Morning After
I woke to sunlight streaming through gaps in the cabin walls and the sound of Owen's snoring rattling the rafters like a chainsaw with hiccups.
The bunk was uncomfortable—thin mattress over wooden slats that dug into my back at odd angles. I'd been thinking about making a hammock—hang it from the bed posts, use the cabin structure itself. Rope wouldn't be hard to acquire, and I'd read enough about knots to make it work. Something to work on between challenges, when Chris wasn't actively trying to kill us.
The cabin smelled like old wood, lake water, and teenage boy in various stages of hygiene neglect. Someone—probably Cody—had left wet socks draped over a chair, and they were contributing a particularly pungent note to the symphony of camp odors.
But I was awake. Alert, even. My old habit from my previous life—being a morning person—had served me well here. Noah's body might be used to staying up late, but my consciousness had overridden that particular trait. Small mercies.
I sat up carefully, trying not to make the bunk creak. Across the cabin, most of the team was still asleep. Trent was sprawled across his bunk with one arm dangling off the edge, somehow making unconsciousness look photogenic. Cody had burrowed under his blanket like a hibernating creature. Owen continued his assault on silence with snores that could probably be heard from the mainland.
But not everyone was sleeping.
In the corner bunk, Justin was already awake—sitting up, running fingers through his hair with the kind of practiced ease that suggested he'd perfected the "just woke up naturally flawless" look. He caught me looking and gave a slight nod. I nodded back.
Still not entirely sure what his game is. Too perfect, too quiet. Either genuinely that passive or playing a deeper strategy than anyone expects.
I tried slipping out quietly, but the cabin door's ancient hinges had other plans, groaning loud enough to wake Owen. He jolted upright with a snort that sounded like a startled walrus. "IS IT BREAKFAST TIME?" he bellowed at a volume wholly inappropriate for dawn.
"Owen," I said, voice flat. "Inside voice. Or the birds outside will file a noise complaint."
"Oh! Sorry!" He stage-whispered at approximately the same volume. "Is it breakfast time?"
"Probably soon. Try not to wake the dead in the meantime."
"Awesome!" He launched himself off the bunk with enough force to make the entire structure shudder, then proceeded to rummage through his duffel bag with all the subtlety of a bear searching for honey.
So much for letting people sleep.
Trent stirred, blinking against the sunlight. "Morning already?"
"Unfortunately," I said.
"Dude, I had the weirdest dream." He sat up, rubbing his face. "We were back at truth or dare, but every dare was just eating Chef's cooking."
"And you call that a dream? Sounds more like a nightmare," I said dryly.
He laughed. "Yeah, pretty much."
Cody emerged from his blanket cocoon, squinting against the light like a mole exposed to the sun. "What time is it?"
"Early enough that consciousness is optional, but Owen disagrees."
The cabin was waking up now whether it wanted to or not. The others began stirring—groans, stretches, the universal sounds of teenagers forced awake before their bodies were ready.
I left the cabin and moved toward bathrooms. Might as well get ready. No point staying here while Owen's enthusiasm gradually increased to seismic levels.
Today's a challenge day. Time to face another serving of nightmares Chris has cooked up.
I sighed.
Also today is the day I start my plan to help Owen. Todays mission? Get my first recruit. My target? Eva.
.
.
.
I'm probably gonna die.
Outside of cabins
By the time I'd finished in the bathroom—an experience that reminded me why I'd packed my own soap and why communal facilities were invented by sadists—most of the camp was awake.
Movement from the girls' cabin caught my attention. The door was open, and I could see inside. Heather was already dressed and organizing something, Beth hovering nearby like an anxious satellite. Lindsay was brushing her hair with the focus of someone performing sacred ritual. Leshawna was stretching, looking energized.
Katie emerged from the doorway. She was wearing pair of blue jeans and red hoodie, her hair were pulled back in a ponytail. She looked exhausted, dark circles under her eyes, moving with the sluggish uncertainty of someone not used to being up this early.
She's been adjusting her schedule. Probably spent years matching Sadie's late-night, sleep-in routine. Now she's trying to change her habits and her body's protesting.
She spotted me and managed a tired smile. "Morning."
"Morning. You look like death warmed over."
"Thanks," she said dryly, falling into step beside me as we walked toward the main camp area. "I feel like it too. I'm not used to waking up this early."
"Sadie's a night owl?"
"Aggressively so. I've matched her schedule since we were kids, but..." She yawned. "I'm trying to shift back to mornings now. Feels like the right time to change. My body hasn't gotten the memo yet, though."
"Your body will adjust. Give it a few more days."
"Here's hoping." She glanced back toward the Bass cabin area, visible through the trees. "At least I'm handling the separation better. Day by day, you know? I spent some time with Sadie yesterday, but I didn't feel like I needed to be attached to her constantly. That's progress, right?"
"Definitely progress."
She was quiet for a moment, then her expression clouded slightly. "Yesterday was good. Mostly. The cooking, the group bonding, truth or dare was fun for most of it..." She trailed off, and I could see the shadow cross her face—the memory of how truth or dare had ended.
"Until it wasn't?" I offered.
"Yeah." She shook it off, forcing a brighter tone. "But overall, good day. Better than I expected."
We reached the camp center just as Chris's voice crackled over the PA system—because apparently even a sadistic reality show host needs his morning coffee before personally delivering bad news.
"GOOD MORNING, CAMPERS! Hope you all enjoyed your nice relaxing break, because TODAY we're getting back to COMPETITION!"
Here we go. Right on schedule.
The remaining contestants were gathering—drawn by Chris's voice like moths to a flame they knew would burn them. The Bass team looked cohesive despite their loss. Courtney moved with purpose despite the early hour. Eva stood with arms crossed, jaw set, looking like she was ready to fight something. Sadie stood near Eva, looking nervous but not lost. Izzy, Bridgette, Geoff, Duncan, Tyler, Ezekiel, and Harold from the Bass team all gathered.
The Gophers assembled on our side. Owen was practically bouncing with energy. Heather had that sharp, focused look. Katie moved to join our team, standing with the group naturally. Cody, Trent, Lindsay, Beth, Leshawna, Gwen, Justin—all present.
I took my usual position—close enough to hear everything, far enough to observe everyone.
Chris appeared at the camp center with his trademark megaphone and even more trademark grin. Behind him, Chef stood with arms crossed, looking like he'd relish the opportunity to make us all suffer.
"Alright, campers! Gather round!" Chris's voice boomed unnecessarily loud through the megaphone despite us all being within normal speaking distance. "How's everyone feeling this fine morning? Rested? Energized? Ready for some FUN?"
Suspicious murmurs from the crowd. Nobody trusted Chris's definition of "fun."
"In your vocabulary, does 'fun' still mean potential lawsuit waiting to happen,' or have you branched out into new forms of torture?"- I asked dryly.
A few nervous laughs.
Chris ignored me and gestured dramatically toward the lake. "See that beautiful body of water? You're all going to run around it! One complete lap—that's twenty kilometers for those of you keeping track!"
The groans were immediate and universal.
Eva took a step forward, muscles tensing, jaw clenched like she was about to say something that would probably get her eliminated. Her fists clenched at her sides.
Then she stopped herself, visibly forcing her body to relax, taking a breath.
Confessional - Eva:She's gripping her MP3 player, knuckles white. "I was about to tell Chris something very un-nice about his challenge. Something involving his megaphone and where he could stick it." She forces herself to breathe. "But I stopped. Because losing my temper means losing the game, and I'm not giving him that satisfaction." She rolls her shoulders. "Besides, my muscles aren't as sore as usual this morning. Used the hot tub last night after everyone went to bed. Actually helped. So I can handle a stupid run."
"TWENTY KILOMETERS?" Tyler shouted. "That's like... a lot!"
"Congratulations on basic math!" Chris said cheerfully. "And yes, Tyler, it IS a lot! That's the POINT!"
"And here's the best part," Chris continued, grin widening. "When you finish, Chef has prepared a SPECTACULAR feast! An all-you-can-eat buffet of AMAZING treats to refuel after your run!"
That got more positive reactions. Owen looked ready to sprint immediately.
"Free food?" Owen's eyes went wide. "AFTER running? I love this place!"
"So!" Chris clapped his hands together. "Everyone line up at the starting line! And remember—EVERYONE has to complete the lap before we can move on to the feast! No chickening out! No giving up halfway! You finish the run, you get the food!"
The crowd began moving toward the designated starting area near the lake. Katie glanced at me with concern.
"Twenty kilometers," she said quietly. "That's not a warm-up. That's serious."
"Yeah," I agreed, keeping my voice low. "Pace yourself. Don't try to keep up with the athletes. Just finish. We'll need energy for whatever comes after."
"You think there's something after?"
"With Chris? Always."
She nodded seriously.
As we lined up, I stretched quickly, trying to prepare my body for what I knew was going to be rough. One month of preparation back in Toronto had helped—jogging, building some cardio—but twenty kilometers was still twenty kilometers. Original Noah wouldn't have finished this at all. I would finish it, but it was going to hurt.
Strategic suffering. Fun.
Owen was bouncing at the starting line. Tyler was stretching aggressively. Duncan looked bored. Eva was in a runner's stance, coiled energy ready to explode. Sadie stood near Eva, trying to copy her posture, looking nervous but determined.
Chris raised an air horn. "On your marks! Get set! GO!"
The horn blared, and chaos erupted as twenty-one teenagers took off around the lake.
The Run
I started at a steady, sustainable pace. Not fast, not slow. Middle of the pack endurance running. My body protested immediately—lungs burning, legs already tired—but I pushed through.
Just finish. Don't think about the distance. Focus on breathing. One foot in front of the other.
Tyler and Duncan sprinted ahead immediately—Tyler trying to prove himself, Duncan because he was actually athletic. Eva shot forward like a missile but then deliberately slowed, dropping back. Courtney kept perfect form and measured pace. Bridgette ran with easy grace. Geoff stayed near her, somehow chatting while running.
Owen started enthusiastically but I could already see him flagging.
Katie stayed near me, matching my pace. "You okay?"
"Define okay," I said, already breathing harder than I'd like. "If you mean 'not actively dying,' then sure."
She laughed despite her own exhaustion. "Fair."
The lake path was brutal. Roots, rocks, uneven terrain. Tyler stumbled twice. Beth was power-walking grimly from the start. Lindsay ran with surprisingly good form. Leshawna was keeping steady pace, looking determined. Trent jogged easily. Izzy was doing cartwheels while running because reality didn't apply to her.
And Eva had dropped back to run alongside Sadie, who was already struggling.
"Come on!" Eva's voice carried back, aggressive but encouraging. "You can do this! Stop thinking! Just move! One foot! Then the other! That's it!"
Sadie looked miserable but kept moving, bolstered by Eva's forceful support.
"Your form is terrible!" Eva continued. "But you're moving! That's what matters! Don't stop!"
By kilometer five, I was really feeling it. My lungs burned. My legs ached. Sweat poured down my face. This wasn't fun jogging—this was survival cardio.
One month of preparation helped. But not enough. Original Noah would've quit by now. I'm not quitting.
Katie was breathing hard but handling it better than me. "You sure you're okay?"
"Peachy," I gasped. "Love cardio. Best thing ever. Totally not reconsidering every life choice."
"Want to slow down?"
"Can't. If I slow down, I might stop. If I stop, I'm not starting again."
Around the halfway mark, the pack had completely separated.
Front: Duncan, Tyler, Courtney, Bridgette.
Middle: Most of the others, including Katie who was pulling ahead of me.
Back: Me (struggling), Owen (walking while eating something, I think he collapsed before but he was moving now), Beth (power-walking), Gwen (deliberately slow), Sadie and Eva together.
By kilometer fifteen, I was in serious trouble. Everything hurt. My vision was starting to tunnel. My pace had slowed to barely faster than walking.
Keep moving. Don't stop. Just finish.
Katie had long since pulled ahead. I was alone in my suffering now, just me and the path and the burning in my lungs.
Owen passed me, walking casually while eating granola bars. "You okay, dude? You look rough!"
"Living the dream," I wheezed.
"Want a granola bar?"
"Can't. Breathing. More important."
By kilometer eighteen, I was running on pure spite. My body wanted to quit. Every muscle screamed. But I kept moving.
Just finish. Two more kilometers. You can survive two more kilometers.
The final stretch was agony. Pure willpower over physical capability. My vision narrowed to just the path ahead. One foot. Then the other. Again. Again.
And then—finally—the finish line.
Duncan crossed first, barely winded. Tyler second, immediately collapsing dramatically. Eva and Sadie together, Sadie looking triumphant despite obvious exhaustion. Courtney, Bridgette, Geoff, Katie, most of the mid-pack runners.
Then me, stumbling across the line and immediately bending over, hands on knees, gasping like a dying fish.
"Made it," I wheezed to no one in particular.
Katie appeared beside me, looking concerned. "Noah? You okay?"
"Fantastic. Never better. Might die, but at least I finished."
She handed me water. I drank gratefully.
Owen crossed next, still eating. Beth power-walked across. Lindsay somehow still looked perfect. And finally Gwen walked across the line, looking completely unbothered.
"EXCELLENT!" Chris announced. "Everyone made it! Took some of you long enough—" he looked pointedly at Gwen "—but you finished! And now, as promised—THE FEAST!"
The Feast
By the time we reached the mess hall, my legs felt like jelly but the burning in my lungs had subsided to a manageable ache.
Chef had outdone himself.
The tables were covered in sweets. Cakes, cookies, pastries, candy, chocolate, donuts, everything loaded with sugar. It looked like a bakery had exploded in the most delicious way possible.
Owen's eyes went wide. "IS THIS REAL LIFE?"
"All yours, campers!" Chris said cheerfully. "Eat up! You've earned it after that run!"
The stampede was immediate. Owen led the charge, practically diving into the food. Tyler grabbed a plate despite still limping. The others descended on the feast with the enthusiasm of people who'd just burned thousands of calories and were being offered unlimited sugar.
I took a single cookie and a glass of water, finding a seat away from the chaos.
The awake-a-thon should be next. That's canon. But this—feast it's different. I think that originally it was.. Turkey? Or am I misremembering?
Katie sat next to me with a modest slice of cake. "You're not eating much."
"Not super hungry." A lie. I was starving. But something about this felt wrong. "You?"
"This looks amazing." She took a bite, eyes widening. "Oh my god, this is actually GOOD. When has Chef ever made good food?"
"Exactly," I said quietly. "So why now?"
She paused mid-bite, looking at me. "You think it's a trap?"
"I think Chris doesn't do generous. But I don't know what the angle is yet."
Across the room, Owen was on his third plate, moving with the frantic energy of a sugar rush already hitting. Lindsay had frosting everywhere. Tyler was in a sugar-eating contest with Geoff. Beth was methodically working through chocolate cake. Even Gwen had taken a small plate, eating steadily.
Everyone's loading up. The run depleted them, now they're refueling hard.
Gwen stood up after finishing her plate, surveying the room with her usual sardonic expression. "So Chris makes us run until we're exhausted, then feeds us enough sugar to put a small elephant into a coma. Anyone else see a pattern here?"
"That we're idiots for trusting him?" Duncan said from nearby.
"That this is setup for something," Gwen said. "Run equals physically exhausted. Sugar bomb equals energy spike followed by inevitable crash. Which means whatever comes next requires us to be at our worst." She glanced at her empty plate. "Still better than starving I guess"
Smart girl. She sees it too.
Twenty minutes of eating. The energy in the room was manic—everyone riding high on sugar and post-exercise endorphins. Laughter, shouting, Owen starting some kind of impromptu food-related game that involved seeing who could stack the most cookies.
Confessional - Gwen:She's leaning back, arms crossed, looking satisfied. "I didn't eat that much. Unlike these idiots who just carbo-loaded like they're preparing for hibernation. Whatever Chris has planned, I'm betting it involves endurance. Mental, physical, or both. And I'm betting all that sugar is going to backfire spectacularly in about two hours." She smirks. "Should be entertaining to watch."
Then Chris's voice cut through the chaos.
"ALRIGHT CAMPERS!" He stood at the front with his megaphone. "Hope you enjoyed that feast! Because NOW..." He paused for maximum dramatic effect, letting the tension build. "Let me tell you what you're ACTUALLY doing today!"
The room went quiet.
Everyone staring at Chris, waiting.
"Today's challenge is..." He spread his arms wide with theatrical flair. "THE AWAKE-A-THON!"
Confused reactions rippled through the room. Owen looked lost. Courtney's expression sharpened immediately. Katie glanced at me with dawning understanding. Duncan rolled his eyes.
"You must stay awake for as long as possible!" Chris continued, clearly enjoying himself. "Last person conscious from each team wins IMMUNITY for their ENTIRE team! Losing team votes someone off at elimination ceremony!"
There it is. Right on schedule. But the feast—it was different. Chris changed that. To Make it harder.
Which means people will drop faster than expected. The sugar crash will hit hard, the exhaustion will compound, and...
Wait.
My eyes went to Chris's gleeful expression, then to the feast table, then back to the contestants who were all riding sugar highs and looking confused about the challenge.
I know what the challenge is supposed to be. But I don't know what Chris changed. What else did he modify?
"RULES!" Chris held up fingers as he counted. "One! You must stay in the designated challenge area at all times! Try to leave, you're disqualified!"
"Two! Bathroom breaks are scheduled every FOUR hours! Hold it or lose it!"
Some groans at that.
"Three! Every FIVE hours, I'll announce a MICRO-TASK! Could be physical, could be mental, could be ANYTHING! Everyone MUST attempt it or you're automatically eliminated from the challenge! Winners of each micro-task get a special REWARD to help you stay awake longer!" Chris's grin widened.
Wait. Micro-tasks every five hours? That wasn't in the original challenge. Canon was just pure endurance—sit, stay awake, last person standing wins. No structured events.
And rewards? That's completely new too. Chris modified more than just the feast. He restructured the entire challenge.
"And four!" Chris looked absolutely delighted now. "The challenge continues until only ONE person per team remains awake! Last one standing wins immunity for their team! Simple! Fun! Let's see how long you can last!"
"Wait," Tyler said slowly, the sugar making him speak before thinking. "So we just ran like, forever, and ate a ton of food, and NOW we have to stay awake? But I'm all tired and full! That seems like... like it's designed to make us sleepy!"
"EXACTLY!" Chris looked thrilled that someone finally got it. "Isn't that BRILLIANT? It's an AWAKE-A-THON with a TWIST! You're starting at a disadvantage! Your bodies are exhausted, your stomachs are full, you're in PERFECT condition to fall asleep! Which means staying awake will be even HARDER!"
The room erupted in protests and groans.
"That's evil!" Beth said.
"That's the POINT!" Chris shot back gleefully.
Confessional - Noah:He looks tired and thoughtful. "I won't win this. I'm not built for it, and I already used up too much energy on that damn run. But I need to last long enough to be useful. Help position team for victory. That's all I can do."
Confessional - Sadie:Tired but proud. "I finished the run! Twenty whole kilometers! Eva said I did good! And now I have to stay awake, which is going to be really hard, but I'm going to try! I've been working with Eva on building stamina and mental toughness, and she says I'm improving! I'm not going to let her down! Or my team!" She pauses, more serious. "I'm not just Katie's friend anymore. I'm Sadie. And Sadie can do hard things."
The challenge area was set up around campfire where elimination ceremony takes place. Very limited space. Another layer of torture.
"Your time starts NOW!" Chris announced, checking his watch with theatrical precision. "It's 10 AM, campers! Let's see how long you last! And remember—fall asleep, you're OUT! Good luck! You're gonna NEED it!"
Twenty-one contestants, all exhausted from running, full of sugar, riding artificial energy that would crash hard, standing in the growing heat.
The clock started ticking.
Hour zero of challenge. Hour six since we woke up.
Let's see how bad this gets.
Challenge starts
The challenge area was uncomfortably small—just the space around the campfire pit where eliminations normally happened. Enough room to move around, sit, stand, pace, but not enough to actually go anywhere. Chris had clearly designed it to maximize our discomfort.
Cameras were everywhere. Interns with clipboards stood at the perimeter, ready to mark down the exact moment anyone's consciousness failed them.
"Oh, and one more thing!" Chris announced with his megaphone. "You can request ONE item from your cabin! Just ask an intern and they'll fetch it for you! Books, games, whatever helps you stay conscious! We're generous like that!"
One item. Strategic choice. What would actually help versus what people think will help.
Around the challenge area, contestants immediately started requesting things. Trent asked for his guitar. Gwen requested a book. Courtney wanted her clipboard—of course. Harold asked for a textbook. Cody requested his DS. Owen asked for snacks—naturally.
I requested the comic I'd brought from home. Pictures and small amounts of text would make good entertainment without tiring my eyes as much as a book.
While waiting for the intern to fetch it, I scanned the challenge area, taking stock of everyone's choices and positioning. That's when I noticed Lindsay standing near the perimeter, looking uncertain about what to request. She kept glancing at other people, then back at the intern, clearly indecisive.
I need to keep her away from Heather. Prevent her from joining an alliance. But timing matters. Need to engage her before Heather does.
"This is gonna be so easy!" Owen announced to no one in particular, still riding high on sugar and post-run endorphins. "I stay up late ALL the time!"
"Staying up late and staying awake for potentially days are different things," I pointed out.
"Details!" Owen waved dismissively.
Everyone's finding their coping mechanism. Let's see how long those last.
Hour 1
The first hour was almost pleasant. Everyone was still energized from the feast, the sun was warm but not oppressive, and there was a strange camaraderie in shared suffering.
Katie appeared beside me, looking more awake now that the sugar was hitting her system. "So what's the plan?"
"For me? Pace myself. Don't burn energy trying to win. Just last as long as I can and help position the team." I glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "Just stay active. Move around, talk to people, keep your brain engaged."
She nodded seriously. "Okay. I can do that."
"Good." I paused, then added, "And if I start looking like I'm about to pass out, feel free to annoy me back to consciousness."
She laughed. "Deal."
Confessional - Katie:"Noah has a plan for everything. Even staying awake. I'm just going to stick near him and people I can actually have conversations with. If I can keep my brain busy, maybe I won't notice how tired I am."
Katie left to talk with Leshawna, leaving me alone for a moment. I took out my comic and started flipping pages without actually reading anything. I was more focused at looking at people around me. Social dynamics were already forming. Heather had pulled Beth into close conversation—heads together, voices low, the unmistakable body language of alliance-building. Others were scattered around the area with their requested items or settling into groups.
I wish I could help Beth, but I cannot be everywhere and help everyone. At least her character and knowledge are stronger than Lindsay.
That when I noticed.
Lindsay stood by herself near the edge, looking uncertain. Still hadn't decided on an item.
That's my chance. While Heather's distracted with Beth.
I walked over. "Hey, Lindsay."
She brightened immediately. "Noah! Hi!"
She remembered my name. Progress.
"How's the name memorization going? Still using the association tricks?"
"Oh yeah! They're really helping!" She smiled genuinely. "I remembered almost everyone now! Except I keep mixing up Cody and Tyler? They're both... brown-haired and... boy-shaped?"
"Fair description," I said, amused. "Tyler's the one who tries athletic things and fails. Cody's the one who talks about video games and tech."
"Oh! That helps!"
"Speaking of—what do you usually do for fun? When you're not trapped on a reality show run by a sadistic narcissist?"
"Thanks! Hahaha." - What the?... Was that Chris's voice in my head, thanking me for the promo? Why was Chris in my head? That seemed like a red flag for something.
Great. I'm tired enough to be having Chris-related hallucinations. That's not concerning at all.
She looked surprised by the question, like people didn't usually ask. "Um... I really like mysteries! Like, mystery movies and shows. I'm really good at figuring out who did it before the ending!"
"Yeah? What kind of mysteries?"
"All kinds! Agatha Christie movies, Scooby-Doo, those murder mystery dinner things my mom dragged me to." She was getting more animated now. "I always figure it out! My friends think it's weird because they say I'm not good at thinking about stuff, but mysteries just make sense to me, you know?"
Visual pattern recognition. She's probably brilliant at spotting inconsistencies and connecting visual clues.But her overall intelligence? That's hard to say. She's been sheltered, never really challenged to learn things properly. The dyslexia doesn't help either. Makes you wonder—if she was educated the right way, could she be equally sharp in other areas? Or is visual-spatial processing her one genuine strength? I suspect there's more there, but no way to know for sure without proper teaching.
"That's not weird at all. Mystery solving is about pattern recognition and logic. You're good at it." I considered. "Want to hear a mystery story? Might help pass the time."
Her face lit up. "Really? You'd do that?"
"Sure. I've got a good one. It's called 'The Speckled Band.' Classic locked room mystery."
"Ooh! I love those!"
We sat down, and I began telling her the Sherlock Holmes story, adapting it as I went to keep it engaging. Lindsay listened with intense focus, occasionally asking questions, her eyes bright with interest.
Across the challenge area, I noticed Heather watching us, then deliberately turning her attention back to Beth.
Good. Keep Lindsay occupied and away from alliances for now.
Nearby, I could hear Cody talking to someone about video games. I filed that away for later.
Hour 2
"—and so the doctor realized the whistling sound was actually—"
"The SNAKE!" Lindsay interrupted, eyes wide with excitement. "It was a trained snake! That's why it came when the stepfather whistled! And the ventilator wasn't for air, it was so the snake could get through!"
I blinked. We were barely halfway through the story. "How did you—"
"The bell-pull that didn't work was weird," she explained rapidly. "Like, why have a fake bell-pull? And you said the bed was clamped to the floor, which is super weird. And the ventilator going to the other room instead of outside is suspicious. So I thought, what could go through a ventilator and a bell-pull? And the doctor had those weird pets from India, right? And the whistling!" She beamed. "It all fits!"
She solved it. Completely correctly. Through bizarre but entirely sound logic, she solved it before I finished telling the story.
"That's... actually exactly right," I said, genuinely impressed. "Most people don't figure it out until the end."
"Really?" She looked proud. "My friends always say I don't think good, but I just see patterns different, I think. Like, visual stuff and how things connect."
Your friends are idiots. You think fine. You just never learned how to articulate it properly, and school never taught you in ways that work for your brain.
"You think just fine. Better than fine. You see connections other people miss." I smiled. "That was really impressive, Lindsay."
"Thanks, Noah!" She was practically glowing. "Can you tell me another one?"
"After a bit. We should move around, stay active." I paused, considering. "Actually, want to play a game while we walk? Might help pass the time and keep our brains sharp."
"What kind of game?"
"Life choices game. I give you a scenario—like a situation someone might face—and you tell me what you'd do. Then I explain what would actually happen with each choice. No pressure, no judgment. Just... learning how things work in real life."
She hesitated. "I'm not really good at that kind of stuff..."
"This isn't a test. It's just practice thinking through consequences. Common sense stuff that people don't usually teach." I stood up, offering my hand to help her up. "Come on. We're already stuck here for hours. Might as well make it useful."
She took my hand and stood, looking uncertain but interested. "Okay. But you have to promise not to make fun of me if I pick wrong."
"There's usually no one 'right' answer. Just different consequences. And you have to promise to actually think through why you chose what you chose."
"Deal!"
We started walking around the perimeter of the challenge area, and I began with simple scenarios.
"Okay, first one: Your friend asks to borrow money, says they'll pay you back next week. What do you do?"
"Um... lend it to them? They're my friend."
"That's one option. But let's think it through. What happens if they don't pay you back?"
She frowned. "I'd be mad?"
"Would you ask them for it?"
"That feels mean though..."
"Exactly. So now you're out the money AND feeling awkward about asking for it back." I continued walking. "Here's the common sense rule: don't lend money you can't afford to lose. If you lend it, assume you might never see it again. If that's okay, lend it. If it's not, say no. Being honest about that isn't mean—it's protecting yourself and the friendship."
"Oh." She looked thoughtful. "That makes sense. I never thought about it like that."
"Next scenario: Someone at a party offers you a drink that's already open. Do you take it?"
"Is it free?"
I had to suppress a smile. "Let's say yes."
"Then sure! Free drink!"
"Okay. What if something was put in that drink? Something that would make you sick or make you not remember things clearly?"
Her eyes widened. "Like... drugged?"
"Exactly. Can you tell by looking at it?"
"No..."
"So the common sense rule is: never take drinks you didn't see poured or opened yourself. Even from people you think you trust. Especially at parties. Your safety matters more than being polite."
"Oh my god." She looked genuinely shaken. "I've taken drinks from people before. I never thought..."
"Now you know. That's what matters."
We continued around the challenge area, and I gave her more scenarios. Credit card debt. Signing contracts without reading them. Getting in cars with people who've been drinking. Sharing personal information online. Meeting internet strangers alone.
For each one, Lindsay thought through her instinctive response, and I explained the real-world consequences. What could go wrong. Why certain choices were dangerous. How to protect herself.
She wasn't stupid. She just hadn't been taught to think defensively, to question, to see the potential dangers in everyday situations. She'd been sheltered, protected, never forced to develop the street smarts that other people learned through necessity.
But she was learning now. Fast.
Confessional - Lindsay: She's smiling genuinely, looking happy. "Noah tells really good stories! And I figured out the mystery before he finished! Usually people tell me I'm wrong about stuff, but Noah said I was right and impressive! That felt really nice!" She pauses, looking more serious. "Then we played a game about different life situations and what to do in them. I learned a lot—safety things, money things, stuff I never knew I was supposed to know." Her expression becomes uncertain. "I wonder if he was teaching me on purpose? Or if we were just playing?" She smiles softly. "Either way, I'm glad. It's scary realizing how much I didn't know. I want to keep playing that game with him. Maybe learn more things."
Hour 3
After a while, Lindsay wandered off to talk with Gwen, but she still looked thoughtful her mind clearly still processing the scenarios we'd discussed. I could see her replaying situations in her head, working through the logic.
I caught Heather's expression as she watched Lindsay go—visible annoyance at the missed opportunity.
That gave me some satisfaction. At least for now, I'd prevented that alliance from fully forming.
I scanned the challenge area for someone to talk to. Staying engaged meant staying conscious. Cody sat alone with his DS powered down, probably giving his eyes a rest.
I walked over and sat down. "Hey."
"Oh, hey Noah." Cody held up his DS. "Was playing Mario Kart but my eyes started crossing. Had to take a break before I drove off a cliff for the tenth time."
"Fair. Screen time probably doesn't help with the exhaustion." I leaned back. "You're really into gaming, huh?"
His face lit up. "Yeah! I mean, I play everything—shooters, RPGs, strategy, puzzle games. I'm even learning to program so I can maybe make them someday."
"Yeah? What kind of games would you want to make?"
"Honestly? All kinds." He was getting more animated. "I love the strategy in Age of Empires, the player freedom in The Sims, the storytelling in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. Oh man, have you played Bloodlines? The way it handles player choice and consequences?"
"Played it. Combat's janky but the atmosphere is incredible."
"RIGHT?" Cody was fully engaged now. "And the dialogue system actually matters! Your stats affect conversations, you can talk your way through situations—"
"Multiple solutions to problems based on character build," I added. "That's good design. Player agency matters."
We fell into easy conversation, trading favorite games, discussing mechanics, debating what made games work. He mentioned Bully, I brought up older classics. He talked about wanting to make games that combined different genres.
He's genuinely passionate about this. Not just playing games—understanding them. Building them.
"You know," I said carefully, "I've been thinking about some game concepts that might be good for someone learning to program. Complete game ideas that are simple enough to actually build but interesting enough to be fun."
Cody's eyes widened. "Really? Like what?"
I glanced at the cameras, then back at him. "Tell you what—after the challenge, remind me and I'll write them down for you. Actual game concepts you could build. But not here."
He followed my gaze to the cameras and nodded understanding. "Oh. Yeah. Right. That'd be awesome though!"
I'll give him concepts from games that don't exist yet. Town of Salem's social deduction mechanics. Hearthstone's digital card game framework. Maybe Five Nights at Freddy's horror survival concept for later when he's better. Simple enough to explain, complete enough to actually build, early enough that he'll look innovative when he makes them.
"Consider it done," I said. "Just remind me later."
Confessional - Cody:He's grinning. "Noah's into the same games I am! Like, he actually understands game design and mechanics and why things work. Most people just care about graphics or whatever, but Noah gets the technical side." He pauses, excited. "And he said he has complete game concepts he wants to share with me! Stuff I could actually build while I'm learning to program! That's so cool!"
Hour 4- First Bathroom Break
"ATTENTION CAMPERS!" Chris announced through his megaphone. "Time for your FIRST BATHROOM BREAK! You have FIVE MINUTES! Anyone who's not back by then is DISQUALIFIED! GO GO GO!"
Everyone scrambled toward the bathroom facilities. There was some urgency to the movement—four hours were not huge amount of time, but people wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.
The lines formed immediately. Guys to one side, girls to the other.
Five minutes wasn't much time. People moved efficiently, trying not to waste precious seconds.
I used the facilities quickly, washed my face with cold water to help wake up, and headed back with time to spare.
Not everyone looked like they needed to go. Tyler seemed confused about whether he should go now or wait. Owen went anyway. Lindsay went quickly.
"ANNND WE'RE BACK!" Chris announced once everyone returned. "Next bathroom break in FOUR HOURS! Hope you planned accordingly!"
Hour 5- First Microtask
"ALRIGHT CAMPERS!" Chris's voice boomed through the megaphone, making several people jump. "Time for your FIRST MICROTASK!"
Everyone groaned but started gathering closer to the center of the challenge area.
"This first task is SIMPLE!" Chris continued. "QUIZ TIME! I'm going to ask ten general knowledge questions! Write down your answers! Highest score wins a special prize! And before anyone asks—getting FOUR OR LESS correct answers means you're OUT of the challenge!"
"What kind of prize?" Duncan asked suspiciously.
Chris held up a can. "ENERGY DRINK! Our sponsor's finest! Guaranteed to give you that extra boost to stay awake!"
Energy drink. At hour five. Probably loaded with caffeine and sugar for another crash later.
Interns distributed paper and pencils. Everyone looked tired but focused.
I glanced over at Lindsay. She was staring at her paper with growing panic, pencil hovering uselessly. With her dyslexia, under pressure, exhausted—she wouldn't be able to write her answers clearly or quickly enough.
She's getting eliminated. Not because she can't stay awake, but because she can't write.
Chris began reading questions aloud. Capital cities. Historical dates. Scientific facts. Math problems. Pop culture questions.
I wrote down my answers quickly. Ten questions, ten answers.
"Two minutes left! Make it snappy!"
I stood up, walked directly over to Lindsay, and switched our papers. Then I sat down in her spot and quickly wrote down the answers again on what was now "my" paper.
Chris stopped mid-step. "What are you doing?"
"Switching papers." I stood up and walked back to my original spot.
"That's CHEATING!"
"You never said we couldn't help each other." I kept my voice flat. "You said four or less correct means elimination. You didn't say we had to work alone."
Chris's face went blank. "That's—"
"Did you specify a rule against helping?" I interrupted. "Because I didn't hear one."
Several contestants were watching now. Chef was definitely trying not to laugh.
Chris's jaw clenched. Then he forced a smile that looked painful. "FINE. You got me on a technicality. But going FORWARD—NO HELPING ALLOWED. Everyone works ALONE. Got it?"
"Understood."
Confessional - Chris:Visibly annoyed. "That smartass found a loophole! Those are supposed to be MY thing!" He forces composure. "Fine. He's technically right. I didn't say no helping. But now I have—every microtask from here on, solo work ONLY. No collaboration. No assistance. Let's see him wiggle out of that."
Confessional - Lindsay:Grateful. "Noah just... switched papers with me. Right in front of everyone. No one's ever done something like that for me before."
Confessional – Gwen: Smiling wildly. "Noah you just made my day"
Interns collected the papers. Chris reviewed them with exaggerated scrutiny.
"AND THE WINNER IS... BETH! Ten out of ten! Screaming Gophers take the first microtask!"
Beth looked shocked and delighted. An intern handed her the energy drink can.
She stared at it like she'd won the lottery, hands trembling slightly with excitement and exhaustion.
Show me. Let me see the can. Let me confirm what I suspect.
I walked over casually. "Nice job, Beth."
"Oh my gosh, thank you!" She held up the can like a trophy. "I can't believe I won! Do you think this will really help me stay awake?"
I reached out. "Can I see it for a second?"
"Sure!" She handed it over eagerly.
I examined the label. Generic brand. Cheap ingredients. High sugar content, massive caffeine dose, minimal actual nutrients.
Exactly what I thought. This isn't a prize—it's a trap.
"Hey Beth, can I talk to you for a second? Just over here?"
"Oh! Okay!" She followed me to the edge of the challenge area, away from others.
"Don't drink it," I said quietly.
Her face fell. "What? But I won it!"
"I know. But look at the ingredients." I showed her the label. "It's basically garbage. High caffeine, tons of sugar, nothing actually good for you. It'll give you maybe thirty minutes of energy, then you'll crash. Hard. Worse than the sugar crash from the feast."
"Oh." She looked at the can with new understanding. "So Chris gave us bad energy drinks on purpose?"
"Chris gave us exactly what will make this challenge more dramatic and end faster."
"That's so mean!" She looked genuinely hurt by the deception.
"Also, they're diuretic. Bathroom breaks are only every four hours, remember? Drink that now, you'll be desperate in two hours and stuck waiting."
Her eyes widened. "Oh no! I didn't think about that!"
"So here's what we do." I kept my voice low. "Save it. Don't drink it now. Hold onto it for hour twenty, twenty-five, whenever you're really struggling. That thirty-minute boost could be the difference between staying awake and passing out."
"So it's not really a prize?"
"It's a trap disguised as a prize. But if we're smart about it, we can turn it into an actual advantage."
Beth nodded seriously, clutching the can. "Okay. I'll save mine. Should I tell the others?"
"Yeah, but quietly. We don't want the Bass to figure it out. Let them drink theirs immediately and crash."
She smiled, looking determined. "Okay! I can do that! Secret strategy!"
Confessional - Beth:She's holding her energy drink can carefully. "Noah explained that the energy drinks are actually bad for us! They make you crash and they make you need the bathroom! So we're saving them for later when we really need them!" She looks proud. "It's like a secret strategy! The Bass don't know! Heather's gonna be so impressed when I tell her!"
Confessional - Noah:He looks tired but analytical. "The energy drinks are designed to end the challenge faster. Chris wants drama, wants people dropping. A thirty-minute boost followed by a hard crash does exactly that." He pauses. "But if we're smart—save them for the final hours, use them strategically—they go from trap to advantage. That's the difference between good players and eliminated ones. Recognizing the trap before it springs."
Beth quietly spread the word to the other Gophers. Save the drinks. Don't consume them yet. Pool them for later.
Heather listened, nodded approvingly, and I saw her file the information away with calculating efficiency.
I noticed Owen looking longingly at the can Beth held but nodding understanding when she whispered the explanation.
Across the challenge area, Bass members were watching our microtask winner with obvious envy. They didn't have one yet.
Good. Let them think it's a prize. When they win one, they'll drink it immediately and crash an hour later.
Hour 6-7
The challenge had settled into a rhythm. People were noticeably more tired now—the combination of physical exhaustion from the run and hours of staying awake was creating a compound effect. The sugar comedown was making everything feel heavier, the exhaustion hitting harder than it normally would after just six or seven hours.
But people were still fighting.
Katie kept checking on me, making sure I was okay. I was tired—bone tired—but functional. The minimal sugar intake had helped. I wasn't experiencing the crash as hard as others.
Owen was less energetic now, moving slower. Tyler looked drained. Lindsay was doing surprisingly well, still mentally engaged from our earlier conversations.
On the Bass side, Sadie looked exhausted but was holding on. Eva was doing periodic exercises, trying to stay alert through physical activity. Courtney was still taking notes on her clipboard, though her writing had gotten messier.
The sun was beginning its descent toward the horizon, the heat of midday giving way to more comfortable temperatures.
And we still have hours to go.
Hour 8- Second Bathroom Break
"BATHROOM BREAK TIME! FIVE MINUTES! DON'T BE LATE!"
Another scramble. People moved with more urgency this time—eight hours of hydration and exertion catching up.
I went quickly, splashed cold water on my face again, headed back.
Tyler came rushing into the bathroom facilities looking panicked. He'd made the mistake of not going during the first break, and now at hour eight he was desperate. He barely made it.
When we all returned, Chris was grinning. "Looking a little TIRED there, campers! And Tyler, cutting it CLOSE! Maybe plan your bathroom strategy better next time! Next break in FOUR HOURS!"
Hour 9
The exhaustion was really setting in now. People were noticeably struggling—moving slower, blinking more, having to fight to stay engaged.
Trent has stopped playing on his guitar and was now talking with Gwen. Duncan was maintaining his tough-guy facade but showing cracks.
Owen was lying down now, eyes half-open, looking miserable. Tyler had curled up but was still conscious, fighting it. Beth was pinching herself periodically, trying to stay alert.
On the Bass side, Sadie was in trouble. Her head kept drooping forward, then jerking back up. Eva sat beside her, talking encouragement, but Sadie was clearly fading.
The challenge felt different now. Heavier. The reality that this could go on for many more hours was sinking in.
Hour 10
"ALRIGHT CAMPERS! MICROTASK NUMBER TWO!" Chris announced with excessive enthusiasm.
We lined up, exhausted bodies barely holding together. I could see Owen swaying slightly. Tyler looked like he was about to fall over. Even Heather, usually composed, had dark circles under her eyes.
"This one's PHYSICAL! FIFTY JUMPING JACKS! Ready? GO!"
The challenge was simple but brutal at hour ten. Bodies that had been sitting or standing for hours suddenly forced into rapid movement.
I pushed through mechanically. One. Two. Three. My legs burned. My lungs protested. My entire body screamed to stop.
Around me, people were struggling. Owen managed maybe twenty before stopping, gasping. It took him a while to resume and finish the exercise. Tyler made it to fifty before collapsing on his knees, breathing hard.
Lindsay was doing better than expected, keeping rhythm. Katie was pushing through with determination.
On the Bass side, Courtney finished with grim focus, every jump looking painful but controlled. Eva completed all fifty with barely visible effort, her athletic training carrying her through.
"TIME!" Chris called. "And the winners are... COURTNEY and EVA! Tied for first! Bass gets TWO drinks!"
Wait. Both winners are from Bass? That means they get both cans.
Interns handed them each a can.
Courtney examined hers, looking pleased. "Excellent. We'll save these for when the team really needs them." She looked at Eva. "Strategic resource management."
Eva put her can into her packet completely ignoring Courtnay. And moved to stand back next to Sadie.
Duncan approached, eyeing the cans. "Hey, I could use one of those right now—"
"No," Courtney said firmly. "These are for strategic use. When someone's about to fall asleep and we need them to stay conscious. Not for casual consumption."
"But I'm dying here!"
"You're conscious. That's the standard." She tucked her can away protectively. "We're not wasting resources."
Duncan grumbled but backed off.
Confessional - Courtney:She's holding the energy drink, looking satisfied. "We won two energy drinks for our team. Eva and I agreed to save them for strategic deployment—when someone's on the edge of elimination and needs that boost to stay conscious." She looks pleased with herself. "Resource management is key to winning. We won't waste these on people who don't actually need them yet."
Confessional - Eva:She's examining the energy drink can. "Don't recognize this brand—looks cheap. Probably not what I'd choose for training." She shrugs. "But caffeine is caffeine, I guess. I will use when I need a boost. She shrugged, looking completely unbothered by Courtney delusion of her agreeing with her plans.
Across the challenge area, I saw several Gophers looking enviously at the Bass team's two cans. Owen especially looked longingly at them.
Good. Let the Bass hold onto their "prizes." When they finally use them, we'll see exactly what Chris intended.
People were struggling, but no one was falling asleep yet. The physical exertion had drained everyone, but they were all still conscious. Barely.
Hour 11
The challenge area had gotten quieter. Less conversation, more internal fighting. People were conserving energy, focusing everything on just staying conscious.
The sun was setting now, painting the sky in oranges and purples. Beautiful and terrible, because nighttime made everything harder.
Sadie was barely holding on. She kept closing her eyes for seconds at a time, jerking awake, fighting desperately. Eva was still beside her, providing aggressive encouragement, but Sadie was fading fast.
Owen was in bad shape too. He'd stopped moving entirely, just lying there with eyes half-open, occasionally mumbling something incoherent.
Hour twelve is coming. That's when the first wave really hits. The people who've been fighting but just can't anymore.
I stood up, forcing myself to move, to pace, to keep blood flowing. Sitting too long was dangerous. My legs ached, my eyes burned, everything in me wanted to just close my eyes for a moment—
No. Keep moving. Stay alert. Just a bit longer.
Katie appeared beside me. "You okay?"
"Exhausted. But still here."
"Me too." She yawned. "Sadie's not doing well."
"I know. She might not make it to the next bathroom break."
She looked sad but nodded. "I wish I could help her more."
"You're helping just by being there. Sometimes that's all you can do."
We walked together in silence for a bit, just existing in shared exhaustion.