The Hunter [completed]

THREE

I looked around the rooms with pride. I'd done good. My mum, who always nagged me for being and outright slob when it came to my room, would also have been impressed. It looked as impeccable as it could. The thought of my parents face if they saw this played in my head. My thoughts were interrupted as Sam came running in. I was about to scold him for coming inside with shoes on, when I realised that he had found them. "Where were they?" I asked as he took them off and stepped inside. He gave me a weird look. "Down by the pond," he replied confused. I pulled a face telling him I thought he was joking. "Seriously. I went down with the guys to swim, and there they were." I suddenly felt weak and worried and had to sit down. Thoughts of the two previous nights repeated themselves. "Did you go outside at all after I brought you in?" I looked at him thoroughly, looking for a sign to see whether he was fooling around or being honest. In some distance we could hear Sean and Lee laugh. Sam sat down next to me on the sofa. "No. I've slept throughout the entire night. It doesn't add up. Sean and Lee swore they had nothing to do with it. And you weren't even that drunk by the end as far as I remember..." His voice died as he was staring at the floor. I couldn't shake the bad feeling I had, but decided against telling Sam about it. If I was overreacting I'd never hear the end of it. "It sounds like they're having fun. Let's forget this and join them, yeah?" I got up and Sam followed. He pulled off his t-shirt and trousers, leaving him in his trunks. He pulled off his socks, grabbed a towel and ran out. I entered the bedroom and brought out my backpack. In momentarily horror I quickly found out that I had forgotten to bring a bikini. I shook my head in disbelief at my own lack of logic. So I brought two towels, but no bikini. Great. I considered my options, then made sure I had enough clean underwear with me. Fuck it, I thought and got undressed. I changed the bra from a white to a black one, threw my clothes on the bunk and stepped out.

Sean and Sam was play fighting on the floating dock as I reached the bank. Lee was floating, eyes closed, on his back closer to the shore. As he heard me he opened his eyes and instantly changed to a vertical position, staring at me with a bemused grin. "Did you really forget swimming wear?" he asked, rhetorically. I replied by flipping my finger. He started laughing and shouted for Sean and Sam's attention as I removed the towel and got in the water. Sean threw Sam in the water and soon they were swimming towards me with a mischievous look on their faces. "Really, Mia? 'I've packed everything I need, but for wellies'," Sean mocked me, quoting me from our trip from the parking lot to the cabin. I shrugged. They laughed, wanting me to turn around. "Pigs. I'm not turning around so that you stare at my ass." They exchanged looks and grinned back at me. I swam over to them. "Thought you hated swimming in ponds," Lee asked while we floated in a circle. "I do," I replied. "But what's the alternative? Go four days without showering or bathing?" Lee nodded in agreement and started swimming towards the floating dock. Sean and Sam followed. I swam back towards the shore, feeling uncomfortable being too far away from it.

With my back towards the shore I floated on my back with eyes closed, soaking up the late summer sun. I could hear the guys chat amongst the self further out. I let my thoughts wander, and came to the conclusion that it might not be so bad to get a visit tonight after all. My eyes jerked open when I heard the distinct sound of snapping branches and footsteps. I turned around and stared towards the sound. There was movement in the bushes behind the rocks where our towels and shoes were. My heart raced. The others wouldn't be here for 30-45 minutes. I felt sick to my stomach. Quickly I got up and grabbed my towel. The guys yelled at me as I stepped out of the water with my back facing them, but I ignored them. I wrapped myself in the large white towel, put my shoes on and walked back up towards the cabin.

I was sat in deep thought when I thought I heard the guys come back from the pond. I heard footsteps coming towards the door, stopping outside. I dried my hair off and got up to greet them, finally deciding that to tell them about everything I had experienced since coming here. When I got to the open door I saw no one, so I stepped out. From where I was stood I could see that they were all still on the floating dock. I ran inside and closed the door, now feeling frightened. I wanted to go home.