Chapter Text
Christina stepped forward, gesturing to the large TV screen that had just appeared behind her, showcasing a colorful spinning wheel. "Alright, campers! Here’s how today’s challenge works. We’ll have two contestants from each team competing head-to-head in four different Olympic-style games: Long Jump, Shotput, Archery, and the classic 100-meter race."
Jackson chimed in, grinning mischievously. "But here’s the twist: You don’t get to choose who competes. That’s up to..." He paused dramatically before gesturing toward the screen. "The Wheel of Discontent!"
The wheel spun with a whirring sound, displaying the names of each contestant. A mix of excitement and nervousness washed over the campers as they realized their fate rested in the hands of this unpredictable wheel.
Maya raised her hand cautiously, catching the hosts' attention. "Uh, quick question. Since Isabella got voted out last episode, doesn't that mean there's an unbalanced number of people for the challenge?"
Jackson nodded, expecting the question. "Good eye, Maya! You're right. Since the Chrono Challengers are down one player, here's how it's gonna work: for the 100-meter race, one person from your team will go head-to-head against an extra player from the Temporal Travellers. Simple as that."
Christina added, "Don't worry, we keep things...fairly unfair around here." She winked, earning a few chuckles and nervous glances from the contestants.
"So," Jackson began with forced enthusiasm, "who's ready to spin?"
The contestants stared blankly, none of them raising a hand or saying a word, the silence growing awkward.
Jackson sighed dramatically, dropping his shoulders. "Okay, tough crowd," he muttered under his breath. Christina chuckled at his discomfort and, without waiting for any more awkward pauses, spun the wheel herself.
"Let’s see who’s up first!" she said, smiling as the wheel whirled around on the screen.
The wheel spun for what felt like an eternity, keeping everyone on edge. Jackson, clearly enjoying the tension, grinned widely.
"And the Chrono Challengers' first victim—uh, I mean, player is..." He paused for dramatic effect as the wheel slowly clicked into place.
"Raj!"
The shy boy sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping as he got to his feet. A few of his teammates gave him pats on the back, but it was clear Raj wasn’t thrilled about being the first one up.
Christina eagerly spun the wheel again. "Next up!" she called out as the contestants anxiously watched it spin. The wheel whirred for a few moments before finally landing on a name.
"Maya!" Christina announced with a grin.
Maya jumped up, cheering excitedly. She rushed over to Raj, throwing her arms around him in a sudden hug. "Yes! We got this!" she celebrated, clearly happy to be teamed with him.
Raj, on the other hand, stood frozen in place, his face turning bright red from the unexpected affection. He awkwardly nodded, unsure of how to react, while the rest of the team watched with varying degrees of amusement.
Diego, clearly impatient, called out, "Can we hurry this up already?"
Jackson shot him a glare, "You can’t rush art, Diego."
Christina smirked at Jackson’s response, chiming in, "Speaking of art..." She spun the wheel yet again, the whirring filling the air as everyone waited for the next contestant.
After a few moments, it stopped on Sofia’s name.
"Sofia!" Christina announced with enthusiasm.
Sofia grinned, clapping excitedly. "Let’s go!" she cheered, clearly pumped for the challenge.
Sofia handed her pet lizard to Luna, smiling. "Take care of her for me, alright?"
Luna nodded, holding the lizard gently. "Got it."
Sofia rushed up to join the hosts, full of energy. As she approached, Jackson smirked, "And the second player for the Temporal Travellers is... Diego!"
Diego gasped, eyes wide. "Wait, you didn’t even spin the wheel!"
Jackson shrugged with a sly grin, "I don’t need to. It’s called intuition."
The other campers snickered at the exchange, while Diego begrudgingly walked up to the stage, clearly annoyed but accepting his fate.
"Let's head to our first game!" Christina declared with a dramatic flourish, leading the campers to the archery range. The targets were lined up at varying distances, each one painted with bright, colorful rings. The campers stared at them, already feeling the pressure of hitting their mark.
"I think everyone knows how this works," Christina continued, motioning towards the targets. "But I'll explain it just in case. Each team must get a combined total of 60 points to win the game. You’ll take turns shooting three arrows each, and the closer you get to the center, the higher your score."
There were nods around the group, some more confident than others. Diego crossed his arms, wearing his usual smirk, while Raj looked like he was already psyching himself out.
Mateo, ever the loudmouth, piped up from the back, "Sounds easy enough." He flashed a cocky grin, arms crossed as if he was already imagining himself as an archery champ.
Christina’s face twisted into a devilish smile, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Is it now?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. Everyone could sense she was about to drop some bad news. "Because I forgot to mention one little detail..." She paused dramatically, enjoying the suspense. "The contestants will be blindfolded!"
The campers collectively groaned. Some jaws dropped in shock, while others glared directly at Mateo. Raj visibly flinched at the thought, already imagining the humiliation.
Mateo's cocky grin faded as he realized the gravity of what he’d just done. He raised his hands defensively, trying to avoid the angry glares. "My bad, guys. Totally my bad," he muttered, looking genuinely remorseful.
Keisha rolled her eyes with an exasperated sigh. "Seriously, Mateo?" she snapped, while Katelyn facepalmed.
Jamal, trying to lighten the mood, shrugged. "Well, I guess this is one way to test our skills. Or luck, at least." He glanced at the archery set-up again, looking much less optimistic than before.
Christina gave one final smug look, stepping back as the challenge setup continued. "Good luck," she added, her tone almost mocking. "You’ll need it."
Jackson chimed in with a chuckle, holding up a bucket full of blindfolds. "Let’s see if anyone hits the target, or if we should just call this a ‘wild shot in the dark.’” He tossed a blindfold to each contestant, watching their reactions with a gleeful smirk.
Sofia, standing next to Diego, nudged him with her elbow. "Hope you're ready for this," she said, trying to stay upbeat.
Diego, clearly irritated by the blindfold twist, rolled his eyes. "Blindfolded archery? This is ridiculous."
Raj, now sweating a little, adjusted his glasses before reluctantly removing them and securing the blindfold over his eyes. "I’ve got a bad feeling about this," he muttered.
As the contestants stood at the line, blindfolds securely fastened, Jackson and Christina took their places to observe, grinning like they were about to witness chaos unfold. "Let’s get this show on the road!" Jackson announced.
The scene was set. Blindfolded and armed with arrows, the campers prepared for what was shaping up to be a chaotic and unpredictable first game in their Olympian Odyssey challenge.
"Start!" Jackson’s voice boomed, and the players immediately fumbled for their bows, blindfolds tightly secured, arrows clutched awkwardly in their hands. The tension was thick as they tried to orient themselves in the right direction.
Arrows whizzed past the targets, some flying off into the trees, while others barely grazed the edge of the board. It was pure chaos. The sound of arrows missing their mark filled the air, followed by frustrated groans and mutters of disbelief.
“Uh... Raj? You're aiming at the ground," Maya whispered, trying to guide him while suppressing a giggle.
"Great... just great," Raj muttered nervously as he adjusted his position, aiming slightly higher, though he had no idea where his arrow would land.
Then, suddenly, a sharp *thunk* echoed across the range.
"Sofia hits the first shot!" Jackson announced enthusiastically, his voice echoing through the field. The sound of her arrow hitting the target sent cheers from the Temporal Travellers.
"Yes! Way to go, Sofia!" Mateo shouted from the sideline, his voice filled with excitement.
Jamal, always the team player, cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "C'mon, guys! You can do this! Just focus!"
Raj, however, was feeling the pressure. “We’re already behind! This is not good!” he said, his voice a mix of anxiety and determination.
“Just take your time!” Maya encouraged, positioning herself beside him. “Feel where the target is and listen for the sound. You can do this!”
Raj took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nerves. He pulled back on the bowstring, steadying himself. With Maya’s support, he felt a little more confident.
As he released the arrow, it flew through the air, hitting the target with a satisfying *thunk*. “I did it!” he shouted, a grin spreading across his face.
“Nice one, Raj!” Maya cheered, clapping him on the back. “That’s how you do it!”
Diego, on the other hand, wasn’t going to let Raj's success go unchecked. With a smirk, he aimed his arrow, mentally focusing on the sound of Maya and Raj’s excitement. He released, and his arrow struck the target as well.
“Diego scores! This is getting interesting!” Jackson exclaimed, adding fuel to the competitive fire.
The crowd erupted with cheers for both teams, each player striving to outdo the other. With their scores now tied, it was anyone's game as they entered the next round of this archery challenge.
As the game continued, the tension in the air was palpable. The scoreboard flashed the scores, and the excitement of the audience was electric. The Temporal Travellers were just one point away from victory, while the Chrono Challengers lagged three points behind.
“Diego, Sofia, you’re one point away! You can do this!” Tyrese shouted, pumping his fist in encouragement, his enthusiasm contagious as the rest of the Temporal Travellers joined in with cheers, rallying behind their teammates.
“Just focus, you got this!” Layla added, her tone almost teasing, but her eyes were filled with competitive spirit.
On the other side, Raj was a bundle of nerves. “I—I can’t do this… we’re gonna lose!” His voice was shaky, and he was hyperventilating, clearly overwhelmed by the pressure of the moment.
Maya, feeling the weight of Raj's anxiety, stepped closer to him. “Raj, listen to me,” she urged, her voice firm but gentle. “Even if we lose this round, we still have three other games left. We can’t give up now!”
But despite her best efforts, Raj’s eyes were wide with fear. He couldn’t seem to shake off the negative thoughts swirling in his mind. “What if I miss? What if we get eliminated?” His voice trembled as he spoke, each word dripping with doubt.
Maya frowned, frustration bubbling up inside her. “Just try to breathe, okay? You’re a good shot! Just focus on the target!” She turned away, shaking her head slightly as she resumed shooting. An arrow flew from her bow, hitting the target but only earning a single point.
Raj watched her, guilt gnawing at him for letting his team down. The cheers from the Temporal Travellers echoed in his ears, serving as a reminder of how close they were to victory. He knew he needed to step up, but the fear was paralyzing.
“C’mon, Raj! We need you!” Jamal called out, sensing Raj's struggle. “Just take it one shot at a time. You can do this!”
With a shaky breath, Raj forced himself to focus on the target. He didn’t want to let his team down, but the anxiety weighed heavily on him. He grabbed an arrow, heart pounding as he tried to calm himself.
“Okay, okay… just one more shot,” he whispered to himself, feeling the support of his teammates surround him. This was for them, after all.
He took aim, his hands trembling slightly, and with a deep breath, he released the arrow. Time seemed to slow as it flew through the air, landing with a *thunk* against the target.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Raj’s shot scored a point, bringing them closer to the finish line. Maya whooped in excitement, turning to him with a bright smile. “See? You did it! We’re not out yet!”
Realizing they were still in the game, Raj felt a spark of determination igniting within him. Maybe they could pull through after all.
Raj's moment of celebration was abruptly interrupted as Sofia’s arrow hit the target with a resounding thud. The scoreboard flashed, and the announcer's voice boomed, “The Temporal Travellers win the first game!” Cheers erupted from the winning team, their excitement palpable as they celebrated their victory.
Sofia jumped up and down, her teammates gathering around her, high-fiving and exchanging enthusiastic shouts. Diego threw an arm around her shoulders, beaming with pride. “I knew we could do it! We make a pretty good team!”
Meanwhile, Maya turned to Raj, who stood there, his expression a mix of disappointment and disbelief. She quickly wrapped him in a warm hug, her enthusiasm radiating off her. “You did your best, Raj! I’m proud of you!”
Raj, still getting used to affection, felt a warmth spread through him at her words. He muttered a small, “Thanks,” his cheeks flushing slightly. He wasn’t quite sure how to handle the praise, but it felt nice to have someone recognize his effort, even if they had lost this round.
“C’mon, don’t look so down! There are still three games left!” Jamal chimed in, clapping Raj on the back. “We can bounce back from this. Let’s regroup and strategize for the next game.”
Raj nodded, trying to shake off the feeling of defeat. He took a deep breath, determined to channel his nerves into something productive. “Yeah, you’re right. We can still win this.”
As the Temporal Travellers continued their celebrations, the Chrono Challengers gathered in a huddle to discuss their next steps. The first game may have been lost, but they had a chance to turn things around.
“Let’s take a short break, gather yourselves, and discuss your plans! I’m going to get myself some coffee,” Christina announced with a wave before striding off, leaving the contestants to regroup.
As the contestants gathered for the next game, a buzz of anticipation filled the air, mixed with a touch of anxiety. The Chrono Challengers were hopeful that the wheel would select their two strongest players this time. Jamal, Aisha, and Malik exchanged glances, weighing their options as they leaned in closer to discuss strategy.
“We need to get Jamal and Malik up there; they’ve got the best chance at the long jump,” Aisha said, her voice filled with determination. Jamal nodded, glancing around at their teammates, who were whispering among themselves. Keisha sat off to the side, scrolling through her phone, seemingly unconcerned with the upcoming challenge. “Keisha should step it up too,” Malik added, crossing his arms. “She might surprise us if she focuses.”
On the other side, the Temporal Travelers were in a similar state of speculation, eager to see who would be chosen next. Diego, who had already played in the last game, leaned against a nearby wall, his expression confident yet mischievous. “I hope they don’t pick someone weak,” he smirked, eyeing the wheel with a mix of excitement and impatience. With Maya also out of the running, the rest of the team needed to rally around their strongest members.
“Honestly, I’m rooting for Kaitlyn and Tyrese,” Luna chimed in, looking over at her teammates. “They’ve got the speed and strength we need to take this round.” As the group discussed their chances, Layla added her two cents, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, if we get stuck with the weaklings again, we’ll just have to rely on Mateo’s… unique talents,” she said, rolling her eyes at the thought of the prankster’s antics.
As the tension built, the contestants couldn’t help but wonder who the wheel would pick next. They all knew how crucial this round was, especially after the Temporal Travelers had already gained an advantage. Each team was desperate for a win, and the pressure was palpable as they awaited their fate.
Christina and Jackson strolled back onto the stage, each holding their drinks—Christina cradled a warm latte while Jackson sipped on a cool frappe. Their presence instantly drew the contestants’ attention, the anticipation in the air thickening as they prepared for the next round of competition.
“So, who’s ready to leap?” Christina announced with enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the contestants. The energy in the crowd shifted; everyone shifted nervously, their minds racing with the potential outcomes of the upcoming challenge.
Jackson leaned forward, grinning widely. “Get ready, because the wheel of discontent is about to spin again! Let’s see which two lucky players will represent each team in the long jump!”
The contestants exchanged hopeful glances, each silently praying for their strongest members to be selected. Jamal, Malik, Aisha, and Keisha huddled together, whispering their strategies while Raj fidgeted nearby, clearly still anxious about his performance in the last round.
“Just remember, it’s all about technique!” Aisha said, trying to boost the group’s morale. “If we can nail the approach, we can make a good jump.”
Across the way, the Temporal Travelers were also strategizing. “Javier and Tyrese should be our best options,” Diego insisted, crossing his arms as he leaned back against the wall, confident in their abilities. “We need them to nail this jump!”
Christina raised her hands dramatically. “Okay, let’s not keep you in suspense any longer! It’s time to spin!”
The wheel of discontent appeared on the large screen, its colorful segments flashing as the contestants watched intently. With a dramatic flourish, Christina spun the wheel, and it began to turn, slowly at first, then gaining momentum.
“Come on, come on!” Kaden whispered, biting his lip in anticipation.
The wheel whirred and clicked, the names of the contestants blurring together as it spun. Jackson leaned in, excitement mounting, his voice rising with each passing second. “And the first contestant for the Chrono Challengers is…”
The wheel began to slow down, ticking past several names before finally landing on Kaden. A wave of cheers erupted from the Chrono Challengers, and Kaden blinked in surprise, relief and anxiety washing over him.
“Nice! Kaden, you’ve got this!” Malik cheered, clapping him on the back.
With the first contestant chosen, Christina spun the wheel again for the Temporal Travelers. The names flew by, each one a blur of color and possibility. The contestants held their breath, their eyes glued to the spinning wheel.
“And the second player for the Temporal Travelers is…” Jackson announced, the wheel slowing down dramatically, suspense hanging in the air. It clicked to a stop, landing on Layla.
She crossed her arms, an eyebrow raised as she took a deep breath, a hint of annoyance flitting across her face. Despite her initial reluctance, she shrugged and stepped forward, ready to give it her all.
“Looks like we have our players!” Jackson called out, grinning at the group. “Kaden and Malik for the Chrono Challengers, and Layla and Tyrese for the Temporal Travelers!”
With the contestants selected, the teams gathered at the starting line, their spirits high as they prepared for the challenge ahead. The sound of cheers and encouragement filled the air, setting the stage for what promised to be an exhilarating round of competition.
“Let’s head to the set!” Jackson exclaimed, leading the teams toward the long jump area. The medium-sized sand pit loomed ahead, its surface glistening under the bright sun, a reminder of the challenge that lay before them.
As they approached, the contestants could see the measuring tape stretched out, ready to track their jumps. The tension in the air was palpable, each competitor aware that this could be a defining moment in the competition. Jackson turned to the eager contestants, a mischievous glint in his eye.
“Are you ready to take flight?” he asked, grinning.