Camp Bluelake

Chapter 9

Nothing eventful happened for the rest of the evening. We made small talk once back at the cabin. Well, he made small talk, I made long talk, but it was nothing serious. We picked up dinner. He let me wear his hoodie again, and I fell asleep with the smell of citrus and vanilla, melding together.

In the morning, we took turns showering in our own bathroom, got dressed and brushed our teeth, and headed for breakfast before our meeting with the camp leader. I was in a pair of denim shorts, stocks, and a yellow band T-shirt. Jesse was, predictably, in all black.

We headed out for breakfast and I asked him to join Milo, Fox and I. He seemed hesitant but complied. He was being nicer to me, and dropped the whole psycho act.

We got our food from the front and sat on, what was becoming, our usual bench. Milo and Fox joined us later, and I assumed they were getting on well.

I introduced Jesse to them, and we ate in silence. Well, they ate in silence, I talked about my dream.

"So I was in this cave, right, and this giant insect, kind of looked like an ant, came hurdling toward me. Fun fact about ants, the bullet any is said to have the most painful sting in the world! Living in humid jungle conditions such as the Amazon, their sting has been compared to being hit by a bullet. Crazy! So I wasn't sure if this was a bullet ant or not, but it seemed to have been enlarged. So of course I took the camera from around my neck and tried to get pictures"— Milo cut me off.

"So you didn't run?" I thought about his question. "Hmm, I guess not, the thought didn't really cross my mind. It was taller than Fox so I had to get a picture; research purposes and all," I finished off.

"You wouldn't survive a minute in a horror film, petit chaton." Jesse speaks up this time and I pout at him. He would know, judging by the rack of horror films and shelf of books with the same genre.

Fox looks between the two of us with his eyebrows raised, then shakes his head as if he was about to say something, and turns to Jesse.

"You deal with this every night?" He says, chuckling. Jesse rolls his eyes. "Yup, but I can't tell whether I feel smarter around him, or whether I'm losing brain cells." I wack him for the comment and everyone laughs except me. I cross my arms.

"I was right about you when we first met, you're a meanie," I say, making a huffing sound as I blow the hair from my eyes. This seems to amuse all of them, even Milo.

The conversation is cut short, when a speaker starts playing a deep voice, possibly a man in his mid-thirties. He has authority and sounds stern.

"Hello, camp members. I trust you've settled in well. I'd like to discuss with you the weeks ahead, so could you all meet in the gym. You can't miss it, it's the largest wooden structure toward the back of the cabins. Thank you." The audio cuts off with a click, and everyone talks in hushed voices.

"I don't think I've seen that building before." Milo agreed with me, Jesse looked pale, but Fox says to follow him, so we all make our way to the gym.

When we get to the door, Jesse pauses.

"Come on Jesse." He still won't move. I tell the other two boys to go in. "What's wrong Jesse? We're all required to attend this meeting. Is it the crowds?" He looks at me, then away, and back again.

"Uhh yeah," he says running his hand down his face, though he seems unsure.

"I can ask them if you can sit out." I move to go inside but Jesse pulls me back.

"No." He says suddenly. "I mean, no I'll come in, it's fine." That was weird.

"Okay come on." I grab his hand, fingers curling into the warmth of his larger palm. Did you know, over a 50-day period, around 220 million people come to the city of Prayagraj for the Kumbh Mela. It's a Hindu pilgrimage and the worlds largest gathering of humans. This is nothing." I smile up at him, but he doesn't return it. He must be really scared of crowds.

I lead him through to a bench in the back, signing both our names off of a sheet, just as a man in a suit takes to the stage. He seemed rather out of place in a room full of boys in shirts and shorts. Even the volunteers and employees were in camp uniform and trainers. He has blonde hair that's swept back, and piercing blue eyes, small signs of crows feet at the corners.

He clears his throat and proceeds. "It would appear, everyone is here." He gestured around the hall but his eyes are locked in the back where Jesse and I are sat. Jesse gulps, and then I realise he's been squeezing my hand so tightly  that my fingers are going white (whiter than usual). It hurts but he's anxious so I just rest my other one on top of his.

"So, my name is John Holt, and I own the camp. Here at Camp Bluelake, we like all of our members to have fun and stay active. We've arranged many ventures for you all, so you can try new things, but also feel comfortable in activities you're already accustomed to. We plan to have you leaving here with an amazing new skill set.

"I can see we have many previous members, but also new ones, so make sure you give the boys a warm welcome. We plan to shape you from the boys of today, to the men of tomorrow." Everyone applauds but I can't join in. Jesse's hands were practically glued to mine.

"Schedule wise, we'll be handing around a sheet with the calendar for the day ahead. You will have to pick up a new one from the help centre every Sunday. Because this is the first week, we will be having a party Saturday night. Obviously there will be no alcohol, but we've hired a DJ. More details are on your schedule." Everyone starts murmuring about how cool a party will be, but some are complaining about the lack of girls. Not a problem for me.

John hushes the audience and continues. "Today, we will be holding kayaking and martial arts. Because we have such a large bunch this year, we will alternate. If you're staying in blocks one through ten, you will be taking part in martial arts before lunch, and blocks eleven through twenty, you will be starting with kayaking. You'll then swap over, after lunch. Any questions?" Everyone soaks in what John has said, and when no hands are raised, he dismisses us.

Jesse doesn't move.

"We have to go now Jesse. He said dismissed. That means we need to leave." I whine my last syllable, tugging him as hard as I can, but the weight difference is extremely apparent as my feet slide along the floor.

We're the last ones left as everyone files out. John then walks over to us.

"Shouldn't you be getting to your first activity boys?" That gets Jesse's attention. His head snaps up and he stands rigidly. He is acting seriously strange.

I shoot my hand out for him to take. "Yes, sir. My name's Kai. I like dogs, drawing, and anything yellow. This is Jesse." I gesture to my companion, who might as well not even be present.

"Ah, I remember, pleasure to meet you again Jesse." John grabs his hand that isn't preoccupied and smooths his thumb over the surface, then drops it.

"Well, you two best be off, and I might see you around the campsite." He nods us away, and I could've sworn I heard him whisper my name under his breath, but then the door closes and we're enveloped in the caress of glowing light and fresh air.

"Well, he seemed nice," I say, bounding down the path, practically dragging the zombified boy behind me.