Reality Check

This is the eighth episode of my fan fiction, Survivor: The Cursed Idol.

Previously On Survivor..
The Cebu and Davao tribes merged into the new Salamat tribe, where the fearsome foursome alliance of Wes, Carly, Brock and Adrianna met for the first time. At the Reward Challenge, the alliance plus Cyrus won the Reward Challenge, where they met their loved ones at the merge feast.

The next day, the alliance initially planned to make a 4-3-3 vote against the two other tribes, but after a suggestion from Adrianna's boyfriend Garrett, Brock hatched a new plan, to make the alliance successful without being detected. First he and Wes gathered the Davao tribe to vote out April, due to her aptitude at puzzles. Carly and Adrianna on the other hand coerced the all-girl Cebu alliance to secretly vote for Cyrus, who has Davaos' Cursed Idol. At Tribal Council. Carly's possession of the Cursed Idol did not matter, but it was Cyrus who fell into the alliance's plan and was blindsided in a 6-5-1 vote. Nine are left who will be voted out tonight?

Challenges
Reward Challenge: Tinikling The Salamat tribe will be divided into three groups of three. A professional dancer will be visiting camp to teach the survivors how to perform a dance called Tinikling, where the dancers will jump over and in-between two bamboo poles. The same night, the instructor, plus two other judges will judge their routine. The team who gets the best score from the judges wins reward. Reward: The winners will be immediately flown to Boracay island, the Philippines' premiere summer getaway, where they will enjoy a 5-star hotel check-in. They may take a bath, eat food and do activities a typical beachgoer would do during a hot summer day. They will return in time for the next Immunity Challenge. Winners: Brock, Adrianna and Belinda

Immunity Challenge: Philippine History Each castaway will have a mannequin (which looked like the survivors themselves) over a trapdoor with three ropes supporting it. The castaways will be asked a series of questions on people, places and events in Philippine history. When a castaway answers a question correctly, they are entitled to cut through one of the ropes attached to their opponent's trapdoor. Once all three of a castaway's ropes are cut, the trapdoor will open, dropping their mannequin to a fire pit, thus eliminating that player. Last castaway with their dummy intact wins immunity. Winner: Serena

Night of Day 21
At Salamat camp, while the other five tribemates were sleeping, the fearsome foursome alliance of Brock, Adrianna, Wes and Carly started to congratulate themselves for a job well done in keeping their final four pact a secret without getting caught. Adrianna wondered who might have the Cebu Hidden Immunity Idol.

Day 22
Early morning, Brock checked the Tree Mail if there were any messages for their next challenge. Instead, a boat docked at camp, where a professional folk dancer Eleanor and four assistants arrived at Salamat beach. Eleanor asked the tribe to divide themselves into three. She then introduced them to a popular Philippine folk dance called Tinikling. After three hours instructing the survivors, Eleanor told them to practice, because the next Reward Chalenge will be held tonight.

Team 1: Adrianna (bamboo dancer), Belinda & Brock Team 2: Alanna, Serena (bamboo dancer) & Curtis Team 3:  Carly, Wes & April (bamboo dancer)

During their rehearsals, Team 1 had don their routine perfectly, whilst Team 3 bickered due to April's poor coordination, which made her trip from the bamboo poles several times, even spraining their ankle. At the actual performance, Team 1 and 2 shone, while April's injury reflected on their routine. In the end, Adrianna, Belinda and Brock won the challenge, and were sent to Boracay island immediately after the challenge.

When the trio arrived at the hotel, they were welcomed by a buffet feast. After taking a bath, the three winners sprinted to the buffet table, while real folk dancers performing in front of them, showing how Tinikling should be danced. During the feast, Brock enjoyed the dance too much and joined in the fun, while Belinda proposed a deal with Adrianna by telling her she had the second Hidden Immunity Idol, and she would give the idol to her, but only if she agreed to help make an all-girl alliance.

Back at Salamat camp, Carly was furious of why April did not tell her groupmates of her injury before the actual performance, but April did not want to make them worried.

Day 23
At the Salamat camp, Curtis was again feeling uncomfortable, feeling nauseous and dizzy. The Survivor medical team came at camp and gave him medications, but his condition was not severe enough to evacuate him from the game.

At the hotel, with Belinda still asleep, Adrianna went to Brock and told him that Belinda did have the idol and she wanted to make an alliance with her, with Belinda willing to give up her idol to close the deal. Adrianna proposed to him a plot to seize the idol and eliminate Belinda at the same time. She said she would act like she was going home, prompting Belinda she would give the idol. They would then go to Tribal Council with Adrianna not actually using the idol and ultimately vote her out. Later, while Adrianna was on a bathroom break, an already-awake Belinda approached Brock and told her she had the idol, but she was willing to give it up to potentially remove a big target on her back.

Later, the three enjoyed a banana boat ride and a parasailing session. While Brock was hoisted to the parasail, Belinda secretly handed Adrianna the hidden idol.

Day 24
After one last breakfast, Adrianna, Brock and Belinda reunited with the other Salamat tribe members for their next Immunity Challenge, where they were questioned about Philippine history, folklore and general knowledge. After a close competition between Alanna and Serena, Serena won immunity for the second consecutive time.

Back at Salamat camp, the alliance of Wes, Carly, Brock and Adrianna updated each other on what happened to both parties over the past two days. Brock revealed that Belinda had Cebu's immunity idol, but she gave it to Adrianna in hopes of blindsiding her. Adrianna proposed that they should add Serena as an unofficial fifth alliance member, stating they can use Serena's Immunity Challenge wins to stroke her ego and catch her off-guard later. With all agreeing to the plan, Adrianna approached Serena and revealed about Belinda having an idol and gave it to her, and the existence of the cross-tribe alliance. Excited to make an upset, Serena agreed.

Meanwhile, Belinda was making her own campaign. She approached everybody (including the still-secret cross-tribe alliance) to vote Adrianna out by telling her she had an idol, but not telling them she was the one who found it. Alanna, April and Curtis nodded to the plan. Belinda also approached Serena, but was unsure of what to do.

At Tribal Council, Serena's Cursed Idol vote was not counted since she had immunity. After the vote, Belinda expected Adrianna to use her idol, in which she did. Jeff pulled out four consecutive votes against Adrianna, with Belinda looking very excited. But to Belinda's horror, four consecutive votes were cast against her. Jeff then pulled the final vote...Belinda.

In the end, with no idol to save her, Belinda was blindsided in a 5-4-0 vote, sending her to the jury with Cyrus. Before leaving, Belinda handed the Cursed Idol to Curtis, stating he was too sick to continue.

Next Time On Survivor...

 * With their cover blown, the cross-tribe alliance makes their next big move, but newcomer Serena makes a power play.

Author's Notes

 * During her confessional, Carly sings the nursery rhyme Bow Belinda.