:542: : *Greets the contestants as they exit the dining hall after breakfast* Hello everyone. As I said after last night’s fiasco, the teams are now broken up. Your first contest without any team members to help you or bring you down will begin shortly. *Leaves*
;121; : That doesn’t matter, Sky. We’re sticking together no matter what, right?
;359; : Yeah. *Smiles, then frowns* I left my eye shadow in the dining hall.
;121; : Are you sure it’s not lost in my bedroom?
;359; : No, I remember having it in there. I’ll catch up to you at the house.
;121; : Okay. *Keeps walking*
~~~~~
;359; : *Enters the dining hall* Where did I leave it?
:549: : Here you go. *Hands her the eye shadow*
;359; : Oh, thanks! *Takes it and goes to leave*
:549: : Erm...
;359; : Yeah?
:549: : This is embarrassing...
;359; : Everything is embarrassing. What’s wrong?
:549: : Well, teams are gone, so I was wondering if you wanted to team up with me.
;359; : Sure, if Alice can-
:549: : We need to take down Valentine.
;359; : Valentine? Why?
:549: : She’s been manipulating everyone and is responsible for most of the eliminations so far.
;359; : She doesn’t sound good.
:549: : She’s not. That’s why we need to take her down. Shake on it?
*They shake hands*
~~~~~
:576: : *Walking back to the houses*
;121; : Hey! *Runs up to her*
:576: : Yes?
;121; : Look, there’s someone bad in this game and they need to be stopped.
:576: : Is there?
;121; : Yeah, it’s that Mina girl that was on your team. She tried to get me eliminated and caused Evleen’s accident.
:576: : *Gasp* Why, that’s terrible! Do you have any proof?
;121; : No, but it’s obviously her. Didn’t you see how she stole the show during that talent competition? She’s trying to get all the big competition out of the way so she can get her second chance, by any means necessary! I know you’re just a lonely old woman, but I think you can help get rid of her. After all, you were on her team.
:576: : I agree.
;121; : Alright. Shake on it?
*They shake hands while Valentine smirks to herself*
~~~~~
:538: : *Enters his room and looks at his wall, covered with a web connecting pictures of all the contestants* Hmm.... *Draws an X over Evleen’s picture, then draws a line connecting it to Valentine’s picture and writes a question mark above it; With the addition of Evleen’s line, Valentine is now connected to every contestant that was part of the game except Chewy and Herpert*
~~~~~
:500: : *Sleeping on his bed*
~~~~~
*Archie gathers the remaining six contestants outside of the houses*
:542: : Alright, I hope everyone’s ready, because we’re taking things up a notch.
;121; : What do you mean?
:542: : We’re going to test your endurance and see just how badly you want to win. Follow me. *Leads them to a clearing in the forest where a giant glass box is located*
:576: : What’s this?
:542: : There are six pillars located in the box. On top of each pillar is a button. Once the six of you enter the box, you will have to press down on a button.
:500: : That’s it?
:542: : Yes. However, you are not allowed to let go of the button at any time. If you do, a buzzer will sound and you will be disqualified. Once the first contestant lets go of the button, they will have to stay in the box until two more contestants let go, then the three of them can leave. The remaining three contestants will have to stay in the box until there is only one contestant standing. The winner will get a special prize and also be immune from elimination. Good luck. *Opens the door*
*The contestants enter the box and each go to a pillar*
:542: : Go.
*Each of the contestants press down on their buttons*
~~~~~
Hour 1
;121; : This isn’t so bad.
;359; : *At the pillar close to Alice* Alice, I meant to tell you-
:500: : *At the pillar on the other side of Sky* Hey guys! I know we’re not on a team anymore, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, right? *Laughs heartily*
;121; : Yeah, sure. What did you want to tell me, Sky?
;359; : Uh...Nevermind.
~~~~~
:576: : *Senses something and turns her head*
:538: : *Glaring at her from the other side of the box*
:576: : *Turns back around, unnerved*
:549: : *Looks at Kenshiro* I hope your fixation on her is worth all this.
:538: : It is.
~~~~~
Hour 3
:542: : *Outside the box* Congratulations, you’ve all made it three hours.
;121; : Agh, someone let go already!
;359; : Calm down, Alice. We can do this.
:500: : Ergh...I’m not what I used to be...But I have to prove that I can do this!
:538: : *Glaring at Valentine intently*
:500: : What’s with you?
:538: : I have to remind myself why I need to win.
:500: : *Looks at Valentine* Oh, I had no idea. Well, it’s nice to see a showmance in the game.
~~~~~
Hour 5
;121; : I can’t do this anymore!
;359; : Just hold on, Alice!
:500: : Hey, Sky. I’m struggling here, can you try to distract me somehow?
;359; : Uh...I guess I can.
:500: : How about you tell me why you’re here?
;359; : I don’t want to give up.
:500: : No, not here. Here.
;359; : Oh...Well, I’m not really the most confident girl. All the attention was too much for me, and I didn’t want to turn singing into an obsession.
:500: : Obsession?
;359; : Yeah. I didn’t want to lose myself when I was 17 and become all about red lips and smoky eyes.
:500: : Yeah, I’ve met a few folks in my day that were all about “sex rules!”
~~~~~
:576: : *Talks to Alice while Sky is distracted with Herpert* I think you should let go.
;121; : What are you talking about?
:576: : Think about it. Everyone thinks I’m a harmless old lady anyway, but you could be seen as competition. If you let go now, no one will expect you to be a threat.
;121; : ...No. I can’t let down Sky.
:576: : Her? She’s working with Mina!
:549: : *Hears her name and turns to look at Valentine and Alice*
:576: : *Turns away from Alice*
;121; : What? You’re wrong!
;359; : *Stops talking to Herpert* Is everything okay, Alice?
;121; : Yeah, I’m fine...
:500: : Ugh...
;359; : Herpert?
:500: : Sorry guys! This old boar just can’t take anymore! *Herpert’s finger slips from the button as he falls to the ground in slow motion, shaking the whole box when he lands*
:549: : Is he alright?
:500: : *Snores*
~~~~~