Camp Red Lake

Chapter 38. Tragedy

  An eerie silence settled over the camp. My blood ran cold, and my knees gave away as Croy's body went limp on top of mine. "Croy, Croy?!" I screamed, desperation gripping me. I had felt when the bullet pierced his back. He'd jumped in front and hugged me just as Violet pulled the trigger. Tears poured down my face uncontrollably. "Don't you dare leave me, Croy!" I sobbed as I held onto his weak frame. His head swayed heavily from side to side as he fought to keep his eyes open. Warm blood gushed out of him, drenching my cargos and hands.

I glared up at Violet; her hand was trembling. I had never wanted to kill someone so badly. Her eyes were wide and watery. "I...I... didn't mean to shoot him! It was you who should've been shot!" she screamed, a couple of tears rolling down her face. She raised the gun once more and aimed it unsteadily at my head.

"Do it." I whispered as I clutched on to Croy tightly. She looked at me bewildered. "Do it!! You already took the most important thing in my life! What are you waiting for?! Kill me!" I screamed, far beyond reason. I curled my fingers around her gun, pulling it towards me and pressing my dirty forehead against the cold metal. Tears poured down my bloodied cheeks. "Do it, I welcome it!" I sobbed.

"Hazel no!" Mayra protested as Violet cocked the gun.

"Good riddance." Violet whispered as I closed my eyes and waited for the end.

(Bang)

My ears rang painfully; the sound was deafening. I blinked my eyes open just in time to see Violet's knees give out. I watched, mouth agape as her eyes rolled back in her skull before she fell to the ground, a bullet hole straight through her forehead. I turned to see Jason standing behind me, a smoking gun in his hand. Sirens wailed signaling gunfire. "Jason, Run!" I urged, breaking him out of his trance. He dropped the gun next to Scaggot before taking off at full speed towards the woods.

Scaggot was barely waking up from being knocked out. When the Sergeants arrived, they saw me holding Croy. "It was him, it was Scaggot!" I sobbed as I buried my face in Croy's neck. The others took the Sargent and arrested him.

"No, you guys are making a mistake, let me go!" He screamed as he was hauled away. Croy's face was pale and clammy and the color in his eyes seemed to be fading.

"Don't leave me..." I sobbed as I hugged him.

"I'll always be with you." He rasped, his eyes struggling to focus.

"No, don't say that! You're gonna be fine Croy, you're gonna be fine!" I tried to sound reassuring, didn't know if I was trying to reassure him, or reassure myself. He smiled weakly and wiped away some of my tears.

"Please don't cry because of me." Blood came out of his mouth as he coughed.

"Somebody please help!" I shouted again, my voice cracking half-way. A couple of sergeants and medical assistants rushed towards us with Myra leading the way. "Hang in there Croy, just a little longer." I urged as I held him tightly.

"The days we spent together, were the best days of my pathetic life..." he sputtered weakly. More tears escaped my eyes as he caressed my face, then pulled me in. His lips were cold and tasted like copper. "I love you." He managed whisper just before his hand fell from my face.

"Croy? Croy?!" I screamed, hysteria gripping me. I pressed my ear to his chest to make sure his heart was still beating. His breathing was faint and his pulse even weaker. When the medical team arrived, they wrapped some bandages around him to stop the bleeding. They put an oxygen mask on him and laid him on a stretcher which they used to rush him to the infirmary. I tried to go after him, but Myra and Allison stopped me; I was shaking. Tears poured out of me uncontrollably.

"He's gonna be fine..." they assured, but I was far from being calmed. It was my fault he had gotten hurt.

Myra and Allison escorted me to the cabin that night, where they left me alone with my broken thoughts. Tears welled in my eyes as I face-planted into my cot. I'd never felt more useless...

Croy was in critical condition for the next couple of days, so I wasn't allowed to see him. I did go to the infirmary however; to get my wounds treated. It was agonizing to be in the same building as Croy, without being able to see him. After a day's rest, I went back to my drills as if nothing had happened. Daily, I would ask the Sergeants if they knew anything about his condition, but they never had any new information.

Jason was hiding out in the cave that Croy had taken me to and so far, no one had found him. Scaggot was still in the pit. Even though he was innocent, all their past interactions provided enough evidence to believe he was the culprit. About three more days passed, the sun was beginning to set, and I was almost done putting away the equipment for the night. I glanced up to see Allison and Myra walking towards me. My heart skipped when I realized they could be bringing me news of Croy. I rushed to them, a ray of hope filling my body.

"Hey guys, any news?" I asked hopefully as I wiped the sweat off my brows. Myra and Allison looked at each other fretfully, the atmosphere tense and hesitant.

"I'm sorry...." Myra began, her voice a whisper. I didn't understand what she was apologizing for.

"Sorry for what?" Myra and Allison glanced at each other again. After another long period of silence, Myra took my hands in hers. She turned my palms over and placed an object inside. My heart sank when I laid eyes on Croy's pocket knife. Dry blood stained it's wooden handle. I looked up at Myra, hoping she would clarify but she averted her gaze. "Why are you giving me this? Doesn't it belong to Croy?" Myra bit her lips

"He wanted you to have it. He said it would bring you luck and this way, he could stay with you forever..." Myra's voice broke as she glanced down at her boots.

"But he's going to be okay..." I trailed off as I looked at Ally, then Myra. They both avoided my gaze. "... isn't he?" I asked, my voice trembling, they didn't respond. "Is he...?" I began in a barely audible voice but couldn't bring myself to finish the question. Myra nodded grimly.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. All the blood drained from my face when it finally sunk in. At that moment, it felt like a black hole had torn its way through my chest. I wheezed as it began absorbing everything. Pain radiated through me in waves, making it harder and harder to breathe. The knot in my throat also tightened, making it impossible to swallow.

"I'm sorry." Allison repeated as I fell to my knees.

"He can't be..." I uttered in a whisper. "He can't be dead!!" I screamed hysterically as I tugged at my locks. "You liar, you fucking liar! You promised you wouldn't leave, you promised!" I sobbed as I punched the soil. "How dare you take the easy way out and leave me here like this?!" Myra and Allison stood by me silently; their heads bowed the entire time. Eventually, my eyes were dried through. I gripped the pocket knife in my palm, the ragged edges of it's design making indents in my skin. I vowed then and there, to never let it go.