Coming back home is a strange sensation. I feel different as I stare at the trailers, at the dry, cracked grounds, feeling the sweat roll off of me in the sweltering heat. It’s all so familiar and yet I feel like I stick out like a sore thumb.I head towards the familiar looking trailer and when I try the door, it’s unlocked. Letting out a sigh, I open it and head inside. The place looks almost cleaner. Dolores has been busy, it seems. My dad’s things are nowhere in sight, though, and my heart clenches in my chest. What did she do with them?I already didn’t expect any of my reminders lingering around and I’m not surprised when I see that she’s tossed them away.I would feel sad to have my entire childhood home turned upside down but then, without my father, this isn’t really a home. I check the time and realize that Dolores is probably at Happy Hour in some nearby bar. She won’t be back for a couple of hours. I head over to where my bed used to be and remove the laundry buc
I have no intention of spending the night in the trailer. I head over to the bus stop, my heart twisting in my chest. Suicide?Dad left me behind deliberately?But why?Didn’t he care what would happen to me after he left?I trudge towards the bus stop, feeling mentally drained. I know Dolores is lying about Jane but what’s the point of trying to get her to talk when I’m already struggling with what she told me about Dad? Would I even be able to handle what she would have told me about my sister?As I approach the bus stop, I look down at the empty stretch of road. I know a night bus is going to pass by, take me into the city where I’ll have to wait for the morning bus. I sit down on the bench. Leaning my head against the glass wall, looking up at the night sky.I don’t have to go back.I could walk away from here and never come back, away from all the dangers and people dying, and attacking me. I would be safe. I could survive by myself. I’m strong enough.But even as the
“So, what did you find out?” Quill leans forward, curiously.“Nothing,” I shake my head. “My dad wasn’t killed. It was a suicide.”I feel numb saying it because a part of me still can’t believe it, refuses to believe it.“Oh, Taylor,” Beth gives me a sympathetic look and when she hugs me, I don’t reject it. “I know it’s hard.”She’s right but there’s nothing I can do about it.“That’s tough,” Quill sinks back into his seat. “Sorry.”“It’s okay.”“So, now what?”“I don’t know,” I shrug. “Classes begin tomorrow. It’s going to be a new normal for us.”“We have our level up tests as well,” Beth points out. “Those who clear will become Level Twos.”“It’s not a hard test,” Quill points out. “Just physical tests. And the tests are in three months. So, we have time. Hard to believe we don’t have summer vacations though.”I watch them talk between themselves and when they get up to head out, I decide to go on a walk by myself. I watch them leave before heading towards the waterfall.
Sneaking out isn’t supposed to be this hard.I hide behind the empty barrel, waiting for the night guard to move away from the barracks. Or it never used to be this hard.Ever since the incident from two weeks ago, when two counsellors tried to murder me and my friends, the security around this camp has increased significantly. I hold my breath as the night guard stops and lifts his hand to scratch his underarm. The odor reaches me all the way to where I’m hiding, and it takes everything inside of me not to throw up. I clasp my nose closed, gagging silently. I know if I make a sound, his sharp ears will pick it up.One of the perks of being supernaturally inclined, as I have recently discovered.Patience isn’t my strong suit, and I would rather be tucked in my bed, in the new barracks, but this is the only chance I have to meet Jesse. I check my watch and worry fills me. I’m already fifteen minutes late.Finally, the guard moves away, sniffing, his hand scratching his butt.I
I go still at Jesse’s revelation.Ex-girlfriend?Rachel ignores me as she takes a step forward, her pretty face all smiles. “So, how have you been?”I drop his hand which has been curled around mine since the moment she interrupted us. I don’t miss the flicker of annoyance in his face at that. Before I can say anything, however, he grabs my hand again, this time holding tight. “Good,” Jesse’s voice is terse. “What are you doing back here? I thought you left the school.”Rachel shrugs, flipping her long hair over her shoulder in a move that should not be as attractive as she makes it. “I’m back. As an assistant counselor.”Assistant counselor?That’s when I notice the t-shirt she’s wearing. It’s similar to the ones all the counselors at this camp wear.Jesse gives her a wary look. “Why, though? You hated this place.”Rachel’s smile is slow and meaningful. “Well, not all of it. You look good, Jesse.”I’m not an idiot. The way her eyes run over Jesse makes me bristle. “What
“So, she’s Jesse’s ex-girlfriend?” Beth sounds a little troubled as she glances at me. “How did he react when he saw her?”My backpack is hauled over my shoulder as I try to make my way across the rocky terrain. This is one of the things I hate about the Level One island. It’s so rocky. It feels like the entire island was built upon rock and stone. The only clear area is where some of the physical classes are held and where the main buildings are.“Well, not too pleased,” I reply. “Not too upset either. He seemed shocked.”“Shocked?” Beth echoes, a frown on her face. “Well, that’s not good.” She shoots me a quick glance. “Or is it? I’ve never really dated before so I don’t know.”“Neither have I,” I respond, grimly. “But it’s not a good thing, in my book. She wanted to catch up with him and he didn’t exactly seem disinclined.”Beth makes a face. “Now that does sound bad.”“What does?”Quill’s voice is out of breath as he suddenly appears out of nowhere from behind us.I give
“My name is Rachel Adkins,” Rachel begins, her long red hair tied up in a high ponytail. She’s wearing the counselor t-shirt which, along with her jeans, is clinging to her frame, enough so that most of the boys are practically drooling.It makes sense because she’s around our age while the other counselors are much older.“I’m an Assistant Counselor and like some of you, I’ve just recently rejoined Mistfall Wilderness Camp! Since we’re all so close in age, you can call me Rachel.” Her voice is cheerful and sweet, and I can see some of the students begin to relax as she continues, “I’ll be taking the endurance classes. I would like to know a little bit about-“Immediately, Abigail’s hand shoots up and Rachel’s gaze rests on her. “Yes?”Abigail puffs up her chest, inflated with some strange self-confidence. “My name is Abigail Warner.”Rachel blinks, “Ah, okay.”When Abigail doesn’t get the response she so clearly desired – whatever it may have been – she continues, “I thought we
“She’s rather mean,” Beth declares as I stand outside her shower stall with her change of clothes. Unfortunately, she was one of the few students who got completely covered in the mud. Abigail, Anderson, and a couple of others had the same experience. I opted to come with Beth to help her shower and get changed quickly.“Why was she getting so personal with you, Taylor?” comes another voice from the stall over.I recognize Kathleen Turner’s voice. I don’t know what exactly she is but I’ve not really interacted with her. She’s an oddball, preferring to hang out by herself. So, it comes as a little bit of a shock to have her try and initiate a conversation with me.“Ah,” I mutter, “maybe because she’s crazy? I don’t even know her.”From under the sound of the rushing water, I hear her laugh. “She has it out for you. You know she seemed to know I was part of your team because when she came up to me, she was like ‘you’re a traitor now.’ Do you think she had the paper marked or someth