Camp Charlie

8| The Darkest Secret|

"Alan! Why are we exploring these dark and smelly caves? Even when we could be outside in the daylight."

"Because I am the guide and I'm the one who decides what to do and where to go, Hannah."

Hannah had been inside the caves for too long (if you consider fifteen minutes to be a very long time). She wasn't interested in knowing about the way these caves were formed. The others were looking at everything in reverence. It seemed completely ridiculous that her friends were engaged in sand and stones because that was exactly what Hannah thought caves to be. There wasn't enough light to click good photos and she had even seen a bat. Ugh, bats! "Ugly creatures and storehouses of viruses like ebola and corona", she thought.

Sarah, on the other hand, was listening to Alan. But everything he said didn't make any sense. "Those caves couldn't be naturally formed," she thought. It seemed as if a human had constructed them as the height of the cave was uniform everywhere. Weird, isn't it?

Ethan wasn't looking at the caves. He was observing Sarah intently, and she looked deep in thought as she had a frown on her face. "She always does that, when she's thinking", he thought.

Maya was busy observing a bat. She liked bats. Not like birds and neither like animals. Outcasts, just like her. Weird creatures, she thought. She would like to have one as a pet. So what if she was allergic to both cats and dogs, she could keep a bat as her pet. A very queer pet.

Liam liked the caves because he had always wanted to explore one. Full of mystery and adventure, until you lose your way. He was rubbing his finger along the cave wall and he liked that they were strong and stable. Like they were coated with cement.

Rohan was the only one who was listening to Alan and enjoying it. He liked geography. (Weird, right?)

Alan was going on non-stop about the caves like he was reading out an essay he knew by heart. Had I been there, I would've said to him, 'Dude, take a break'. But he had no intention of stopping.

So for now, we'll let them be. But maybe, they must know. Know about this place and it's owner 'Charlie'.

********************

In the evening, after returning from the trek, all of them sat by the campfire. Even though it was summertime, the nights here were chilly, and the days were hot as hell. The only time when the weather was pleasant were the evenings. The only time when the setting sun and the rising moon could be seen together. That evening, the sky was generous with the colours that it displayed. Orange and yellow could be seen where the ground seemed to meet the sky. But the highlight of the evening sky was the pink and purple hue that managed to provide the western skies a breathtaking scenery.

Sarah was deep in thought, yet again. Reading this, one might feel that all she ever did, was think. But did she act? Well that, only time could tell. But we have to move on.

Alan was brewing some new play in his mind when he got an idea.

"Guys, let's play a game. All of us will tell each other the darkest secret of our lives. Whoever has the most shocking secret, wins the game. What do you say?"

"And why would we want anyone to know our secrets?" asked Rohan.

"Because we're friends and friends don't withhold anything from each other." Oh, Hannah! Only if you knew.

After a lot of convincing from Hannah, everyone agreed.

"Okay, I'll tell you my darkest secret. Do you guys remember Brad?"

"Oh your ex, the one with tattoos and piercings?" recalled Sarah.

"Yes. We once tried to break into a house. It was his idea and I was so stupid to pay heed to him. He said that if we were caught we could simply make up an excuse that it was a prank meant for my youtube channel."

"What!" The other six said in unison.

"Did you get caught?" asked Ethan.

"No. The house that he chose was the one in which no one had lived in for years. I can't believe I dated that idiot. Thank god, I broke up with him the next morning."

"Wow, Hannah! I always knew you were dumb. But maybe I was wrong because you are a legend."

"Don't talk to me like that Ethan! I was only sixteen."

"Yes. Exactly my point. If you could do a thing like that when you were only sixteen, I wonder what you'll do when you grow up."

"Okay, now stop teasing her and tell us your secret Ethan," said Sarah.

"Well, I like a girl."

"Come on Ethan. I'm sure enough that you like every girl that you lay eyes on," said Maya.

"The point is that I don't just like her. I think I'm in love." While saying this, Ethan's eyes landed on Sarah. She was frowning and looking intently at the fire. The fire lighted her face in the best possible way.

"That's not possible. You are lying. You don't love people, you use them."

"Oh shut up Maya. I'm a changed man."

"What's her name? Does she know?" asked Hannah excitedly.

"I'm not telling you her name and she doesn't know yet. Now who's ready to reveal their darkest secret?"

"I'll do it."

"Rohan! You don't seem like a person who keeps secrets."

"Don't judge a book by its cover, Sarah."

"Okay then, spill."

Rohan took in a deep breath. His heart was racing and he wasn't sure if he wanted them to know. But this secret had been eating him up from the inside and he was craving to tell someone. He had his eyes fixated on the campfire as he said this.

"I am gay."

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