Chapter 11
If there’s anywhere that Liza’s prediction of self-induced injury will come true, it’s definitely on the obstacle course. As Mr. Fink’s favorite part of the camp and the part of it he’s probably put too much work into, the obstacle course could probably be used for army recruits, as well as feral ten-year-olds.
Small obstacles dot one side of the clearing, most of them just requiring the person on them to balance or jump or maybe cross some monkey bars while dangling a few inches over the ground. But the other side of the clearing is dedicated to the rope course. Bridges, knotted climbing ropes, and even a small zip line are attached to both the ground and the trees, and I know the kids are eyeing the course with excitement and fear on their faces.
Some of them probably remember me snapping my arm here last year when I’d made the questionable choice of going across the bridge without a harness on. Whatever Tarzan-fantasy had been living in my head that week was quickly snuffed out the moment I’d cracked my wrist on the hard ground. If I needed any more discouragement from doing it again, Kinsley’s lecture while I’d gotten my arm splinted definitely did it.
This year, I’m already wearing my harness. The bright pink straps criss-cross over my clothes as I fold my arms over my chest, hip cocked to the side while I watch Kinsley’s cabin scramble over the ground obstacles. It’s not timed, exactly. Though each cabin gets a certain amount of time on both sides of the clearing and the goal is to get them confident in what they’re doing before the end of the day.
Half of my cabin doesn’t have that problem. Melody has, of course, rallied the girls into a shivering, soft excitement. And they’d all put their harnesses and helmets on without complaint. Sometimes they terrify me, and I seem to be the only counselor who got lucky enough to get the kids that want to be the best at any cost.
At least they haven’t killed anyone yet. Though, by the way they’ve been eyeing up a couple of the boys in Kayde’s cabin who had the audacity to mock the high-pitched voice of Sophie, a girl who’s new to Camp Crestview this year, I’m not holding out hope that it won’t happen.
Maybe they’ll accidentally murder Kayde instead. Surely even if they just injure him, I can’t be held at fault for that. After all, I can’t be everywhere or see everything. Though, the fierce protectiveness that bubbles in my chest at the idea of Kayde hurting them surprises me a little, and I find myself glancing over at the counselor who’s currently waiting for the rope course with his boys.
It’s a good chance to study him. Even just for a moment. He isn’t looking at me, as he calls encouragement to the boys already on the course. He’s wearing a black harness over his clothes, and the way he’d handled the straps and buckles make me think he’s definitely done this before, even if his stories about being a counselor somewhere else are fake. Not that I know they are for certain, but…
Well, why would a serial killer actually want to be a summer camp counselor? The only reason he’s here is for murder. He doesn’t give a damn about these kids, and seeing him there, acting like he does, causes my skin to itch and gooseflesh to break out over my arms. Unconsciously I rub at my arms, fingers digging occasionally into my skin as I stare at him, unable to tear my gaze away from his profile.
He really is, unfortunately, gorgeous. The sounds around me seem to fade a little, and the memories from last night flood back to me. How the tile had felt on my knees. How his cum had tasted in my mouth.
If asked, I would say without hesitation how much I’d hated it. That I’d gone back to my cabin and forced myself to vomit to get any trace of Kayde off of me and out of me.
But that’s…not quite the case.
When I blink, I realize Kayde is looking at me. Not straight on, and I wouldn’t notice it if not for the tilt of his chin and the way one of his brows is quirked just so. I doubt anyone else knows his attention is somewhere other than on the obstacle course, and before I can stop myself, I stride over to stand beside him, smiling like anger and fear aren’t swimming to life in my chest.
“You’re staring,” he murmurs, still keeping most of his focus on the boys on the course as they finish up. “Is it because you like looking at me, sweetheart?”
“No,” I assure him, hating that I do like how he looks. “I was just thinking, is all.”
“What about?”
My smile becomes absolutely beatific when he meets my eyes, and in the sweetest voice I can muster I say without stopping to think, “About the likelihood of you falling off that course and snapping your neck on the ground.”
He’s quiet for long enough that I worry he’s actually mad. My lips part again to make some kind of apology, to keep him from going on the murder rampage he’d promised that first night if I didn’t agree to this fucked up game.
But he cuts me off with a soft laugh before I can speak, shaking his head as he finally gives me his full attention. “I love it when you surprise me with your backbone, Summer. Most people wouldn’t want to upset me given our”—he looks around dramatically, then back at me—“circumstances. But not you. You just can’t help yourself, can you?” He reaches up, glances over my shoulder, then drops his hand to his side. “You’re lucky I’m nice,” he informs me, as the last boy clambers down the ladder. “Darcy’s looking, and if I touch you, she might kill you. Since I don’t want to lose my favorite toy…” he trails off, but I get the point.
“Gosh, but you’re just so wonderful,” I reply, still in that dandy, friendly tone. “Glad you’re looking out for me.”
“I know you are,” he replies, just as sweetly. “Just a word of warning, Summer?”
“If it’s to actually clip my harness to the line, I’ve got that covered?—”
“Don’t start something you don’t want me to finish later. Night isn’t that far away, and I don’t have to be as nice as I was in the shower.” His smile is winning and bright, and he winks at me before striding away, giving his campers his full attention while answering a couple of quick questions.
I just suck in a breath and watch him go, wondering if I’ve made a mistake in how bold I was. But at the same time, knowing that nothing in this world will keep me from opening my mouth when I shouldn’t.
Not even a serial killer, apparently.
With my eyes glued on Coyote cabin, I barely notice when the other side of the clearing, the side with the ground obstacles, is free for my girls. It takes Melody poking my arm, something that makes me squeak in surprise and pain, before I look over to see that she and the other girls are chomping at the bit to get on the course.
“Sorry, sorry,” I sigh, throwing my hands up in surrender. I shoo them onto the course, not that it takes much, and follow behind them across the first obstacle, a series of low posts sticking out of the ground that need to be hopped between.
For me, the distance is minuscule enough that I can take long steps between them without actually hopping. For my girls, who are a good foot shorter, it’s an actual hop. Melody makes it on the first try, though two of the girls return the beginning, red-faced and frustrated even after I remind them it’s not a race.
Though telling my cabin this isn’t a competition is a worthless endeavor when everything is competitive to them. Including making s’mores, somehow. So instead of cautioning them to slow down, I try to prevent any long lasting damage or murder of another cabin as they complete the ground obstacles before pausing in the area before the rope course.
Sure enough, Kayde is just finishing up with his cabin when my eyes find him halfway up a tree, strapped in his harness and coaxing the last boy down the handholds nailed into the trunk. There’s no danger for either of them, with their harnesses clipped and strapped, but even some of the counselors get woozy on the higher obstacles.
I watch as he wraps an arm around the boy, who shakes like a leaf and buries his face in Kayde’s shirt, before the blond counselor slowly works them both down the tree, being careful not to let go of his camper.
It looks so…sweet. He seems helpful like this, when he’s playing at being the counselor he isn’t. Even when they’re on the ground he gives the boy a few seconds to get his bearings before releasing him, prompting him to see they’re on solid ground. Deftly, he unclips the boy’s harness, then his own, before walking him back over to the rest of the cabin, where his friends wait.
Even they’re being supportive, which is something I don’t always see from the boys here at Crestview. And, frankly, sometimes the girls too. My cabin, for all that they’re a united force allied to hunt down any opposition and snuff it out, would probably kick a weak link off of the proverbial island if it came down to that or winning something they’ve decided is a competition.
“It’s not a race.” My eyes land on Melody, the ringleader for Redtail. I’ve been her counselor long enough to know that if I can convince her, I’ll convince everyone of that. Or at least if she’s too intimidated to do something stupid, the others won’t either.
But she hasn’t been intimidated by me since she was nine, and today is no exception. With a grin on her lips and a mock salute in my direction, she clips her harness onto the safety line with practiced ease and barely waits for me to check it before she’s scrambling up onto the first platform, ready to walk the rope bridge to the other side. That’s if she doesn’t just lunge the distance instead.
“I don’t think she’s listening,” another girl, who’s spending her first year at Camp Crestview, whispers as I check her harness.
“It’s okay,” I tell her, a crooked smile on my lips. “She never really does. Just, you know, don’t follow in her footsteps, okay? No need for you to go swinging like Tarzan your first time up there.”
The girl smiles, nervous, and takes a deep breath before she heads up the ladder to the platform with the others, obviously determined not to be left behind.
Not that I can blame her.
With my attention fixed on the light rope burns on my hands that could’ve definitely been prevented if I had been smart enough to wear my gloves instead of stuffing them in my pocket, I don’t notice the footsteps until a twig cracks right behind me.
I jump, twisting around on my log seat in front of the snapping fire with suspicion bubbling up my throat. The sun is setting, and I’m sure after today Kayde is just salivating for his chance at making my night miserable. If sneaking up on me is how it starts, then it’s definitely going to be bad.
But the person who sits on the log beside me isn’t Kayde.
It’s Kinsley.
She offers me a soft smile and wraps her arms around her knees, drawing them up to her chest as she stares at the small campfire outside of the staff cabin. It’s not nearly as big as the ones we build for the campers, and we rarely cook anything here other than trash. But the light from the flames plays over her face, casting harsh relief on her expression and making it look almost sinister in the dimness.
“Hi,” I greet, dropping my hands to my lap after one more flex. “Your camper okay? The one who tripped off of the log jumps?”
She makes a face at that, and leans into me with a groan. “I really thought she broke her arm,” she admits. “But Liza says it’s fine, and Tara, that’s my camper, says it doesn’t hurt anymore.” I feel her shrug, and her sharp sigh against my shoulder. “I owe you an apology, though.”
“Me?” My eyebrows jump for my bangs, and I turn to look down at her. “For what? If you mean Melody being in my cabin again, I think it’s just fate that I get the little murderer-to-be?—”
“I mean that I’ve been distant for the past few days,” Kinsley is quick to interrupt. “I’m your best friend, and I’ve been kind of shitty. I didn’t even ask what happened to your damn neck. I had to find out from Kayde.” She looks at me with a pinched, apologetic expression as I swallow back my horror.
Kaydehad told her what had happened to my neck?
“What did he say?” I keep my voice as level as I can, and watch her grimace with guarded hope. Surely if he’d been honest, she’d be freaking out right now.
“That you fell when he startled you last night. Said you guys came out of the showers around the same time, he called your name, and you tripped in surprise.” Her eyes find mine, still glinting with apology. “I should’ve asked this morning. I’m a bad friend.”
“You’re not a bad friend.” My heart flutters in my chest, and I lean against her the same way she leans on me. “You’re my best friend. And you’re in love. How’s that going, anyway? You guys were adorable this morning.”
From the corner of my eye I can just make out the red staining her cheeks courtesy of the fire light, and Kinsley shifts nervously against me. “I like her more than I’ve ever liked anyone,” she admits softly. “I didn’t think I’d be this nuts for Liza.”
“Seems like she’s just as nuts for you?”
“Yeah.” Kins bites her lip, then reaches out to grip my hand in hers. “You’d tell me if something was wrong, right? Even though I can be a little oblivious and stupid?”
“You’re in your summer love phase,” I tease her gently. “You’re not stupid.” My fingers curl around hers, and the words I so want to tell her bubble to life in my throat. She’d help me. She’d do something stupid, probably, like commit a crime. But together we could get out of the situation I’ve gotten myself into.
Or Kayde would kill her.
My brain takes that moment to conjure up the idea of her dead, chopped to pieces, and strewn around the camp for me to find. My heart picks up, stomach turning along with it, and I suck in a deep breath to try to fight back the sudden nausea.
She must pick up on something, because Kinsley sits up. There’s a question in her eyes as she leans her shoulder against me so we’re using each other for support while sitting on the log. “Is something wrong?” she asks, searching my face for an answer before I can really give it.
I hesitate, and God, I need to tell her no. I need to tell her that nothing is wrong, because if I don’t, if I say something else?—
Footsteps bring both of our eyes up, and my gaze falls on a figure walking past the staff cabin. It doesn’t take long for the firelight to define his blond curls, wet as they are from his shower, and Kayde turns to glance at us, a small smile on his lips as he gives a quick wave. “Hey girls,” he greets, not stopping. “Sorry to interrupt. Just heading to bed.” His eyes find mine for a moment, just a short second, but I don’t need words to convey what he’s thinking.
Don’t do it, Summer.
It’s enough for me to sit back, trying not to stiffen as he continues walking toward his cabin. Thankfully Kinsley doesn’t notice my abrupt shift, though she does throw her head back onto my shoulder with a groan.
“He’s too pretty for his own good,” she mutters when he’s far enough away he won’t hear. “Too bad he’s not your type though, right? Though I guess if he was, you’d be fighting Darcy for him.”
“She can have him,” I whisper, wishing that I was anyone else, anywhere else, and this wasn’t real. Dread builds, pulsing in my stomach, and finally Kinsley takes notice.
“You okay?” she asks, putting a hand on my arm. “Is your brain doing shitty, neurospicy things today? Because just in case you need to hear it, you’re a good human and your brain is wrong about you. Though…” She digs in her pockets, trailing off, and finally produces a small white plastic container.
“You could stand to be a little less, I don’t know, standoffish? You do that thing where you take the world’s problems personally and try to solve them. Maybe don’t.” With a squeeze she pops the container open, showing it’s still half full of edibles.
“What flavor are these?” I ask, reaching out and picking one up between my fingers. “Strawberry or pomegranate?”
Her grin tells me all I need to know, and I palm the edible instead of eating it right away. Depending on how my night goes, I might need it. Or, worse, I might need to not take it. The pomegranate edibles are stronger, and will without fail get me high until the only things that sound good are snacks and snuggles.
I definitely don’t need to be in snacks and snuggles mode with Kayde. But if he doesn’t want much, if he goes away quickly, I could eat it a little later to sleep.
“I should go to bed as well,” I admit, getting to my feet reluctantly. “It’s Daniel’s night to do the walk around, right?” It’s an offhand question, but when Kinsley shakes her head, I pause.
“Not anymore.” She scrunches her nose, rising to her feet and pocketing the white container. “I traded with him. So I’ll be your fierce defender tonight. Don’t worry,” she adds, looking mock-solemn. “I won’t let in any monster, rabid bears, or ax murderers.”
It’s hard not to flinch at the last one, with how close it hits to home, but I manage to laugh anyway at her joke. “You forgot snakes. You know how Darcy is about snakes.”
“Yeah. Would be such a shame if I managed to Pied Piper a bunch of snakes into her cabin, huh?” Kinsley grouses, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, guess I’ll go. Try to sleep for once, okay? You look like you need it.”
“I’ll attempt it,” I promise, making a face at her. “See you in the morning, Kins.”
“If I’m late for breakfast…” Her eyebrows wiggle as she walks backward, away from the staff cabin campfire. “Know that I”m in the best hands.”
All I can do is snort at that, and Kinsley gives a quick cackle of her own as she turns to walk away. Her flashlight clicks on and leaves me in the light of the fire with nowhere to go but to my least favorite monster.