Chapter VI: Tale of the Shed

Finally, the camp counselor, settled herself down among the campers.

"Shh!" the counsellor hissed, pressing a finger to her lips. "Do you hear that?"

I mean, I couldn't hear anything per sae but the others seemed to go along with it.

As silence fell over the group, she began to weave a chilling tale about the dark history of the camp.

"There is a story that is told..." Her voice carried an eerie tone that sent shivers down their spines. "Of a group of kids who came to this very camp. Very many years ago...They were good kids the lot of em'. But they were a bit too nosy for their own good. The owner of the camp, had four rules they had to abide by. Bedtime was at 9:00 sharp. Dinner was at 7:00 and no one was allowed to leave the camp until after summer was over. The campers all followed these rules, no questions asked. But then there was one rule the camp owner added later that summer. No one was allowed to go to the shed on the border. It was an odd rule, but no one ever asked why it was there and where this shed even was. You see, they'd never seen it before. But then one day, one of these kids. She was a curious one. She didn't like leaving questions unanswered so she told her friends she was going to find the shed." The campers leaned in closer, their eyes wide with anticipation and a mix of fear and excitement.

"She searched on the first day, but she didn't find anything. And on the second, she didn't find it still. On the third day though, she found it. She wandered past the camp, and stayed out past 9:00, she was determined to find out what was hiding in the shed."

The aura around the campfire was electric. It buzzed with a combination of youthful energy, curiosity, and a hint of apprehension. The crackling fire illuminated their faces, highlighting the range of emotions as they listened to the camp counselor's haunting tale.

"She tip toed, to the shed. The only thing other than the loud beating of her heart, was the whistle of the wind and the subtle footsteps behind her. But every time she turned around...there was no one there. She finally got to the shed and placed her hand on the cold handle, turning it...and do you know what she found?"

A silence hung around the campfire.

"...Nothing."

The campers groaned in disappointment.

"...But she was never seen again."

The camp later returned to be the comfortable laughter prior and everyone soon forgot about the campfire tale.

"Do you think it's true?" someone piped up.

It was guitar boy. And he looked like he had just seen a ghost. Or had bad Chinese food.

...Was he actually scared?

"I don't think so." was all I said in reply. "Campfire stories are just that."

It was a moment that would forever be etched in their memories, a night where friendships were forged, laughter echoed, and fear danced hand in hand with fascination under the starry sky.

I assumed the broken clock on the cabin wall was accurate, it was 8:30. If Glasses' story was something to go by, bedtime was at 9:00. Not that I bought the story or anything, but I hopped into bed the first chance I got. I was exhausted from the bus ride and the campfire already. Might as well get some shut eye.

"Hey!" someone plopped down on my bed. "You're going to sleep early aren't ya? You an early riser?"

I knew that sugary sweet voice anywhere. Candy sat on my bed, pink hair in a messy bun and in Lolly pop pajamas. Her T-shirt read Sweet dreams with the 'e' being replaced by lemon drops. She had her headphones around her neck, blasting k-pop music from it.

"Get off my bed." I spat.

"Are you always this grumpy?" she asked completely ignoring what I had just said, swinging her legs like a little kid.

"Just go to sleep Candy," someone spoke up. "Not everyone wants to be your friend."

A girl with brown hair on the top bunk stared down Candy through dark blue eyes void of emotion.

Candy's smile dropped and she retreated to her own bed, pulling her headphones over her ears and the covers over her head. I felt a little guilty but the feeling would fade by morning.

"Thanks," I told her.

"Wasn't an invitation Elsa." the girl said before she pulled her own blankets over her head.

Not that I expected anything different, but a goodnight would've sufficed. I sighed. A short knock on the window, startled me a bit. I looked through the broken window and I opened it slightly, making sure the other girls were asleep first.

Ginger stood on the other side with a goofy grin.

"I was hoping you weren't asleep." he whispered leaning on the frame.

"What're you doing here Ginger, it's almost curfew." I hissed back.

"Nice to know that you care, but it's 8:45." he pointed to the wall clock.

"Then why are you here?"

"Got a feeling you weren't doing so well on your own here." he leaned in. "And I was looking for the 'haunted shed'."

"Ooh. Spooky." I laughed.

Wait...he wasn't serious was he?

"You're not actually—"

"I was joking." he chuckled. "That story was a load of bull anyway."

"Just wanted to say g'night real quick." he turned to leave. "And...the name's Dwight."

I felt my face grow hot, realizing I'd just called him Ginger. and not just in my head.

I reached for his hand, pulling him back.

"...Jordan."

"G'night Jordan." his hand slipped away and he gave a small salute, disappearing into the night.

I don't know if it was the humidity but it actually felt really good having someone to talk to here. And that made it much easier to go to sleep that first night.