"She's pissed at us," Sam states the obvious.

"Well, duh, she is. We took her demon dog and her sex slave, Quinn. But we might as well kill her; that bitch deserves it," Ethan remarks. They then shifted their attention to the table that Sam and Quinn had used previously. On the table, there are cards laid out, accompanied by a note. A sigh collectively escapes their lips as they understand the implication of what they're seeing.

"To claim the fourth ring, two must be selected by vote to beat Lucy at her own game. Be warned, you're nearing your final confrontation with the carnival master," they read the note aloud, their frustration evident. They toss the note onto the ground in exasperation.

"Guys, I'm tired of this. I don't want to see anyone else die," Ethan cries out, his voice nearly breaking with emotion. Chad responds by offering him a comforting side hug, conveying reassurance and understanding.

"We're not going to vote privately, though, guys. We've all been through so much on this journey. We know that nobody is going to vote for each other. I'm essentially what you guys called a secret lynchpin, and we also know Ethan might be a likely choice because he keeps saying he probably will be. But we still have a chance of being voted in, too. So, why don't we just vote ourselves to go in? That way, we won't feel guilty or anything, and we'll leave it up to luck to decide," Sam explains the plan. The others quickly jump on board with the idea.

"Well, Calliope, do you want to just put one of each of our names in?" Sam asks Calliope, who is standing behind the table.

"If that's what you wish," Calliope agrees.

"That's what we wish," Sam confirms, and Calliope proceeds to place each of their cards in the pile. "I will now shuffle and draw two," Calliope announces, mixing the cards before selecting two without revealing the names to the group.

"It is time. Are you ready? The first person going into the challenge is..." Calliope says, her voice was laden with anticipation, as the others brace themselves to see whose name has been drawn.

"The Dare-Devil," Calliope declares, revealing Chad's card. A sigh of frustration escapes Chad, while Ethan responds by closing his eyes and pulling Chad into a side hug, burying his head in Chad's neck to hide his emotions from the others.

"The second person going into the challenge is..." Calliope begins, as Ethan tightens his grip on Chad's hand while also reaching out to hold his sister's hand. The tension in the room is palpable as they await the revelation of the second name.

"The Record Producer," Calliope announces, and upon hearing his name, Ethan raises his head. Tears escape his eyes as the realization hits him once again. He turns to Chad, who is already looking at him with a somber expression. The sadness in their eyes reflects the knowledge that one of them might not make it through this ordeal. The two girls in the room keenly observe the exchange, understanding the heavy emotions that are at play.

"Chad, I don't want to die again," Ethan sobs out, his voice laced with anguish, as he pulls away from Chad. Quinn steps in to offer comfort, gently rubbing Ethan's back in an attempt to provide solace during this emotional moment.

"You're not going to die again, I swear. We're both going to make it out together," Chad reassures, placing his forehead against Ethan's as they share a deeply emotional connection. 

"You know that's not true," Ethan says, his voice shaky as he slowly pulls back from Chad, attempting to regain his composure and hold back his sobs.

"Come, I will lead you to the challenge. You guys might as well come to observe," Calliope suggests, guiding them as they make their way back to the tent. Inside, they witness the cheerleader still holding Mortimer, whose chest has turned black in the center. She laughs menacingly and proceeds to unlock the handcuffs from both Sam and Quinn.

"What's wrong with your chest, Mortimer?" Sam asks, concern evident in her voice, as she notices Mortimer's unhealthy appearance.

"Please, let's just get this over with," Mortimer says with a heavy sigh, handing Ethan and Chad a note. Sam and Quinn take their seats, preparing to watch the challenge unfold between the two.

"There are nine boxes and nine keys in the pool. The box holds salvation. Pop your balloon to be free of your straightjacket. Find the right key before your friend, or this might be your end," they read the note aloud. With heavy anticipation, Ethan and Chad get and put on the straight jackets, their hearts heavy with the weight of the challenge ahead. They share a passionate and emotional kiss, filled with a mix of love and tension. As they part, they exchange heartfelt wishes of good luck before preparing themselves for the task at hand.

"We wish you guys the best. Love you, Ethan! I'm rooting for you more, Ethan, but good luck, Chad," Quinn offers her well-wishes to the two, and Sam echoes the sentiment.

"Go!" the cheerleader yells, prompting Ethan and Chad to sprint towards the balloons. With determination, they begin stomping and jumping on the balloons, fortunate that their straight jackets had been unlocked by the cheerleader to give them a better chance of finding the key.

They continue to pop the balloons, each hoping to find the key that will unlock their salvation. Chad's determination pays off as he discovers the key first. He quickly rushes to unlock the locked box. Meanwhile, Ethan is still searching for a key amidst the balloons. However, when Chad opens the box, he finds it empty, prompting him to race back to the balloons in search of the missing key. On the sidelines, Sam and Quinn cheer for them, their hearts filled with tension and anticipation.

Chad's persistence pays off as he discovers another key amidst the balloons. Rushing to the box, he unlocks it with hope, only to be met with disappointment once more as he finds it empty. Simultaneously, Ethan continues to search for a key, his determination unwavering. When Chad opens the box and finds nothing yet again, Ethan finally locates a key and hurries to unlock the box. To his dismay, he too finds it empty and heads back to the balloons, his frustration mounting.

At last, both Ethan and Chad manage to locate keys within the sea of balloons. With a sense of urgency, they race to the box, their hands trembling as they attempt to unlock it. As they struggle with the locks, words of determination and frustration escape their lips, mixing with the tension that hangs in the air.

"I love you so much, Chad, I swear," Ethan mumbles, his voice cracking slightly as he tries to focus on opening the box. 

"Love you too, Ethan, no matter what," Chad replies, his voice filled with sincerity and devotion. As they finally succeed in opening the box, Chad reaches inside and finds nothing. However, Ethan's hand retrieves a note, which Chad notices immediately. 

"Kill yourself or kill your friend to claim the ring. You decide how it ends," Ethan reads the chilling words on the note, shock etched across his face. He rises from his spot and walks over to Chad, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug. The fact that this might be their last moment together as best friends or partners is palpable.

"Wait, that's such a weird twist," Quinn interjects, voicing her surprise at the unexpected turn of events. She realizes that whatever choice Ethan would have made, it would likely have resulted in traumatizing someone during the challenge due to the element of luck involved.

Ethan pulls Chad in for a kiss, but before Chad has the chance to reciprocate, Ethan pulls away, tears streaming down his face. He retrieves the pink gun from the box and gazes at Chad, his emotions evident in his eyes. (Author's Note: Just make the joke already....)

"It's okay, Ethan," Chad reassures, raising his hands in a gesture of understanding. He knows that this moment signifies their final moments together, and he's prepared to accept whatever choice Ethan makes, however heart-wrenching it may be.

"Chad, I'm sorry. I really am sorry, and I really do love you," Ethan utters, his voice heavy with regret and emotion. With a heavy heart, he raises the gun and pulls the trigger multiple times....

Ethan's lifeless body collapses to the ground, sending shockwaves through the group. Chad and Quinn are the first to reach him, their cries of desperation and grief filling the air as they plead for him not to leave him. Sam rushes to Ethan's side, her guilt weighing heavily on her, as she quickly retrieves the last artifact that has appeared. With determination, she secures the collar around her neck, placing the final ring. As she does so, the cheerleader disappears, leaving behind a scene of heartbreak and loss.

"Guys, we have to go," Sam urges, her voice filled with urgency as she attempts to pull Chad and Quinn away from Ethan's lifeless form. However, their grief and shock seem to immobilize them, making it difficult for Sam to get them to move.

"Ethan, I swear I wanted you to leave with me so we could go on a fun date. We could've watched some nerdy movie of your choice with a bunch of junk food, especially for you, and just cuddled on the couch. Please, Ethan, don't give up on us. I'm so sorry," Chad breaks down, his words pouring out through his tears. Quinn clings to her brother's arm, crying alongside him, overwhelmed by the loss of their dear friend and partner.

"Ethan, don't DIE on me! You're still alive, I know it! Push through, Ethan, push through this!" Quinn's voice cracks as he yells, tears streaming down his face. However, their moment of mourning is interrupted as Sam and Chad manage to gather the strength to pull Quinn away from Ethan's body. They lead her out of the tent, while Chad is released from his straightjacket. In the midst of their distress, they suddenly notice Mortimer running away with the artifact.

"Mortimer, what are you doing? He has the collar. He has the last artifact," Calliope urgently points out, her words sent a jolt of realization through the group. Without hesitation, Mortimer bolts towards the church, prompting the rest to chase after him, driven by the need to stop him and secure the final artifact.

They arrive at the church, but their progress is halted by Mortimer, who stands before them. "Stop! Don't come any closer. I am going to free Nicholas," Mortimer declares, his voice firm as he holds onto the collar containing the final artifact.

"It's the evil inside you talking," Calliope attempts to reason with Mortimer, but he cuts her off sharply, retorting, "Don't tell me what to do!" 

"It's already done," Mortimer says resolutely, placing the artifact with the rest of the artifacts that have somehow gathered on the stool. Despite the desperate pleas of the others, he proceeds with his actions. As each artifact glows, the amber begins to open, revealing the presence of the carnival master himself.

"I've done all you've asked," Mortimer declares, stepping forward to approach the carnival master.

"You traitor! We trusted you!" Sam's voice rings out, filled with a mixture of anger and betrayal, directed at Mortimer.

"Turn around. You are so easily manipulated," the carnival master taunts, and Mortimer, under his control, complies. However, the moment takes a dark turn as Mortimer's neck is suddenly snapped, ending his life. In the chaos that ensues, Calliope swiftly retrieves the gun from Mortimer's pocket and starts firing at the carnival master, taking the initiative to fight back. The group rallies behind her, cheering her on as they join the fray.

However, the carnival master's swift retaliation catches Calliope off guard. He seizes her by the throat, his grip unyielding, and coldly declares, "Don't think so, little lady. Don't you think I prepared for this?" Before they can react, he snaps her neck, ending her life in a brutal manner. The rest of the group can only cry out in horror as they witness this devastating turn of events.

He releases his grip on Calliope's lifeless body and turns his attention to the rest of the group. "I can smell the stench of the society all over you. They called you into a war that's not yours. And now, you're going to pay for it with your lives. But don't worry, I have some special friends who are going to visit you," the carnival master taunts. With a malevolent use of his power, he conjures zombies from the grave, sending them to chase after the group. Panic and fear grip the group as they scramble to escape the pursuing undead, while the carnival master's laughter echoes through the air.

(Author's Note: This is a bit late, but I wanted to post it. Thank you for your patience! :) )