Camp Falls

Chapter 2

 After some wandering around through the camp I ran into Ruby doing usual Ruby things like running around and slapping stickers on everything in sight,which eventually included me.

"Sup',"she said," I got a new bag of stickers!"Ruby held up her bag like it was a treasure of great importance.And while I must admit,I am a fan of stickers,Ruby took sticker-loving to a new level.You should see the walls in her room.

"What's up Ruby,"I said,"One question,did the camp director provide you with those stickers?

"Oh Mabel,"She said,bouncing on the tip of her toes,"Yeah she's awesome.She let me borrow this too!"Ruby held up a thin comic book with a cartoon skeleton and a Jelly monster.

"Apparently it's one of the only books that she's ever liked and that it's really good.Wanna borrow it when I'm done?"

"Sure,"

"Okay,"she paused,"What you gonna do for the rest of the day?"

"I don't know,"I said,"Probably just chill and explore the camp,"

"I mean,"said Ruby,"I know we're not supposed to leave but...but I saw a giant ant, and I'm not kidding when I say that it was easily the size of a horse.I wanna go check it out ,but..."

"But what?"

"I don't want to go alone,wanna come with?"

I thought about this for a moment.There was probably a reason that we were strictly not allowed to leave and venture into the woods,on the other hand I was very curious.An ant the size of a horse! How cool was that?And we wouldn't be gone too long,just enough to find out,

"Okay,"I said

Unfortunately finding the ant was way harder than expected and soon we were hopelessly lost in the vast expanse of the forest.Fortunately,we ended up being able to navigate our way back into town.On the other side of it at least.

Walking back we came across many things,but the most important was the tent of Old Man Manderson,because it was here that Ruby acquired her very own pet.

"They're beautiful,"she squealed,eyeing all the reptiles.There were lizards and this one turtle named after the greek god Hermes which is kinda stupid because Hermes was the fastest god. Old Man Manderson did not have a license to sell them,I had asked.He didn't even know what that was apparently.

Ruby was attached to a little orange snake inside a glass enclosure.

"220 for that one,"he said

"220!"She exclaimed

Ruby's sad big brown eyes met mine,"We don't have that,do we?"

"We have nothing near that,"I agreed

After Ruby glanced at the snake one more time I said," We should get going,people are going to start wondering where we are,"

"Wait!"yelped Old Man Manderson,grabbing me by my shoulders,"You can't leave yet I require assistance,You see,"he continued,"My beautiful ring that was supposed to be for my lovely Caroline was snatched up by a horrendous ape!"he screamed shaking me,"A humongous ape with long arms,"he sobbed,"Oh my poor Caroline what shall I do!You must help me!"

"Okay..."I said inching away from his grasp,"Uh I'll-I'll keep an eye out for this...giant ape."

"Oh thank you!"he cried,"It is appreciated greatly!"

"Sure..."I said,"come on Ruby,let's-let's get back to camp."

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was up in this town,more than just the "strange anomalies"in the forest.But I didn't get much time to ponder it because soon Ruby was jumping up and down pointing at the grass.

"Lloyd look!It's-,"

She ran over and scooped up a little orange snake.

"We gotta keep it Lloyd,we gotta,"

"I don't know Ruby,"I said,"can you really take care of that?Because I'm not going to take care of it.You're going to have to be the one to feed it,and clean its enclosure,and stuff like that,"

I didn't really think Ruby was ready for a pet,plus this was a rather sketchy way for her to get a pet,specifically because we didn't really know where the snake came from before Old Man Manderson had it.

"I can take care of it,"She promised

Ruby named the snake Cornelius Cornham the 1st after finding out it was a corn snake.It seems to love everyone except me for some reason,I don't know why.

We had to sneak back in through the forest and the back of the camp so we wouldn't get caught.The gate had been locked unlike earlier,but luckily Ruby carries around paper clips.She took 2,bent them,and started trying to pick the lock.

"Ruby,"I asked,"Have you ever done this before?"

"Once,"she said," I've been successful once."

The sun was starting to set and the sky glowed a pink-orange color

Something moved in the trees.

"Uh Ruby,can you hurry up please,"I asked

"I'm trying,"she said,"but this is hard,"

I heard the leaves rustling again.

It's just the wind,I told myself.I was just slightly freaked out by what Old Man Manderson had said.The crazy old dude probably just lost his ring that was all.

Look,I thought turning around,look for yourself there's nothing there.

Except there was something there.

Hidden in the tree trunks was the biggest monkey I have ever seen.It had huge beady eyes and long,long arms that kind of reminded me of spaghetti.

And the worst part was that it was staring right at Ruby and I.