Cabin 9

Chapter 5

Panic gripped me as the reality sunk in. The killer was still here in the camp. And ready to kill again, a small voice added in my head. Suddenly, I saw Ben with a few other counsellors. He looked very angry. I grabbed Cory's hand and followed them.

They slipped into the camp office, where announcements are made from. I spotted a window outside the office, where we could hear them loud and clear without being seen. So, I gestured to Cory and we crouched down.

"How did this happen?" the director said angrily.
"I don't know," another counsellor replied.
"I came in to make the announcement about the alternate schedule like you asked me to. I was leaning over to grab something when I was hit in the head from behind, and that's the last thing I remember" they said.
"We can't continue to take risks like this. From now on, we travel in pairs, and no camper is allowed to go anywhere alone. Our first goal is to keep the kids safe" Ben said, an urgent tone in his voice. Then, he sighed.
"Has anyone been able to talk to Cole yet?" he asked, a completely different tone in his voice.
"He's just lying in his bed back in the cabin, not talking. I think he's in shock or something" another voice said.
"We need him to stick with you and the campers. All alone, he could be the killer's next target" Ben's voice said.
"What did that dude even mean when he said he wanted Cabin 9 back? How are we even supposed to give anything to him, we don't know who he is" another counsellor said, agitated.
"I don't know, right now we just need to keep the campers safe. Keep your eyes and ears open, and walkie me if you notice anything" Ben replied. Then we heard them start to exit the office, so we ran around and rejoined our cabin as though we had just come from the bathroom.

We proceeded to our station at the arts and crafts shop with the rest of our cabin. As soon as we got a moment alone, Cory and I broke out into whispers.
"Who's Cole?" Cory said.
"I don't know. I think maybe Amalia's boyfriend. What I'm really freaked out about is that the killer wants our cabin" I replied.
"It could be the boys cabin" Cory pointed out, and I thought of Ryan again.

I noticed as we cycled through the activities that none of them, obviously, took place on the beach. I wondered if anyone who knew would ever come back to this camp, swim on this beach, ever again.

The atmosphere at lunch was just as sombre as breakfast. I saw Ryan and decided to go up and talk to him.
"Hey," I said as I reached his table.
"Avery! What are you doing here" he replied anxiously.
"Well I was hoping we could talk," I said as my spirits faltered. He really didn't like me.
"What happened last night?" I whispered gently.
"I don't know what your talking about, I was just tired" he told me, sounding a little more normal.
"Oh, okay. Can we hang out again another time?" I asked.
"I don't know, Avery. Everything is so...tight right now" he said sadly.
I didn't know if he's referring to our schedules or his mood, but I just walked away without saying goodbye. I was done trying to get to know him.

Ben quieted the hall again to make an announcement after lunch.
"It has been decided that all campers will stay in the dining hall to sleep tonight. Cabins will be asked to bring mattresses, sleeping bags and pillows only from their cabins to the dining hall. Remember to always stick together" he said, as the hall broke out into murmurs again.

"Two people to a mattress, and put your bags on top. Remember to always stick with Kendra or me," Lucy instructed.
Cory and I shoved our stuff into bags, threw the bags on my mattress, and then hoisted it over our heads. Lucy accompanied us to the dining hall.

We entered to lodge attached to the dining hall.
"Over here guys" Lucy said, gesturing to a sloppy sign with our cabin name on it. We set my mattress down and headed back to our cabin to get Cory's. Before we could, Lucy stopped us.
"I've been trying to ask all the campers this privately. Did you two see or hear anything unusual last night? Anything would help" she said. Before I could reply, Cory shook her head.
"No, we didn't see anything" she told Lucy, who proceeded to go off and talk to a few other counsellors.
"Why did you say that, we snuck out last night!" I whispered to Cory.
"So? I didn't see anything. Did you?" she replied. I think back to Ryan's odd behaviour and denial this morning. But that didn't mean he killed a girl.
"No, I guess not" I muttered.
"Exactly. If we tell her, we could get in trouble" Cory said.
I abstain from pointing out that us sneaking out is probably the least of her troubles.

"Avery?" a voice said behind me. I turned around to see Ryan.
"Hi" I said coolly.
"Listen, I'm sorry about ditching you last night. But please don't tell anyone, we'll get in trouble."
This time, I don't stop myself.
"No, we won't Ryan! They won't care about us sneaking out, we didn't do anything. Or at least I didn't. But if you saw something, you have to tell them" I said angrily. He grabs my arm, and looked around, panicked.
"I didn't, OK? And neither did you, so let's just forget about this all."
Suddenly, he saw something and paled. I spun around, only to see Ben. He walked towards us.
"Would you three mind helping me grab a few boxes?" Ben asks. I realized he's referring to Cory, Ryan and I. We nod, and follow him back to the camp office.

"They're right in here, I need to bring them back to the dining hall." Ben pointed to a stack of boxes. He grabbed one, and started walking.

As soon as Ryan, Cory and I headed into the office, the door slammed shut. I turned around to try and open again. It wouldn't move. Fear coursed through my body, and when I spoke there was a quiver in my voice.
"Guys, we're trapped in here"