Harly

Chapter 2

I was awakened by a familiar voice, though I ignored it at first wanting to stay asleep. 

"Harly, get up it's time for breakfast," Grace whispered, shaking me awake.

"What time is it?." I grumbled, without opening my eyes.

"7:50 AM," Grace sighed, standing next to my bed.

"No way, it's 1:00 am!" I mumbled, still not budging.

"Nope, now Harly, get up, or you're going to miss out on breakfast." she threatened.

"Fine," I grunted.

As I rolled over, I noticed that we were the only people still in the cabin, "Did everyone already leave? I asked. 

"Yes, they all woke up a while ago," Grace lectured.

I groggily emerged from my bunk bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. The dim, morning light filtered through the cabin windows, casting a soft, hazy glow on the wooden walls. The air smelled faintly of pine, reminding me that we were surrounded by the forest.

I reached for my clothes, neatly folded on a wooden chair. The green shirt felt cool against my skin, and the soft texture of the light tan shorts was comforting. I laced up my shoes, each knot a small, deliberate action that grounded me in the moment.

Grace and I made our way to the cafeteria, our footsteps echoing in the quiet morning air. The distant murmur of other campers filled the space, punctuated by the clatter of dishes.

As we walked, I recounted the events of the previous night, the words tumbling out like leaves in the wind. "First of all, why didn't you wake me up?" Grace demanded, her voice a mix of curiosity and reproach, "I would have gladly gone with you!"

I sighed, remembering the urgency of the moment. "I tried," I defended myself, "but you wouldn't wake up." 

"Really..." Grace responded, her voice tinged with skepticism as she shot me a quizzical look. "I didn't feel a thing. Ok then, second, what did it look like, Harly?"

I paused, furrowing my brow as I tried to find the right words to describe the indescribable. "It looked like... nothing I've ever seen before," I insisted, my eyes narrowing as I recalled the eerie scene. "I mean, it had these strange luminescent markings on its exoskeleton, like glowing runes etched into dark armor. And its eyes, Grace, those eyes were like twin orbs of burning amber, radiating an otherworldly glow. It moved so silently, almost gliding, and I could feel this palpable sense of dread in the air."

"That's strange," Grace teased, though a hint of concern flashed across her face. "Maybe it was your imagination, you were probably just dreaming."

I sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and unease. "I... maybe I was, but it felt so real!" I concurred, getting tired of arguing.

Grace's response was a nonchalant shrug, her curiosity temporarily satisfied. We resumed our stroll and eventually reached the cafeteria. In this early morning hour, sunlight streamed through the windows, bestowing a warm and inviting glow upon the tables adorned with an array of breakfast delights.

As we served ourselves we were temporarily distracted from the events of last night. For breakfast today they had all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage, and unlike you would expect at a camp, the food was very delicious and everyone went back for a second time, some even went back a fourth time.

After breakfast, Grace and I found ourselves with half an hour to spare before the camp activities started. We decided to head to the camp's library, a cozy little building nestled away from the commotion of the main camp area. Stepping inside, the contrast between the cool, hushed library and the bustling cafeteria was instantly soothing.