Days 22-24 (1st)

## Day 22

### Merge Camp

Bright and early on Day 22, Blaike was up and waiting for Kim. Kim was usually up extremely early, and was surprised to see Blaike. Blaike admitted that she hadn't slept much the night before. She'd been too busy thinking about the game. Since everyone else was still asleep, the two girls sat by the fire to talk in hushed voices together. Kim asked what exactly Blaike was thinking about, to which Blaike responded by admitting that she really did hate Marcus and wanted to not live with him. Before Kim could get too exuberant, Blaike continued by telling her that she just didn't see how it could work out for her game to vote Marcus out. Seizing an opportunity to strike, Kim told Blaike there was no chance that she'd see the Final 3 in her alliance. Timothy was going to take players he expected to beat to the end. Marcus was the easiest player to beat, obviously, but Jade also hadn't made too many friends by being so judgmental of everyone. If Timothy could get away with taking his half-sister to the end knowing that she wouldn't beat him, he would. Kim also admitted that she was skeptical about Zillik. She felt that Timothy might consider him easy to beat as well, so he might get rid of Kim and Jennifer, then just pull in Zillik to boot Blaike at the Final 5. Blaike began thinking through all of that and wondering how true it might all be, when Kim pointed out that if Blaike could get to the end, she had a really good chance to win. Most people liked her, she had designed and improved their shelters, and she was a consistently hard worker. Blaike knew some of that was a lie. She was a bit abrasive and avoidant at times, and it definitely rubbed some players the wrong way. Blaike finally asked Kim how she could possibly make the Final 3 with her. Kim responded by pointing out that Zillik wasn't really aligned with anyone. If they went to the Final 4 together, they could just vote out Zillik and sit at the end with Jennifer. If she didn't want to do that, Blaike could always just flip back at the next vote and try to get to the end with Timothy and Jade. Plus, the best part of it all was that it meant not living with Marcus anymore. After thinking it over, Blaike finally shook Kim's hand in agreement. They'd work together to get rid of Marcus at the next vote, and try to persuade Jade to join them. Unfortunately for them, Timothy was lying half-awake in the shelter, and had caught just enough of the whispers to get their meaning.

Throughout the day, Marcus was worse to deal with than usual. His normal aggressive and abrasive tone had been amped up, and he was making a point to be louder and more annoying at camp. This was out of spite towards everyone else for voting out Lenobia. Of course, he didn't feel even remotely in danger, given that his alliance was now in a comfortable majority. It was obvious that he was starting to upset everyone, including his own allies, and small arguments with Marcus were becoming more common for everyone. Sensing her opportunity, Blaike pulled Jade aside to talk with her privately during the day. Blaike explained that she was ready and willing to vote out Marcus. She had tried once before and it hadn't worked out, but now they had Kim, Jennifer, and Zillik to form a new majority. Jade was, at this point, not convinced she could trust Blaike. After being lied to twice before, Jade questioned how she was supposed to believe any of this. Blaike, not really having a good answer for that, admitted that the only reason for Jade to trust her was because she didn't expect Timothy to want to go to the end with her. Cutting Marcus helped her secure a potential spot farther in the game, and would help her get in Kim's good graces. Jade was still not entirely convinced that she could trust Blaike, but also very much wanted to get rid of Marcus. She liked Jennifer and Kim, which made Jade feel as if they were more deserving to go farther in the game. In the end, she promised Blaike she would think it over before the next vote.

Most of the rest of the day was spent quietly. Timothy contemplated how to address Blaike potentially flipping on his alliance, and also kept monitoring Zillik's behavior. He was so distant from Kim that Timothy doubted there was any real connection there. Jennifer seemed to be Kim's only communication to Zillik, which made Timothy wonder how persuadable Zillik might be.

## Day 23

### Challenge

At the challenge on Day 23, Blaike pulled out a win for herself, ensuring her safety for one more round. Kim, surprisingly, wasn't dismayed. In fact, she was cheerful and upbeat about Blaike's victory. With Blaike having guaranteed herself safety, Kim felt that she would be more willing to take a big risk and vote Marcus out. Blaike also received a clue for the Hidden Immunity Idol, not that it mattered.

### Merge Camp

When the players returned to camp, Kim and Jennifer checked in with Blaike to make absolutely sure that she was willing to vote Marcus out. Blaike affirmed that she was ready to make that move, and she felt Jade was as well. Jade just needed a bit more talking to, but it would happen. Kim didn't care if Jade helped. In her mind, Jennifer would talk to Zillik and that would secure their majority of four. Nonetheless, Blaike still intended to talk to Jade, wanting to repair that damaged relationship.

While they were gone, Timothy filled Marcus and Jade in on his plan. He wanted to vote Jennifer out this round. Both were surprised at the decision. Jade was fairly upset, having liked Jennifer more than Kim and feeling like she would be better to have around. Marcus, meanwhile, was insisting that Kim was the bigger threat. Timothy dismissed both of them, citing Jennifer's social savviness and connection with Zillik as a reason to vote her out. Kim was strong, but not likely to win her way to the end. Blaike had, after all, beaten her in a challenge already. Besides, if they could cut Jennifer, Zillik would probably be more open to helping cut Kim next. Jade went silent, suddenly considering Blaike's offer more heavily. She had hoped that Timothy would choose to target Kim over Jennifer, and his decision not to had her in turmoil. This was her half-brother and she was trying to play with him, but it was clear that they were playing very different types of games. Marcus, meanwhile, stopped caring. He needed to focus on getting to the end. If Timothy was sure this was the right call, he'd vote with him, even if he didn't like it. Timothy then excused himself to go for a walk, deciding that he needed to find Zillik.

When Blaike got back to camp, Jade grabbed her and the two went off alone to talk. Jade confessed that Timothy wanted to vote out Jennifer, which she wasn't happy about. The idea of voting Jennifer out over Marcus was infuriating to her, as Jade felt Jennifer deserved to stay around so much more. She once again asked if she could trust Blaike, and Blaike promised her that she was voting out Marcus. In response, Jade decided she was in too. The girls would finally get some peace around camp.

Timothy located Zillik right as Jennifer was finishing her talk with him. She filled him in on the plan to vote out Marcus, citing that Blaike was also definitely helping out. Timothy caught that bit, and it reaffirmed what he already suspected. Blaike was betraying their alliance. When Jennifer left, Timothy approached Zillik, who clearly didn't want to keep dealing with conversation. He told Zillik that he wanted to vote out Jennifer, and was hoping to have his help. At first, Zillik disagreed. He liked Jennifer the most of everyone else, easily. Privately, Zillik also really liked the idea to vote out Marcus. Timothy pointed out to Zillik that there was no way any of them could beat any of the girls. If Jade, Blaike, Kim, or Jennifer got to the end, they would win against any of the boys. They all liked each other more than they liked Timothy, Marcus, or Zillik. The guys needed to stick together and get rid of a girl to ensure that they would be the Final 3. Zillik considered the merit of this idea. Jennifer had told him that Blaike and Jade were probably both voting Marcus. That would be four, so Zillik's vote didn't matter much. If he pretended to go along with Timothy's plan, Zillik could score some points with the opposing side and ensure his own safety going forward. He'd been riding the middle so far, so why stop now? Zillik agreed to vote out Jennifer to Timothy's face, knowing privately that Marcus would still probably be going home in a 4-3 vote. His vote was a throwaway to secure some trust with Timothy and avoid rocking the boat, and Jennifer would understand that once he explained it to her.

## Day 24

### Merge Camp

Before the vote on Day 24, Timothy had a rendezvous with Blaike to tell her the plan to vote for Jennifer. He knew she was going to vote with him, but it would keep her from knowing that Timothy knew anything, which was important. Blaike accepted this, although Jade had already told her this information. Jennifer went to double-check the plan with Zillik while Kim checked in with Blaike and Jade. Zillik made sure to ask Jennifer that she was sure Jade was voting with them, to which Jennifer replied that she was almost certain of it. Confused as to why he'd bother asking, though, Jennifer asked Zillik if something was wrong with the plan. He declined, ending the conversation. Zillik's only fear was that Jade or Blaike wouldn't vote with Kim and Jennifer for some reason, which would cause his vote for Jennifer to backfire. He really wanted to use the opportunity to let Marcus go while also securing trust with Timothy that he could use moving forward, but it had to be done right. Still unsure about his behavior, Jennifer dropped the subject and went to meet back up with Kim.

The evening was mostly quiet other than those check-ins. Marcus was his usual loud self, but everyone else remained a bit more tense, since all of their plans had been alid out the evening before.

### Vote

At the vote, Jade and Blaike did stick to what they had told Kim and Jennifer. The four girls voted together to form a majority against Marcus, while Zillik placed his vote on Jennifer with Timothy and Marcus. However, despite the success the girls thought they had, Timothy ruined their plans. Having overheard Blaike and Kim, he was aware of the plot to betray Marcus, and played his Hidden Immunity Idol before the votes were read aloud. This meant that, despite Marcus receiving the majority of the votes, Jennifer was eliminated and became the fourth member of the Jury. Zillik, personally, felt not guilt. He was disappointed, but his vote hadn't even mattered. If he had voted Marcus out, it would have just proven to Timothy he wasn't trustworthy. He felt somewhat frustrated, now feeling like his lot was cast with the other two boys, but at least he had somewhere to go. Kim was on an island, and she also suspected Blaike or Jade of having betrayed her. Jade, likewise, believed Blaike had turned on them for a third time. It wouldn't have mattered due to the idol, but the fact that she believed Blaike had voted out Jennifer was enough to upset Jade. Blaike was genuinely confused, doubting Jade would have lied. It didn't take her long to piece together that Zillik had been the one to flip his vote, but Blaike didn't care all that much. It's not like it mattered either way. The real problem was that Timothy hadn't told her about the idol, and now she had to do some serious damage control when they got back to camp. Marcus, of course, felt relieved and already planned to gloat when they got back. He'd make them even more miserable for trying to vote him out.