(Author's Note: All these episodes are long, so they may be split into parts.)

The group then enters the lounge, realizing that they had made it, and they show off the piece or pieces they had obtained. The other group does the same, as they replace the old parts of the box with the new pieces.

As they put the pieces away, Mindy pulls out the note they received and begins reading it aloud, "The artifact requires one more piece to be fully restored. A new Jack Two must be selected by vote to undertake a deadly challenge to recover it. Choose wisely. One of you will not make it out alive. For this unique trial, the two selected must choose a partner to fight for them." Mindy's words make the group visibly stressed and fearful for their lives.

"Did you bring us on what essentially amounts to a suicide mission? You got us involved in this without any professionals, just us?" Mindy asks Sam, her voice filled with a mix of anger and frustration. Sam looks guilty, still feeling remorseful for dragging her friends into this dangerous situation.

"I didn't intentionally bring you guys here. I invited you here under the pretense of a mission. I never wanted to involve you all in this." Sam tries to defend herself, but her explanation only elicits scoffs from a few members of the group.

"We came here for a mission, not a suicide mission! Do you even know anything about this carnival master?" Tara questions her sister, feeling the most betrayed among the group. She had come here to help save a town alongside her sister, not to risk their lives for the sake of a town she didn't even know existed in the first place.

"I don't know everything. I was only informed about the town of Everlock, not about this carnival master," Sam admits, though it's clear she's withholding some information.

"How are we even supposed to do this? We'll be putting an immense amount of pressure on the individuals in the challenge, as well as those who are assisting. It's incredibly unfair," Anika expresses her concerns.

"True, that," Quinn agrees, acknowledging Anika's point.

"Yeah, and that's incredibly unfair to the person selected and potentially put in harm's way," Wes adds, highlighting the injustice of the situation.

"Well, do we have any volunteers?" Mindy asks, leaning in towards the group. However, they all stare at her as if she's crazy. Mindy, serious in her intentions, realizes that her request is met with disbelief rather than willingness. 

"Mindy, what the fuck...?" Chad exclaims, causing Ethan to giggle at his blunt reaction.

"Well then, let's discuss this among our fellow friends," Mindy suggests, prompting the group to split up into smaller clusters, engaging in discussions about who they should vote for.

"Who has been contributing the least in the group so far?" Quinn whispers to Tara, taking advantage of their proximity. Although Ethan is Quinn's brother and close to her, he has been preoccupied with Chad, leaving little time for meaningful conversations between Quinn and Ethan, which she doesn't mind much, but it does weigh on her thoughts.

"She hasn't been contributing much when it comes to our group. So maybe we should consider voting for her," Tara whispers back, casting a glance toward Liv, who is engaged in conversation with Amber and Wes. She then refocuses her attention on Quinn.

"Exactly, I'm not sure what she did while she was with Sam and Mindy. But when it comes to our group, she has just been there," Quinn whispers in response.

Amber, Wes, and Liv engage in a discussion, contemplating the possibility of Quinn being chosen for the challenge. They express their view that Quinn hasn't actively participated or contributed much, despite her attempts to help. Even Amber voices her opinion, throwing a hint of shade toward Liv, who surprisingly agrees with her assessment.

Ethan overhears the conversation involving Liv, Amber, and Wes, who are considering voting for Quinn. Concerned, Ethan approaches Quinn and pulls her to the side. He whispers, "I overheard the conversation with Liv, Amber, and Wes. They're thinking of voting for you. I love you, Quinn, but you need to show them what you're capable of. You're Quinn Kirsch, not Quinn the loser."

"I understand, but we're actually planning to vote for Liv anyway. What about you?" Quinn whispers nervously, seeking her brother's opinion. Ethan, prioritizing his sister's safety and being unfamiliar with Liv, agrees to support Quinn and vote accordingly.

"It is now time to vote," Calliope announces, dispersing the groups as they gather on the couch.

"Please grab the card with the face of the person you would like to nominate for the challenge. We will shuffle the cards and draw two." Calliope explains the voting process, and one by one, they take turns casting their votes.

As the votes were cast, some of them were expected and predictable, while others came as shocking surprises to the group. The tension in the room grew as the true intentions and alliances among the members became apparent.

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

Quinn voted for Liv.

Ethan voted for Liv.

Wes voted for Quinn.

Sam voted for Anika.

Amber voted for Quinn.

"I will now shuffle the votes and then draw two," Calliope announces, intensifying the suspense in the room. As she shuffles the votes, the group becomes increasingly anxious, unsure of who will be chosen to participate in the challenge. The anticipation reaches its peak as Calliope draws a card and conceals it, causing the group to collectively freak out, wondering whose fate hangs in the balance.

"The Hippie," Calliope announces, revealing the chosen participant for the challenge. The room fills with a mix of gasps and glances exchanged among the group members, while Liv sits there in a state of shock, realizing she has been selected.

"Who voted for me?" Liv asks. However, the room falls into an eerie silence, with everyone looking at each other in shock and avoiding eye contact, reluctant to admit their votes. The air becomes tense as Liv's question hangs unanswered.

"The Troublemaker," Calliope announces, disclosing the second participant chosen for the challenge. The group gasps in surprise once again, and Quinn locks eyes with Liv, giving her a glare that conveys a mix of frustration and determination. Amber and Wes, who had voted for Quinn, exchange a glance, realizing the implications of their decision.

"I know who voted for me, and I'm okay with that. But I'm determined to prove them wrong," Quinn declares, breaking eye contact with Liv, Amber, and Wes. With a firm resolve, she sits back on the couch.

"Who even voted for you?" Tara asks, seeking clarification. Quinn simply shrugs her shoulders in response.

"Please select a partner to fight for you, starting with the person who was chosen first," Calliope instructs, prompting Liv to consider her options. She glances at her friends before her gaze ultimately lands on Wes, indicating her choice.

"Wes, you're pretty smart and know your way around things," Liv says, gesturing towards Wes as she explains her choice. She recognizes his intelligence and skills.

"Well, I pick Mindy. I trust her to save me, and she's also pretty smart," Quinn declares, showing her confidence in Mindy's abilities. 

"Follow me," Calliope instructs, leading the chosen four—Liv, Wes, Mindy, and Quinn—alongside Mortimer. They make their way to a random tent where the clowns are waiting.

"I'm so jazzed you decided to show up! I love this goddamn game. Gets me all wet inside," the main clown exclaims with twisted laughter, causing the four participants to cringe uncomfortably at his inappropriate and unsettling remark. 

"The first person to complete the four challenges wins," the main clown explains, setting the premise for the upcoming tests. Meanwhile, Liv and Quinn are tied to one of the spinning wheels, adding a sense of danger and suspense to their situation. However, it turns out that the clowns won't throw knives at them, relieving them from any immediate harm. Meanwhile, Mindy and Wes proceed to the first challenge, ready to face whatever awaits them.

In the first challenge, the game station presents a classic guessing game of finding the cup that contains the ball. As Mindy and Wes prepare themselves, the main clown initiates the game, while another clown shows the location of the ball to the participants briefly before swiftly mixing the cups.

After careful observation, Mindy confidently selects one of the cups, and to her delight, it contains the ball. Her correct guess allows her to advance to the next challenge. On the other hand, Wes makes an incorrect guess, resulting in him getting pied in the face by a clown with a pie. Undeterred, Wes bravely decides to try again and takes another shot at guessing the cup with the ball.

In the next challenge, Mindy is faced with the task of eating five whole hotdogs. Though she struggles a bit, she manages to finish her first hotdog with determination. Meanwhile, Wes takes his second guess in the previous challenge, hoping for a correct answer. Unfortunately, he is pied in the face once again, increasing the tension and making Liv nervous about what lies ahead for her turn.

Despite the difficulty, Mindy persists in the hotdog challenge. She decides to add ketchup and mustard to her second hotdog, hoping that the flavors will help her swallow it down. With determination, she forces the hotdog into her mouth and manages to eat it whole, although the experience makes her feel a bit queasy and causes her to gag momentarily. Meanwhile, Wes gives the cup game another shot and successfully guesses correctly, allowing him to move on to the next challenge, relieved to have made progress.

Mindy, after consuming her third hotdog, takes a momentary break to gather herself and process the food she has already eaten. However, the challenge becomes overwhelming, and she gags, almost reaching the point of throwing up. She manages to hold it in, fighting off the urge to vomit. Meanwhile, Wes starts eating his first hotdog, while Liv and Quinn offer support and encouragement to their respective partners, hoping to uplift their spirits in the midst of the intense challenge.

Wes swiftly finishes his first hotdog and moves on to his second, making good progress in the challenge. Meanwhile, Mindy perseveres and consumes her fourth hotdog, determined to catch up. However, Wes has already advanced to his third hotdog by the time Mindy finishes her fourth, showcasing his faster pace. 

As Mindy tackles her fourth hotdog, she notices that Wes is already on his fourth as well. Despite the overwhelming quantity of hotdogs, Wes pushes himself to consume them, driven by the determination to protect Liv and avoid the guilt of potentially endangering her life. The weight of the challenge and its consequences fuels Wes to push through the physical discomfort and exhaustion, focusing on the goal of completing the task.

Wes successfully finishes his fourth hotdog and proceeds to his fifth, determined to complete the challenge and progress to the next stage. Meanwhile, Mindy completes her fourth hotdog and starts on her fifth, catching up to Wes. As Wes moves on to the chicken-tossing game, he attempts to toss a chicken into a basket. Unfortunately, he misses, which could potentially work in Mindy's favor, providing her with an opportunity to close the gap between them in the overall challenge.

Mindy perseveres and manages to finish eating her fifth hotdog, achieving parity with Wes in the hotdog challenge. With her task completed, she moves on to the chicken-tossing game where Wes had been struggling. Mindy joins Wes at the challenge, ready to give it her best shot and potentially make up for lost time.

Wes continues to make attempts to get the chicken into the basket, but despite his efforts, he fails to succeed. Likewise, Mindy also struggles to accomplish the task, finding it challenging to secure the chicken in the basket. The two participants remain neck and neck, their progress closely matched. Liv and Quinn, their partners, watch on nervously, their own emotions reflecting the intensity of the competition unfolding before them.

As Wes continues to struggle with the chicken-tossing challenge, Mindy suddenly manages to succeed, landing the chicken in the basket successfully. Her unexpected triumph fills her with a burst of energy and determination as she moves on to the final challenge. Quinn cheers excitedly for Mindy's achievement, while Liv's expression reflects her growing fear and nervousness. 

As Mindy reaches the throw at the pins challenge, she witnesses Wes still struggling with the third chicken-tossing challenge. However, Mindy doesn't waste any time in the throw-at-the-pins challenge. Despite a few missed attempts, she quickly finds her rhythm and skillfully knocks down all the pins. The accomplishment triggers the unlocking of the artifact, marking Mindy's victory. Liv watches with wide eyes, her fear mounting, and she pleads for her life to the clowns, desperate for mercy. Wes, disappointed in himself for not progressing further, reflects on his own performance, feeling a sense of letdown.

"We have a winner!" the clown exclaims, and the entire troupe of clowns joins in the cheer, creating a jubilant atmosphere. Mindy, filled with a mix of relief and triumph, rushes to the artifact to replace the missing piece in the Jack-in-the-box. 

"And better yet, a loser!" the clown exclaims, tauntingly. As Liv pleads and cries desperately to the clown, it callously stabs her repeatedly in the side. Meanwhile, Mindy manages to successfully replace the heads on the Jack-in-the-box, triggering a change in the clown's demeanor. Finally, the clown disappears, leaving behind a sense of relief. Wes, unable to bear witnessing Liv's lifeless body, holds his head in his arms, overwhelmed by grief and shock.

As Mindy hands the Jack-in-the-box to Mortimer, she notices a note in her hand. Mindy and Wes rush over to Quinn and quickly untie her from the spinning wheel. With their freed companion, they make a swift escape, running back to rejoin the rest of the group, carrying the weight of their recent ordeal.

They enter the lounge, and the group is greeted by the shocking sight of someone who has died. Quinn immediately goes over to Ethan, embracing him tightly, seeking solace in his presence. As the others take in the scene, various emotions swirl throughout the room—guilt, sadness, confusion, and surprise. Mindy places the Artifact on the table, a heavy reminder of the challenges they faced and the sacrifices made along the way.

Before Mindy puts the Artifact away on one of the shelves, she takes a moment to gather the group's attention. Holding the note she found with the Jack-in-the-box, she addresses the group, "I also found this note. It says not everyone in town is telling the truth." As Mindy's words sink in, confusion spreads across the faces of the group, their eyes darting between one another, questioning the veracity of their shared experiences and the true nature of the town they find themselves in.

"What if it's one of us..." Tara's question hangs in the air, causing the group to exchange even more skeptical glances. Sam, in particular, appears guilty, aware of the implications of the note and the unfolding events. The trust within the group begins to waver as they grapple with the possibility that someone among them may not be truthful, intensifying the atmosphere of suspicion and uncertainty.

(Author's Note: Are you shocked by Liv's death? Do you think she deserved to die? Was the voting fair? In your opinion, was Quinn or Liv weaker? Will Quinn be able to prove herself? An episode will be posted on Saturday since I'm busy tomorrow.)