Day 89

Voting time has never been more crucial than ever before for the remaining three Stevivors, Carl, Maxine, and Laura. With one more person to go at their next tribal council, they knew afterwards would come the two finalists, one of which would become the ultimate Stevivor.

No one was in a more difficult spot than Maxine. It was technically her vote that would choose who would be next off. Carl and Laura had never formed an alliance with each other and were both determined to get the other off. The only to do that was through Maxine.

"I know Maxine will go along with me and vote off Laura," says Carl. "After all, she made an alliance with me early when she was almost voted off in the tie-breaker. She helped me realize what Waldo was doing and has had my back." Carl has still not realized that Waldo never tried to betray Carl, and that Maxine was just trying to dwindle the former Murtagh tribe.

"I know Maxine will go along with me and vote off Carl," says Laura. "After all, she was a part of the Shimata tribe and we have formed alliance before. Our alliance may not have always been stable, but through it all, she is my best friend. That should mean a lot."

But, in all honesty, Maxine was not thinking about alliancing, but was thinking about winning. "I have to figure out which one of these two can I defeat and win Stevivor. And, thinking about it, I can see myself beating Laura, but not Carl. I had to get him off."

Carl did not help himself, either. After he overheard a conversation between Laura and Maxine, he found out that they previously had alliances, which upset him greatly.

"She's a dirty double-crosser!" says Carl. "No wonder she's still on this island. She's been making nice to everyone when she needs to and votes off the right people when she needs to. I have got to stop her."

Carl tried talking to Laura, telling her what Maxine was doing and trying to vote an alliance to get rid of Maxine. Laura did not bargain.

"Carl's trying some last minute desperation techniques," says Laura. "He's afraid the girls are going to gang up and vote him off, so he's start spreading these rumors about Maxine to me. It's too late for that. He's never thought of forming an alliance with me, even when our tribes merged. Why start now with only three people left?"

Laura brought up the conversation to Maxine, who denied ever forming an alliance with Carl, another lie by Maxine.

"It feels pretty bad to be shifty like this," says Maxine, "but the key to this game is to win and stay away from Steve, and that's what I intend to do. If this is what it takes, I have to do it."

Laura stood by Maxine, but still has some doubts. "Max says she never formed an alliance with Carl, and for the time being I have to believe what she says," says Laura. "However, something about Maxine just isn't sounding right. I think there's either some lying going on or something she's not telling me. If that is the case, I'll make it my right to defeat her in the finals. But, for now, Carl is gone."

At the tribal council, Carl voted for Maxine, hoping Laura would do the same. Unfortunately, Laura and Maxine voted Carl. The tribe had spoken. Carl was voted off the island.

Now comes crunch time. When day 100 approaches, Laura and Maxine will have to face a secret way of determining how one of them will be voted off and how the other will become the ultimate Stevivor? Only time will tell what they have to be put up against, but one thing for certain, neither one of them is going down without a fight.

"Apparently, there is going to be some special way of how one of us will get voted off," says Maxine. "I'm ready for whatever they throw at me."

"I'm not a fan of surprises," says Laura, "but I'll do whatever it takes if it means being further away from Steve."

Next week, the final vote-off and the winner of Stevivor!

Rachel's Final Comments
"I don't care who wins! Laura is stubborn and Maxine is two-faced! No matter who wins, it will be on trickery, double-crossing, and deceit. If that's how someone feels they must be to win, then I'll take my chances with Steve."