Total Drama Life

I screamed and rolled off the top bunk as my uncle blew the horn. I groaned and rolled over onto my back. Can there just be one day where we don't get a rude awakening? Ignoring the others I got dressed and trudged to the campfire sight.

"Still not awake," Duncan asked wrapping his arms around me from behind.

"I can still kick your ass in a heartbeat," I growled leaning against him.

"You can try babe," he whispered kissing my cheek.

"Can you two just stop," Courtney bitched. I turned my head to see the other campers heading our way. I noticed Trent glaring at Duncan for some reason.

"Contestants, today's challenge will test your outdoor survival skills," Chris said. "I'm not gonna lie to you, some of you may not come back
alive." I snickered as everybody gasped, looking freaked out.

"Chill out people," I laughed. "He's just joking."

"Gee way to ruin it," Chris said glaring at me playfully. I stuck my tongue out and leaned against Duncan as my uncle continued.

"As Miss I Know Everything said, I was joking," he said. "All you have to do is spend one night out in the woods." I caught Bridges' eye and smiled encouragingly.

"Everything you need will be found at your teams campsite in the forest. You just have to find it." He pulled out two maps and compasses, tossing one of each to me and Heather. "Oh and watch out for bears. Lost a couple of interns in pre production."

Courtney stood up and tried grabbing the map from me. I simply stuck it down my shirt, knowing she won't reach for it, and glared at her. I did toss the compass at her head seeing as though I won't need it. After Chris wished us good luck I headed into the woods with my team closely behind.

"I should get the map," Courtney whined. "I'm a CIT."

"Listen here girly," I growled spinning around. "No one gives two shits about your Counselor in Training shit. I'm done. That isn't any use here because this isn't a normal summer camp. Shut the hell up and get over yourself." I knew I made my point because she nodded in fear. I took out the map and found exactly where we were.

"How do you know we're going in the right direction," Geoff asked. "You aren't using the compass."

I found a stump nearby and laid the map down. "We started here," I said pointing to the campfire.

"We need to get here," I continued tracing the path. I glared at Courtney who scoffed. "Now our campsite is East of here. By following the sun's rotation you can easily tell where North is."

"Alright then," Bridgette agreed. "The sooner we get there the better."

"So how do you know about all of this," Duncan asked taking my hand. I put the map away so both of them were free.

"I lived with my grandparents every summer," I said. "They kinda lived in the middle of no where, in the middle of the mountains. I had to did someway to get around."

"Or you could have gotten lost and died," Courtney snapped from behind me. "I like the idea of that." Duncan and Geoff held me back as I lunged for the girl.

"What in the nine realms of hell is your problem," I growled.

"You're my problem," she said. Harold and DJ held her back so she couldn't go anywhere. "You think that just because you're Chris's niece, you can sing, and you're pretty, you can run this thing. You're life is perfect while we're out here risking everything we have."

"My life is far from perfect," I screamed at the ground. "I just lost everything I hold dear. My parents and my brother are dead. I found out right after the dodge ball challenge. Chris is the only family I have left. If it wasn't for him, I'd be all alone. So don't you dare think that." Tears brimmed my eyes as Courtney stared at me.

"I'm sorry," she whispered looking at the ground. "I didn't know."

"It's not something I want to relive," I said. A hand popped in front of my face. I traced its path to Courtney who was giving me a slight smile.

"Truce," she asked.

"Truce," I said shaking her hand. "Just stay away from Duncan."

"You can have him and his weird taste," she said.

"I'm right here," the delinquent exclaimed.

"We know," we said in sync. The two of us grinned at each other as Duncan groaned.

"Come on you big baby," I teased. "We're almost to our campsite." The rest of our trek was quiet and uneventful. Walking into the clearing, there were the supplies in the middle.

"Let's do this," I said taking charge. "Courtney, Bridgette, and Geoff, you guys set up the tents. Duncan you gather stuff to make a fire. Harold you start the fire."

"Maybe Duncan should light the fire," Courtney suggested. I thought about it for a moment.

"Okay, Pyro lights. Dweeb gathers. Tyler, take inventory of our supplies. And don't lose anything."

"What are you going to do," Geoff asked. I rubbed my hands together and laughed evilly.

"I'm going to hunt."

"With what," Harold asked. I simply pulled my knife out of my boot.

"Ooh," Duncan gasped taking it out of my hand. "This is a 9" New Scottish Wicca Dirk Dagger Knife. With a Celtic Gaelic Twist Knot and blue ruby gemstone."

"I also have these," I said taking the others out of my other boot.

"No way," he admired. "United Cultery Tomahawk throwing Knives."

"I've just got this," he said handing me mine and pulling out his own. Now it was my turn to admire. "It's not much. It's been in my family for
generations."

"That's a Forge de Laguiole pocket knife made from birchwood," I said. "Those are hard to come by."

*Back at Camp*

"Chef," Chris said. "Remind my to confiscate those." Chef nodded and continued watching the challenge.

*In da woods*

"Um quick question," DJ said. "What am I supposed to do?"

I gave Duncan's knife back to him and turned to the big guy. "I need you to gather some fruits. I shall be back in an hour."

I wandered around the woods until I reached water. Peering down into the murky liquid I could barely make out their scaly bodies. Down wind I saw Owen having the same idea. Carefully I peeled off my boots and rolled up my pant legs.

I spent the next hour catching enough fish to feed my team. After finally getting plenty of squirming fish I headed back to the campsite.

"Where do you think Ash is?" I heard Courtney ask.

"Since when are you two buddy buddy," Duncan asked her.

"Yeah, I recall you two going at it earlier today," Geoff said.

"It doesn't matter," Courtney said dismissing them. "I just said that so she'd shut up. I don't even like the girl. She acts like she runs this whole show."

"Oh do I now," I said stepping out of the trees. I tossed the fish at her face, hitting her. "Well, Miss I'm-a-CIT, you can cook the fish." I smiled smugly as she began whining.

"Wow you pitch a tent like a guy," Geoff said trying to compliment Bridge. I felt so sorry for her right now. She gave him a weird look as he tried to explain himself. "I mean, you're not all girly about getting dirty and stuff."

"Gee thanks," the blonde said unimpressed. You had to give the dude some credit, at least he tried.

"What's for dinner woman," Duncan asked teasing Courtney. "I'm starving."

"I hope you don't expect me to dignify that with a response," she huffed.

"Hey guys look what I found." Everyone turned to see DJ walking up to us. He had a bunny in his hands and a bag over his shoulder. I walked up to Duncan
and put my arm around his waist.

"Well, I've never had rabbit stew before," he said. "But hey, I'm game."

"This is my new pet," DJ huffed. "I'm naming him Bunny."

"Generic, but cute," I said scratching Bunny behind his ear. He looked up at me and jumped into my arms.

"I guess he likes you too," DJ smiled. I laughed as he went to go put the fruit down.

"Has anyone seen Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Idiot," Duncan asked causing us to look around.

"No wonder it's quiet," I said. We all silently agreed none of us were going after them. With the fire finally started we sat on some logs we had managed to
drag over. An owl hooted causing Bridgette to freak a bit.

"Be cool," DJ said. "It's just an owl."

"Sorry, I just get really freaked out in the forest," she apologized.

"This reminds me of a really scary story I heard once," Duncan said.

"You're whole life is a scary story," I teased.

"You know me so well." Duncan kissed me as Geoff tried convincing him to tell it.

"Are you sure," he asked. "Because the story I'm thinking of is really hardcore."

"Oh we're so scared," Courtney mimicked rolling her eyes.

"All right," boyfriend said giving in. "But don't say I didn't warn you. One night, a lot like this one, so suddenly they heard this tap-tap-tapping on the side of the car.The girl started to freak out and by this time even the guy was getting a bit scared. So he turned the car on and he stepped on it. When they got back to the girls house, she opened the door and screamed. Because there, hanging on the door handle, was the bloody hook." I snickered at everyone's faces. His story isn't even that scary. "They say that this killer is still alive, wandering these very woods. He could be just about anywhere really. Maybe even right here." I couldn't contain my laughter anymore. Everyone else screamed as Duncan pulled out a clean hook. He started laughing evilly which didn't help my situation any. It was really hot when he does it.

"Duncan that was so not funny," Courtney raged getting up in his face.

"No," I laughed holding my sides. "It was hilarious. I just wish it was all on camera."

"Oh wait," Duncan said. "It is."

"You are so vile," she said. "Do you're parents even like you?" That sent a pang through my heart.

"I don't know Jumpy McChicken," he said. "I haven't asked them lately." Suddenly a wolf howled scaring Courtney. She pressed herself against my
boyfriend, effectively stopping my laughter. Duncan looked down at her and pushed her away.

"So do you have any scary stories," Geoff asked me.

"There is one I know," I said.

"There's a reason you shouldn't go into graveyards on your own," I started. "In late afternoon under a blustery November sky, Joseph arrived at the graveyard in his blue Chevy sedan. Partnered by a light wind, autumn leaves danced a ballet under billowing dark clouds, pregnant with rain. Joseph parked his car and opened his door, stepping out onto the pavement and around to the trunk.

The graveyard was draped in an eerie stillness like a thick carpet of sleep. Ripping through the silence screeched the ornery "Caw!" of a raven perched high atop a nearby tree. It's raw greeting startled Joseph who looked upward to locate its source. Detected, the crow flapped sluggishly, launching itself lazily from its current location, then floated across the yard to another perch.

Inserting his key into the trunk lock, Joseph sprung the latch and lifted the lid. Inside, his gear lay neatly packed. He carefully lifted the tripod, placed it on the pavement and rested it against the bumper. He lifted two cases containing cameras, one for still shots and the other for video, and draped their cords around his neck. He grabbed a leather gear bag, shifted it to his left hand and pushed the trunk lid down. As he turned around, he picked up the tripod, balanced it over his shoulder and headed out across the lawn. The grass crunched beneath his shoes as he surveyed the yard, looking for a place to set up.

The headstones gleamed chalk-like across the lawn like bony specters. He stopped occasionally to study the more intriguing ones before moving on. He located a bench under a thicket of trees, and after a few moments of contemplation, decided this was as good a place as any. Placing his bag on the bench, he set up his tripod and mounted his video camera. After a few adjustments he was ready to begin shooting.

A damp wind stirred and Joseph turned up his collar to block it out. Then he strode to the bench. As he opened his digital camera case, he pondered his newfound passion for the supernatural.

It began only a year earlier when a towel-wrapped Joseph had come face-to-face with an apparition at his bathroom door. Joseph was exiting his shower, scrubbing his wet hair with a towel when he encountered a boy, drenched and trembling, standing there looking very traumatized and disoriented. Instinctively, Joseph had gone to the boy's aid by extending his hand in a gesture of help. The boy vanished instantly leaving behind a bewildered Joseph, empty-handed and completely creeped-out.

After that, Joseph became fascinated with ghosts and developed those fascinations into a hobby of searching for and gathering paranormal evidence. He didn't particularly believe that cemeteries were the best place to encounter spirits. He figured spirits had more interesting places to hang out than a gloomy, boring cemetery. But Joseph had come across a recent internet broadcast that this particular cemetery was the resting place of several prominent figures and had also been the site of recent vandalism by tourists. These insolent occurrences had reportedly agitated the inhabitants, causing an upsurge in anomalous activity. The broadcast whet his curiosity and the fact that it was only 40 minutes from home compelled Joseph's visit. He wanted to gather some video footage and photos, see what he came up with, and take it from there.

Starting in the east corner, he worked the video camera, scanning the graveyard slowly around to the west. He was mindful to pick up as much detail in different areas as possible and panned the camera back and forth several times in order to ensure that he picked up any structure of interest in the yard. Then, finding a position that displayed the most unobstructed view of the cemetery, he left the camera rolling on its own. Then he grabbed his digital camera and set out across the grass for stills of select headstones.

He strode to the oldest part of the cemetery. Bordered by ancient trees, it was situated along the east wall and underneath he found one of the cemetery's oldest graves. Its modest headstone was weathered and worn, and after 250 years, its inscription barely legible.

After several adjustments to his camera settings, he started clicking shots getting as many different angles as he could. From here, he moved down the row to get the other graves in a similar fashion.

Overhead, the blustery sky grew dark and Joseph figured he had only about twenty minutes before the clouds began to dump its contents. He moved quickly out towards the center and across to the other side, making any needed adjustments to the camera settings and snapping more photos. The ornery crow returned and cawed another announcement.

"I better get going," thought Joseph and he started back into the direction of the bench. Pushing his luck, Joseph turned and held his camera in front of him. He aimed it randomly across the lawn and snapped a shot with his index finger. The crow sounded once more, this time with grave urgency. Joseph turned to view it, still holding his camera in his outstretched hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something stir in the camera's LCD. He turned back to the screen to view the image head on, but all he saw was an eastern view of the cemetery.

The air grew heavy and Joseph knew rain was imminent. He returned to his video camera, its red indicator light signaling that it was still running. Joseph turned again, extended his right arm and attempted just a couple more shots before the clouds let loose. He aimed the camera randomly across the grass and snapped another shot.

Then he turned his head slightly to the left, but kept one eye on the screen. As he suspected, he saw a white figure crawling ominously across the lawn. But this time he noticed ... it was headed in his direction!

Joseph dropped his arm and visually inspected the area he was shooting without looking through the LCD. There was no white figure visible, only the graveyard: very still and very, very quiet.

Lifting his arm and returning the camera to its previous position and using a sideways glance, he watched through the LCD as the white figure crept slowly and insidiously across the grass. It seemed that despite the labored crawl, it was much closer than before and Joseph calculated that every time he lowered the camera, the figure traveled 100 yards instantaneously!

The rain began as a light sprinkle, and Joseph raced to his video camera panning it over into position attempting to pick up the image of the white figure. When the figure didn't appear, Joseph's jaw dropped in amazement.

Lifting his digital camera and viewing once again out of the corner of his eye, he relocated the specter. It had moved much closer and this time Joseph was able to pick up details in its form.

It was creeping along on its belly, arms bent at elbows dragging itself forward, the lower half of its body limp and useless. In jerky, unnatural motions, its head lurched from side to side. Its ghastly face was a horror to behold. Two hollow sockets glared at Joseph across the distance while its tongue lolled in its mouth, slack jawed and hungry. As Joseph studied its face, the glaring countenance told him he was being apprehended with careful determination—and malice.

Terrified, Joseph dropped the camera and began tearing down his equipment. The air filled with the dank odor of mold and rot giving Joseph knowledge that the specter was upon him, probably no more than just a few feet away. He tried to dismount the video camera but was so frightened that his trembling hands betrayed him. Clumsily, he knocked his video gear over, its red indicator light fading to black as it hit the ground.

He grabbed the digital camera and held it up once more. He found the entity and discovered that it was nearly upon him, creeping relentlessly in pursuit. He
had no choice but to leave his gear behind. He dropped his camera in the grass and fled, running mindlessly towards his car, a projectile of utter fear.

The sprinkle of rain intensified and the grass grew wet under Joseph's feet. The crow cawed laughingly in the trees, and the smell of mold became heavier and more intense.

He was only 50 feet from his car when he slipped on the slick grass, flying headlong into a monument, striking his head on the stone. The crow cawed one last time and the drizzle of rain became a torrent. Joseph lay on the grass, unconscious and bleeding. He wasn't found until the next day.

Three days later, Joseph sat upright in his hospital bed, head wrapped in a turban of bandages. His equipment had been retrieved, but the video camera was ruined.

By some miracle, his digital camera survived the torrential rains and he held it now in his hands, attempting to review the photos on its memory card. He searched for evidence of the malevolence that had pursued him. He scrolled through the images 100 times, scrutinizing the headstones, the trees and the random shots of the lawn. He found no evidence of the entity in any of the photos. Eventually he came to realize and accept that the ghost was only visible through his LCD.

Sadly, he had no evidence of his encounter, save a nasty concussion and ruined gear. The only witness an ornery old crow. He had no intention on ever
going back to that graveyard... at least not alone."

My team sat there shivering and glancing around. Even Duncan looked freaked. We decided to go into the tent and try to get some sleep. I curled up against Duncan and fell asleep on his chest, his arm wrapped around my waist. I was woken up by Courtney complaining.

"You were cuddling me," she accused. I looked at Duncan in confusion.

"I was calmly lying on my back, holding onto my girlfriend," he defended. "You were snuggling up to me."

"You are such an ogre," the princess said.

"I've been called worse," boyfriend said dismissing it. She stomped off to do who knows what.

"Um guys," I started. "Shouldn't we be running?" My team glanced between each other then shot up at once. We began running in the direction of the finish line. Along the way we made up a dumb excuse about Katie and Sadie.

"We're the first one's back," Courtney cheered. The Gophers came in right behind us.

"Oh no," Heather complained. "They beat us here. This is all you're fault." She shoved Owen down in anger. Izzy laughed silently beside him.

"Not so fast Gopherinoes," Chris said. All of us looked at him I confusion. "It seems the Killer Bass are missing a couple fish."

"Oh you mean Katie and Sadie," I asked. "I'm pretty sure they got eaten by wolves last night."

"Darn shame," Duncan said faking sadness. Proving our story false the twins ran into sight. They started rambling on about how they got lost, into a fight, almost eaten by a bear, and had a huge sap fest.

"Are you finished with you're little love fest," I asked them bored out of my mind. The two girls in question nodded.

"Good," Courtney said. "Thanks to you, we just lost the challenge."

"Alright," Uncle Chris cut in. "Killer Bass. One of you're fishy butts is going home. Gophers, you're going on an all expense, paid trip, to The Tuck Shop."
There was a collective gasp as we glared at the twins. One of them has to go. I don't care which, as long as we only have one weird girl. One by one we voted in the confessional. At the campfire everyone but Katie got a marshmallow. I yawned as they had another love fest. When Katie left, I walked away to the cabins. I watched as Duncan 'apologized' to Courtney about the story, then ended up scaring her again, chuckling as she screamed like a little girl.

"I hate you," she yelled walking away.

"Hey," I said sitting on his lap.

"What's up angel," he asked wrapping his arms around me. I shook my head and leaned into him. Before long, I fell asleep listening to his heartbeat.