𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, l. castellan

𝟎𝟎𝟒. stage one: denial

DOOMSDAY

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"I DON'T KNOW about this, you guys," Amara voices. She walks behind Camryn and Valeria as they approach the beach, several rolls of towels tucked beneath their elbows.

The two girls went to the Demeter cabin about ten minutes earlier, having hauled a dazed Amara out of bed as quietly as they could, and instructed her to follow them. Then they headed past the dining pavilion and towards the beach.

The sun disappeared behind the mountains almost two hours ago, while the rest of camp reported to their cabins and turned in for the night. The air surrounding them is neither scorching nor cold, as it's nearing the end of spring and entering summer within the next few weeks. Perfect weather for their first night swim in an entire year.

"Come on," Valeria says. "It's fun."

Amara stammers, "Why can't we just do this during the day time?"

"What, with all the gawking boys around us? No thanks," Camryn replies, making a face.

"What if we get caught?"

Camryn crouches down and unravels one of the towels, placing the others on top of it. "We've done this plenty of times before, and Mr. D is probably too busy moping about not being able to drink to notice."

Valeria agrees, unbuttoning her shirt and slipping her legs out from her silk shorts. The wind brushes against her bare skin, raising goosebumps on her arms and thighs as her hair is blown out of her face. Then she kicks off her shoes and wraps her clothes into a bundle, tossing them aside. She looks over at Amara with an encouraging smile.

"What about the harpies?"

Amara is understandably frightened by the thought of the harpies. Everybody has heard of those winged creatures that often wait for some poor camper to stumble upon them, and then said demigod is presumably eaten by the harpies as punishment for sneaking out of their cabin at night. However, Valeria and Camryn have somehow never been caught by them, so why would they be worried about it now?

"We'll be quiet," Valeria shrugs, reaching back to untie the knot of her beaded necklace. She carefully drops it beside her pile of clothes.

Amara hesitates, biting the inside of her cheek before giving in and moving closer to the tide. When the three girls finish undressing themselves, left in only their bras and undergarments, Valeria glances at the lightly thrashing waves in front of her.

It's hardly surprising when Camryn races past Amara and Valeria, diving headfirst into the water once she's far enough from the shore. Amara gapes at her as she emerges from the surface a moment later, spitting out the water that floods her mouth.

"Get in here," she commands, keeping her voice at a lower octave than usual. "It feels amazing."

Valeria links her fingers with Amara's and rushes forward, dragging her friend with her. The tepid temperature of the lake suddenly rises from her toes and up to her collarbone, her body being fully submerged in the water. Her hand breaks apart from Amara's when she spins around, a laugh escaping her lips.

"I cannot believe we had to wait almost three seasons for this," Valeria sighs, tilting her head back and soaking her hair.

The Demeter girl's tone is filled with contentment when she speaks. "Okay, maybe getting in trouble would be worth it."