Sweet Summer

Chapter One :

The old yellow bus groaned to a halt, stirring up dust as it settled in front of the weather-beaten sign that read "Camp Emalin." Alina stepped off the bus, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension. This was her first time at summer camp after years of not being there, and the air seemed to hum with anticipation.

The campgrounds sprawled out before her, a mix of quaint cabins and tall, ancient trees that seemed to whisper secrets to each other. Shadows stretched ominously across the ground as the sun dipped low in the sky, casting a golden hue over everything.

"Welcome, campers!" called out a counselor with a bright smile, waving them over to gather in front of the main lodge.

Alina joined the group, feeling a sense of unity mixed with a hint of unease. There was something about the place that felt... off. Maybe it was the way the leaves rustled even though there was no wind, or the way the sunlight seemed to dance eerily through the branches.

As the counselor rattled off the usual introduction—rules, activities, and meal times—Alina's attention wandered. She caught snippets of excited chatter from other campers, but her gaze kept drifting back to the woods that surrounded them, dense and foreboding.

"Hey, you okay?" a voice whispered beside her.

Alina turned to find Viren, a quiet boy with dark, probing eyes. He had been sitting next to her on the bus, lost in his own thoughts for most of the ride.

"Yeah, just... taking it all in," Ashley replied with a forced smile.

Viren nodded knowingly, his expression unreadable. "It's different here, isn't it? Like the woods are watching us."

A chill ran down Ashley's spine at his words. She had felt it too—the sensation of being observed, of unseen eyes tracking their every move. She glanced around nervously, half-expecting to see someone or something lurking among the trees.

That night, as Alina laid in her bunk, the camp seemed to come alive with strange noises. Branches scraped against cabin walls like skeletal fingers, and distant laughter echoed through the darkness, though no one was awake.

Then, just as Alina drifted into an uneasy sleep, a soft whisper brushed against her ear—a voice so faint, she could barely make out the words. "Beware the shadows, child..."

Alina's eyes snapped open, heart racing. She sat up, scanning the dimly lit cabin, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Was it a dream? Or had someone—or something—spoken to her?

With a trembling hand, Alina reached for her flashlight and shone it around the cabin. Shadows danced across the walls, playing tricks on her eyes. She shook her head, trying to dispel the unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. She shined the light across the cabin yet still saw nothing as she could have sworn someone was here with her "..I couldn't be going crazy.." She muttered to herself before setting her flashlight down as she laid back down, keeping a pillow close to her chest.

As it was now sunrise, around 6 am, Alina was awoken by two voices. As she sat up, the two voices stopped. one then said "Ah, sorry if we woke you up. I'm Parker." The blonde boy said with a light smile while the other stayed silent

"I- uhm..It's fine. I'm Alina." she said as she felt embarrassed that this was how they met. Alina shifted uncomfortably in her bunk, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at being caught in a moment of vulnerability. She glanced between Parker and the silent boy, unsure of what to make of their sudden appearance.

Parker, with his easy smile and relaxed demeanor, seemed unfazed by the awkwardness. He gestured towards the other boy beside him. "This is Hayden," he introduced, nodding towards his companion.