Chapter 59 – Fifth Challenge (Part 6):
While Cody was facing the bear deep in the forest, the camp had sunk into a mix of fear, confusion, and emotional chaos. The girls, still trembling from the fall, had taken shelter under the thickest branches of the central tree. Gwen's knuckles were white from gripping the bark. Lindsay cried nonstop, clinging to Beth. Heather shouted orders no one followed, as if panic could be organized by decree.
"Someone do something! We can't just sit here like fruit waiting to be picked!" Heather yelled, trying to climb again with her fingernails.
"I don't want to be fruit! Or food! Or a viral meme!" sobbed Lindsay.
Noah, from a higher branch, watched silently. His gaze was fixed on the forest, where Cody had disappeared.
Noah thought: If he doesn't come back… if he doesn't make it… this won't be just a story. It'll be a scar.
Izzy, hanging upside down, murmured: "This is art. This is chaos. This is history in real time."
Owen, still stuck between two branches, shouted: "I can't get down! But I can scream emotional support! Cody, don't die!"
And while the group unraveled emotionally, in another corner of the forest, inside a trailer decorated with absurd lights and glowing screens, Chris McLean was having his own crisis.
The show's star producer stood in front of a wall of monitors, all showing the same message: "Signal lost – Area out of coverage."
"What does 'out of coverage' mean?! No cameras in that zone?! Who designed this map?! An anxious mole?!" Chris shouted, throwing a coffee mug against the wall.
His assistant, a technician with the face of someone ready to quit, muttered: "It's the northern clearing, sir. You asked not to install cameras there because 'nothing interesting would happen.'"
Chris turned with wild eyes. "Nothing interesting?! Cody is fighting a bear! A real bear! And we don't have a single shot! This could be the most viral moment of the year!"
He collapsed into his swivel chair, hands on his head. "If Cody dies… I lose the ratings. I lose the contract. I lose the franchise. All because of an unscripted bear!"
On the main screen, a frozen image showed the last frame before Cody vanished into the trees. His bloodied back. Knife in hand. Determined gaze.
Chris stared at it like a risky investment.
"Cody, please… don't die. At least not without us getting a good shot."
The forest opened slowly, as if nature itself parted to let him through. Cody emerged from the trees, walking with slow steps, dragging his body as if every muscle were a stone. His shirt was in tatters, pants covered in mud, and his face marked by claw wounds, dirt, and dried blood. His left arm hung with difficulty. His right, still firm, held nothing. He no longer needed the knife. He no longer needed to prove anything.
The camp saw him arrive.
First was Gwen, who climbed down from the tree as if the ground called her. Then Lindsay, who let out a choked gasp. Heather froze. Noah descended quickly, followed by Katie. Izzy dropped like an unbalanced squirrel. Owen rolled down the trunk, landed on his back, and stood up like nothing happened.
They all saw him.
They all felt it.
Cody, covered in wounds, walking as if the forest had sculpted him with blows.
Gwen ran toward him—not with tenderness, but with fury.
"Are you insane?! What the hell was that?! You jumped at a bear without telling anyone?! No plan?! No thinking?!" Gwen shouted, pushing him with both hands, as if she wanted him to feel her fear.
Cody didn't respond. He just looked at her. Calmly. Guiltily. With something deeper than words.
"Don't ever do that again! Ever!" Gwen said, voice cracking.
At that moment, the sound of an engine interrupted the scene. An emergency cart arrived at camp, and from the back seat stepped the chef, holding a first aid kit in one hand and an expression of "this wasn't in my contract" in the other.
"Where's the idiot who fought a bear?" the chef asked bluntly.
Cody raised his hand. "Here."
The chef approached, sat him on a rock, and began treating his wounds. Alcohol, gauze, tape, and a few sarcastic comments.
"You know this isn't a video game, right?" the chef said, cleaning the shoulder wound.
"I know," Cody replied, without complaint.
"And you know if you die, I have to cook for your funeral?" he added.
"With barbecue sauce?" Cody asked, with a weak smile.
The chef looked at him. "You're lucky the bear didn't rip your head off. Though looking at your face, I'm not sure it would've been a loss."
Cody laughed. Barely. But he did.
When he finished bandaging him, the chef stood up. "Done. You're not dead. But if you do that again, I'll let the bear finish the job."
Cody nodded. "Thanks."
The chef walked off, muttering something about "kids with no common sense."
Cody slowly stood from the rock where the chef had patched him up. His body ached everywhere, but he didn't complain. Not out of pride. Because there was no energy left for that. He just wanted to return to his people. Not for recognition. For need.
Gwen waited a few steps away. She didn't touch him. Didn't look at him with sweetness. She just held him with her gaze, as if evaluating whether he was really there.
"Come," she said, nothing more.
Cody walked beside her, crossing the camp in silence. The others stepped aside—not out of fear, but out of respect. No one knew what to say. No one wanted to break the moment.
Izzy murmured a song about bears and heroes. Owen watched him like he was a vision. Beth hugged herself. Katie looked on with a mix of relief and admiration. Noah, silently, followed him with his eyes.
Heather and Lindsay sat near their tent. When Cody passed in front of them, both stayed still. Heather opened her mouth but said nothing. Lindsay lowered her gaze. Neither knew how to speak to someone who had fought a bear and returned walking.
Cody entered his tent. Gwen followed.
Inside, the space was small but enough. A blanket, a backpack, an unlit flashlight. Cody collapsed onto the blanket, body drained. Gwen sat beside him, not touching, not speaking.
"Why did you do it?" she asked after a long silence.
"Because I couldn't let you face that," Cody replied, voice low.
"And you could?" Gwen said, with restrained anger.
"I didn't think. I just did."
Gwen looked at him. "That doesn't make it less stupid."
Cody smiled. "I know."
She lay beside him. Didn't hug him. Didn't caress him. Just stayed close. As if her presence alone was enough to keep him in this world.
"If you die, I'll kill you," Gwen murmured.
"Deal," Cody replied, closing his eyes.
Outside, the fire still burned. The group settled in silence. Heather and Lindsay entered their tent without a word. Izzy stared at the stars. Owen murmured "Cody, don't die" like a mantra.
And Cody… fell asleep.
With Gwen by his side.
With the group calm.
With the forest… finally at peace.
The sun had barely touched the treetops when Cody opened his eyes. His body ached as if he'd slept on stones… and fought mountains. Gwen was still beside him, asleep, her brow furrowed even in rest. Outside, the group began to stir in whispers, as if the forest itself was still processing what had happened.
Izzy hummed a melody about heroes and bears. Owen packed a backpack with more enthusiasm than usual. Lindsay combed her hair with a twig. Heather watched Cody from afar, saying nothing.
"Ready?" Cody asked, stepping out of the tent with slow but steady steps.
Noah looked at him. "Are you sure you can walk?"
"I'm sure I don't want to stay here," Cody replied with a faint smile.
The group headed toward the cabins. The air was fresh, but tension still floated like invisible smoke. When they arrived, they saw the other team already there, lined up in front of Chris, who held a folder with theatrical expression.
Courtney crossed her arms as they arrived. "You're late," she said sharply.
Chris raised an eyebrow. "Late? Or dramatically on time?"
Cody stopped in front of the rival team. The marks on his face, the bandages on his arm, the stains of dirt and dried blood spoke for him.
Bridgette saw him and stepped back. "What happened to him?"
Owen, seizing the moment, stepped forward like the official narrator of the myth.
"Cody fought a bear! A real bear! With claws! And teeth! And roars! And he beat it! Barehanded! Then walked back like nothing happened! And Gwen scolded him like she was his mom!"
The other team fell silent.
Courtney frowned. "Is that true?"
Chris slammed the folder shut. "True enough to change the outcome."
Everyone stared at him.
"Courtney's team arrived first, yes. But they left Katie lost in the forest. And Cody's team not only rescued her… Cody fought a bear. Literally. So, by executive decision… the point goes to the Screaming Gophers!"
Cody's group erupted in cheers. Lindsay jumped. Izzy spun in place. Owen hugged Noah. Heather raised an eyebrow but didn't protest.
Chris raised a hand. "And as a reward… full access to the supply tent. All expenses paid. Food, tools, clothes, whatever you want. But only for today!"
Cody collapsed onto a log. Gwen sat beside him. Noah settled nearby. The group regrouped as if the fire from the day before had fused them into one.
Courtney watched in silence. Bridgette too. Neither said a word. But both looked at Cody's marks as if they were scars from something bigger than a fight.
The sun was high when Noah, Owen, and Cody settled in the rest area, just before the group headed to the supply tent. The mood was relaxed, but the conversation had an edge only those who'd been close to danger could carry.
"You know what you did, right?" Noah said, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised.
"Survive?" Cody replied, stretching his neck with difficulty.
"No. Become a legend. The girls won't see you the same. Gwen already scolded you like you were her boyfriend, Lindsay looks at you like a superhero, and Heather… well, Heather doesn't know whether to admire you or sue you for emotional recklessness."
Cody laughed, though his side hurt. "I didn't do it for that. I just acted."
Owen jumped into the conversation with enthusiasm. "And you fought a bear! Barehanded! That's unforgettable! That goes on t-shirts!"
"And now comes the awkward part," Noah murmured.
"What part?" Cody asked.
"The campfire. The other team lost. And Katie… she's on the chopping block."
Cody fell silent for a moment. Then sighed. "I didn't want it to end like this. But if it happens… we won't let her go alone."
The supply tent was a temporary paradise. Hot food, clean clothes, new tools… and best of all: an inflatable jacuzzi that Owen inflated with such enthusiasm he nearly burst it.
"This is life! This is bubbles! This is justice!" Owen shouted, diving into the water with a victory yell.
Izzy appeared with diving goggles and a pineapple on her head. "Aquatic celebration! Cody, you deserve a bath of glory!"
Cody entered carefully, bandages still fresh. Gwen followed, sitting beside him without saying a word. She just looked at him. Just watched over him.
Heather and Lindsay settled into nearby chairs, watching without knowing how to process what they felt. Noah submerged up to his chin, murmuring, "This is the closest I'll get to a spa on this show."
The group laughed, ate, rested. But everyone knew the night would bring something more.
Night fell quickly. In the elimination zone, the fire burned solemnly. Chris appeared with his host smile, but his tone was more serious than usual.
"Tonight, someone goes home. And although Courtney's team arrived first, they left Katie behind. And that… has consequences."
The torches lit. The votes were counted. And the name that came out was Katie's.
She didn't protest. Didn't cry. She just nodded, grabbed her backpack, and walked to the dock with slow steps.
The group watched from afar. Some with guilt. Others with indifference. But she didn't look back.
At the dock, she stopped. The exit boat floated silently.
And then she saw them.
Noah, Owen, and Cody came walking from the forest—no cameras, no noise. Just them. Just for her.
Katie stood still. Then smiled, just barely.
"I thought you wouldn't come," she said softly.
"Of course we did," Cody replied. "We weren't going to let you leave without a goodbye."
Owen handed her a crushed flower. "It's symbolic. Like our friendship."
Noah crossed his arms. "Don't forget us. Or at least the part where Cody fought a bear."
Katie laughed. For the first time in hours.
—
She stepped onto the boat. Looked at him one last time.
"Thank you."
And she left.
The dock fell silent.
But the group… more united than ever.
Night had fallen with unexpected softness. The campfire still burned in the distance, but the dock was wrapped in silence. Katie walked slowly, her backpack hanging from one shoulder, her gaze low. She didn't cry. Didn't protest. She just walked as if each step pulled her away from something she didn't want to let go of.
The exit boat floated at the shore, waiting like a period at the end of a sentence.
And then she heard it.
Footsteps.
Katie stopped. Turned slowly.
Noah was walking toward her. Not in a rush. Not dramatically. With intention. With calm. With something in his eyes that wasn't seen during challenges or confessionals.
Behind him, Owen and Cody stayed at a distance, respecting the moment.
Katie smiled. Just barely. "I thought you wouldn't come."
Noah stepped closer. "You thought wrong."
She lowered her gaze. "I didn't want it to end like this."
"This doesn't end here," Noah said softly.
Katie looked at him. "And if it does?"
Noah stepped closer. "Then I'll wait for you. Outside. When this is over. When the cameras turn off. When the game ends."
Katie swallowed. "Do you mean it?"
"More than ever."
She stepped closer. Her hands trembled. So did his. But they held each other. Fingers intertwined. As if the world had shrunk to that one gesture.
"What if you forget me?" Katie asked, with a sad smile.
Noah shook his head. "I can't. You're already in my head. And in my heart. And in every damn joke I don't want to make because you're not there to laugh at it."
Katie laughed. For the first time in hours. "That was cheesy."
"I know. But you deserve it."
The boat rocked with the wind. The moment drew near.
Katie leaned in. So did Noah.
The kiss was slow. Not out of shyness. Out of respect. Out of fear. Out of love. Out of everything that can't be said when time is short.
When they pulled apart, Katie looked at him like she wanted to memorize his face.
"Then you'll wait for me."
"I'll wait."
She stepped onto the boat. Sat down. Looked at him one last time.
Noah raised his hand. Said nothing more.
The boat drifted away.
And on the dock, Noah stood still.
Cody approached. Owen too.
"You okay?" Cody asked.
Noah nodded. "Yeah. Because she's coming back."
And the dock fell silent.
But the promise… floated over the water.
Night had fallen gently over the camp. The campfire had long gone out, and most of the group slept or sheltered in their tents, drained by the day. The air was cool, with that silence that only comes after an emotional storm.
Cody walked slowly along the path connecting the common area to the cabins. His steps were heavy—not from physical pain, but from the weight of everything he'd lived. His body bandaged, muscles aching, but his mind… more awake than ever.
That's when he saw her.
Courtney was sitting on a rock near the path, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the sky. She didn't seem surprised to see him. As if she'd been waiting.
Cody stopped. "Can't sleep?"
Courtney lowered her gaze. "No. And neither can you, it seems."
He approached, cautiously. "Can I sit?"
She nodded, wordless.
Cody dropped beside her, with a sigh that seemed to carry the whole day with it.
For a moment, they said nothing.
Just the sound of crickets. Just the crackle of branches. Just the silence between two people who don't usually share it.
"I heard what you did," Courtney finally said, not looking at him.
"The bear thing?"
"Yeah. The bear thing. Throwing yourself like an idiot. Fighting like you were immortal."
Cody smiled, barely. "It wasn't as epic as they say."
Courtney looked at him. "Do you know what could've happened? How close you were to not coming back?"
"I know."
"Then explain why you did it."
Cody stayed silent. Then lowered his gaze. "Because there were people I cared about. And I couldn't just stand by knowing they were in danger."
Courtney studied him. "That simple?"
"That simple."
She turned toward him. "Would you do it again?"
"If the person mattered to me, yes."
Courtney frowned. "What if it were me?"
Cody looked at her. Not surprised. Certain.
"Every time it's needed."
Silence returned. But this time, it was different. Warmer. More intimate. Full of things left unsaid.
Courtney lowered her gaze. "You're an idiot."
"I know."
"A brave idiot."
"Don't hear that every day."
She leaned in. Not much. Just enough for their shoulders to touch.
"Thank you," Courtney said softly.
"You don't have to thank me."
"Yes, I do. Because not everyone would've done what you did. And because… even if I don't say it much, I care that you're okay."
Cody looked at her. "I'm okay. Thanks to you. For being here."
Courtney leaned in. Hugged him. Not tightly. Not passionately. Sincerely. Calmly. With something that didn't need a label.
Cody wrapped an arm around her. Closed his eyes for a moment.
"Good night, Cody."
"Good night, Courtney."
They slowly pulled apart. She stayed on the rock. He stood, walked toward his cabin with lighter steps.
And as the night carried on, something had changed.
Not out loud.
Not in front of the cameras.
But in them.
And that… was enough.
—