Summer Camp

Chapter 5

"Follow the path that naturally glows. Collect what glows, then head to your next clue that's floating alongside." Cooper read.

 "What does that mean?" He said, looking around. Jevine too looked around, then found the path. She began walking towards it while Cooper followed, confused.

"Do you know where you're going?" He asked. When they got to the entrance, Jevine waited.

"Watch the plants." She said. Cooper looked onto the path, and a few seconds later, the plants slowly bloomed, releasing a glowing liquid from the center. Jevine then collected some and continued walking. Cooper looked in awe as he followed Jevine on. They came upon a stream that had a bottle tied to a tree, floating alongside. Jevine got it out and gave it to Cooper.

 "Looks like we might be able to finish this scavenger hunt thanks to your intelligence." He smiled, reading the next clue. 

 Jevine felt touched by his compliment. She hardly gets them from anyone other than her mother. And to say that she was intelligent! That was a big thing for her.

 "Gray is my color, yet I'm only fifteen years old. My only job is to carry the camp's old tale. Collect a chipped piece from me, then find Your next clue." Cooper read.

 "I know where this is! Come on Jevine!" Cooper said, getting excited that he knew. Jevine ran to catch up with him. They arrived at a stone that was engraved with the camps origin. They collected a chipped stone from it. Next to the stone, lied a bottle with the clue.

"You sleep in me. Nothing to collect here. You're next clue is there. They mean the cabins right? Let's get going." Cooper exclaimed. Before he could run off, Jevine pulled him back and shook her head.

 "That's not what they meant." She said, thinking about the way the clue was worded.

 "You mean they put a clue on our bunks? Where else do you sleep? Cooper asked, thinking as well.

"Tents. But no one has one except for the emergency room." Jevine said, running over to the emergency room next to the nurses building. She pulled open the door and pulled out another bottle with a clue inside.

 "Wow. You really know what you're doing when it comes to scavenger hunts, don't ya?" Cooper chuckled, taking out the clue and reading it.

They continued for a few more clues until they came to the last one, which was very easy for Jevine.

 "Return to your counselors, and tell them of someone in your family, who served in the military. This is for an activity that will be held tomorrow." Cooper read.

"My great grandfather fought in World War II. He keeps talking about it too. He's getting to old and it pains me to watch him think he's still a soldier." He laughed to himself.

"Well, he's still alive." Jevine mumbled to herself.

They came up to the spot and saw that they were the first ones to arrive. 

"Congratulations! You guys don't have to do any camp chores tomorrow! So, tell us someone in your family who's served in the military. Tomorrow we have a special acticity, but we need at least one name from each person who participates. Cooper?" Asher began.

"My great grandfather on my mom's side. Austin Mullock." Cooper said happily.

"Thanks Cooper. What about you Jevine?" Natalie asked.

 "Alive, or dead?" Jevine asked.

 "Preferably alive. Don't tell anyone else but, tomorrow were basically having a camp veteran's day and having everyone come here. Even if they're serving now, we have permission to call them out to visit for the whole day! Won't that be so amazing?!" Natalie explained, getting excited at the thought.

 "Sorry, but I won't be participating tomorrow." Jevine said harshly, turning away.

 "What? But it will be awesome! Come on. One name?" Asher pressed on.

 "No. Because you wouldn't be able to contact them anyways." Jevine finished. She began to walk away, leaving Natalie, Asher, and Cooper concerned. Cooper hesitated, but sighed aggressively and ran up to Jevine.

"Hey? You ok? Do you know someone in your family who died?" Cooper asked.

"Just drop it. I'm never gonna see him again, so what's the point in talking about it?" Jevine grunted, trying to brush him off.

"You mind telling me who? You don't have to, but you know-"

 "My dad." Jevine mumbled, hoping he wouldn't hear, but he did.

 "Oh. I'm sorry."

 "No. You're not. People just say that. And you want to know something? That's exactly what Alvar said. But was he actually sorry? No! He knew, exactly what he was doing, when he was doing it!" Jevine said in anger, trying to hold in the tears.

 "Who's Alvar? You, uh, you mentioned him when you freaked at dinner." Cooper said cautiously, knowing that one wrong question will make her shut up.

 "No one worth talking about. Just leave me alone. I've told you more than I'd like to already." Jevine said, trying to walk away again.

 "Wait!"

 Cooper grabbed onto her hand and pulled her into his arms.

 "You don't have to tell me anything else if you don't want to, but at least let me help calm you down." He's said softly. Jevine tried to hold in her emotions, but she couldn't. Her father stayed in her mind, and the memory of witnessing his death was a horror for her to remember. She turned to face Cooper and cried onto his shoulder.

 A few minutes late, when she had calmed down, she backed away and smiled.

 "I haven't had someone to cry on since he died, so thank you. You should get back to your cabin now. Some of the other boys might be waiting for you." She said, walking away. Cooper nodded and walked away as well.

 Neither of them noticed the giggling spies hidden behind the trees. The giggling continued all the way back to the Deer cabin.