chris gestured to the other team. They looked determined. Courtney had a clipboard even in the dim light. Harold was adjusting a pair of night-vision goggles. Leshawna cracked her knuckles. Cody was wiring a small device. Katie and Sadie stood hand-in-hand, looking worried.
"Here are the rules!" Chris announced. "This is a 'Scare or Stay' challenge. The Grips must remain inside the Craft Services Tent from sundown until midnight. They will listen to a horror story told by yours truly. The Gaffers' job is to scare them out. If even one Grip leaves the tent before midnight, the Gaffers win. If all Grips stay until the clock strikes twelve, the Grips win."
"And the loser?" Courtney asked, her voice steady.
"The loser sends someone home," Chris said darkly. "And since the Gaffers have… extra baggage… tonight might be painful."
He glanced at Katie and Sadie. The twins squeezed each other's hands tighter. They had been inseparable since day one. Being on the same team was the only thing keeping them sane. But the game was cruel.
"Grips! Into the tent!" Chris commanded.
The five of them filed inside. The flap closed behind them, sealing them in darkness.
"Gaffers! You have one hour to prepare your scares. Use the props provided. Go!"
***
Inside the tent, it was cramped. Folding chairs were arranged in a circle. A single lantern hung from the center pole, casting long, dancing shadows. The air smelled of stale popcorn and fear.
"Okay," Geoff whispered, sitting down. "Don't worry, dudes. It's just Chris telling a story. How scary can it be?"
"Chris once made a sandwich out of raw meat and despair," Justin muttered, checking his hair in the lantern's reflection. "He's capable of anything."
"Guys, shh!" Beth hisseds. "He's starting."
Chris stepped into the tent, the flap closing behind him. He sat in the center. The lantern flickered.
"Long ago," Chris began, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper, "on this very soundstage, a caterer worked the night shift. He made the perfect snacks. But the campers… they were never satisfied. They complained about the temperature of the chips. The texture of the celery. So… the caterer snapped."
Lindsay gasped. "Did he… stop making snacks?"
"No," Chris said. "He became the Snack Monster. He lurks in the walls. He waits for midnight. And when the clock strikes… he hungeres."
Outside, the Gaffers were preparing.
"Okay, listen up," Courtney said, taking charge. "We need coordinated strikes. Harold, you handle the sound effects. Leshawna, you're on physical intimidation. Cody, lights. Katie, Sadie… you two are on psychological warfare. You know how to get under people's skin."
Katie nodded, but her hands were shaking. "I… I don't know, Courtney. What if they're too scared? What if Lindsay cries?"
"We need to win, Katie," Courtney said sharply. "Focus."
Sadie rubbed her twin's back. "It's okay, Katie-pie. We just have to make noise. We don't have to hurt them."
"Exactly," Harold said. "I've programmed the fog machines to release bursts of sulfur-scented mist. It smells like rotten eggs. Psychological disgust."
"Let's do this," Leshawna said.
***
The first hour passed slowly. Chris's story droned on, filled with unnecessary details about condiment expiration dates. Inside the tent, Tyler was falling asleep. Justin was bored. But Beth was listening intently.
"The Snack Monster… doesn't walk," Chris whispered. "He… oozes."
*BOOM!*
A loud explosion shook the tent. The lights flickered and died.
"Ahhh!" Lindsay screamed, jumping into Tyler's lap.
"It's just the lights!" Tyler yelled, trying to sound brave.
Green fog began to seep under the flaps of the tent. It smelled terrible.
"Harold's work," Geoff noted, covering his nose. "Smells like my gym socks after a triple overtime."
"Stay seated!" Chris ordered, though he looked annoyed that his story was interrupted. "The challenge continues!"
Outside, the Gaffers were mobilizing.
"Phase Two!" Courtney whispered into her walkie-talkie. "Leshawna, go!"
Leshawna crept up to the side of the tent. She grabbed a metal pole and banged it against the frame repeatedly. *CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!*
Inside, Justin shrieked. "My ears! The vibration is bad for my complexion!"
"Who's there?" Beth called out, her voice surprisingly steady.
"It's the Monster!" Lindsay wailed.
"No," Beth said, squinting in the dark. "It's rhythmic. Monsters don't bang in 4/4 time. That's Leshawna."
Outside, Courtney frowned. "They're analyzing us? Cody, change the pattern."
Cody tapped on his device. The banging stopped. Suddenly, a recording of Katie's voice played over a speaker. *"Sadie… I'm hungry… let me in…"*
Inside, Sadie's twin on the other team wasn't there, but the Grips didn't know that.
"Was that Katie?" Geoff asked. "Isn't she outside trying to scare us?"
"It's a trick!" Beth said loudly. "They're trying to confuse us! Don't fall for it!"
Katie, listening outside via the feed, looked crushed. "They know it's me. I'm not scary enough."
"Don't worry, Katie," Sadie whispered, hugging her. "You're too nice to be scary. It's a good thing."
"But we're losing," Katie said, tears welling in her eyes. "Courtney is going to be mad. And if we lose… one of us might have to go."
Sadie froze. They hadn't talked about that. If the Gaffers lost, they'd have to vote someone out. Since they were a package deal, voting one meant voting both. But the team might split them.
"Let's just win," Sadie said firmly. "Come on. Let's do the twin scream."
Katie nodded weakly. They put on ghost sheets and ran toward the tent flap.
***
Inside the tent, the temperature dropped. Chris had turned on the AC for effect.
"Midnight approaches," Chris intoned. "The Monster is… here."
The tent flap flew open. Two figures in white sheets stood there, glowing in the moonlight. They let out a synchronized, piercing shriek.
"BOO!"
Lindsay and Tyler jumped up, ready to run. Justin covered his face. Geoff stood up slowly.
But Beth stood up too. She squinted at the figures. She looked at the shoes.
"Those are Keds," Beth said calmly. "Katie and Sadie always wear matching Keds. The Monster wouldn't wear size 6 sneakers."
The ghosts froze.
"Also," Beth continued, stepping forward. "The sheets are from the craft services laundry. I saw them this morning. This is a setup."
She walked right up to the 'ghosts' and pulled the sheet off Katie.
Katie stood there, trembling, holding a flashlight. "Hi… Beth."
"You guys are trying too hard," Beth said, turning to the rest of the Grips. "If we leave now, we lose. And I really want that spa prize. Or immunity. Whatever we get. So… everyone sit down."
Lindsay blinked. "Beth… you're being really brave."
"I watch a lot of horror movies," Beth said, sitting back down. "The rule is: never split up. Never run. And never trust the host."
Chris frowned. "Hey!"
"Sorry, Chris," Beth said. "But your story had plot holes."
Outside, Courtney slammed her clipboard. "Unbelievable! Beth of all people? She's supposed to be the weak link!"
"She's nerding out," Harold observed. "It's her superpower."
"We need something bigger," Courtney said. "Final phase. Everything we have."
***
The clock on the soundstage wall ticked closer to midnight. 11:45 PM.
The Gaffers assembled their final weapon. Harold had rigged a pulley system. Leshawna was holding a bucket of slime. Cody had hacked the sound system.
"On my mark," Courtney said. "Three… two… one… NOW!"
Harold pulled the lever. The tent flap was ripped open by the pulley. Leshawna threw the slime. It landed with a wet *SPLAT* right in front of Chris, missing the campers.
Cody blasted a sound effect of a thousand screaming goats.
Inside, Tyler finally cracked. "I can't do it! The goats! I hate goats!" He made a move for the exit.
"Tyler, no!" Beth grabbed his arm. "It's just audio waves! Look at the speakers!"
Justin looked at the slime. "Is that… organic? If it touches my boots, I'm suing."
"Sit down!" Beth commanded. Her voice was sharp, authoritative. Everyone listened. Even Chris looked surprised.
"Midnight is in five minutes," Beth said. "We just have to hold on. Think about the prize. Think about not having to eat Chef's cooking tomorrow."
That motivated them. Geoff sat back down. Justin wiped his boots. Lindsay hugged Tyler to keep him still.
11:58 PM.
The Gaffers were desperate. Katie stepped forward, holding a fake knife. "Please… just leave…" she whispered, trying to sound menacing. But her voice cracked. She looked so sad that Lindsay actually felt bad for her.
"Aww," Lindsay said. "She's so cute when she's trying to be evil."
11:59 PM.
Courtney checked her watch. "Come on… just one of them run…"
12:00 AM.
A bell chimed across the soundstage. *DONG… DONG… DONG…*
Chris sighed, dropping his vampire cape. "Challenge over. Grips… you stayed. Gaffers… you failed."
The Grips cheered. Beth stood up, brushing off her pants. "Told you."
"Way to go, Beth!" Geoff high-fived her.
"Even you were useful, Justin," Tyler laughed.
Justin smirked. "I knew I was the anchor of the team."
The Gaffers walked back to their bench, heads down. Katie was crying silently. Sadie put an arm around her.
"It's not your fault, Katie-pie," Sadie whispered.
"It is," Katie sniffled. "I wasn't scary. Beth saw through everything. I froze."
Courtney crossed her arms. "We need to talk about strategy. At the ceremony."
***
The Elimination Ceremony was somber. The Marshmallow Platter sat on a crate covered in black cloth. Chris stood beside it, looking less vampire-like and more tired.
"Gaffers," Chris said. "You lost. One of you will leave tonight. And based on the votes… it's going to be emotional."
The campers sat on the log. Katie and Sadie sat at the end, huddled together.
"Harold, Leshawna, Courtney, Cody… you're safe." Chris tossed them their marshmallows.
That left Katie and Sadie. The twins looked at each other. Tears were streaming down both their faces.
"This is the hardest vote we've had," Chris said, almost sounding sincere. "Katie… you couldn't commit to the scare. Sadie… you're loyal, but you're part of a pair. Sometimes… pairs have to be broken."
Sadie reached for Katie's hand. "No matter what… I love you."
"I love you too," Katie whispered.
"The final marshmallow goes to…" Chris paused for dramatic effect. The wind machine blew fake fog around their feet.
"…Sadie."
Sadie caught the marshmallow, but she didn't eat it. She looked at Katie.
"Katie… you're out."
Katie stood up. She didn't say anything. She just hugged Sadie. It was a long, tight hug. The other campers watched in silence. Even Courtney looked away.
"Take the Boat of Losers," Chris said softly.
Katie walked to the dock. She didn't look back. If she looked back, she knew she wouldn't be able to leave. Sadie watched her go, clutching the marshmallow so hard it crumbled in her hand.
When the boat disappeared into the fog, Sadie finally broke down. Leshawna put an arm around her.
"She'll be okay," Leshawna said. "She's tough. Like you."
"But she's alone," Sadie sobbed.
***
Later that night, the *Total Drama Aftermath* studio was quiet. Ezekiel and Gwen sat behind the desk, reviewing the footage. They hadn't hosted the challenge, but they were back to hosting the recap show.
"That was… heavy," Gwen said, looking at the screen where Katie's boat vanished. "Separating them."
Ezekiel nodded, his expression serious. "It had to happen. The game… it doesn't care about love. Or friendship. It only cares about ratings, eh."
"Beth was amazing though," Gwen noted, changing the subject slightly. "Who knew she had it in her?"
"Never underestimate the quiet ones," Ezekiel said. He glanced at Gwen. Their hands were close on the desk. Not touching, but close. "Just like how you never gave up on… us."
Gwen smiled, a small, private smile. "Yeah. Well. Katie's going to the Resort. She'll be with Owen, Trent, Izzy… sort of."
"Izzy's still an agent," Ezekiel reminded her.
"Right. Secret Agent Izzy." Gwen shook her head. "This show is insane."
"It is," Ezekiel agreed. "But we're still here."
"For now," Gwen said.
Noah's voice came over the comms. "Wrap it up, lovebirds. We have ads to sell."
Ezekiel chuckled. "Right. See you next time, eh."
"Goodnight," Gwen said.
The lights dimmed. Ezekiel stood up, helping Gwen out of her chair. As they walked off the set, the shadow of the haunted craft services tent loomed in the background. The game was getting darker. The stakes were getting higher.
But as long as they had each other, Ezekiel knew they could handle whatever horror Chris threw at them next.