Crushing Emeralds

Chapter Five

I wake up bright eyed and bushy-tailed with an excitement I didn’t know what for. Evan is already outside waiting to leave. My mother takes us to school, because heaven forbid he would leave his car in the school parking lot for three days. He walks with me toward my homeroom.

I stop on my locker on the way. I give him a sheepish wave sending him on his way, but he’s hesitant to leave. After giving him a few seconds of the silent treatment he gets the clue.

Homeroom goes by so fast that before I knew it I’m waiting patiently with the other students in the main corridor for the buses to arrive. When everybody is not so quietly seated Mrs. Claire stands up demanding everyone’s attention for her speech on behavior. Murmurs break out when she says she got us to stay an extra night. What? Can she even spring something like this on us?

Instead of being back in the comfort of real civilization on Thursday afternoon, we won’t arrive back until Friday afternoon. Supposedly she’s already too the liberty to inform our parents as well. Funny that my mother didn’t mention anything. Surprise surprise.

The bus lurches off as soon as Mrs. Claire sits her fancy pants down on the old vinyl seat. I waste no time in digging out my phone and earbuds eager to drown out my feelings with loud music.

Evan and Jordan sit in the booth behind Kordie and me. Scraps of paper occasionally float into our laps with words of animals and bugs that are going to be scurrying around us in effort of trying to scare or annoy us. Either way its working. Sometimes I question their maturity level.

I had been expecting Kordie to babble on and on about her plans that she had on Saturday, but she just sits there, silent. I didn’t feel bad when I plugged my ears with the earbuds. I zoned out to lyrics of several songs looking out the window at the trees that soar. I try to clear my head, slow my breathing and quiet my heart that beats against my ribcage. There is no bright side to this. I hate the outdoors and now an extra tick infested, rodent crawling, out in the boonies sleepless night was in order.

I try to memorize the uprooted trees and rickety bridges we pass because they would make great additions in my scenery portfolio. It takes about two and a half hours until we arrive at the campsite. As we exit the bus, Mrs. Claire herds us to a large building that had in worn letters above the door ‘Common Room’.

Once inside my stomach flip flops. It’s nothing but an old large room with wood paneling that covers all the walls. The floor looks like gray granite, when the light hit it just right it seems to sparkle. The light fixtures have animal antlers attached to the plain brass bases and the curtains are a thick burgundy that didn’t allow sunlight in.

I notice standing aimlessly in the middle of the room is a older man. He stands between several circular dining tables. He instantly starts gesturing with both hands for us to come and sit. At least somebody’s excited about our arrival.

He begins to speak before everybody’s seated, “My name is Neil Yeager and I am the camp director. I’m sure most of you are familiar with the camp, but bare with me. Hopefully you’ll spend most of you time outside and not cooped up. Everything you would need you’ll find here in the Common Room. The bathrooms are down the hall to the right of the entrance.

Now since you are all young adults and know right from wrong I set up no counselors for your stay. I expect all of you to be on your best behavior. Lastly, there’s a list posted by the doors you just entered that tells you what cabin you are to sleep in. Your teacher has some activities all planned out for you scheduled.” Mr. Yeager hands the conversation off to Mrs. Clair with a wave of his arm.

“I really don’t have anything to add to that so you can go see what cabin you are going to be in and drop your things off. You are then to return here to have lunch at noon and then participate in a hiking trail to get a tour of the area so you can wander around safely to gather views for your portfolios. After that we are going to have supper before the serving ladies leave for the night, followed by lights out.” Mrs. Claire told us.

This trip sounds more like a boot camp than releasing artistic emotions. Everybody goes in a single file line to reach the posted list. I decide to hang back and have Kordie stand in line and check the cabin register, while I take a look around the area. It has been years since we were first here as seventh graders. Then everything was fun and exciting being away from your parents and having a wild sleepover. Now things feel like they’re crushing down on me and some impending doom is on the verge of arriving.

First, I peek into the kitchen, then in a hallway that leads to the bathrooms. About halfway down the hall is a door, I open it a c***k and see that the shelves are lined with clean towels, cleaning supplies and buckets are stacked on the bottom. Right next to the bathrooms is a first aid kit nailed to the wall. I make a mental note of the location, let's face it we’re not going to get through this without somebody shedding some blood.

I move to the eating area again where I take a closer look around a corner that leads to a utility closet. Upon opening that I see it's filled with blankets and pillows. Therefore, if I wanted to refuse to sleep in a cabin with a whole bunch of whiney girls I can always sleep in here.

After several minutes Kordie runs up to me, giving me a breathtaking hug, and starts jumping up and down screaming, “We’re in the same cabin!”

We grab our bags with the boys help of course and head out the door. There are students everywhere rushing to the cabins and chatting with friends until the first activity starts. The four of us look over at the yellow bus as it proceeds to leave the grounds. I’m not sure why it can’t stay. The only vehicles left at the campsite were Neil’s and the cooks, which were going to leave soon. That leaves one little car for 15 some kids.

The feeling of being trapped bears down on my chest crushing my lungs as I suck in deep breaths. I stop in the middle of the pathway closing my eyes trying to center myself. I can do this I tell myself, I can do this.

Evan’s voice slowly seeps into my blacked-out void. It’s as if my ears had an off switch and suddenly is flicked back on. I tune in mild grumble. He complains about how heavy my bag is and that I should carry it myself.

At noon exactly students file in and have lunch that consists of BLT sandwiches and assorted chips. Lunch didn’t last long as long as I would have liked. The dreaded hike ruins my appetite.

At first the path is harmless, but it doesn’t take long before my feet start to trip over hidden obstacles. And after who knows how long of walking my feet start to ache. My bad attitude aside the scenery is gorgeous with the vibrant colors of the trees and a river that rushes through the middle of the campsite.

Another fact that I wanted to skim over is the bugs. They crawl on everything and have the nerve to fly inches away from your ears. Every few steps you can hear a hiding animal scurry away just only makes you jump and latch onto the person next to you.

By time we arrive back by the cabins the sun is starting to set. Everybody’s glad, me most of all, to be sitting in the common room eating supper. The students linger and talk among others while some go straight to their cabins.

Kordie, Evan, Jordan and I leave the common room just as the staff drives down the main path.

“I wonder why they leave and come back everyday.” Kordie says.

“No idea, but Neil stays here.” Jordan adds pointing to a figure walking to a larger cabin that’s secluded from the other buildings.

“Some supervision at least.” I mutter.

Within no time at all, the lights are out. Ten o’clock bedtime. Kordie and I really don’t really care for any of the other girls in our cabin so it makes it easy to ignore them and go to sleep.

“I’m going to bed Kordie, it was a long day today. A long I’m not looking forward to repeat for the next four days.” I fluff my blankets before climbing in.

There’s still a group of three girls huddled on one bed whispering about something, but I’m tired and need my sleep for the activities that are bound for tomorrow. The night seems to stretch out, but the birds and owls make a soothing lullaby in the background with the sound of crickets filling in the blank spots.

No matter the buzz of bugs or whooing of owls, I still can’t sleep. I stare at the cabin ceiling begging for my eyes to close, but it doesn’t happen. I sit up in bed restless and decide to get up to get some fresh evergreen air.

I put on my slippers, grab a one of the flashlights from a table by the door and set out before I change my mind. The door gives a little squeak as I slowly slide it open. On the way, I examine the forest in the darkness, only small slivers of moonlight peek down between clouds.

My feet shuffle to a stop as I spot an odd shaped shadowed figure. After watching it for a few seconds, I see the shape remold into two shadows. I groan in annoyance as I realize I just stood there watching two people make out.

The bathroom isn’t too far away from the cabin. It’s finally in sight, not more than twenty steps away. My pace increases until a rustle of a bush stops me in my tracks. Suddenly, my feet vear off the straight shot path to the bathroom and start heading to the bush that still gently shakes.

I point the flashlight on it to blind the animal if it decides to jump out at me. I don’t want to admit it, but I’m that stupid girl in a horror film that goes and investigates a noise and gets killed. The wild animal could jump out and rip my face off, but as my heart races my feet keep walking.

My eyes poorly adjust to the pitch black night and the bright light of the flashlight. I reach the bush that now remains still. I stare at it trying to find fur between the leaves. Just about to give up this odd need to get mauled a hand slaps against my mouth to muffle my scream.

I drop the flashlight in the shrub from shock that leaves my unable to control my reflexes. Suddenly, I’m dragged away. I hear a rumbling laugh through their chest. A muscled arm lays across my chest pinning me against him.

A chin comes to rest on my shoulder, their hot breath touches my ear. “Don’t be scared little red riding hood there’s no big bad wolf out there.” He whispers.

A whispered voice that I recognize. My words are muffled through his hand at first, “You’re wrong,” he removes his hand, “Evan.” I spit out. “you’re the big bad wolf stalking me in the dark!” I whine before kicking my heel into his shin.

He grunts in pain and a smile spreads across my lips. His hand starts to slip off my chest, but I grab it, twisting it behind his back. He holds back a scream and instantly tries to get out of my grip.

He’s the very person that taught me these exact moves to help me defend myself. If he only knew that they were going to backfire on him someday he probably wouldn’t have shown me.

“Who’s the big bad wolf now?” I whispered in his ear as he still struggles.

“I couldn’t help myself. The moment spoke to me and I couldn’t ignore it.” Evan mumbles through clenched teeth.

“This place is creepier at night okay.” I tug on his arm in my frustration.

The snap of a twig followed by some deep animalish groan, closer than I like breaks my attention. My head swings from side to side searching. My ears strain to locate where I heard what I thought was a growl. Between my fear or the sheer darkness that envelops the forest, I’m not sure what I think it is that I see. My grip loosens and Evan quickly wiggles free. Using the opportunity to toss me over his shoulder in one quick motion.

“Evan put me down, I swear I heard some kind of animal. A not so friendly animal.” I say as loud as I can without waking the students in their cabins.

Evan begins to walk in a large circle with me still on his shoulder, “Evan listen to me, I saw something that looked red, blood red staring out of the treeline before you tossed me around.”

“Oh come on I was just joking about the wolf thing,” Evan started, “remember what Neil said that there are only small animals like raccoons, squirrels and skunks out here.” Evan sets me down and places both of his hands on my shoulders. He looks me straight in the eyes, “Did you come out here to go to the bathroom like I did or what.”

I nod and followed even though the thought of going to bathroom out here is far from my mind. As I wash my hands I keep thinking back to that sound. Evan waits for me outside and offers to walk me safely back to my cabin.

He doesn’t believe that there’s this large hungry animal out there but I didn’t have my flashlight thanks to him, so it’s the least he could do to make up for it. As I walk back to my bed I sneak a peek at Kordie, a smile on her face. I’m glad she’s having a joyful time.