Max would kill to have normal dreams. Pretty much any concept his mind cooked up with, Gabarra hooked his claws into and ruined it. He couldn't even count the number of times his mother and Scarlett were electrocuted by the demon.

It was to the point where Max refused to sleep.

Scarlett placed a tentative hand on Man's shoulder, shaking him out of his stupor. "Gabarra again?"

Max nodded curtly and stared unblinkingly at the Cabana's reconstructed ceiling. Castor had really done a number on the place.

"Do you want to go foraging?" asked Scarlett, kicking a pebble and looking away from him.

Max slowly looked at Scarlett and gave her a feeble smile "We probably should. The new cook sucks."

"At least he doesn't want to kill us." offered Scarlett.

Max chuckled and rolled out of bed. He let himself hit the ground with a loud thud.

Dave and Ella sat quietly in the middle of the same clearing that he and Sky first got cuddly in.

"I don't think that I'm ready for this." admitted Ella.

"For a relationship?" asked Dave. Ella nodded.

Much to Ella's easement, Dave smiled. "Yeah, me neither."

"We rushed this."

"Oh, yeah, big time."

"When this is all over, we should still grab a coffee. I've always wanted to visit America."

Ella scoffed "Why the fuck would you wanna do that?". She slowly started itching herself away from Dave. Dave wasn't Milo. Ella could see that now. Dave acknowledged that he needed time to recuperate from his last relationship before diving into one with her. Not only that, but he respected her wishes. Ella disliked the irony that Dave got infinitely more attractive when he admitted that.

"Did you know we're doing the next challenge today?" asked Dave "Apparently they want to do that dumb double elimiantion episode this week."

"Wow." said Ella "Like, I always suspected that they didn't actually do two compeititions in one day, but I never thought I'd confirm that suspicion, you know?"

"Yeah, I get you. Do you have any cravings?"

Ella rolled her eyes. Just like Dave to ask such an emotionally charged question in such an offhand way.

"They're getting quieter. I'm gonna be fighting this for awhile."

"As long as you'll have me, I'll be with you every step of the way."

Tears started to well up in Ella's eyes "Thank you, Dave."

Shawn and Beardo sat inside the Fugitive Cavern. Shawn had successfully flown under the radar for most of the competition, mainly because he had forgotten there was a competition. Beardo had strung Shawn along and wanted to bring him into the fold about the Single's Alliance currently made up of him and Jasmine. But before Beardo could work up the courage to say anything, the PA system crackled.

"Good morning campers," announced Chris "And welcome to the second part of the double elimination challenge. Why weren't you told about this? The network execs didn't tell me either. They're getting antsy about this season."

Shawn leapt up, a wild look in his eye. "Alright, let's do this!"

"Shawn, wait!" Beardo called. But there was no answer.

The Meeting Zone

The Meeting Zone was set up with two logs on each side. One for the Fugitives and one for the Angels. Chris stood in the middle of the two logs while Cullinan stood behind a speaker's podium, not uttering a sound.

"This challenge is called Snack Attack. This vending machine" Chris guestered to a salmon colored vending machine behind him "Only accepts gold coins."

"Bullshit." whispered Topher under his breath.

Chris gave a pointed glance to Topher before continuing "The first team to get back here with their gold coins wins."

"Sounds easy enough." said Topher, starting to lean back.

"I was hoping one of you would say something like that." said Chris, grinning madly. The guise dropped quickly "I'm sorry, this was the studio's idea. The editors will take this part out, surely."

Cullinan opened the podium, and out popped Pollux. Chris crisply tossed the coin to Pollux. The horned gopher chirped and looked at the coin as if he wanted to devour it. Then he bounded into the air and dug beneath the ground.

Sammy bolted upright and pointed at the hole "He's getting away!"

"Hold it!" barked Chris "Pollux gets a head start!"

Topher pulled some wheat grains from his pockets and whispered to his teammates "I have a secret weapon."

"Why are you just carrying that around?" asked Jasmine

Topher blessed Jasmine with a smug look "A lot of these challenges are animal based. Figured this would come in handy."

Three minutes later, Chris blew an airhorn, and everyone sprinted into the forest. Almost everyone.

Max lagged behind, unable to find the motivation to keep moving at a fast pace. Jasmine picked up on Max's weakness faster than he would've liked.

"What's wrong with the gremlin?" she asked Scarlett.

Scarlett, being the compassionate and honest soul she was, told Jasmine about Max's plight with Gabarra.

The rest of the Angels gathered around Scarlett, transfixed at the tale.

"There's no way…" Topher said under his breath.

"A dream demon, seriously?" asked Jasmine "I don't believe this."

"We've seen beavers the size of bears and lizards the size of crocodiles. We were attacked by a sea dragon two days ago. Is a dream demon really that far out there anymore?" asked Sammy. No one spoke. She brought up a valid argument.

"I remember now. Truth or Scare." said Jasmine "He said he feared Gabarra."

"So this is real." mused Topher, eyes wide as plates.

"Yeah." said Scarlett. "Everytime Max feels like he did something wrong, Gabarra is there to remind him."

The Angels walked back to where Max was slowing trotting along, and, without so much as a whisper, enveloped him in a group hug. Max looked at Scarlett, realized what she saw, realized what everyone now knew, and cried.

The Fugitives turned around, seeing what was happening and joined in.

"What happened, dude?" asked Shawn.

Scarlett started to open her mouth, but Max put a finger on her lips.

Jasmine sighed "Max is being haunted by a demon."

Dave shrugged "Seems about in line with the last few months. How do we help?"

Max looked at Dave in unmitigated shock. "Really?"

"We have your back, Max." confirmed Ella.

"Hey, everyone!" yelled Chris "Pollux is getting away!"

"We have bigger problems!" Beardo yelled back.

xXx xXx

Chris asked the editors to review the camera footage when Scarlett first saw Gabarra. Sure enough, a giant, malformed iguana covered with electricity stood exactly where Scarlett said he would be.

Chris thanked the editor kindly for his assistance and hung up. "That motherfucker knew what was on this island and didn't think of letting us know."

The contestants and Cullinan were all in Chris's cabin, a few miles away from either the Cavern or the Cabana. A fire crackled in an hearth in the center of the room. A few fishing rods were leaned against the wall. A few surgeonfish, clownfish and anchovies flitted around in a simplistic fish tank. In the corner, a cot lay with a few sheets carelessly laid on top. All in all, it looked like a cabin that a normal person would wind up building on an uninhabited island, save for the fancy fishing rods and the bags of marshmallows laid out neatly in the only table in the room.

Henessy, Topher's pet turtle from the capture the flag challenge, was plodding around the room with no discernable rhyme or reason. Max huddled closely to the fire, despite it still being rather warm outside.

Shawn nervously clapped his hands together "What do we do, boss?"

"We have to evacuate." said Chris. "Get to the Dock of Shame, and take the Boat of Losers to the Playa de Losers and make sure everyone gets some safely."

"There's no guarantee that Gabarra will stay on Pahkitew Island. He'll follow me to the ends of the Earth to kill me."

"Why hasn't he done it already?" asked Shawn.

"He needed more power. The more I feel guilty about things, the stronger he becomes. And now that all of you know…" Max trailed off.

"You feel guilty." finished Sammy. Max nodded.

"New plan." said Chris "We're gonna go to the Playa de Losers and get all the eliminated contestants, as well as all the artillery from the capture the flag challenge a while ago. Then we kill this motherfucker."

The teens clamored with agreement.

"I need two volunteers to keep Gabarra busy while we're gone."

Jasmine raised her hand "If anyone can beat down a demon, it's Beardo and I."

Beardo nodded "Agreed."

Max raised his hands in protest, but without breaking stride, Jasmine punched him out "It's for your own good, Little Man."

"Ready?" asked Chris "Break!"

xXx xXx

Jasmine and Beardo sprinted into the woods while they watched everyone else run the other way.

"Ever get into a fight with a demon before?" asked Beardo.

"I almost swung on my old volleyball coach. Coach Yates. I'm not sure that counts."

"Yeah, me neither. I beat up my sister's boyfriend, though."

Jasmine shot Beardo a bewildered and shocked look. "You never told me you had a sister."

"Yeah, I do. Aniaya and Devon."

The Amazon chuckled "Forgot your real name was Devon."

The pair sprinted in silence for a few minutes before Jasmine wistfully said "I think you and I had a real shot at winning this thing."

"You did." said Beardo "Let's face it. I'm too quiet to win a social competition."

"I think we're far enough away." said Beardo.

The duo called out Gabarra's name. The demon materialized through the trees.

Jasmine looked at Gabarra with wide eyes. "Not gonna lie, I thought you'd be bigger."

"I am guilt. I am power. I am Gabarra the Righteous!"

Jasmine scoffed "I am already sick of you."

Gabarra licked his lips and his arms lit up with neon-blue electricity "Oh, I am going to enjoy this."

From behind, Beardo tackled Garbarra to the ground. Gabarra quickly kicked off the dancing machine and turned to face Jasmin again. He spun around right in time to catch Jasmine's fist to his face. For one beautiful moment, Gabarra was knocked off his feet.

Beardo and Jasmine wailed on him. But it wasn't enough. The beast got back up. Unfortunately, his reflexes were quick enough to match Jasmine and Beardo. Every blow was countered by another.

"I am not your problem." Gabarra told them "You can save yourselves. I only want Max."

"Fat chance, creep." spat Jasmine.

"Then you will fry as well." said Gabarra sadly. These warriors were formidable. Why they would defend Max was beyond him.

Gabarra picked up Jasmine and tossed her into Beardo. They both tumbled into a tree.

Jasmine got back up fast enough to stand between Gabarra and Beardo. Her knees almost buckled underneath her weight.

"Don't make me do this." warned Gabarra. "I do not wish to kill you, but that does not mean I won't."

Jasmine spat on Gabarra. She realized it was too late. Chris and the reinforcements would not get there in time. The least she could do was go out. On her terms.

Gabarra's arms lit up with blinding blue electricity. Jasmine winced in anticipation.

"Protego!" yelled an old voice. A purple shield materialized around Jasmine and Beardo. Gabarra's attack exploded against it.

"Now things get interesting." chuckled Gabarra.

Leonard's blue and bronze robes billowed behind him. "Why don't you pick on someone your own..size…? That doesn't make sense."

Gabarra snorted "It's cool."

Leonard waves his wand again, sending an arc of red energy at Gabarra's face. An explosion clouded the woods.

Jasmine heard Leonard's voice directly in her mind. "Go. The others are almost here."

Jasmine picked up Beardo and ran.

Gabarra reeled from the impact and fell flat on his back. Leonard followed up with another Stunning Spell, then another. Each one hurt Gabarra less than the last.

"Max has a band of warriors that protect him." said Gabarra in disbelief "Why?"

"He protected my secret." answered Leonard. "He cares about other people."

"LIAR!" snarled Gabarra, shooting lightning at the wizard. The shield saved Leonard's life by a fraction of a second.

Leonard has to duck, weave and dodge for all he was worth to keep himself alive. He didn't even have enough time to wave his wand. He eased himself into a pattern. Left, right, left, right.

Gabarra's long claws snagged on Leonard's robe. He suddenly felt his feet leave the ground. Pain exploded on his back. Leonard only realized what happened nearly two seconds later. He had been thrown into a tree.

"Don't feel too bad." said Gabarra, extending a clawed hand "You never had a chance."

"You should stop taunting people. It wastes ti-". Gabarra cut off Leonard with a jolt of electricity. Leonard screamed in agony.

A battle axe whizzed past Gabarra's head. He whipped around and was face to face with a valkyrie.

"Hey, Tammy." groaned Leonard "Glad you could make it."

Tammy reached out an arm, and her axe flew right back into her hand. "Not a moment too soon, it seems."

Gabarra and Tammy stared each other down. The tension in the air was invigorating.

Tammy took flight and again hefted her axe at the best. It glanced off his back with only a few sparks.

Leonard looked at his wand with an air of finality.

"It's unforgivable." warned Tammy.

"If I don't do this, I'll never forgive myself. Avada Kedavra!" screamed Leonard. The curse lifted Gabarra off his feet and flung him into a tree. For a moment, the parasitic beast laid still.

But only for a moment.

Gabarra hands twitched, and arcs of electricity entered Tammy's and Leonard's bodies. Words could not describe Gabarra's satisfaction when he saw the light go out in their eyes.

The monster looked at Leonard's corpse with amusement "Thanks for the boost."

A sniper bullet whizzed past Gabarra's ear. It was the monster's enhanced vision that allowed him to see Sky lowering a scoped rifle that looked much too big for her.

The ones who had been eliminated from the competition had returned. Gabarra roared and dragged Leonard's corpse by his robes. Soon, they would all fall. And Gruosi would have no one to blame but himself.

Sky lowered the rifle. "I fuckin' missed" she spat.

"How's Leonard?" asked Rodney worriedly.

"Dead." said Sky. Her expression hardened. There would be plenty of time to process later.

"If this thing killed the wizard, what chance do we have?" asked Sugar.

"Turn the boat around," said Max. "Drop me off and turn it around. I don't deserve your protection."

"Now that we know what you were fighting for, there's very little we can blame you for." said Amy.

"That doesn't mean any of you have to die for me."

"Max…" started Scarlett.

"You don't understand death. I do. This could be the end for all of us, or it could be the end for me. If Gabarra killed Leonard, we don't have a chance. We don't."

"Max, please…"

"I'm sorry Scarlett. I have to do this. Tell my mom I love her."

The Boat of Losers anchored on the Dock of Shame for the last time. Beardo and Jasmine sprinted aboard as Max calmly disembarked.

Gabarra burst through the trees and tossed Leonard's body on the ground.

Max cringed and looked away from Leonard's body. "No one else needs to get hurt."

Gabarra regarded Max codly. "You're right. Their deaths are on your head."

"Let me repay that."

Max listened to the engine rev on the Boat of Losers. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He heard Scarlett's voice screaming something. It looks all of Max's willpower to tune her out.

"Now you give in. What changed?" asked Gabarra "I am deadly curious."

"There are things bigger than me." said Max. He looked out at the Boat of Losers. They were screaming. Besides themselves in grief and rage.

Gabarra smiled warmly at Max. He went from being a sadistic demon to nearly a fatherly presence alarmingly quickly. "You possess true courage, Max." Once again, Gabarra's arms started to fill with electricity. "It's a shame you had to get it from your mom."

Max closed his eyes and relieved his happiest memories. His mother reading Goodnight Moon. Scarlett cuddling with him. Alaina teaching him to ride a bike. Max felt goosebumps. His sister Alaina. He could finally see Alaina again.

Gabarra launched a bolt of electricity at Max, causing the Dock of Shame to explode in a fiery inferno. Gabarra slowly retreated into the depths of Pahkitew Woods, his first mission complete.

Epilogue

Three months later and Sammy still had trouble sleeping. She kept hoping that somehow everything was going to suddenly revert back to normal. That Leonard would wave his wand and everything would go back to normal. But it never happened. Leonard and Max were really gone.

Gruosi Hoover turned up dead two weeks after Max died. Sammy wondered, with Gabarra's purpose fulfilled, what would become of the dream demon. Would he cease to exist? Would he continue to haunt the dreams of other people? Would he become benign? Sammy hoped she'd never figure out for sure.

Pahkitew healed her frayed relationship with Amy, and introduced her to Topher. Sammy couldn't help but feel like she owed the island something.

Speaking of Topher, he finally landed a deal with ABC for the Ridonculous Race. With Sammy co hosting and Amy designing challenges, there would be no way the show could tank.

Sugar was never really the same when she realized that a African-Canadian wizard sacrificed himself for her. No one really wanted to tell Sugar that his sacrifice wasn't for her. No one really wanted to talk to her at all. Twitter quickly cancelled her, and the public moved on.

Jasmine started to go all in on her grappling career. After being nearly beaten to death by Gabarra, she vowed that she would never feel powerless again. Whether or not she accomplished her goal, only time can truly tell. But Sammy is optimistic, even if Jasmine does seem a little manic.

Beardo moved to New York City and started doing some ensemble work on Broadway, wowing theater goers with his nearly flawless dancing. Soon, he started touring the country with a company performing Hello, Dolly as one of the waiters. Apparently, he still kept in touch with Jasmine.

Ella and Dave met up in Venice Beach as soon as Dave turned eighteen. Dave still texted the group chat occasionally about their adventures involving trying to capture or arrest Montparnasse or Eponine, two serial killers that had driven out the more peaceful mob bosses. Sammy couldn't begin to wrap her head around it. She had more than enough adventure for one lifetime, but Dave and Ella couldn't wait to get into the next one. Then again, it's not like The Ridonculous Race wasn't going to be an adventure in and of itself.

Rodney came out of the closet on TikTok and, unfortunately, was disowned by his father. Rodney seemed to be doing rather well for himself, otherwise. Garnering a few million subscriptions on YouTube and being the subject of an episode of Queer Eye made Rodney feel loved enough. It helped that Rodney's mom left his dad to continue being a part of his life.

Keith proposed to Sky pretty quickly after the rest of the season was cancelled, despite her obvious flirtation with Dave near the beginning. Sky gently turned him down out of guilt. She started coaching Jasmine about grappling and was making a pretty decent living off of it.

Shawn continued his life having no idea what the fuck was going on.

Sammy thought about Leonard for a little bit, and then grabbed a piece of Tupperware.

A/N: Well, thank you for joining me in this wild ride. Be sure to leave your final thoughts in a review and let me know where I should take the Inverse Universe next. Be sure to call your friends in these trying times.