Protein Powder and Heartbreak

**Protein Powder and Heartbreak** is the fifth episode of *The Challenge: The Duel*.

## Story

 Following Aura and Nick’s respective eliminations, the group headed back to the mansion to have supper and go to bed for the night. Kaliegh was heartbroken about Aura’s elimination and felt responsible for it happening. Jake and Maria comforted her in the lounge area. Maria affirmed that Kaliegh wasn’t responsible for Neisha’s actions. Jake agreed completely and told Kaliegh she was just being hard on herself. Melvin and Nori played chess with one another in the upstairs area. They opened up to one another about their lives in UK and Canada respectively. Melvin opened up about how he’d been feeling isolated with so few people sharing his background and being one of the only players not from the states. Nori told him that he’s doing a great job and has nothing to worry about. The conversation then switches to game. Melvin asks Nori if she’s loyal to the BB9 players and Nori said that she hasn’t really been included in any alliances yet so she’s been focusing on just being good with everyone. Melvin drills into her head that they’ll never choose her before one another and the sooner she breaks free from them, the better. Cleo, Grace, and Katie hung out in their room as they waited for dinner to be ready. They talked about how badly they felt for Aura watching her leave in that way. Grace admitted that she was pleasantly surprised by Nick but that him standing up to Zack changes nothing. Boherty and Kit joined them and Boherty let them know dinner was soon ready. Kit tried to play nice with the girls and explained that if the five of them combined, they could do serious damage. Cleo sighed and said that she has nothing really against them but that she does not want to work with Lukas after everything he’d put her through. Kit got snippy and told Cleo that Lukas clearly doesn’t care about their history so maybe she should build a bridge and get over it. Katie told Kit not to talk to her that way. Kit rolled her eyes and said that her and Boherty know when they’re not wanted. Kit then left, while Boherty stayed awkwardly standing there. Kit then came back in and pulled Boherty out of the room. The two go back to Lukas and report back how the conversation went. He rolled his eyes and called Cleo a fan. Kit said she hated how perfect the three of them were. Lukas smirked and said that one of them sure wasn’t perfect. Boherty gasped and asked if he was talking about her. Kit rolled her eyes and told Boherty that they were talking about Cleo, Grace and Katie. Kit then asked Lukas what he was insinuating. Lukas shrugged and refused to spill anything. Kit rolled her eyes and said she wouldn’t be working with him if there was less annoying people in the house.

 Frasier and Lenny found a minute alone by the balcony. He congratulated her on the elimination and said she bodied it. Lenny hugged him, thanking him. She opened up about how she felt guilty when Aura left. Lenny explained that her and Frasier had each already won and could live fairly comfortably from now on, while Aura might’ve really needed the win. Frasier reassured Lenny that it’s a game and she deserves to play just as much as anyone else. They talked about future plans together. Lenny pointed out that they’d been simply dating for almost a decade now. Frasier sighed and said he just wasn’t ready to rush into marriage. Lenny said she understood and would wait for him no matter how long it took. The two kissed before heading downstairs. Zion checked in with Tye during supper and asked if he was alright after Aura left, as the two were from the same franchize. Tye shrugged and said they really didn’t get along on their first season but he was happy that they’d seemed to start to fix things this time around. Tye admitted that he was really missing Nalia back home. Zion comforted him and said he only had a few weeks left. Tye said he really admired Katie and Zion’s relationship. Zion smiled and asked Tye if he could keep a secret. He then revealed that he plans on proposing to Katie at the series finale. Tye gasps and congratulates him.

 Gloria was giving Owen the silent treatment all night. She made her bed as he pleaded to her to tell him what he did wrong. Eventually, she whipped around and snapped. Gloria said she hated how she never stood up for her whenever Zack talked down on her. Owen said he just didn’t want to make things worse by picking sides. Gloria yelled that he shouldn’t have to, the decision should be clear. Owen leaves and goes outside to have a smoke with Zack, Shona, and Troy where he complains about everything. He says Gloria’s trying to make drama out of something that doesn’t exist and he’s sick of having to clean up the messes she makes. Shona rolls her eyes and says everyone needs to just calm down and focus on the game. She points out that Maria and Melvin have been their targets since the start yet they’re both still here. Troy leaves early and said he’s gonna go to bed early. He heads up and knocks on Gloria’s door. She reluctantly lets him in. Troy apologizes on Zack’s behalf and says that he doesn’t agree with how she’s being treated within the group. He promised to talk to Zack about everything and see if it helps. In the meantime, he encouraged her to hang out with him, Frasier, and Lenny. Gloria started crying and hugged him. She said she really appreciated it and didn’t really expect it from him. Troy laughed and told her not to think he’s nice now all of a sudden. Gloria opened up that her hurt with Owen has been going on for a bit. She mentioned the night where they said grace at supper. Gloria had told Owen about the abuse she faced growing up in relation to religion, and it hurt her that he didn’t support her during that. Troy offers her a hug and promises to be more conscious of that. The two head off for bed.

 Cameron, Ezra and Skanivan settled into their room for bed. Skanivan asked if the three of them could talk game and strategize for the challenge the next day. They agreed to help each other to the best of their ability. Skanivan said his top targets were still Frasier, Zack and Troy. Ezra asked if Cameron still had Zion on lock. Cameron assured him that Zion had his back, and by extension all of their backs. Their conversation was interrupted by TJ’s blow horn. It was 3AM but he was insisting that everyone get out of bed and head outside for a nightime challenge. Once everyone united outside, TJ explained the rules. Each player would sit in a tube that would fill up with cold water. As the challenge progressed, insects, animals, dirt, mud and all sorts of other punishments will be dumped on them. The last man and woman inside their tubes would win the challenge. Also, if anyone falls asleep, they’re out of the challenge. Once the challenge started, Boherty fell asleep before the water even filled the tubes. With that, she became the first player eliminated. With that, TJ sent her back to bed and the tubes started filling with water. It wasn’t much longer before Lukas was sick of it and got out. After ten minutes, TJ revealed that cockroaches would be dumped into everyone’s tubes. Jake, Nori, Katie, and Zack all started freaking out, Zack in particular was screaming loudly. As the roaches were dumped in, Nori and Zack both darted out of their tubes, soon followed by Katie and Jake. After another half hour, Cameron, Skanivan and Ezra had all fallen asleep from exhaustion. Cleo, Maria, and Gloria had all left the tubes as well. Grace, Kaliegh, Owen, Troy and Tye were visibly squirming the most, while Kit and Frasier were both scarily statuesque. TJ then dumped soil that had thousands of spiders inside it. That was the last straw for several players as Grace, Kaliegh, Owen, Troy, and Tye all ran out. Kit remained unbothered by the punishments. Neisha made a joke and asked if Kit was superhuman or something. Soon, Lenny fell asleep and was eliminated as well. For the men, it was down to Frasier, Melvin, and Zion. For the women, it was down to Kit, Neisha, and Shona. TJ then brought out squirrels and put two in each person’s tube. Despite being stoic for the entire challenge, Kit screamed and squealed as if she’d just seen a dead body and ran out of her tube sobbing. Everyone laughed, amazed that she survived all of that just to be scared by a squirrel. After another fifteen minutes, Zion dozed off and was eliminated. With it being down to four competitors, TJ brought out the big guns. He said that whoever didn’t drop in the next ten seconds would have a large snake put in their tank. He didn’t need to say less as Neisha immediately darted out of her tube. With that, TJ declared Shona the female winner of the challenge. She sighed out of relief as she emerged from her tube. It was then down to Melvin and Frasier. Both Frasier and Melvin had snakes laid across their chest. They both squirmed and struggled. After ten minutes, Melvin started crying and gave up. TJ then blew his horn and declared Frasier as the winner. Melvin headed off not wanting to talk to anyone.

 The next morning, everyone woke up groggy and achey from the challenge. Nobody was in a good mood and almost everyone slept in till noon. Melvin hung out with Skanivan as he worked out. He told Skanivan that he was very nervous for the safety chain and felt he was going to be targeted again. Skanivan told him to keep his head up. Melvin looked to Skanivan and promised that if he kept him safe in the safety chain, he’d protect him if Survivor ever did an All-Stars season. Skanivan sighed and said he’d think it over. Shona and Lenny talked about the chain and agreed Maria needed to be the target. Gloria and Nori joined them and got filled in on the plan. Before they could continue their conversation, they heard screaming from downstairs. Lenny peered over the railing to see Maria screaming “House Meeting! House Meeting!”

 Everyone gathered in the Living Room as Maria stood at the front. She revealed that someone had stolen all of her protein powder and she wanted to find out who it was. The room was silent and nobody owned up to it. Gloria looked over at Zack. He caught this and asked her what the hell her problem was. Gloria insinuated that Zack was the thief as he worked out and had mentioned a few days ago that he underpacked. Zack rolled his eyes and said he wasn’t a thief and that she was making it up. He then accused Gloria of stealing it to pin it on him. Boherty then stood up and said she was a trained detective because she binged Only Murders in the Building. Kit squinted and said she was surprised Boherty watched that show. She then explained she only watched it for Selena Gomez. Boherty then asked for everyone’s recount of the evening and for witnesses. Gloria and Zack continued going back and forth and eventually Troy yelled at Zack to shut up and lay off of Gloria. Zack listened and looked down. Boherty then continued her investigation. While Lukas was recounting his evening, he slipped in that he saw Cleo carrying a really large jar of powder in the middle of the night but thought nothing of it since she’s such a heavy eater. Him and Kit then giggled after he said the joke, but Cleo did not look so pleased. Cleo called Lukas a bully and told him to leave her alone for the last time. Lukas rolled his eyes and said without him, Cleo would be a nobody. He insisted she thank him for the checks she’s going to get from doing the show. Cleo said she isn’t thanking him for anything. Lukas looked to Kit and commented that maybe with the money from the show she can fix her botches ombre. Grace then told Lukas to stop coming for Cleo’s looks. Katie also stepped in and said Lukas and Kit are just jealous and miserable. Katie stands up and tells Lukas that he’s been on Cleo’s ass all season and has not just let her breathe and enjoy the experience, and that the bullying needs to stop now. Lukas rolled his eyes and told Kit that the “bimbo” has a lot to say all of a sudden. Zion then stands up and tells Lukas to watch his mouth and to never call her that again. Cameron also chimes in and says that Lukas needs to end it here before he finds himself in trouble come the safety chain. Katie told Lukas to stop throwing stones from his glass house. Lukas smirks and asks, “So Katie, when are you going to tell Zion that you’re hooking up with Cameron behind his back?” Katie immediately went quiet. Zion laughed and told Lukas to stop making shit up. He then turned around and saw Katie’s face go white. Zion then looked at Cameron who couldn’t make eye contact. The once loud room rung quiet. Zion walked up to Katie and asked if it was actually true. She couldn’t look at him but said that she hadn’t been hooking up with Cameron… but that they had kissed once in a moment of weakness. Zion’s face was colored with hurt, betrayal and anger. He told her that he would never have done that to her, and storms off. Katie tells him to wait but he doesn’t stop. She then turns to Cleo and Grace for reassurance. Cleo avoided making eye contact while Grace glared at her with disappointment. Katie chased after Zion, and Cameron ran after her as well. Boherty tried to stop them reminding them of the investigation but Maria stopped her and said she thinks the investigation is temporarily on pause.

 Zion stormed into his room and slammed the door. Katie banged on the door, sobbing. She begged for him to hear her out. He told her that she was dead to him and refused to open the door. Soon, Cameron caught up with Katie and tried to comfort her by rubbing her back but she swatted his hand away. Zion swung the door open and he was holding a ring. He chucked it on the ground and told Katie to take it, it was meant to be hers. She looked at it and cried even louder. Cameron tried to explain and told Zion it wasn’t that big of a deal and that it wasn’t a “real kiss”. Zion got in his face and told him that if he wasn’t on National TV, he’d beat the living hell out of him. Before Cameron can even respond, the women are called outside for the safety chain. Katie tries to compose herself before leaving. She begs Zion for forgiveness but he tells her to eat dirt and says she’s not the same girl he met back in BB17, and that they’re over.

 TJ gathers the women for the Safety Chain ceremony. He calls Shona up to the front and asks for her to make her first pick. She looked to everyone and announces that she’s going to save Lenny first to start off the chain. Lenny then heads to the front and selects to save Neisha next. Neisha thanks her and then picks to save Gloria next. Gloria strutted up to the front. She said that she had been told to pick a certain way by her alliance but that at this point, she didn’t know if her alliance was real or if they even cared about her. With that being said, she saved Maria out of pettiness. Shona looked down out of frustration, while Maria was all smiles heading to the front. She then chose to save Kaliegh next. Kaliegh hugged Maria and thanked her. She then scanned the group and chose to save Cleo. Cleo then moved to the front and avoided eye contact with Katie, and saved Grace. Grace sighed as she moved to the front. She explained that back in her original season, her partner cheated on her and all of his friends sided with him and isolated her. Grace said that while this might not be a good game move, she’s not going to do the same thing they did to her. With that, she looked at Katie and said she’s saving Nori. Katie started crying. Nori thanked Grace and stood at the front. She decided to save Boherty. Before making her final pick, TJ reminded Boherty that between Grace and Kit, whoever she didn’t save would go into elimination and have to bring someone there with her. Boherty nodded and said she was saving her bestie Kit. She tried to hug Kit and Kit reluctantly accepted while rolling her eyes. Katie was sobbing so hard she couldn’t breathe as she walked up to the front with TJ. She looked at the girls and saw all of their angry faces, minus Cleo who looked at her with a shred of sympathy. TJ told her that she now had to choose someone to compete against in the elimination. Katie tried to talk through her crying and explained that she was simply picking the person she had talked to the least. With that, she selected to challenge Maria in the elimination. Maria rolled her eyes as she walked to the front. Maria made a joke about she isn’t shocked that she’s making Maria a two-timer in the eliminations when Katie’s a two-timer herself. With that, TJ sends the two girls off for the elimination and the others off to the bleachers.

 The boys were next up to do their safety chain. TJ invited Frasier up to the front to make his pick. He looks to the guys and chooses to save Troy first. Troy thanks him and heads up to the front. Troy decides to pick Owen next. Owen then heads to the front and chooses to save Zack. Zack heads to the front and says that in light of everything that’s been revealed, he thinks it’s only fair to save Lukas since he brought Katie to justice. Lukas giggled and thanked Zack. He then chose to save Jake up next. Jake then doesn’t hesitate much before choosing to save Tye. Tye thanked Jake. He then chose to save Ezra next. Ezra looks to Cameron with reluctancy after what he’s just found out. He looks down and chooses to save Skanivan instead. Keeping in mind the deal Melvin made with him, Skanivan opts to save Melvin next. Before Melvin picks, TJ reminds him that whoever he doesn’t save between Cameron and Zion will compete in the elimination and choose someone to drag with them. Melvin decides to save Cameron, as while he wasn’t sure who Cameron would drag, he knows exactly who Zion’s going to drag. Before TJ can even ask Zion who he’s challenging, Zion reveals he’s challenging Cameron. The guys from the bench cheer on Zion. TJ then asks Cameron and Zion to head back and prepare for the elimination.

 Everyone gathers on the bleachers for the elimination, nobody is too surprised by the picks. Ezra and Cleo sit together and both open up about their conflictions on whether to root for their friends or not. Just then, smoke emerged from the arena as Maria and Katie approached the middle. Katie’s tears had dried and she looked determined, as did Maria. TJ explained the rules of the elimination. It was titled “Ring My Bell”. Each of the women had fifty bells on their sides of the arena. With their hands tied behind their backs, they had to ring all fifty of the bells with their heads. The first competitor to ring all fifty bells wins the elimination. TJ blew his horn and began the elimination. Both girls ran around and started making quick work with their bells. Each reaching ten after only about two minutes. For Katie, the dizziness started to set in and her head started aching from the pressure and noise. Maria endured it and kept pushing, giving her a lead. As time went on, Maria’s lead only continued to increase as Katie’s speed got slower and slower. By the time Katie hit 20, Maria was at 35. Everyone from the bleachers loudly cheered Maria on, which only worsened Katie’s motivation. Eventually when Maria hit 46, Katie just fell to her knees from the dizziness and gave up. Maria hit 50 and TJ blew his horn, declaring Maria as the winner of the elimination. TJ congratulated Maria and invited her to join everyone on the bleachers. They all congratulated her. He then thanked Katie for effort but reported that she was officially eliminated. Cleo stood up and clapped for her, despite being the only one. Katie smiled weakly and mouthed “I love you” to her. Katie headed out of the arena.

 Next up was the matchup everyone was anticipating, Cameron vs. Zion. The two men approached the arena from the smoke. Cameron saw Katie had been eliminated and looked down in sorrow. He offered Zion good luck but Zion told him to go to hell. TJ reexplained the rules and on the sound of his blowhorn the elimination began. Both men started off neck-and-neck, both going very fast. In no time, both of them were at 15 rings. Neither of them showed any sign of stopping. Zion was whipping his head onto several bells at once, while Cameron was running incredibly fast. By the time they reached 40, they were each still tied up. It was looking to be a photo finish with both of them not losing any speed. They both hit 45 at the exact same time. Everyone from the bleachers was watching closely, amazed by their performances. Both men hit 50 and thought they had it but nobody could tell who had gotten it first. TJ revealed they’d have to look at the footage to figure out who won. TJ then returns with the results and blows his horn. He announces with the difference of a few milliseconds, Cameron has won the elimination. The bleachers are fairly quiet but Cameron cheers to himself while Zion looks down in disgust. TJ congratulated Cameron and welcomed him to join the bleachers. He heads up and sits next to Ezra who hugs him. TJ then thanked Zion for his effort but sadly tells him he’s been eliminated. Everyone cheers and applauds for Zion as he walks out of the arena.