The Summer Of 2014

The day everything changed was when I went to my first summer camp at age 15. It was 2014 on August 2. I was going to my first sleep-away camp. My parents have always been strict before, but something changed their minds and they let me go to this camp. I remember being ecstatic. When my parents dropped me off they cried, because their little boy was all grown up.

When I entered the meeting house with my two duffle bags and Nirvana T shirt, I felt ready to go. There were so many people there. I went to private school my whole life. My school was small. There were 10 people in a class and Twenty in a grade. I wasn't used to 60 people in a room. Even though there were so many people, one person caught my attention. She was beautiful. Long curly black hair and a mustard-coloured sweater. It looked so nice on her.

I took a seat by a table marked 'REDS'. I had no clue what it meant, but I liked red so I went with it. She was at the table marked 'YELLOWS', who would've guessed. I was staring. I didn't mean to, but I am lost in her beauty. I snapped out of it when a guy-with very glossy looking hair- said to me "You're a red too eh?" He was very Irish and I could hardly hear what he said. I leaned in trying to understand and responded with "You know it." I felt very American compared to him at that moment. "Atta boy" he said and sat across from me. "What's your name?" I ask him. "Harry, yours?" he asked, putting his hands on the table. "Kenny," I say. "Well Kenny, welcome to battle mate," Harry told me before getting up. He headed towards a cabin in the distance marked 'RED CABIN.' I assumed that's where the red group slept there. "You new here, kid?" A man asked me. I look up and say "Yeah," "Welcome to the battle and uh good luck," What did I sign myself into.

About an hour later a woman announced "Everyone, please drop your stuff off at your respected cabins. Then meet at the fire pit. It is now 9:00pm and the annual marking begins at 9:15, don't be late." I headed towards the red cabin and put my stuff down next to a bed. I headed outside and checked my watch, it was 9:10. "Hey, can you point me to the fire pit?" I ask a guy dressed in a camp uniform. "Follow me matey," I did so and at the fire pit there was that girl again. Mustard sweater and everything.

"WELCOME ONE AND WELCOME ALL!" a boy screamed into the megaphone. "Tonight is the night where it all begins. Things are getting wild tonight in Britain! Your respective colours, Purple, Blue, Yellow, and the devils themself Red. Maties we are getting hot in blood tonight. Now if you're new let me explain the night. Each person has their own quest. Purples, you're in the mystic mines. The quest to find the true meaning in your heart. In those you'll find the darkness of your soul, but also the glistening enchants of love. Blues, you're in the Trees. High above everyone. Here you discover what it's like to look down, but also what it's like to feel like you're on top. The best of it and the worst of it. Yellows, you're in the tower. It's high and much like blues you're on top. In the tower you'll find the depth of your mind and what it's like to look straight at the sun. Now for the best of them, or the worst. Depending on how you look at it. Reds, you guys get the dungeon. Low enough that you can feel the earth's core heating up your heart. You'll find the best creatures that shouldn't be so lost inside. Yet you'll also find the demons that lurk where your soul is black. The kind of monsters you see in horror movies. The kind that can break your heart with one word. These monsters are the ones that you must learn to love. After each colour finishes your quest you can go to sleep. The night will lurk until you each finish. Only one rule, don't die. Now before we are off." He throws oil on the big stack of logs then tosses a lighter in. The logs go up in flames. My view is being taken up with the bright, burning flame in front of me. "Now, Let the games begin!"

After his speech I'm worried. I can feel my heart stop. Why did I have to choose red? I head towards the stairs that read 'Dungeon' and in the fine print - I hate fine print - 'Enter at your own risk'. I head down the stairs. The air is cold and limited. I walk down and the only thing I can see is darkness. When I get down to the stairs there are two pathways. Right and Left. Both dark as can be. The only light is the one right in front of me. It is bright red. I walk and turn right on instinct. I hear something slam behind me. I hope this was the right choice because there's no going back now.