Chapter 2
317words
Zee sat between Lucas and Ben, her hands wrapped around a steaming cup of cocoa. Her eyes kept darting around.
Lucas leaned closer. “You okay?”
“I don’t know,” she said softly. “It’s too quiet.”
Lucas nudged her knee with his. “You really believe something’s off here?”
Ben scoffed on her other side. “We’ve been here one day. You already think we’re in a horror movie?”
Zee sipped her cocoa. “Movies don’t warn you. Instinct does.”
Lucas glanced at her profile, the orange firelight dancing across her features. There was something about her. A depth he hadn’t seen in other girls. Something sharp. And soft.
She caught him staring.
He shook his head, embarrassed. “Nothing. Just… you’re really intense, you know that?”
Zee gave a half-smile. “Better than being basic.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “You two flirting now? In the middle of spooky hour?”
“Jealous?” Zee teased.
Lucas chuckled. “He’s always like that. Ignore him.”
Aida stepped up to the fire, clapping her hands.
“Alright, campers! Before we wrap up, we have two birthdays today. One of them…”—she glanced at her clipboard—“Zee!”
Zee’s eyes widened. “Wait—what?”
“Happy birthday!” Aida cheered. Everyone clapped.
Zee shook her head slowly. “How’d she know?”
Lucas leaned in, smiling. “You didn’t tell anyone?”
Aida handed her a cupcake with a flickering candle.
Zee hesitated.
“Make a wish!” Lucas said gently.
She stared into the flame. Her gut turned. She made a wish: To make it out of here alive.
She blew out the candle.
Lucas clapped lightly. “Happy birthday, Zee.”
Ben offered a high five. “Even if you are a little creepy.”
Zee laughed.
But her eyes strayed again to the dark woods beyond the firelight…
And deep in the trees, something was watching.
