Sweet Summer

Chapter Eight :

As Parker focused his aim at the target, his hand held a firm grip and with a shaky breath he let go. Surprising hitting bullseye, easing his nerves a bit as the archery coach clapped as the next boy went up.

As Parker sat on the bench, the humidity of the sun shining down on him caused him to move somewhere near the shade and get a bottle of water. As he did so, he felt the presence of another

"Oh, hello." Parker said, his voice friendly and charming

The boy kept his head low before muttering a quick hello, Parker's eyes traveling up and down his body before looking ahead "I'm Parker, you?."

"Viren." he said, his messy black hair covering most of his face.Viren wasn't much of a talker as he fell silent right after.

"Cool name, never heard of it before." Parker smiled softly, continuing to make small talk even though Viren wasn't speaking much.

Parker shifted his stance, leaning back against the tree as he took a sip of water, eyes still on Viren. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable—it was almost peaceful, in a way. He could tell Viren wasn't used to talking much, or maybe he just wasn't ready to open up. Parker wasn't the type to push.

"So, have you been here long?" Parker asked, trying again, his tone casual as he wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand.

Viren's head lifted slightly, dark eyes peeking out from behind his messy hair. "No... not really." His voice was soft, barely audible over the sounds of the archery range.

Parker nodded, not wanting to press too much. "It's a pretty chill camp once you get used to it," he said, trying to ease the tension. "You ever tried archery before?"

Viren shook his head, and for a brief second, Parker thought he saw a flicker of something—curiosity, maybe? But it vanished just as quickly.

"Maybe you should give it a shot," Parker suggested. "It's not as hard as it looks."

Viren glanced over at the target range, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be weighing something in his mind before he gave a hesitant nod. "Maybe."

The conversation fell silent again, it wasn't an awkward one; more like peaceful in a way. Parker sneaked a few glances at the boy, noticing the way his hair fell over his face or the set of onyx eyes he had...or how cute he looked —wait wait, what?

Parker quickly snapped out of it, why would he think that? He's straight, always has been and always will be..right?

Suddenly, Counselor Richard blew his whistle and said

"Alright boys and girls, it's time for yall to go to your next sessions. Make sure you put the arrows back where you found em."

His voice firm, much more like a demand, besides they'd have to follow it anyways–it's the rule.

As the campers walked down the trail to get to their next sessions, Parker was lost in thought till Hayden interrupted it "Whatcha thinking about?." looking at him with curiosity and slight teasingly.

"Nothing..just about those stupid 'nightmares'."

Parker responded, his hands in his pockets as he walked ahead. Taking a turn to the lake, Parker finished, his eyes distant as they approached the familiar clearing. The shimmering water reflected the midday sun, but something about it felt unsettling. Parker couldn't shake the memories of his nightmares, the strange symbols, and the eerie presence that seemed to follow him ever since his first encounter.

Hayden was silent before nodding his head along, the whole group had been getting these strange nightmares but they haven't found much about it..other than running for their lives to not get killed by some demon creature in a different 'world'

Parker's steps slowed as they neared the lake, the shimmering surface feeling more like a haunting reflection than a peaceful retreat. He glanced over his shoulder at Hayden, who seemed lost in thought as well. The nightmares had become a shared burden between them, yet none of them had dared to talk about it openly. The fear of acknowledging it—of giving the nightmares power—kept them silent.

"Do you think... there's a reason why it keeps happening?" Hayden asked quietly, breaking the silence, his voice heavy with hesitation.

Parker let out a shaky breath, his eyes fixating on the water. "I don't know. But it's too real to just be a dream, you know? Something's off, and we've all been... pulled into it."

The stillness of the lake contrasted sharply with the chaotic fear they experienced each night. That other world—the symbols, the creatures—it felt more real with each nightmare. Parker clenched his fists, trying to ignore the gnawing sensation in his gut that told him this wasn't over.

"You think we'll ever find out what it means?" Hayden asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Parker glanced at him, his jaw tight. "We have to. Because if we don't, those things... they'll come for us. Even when we're awake."

Hayden shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flicking back to the lake as if searching for answers in the depths. "It's like we're being watched," he muttered.

Parker nodded slowly, his thoughts drifting back to the strange symbols etched in the dream world and that chilling, ever-present feeling. He wasn't sure if it was something following them or something inside them, but either way, they weren't safe. Not in their dreams. Not in the waking world.

"One thing's for sure," Parker said finally, breaking the silence again. "We can't just run forever." as the sudden breeze went past them but the tree's remained unmoved.

"Let's go find the girls." as Hayden nodded, them both unaware of someone watching

"..How cute.." a voice said lowly, filled with mockery.

Parker paused mid-step, his heart racing as the low voice echoed in his ears. "Did you hear that?" he asked, glancing over at Hayden, whose expression had shifted from casual to alert.

"Hear what?," Hayden whispered, his eyes scanning the treeline where Parker was looking.

¨Nothing, probably birds or something. Let's go now.¨

As they walked, Parker couldn't shake off the feeling. As they walked near the center of the camp, Hayden's eyes wandered off to the gate that was far ahead of them yet always closed from the rest of the town. ¨Ever wondered why the gate is always closed?."

Breaking the silence between the two, his shoes grinding slightly against the ground soon paused at a bench near the water fountain that had the statue of the builders of Camp Emalin. Posters on signs or buildings.

"Security maybe?." said Parker, his voice low as other campers went past them. The chatter of different voices and tones filled their ears.

Before Hayden responded, a voice had yelled their names ¨Parker! Hayden!.¨ causing the two boys to turn their heads to see Natalia waving over at them, Alina next to her quietly—she seemed to be out of it while looking at them.

As the boys made their ways over, "You still alive, Ali?." asked Parker snapping Alina out of her thoughts, looking at the them as if she was a deer in headlights

"Oh uh, yeah..sorry, I was thinking about something." her tone flat as her eyes hung low, tired maybe? Who knows.

"Uh..So we've found something about this camp." Natalia said, stepping up to break the awkward atmosphere right now. "But before we talk about that, how about we go to the shade?."