The Camp

Chapter 16

I lay awake in the cabin, watching the patterns of the ceiling twist above me. I couldn't stop thinking and ever little peep made it worse, a creak, a sigh, a rustle. I was beyond scared of other people but also of myself for what I'd done, I kept looking at my hands, my nails, my fingers, the creases, I could see blood everywhere but I knew it wasn't there, I'd washed it off, prying my nails up to remove every trace. It didn't help that I kept seeing that girl either, the one who had turned mad, it could've all been avoided, she could've been home with her Mama right now but instead her cold corpse was rotting somewhere alone in the woods. It could've been me. That could have been Ma crying over the loss of her child, her only baby. It hit me then that Ma had probably been watching me, tears brimming her eyes as she watched my savage murder of that girl. It never occurred to me until then that I had released the string which had taken her life, I had allowed it to float away in the water, to be gone forever just like a judge breaks the nib of his pen after signing away a life I had released the string. I promised myself then that I would never do it again, I had saved a life, but I had also taken one and it would never go out of balance...ever.

That afternoon our trial was about aiming, we were instructed to throw a ball into a net and the people who could get the net the most would remain, those who missed would fall below the line. This was ok for me, I was always a good throw, Ma used to throw me eggs from the chicken coop, it was a game as a child and I used to catch them in the basket I was holding until I started dropping too many and then Ma held the basket and I threw. I have a feeling that if I went to school like they did in the past that I would be something to do with sports, perhaps a volleyball or basketball player.

The day quickly passed and even the food went by in a blur, it was some sort of hash and it tasted disgusting, but my desperate body consumed as much as they would allow us before dragging itself back across to the lodge. My feet ragged as I stumbled across the yard, making it into the lodge just in time for my legs to collapse. I lay on my bed, feeling the aches and pains that being hungry and tired bought you. This time I was able to sleep but before long I was awake again, all too aware of the tapping at the door, quiet but insistent. I got to my feet slowly, noticing that it was still dark outside and frowned, who was at the door at this time? Dragging myself across the room I made it to the door and cautiously opened it so that I could peek through the sliver at the side. My eyes widened as I beheld the head of fluffy hair in front of me. "Oh crap, I forgot!" I cried as I yanked the door open and beheld his shining smile. He was dressed in a pair of grey trousers and a green shirt with some sort of vehicle on it that I'd never seen before. Living in one place all your life tends to have that effect. "I thought so." He responded as I slipped out into the cool air and walked with him across the yard.

I found myself watching the sky in amazement, it so bright and full of twinkling stars. The moon was round and beautiful, and I pointed up at it, "Jack, look, it's a full moon, isn't it beautiful?" A smile had already made its way onto my face and I watched him as he smiled sadly at me. "There's nothing more beautiful than you..." He mumbled, not taking his eyes off of me for a second. I laughed, I don't know why, I guess I must've been nervous because I was glad for the half-cover of darkness because then he couldn't see me blushing. "You haven't even looked at it." I muttered playfully and turned back to him to see if he had taken a glance when I wasn't looking, "I don't need to, I know these things." He joked, giving me a warmer smile this time. "Oh really?" I was trying to be sarcastic and it appeared to work as he laughed back a me, "What too cheesy?" He questioned and we reached the side of his lodge. I turned to him so that he could see my head bobbing from side to side, but I kept walking down the pathway and he did too. "A little." I mumbled as I found myself wedged quite close to him, we had both tried to get down the path at the same time and now stood facing each other stuck in the entrance. There was silence, I could see his sparkling eyes looking back at me and feel the warmth of his breath spreading across my face. Something compelled me to lean forward and my lips brushed his, warm and gentle. I had my head down, I knew I was too close to him. I would get hell if anyone found out, but we were hidden and there were no cameras about. He lifted his own face and his lips met mine, kissing me gently. My hands moved up to his head, running through his hair then falling away as he slid sideways so that we had enough space to stand separate. His lips left mine and it suddenly felt very cold "Oops..." He uttered and I looked at him with large confused eyes. "I wasn't supposed to do that..." He mumbled backing up the step and hitting the door. I reached a hand out to comfort him but he drew away from it, "Its ok." I exclaimed but he shook his head back at me, "I'm not supposed to...they know, and they'll do something." My breath caught in my throat as I watched his scared, unhappy eyes. "I'm sorry." I muttered, trying to make it better, trying to make him better. "Its fine...I just don't want you to..." The tears started to flow from his eyes now and I was alarmed by it, his sudden display of emotion was strange, alien. "Don't want me to...what? Come here?" I whispered through my own tears; they were clouding my vision, but they hadn't broken the seal yet. Silence. I bit my lip and nodded, turning and starting back for my lodge. "No! Don't go!" He cried, chasing after me and grabbed my wrist. I twisted back to him to see his face right next to mine. "I don't want to see you get hurt because of me..." He mumbled and I choked on my words, turning to laughter which broke through my tears as I smiled at him, I placed my forehead on his and closed my eyes as he hugged me close. "I don't want to see you get hurt because of me either Jack..." I explained and I felt him arms tighten around me. The moon shone down on us and the stars twinkled. "Don't go, I think...I think I love you." He whispered, his voice feeble and scared. I was shocked of course but something inside of me reciprocated those feelings and I chuckled, "Me too."

We drew away from each other, smiling like idiots with tears down our cheeks. "I promise you that I'll pick you." He said as he started backing away, "But for now go rest up." I watched him as he moved backwards, watching me all the way to his door where he flung it open and slipped inside. I stayed there a little while longer while I digested the butterflies that were dancing like crazy around my stomach then with an excited smile I hopped back to the lodge.