Panic Station

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 

Outside the hall, everyone had been congregated by an activities supervisor who was the same small, stout woman that met me when I was first abandoned there by my parents. We were shepherded into the wooden benches in the wood-chipped square and once we'd all sat down, she stepped onto the pedestal at the front and spoke in hushed tones to the other supervisors while everyone on the benches chatted happily among themselves ... Except me. 

I'd been dragged by Emma, (who was shorter than I had thought she was; about 5'3"), from the breakfast table all the way out and to a bench, where she'd pulled me down beside her, still chatting happily to me. 

"I'm really excited! Team bonding is always my favourite part of summer camp!" She mused, still clutching my hand, which I was extremely conscious of. That was part of my lack of attention. I wanted her to let go and give me some space because I loathed being physically close to people, but then I couldn't tell her to, and even if I could I wouldn't have the heart to do it. So I tried desperately to listen to her instead of thinking about our hands. "...We should totally be a tea- Oh hey, it's Dan! ... Is he dating Iona?!" My gaze shot up to where Emma was looking and beaming to and I felt something sting in my chest, like my heart being caught in a vice. 

It was as if a constrictor had coiled itself around my heart and had suddenly tightened, and with each breath I took, each beat it made, the constrictor squeezed that little bit more. Eventually it would just stop beating and I'd be left cold and void of emotions. 

"Phil, scoot over a bit, man." Dan said proudly. He was probably smiling or something, but my eyes were locked with his right hand, and how it was delicatly entwined with that of a girl, presumably she was Iona. 

Ripping my eyes away from the source of my stabbing, almost strong feelings of betrayal, I glanced into Dan's face, trying to hide the hurt from him, I mean, it wasn't like we were anything anyway, not that I wanted to be. But It would've been nice to have at least a few days thinking it was something more than just 'Yeah that happened at this cool party!'. 

"Are you alright? You look a little upset." Iona cocked her head slightly, the panda hat that sat atop  her golden curls looked down on me as I felt like a child being interrogated. Her tone was soft and gentle and it was clear to me that she was oblivious, whereas Dan's eyes flickered with knowing. 

He knew.

Nodding, I let my eyes slide from Dan to her face, which was kind and the smile making her seem friendly. Which for my sake, I hoped she was. The slight breeze rippled the light blue fabric of her dress, causing the tiny, printed birds to appear as if they were soaring across it. Around her neck, hung a necklace with a pendent I recognised very well; the Triforce from the Legend of Zelda games. I felt a small smile grace my lips as I allowed my eyes to move to her wrists, which were both adorned with countless bracelets, ranging from leather and string to charm and ribbon. 

"Phil?" I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned back to Emma's concerned face. Why was she worried? Looking back to Iona, I realised that she looked equally anxious, whereas Dan looked merely indifferent. 

I forced a smile and shuffled further down the gnarled bench to make room for the both of them. I didn't want them to talk to me so I shrunk further into the corner of the bench than necessary, but unfortunately Emma was quick to notice my attempt at retreat, and swiftly grabbed my hand, grinning. 

She was nice, and clearly wasn't going to let me isolate myself. So, I closed my eyes, allowing my mind to wonder to a place where it was just me and my parents. Everything was peaceful, and it was back how it was meant to be; mum didn't force me into social situations and no one wasted their time trying to speak to me. It was great.

But then I was ripped viciously from my fantasy by an ear-splitting, electrical scream. My eyes snapped open and were met by the stout activities supervisors standing on her pedastall holding a mic to her lips.

Sighing, I braced myself for the rules of the game that would change my camp experience for the better ... Or worse.