Chapter 11
577words
Dull gray clouds hung low over the camp, as if the heavens themselves were holding their breath. Campers trudged to the exercise field in hoodies and joggers, some groggy, some gossiping—but most unaware that this morning wasn’t going to be about stretches or pushups.
Not anymore.
A sharp whistle pierced the air, and the murmurs died instantly.
Zee turned her head.
There she was—Aida, the Camp Director. Tall, poised, her boots crunching against the gravel like a judge arriving at a sentencing. She didn’t wear her usual firm-but-friendly smile. No clipboard. No pep talk.
Only eyes.
Cold, unreadable, watching.
She stopped at the center of the field.
Everyone, silence.
Her voice cracked like a whip.
No one moved.
Then came the words that ripped the morning apart:
Jarred Ellison… was found dead this morning.
The silence shattered.
Gasps. Screams. A single water bottle hit the ground and rolled to someone’s foot.
What the hell—?!
Zee’s stomach twisted violently. Her brows furrowed.
Jarred...?
She leaned toward the girl beside her. Who’s Jarred?
But the girl didn’t answer—because someone behind them whispered, too loud to be innocent.
I think it was Lucas.
Zee's breath caught mid-air. Her chest tightened.
Another girl leaned in, voice hushed and hurried.
I swear, I saw him last night. Corridor, near Jarred’s cabin. Alone.”
Yeah,someone else added. “Remember yesterday? Jarred was being gross to Zee and Lucas lost it. They almost fought!”
Lucas threatened him. Said, ‘Touch her again and you’re dead.’ I heard it. I heard it!
Zee's heart pounded. Her skin prickled. No…
She shook her head—but the whispers kept circling her like wolves.
They didn’t even find the full body.
That voice—this one was darker. Not just gossip. It came from a girl Zee didn’t recognize—tall, with dark bangs, eyes sharp as needles.
Only his head… and intestines. Everything else was gone.”
Gone…? someone echoed, breathless.
The girl nodded. Like he was gutted. Like something—or someone—ripped him open.
Zee felt her knees weaken.
Intestines. Head.
Her stomach churned as her hand instinctively covered her mouth.
No body? Just parts?
And then—just for a second—she remembered the way Lucas had looked last night. The way he whispered “You’re mine.” The heat. The tension. The rage.
Aida’s voice rang out again, sharp as a blade:
> “Until further notice, the camp is under lockdown. No camper leaves this property. We are working with authorities and no one is permitted to go near Cabin Sector C.
Security will be posted around the perimeter. If you see or hear anything… report it immediately.
Aida’s eyes swept the crowd like spotlights.
Zee looked across the sea of bodies, the panic, the fear—
And then she saw him.
Standing at the far side, arms crossed, eyes locked straight on her. Not a trace of panic. Not even surprise.
Unapologetic.
He looked... dangerous.
Zee stepped forward, slow. Her voice cracked. “Lucas…”
He walked up to her—close. Too close. The world faded into static as he leaned in.
His breath brushed her ear.
Don’t listen to them, Princess. You know me .
But did she?
Before she could answer, a counselor barked out names for roll call, dragging the tension back to earth.
Zee watched as Lucas slipped away again—back into the crowd. Back into mystery.
And all she could hear now were voices, slicing the air like blades:
It had to be someone strong.”
Or insane.”
Or obsessed…”
