(Author's Note: Get your popcorn and drink ready because this episode will be a rollercoaster for some of you... sadly. Also If I don't write for a few days cause I'm going to Florida.)

"I think we already know who's going in the challenge, but if you want to prove your cases and what you bring to the table, you might as well," Amber says, looking toward Ethan and Chad, while everybody else either stared at the boys accidentally or tried not to look at them, but they couldn't pull away.

"It's not like we wanted to vote them in from the beginning, originally, Amber," Sam says, trying to give the boys hope even though they still had a high chance of going into the challenge.

"I feel like we have both proved ourselves, both in strength and intelligence. You can tell which one of us excels in each aspect. Even though everybody is pulling their weight, we are still working strongly and efficiently, even with, you know, gone... I respect whoever you guys pick though since I probably won't win the challenge, considering Chad has already won the strongman challenge. But that's all I can say," Ethan says with a forced smile, trying to defend himself without coming across as a jerk to Chad or the others.

"I understand what Ethan is saying, and I agree 100%, not just because he's my bro-" Chad says, as Mindy scoffs in disbelief.

"You mean not because he's your boyfriend? You guys are clearly in love with each other, just say it. It's already painful watching you two flirt," Mindy says, as everybody nods and agrees with her.

"Yeah, I mean, I don't want my brother to die either, but I have to confess, I really thought that every time you guys had flirted or talked to each other, it was like you were eye-fucking and already having sex in your minds right now, like right in front of me, the whole time," Quinn points out, which makes the two boys literally turn red. Ethan's eyes widen at his sister's comment.

"QUINN!" Ethan yells, but Quinn just shrugs her shoulders.

"Mindy, not cool! Also, I wasn't saying it just because he's my bro or anything, but I agree. He said almost everything I wanted to say, so whoever you vote for, it doesn't matter, well, kind of, but still. We already know it will be the two of us, so let's get to voting, okay?" Chad says, clapping to break the silence before Amber stops him.

"Sam, why are you lying to us and to your own sister?" Amber asks, giving Sam a death stare. He looks confused by Amber's comment.

"What do you mean? I told all of you the truth about this town and why I'm here. It's my purpose to be here, Amber," Sam tries to defend himself.

"Liar," Amber says sternly.

"How is that- How am I fucking lying!?" Sam asks, tired of Amber's bullshit and the accusations she's been throwing at everyone.

"You're a liar! I don't believe anything you say," Amber says firmly, still not trusting Sam's words.

"Why? What did I ever do to you?" Sam asks, almost yelling at the younger girl in frustration and confusion.

"Because you're the reason we're all here in the first place. You know things you're not telling us. You're being really sketchy. Your friends are dying, your sister almost died randomly, and you don't seem to care. You don't seem to care about anyone. I think you need to leave this place because you're a fucking snake and a liar. I do not trust you," Amber says, her voice charged with anger and frustration. As she finishes speaking, silence falls over the room, and Tara looks at her girlfriend with shock, as if seeing her in a new and troubling light.

"Amber, what the fuck!" Tara finally speaks up, her voice tense with anger and hurt.

Sam looks hurt and stunned, tears welling up in her eyes. "I... I never wanted any of this. I didn't ask to be the reason we're here. I'm scared too, okay? I've been trying to protect all of you. I care about everyone. But I'm also trying to survive, just like everyone else," Sam responds, her voice trembling with emotion.

"Still don't trust you," Amber says.

"Fine, you want to know the truth? If I didn't bring you guys, I would DIE! I didn't do this on purpose; they picked me. I didn't want to get picked," Sam finally breaks down, her voice filled with emotion and tears still in her eyes.

"They forced me to do this. If I didn't save this town, I die with it. You happy now, Amber!?" Sam says, frustration and hurt evident in her voice. Amber looks away, refusing to make eye contact with Sam, while Tara appears to be a mix of anger and sadness. Nevertheless, she still hugs Sam, offering her comfort and support.

"Sam, why did you tell me? Why did you tell us? I'm not mad, well, I'm just disappointed that you would do this without talking to me about it," Tara says, her voice tinged with hurt and concern. (Author's Note: I decided not to portray Tara negatively in this book, as she gets on my nerves all the time.)

"I didn't know how you guys were going to take it. I wanted to tell you all, I swear," Sam says, expressing her regret for not being able to share the truth earlier.

"Well, pretty badly, Sam, since it makes it seem like you would trade each of your friends' lives just for your own. It makes you seem pretty bad," Mindy says, voicing her concerns bluntly. Chad, however, signals her to stop talking.

"It is time to vote now," Calliope says.

Here are some (Not All) of the votes of some people:

Chad voted for Himself.

Quinn voted for Chad.

Mindy voted for Ethan.

Ethan voted for Himself.

Amber voted for Chad.

"I will now shuffle and then draw two. Good luck," Calliope says, shuffling the cards before pulling one out but keeping it hidden from the others. 

"The first male going into the challenge is...." Calliope pauses for a moment, building suspense.

"The Record Producer," Calliope announces, and Ethan smiles sadly at the realization that he's been chosen for the challenge. Quinn hugs her brother tightly, aware that this might be their last embrace in this unpredictable situation. Chad hugs Ethan, offering him comfort and support, just as he did during the previous challenge.

"The daredevil," Calliope reveals as the second card is shown, and Ethan gives Chad a side hug back, finding solace in their silent support for each other. He mumbles something to Chad, but his words remain unheard by the others in the room.

"I'll tell you outside. Good luck," Ethan smiles at Chad, who returns the smile with a mixture of emotions. They share a moment of understanding, knowing that their time together may be limited. Chad repeats his comforting gestures.

"All right, guys, we gotta get you changed for this. In the arcade," Mortimer says, taking charge as the two boys follow him to change into their challenge outfits. After a quick wardrobe change, they return, now wearing matching workout outfits in red, black, and white, complete with red headbands as the group giggles at their outfits.

"Now, the rest of you are going to come to watch," Mortimer says, his words causing an abrupt halt to the group's light-heartedness. Faces drop as the realization sinks in that they will be witnessing one of their friends put in mortal danger, leaving a heavy pit in both Quinn's and Mindy's stomachs.

As they all walk outside of the arcade, Chad and Ethan hold the note detailing the death challenge. The words send shivers down their spines as they read, "The first to win three of five feats of strength will be the victor."

As the weight of the death challenge bears down on them, Ethan looks at Chad, his emotions evident in his eyes. With a determined smile, he decides to seize the moment, knowing there might not be another chance. He takes a deep breath and opens up his heart, confessing, "I might as well say this now since I can't say it any other time. But I'm in love with you, Chad. I love everything about you – your looks, your confidence, your muscles, your personality, and how brave you are. I love how you watch over Mindy above anyone else, how you stood by me since day one, and I-I love you, Chad and I hope you feel the same."

The group watches in awe as Ethan's confession fills the air. Quinn, in particular, feels a mix of emotions. She's glad that her brother finally had the courage to express his feelings.

Chad's stunned expression slowly transforms into a soft smile as he processes Ethan's heartfelt confession. With sincerity in his voice, he replies, "I never thought I'd hear you say that, but I'm glad you do...Cause I love you too, Ethan, more than you'll ever know."

In the midst of uncertainty, they find a moment of respite, stepping closer to each other. The world around them seems to fade away as they focus only on the connection between them. Chad reaches up and gently cups Ethan's cheek, his touch tender and filled with affection.

Ethan's heart races as he feels Chad's warm touch against his skin. He leans in, drawn to the vulnerability in Chad's eyes. The distance between them closes, and their lips meet in a soft, tentative kiss.

Time seems to slow as they savor the intimate moment, their emotions intertwining like a delicate dance. The kiss conveys a depth of feeling that words alone cannot express. It's a tender expression of their love and the unspoken promise to be there for each other no matter what.

 Ethan and Chad find solace in each other's arms. Their kiss is a testament to the strength of their bond, and it fills them with hope that they can face whatever comes their way together.

As they pull away from the kiss, a gentle smile spreads across both their faces as tears built in their eyes. The unspoken understanding between them lingers in the air, comforting and reassuring. They know that no matter what happens in the death challenge, they have found a love that will guide and support them through it all.

Chad places a comforting hand on Ethan's shoulder, offering him strength through their shared connection. He smiles softly, his own emotions evident in his eyes. "Ready?" he asks, his voice steady and reassuring.

"Ready," he replies, as both of them walk over to the first part of the challenge.

The first part of the challenge was to pull a tire and run across a line. So, they both wrapped a rope around their waists, getting ready to pull the heavy tire.

They both get ready in their positions as Mortimer says, "Begin" When he says it both of the men go off running or walking their way to the finish line. They were pretty close to Chad gave himself a push ahead and made it first to the finish line as Ethan made it right behind him. Chad had won a point.

They both got into position as Mortimer said, "Begin." When he gave the signal, both men took off, running or walking their way to the finish line. They were pretty close to each other, but Chad gave himself a push ahead and made it to the finish line first, with Ethan right behind him. Chad had won a point, which made Mindy clap and yell his name in excitement.

As some of the group cheered for Ethan and Chad, Quinn and Mindy were cheering the most since they were the closest to one of the two participants.

The next challenge was the shot put, which is all about technique, and it was more than just ball tossing. The goal was to see who could toss the ball further. Chad went first, and though he thought his throw was pretty good, it wasn't perfect. Then, it was Ethan's turn. He took a moment to strategize the toss before throwing the ball. His throw went past Chad's, which meant he had scored the point. Quinn cheered for Ethan enthusiastically, yelling "Go Ethan!" over and over as she impressed her support for him.

The next challenge was the bucket-holding challenge, where both boys had to hold two buckets full of water. The objective was to try to hold the buckets up longer than the other person. Meanwhile, Veronica (or whatever her name was) teased the boys as they held the buckets, trying to distract them. Unfortunately, her teasing worked on Ethan, and he eventually dropped the bucket when his muscles got tired. The Veronica lady laughed at Ethan's misfortune.

"You're a bitch! By the way, my shoes are better even though we're wearing the same ones. Also, you need to get a face routine because whatever is going on with that mess you call a face," Quinn says, calling out to Veronica who was laughing at her brother.

"Also, you need to work on that other arm because it's too big. Are you too lazy to work on the other one?" Quinn says to the strong man before standing back quietly with the others.

"Good job, Quinn. Good job," Tara says to Quinn, patting her shoulder.

The next challenge was to run to the finish line with two dumbbells and then run back to the starting line. Ethan and Chad both got ready and started running at the same speed and the same time, making it to the finish line on time. However, on the way back, Chad slips a little, giving Ethan a slight advantage as he runs back. Ethan's mind is not just on the race or Chad but also on Anika's voice that echoes in his head, cheering him on. He feels the weight of her sacrifice, and he is determined to do it for her since she died for him.

Chad follows closely behind, and they both make it back to the start, dropping the dumbbells and cheering. Ethan, overwhelmed by emotion, hugs Chad, realizing that they were tied with two wins each.

"Now it's time for the tie-breaker," Mortimer says as they bring out the table from the arm wrestling contest earlier.

"Can't they both just stay alive and breathing?" Sam suggests as the group beside her agrees, but the rest ignores them.

They both walk up to the table, get ready, and place their arms on it. Ethan speaks up, "Chad, no going easy on me, okay? If I lose, I lose, and if I win, I win. I just want to win without any help from you, and I want it to be fair. I don't want anybody to die because of our biased feelings towards each other, okay?"

Chad looks at Ethan, torn between keeping the promise and giving his best effort. After a moment of contemplation, he nods as Ethan mouths, "Love you" to him, and Chad responds by mouthing "Love you" back to Ethan. This exchange of affectionate words brings a smile to both of their faces, but they quickly snap out of it, refocusing their attention on the upcoming tie-breaker.

Mortimer grabs their hands, preparing to officiate the tie-breaker. He looks at both Ethan and Chad, making sure they are ready, and then says, "Ready, and Go!" With that, he lets go, and the arm wrestling match between the two contestants begins.

Both Ethan and Chad put all their strength and determination into the contest, their muscles straining as they push against each other. 

The struggle continues for what feels like an eternity, with neither Ethan nor Chad willing to give in. The intensity of the match keeps everyone on the edge of their seats, witnessing the true test of strength and willpower.

Amidst the cheers and celebration, the strongman yells at them, wanting one of them to lose, adding to the pressure and intensity of the moment. Ethan, feeling the strain as he's somewhat losing to Chad, digs deep within himself, determined not to give up. He remembers Anika's unwavering support and the sacrifice she made for him, fueling his determination to push through.

Ignoring the distractions around him, Ethan focuses solely on the arm wrestling match, determined not to disappoint Anika. He pushes with all his strength, his mind filled with thoughts of her and the inspiration she provided. He refuses to let the strongman's comments or any doubt creep into his mind.

Finally, after an intense battle, Chad has the upper hand. Slowly, Ethan's arm begins to move closer to the table, and the realization dawns that a winner is about to be determined. The room falls into silence, and the only sound is the heavy breathing of the two competitors.

In the end, Chad manages to overpower Ethan, and with a final, decisive push, the table hits the surface, signifying Chad as the winner of the tie-breaker. 

 The room erupts into cheers and applause, but there are also shouts of "no" and pleas from Quinn, who has realized that her brother's life is in danger.

Chad then turns to Ethan, who looks at the strongman in fear. "Are you ready to die?" the strongman asks Ethan as the completion of the artifact pops open. Chad was about to run to Ethan, but Ethan stops him, telling him to run and go back with the others. However, Chad denies it and insists on staying by Ethan's side. Ethan keeps trying to persuade Chad, repeatedly telling him to go back, but Chad remains determined. Finally, Ethan shuts him off with one last kiss.

With tears welling up in Chad's eyes, he kisses back, his heart torn between his love for Ethan and the realization that he needs to make a difficult decision. Ethan reluctantly pulls himself away from Chad and pushes him away, knowing that their affectionate moment cannot change the danger they face.

"Go now, for me, Anika, your sister, and for Quinn! Go find that other coin and get that artifact!" Ethan yells at Chad. Chad stands there for a moment, holding back any possible tears from running down his eyes. Then, he quickly goes to retrieve the artifact, while the strongman grabs Ethan by the throat.

"You're gonna die," the strongman says as Quinn tries to run to her brother, but the others hold her back while she cries and pleads with them to save and help Ethan. 

"NO! ETHAN! NO!" Quinn yells, but the others continue to restrain her and pull her away into the arcade. Meanwhile, the strongman holds Ethan and drags him on the ground by the throat, repeatedly smashing his head with his fist.

As the others enter the lounge and start assembling the artifact, Chad holds Quinn, who is still crying, doing his best to comfort her and reassure her that her brother is now in a better place. Meanwhile, he tries to push away the haunting memories of the horrifying events that just unfolded with Ethan. He wishes he could have stopped it, but unfortunately, he couldn't.

After finally putting the artifact together, the strong man mysteriously disappears, leaving everyone in relief and awe. Quickly, they place the artifact on the shelf to keep it safe. Their priority, however, is to return to Quinn and offer her comfort and support during this difficult time. They gather around her, consoling and consoling her as they process the traumatic events they all witnessed.

Did they just mess up...?

(Author's Note: AI really loves adding extra detail to each scene I write, and Grammarly does too. Also, I'm ready for any comments that may come my way. Honestly, I can't say anything else because ETHAN JUST DIED.) :(