"Last time on Total Drama Action," Chris began the recap while sitting in a rather fancy lounge room. The host rested in a big comfy looking chair while wearing a red velvet robe with a fire lit in a nearby fireplace providing the room some comfortable heat and ambiance. "Our final six contestants were looking rather tense, so I decided it was time for them to come together for a little love in our romantic comedy challenge! They got to know each other, learned to trust each other, and solved problems together. Love stories like this just make this host shed a tear! Well, all accept one couple which was formed in what could only be called unholy matrimony! Harold did his best to sabotage Ronnie Anne to keep her from winning invincibility, but in the end he called it splitsville causing him to break up with the show!"
Chef then came by in a butler's outfit and delivered Chris a mug of hot chocolate on a silver platter with the host taking a sip of it and humming in satisfaction. "Aaaaah, nothing like hot chocolatey goodness," Chris sighed out as he leaned back in his chair while looking at the camera again. "We're down to the final five and all have their eyes on the prize! Heck, some may be willing to resort to…murder! Who will be willing to go that far? And who will meet their end trying to keep their morals? Find out all this and more this week on Total. Drama. Action!"
8 PM
TEN HOURS UNTIL DAWN
The final five, an extremely tense time in the competition. Any of them were prime to make it to the final 2 and be in the running to win the one-million-dollar grand prize of Total Drama Action. They all honestly couldn't believe the competition was nearly over, there were only going to be four more challenges left and only one of them would be left standing in the end. But that also filled everyone with an immense amount of anxiety and nervousness.
Sure any of them were prime to win…but they were also just one small mistake away from losing it all. Sure four of the five were keen on trying their best to win so they could finally vote Ronnie Anne out but with how brutal Chris has been making the Sudden Death challenges there was no guarantee that them winning would finally give them a ticket to get rid of the Hispanic teen. If any of them made just the wrong mistake it would be them being sent packing and that just made every challenge going forward nerve wracking.
But that feeling was especially true with Ronnie Anne herself.
Currently all the final five contestants were in the Crafts Services Tent awaiting dinner to be served and it seemed that Chef was really taking his time getting dinner ready as it was already rather past meal time but they were all still waiting for their food. And given how tense the situation was, no one was really feeling like talking and hanging out together. DJ, Lindsay, and Ronnie Anne were all sitting at their own tables with Dawn and Bridgette being the only ones to sit together.
Ronnie Anne herself was looking rather…tense. The Hispanic teen kept her head down and tried to avoid looking anyone's way so they wouldn't look towards her and see how nervous she was. She doesn't know why but over the last few days she's been feeling really off, her stomach felt all twisted and her brain was just super foggy. But she couldn't let anyone see that! She had to be at the top of her game! She was in the final five, she came way too far to just whiff it all now!
CONFESSIONAL – Ronnie Anne
"Ugh, what's going on with me…" Ronnie Anne vented her frustrations over how she was feeling in the confessional. It was really the only place she could comfortably just talk now. And she just needed to talk about all this or she was just gonna end up feeling worse. "Why do I feel so crappy right now…what is it guilt or something…no, no I can't be…" But despite what she said to justify herself, Ronnie Anne's expression told it all to everyone watching. The way she's been acting this season, and everything she's done…it was beginning to catch up with her. "I'm just playing the game, like anyone would do anything else when a million dollars is on the line. But...what about my family…no, that's fine. When I bring home the million dollars to share with them they can't be mad at me…"
CONFESSIONAL – DJ
"Man things are awkward right now…not just because of how quiet things have been but also because I'm the only guy left. Feels kinda weird to be surrounded by girls all the time…huh, wonder if this is how Lincoln feels back home?" DJ couldn't help but wonder before shaking those thoughts from his head. He was definitely telling the truth about how awkward things have been. To think not too long ago he was hanging out and having fun with all his friends during their off time but now it's all turned into deafening silence. "But I can't let that get to me…not now. I'm so close! I made a promise to Chef and I'm gonna keep it. Because a real man keeps their word."
CONFESSIONAL – Bridgette
"I can't let myself be held back, not when I've come this far," Bridgette vowed as she gently pounded a fist against the nightstand, a look of determination on Bridgette's face. Never did she believe that she would be able to make it this far in the game. Sure she made it to the merge last time but she was voted off pretty soon afterward. But here she was actually one of the five left standing. She just…wished that the path getting there didn't end up being so bumpy to say the absolute least. "I know I can do this, and I can't allow Ronnie Anne to win after everything she's done,"
CONFESSIONAL – Dawn
"I really do need to thank Bridgette for allowing me to vent the other day during the challenge," Dawn said with a small smile, the aura reader now looking much better than she was during the Romantic Comedy challenge. And it was all thanks to Bridgette just allowing her to talk, she honestly didn't realize how much she was holding inside. "I'm feeling much better because of it and I'm ready to give the competition my all again. Plus, I can feel Ronnie Anne's spirit wavering, the pressure of the competition is getting to her. It won't be long before she takes a fall. I know it." And right after saying that, Dawn found a fond smile coming to her face. "Plus I can feel something…familiar too."
CONFESSIONAL – Lindsay
"The final five! I made it to the final five!" Lindsay cheered as she clapped for herself, the ditzy blond now feeling much more spirited again. Mostly due to her placement. She was really showing everyone just how capable she can actually be! Last season she was just a pawn Heather used, but this season she was a big player in the game and was succeeding all on her own. "I actually have a chance at winning this! And that's just what I plan on doing, I didn't get this far just to settle for anything less than first place. Not bad for a 'dumb blond' huh~?"
The silence in the crafts services tent continued to just be deafening. No one wanted to really get any conversations started, not that anyone had anything to really bring up. The only thing you could feel from the tent was how tense everyone was, how nervous they all were, as well as-
Grooooooooowl…
…As well as how hungry everyone was as all their stomachs proceeded to growl causing nearly everyone to blush a bit in embarrassment. At the very least none of them could say they were alone during the whole thing. "Ugh I'm starving…" Lindsay let out as she held her stomach, wincing as her stomach let out another growl. None of them had eaten since lunch and they were still waiting for dinner. "Where's the food already?"
"I'm not sure, Chef doesn't usually take this long," DJ let out, knowing Chef's cooking schedule quite well from working with him. It was rather rare for the buff cook to be this off with serving food unless there was a reason for it. Looking towards the kitchen area DJ saw it was covered by a curtain causing the brickhouse to stand up and head over to it. "Yo Chef, you alright in there?"
But when DJ pulled the certain to the side, he and everyone else saw that Chef was completely gone with no food being prepared at all. "He's not even here!" Ronnie Anne yelled out in agitation, her hunger only making her crankier than usual. "So we were just sitting around her waiting for nothing?!"
"Huh, wonder where he is?" Lindsay questioned with everyone shrugging in response as none of them knew where the buff cook could be. It was possible he was just helping Chris with some small stupid task. But instead of being upset like Ronnie Anne, Lindsay smiled as she saw a good opportunity to take advantage of the situation. "Well hey, since Chef's gone, why don't we go into the kitchen and make our own dinner! Like I did with all the guys the other week?"
"Hey that sounds pretty good," Bridgette smiled at the idea as she and Dawn stood up, about to take Lindsay up on that offer. "If Chef isn't here, might as well right?"
"Brbrbrb," But before they could all enter the kitchen, the final 5 heard the call of a familiar platypus. Looking towards the entrance of the tent, all the teens saw Edward waddle his way in wearing a new costume. It appeared to be a butler's outfit complete with a black suit, white undershirt and red bowtie. He also had a wig of a rather fancy looking black haircut on. And in the platypus' bill was a silver platter that had five different envelopes on it. "Brbrb, brbrbr."
"Hm, these are for us?" Dawn questioned as she and Bridgette each took an envelope as Edward waddled over to them.
Edward also made sure to hand DJ and Lindsay an envelope as well. And when it came to Ronnie Anne's envelope. "Ow!" The Latina let out as Edward threw it right at her face. "Stupid beaver duck…"
Once everyone had an envelope all the contestants opened them up and saw some rather fancy looking cards inside of them that had cursive writing on it. "Congratulations to whoever's reading this for making it all the way to the final five…" Dawn began reading the invitation outside.
"To celebrate making it this far you are hereby invited to McLean manor." DJ read out the next part.
"Wear your fancy clothes and meet the driver at the end of the Walk of Shame," Bridgette continued.
"Be pre…pared….for a night…of…unfor…gettable…experiences." Lindsay began reading afterward with the ditzy blond struggling to read the cursive on the card. "Ugh, who writes in cursive anymore?"
"Idiot…" Ronnie Anne rolled her eyes before reading the next part of the invitation. "Make sure to present your invitations so the security guard knows you were really invited. And PS, food will be provided."
"Well, so much for using the kitchen," DJ shrugged as he slipped the invitation into his pocket. "Guess we better go get dressed."
After quickly heading to the trailers to change into their fancy clothes, the five remaining contestants went to the Carpet of Shame where the invitation said the driver would be waiting at. Sure enough at the of the carpet was the lameosine and standing in front of it was Chef who was also wearing his fancy suit. "Took y'all long enough," Chef said as he opened the back door of the lameosine to allow the teenagers to enter. "Come on, we need to head out now."
Most of the contestants shrugged and entered without a fuss, though DJ walked up to Chef with a raised brow. "So what's this all about Chef?" The brickhouse asked after all the girls entered the lameosine. "This part of the challenge?"
"You'll find out soon enough son," Chef stated as he pointed inside, gesturing DJ to head in. DJ followed Chef's instructions and entered inside with Chef closing the door before entering the driver's seat and looking at the final five through the mirror. "Better make yourselves comfy, gonna take around an hour to get there,"
Ronnie Anne groaned a little as Chef started up the lameosine and began the journey to McLean manor.
10 PM
EIGHT HOURS UNTIL DAWN
After an hour-long limo ride, all the contestants were more than happy to get out of the vehicle when Chef finally stopped and announced. "Alright we're here," Right after Chef did that the back doors opened up and the five teens eagerly stepped out and began stretching out their bodies. "Welcome to McLean manor!"
Looking forward, the five saw they were indeed on the set of a large mansion and this one was probably the most impressive set yet. It really did look like a large mansion belonging to some insanely rich guy, complete with a gate and a huge garden around the mansion with the front lawn having various topiaries and flower beds decorating it. As for the mansion itself well…with the sun having now completely set it had a massively eerie feel to it. "Creepy mansion, great…" Ronnie Anne sighed out before sending an irritated look to Chef. "And what do you mean it took an hour to get here? You drove around the film lot in circles for two hours before turning here!"
"Yeah that's right, so what? GOT SOMETHING YA WANNA SAY BOUT IT GIRLY!?" Chef snapped at Ronnie Anne, making the Hispanic teen flinch before backing up and slowly shaking her head much to Chef's satisfaction. "That's what I thought, now come on head inside."
After that little…display, no one was keen on disobeying Chef and proceeded to follow him inside the mansion. First going past the front gates which creaked heavily as they were opened, sending shivers down everyone's spine from just how eerie it sounded. And when they finally got to the front door, with Chef taking out some keys and unlocking the door, they were finally able to enter the mansion and found themselves awestruck at what they saw. "Oh wow!" Lindsay was the first to let out. They were in a giant foyer with red velvet carpets, a set of stairs in the center of the room leading to the second floor of the mansion, doors on both sides of the room leading to different parts of the massive home, and a lounge area on the right side of the room complete with multiple lounge chairs, a large couch, and a fancy looking coffee table. "This looks like a real mansion! This is so cool!"
"Everyone take a seat, got something to show ya," Chef pointed to the lounge area with all the contestants heading over there and taking a seat, letting out sighs at how comfy the chair they chose was. Looks like they were really going all out for this set and just how luxurious everything was. But they kept their mouths shut as Chef opened one of the many doors of the foyer with the one Chef opening appearing to be some sort of storage closet. Taking out a record player, Chef brought it over to the lounge area and set it down on the coffee table before pulling out a record. "Chris couldn't be here today, so he left you all this,"
And so Chef put the record onto the player and turned the old timey machine on with Chris' voice soon being heard coming from the record player. "Sup dudes! Welcome to McLean manor! Pretty sweet digs huh?" Everyone was quiet as they simply listened to the recording of the host. "So may I say congratulations to you all for making it to the final five! Dawn the aura whisperer, Bridgette the surfer chick, Lindsay the apparently not-so dumb blond, DJ the kind hearted brickhouse, and Ronnie Anne the nasty bully!"
Dawn, Bridgette, DJ, and Lindsay all gain faces of pride as Chris complimented them, especially the latter as she rose her head up high. The only one who wasn't flattered was Ronnie Anne who wished she could glare at Chris in person for how he labeled her. "Now then, as it turned out I had plans today and can't be in person to hang out with y'all. My bad!" Chris explained the reason why he wasn't here at the moment and had to leave the contestants with a recording instead. "But ya know, you have been working really hard lately so I thought I'd do you all a favor and throw a final five mansion party!"
"OMG a party!" Lindsay let out in excitement at the idea of having a party in a mansion like this. "Eeeeeeh!"
"Hold on, there's gotta be a catch," DJ informed Lindsay before she got too excited. "It's Chris."
"But there is oooooone catch," Chris confirmed DJ's words immediately.
"There it is," Dawn deadpanned.
"This will also serve as a bit of a challenge for all of you," Chris revealed, making everyone raise a brow as they leaned forward towards the record player. "Hidden in the mansion is a very special treasure! Find it and whoever is the last one holding it by six AM will win! Nice and simple!"
CONFESSIONAL – Ronnie Anne
"No time to enjoy the party, I gotta get that treasure!" Ronnie Anne already made plans on swiping that treasure as soon as possible. The others could dance around like idiots partying all they want, she was gonna focus on winning. "Getting invincibility is more important than ever now and I won't let that chance slip!"
"Also to make your stay more accommodating, we have our friendly mansion staff on standby!" Chris revealed getting a few confused looks in response.
"Mansion staff?" DJ repeated in a curious tone.
"Probably just a bunch of his interns," Bridgette shrugged, not thinking wrong of it.
But the surfer girl was soon proved wrong as one of the many doors opened up and the mansion staff came in, five of them to be exact. And each one has a very familiar face. "We have our two lovely maids Katie and Sadie," The first two to enter the room were the most iconic best friends, Katie and Sadie with both of them wearing black and white French maid uniforms. "Our security guard Eva," After the two best friends came Eva who had her usual scowl on her face and was wearing a typical black security guard outfit complete with a badge and a nightstick strapped to her belt. "Our gardener Beth," After Eva was the first contestant eliminated from the season Beth, wearing a pair of blue overalls over her normal clothes and sporting a sunhat. "And our chef Lincoln!" And rounding out the mansion staff was Lincoln wearing a typical white chef's outfit complete with the usual hat.
"LINCOLN!" Dawn squealed at seeing her boyfriend again.
"BETH!" Lindsay also squealed at seeing her best friend for the first time in quite a while
"Hey guys," Lincoln greeted after he and the other mansion staff stepped out. "What's-Ouf!"
But Lincoln was cut off as Dawn pounced on him, the aura reader wrapping him up into a tight hug and burying her face in his chest. "I missed you!" Dawn's voice was muffled a bit as she clung onto Lincoln, but Lincoln happily hugged his girlfriend back.
And Lincoln wasn't the only one receiving such affection as Beth found herself being hugged tightly by Lindsay. "Heheh, I missed you too Linds!" Beth told the blond with a peppy smile as she hugged back. "Congrats on making it this far!"
"Haha great to see y'all again!" DJ greeted everyone with a big smile as he gave Lincoln a fist bump while giving the others a high five with even Eva returning it. "This is a nice surprise."
"Yeah seriously!" Bridgette grinned as she also greeted everyone. And when she reached Lincoln Dawn separated from her boyfriend to allow Bridgette to share a hug with him. "It's great to see you again Lincoln."
"Great to see you again too Bridgette," Lincoln hugged Bridgette tightly before separating and giving her a sympathetic look. "Bridgette I saw what happened and…I am…I am so sor-"
"Lincoln, it's ok," Bridgette knew what the white head was referring to and cut him off before he could apologize. "It's not your fault what happened, so don't blame yourself ok?"
"Um, excuse me!" But rudely cutting off the reunion was Ronnie Anne, the only one to not look happy at seeing the past contestants again. Especially Lincoln as she glared heatedly at him and pointed at both him and Beth. "They were eliminated fair and square!" Ronnie Anne then pointed at Katie and Sadie. "And who even are these two?!"
"Rude," Sadie let out as both she and Katie glared at the Hispanic teen.
"I'm sure Ronnie Anne is yelling at this point so to avoid confusion, no they're not reentering the competition," The recording of Chris began again, perfectly predicting what Ronnie Anne was doing. "They're here to help you with your challenge,"
"I'm here to make sure no one causes any trouble," Eva pointed out as she crossed her arms, looking towards Ronnie Anne specifically as she said that. "Looking at you thunder butt,"
"Wow you're just as charming in real life as on tv…" Ronnie Anne muttered sarcastically while glaring at Eva.
"Now then is that everything….oh right! Nearly forgot!" Chris was about to bring up one last thing as everyone looked towards the recording again. "Should probably warn you about the-klahfgfhgdfhdfh…" But suddenly the record player broke down making everything come from it all glitchy and garbled.
"They don't make em like they used to," Chef shook his head as he took the record out of the player.
"Alright, invitations, anyone who doesn't have theirs is being thrown out." Eva spoke up once the recording was done with the body builder woman holding her hand out. No one had any problem following this demand as they all took their invitations out and handed them to Eva, who looked over each one for a good moment before nodding her head in satisfaction. "Ok, you're all good. For now. But no one better cause any trouble, got it?!"
"So what now?" Bridgette asked, trying not to flinch at Eva's warning.
"Well I'm cooking dinner in the kitchen," Lincoln explained as he pointed to the door he and the others just came out of. "Should be ready in an hour, in the meantime the maids will show you to your rooms."
"Follow us masters!" Sadie and Katie said in unison as they both bowed to the mansion's five guests.
"I'll help out Lincoln," Dawn offered as she wrapped her arms around one of Lincoln's own. She had her boyfriend back now and she wasn't about to get separated from him now. "Pretty big task to cook for 10 people."
"No one ever offered me any help…" Chef muttered out as he walked off in a different direction as Katie and Sadie took the other four guests up the stairs to where their rooms in the mansion were.
"Alright, here are your rooms everyone!" Katie announced as she and her best friend led the group upstairs to a hallway filled with different doors, with Beth also tagging along as she walked next to Lindsay. Thankfully for everyone the bedrooms were labeled with everyone's name so there wouldn't be any sort of confusion. "DJ and Bridgette your two's room are on the left, Ronnie Anne and Lindsay yours are on the right. Same with Dawn but it looks like she's gonna be…occupied for a bit."
A slamming sound was heard as everyone watched Ronnie Anne immediately went inside her room, a clicking sound also signaling that she locked the door. "Hmph, well someones not keen on socializing," Sadie rolled her eyes but no one was really beat up about it for obvious reasons as Sadie simply smiled at everyone else. "Just let us know if you need anything!"
"Thanks girls!" Lindsay thanked the pair of best friends before looking down at her own BFF. "Say Beth, wanna hang out until dinner? I got soooo much I wanna talk to you about!"
"Oh I'd love to but I'm afraid that will have to wait till later Lindsay." Beth told her best friend, making Lindsay frown a bit. But Beth quickly explained why she couldn't hang out with Lindsay right now, even if Beth really wanted to. "I still have some work to do outback in the garden, just need to take care of some weed whacking. But after dinner we can totally hang out all night long like a sleepover!"
"Well…ok," Lindsay did smile at the idea of that as she held her pinkie out toward Beth. "But you have to promise,"
"Promise," Beth happily agreed as she and Lindsay locked pinkies together in a promise with Beth taking off immediately afterwards. "See you at dinner bestie!"
"Wow these are some pretty sweet digs," Bridgette admitted as she opened the door to her room and was incredibly impressed by what was in there. The room was as big as her living room back home and came fully furnished with an incredibly large bed with the fanciest blankets, sheets, pillows she's seen, a mini fridge next to it, a window with a view of the mansions backyard with the surfer girl seeing there was a hedge maze that went over the entire backyard. "Heh, well gotta take advantage of this while I can,"
As Bridgette went to jump on the bed and enjoy just how soft it was, Katie entered her room and smiled at the sight of Bridgette enjoying herself. "Hehe, I know right. It took me hours to pry myself off the bed when I first laid down in my own room," Katie told the surfer girl with amusement in her voice. Bridgette only giggled in response as she let herself sink into the bed. But as Katie watched this, the twin tailed girl held her arm rather awkwardly as she spoke up to Bridgette. "Hey Bridgette, how are you holding up after…everything?"
"…I guess I've been better…but I'm not as bad as I used to be…" Bridgette admitted to Katie as she sat up in bed with a small frown on her face. While Bridgette was doing better now, she'd be lying if she said she was completely over what happened with Geoff. "I mean, I just can't believe Geoff would do that…"
"Yeah, I mean I know all us watching were…quite surprised to say the least," Katie shook her head as she went to sit on the bed with Bridgette. When she and all the other past contestants watched what was happening during the show, they were all very disappointed in just how stupid Geoff was being. And when the party dude arrived at Hotel Des Losers well, they didn't exactly give him a warm welcome to say the least. "Can't imagine what it's like. I mean, never really had a boyfriend before."
"You haven't?" Bridgette asked as she turned to Katie with a raised brow. "No ones ever asked you out before?"
"Not really," Katie said, although she didn't really sound too upset when she said that. "Besides, can't really say I've met any guys that interested me before,"
"Hm, I see," Bridgette let out, deciding not to pry on that topic in case it might have been sensitive. "Well, I'm sure you'll meet the right person eventually,"
"Heh, maybe. Just have to wait and see," Katie smiled a bit before standing up and headed out, but she did send one last look towards Bridgette. "And um, hey Bridgette. If you ever need someone to talk to who wasn't a part of…that whole mess, you can come to me. If you want to,"
"Really?" Bridgette asked with a raised brow, smiling a bit when Katie nodded her head. "Thanks Katie, I really appreciate that,"
"No problem," Katie reassured Bridgette before leaving the room.
CONFESSIONAL – Katie
"I…never really let myself socialize back during season one, it didn't help that I was eliminated fifth." Katie said with a nervous voice as she looked down before managing to give the camera a small smile. "So I guess this is my chance to make up for it, and I do really feel bad for Bridgette. No girl should have to go through what she went through."
THUNK!
CRASH!
THUD!
"Come on! Come on!" While most of the remaining contestants took the opportunity to relax in their rooms, Ronnie Anne had completely messed up her room and turned it upside down multiple times. Ronnie Anne couldn't relax at all. Like she vowed, she was completely focused on winning and finding that treasure that Chris spoke about. Invincibility mattered more than ever now and she wasn't gonna rest for a second. "It's gotta be here somewhere!"
"Daaaaaaaang," DJ let out as he entered his room, being just as impressed with it as Bridgette was as he took it all in. "A brother could get used to this,"
DJ walked around the room a bit, admiring everything that was inside of it and even grabbing a bottle of cola from the mini fridge and taking a much needed sip from it. But when DJ went to take a seat on the bed he ended up feeling something under the covers. "What the…" DJ let out as he stood back up and noticed a lump in the bed where he sat. Removing the covers off of it, DJ's eyes widened at what he saw. "Is this…"
Laying on the bed was a gold medallion with a gold chain and in the middle of the medallion was a black shining gem. "The treasure…no it can't be…" DJ whispered in disbelief as he looked over the medallion. There's no way this was the treasure Chris talked about…it couldn't be that easy to find for him specifically. But after picking it up, DJ saw the medallion was also covering something. "A note?"
Picking up the note with his other hand, DJ looked over it and read it out loud but made sure to keep his voice to a whisper.
"You were lied to. This treasure is not great. It only brings disaster, and someone is keen on taking it. Guard it with your life and remember one thing. In this mansion, there is no one you can't trust."
"…" DJ immediately began sweating nervously.
CONFESSIONAL – DJ
"...…There's always a catch with Chris…." DJ groaned out while facepalming.
Currently in the kitchen of McLean manor Lincoln was doing his duty as the mansion chef and was preparing dinner for all 11 people in the mansion. Luckily working as a cook at his dad's restaurant back home made him perfectly prepared for this as he had eleven dishes cooking that would be ready soon.
Well…that's not entirely true.
There was one thing that working at his dad's restaurant hadn't exactly prepared him for. Having an incredibly affectionate girlfriend pretty much attaching herself to you when you're trying to do your work. "Heheh, Dawn," Lincoln giggled a bit as Dawn clung to him from behind, a fond smile on her face as she embraced her boyfriend. "I'm trying to cook here, you need to get off~"
"Why~?" Dawn fake pout, only leaning into Lincoln more. "You love it~"
"You little minks~" Lincoln laughed as he grabbed one of Dawn's hands. "I'm trying to cook dinner~"
"It can wait~" Dawn told him as she stretched herself up so that she could rest her head on his shoulder and whisper right into her ear. "I missed you, you know~"
"Come on now~ I haven't been gone that long~" Lincoln told her as he finally decided to give Dawn what she wanted, grabbing both her hands and turning himself around so they were facing each other. "It's only been about two weeks at most~"
"But I still missed you~" Dawn told Lincoln as she gave him a quick peck on the lips making Lincoln blush brightly as he held onto Dawn tighter. Gosh he missed receiving affection from her like this. "It's been hard dealing with everything without you around~"
"Yeah, I'm sorry you've had to deal with all of that," Lincoln apologized to Dawn with a sigh. Seeing everything the remaining cast had to deal with while at the hotel was rather hard, seeing how much had happened he could only imagine how everyone was really feeling when it was all said and done. "I'm just glad you're still hanging in there,"
"Even more now that you're here," Dawn said sincerely as she leaned her head against his chest. She couldn't help but blush as she heard his heartbeat fill up her ears. "I know it's only for the challenge, but I'm glad to have you back here,"
"Heheh, glad to be back," Lincoln told her before giving Dawn a flirty look of his own. He just couldn't help it, being around her just brought it out of him and seeing how much she missed him and wanted to have some fun together…he couldn't say no to her. "Ya know…I can probably spare a few minutes before putting the finishing touches on dinner~"
"I was hoping you'd say that~" Dawn smirked and licked her lips before grabbing Lincoln by his collar and dragging him into a food closet. "Come on~ We'll get some privacy in here~"
"Yes ma'am~!" Lincoln excitedly let out.
???'S ROOM
In one of the mansion's bedrooms, the occupant of it was simply sitting around relaxing as they waited for dinner to start. They were gonna use all the time they had to enjoy the pure softness of the mansion bed. But as it turns out…they wouldn't have enough time to enjoy it.
"Whoooo!" A familiar voice let out as a bookshelf in the room opened up, revealing a hidden passageway behind it. And stepping out from it was none other than the host with the most himself Chris. "Man these things are hard to navigate!"
"?!" The occupant of the mansion let out as they jumped from seeing Chris suddenly enter their room.
"Woah there, calm down. Sorry to spook ya, haha. But I needed to talk to you," Chris apologized before a devious smirk came to his face as he went up to the room's occupant. "See, this challenge has a little something…extra to it, and I thought you'd be perfect for the job!"
Chris then reached behind his back and with one hand pulled out an axe and from the other pulled out a mask resembling a bleached white jack-o-lantern. "Think you're up for it~?" Chris offered the mask to the occupant.
"…" They were silent at first…but then took the pumpkin mask from Chris and put it over their head. "Hahaha…Ahahahahahah!"
"Oooooh this is gonna be fuuuuuun~" Chris laughed as he handed them the axe next.
11 PM
SEVEN HOURS UNTIL DAWN
It was now dinner time in McLean manor and everyone was instructed to meet up in the dining hall to enjoy their meal with Chef sitting at the head of the large dining room table and DJ, Lindsay, Beth, and Dawn sitting on the right half of the table with the seat next to Dawn empty as she was saving it for Lincoln, with Ronnie Anne, Eva, and Bridgette sitting on the left half of the table with two seats free that were saved for Katie and Sadie.
"Even the dining room's super fancy," Bridgette let out as she looked around the room a bit, cringing at all the paintings around the room. Each and every one of them was a painting of Chris in various positions and costumes. "Decorations could certainly be better though…"
"Ugh, is the food gonna be ready soon?" Lindsay let out as she held her growling stomach. She got a few snacks from her room's mini fridge but she was really craving a real meal right now. "I think my stomachs gonna eat itself soon…"
But thankfully Lindsay's prayers were soon answered as the double doors to the kitchen opened up and carting out various trays of food were Katie and Sadie and behind them was the cook who served them all being Lincoln who was looking…mighty satisfied after his earlier fun with Dawn. "Dinner is served dear guest!" Lincoln announced as Katie and Sadie began serving the food to the respective guest who's name was on the tray. "I made each dish to everyone's own personal taste and what they like the most! Hope you enjoy it!"
"Oh wow," Bridgette let out as her dish was a tuna fish salad that made the surfer girl's mouth begin watering. "Lincoln this looks amazing,"
"For real man," DJ commented, the brickhouse's dish being a big juicy steak with some homemade barbeque sauce and steamed veggies on the side. He was thankful for the food for two reasons, it looked absolutely delicious and he was starving, and it helped take his mind off the treasure in his pocket. Ever since he found it and the note that came with it DJ has been incredibly nervous so he was hoping to try his best and forget about it. "This looks amazing! I knew you were good but damn!"
"Thank you Katie," Dawn nodded in appreciation as Katie set her food down in front of her, Lincoln having prepared her a delicious vegan lasagna. Katie nodded and smiled at Dawn, but before the maid could walk off, Dawn spoke up to Katie again. "Oh, and Katie,"
"Hm?" Katie hummed out as she looked down at Dawn.
"There's no shame in feeling that way," Dawn reassured the twin tailed girl with a wink.
"H-Huh?" Katie let out in surprise, being caught off guard by what Dawn said.