Variations

Lately, most campgrounds have been being shut down by the government. The news says that there's a potential outbreak, but they won't say what the outbreak would be. All major campgrounds are being closed all over the US. The only way to camp is in little rinky dink campgrounds, like the old motels of the camping world. Father says the news is just exaggerating everything and that we'll be fine. So that's where I am, with my father and little sister, Lily.

I guess I can't complain too much, we could also just be at home, sitting in the backyard underneath the ol' plum tree. I'm having slightly more fun sitting by a campfire, next to some tall trees and thick bushes, whilst my sister collects sticks to throw in the fire and my father reads his newspaper. He even saved a couple weeks worth just for this trip. When he finishes reading one he'll give it to Lily to throw in the fire. For some reason, she could just watch it for hours and hours. We've never been camping before so I guess she'd have fun with the campfire, I never imagined this much fun. I, on the other hand, can't have fun at the moment.

Something just isn't right here, not sure what, but its like something is in the air. The forest and trails are all closed off right now, with caution tape literally all around the entire area, "stopping" any entry to the forest. On our way in I caught a glimpse of something behind our site, deep in the woods. Back within all the trees and brush. I didn't see what it was but it shown like a reflection off a phone screen. So I decided to look for it. For a while now I've been pacing back and forth trying to catch another glimpse of something. I've been scanning the same area for a while now, but I know it was there. I know it. I stand on my toes and there it is! A reflection off of something, something high up. Someone grabs my arm and I jump.

I turn around to see Lily has come over. "Why is that man over by father here? Did we do something wrong?" she asks.

I glance over to see what she's talking about. There's what seems to be a camp worker deep in conversation with our father. Then the worker looks at me. Not just at me, but it feels like he's looking into me. Direct eye contact. I'm getting chills, why is he still staring?

I motion for Lily to follow me as I move to sit near the fire pit. The worker looks away. Were Lily and I too close to the forest? The worker seems to finish his conversation with father and starts to leave, looking at Lily and I once more. Too long again, but he finally drives off, the chills and feeling of uncertainty don't follow however.

Father comes over and I ask what he wanted, "He said that they are going to be re-leveling the sites in this row, so we are going to pack up and move over to a site on the inside loop. It may seem like work now but we'll be closer to the pool!"

Of course father wouldn't find anything odd about it, he always tries to see the best in people and situations. But even this does seem normal, except for the fact that they let us camp here in the first place. Shouldn't they have known about this and just not have people camp in this row? Things just don't seem right. Lily is completely oblivious to her surroundings right now, she's engrossed in the fire. Isn't that odd as well? Maybe she's just a little pyromaniac on the inside. Yeah, that's all.

Our next site was close enough where we just lifted up the tent and took it over. Then the cooler, wood, and other misc items around and before we knew it, our transition was finished. The fire wasn't lit yet but Lily seemed to think it was, she just kept staring at the fire pit.

I had something on my mind, that mysterious reflection. I don't think I'd be able to find it at night, but night would be when I wouldn't get caught. What should I do? I'll take a walk around the loop and think about it.

Immediately I notice that there's hardly anyone else at the campground. I guess it makes sense since the news makes it hard to trust any campground. Still I thought there were more yesterday. I also notice that there seems to be a short orange construction fence being put up with the caution tape. If I want to get to that reflection I need to do it soon. I begin to walk a little quicker, if I can at least mark the spot where I can see the reflection, maybe I can enter during the night when no one will see me. I'm rounding the corner when I see that workers are setting up a fence along the other side. The fences should meet up right at our old site. I need to hurry if I'm going to mark a spot without being suspicious. I've been taking quick glances over my shoulders making sure no camp workers are watching. They all seem to be focused on the fence, perfect so far. I reach the edge of the site and break into a sprint to the forest edge.

I move to the area I was at when I saw it last time and tippy toe up. I begin shuffling left and right searching for that reflection. Left and right, back and forth. It isn't showing. I turn and I can see that both fences have begun rounding both corners, there isn't much time left. The closer they get the more likely they are to see me. I turn back around and continue searching. It just isn't appearing. Why?! This was the area!

I go to turn back around to check on the fences' progress, but I'm blinded by the sun. The sun wasn't that low before…

Of course! The sun is at a different angle so I wouldn't be able to see the reflection at the same spot. This completely throws a wrench in my plans. I only know around where I was last time I saw it, I'll just take a picture in the general area. As I'm putting my phone back in my pocket I hear footsteps behind me. It must be the workers. Just act natural and innocent, they don't know what you're doing. They have no idea you're planning to find their secrets. I keep looking ahead waiting for them to get close and say something.

"Hey there buddy! We need you to move." Comes from behind me.

Ok innocent and… did they just say buddy? How old do they think I am?! Wait, calm. Lily would blow up, I'm going to stay calm. I turn and say, "Ok, can I ask a question real quick?" I say in my most curious child-like voice.

"Sure but it needs to be quick" his tone is getting less friendly with each minute that passes. Now I feel as if I'm talking to a grumpy camp manager.

"What's out there?" I point towards the area in my picture. He probably will give me some BS answer but I might be able to weasel some info out. I look at him a bit more closely and notice he looks worn. Like an overworked middle aged man. He has a slight hunch in his shoulders and a rugged beard. The circles in his eyes stand out beneath his unkempt hair.

"Bears and deer. Now please I need you to move, this are is going off limits." This person must not like people, his facial expression is starting to match his tone. I don't need to be here anyway, I've got my reference.

So I head back into the pathway and continue walking around back to my campsite. As I'm rounding the last bend, I see something strange at our site. Lily, appears to have her hand in the fire. "Lily! Lily! What are you doing?" I scream as I frantically run over to her.

It's only once I get close that I realize she's fine. Her hands seem untouched. No evidence of ever being in or near the fire. She looks at me dazed. "What's wrong?" I ask. She may not have been burned but something still isn't right. She seems ready to fall asleep.

"I'm just tired, reeaallly tired." She responds half hearted. She really doesn't seem to be all here right now.

"Let's get you to bed then, it's almost time for sleep anyway." I start walking her to her tent for bed. "Just get pj's on and brush your teeth, by the way, do you know where father is?"

"He said he was going for a walk to explore or something." She's barely getting the words out of her mouth because of how tired she is.

"Ok, sleep well and get some rest."

"You too". As she finishes her sentence she falls on her sleeping mattress and doesn't move. She's conked out. I wonder what got her so tired.

I back out of the tent and head to the fire, grabbing a fold-out chair on the way. I fold out the chair and take a seat close enough to the fire to really feel the heat. Campfire warmth feels different then other forms of heat, it just relaxes you and you lose your worries. It isn't enough to shake off the need to find whatever is hidden in the forest. I just can't seem to let it go, so my mission is now to find it.

The last rays of sunlight are leaving the sky are dark blue almost black. The stars can be seen shining brightly. And I can see my dad's smile shining brightly as well for some reason, weirdo. "Was your walk that fun?" I ask as he enters our site.

"I got to see a beautiful sunset sky turn to this crystal clear night sky, why shouldn't I be happy?"

Again, weird. Not for him but, I guess I can't argue with that.

"Why don't you go for a walk, take a flashlight. Only use it to see where you're going and enjoy the starry night sky." He offers in a way I can't refuse.

"Sure, I might find a spot to lay and watch the stars." An excuse for taking a while.

"That sounds great but don't take too long."

I grab a flashlight off of the picnic table and begin the loop. Starting in the direction that'll take me to the forest quickly as possible. As I'm looking around everyone seems to have been moved from this area, the orange fence has also been finished. At this point it's obvious that they're trying to hide something. There's even a sign at each site saying that they're closed off.

I once again enter our old site and head to the forest. I check left. And right for workers and see one roaming the outside of the fence 40 feet away. Hes headed the opposite direction but it means I'll need to be careful when I exit the forest.

I hope over the orange fence and enter the forest. I tried to line myself up close enough to the picture that I'd just have to go straight. Lol. I walk a good couple yards before flicking my flashlight on. It's so dark, and very quiet. I thought it would be a lot louder with bugs in stuff but I guess not.

I turn back and I can barely see the orange fence. I hope I remember which way is back. I continue forward through the tall bushes and over fallen tree trunks. I do not recommend walking through a forest at night, it is very hard to not fall. Never in shorts either, I feel like vines are grabbing me, and everything that lightly brushes against me feels like a bug. It doesn't help that everything seems to be getting bigger and more in the way. The bushes have started preventing me from going straight, now I have to go around them, every 10 seconds. SO. INCONVENIENT.

At this point I'm not sure if it's even worth it, I'm struggling to move forward without feeling attacked by all the plants around me. I'm getting goosebumps. The further I move forward the colder it seems to get. This also happens to be, INCONVENIENT. I don't think I even packed pants, a mistake, like other things.

Thump, that is the sound of my body hitting the ground. I've fallen because of the absence of plants, it shouldn't hurt because there is grass, but the ground is frozen solid. Once I look closer I see that the grass is frosted. It shouldn't even get that cold tonight!

I stand up and it's colder than ever. I'm in a small clearing, a perfect circle of a clearing. All the bushes and trees and leaves are all frosted for a couple feet outside the circle. At the center, a tree. A tree that is colored white. A tree with ice surrounding the base of all branches. A tree with snow mounds on the ground around it. The weirdest tree I've ever seen. And like every dumb person in horror movies, I wanna touch it. Or atleast play in the snow. Snow is fun. But unfortunately, I am not outfitted for playing in snow. In fact I'm already shivering. I guess it's time to head back.