Hunt of the Night

c h a p t e r t w o ( j a m e y )

6:45 pm on Friday

I felt my skin grow clammy with anticipation as my hands fumbled with the folded paper. Once the paper was unsealed all of our eyes scanned the typed writing that spelled out:

What can unlock your dream can be found near the stream.

Katie was the first to react, jumping up and down like a child who was just given a lollipop. "So the first clue must be near water!" Katie announced, barely able to contain her excitement. .

I rolled her eyes and replied with, "Wow, you're a genius." Katie's smile diminished quickly, and her head looked up to see the other groups had already faded into the woods.

"Guys, everyone else already left," Katie pointed out as I and the other boy, Chris, bickered about which way to go. Katie's words caused the duo to stop and look around.

"I say we just go straight, then look around for signs that would lead to water," I suggested. Chris and Katie mumbled their agreements, and the trio set off into the forested area.

Katie glanced up at the moon while reaching into her bag to pull out a large sunhat. Chris and I just stared at the girl in awe, dumbstruck as to why she was carrying a beach hat in the middle of the night.

"Why are you wearing that hat? You do realize there's no sun out, right?" I asked as her hand swatted a branch out of her face.

Katie paused, placing her hands on her hips. She rolled her eyes, adjusting the hat to just the proper fit. "Do I look dumb? The moon reflects sunlight so therefore I can still get burnt. It's called moonburn."

Chris chuckled, "You're kidding right?" He reached into his over the shoulder bag to retrieve a joint and a lighter.

Katie huffed, "No, I'm not."

It wasn't long before she noticed the rolled paper in Chris's hands, "Are you really going to smoke weed right now?"

I pushed forward in the brush, leaving Katie and Chris to their banter.

Katie just stood there, staring at the man as he used his calloused hand to protect the flame coming from his lighter while he held it up to the joint. When he inhaled the smoke deeply he locked eye contact with the prissy girl. He blew the smoke from his mouth, creating a smoke ring in the air, careful not to break eye contact as he winked. "Katie looked at him, not sure what to do in return, but she didn't have to worry about that because he quickly spoke up instead. "The water is down to your right Jamey."

I paused in my spot, Katie and I both turning to look at the boy in black. "How in the hell do you know that?" I arched my brow.

He shrugged, still not taking his eyes off Katie as he backed passed me to lead the way, "Boy Scouts."

Once he seemed to make Katie feel an immense amount of discomfort with the awkward eye contact, he turned around, smoking his blunt.

Katie and I took one last glance toward each other before cautiously following him.

Katie skipped ahead to catch up to Chris, leaving me behind. "You're telling me, that the boy who smokes more pot than his parents did in the seventies used to be a boy scout?"

I watched him continue further into the woods, ignoring the over dressed girl. "You say that like it's a bad thing, Bambi." Katie froze at the pet name, obviously taken off guard.

I stepped past her, nudging her slightly. "Come on you two. Stop flirting. I'm here to win, not watch you two suck face by the end of the night."

"Relax, G.I. Jane, you'll get your prize," I rolled my eyes at his smart remark.