One year to write one chapter. Wow, that's sad. But hey, at least I kept my word! I'm determined to finish this!
Heroi Oscura - If Harold, or anyone else for that matter, had not played dirty by deliberately causing people to fall off their circles, I can guarantee that Noah would definitely have made it farther. Too bad poor Harold was just too emotional :( Yeah, i tried to experiment with different things not discovered in the movie just to give this fic some more intense moments, such as the shoving people off circles thing. I'm glad you liked how I handled that Izzy situation tho :D
ComplicatedYetSituation - Oops I forgot to add the remaining survivors list in the previous chapter. I'll put it down below. I am really interested to hear your predictions! Even if you don't want to share them until maybe your character has already died or smth, please let me know eventually :D And I know I've said this before, but thanks again so much for sticking around! It means a lot :)
Guest #1 and #2 - Unfortunately, I don't think there will be another new fic from me after Circle is finished. Continuing and finishing fics is just quite a hard thing for me to do, especially with a fandom i'm slowly losing interest in :( If you'd really be interested in such a premise, I strongly encourage you to have a go and write those fics up tho!
Yolotsin Xochitl - Well in a story where only one person will live in the end, hearts are definitely going to break :( but i'm glad you're enjoying it.
Ap7es - Thanks so much! Yes, i will definitely finish it! I've already got the last chapter planned which i'm super excited for.
Guest #3,#4,#5 - here's to you guys! Happy reading.
ALIVE:
Ezekiel
Eva
Gwen
Courtney
Alejandro
Heather
Justin
Brick
Dakota
Mike
Zoey
Cameron
Anne Maria
B
Sky
Dave
Max
Jasmine
Shawn
Rodney
Wow. That was not expected.
"No no no not again!" Gwen cried out as she remembered how her exes Duncan and Trent died in a similar way. "Stop pushing each other!"
I guess that's one less person in the way.
The goth released a cry of anger as the entire circle erupted into a violent argument against Harold's actions.
Though you aren't exactly going to save yourself by shoving someone else and dying in the process, Harold you dweeb.
"Everyone just SHUT UP!" Eva yelled and a fearful silence promptly followed. "YOU'RE HURTING MY HEAD!"
That didn't stop Jasmine from voicing her thoughts for long. "Oi, don't talk to us like that, mate. We're all on edge, yeah? We've just seen how unpredictable some of us can be."
Cameron started shaking his head and whimpered, "After seeing two cases of sabotage, how can… how can we trust-"
The bubble boy suddenly stopped talking as if he was worried that everyone would accuse him.
"Never mind." he rubbed his arm.
"No no, you've got a point. What's to stop more people from breaking down and just shoving down the people around them?! Or, or, or just deliberately knocking down others?" Jasmine explained.
That freakish giant is right. I've still got people on their circles right around me, and that huge farm boy behind me looks like he could throw me across the room with one flick of his fingers. And I'm not exactly the most popular person here. I really am not safe.
"Oh ah nah, ain't nobody better touch me!" Anne Maria glared at the people around her.
"We all want to get out of here and live, but we don't have to play dirty." Jasmine finished.
Courtney scoffed so loudly it made the people around her jump. "Dirty? Oh, I'm sorry did you want to have a fair game?"
"..."
"Is it fair that pregnant girl gets a better chance of life than us? No! Absolutely not! I don't know if you realise, we're not exactly in a fair situation either! And I don't know if you think you can reason with these damn fools but we're all going to do whatever it takes to win. Whatever it takes."
I never expected anything less from you Courtney. You've always been so predictable on the show and now even here.
"Look, I get that." Jasmine replied with growing frustration. "I'm just saying that this may be our last moments for a good chunk of us. Let us just have this without the extra tension between us all."
A few others verbally agreed to this but not everyone was convinced.
"And what? 'Enjoy our last moments together'?!" Courtney mocked. "You all need to face reality: everybody, except for one, is going to die!"
"Oh, shut up Courtney!" Eva raged, and a few other contestants started arguing with the CIT.
"I know that!" Jasmine crossed her arms. "I'm just saying this sitch doesn't need to turn us into… into monsters."
"Is that what I am to you? A freaking monster?!" Courtney yelled. "You really think I'm going to do what that dweeb Harold did, huh?"
"With that fiery temper of yours, I'd keep an eye on you, yeah." Jasmine shot back vociferously.
"Everyone, at ease! At ease! We all need to calm down." Brick interjected. "Let's just move-"
ZAAAAPPPP
Thud.
Wait, what? Was that another round already?
The sound of another lifeless body brought the whole circle to a tense silence. Everyone looked to the poor victim.
"..."
"..."
"Oh… oh my… Sh-SHHAWNNN." Jasmine screamed. "WHY?! You wankers! Why would you vote for my Shawn?!"
Jasmine fell into a squat and started sobbing. For the remaining survivors, it was absolutely jarring to see how the Australian gal had gone from a strong, logical exterior, to a vulnerable crying wreck because of one specific person's death.
"He never did anything to you. Courtney, why would you-" the Australian started accusing.
"I'm going to stop you right there. Look I'm sorry for your loss, but it wasn't me." Courtney stated matter-of-factly. "In fact, I… forgot to vote."
So did I… and from the looks of their faces, it looks like most of us didn't vote.
"I guess it was a random vote then." Sky commented quietly as she tried not to look at the body of her former team mate. [1]
There was a grave silence of respect particularly among the remaining Pahkitew cast for most had liked Shawn.
"We're dwindling down like flies." Max commented.
Yeah you don't say, Captain Obvious? In case you haven't noticed, we've been killing each other off for the last few hours!
Sky, Dave, Rodney and a teary-eyed Jasmine looked at the strange purple-haired boy before automatically making eye contact with each other.
Or… maybe… did he mean the Pahkoo-whatever people were dwindling? In that case… oh man, this could be our advantage. If we hold the Pahkitew cast as hostage for their votes, we could get rid of that pregnant famemonger.
"So Courtney, I'm assuming them next?" Alejandro jerked his head towards Max.
And... of course Alejandro read my mind.
The Spaniard tried to keep a poker face to give off an extremely calm exterior. However, unbeknownst to everyone, with every proposal he made to the group, with every plan he conspired, Alejandro's heart was beating rapidly. He knew he had to take risks to make it far, including suggesting some awful things. But he was also aware that one risk too many could be his downfall. He had to play things right: pretend to be on the side of whoever the Alpha was at the moment, and manipulate the group into his bidding at the same time.
"Uhm… them? Them who?" Max asked genuinely confused.
Courtney scoffed. "Don't talk to me as if I'm now leading the group and telling them who to vote for! Do you hear me, Alejandro? I don't need you to use me to manipulate the votes only to throw me under the bus when the time comes."
Shut up Courtney, just play along you imbecile. Oh man, not many people are going to want to listen to Alejandro after that.
Alejandro gritted his teeth. He just wanted Courtney to play along, not psycho-analyse and expose him to everyone like that. The spaniard's instinct was telling him to back down. To apologise and stay passive to the drama within the circle from now on. But he had to get farther in the game. He had to.
"Lo siento. I apologise. I suppose you all know that manipulation is in my DNA." Alejandro tried to look as guilty and contrite as possible. "But what I propose next is for the betterment of those remaining."
Before anyone could notice, Alejandro stole a quick glance to Dakota before focusing on the Pahkitew survivors. The Latino calculated the situation very carefully. So far, the third generation cast had collectively been against voting for Dakota. Forcing them to vote for her would just cause the targets to be hostile against Alejandro - that was the last thing he wanted after Courtney's little outburst.
Though he hated to admit it, the posse for the pregnant girl still held the majority over the few left who wanted to kill her off. In that split moment, Alejandro decided that the best thing to do would be to use the Pahkitew islanders to dwindle the numbers in the pro-Dakota bloc. That way there'd come a time when those in favour of eliminating Dakota would gain the majority and... succeed.
"To the Pahkitew contestants, I urge you to vote for," Alejandro's gaze fell on the first person he saw. "Zoey."
Zoey? What? Why not Dakota?
"Huh?" The red-head straightened her spine.
"What?" Mike exclaimed.
"Why the heck would we do that?!" A teary-eyed Jasmine asked venomously.
"For your lives of course."
The Pahkitew cast began to mumble amongst each other.
"If Zoey isn't eliminated next round, I'll have my people vote for your entire Pahkitew group. And I'm sure that many others would be more than happy to vote for people that they barely know out of their conscience, whether they have been aligning with me this whole time or not." Alejandro explained.
The said targets were dumbstruck in fear.
"No, please don't vote for my girlfriend! There's nothing holding you back from voting for Alejandro with us!"
"..."
"Why… yes, I suppose you could." Alejandro slyly said. "...If you're willing to risk your lives."
"But there are more of us than there are more of them!" Mike tried to argue.
"Are you truly willing to bet your own life on that chance?" The Spaniard knew that what Mike was saying was true but he had to foster a sense of doubt; a sense of fear. Alejandro decided to take another risk.
"Yes, I confess that my goal is to ultimately rid Dakota. Her pregnancy means that her chances of survival far outweigh our own survival - your survival. And in this game, there should be equal odds, no?" Alejandro licked his lips. Was he getting through to them? "Now I understand that her elimination would be harder to carry out than someone who is not carrying a child. That is why I'm not asking that you vote for Dakota. I am asking that you vote for Zoey. You don't want to vote out a pregnant girl? Fine. We will do the dirty work. But I know you all want to live. This is the winning move that will let you live!"
"..."
This is seriously beginning to sound like some sort of sick presidential debate.
"Or…,"
Beep
"… you can choose not to heed to my words. You can risk your lives."
The Pahkitew contestants looked at each other in fear.
Beep
Zoey looked at the Circle in fear as tears pooled in her eyes. Cameron's lip started quivering and Mike began wailing.
"Please no."
Beep beep
Alejandro is sweating like crazy. Is this random new plan really going to work?
Beep beep beep
In those few seconds when the timer began to end, Alejandro regretted his decision immediately. It was a risk too far. He thought he could use their fear to his advantage. But he had been exposed and everyone was sick of his manipulation - he knew it. Alejandro turned to look at Heather, hoping that was the last thing he'd ever see was her beautiful-
"Oh thank goodness," he heard Zoey breathe. The round was over. Instead, Alejandro and Zoey were in a column of bright yellow light.
"Hey they're tied!" Dave exclaimed in relief. "He can't use that threat anymore, 'cuz they can't vote for us!"
Oh no. This is bad. This is really really bad. Alejandro is a goner. There's nothing else he can do. They're going to vote him, and, and, he's-
Alejandro caught Heather's gaze in fear and desperation. There was perhaps one last thing he could do to gain some sort of empathy from everyone, the very seed he and Heather had been planting from the start.
Plan B.
If he was being honest with himself, Alejandro didn't think this was going to work. Nobody cared about them anymore. But he had to try; not for his sake but for Heather's…
"I… I suppose this is the end." Alejandro said in what felt like a murmur-like announcement. After all, he had to sell this plan but he also didn't want it to be obviously staged.
Sell the act Alejandro, we can do it.
"Mi amor, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for not being the best that I can be, that this sick game has degraded me to do unspeakable acts. I'm sorry that this is who you agreed to marry. But I am so grateful to this universe for sending me an angel like you to be with me. I know I we had that whole wedding in January planned out, but if I am going to die right now, I want the last thing to remember to be some semblance of our ceremony."
That certainly caught the attention of the circle.
I know he's faking this - playing the pity card, hopefully buying us time. But Alejandro don't say that. It feels so real.
"Heather Allison Chan, will you take me to be your husband?"
"Alejandro, of course I do. But please, please, don't say that. You're going to be okay,"
"I would kiss you if I could-"
"January?" Jasmine piped.
Alejandro flinched but continued anyway, "I love you so much."
"Hang on," Jasmine wiped the tears from her eyes. "I thought you said you were going to be married in-"
"Who the heck cares?!" Eva grunted as she - though she'd never admit it - stifled a tear.
"Shut up!" Courtney interrupted before Jasmine could finish. "Alejandro when did you say you were going to be married again?"
Oh no.
"Courtney please, let him have this." Heather let herself cry more. She needed to sell this.
Let us have this.
"No, no, no, I need to hear this. Something doesn't add up."
Alejandro chuckled in disbelief. "Surely you're not serious? Interrupting me in what may be my last moments with Heather?"
"When was your original wedding?!" Courtney yelled.
August. I said August right? Come on Alejandro, I said August.
"...I misspoke. We wanted our ceremony during the festive season didn't we? In December, right mi amor?."
"..."
"I thought it was in August." Jasmine crossed her arms.
Dammit Alejandro!
"Alejandro,I don't care when we were going to be married. I just want to be with-"
"I can't believe it! This whole marriage was just a rouse!" Gwen spat out as she put two and two together. "I bet they were never engaged! This was just another classic Alejandro/Heather scheme to get themselves further in the game as usual!"
Beep
"You know what? I'm sick of their manipulation both in the real world and in here. It's time we voted them out." Gwen shook her head as she let her emotions override her moral compass.
Mike and Zoey audibly sighed a breath of relief.
We failed. I can't believe it.
"Esto no es broma! Be reasonable, please!" Alejandro pleaded. And that was the first time since the unspeakable volcano incident that he opened himself up to his fear. It was an alien look that felt like it belonged to a different body.
"The vote's are decided." Gwen stated darkly and closed her fist.
Most of the contestants had already casted their votes but before the majority could finish, a certain CIT spoke up.
"I'm sorry guys but I'm still holding to what I said back before Leshawna, Lightning and that other guy. It's better if we don't vote in a tie."
"What?" Cameron yelled. "But you saw what happened with Jo and Lindsay. If you don't vote in a tie, the orb is just going to kill both of them!"
"Yes." Courtney blinked. "That's the point."
"You'd be killing my girlfriend!" Mike wailed.
Courtney shrugged. "Then I'm sorry. Really, I am."
Beep.
"After all Zoey did for you in All Stars, you would mercilessly kill her off like that?" Mike argued with tears in his eyes.
"M-M-Mike, i-it's okay." Zoey wiped her eyes and smiled at her boyfriend. "It's probably better this way."
"Huh? What are you-"
Beep beep beep
"Only one of us can live anyway. This'll give you a chance, Mike. This will give you a chance without having to worry about me."
Mike's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could she just be okay with such an unspeakable act?! "No, no, Zoey you need a chance too! You-"
Beepbeepbeepbeep
"Mike, it's okay." The redhead said lovingly before smiling sadly at a bawling bubble boy, "Stay strong, Cam."
Alejandro, I love—
In the split second before the orb proceeded to make its kill, Alejandro calculated the next best move.
Four zaps beamed out of the orb in that last moment. The first ended Zoey's life instantly. The second missed its target into the void of darkness as Alejandro leapt off his circle and pushed Heather off of her platform. The third killed the Spaniard as he lay on top of Heather on the cold glass floor. The fourth…
…it missed Heather and struck Alejandro again.
Heather barely registered what happened as she was pulled into the abyss of darkness with Alejandro's corpse on top of her.
DEAD:
Shawn
Alejandro
Heather?
ALIVE:
Ezekiel
Eva
Gwen
Courtney
Justin
Brick
Dakota
Mike
Zoey
Cameron
Anne Maria
B
Sky
Dave
Max
Jasmine
Rodney
A/N:
Yeahhhh that was a lot of Alejandro this chapter sorry. I hope I did the characterisation justice, please let me know how I can improve character interactions, thoughts, etc.
I experimented this chapter and tried to incorporate another point of view to mix with the general third person tone so that's why it's styled a bit differently. Please let me know if I don't convey some of my reasonings behind Alejandro's actions very well and if you need me to clear anything up, I'll explain in a PM.
So… Heather's still alive but she's now dragged out of the circle. Will we see her again? Or will she suffer a fate like that of Izzy's? Find out next time, on another chapter of…. CIRCLE!
[1] If you don't remember, in the earlier chapters, the contestants were experimenting with the voting process and found that if the whole circle doesn't vote, the orb generates a random kill.