Camp Pinecrest

FIVE

"Now. You all have a choice." He glanced at each and every camper. "You are allowed to walk back either on your own or with a group if you're not too scared." He stood up; the remaining staff also stood up.

"I volunteer." Max scoffed as he stood up, Max, like Scarlett, was well known around the camp for being around so long. Jake stood up after him.

"Yeah, let's do it!" Cockiness radiated off of the senior camper. Isla had to restrain from rolling her eyes. She was praying that they were scared horribly by her friends.

Tristan gestured towards the dark pathway. "Go then." He commanded. The group of four boys began to walk off, other brave campers followed after. Petrified shrieks echoed down the road. Even Isla found the walk down camp road scary. The option to walk down alone applied to staff too, Isla had made that mistake once last year. Scarlett and Grace were last to go, before Tristan, Isla, Bennett and the few campers who were scared to go alone were left. The way this worked was that when the staff scaring people saw the lantern, they'd know that this was the last group and that they wouldn't jump out and scare them.

Most people followed this rule.

Isla nudged at pebbles as she walked next to Bennett, they skidded on the concrete road.

"You think we did good?" She asked quietly, a small smile tugging on her lips as she glanced up at him.

Bennett nodded; a grin was plastered onto his lips. "I definitely think we set a high bar." He replied, screams were still echoing from the woods of campers still being scared. As the group approached the farm, Isla's brows furrowed. Valerie wasn't there, nor was Archie.

"Where is Val and Archie?" She asked. Valerie was supposed to greet the campers back.

"I think Archie got a bit carried away." Sage commented, her flashlight shone up where the infamous lover's lane began. "He chased a couple of them down there. Val tried to get him to stop. She ran after him though." Sage shrugged as she turned to face her friends, continuing her conversation. Isla slowly nodded as she tried to process the information. Valerie was an experienced older counsellor. She had been going to camp longer than Isla had by a couple of years. She also happened to be Amanda's older sister.

"They'll be fine, Isle." Finn reassured her as he squeezed her shoulder to comfort her. He was right, Val could handle herself, plus lover's lane wasn't too bad. It was easy to find your way back down it. Isla nodded again as fingers curled around the cuffs of her sweatshirt.

She plastered a smile onto her face as she stared around at the campers who were excitedly talking. There was no use keeping the campers out here still. "Let's head back." Isla called as she gestured for them to begin walking back down to the dining hall for their late-night snack of leftover nightly snacks and desserts that had been left alone. Excited campers chatted loudly about how they had been scared and who had scared them.

Upon arrival at the dining hall, the seniors were promptly told to be quiet. Or in the case of Bennett telling them to shut up. Saying goodnight, all staff members bar the counsellors of the participating cabins left. The remaining four counsellors gathered together in the kitchen.

"Have you seen Scarlett or Danny?" Becca asked as she stepped into the walk-in-fridge. Concern plastered on her face.

Isla, Bennett and Finn shook their heads. "No, why?" Finn questioned, brushing past her with a bowl of leftover pudding.

"They aren't here." Becca continued.

Isla and Bennett looked at each other before looking at Becca. "Maybe they're the kids that Archie chased? Any bet, they're in the nurse's cabin. Lovers Lane is dangerous in the light. Probably worse at night." Bennett shrugged.