I spend the rest of the day avoiding Kayla, and she does the same.
Andy sees no reason why we can’t have the night off as planned. The inflatable was an accident and the campers are all fine. He said the cops are looking into the ex-counselors.
But I know they won’t find anything.
I’m by the campfire with Tia, Rebekah, Olly and Jake.
Kayla is getting changed into sweats and meeting us out here.
The flames crackle gently as the last of the fire struggles to stay alight.
I watch the embers float before disappearing into the air.
Olly nudges my side with his. “What’s going on?”
“Huh? Nothing.”
“We can tell it’s not nothing, you know,” Tia says, scooping her long hair over one shoulder.
I raise my eyes to hers. “I’ve been distracted, but I’m fine.”
I’m on my own and have no one to talk to. Kayla has made it clear that she’s done with the whole thing, and I can’t bring anyone else in on this.
Mostly I feel horrible for keeping the inflatable tampering a secret.
Rebekah twists her hands together like she’s trying really damn hard not to voice her opinion.
I’m not sure I want to hear it right now.
There are more important things I need to worry about. Like Kayla.
“What’s happening?” Olly asks. “Please tell us.”
“We…I thought we were closer than this, Esme,” Rebekah says. “Whatever is goin’ on, we can help. Are you homesick?”
That sounds much better than the truth. “I’m close to my parents,” I say. “I’ve missed my nan’s birthday. It was last week.”
Actually, it was two months ago and I was there, at her place. We ordered Mexican food. She drank a lot of tequila and sang sixties songs on her karaoke machine until three a.m.
“I’m sure she won’t be angry with you,” Tia says. “You can always celebrate when you get home.”
“Yeah, I will. Thanks. What do you guys want to do tonight? No walks in the forest!”
Please go with the subject change.
Jake laughs. “The next time we go into the forest, I’ll find that creep.”
“We don’t need to go search for anyone,” Tia says. “Town is a bad idea after last time.”
“Does that mean we’re not goin’ back?” Rebekah asks.
Tia’s smile widens. “Not at all.”
I’m not going back.
“Are you sure that’s it?” Olly asks me while the other three argue about whether we would be crazy to go back to town.
“Uh-huh,” I reply, looking at the dimple in his cheek because I can’t meet his eyes.
He nods. “There’s something you’re not telling me.”
There’s a lot I’m not telling you, to be honest.
“No, it’s just…Some things are complicated.”
“I understand that we haven’t known each other for long, but you can talk to me.”
It’s kind of weird, being secluded with these people twenty-four seven. It feels like I’ve known them for years. It’s the oddest feeling ever.
“I can talk to you, and I’m grateful for that,” I say.
“You want to start doing that now?” Olly asks.
I really don’t.
Olly thinks I’m a good person, and I’d like to keep it that way. He would hate me if he found out what I had been involved in. Maybe he could look past the accident, but his opinion would change if he knew I lied about it for ten years.
“I’m freaking out that we were chased and watched. Okay, there you have it. I’m a massive baby.”
Chuckling, he lowers his voice. “We’re all a little freaked out. Even Jake, but he will never admit it.”
“What the hell is this?” Cora’s voice isn’t particularly loud, but it’s heard clearly by us and by a group of counselors on the dock.
She comes running down the porch of the staff cabin holding a piece of paper in one hand and a kitchen knife in the other.
I push myself to my feet, feeling gritty sand embedded under my nails.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“This was stabbed into the door!”
The counselors run toward us and we all meet a pale Cora.
She turns the paper around with shaking hands. It reads:
We’re going to have some fun
Alert the cops and you’ll be done
My heart thuds.
I try to take a breath, but it’s like breathing through a blanket.
“That’s creepy as hell,” Jake says, snatching the paper from Cora. “Who do you think wrote it?”
“What do you think it means?”
“Could it be one of the kids?”
“Why would kids write that?”
“Is it the stalker in the woods?”
“What do they want?”
“You guys need to calm down.”
I stand back and listen to the comments flying all around me.
My head is spinning so fast, I’m dizzy.
Lillian wants us alone out here.