Slash Her

Chapter 1

I awoke as I felt the van begin to shake on the old dirt road towards camp. I knew we must have been close, noticing the faintness of ash on the windows of the van.

"Hey there sleepy head." Said my mom looking in my direction. Noticing I was still adjusting to waking up she continued speaking, "I know you're having a rough time Naomi. We both are. What happened here was a very horrible thing but we need to learn to grow from what holds our town back."

She was right. The camp was built on what was one of the best mining shafts in the country. Our town, although small, was once known for producing large amounts of ore, until the incident happened. Greed consumes all human beings and this was shown by the large corporations setting unfit working conditions in the mines. This led to the mines ultimately falling apart causing a large amount of casualties for the town.

"Everything that happened here was horrible..." she continued, "but this new summer camp could be something great, something to make this town finally grow past the event."

I know it's important that our town moves past the hardships but it still does not feel great to enjoy life this summer on the land where many people lost their lives. But what choice do I have? Due to the mine shift falling apart our town has lost majority of its business and job opportunities. The summer camp counselor job, appearing in the newspaper that fateful day, was a blessing in disguise to a broke college student like me.

I look around at the scenery, trees surround the long dirt path into camp. As we drive, getting closer to camp, the amount of trees become less and the area becomes more of a flat dirt mound.

Although the event happened many years ago, the ash from the mines still is around floating in the air. I look in the side-view mirror, noticing my fair skin with freckles, badly dyed red curly hair in a makeshift ponytail, and deep blue eyes. I typically don't put much effort into my appearance and that really shows today.

My mom seems to take notice of my silence. She hates being in this position just as much as I do. This year she is the camps main cook. The job shortage in town led to her losing the job she had as a secretary at a law firm prior to the mines falling apart.

I look at her. She looks almost identical to me, except her hair is the natural light brown color I once had prior to dying my hair and she actually puts effort into her appearance. I know she's trying her best to be optimistic but it doesn't make the event go away. "Mom, I'll try my best to live it up this summer at the camp, for the kids." I manage to mutter out in an attempt to brighten the mood, reaching out and touching the hand she isn't using to drive to show a form of care. She smiles a small amount, noticing the bluff in my voice.

"Look Naomi, the camp is just ahead!"

I look to the right and see a large cabin. After what felt like five hours driving, we're here, I see other cars parked in front of the cabin and notice a large camp sign beside it reading, Camp Ashwood. Insensitive much? I think. Once my mom pulls over, we both step out the car simultaneously and walk towards the large cabin. I notice a tall ominous man standing to the side of it. Before I can walk up to him, my mom is at the cabin door calling my name to come in. I quickly follow her and enter the cabin.