Well looky looky. Here we are. Week 13. One week before the merge and Friday the 13th. Can you feel the tension? Fuego had come from humble beginnings; the underdog from the start, this tribe had won 8 of 12 Immunity Challenges before losing this week. This group, though full of strangers and unknowns had survived the tribe swap and continued their dominance. But when it came to Week 13, they couldn’t keep up their streak, and one of these 8 Fuegos would not make the Final 12. Alex had been a killer at Immunity Challenges, had consistently, along with Stef been on the right side of the vote on Hielo. Tyler had found a way to work with everyone on Hielo, but the swap to Fuego had forced a stronger connection with Alex and Stef. The Fuego Five didn’t plan on losing again until the merge, so this was certainly a tricky week. Who should they target? Were there Hidden Immunity Idols in play? If so, who would the Hielo 3 vote for? Shall we get to Tribal Council? Yup.

Fuego had become unfamiliar with the Tribal Council setting. The fire seemed larger than they remembered. The stumps less comfortable. The wind had an icy chill that cut through their tattered clothes. There was a feeling that no one wanted to go home now. Not now. The merge was so close. So many battles had been fought and won for these 8 castaways with their orange buffs, awaiting the Survivor noose on this fateful night. The person voted out tonight would regret it forever. Anyone but me they each thought, in their own quiet way.

And soon it was time to vote. After the discussions were over… After the mind games had been played… After the lies had been told, the truth had been questioned again and again, and there was nothing left to do but vote, the host asked…

If anyone has a Hidden Immunity Idol and you want to play it now is the time to do so. 

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And someone did stand up.

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It was Alex. Alex stood up and said…

I found this Hidden Immunity Idol. It was a long time ago. And I choose to play it for myself! And then she showed the group what she found.

Indeed this IS a Hidden Immunity Idol, initialed by your host himself! Any votes cast for Alex will not count. Let’s get to the vote.

And Alex cleared her throat. She was not done. A little after I found that Hidden Immunity Idol, I found this other Hidden Immunity Idol during an Immunity Challenge.

and I would like to use it for…

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Stef!

We can confirm that this IS another authentic Hidden Immunity Idol. Any votes cast for Stef WILL NOT COUNT. Any other Idols to play? No? Let’s see what happens…

I’ll read the votes…

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First vote…

Alex, DOES NOT COUNT

Second vote…

Alex, DOES NOT COUNT

Third vote…

Alex, DOES NOT COUNT

Fourth vote…

Stef, DOES NOT COUNT

Fifth vote…

Stef, DOES NOT COUNT, 3 votes left

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Sixth vote…

That’s 1 vote Graham

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Seventh vote…
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Graham, meaning the 12th person voted out of Survivor Hamilton: Fire & Ice is…

With 2 Hidden Immunity Idols played by Alex, and a resulting 3 votes against, Graham you have been eliminated from the game. Please bring your torch.

So Graham looked back at Fuego, the tribe that he felt he had brought together to successfully stop Hielo. He felt sad to leave. He looked back at the Hielo usurpers that had cost him his game, saluted Alex and her strong game move, and Graham walked out of the Tribal Council area.

What a shocker! 3 weeks ago Graham was given the choice to join Hielo with Jordan and Claudia (where they have survived without him) or remain with his majority on Fuego, which he ultimately decided. In Fuego’s first Tribal Council since the swap, Graham is voted out by 2 idols in a brilliantly maneuvered blindside by Alex, Stef and Tyler. This move really opened up the 2nd half of the game. Truly anything can happen.

Down to 12.

The Merge.