Bookview Valley 4

Chapter Thirteen: Time is Ticking

June 16th, Sunday

My fingers dance over my bouncing knee as I sit on the couch before the fireplace. Nick is next to me, his hand on my non-bouncing knee. Ben is on my other side, our elbows touching. Flynn and Sebastien stand together, wrapped in each other's arms. Bri and Harper crowd one of the chairs near the couch. Lilyth and Rachel sit together on the rug before me. Director Lockewood is pacing back and forth before the fireplace, finally okay now that the guy's body has been removed by the nurse; of course she had the help of some of the chosen six.

My eyes scan the room around me, making a head count of the remaining counselors-not-to-be. Not including my group of friends or the chosen six, there's thirteen. In total, twenty-two plus the chosen six. I kind of envy the six people that were forced to leave camp last night.

"The nurse said he was poisoned," Director Lockewood finally speaks up and all chatter stops, "His food was poisoned."

"The cafeteria food?" A girl calls out.

"Yes," Director Lockewood nods and the chatter rises a panicked degree, "Each of you will report to the nurse for a body check-up just encase. We don't know what was poisoned or if anyone else has been poisoned."

"Poison?" Nick mutters beside me.

"That's new," I mutter back.

"So, any of us could be poisoned," I hear Ben murmur, "Shit."

"Shit is right," I sigh, "We are all in very big danger."

"Please stay in here until you are called into the nurse's office," Director Lockewood tells in a calm voice, but his fumbling fingers suggest he's anything but calm, "Afterwards we'll find out what to do about lunch."

"Lunch, how can we be thinking about lunch?" Lilyth asks angrily, "Now we're all afraid to be poisoned, if we're not already!"

"Yeah!" Someone else calls out, "When does the bus get here?!"

"Please remain calm," Director Lockewood holds out his shaking hands, "We're doing our best in this situation. The bus will get here by six tonight."

"It's only noon!" A guy calls out.

"I know, I know," Director Lockewood's eyes lock onto Cheryl, begging for help. She rolls her eyes at him and comes to stand next to him.

"Give us some time," She snaps, "We're working it out and trying to keep you safe. Now please, remain her, stay calm, and get checked out by the nurse. No further questions."

"She's got that handles," Harper snorts, "How much do you want to bet she's the killer?"

We all give Harper a look, but she just shrugs. Lilyth gives her a smirk, "My bets are on the director."

"No way," Bri shakes her head, "Didn't you see him faint at the sight of blood?"

Rachel lets out a short laugh that she instantly cuts off, "Guys, now is not the time!"

"She's right," Flynn shakes his head, but a smile is creeping on his face, "I bet you it's the cafeteria staff. They can't stand us!"

We all erupt into laughter, but quickly quiet it down when we get weird looks. We've been through this way too many times, it's starting to become normal. Laughing in the middle of death? Only our group could do that. Is that a sad thing? Probably.

. . . . .

My feet shuffle under me as I sit in the plastic, white chair. The walls are a very basic white, and it smells like cleaner in here. My eyes trail the nurse as she walks back and forth getting her things to test me. I really hope I'm not poisoned, because that would suck.

She finally turns to me and tells me to stick my tongue out. I do, and she sticks a stick into my mouth, peering through me. She takes it out, then begins to listen to my heart with her stethoscope.

"How are you going to tell if I've been poisoned?" I ask when she's done listening to my heart.

"I'm going to take a swab of your saliva and test it," She tells me, "I was just looking for any instant signs. There's not much else I can do, as I'm only a nurse, and a camp one at that."

"Right," I nod, "It just sucks that we can't get results sooner."

Her dark eyes find mine, "I know. Anyone could die while we wait for results. I wish we had an ER closer to here, but we don't. All we have is me, and this is the best I can do."

"Thank you," I tell her and she seems taken aback, "You're doing your best, and I really hope it can help us." 

She gives me a warm smile before telling me to open my mouth again. She sticks a swab in my mouth and takes out some saliva; which she proceed to put in a little vial. She turns back to me, "You're free to go. I'll let you know the results as soon as I get them."

"Thank you," I say again, before leaving her little room. I make my way back over to my friends. We give each other worried looks before sitting quietly and waiting.

. . . . .

A little later in a different area of the Cabin...

Erin paces back and forth, her eyes trained on the window high up. Her mouth is pierced in a sharp, straight line. Letting out an aggravated noise, she stands before the window and stares out. The sun hasn't even begun to set. She hears footsteps and spins around. The doorknob jiggles and she hides behind the couch, her eyes set on the door. It creaks open and they walk in. She lets out a sigh of relief.

"It's just you," She says, her violet eyes trained on them.

"You poisoned someone?" They scoff.

"Yes, I'm very limited here, you know?"

"Did you poison anyone else?"

"What's it to you?" She scowls, "The more people I take out, the happier the Crimson Skeleton is, and the more powerful I become."

"Did you poison anyone else?" They repeat through grit teeth.

Erin sighs, "No, I didn't."

"Why not?" They raise an eyebrow, coming to sit on the couch next to her.

Erin squirms uncomfortably, "I didn't have enough poison for more than one plate. Also, the cafeteria ladies never leave! I had to sneak in line in order to poison one plate."

"And you called me an amateur."

"It was easier when I had Vincent with me," Erin snaps, her violet eyes becoming watery, "but you took him away from me."

"I had to."

"No you didn't!" Erin shouts, before quickly lowering her voice and narrowing her eyes, "I should kill you."

"We've talked about this, the Crimson Skeleton wouldn't like that," They snap, "but also, I don't think you could kill me."

"Then why don't you help me?" Erin glares, "You've done nothing! I had to kill the girl in the kitchen! I had to poison the food! Do you really think the Crimson Skeleton will congratulate you if I do all the work?"

"I'm not looking for congratulations," They turn away from Erin so she can't see their face.

"You're in it for power?" Erin raises an eyebrow, "but you can't get that if you don't kill people."

"It's really none of your business," They snap at Erin, turning back to her their eyes shoot daggers, "All the Crimson Skeleton wants is Morgan Brooks dead. They didn't say I had to be the one to kill her."

"Why are you so against killing?" Erin groans, "How did you even become one of us?"

"Really, that's none of your business," They stand and walk to the door, "The bus gets here at six. You might want to hurry up." With that they leave Erin to her thoughts.