“So what are we for? I broke the silence of the atmosphere. The circle of people stared at me as I was the first speak.

“We’re supposed to tell stories of our experiences, or just some horror stories” the host of this camp said, “but it seems like no one here can think of horror stories or had cool experiences”

“I’ll tell my experience of hiking on Mt. Ebott…if anybody want to hear it” a nerd uttered. But no one is interested in hiking except that nerd.

One of my classmates stood up, “let me say my stories first then” he announced, everyone clapped for him.

“About ten years ago, I had a girlfriend, she betrayed me and scammed my money” he said as the circle of people glance at him to say more.

“And, that’s it” he quickly ended up his story, “wait, that’s it? I thought there’d be more” I said.

“I guess I’ll tell a horror story for you guys then” I announced too, as it has been a long time since the silence continued after he told his story.

“In the tomb of King Charles, there was said to be haunted, an adventurer tries to explore the tomb” I said with a proper tone for story telling, “but when he reached the end, he got possessed by the remnants of King Charles’s soul”.

“The King dated the explorer’s girlfriend and married her as the explorer’s soul watched in terror” I concluded the story, “uhh, that sure sounds scary…sort of” the well known class clown said.

“Does anybody have more to say?” The host said, nobody replied him, “darn I thought it would be much more interesting than this farce”.

“Well, our club is nicknamed the boring club for a reason after all” I said as I pack up my items and left the camp, “alright everyone, let’s just go.”

The third day passed by uneventfully; well mostly anyway until noon when we heard the sound of Brian’s old Jeep pulling into Shane’s driveway with AC/DC blaring from the car speakers. The boys all had things they had to do before they could join us. Phil had a church function that his mother and stepfather made him help with, Jeff had to attend a choir concert of his little sister Rosie who had a solo in it so of course he had to be there for his baby sisters debut, and Forest had plans to go fishing with his father and Brian was their ride so of course he had to stay behind so that he could drive the others up. The song Highway to Hell was drawing to a close and when it ended Brain shut off the car and the boys began to exit the vehicle and everyone came out into the yard to meet them. “Hey Shane my brother from another mother what’s happening bro?” asked Brain as he bounded from the car over to Shane. Brian had meet Shane on a few occasions and they got on well when together. “Not to much how about you?” “Same.” “So you going to introduce the new comers?” Shane asked “Of course things would be really awkward if I didn’t.” Brian said making his way back over to the group along with Shane. “Ok so he is Forest and he’s dating Hallie…” he said pointing at Forest “…and the guy with the purple dyed hair is Phil and he’s with Kelsey…” Brian continued pointing at Phil “…and then there’s Tracy’s boyfriend Jeff they are all pretty cool.” Brian concluded. Jeff was currently standing next to Tracy showing her pictures of his sisters concert on his phone while Forest regaled Hallie with a story about his dad catching the biggest cat fish he had ever seen in his entire life while Phil complained that he thought the church charity was never going to end and that he was happy he was finally away from all that and was now going to get to spend some time in the wilderness with his wonderful girlfriend. I laughed at how he described my cousins land as the wilderness, we weren’t in the middle of nowhere. I mean yeah ok we were out in the boons but there were still neighbors well one neighbor and yeah you had to walk down the road a little to get there but they were still there. After all the introductions were made we all went inside because along with the photos that Jeff had taken he also had video footage of it. He hooked the camera up to his laptop and we squeezed together on the couch and a few of us on the floor including myself so we could all watch it. In all honesty it was quite a good performance for a bunch of 6 and 7 year olds and Rosie was perfect during her solo. I along with most of my friends were sorry to have missed the live performance. After watching the video the boys wanted to see the tree fort. “I think I’m going to sit this one out.” said Draya not leaving her spot on the couch. I look at at her suspiciously from my spot on the floor. I didn’t like the tone her voice took on at the mention of the tree fort. “I think I will stay here too after all I’ve already been to the tree fort.” I said. “You sure you love that old fort?” Tracy asked. “Yeah Sare Bear last time you stayed there so long we were starting to think we were going to have to organize a search party if you and Draya didn’t make it back by dusk.” Hallie says. “Like I said before I’ve already been there; maybe Draya and I will catch up with you guys there later, if you are still out there that is.” I said. “Well okay if you’re sure?” Said Tracy. “I am.” I assured her and with that they all left the house. I got up from my place on the floor and went to kneel in front of Draya who had seemed to suddenly become fascinated with the floor boards. “Draya my angel please look at me.” I said using a gentle tone. Draya sighed then slowly raised her head to look at me. Her expression wasn’t happy but it wasn’t exactly sad either I couldn’t really tell what emotion she was feeling but what ever it was she was feeling I knew it wasn’t anything good. “Cuddles?” I asked. Draya nodded so I settle myself at the end of the couch my back resting against the arm rest one leg bent with my foot on the floor my other leg stretched out straight against the back of the coach I hold my arms open and make a come here motion with my hands at Draya. She wastes no time in doing so wrapping her arms around my abdomen and tucking her head under my chin resting against me. I wrap my arms around her then swinging my leg that was hanging over the side of the coach over so that it was resting over her legs and then I put my other leg over her too crossing it with the first one at the ankles so they were wrapped around her. I feel Draya’s body relax as she snuggles against me and she lets out a contented sigh. We were silent for awhile I am the first to break the silence.

“She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!”

It’s the pome "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron. I had decided to memorize it when Draya read it out loud from a book of poems she brought with her one late night. I had told her that if I was being particularly difficult about going to sleep she could read to me after all it always worked when I was a child. In reality it was more of an excuse to be able to fall asleep to the sound of her voice; it soothed me in a way that is hard for me to describe. After that she started to bring a book with her and when I heard that poem I made a mental note to look it up and memorize it in the morning because it made me think of her. Well the first verse did anyway, the rest of it I didn’t completely understand, but that doesn’t matter it was still a very pretty poem. “That was absolutely lovely darling. That poem was written by Lord Byron if I’m not mistaken.” “You’re correct. I like it, it makes me think of you.” “He wrote it about his cousin’s wife.” “Okay that makes it sound so less romantic like the dude had the hotts not only for a married woman but one that was married to his cousin.” “Yes, well there were many things that were said about Lord Byron that were considered unsavory; especially for that time period.” “Okay, so dude had issues.” “Indeed.” “Speaking of issues what’s yours?” “What do you mean?” “As soon as the tree fort was mentioned your whole demeanor changed.” “You know why that is.” “You’re still beating yourself up over it?” “Yes.” “Draya I forgive you; already forgave you isn’t that enough?” “I still don’t feel like I deserve it. I still can’t forgive myself.” “You weren’t in control; you couldn’t think straight, you were starving yourself for crying out loud!” “But it was still me that did it. I was still the one who hurt you and as much as I wish I could I can’t take back what I did to you.” “You didn’t mean to though, and anyway it didn’t even hurt that much, it was more fear than anything and I’m not scared anymore either.” “As if that makes any difference; as if it matters weather I meant to or not. I was going to kill you, if you hadn’t screamed I would have; don’t you get that?” She said pulling away from me. “Yes and yet I don’t care I still forgive you I always will.” “Princess, there is a part of me that is very much a monster and it is still very much alive and strong inside me what happens next time it gets out?” I reach out and pull Draya back to me “There won’t be a next time.” “How do you know? You can’t know that for sure.” “I do know because I am going to take care of you and one of the ways I am going to do that is by making sure you take care of yourself even if that means I have to be your emergency blood bag.” “Please don’t call your self that.” “Why? It doesn’t bother me.” “Well it bothers me, and anyway you mean more than that to me.” “I know I do.” I say with a smile before continuing “Also I am going to be your rock, your anchor, your tether, I will always be here to pull you back from the edge all you have to do is let me by trusting me to keep you grounded.” “I will always trust you my darling princess always.” “Good as long as you keep holding on then I will never let go. I won’t let you fall.” “How did I get so blessed to have someone as special as you to care about me?” “That reminds me I do care about you and if you care about me like you say you do then you have to find a way to forgive yourself.” “Darling I am so grateful to have someone who is so understanding and forgiving as you but what I did isn’t something that I can just forgive and forget.” “Then don’t forget; forgiving yourself isn’t letting yourself off the hook necessarily it’s accepting and taking responsibility for what happened and then finding a way to move past it and get on with life instead of letting this thing eat away at you, you say you don’t want to hurt me but seeing you like this does hurt me far more than any physical injury could; when you are hurting I hurt twice as much.” “I m sorry, you know hurting you is the last thing I want to do.” “Don’t apologize, just forgive. Have some faith in me and forgive yourself my angel.” “I’ll try.” “Do or do not there is no try.” I said in my best Yoda impression it sucked but seems to do the trick because it made Draya laugh. “Star wars geek.” she teased after she finished laughing “You like the movies too.” “Yeah well they give me an excuse for cuddles with you.” she said with a sigh. “And you can never say no to the cuddles.” “I might if you have something more enticing to offer.” her tone was both playful and seductive. “Well it should be awhile before everyone gets back so I am sure something can be arranged.” I said mischievously. She pulls away smiling at me “What do you have in mind?” “I think it would be more fun if you use your imagination and we just sort of make things up as we go along.” Her smile widens and we adjust our positions so that we are sitting up facing each other. I still have my legs wrapped around Draya’s waist and I am sitting in her lap. Draya cups my face and pulls me into a kiss my hands slip around her neck and tangle in her hair and I smile against Draya’s mouth. We kiss for a very long time breaking apart to take quick gasps of air before devouring each other’s mouths again then Draya kisses down my jaw and my neck as her hands went from cupping my face to unbuttoning my shirt and pushing it off my shoulders and placing kisses across my shoulders and collar bone and I am thoroughly enjoying this moment when… “WE’RE BACK” my cousin’s voice boomed from the front of the house house. “Crap, crap, crap!” I muttered as I pulled away from Draya and was hastily trying to re-button my shirt but only got half way before my Friends had entered the room. “Are we interrupting something?” Tracy said and had the decency to look embarrassed. “Girlfriend was getting it on!” Raquel said while Brain wolf whistled behind her. Hallie was laughing too hard to say anything at the moment but Kelsey was smirking at Draya and myself “You know Sarah if the two of you wanted some alone time you could have just said something.” “Shut up all of you.” I said as I finished buttoning my shirt the rest of the way, thankful that the rest of the boys were still in the kitchen with Shane, it was bad enough that Brian was in the room my face was probably beat red. It didn’t take long before everyone was in the living room and what ever was going on between Draya and myself was seemingly forgotten. We had to figure out sleeping arrangements with the 4 extra people in the house. “I well there’s a full size bed in the guest room upstairs along with a hide a bed down here.” Shane said. Brian and Raquel offered to sleep on the hide a bed couch so Kelsey and Phil would sleep upstairs in the guest bedroom. After figuring out the sleeping arrangements everyone became engrossed in a halo tournament Draya and I retreated to the love seat against the wall on the right side of the room. Brian walked over to us fallowed by Hallie. “Draya, Sarah sorry if I embarrassed you earlier when I whistled I didn’t mean anything by it and I didn’t see anything Raquel was in the way.” Brian said. “I’m sorry too I probably shouldn’t have laughed.” Hallie apologized “It’s alright Hallie I probably would’ve laughed too had our roles bed reversed.” “What about me?!” Brian asked. I thought about telling him ‘not yet’ but his eyes had that puppy dog look that I couldn’t resist and so said “Yeah ok fine you’re forgiven too.” Brain beamed at me and I swear that boy was lucky he was cute. As dusk fell Shane built a big fire in the fire pit and we roasted hot dogs and brats over the fire for dinner. We told ghost stories around the fire. Some were silly like bloody fingers and the green m&m, some were a little more creepy like the green ribbon and wax museum, and then there were classics like drip drip drip and knock knock knock. After Brian finished the knock knock knock story Raquel said “You are never leaving me alone in a car on a back road at night we will both stay and wait until morning!” After that we laid down on some old blankets and looked at the stars again. Draya pointed out all the constellations she could find and telling the stories that went along with the the constellations. There was the Big and Little Dipper of course and others like Cassiopeia with its distinctive “W” shape formed by five bright stars “Cassiopeia is one of the most easily recognizable constellations in the northern night sky. The constellation is named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek Mythology, wife of the King Cepheus of Aethiopia. As the legend goes, Cassiopeia boasted that she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs called the Nereids. Her claim angered Poseidon, god of the sea, who sent a sea monster called Cetus to destroy the kingdom. Cassiopeia’s daughter, Princess Andromeda, was left bound to a rock as prey for the monster, but she was rescued by Perseus the Hero whom she later married.” Then she pointed out another constellation “And Pegasus one of the most prominent constellations in the northern sky. It was named after a winged horse in Greek mythology. The brightest star in the constellation is Epsilon Pegasi, which forms the creature's nose. Pegasus belonged to Poseidon, the god of the sea, earthquakes, and storms. In a battle between Perseus and Medusa, Perseus decapitated her and the winged horse “sprang” from her blood. Pegasus was stolen by the Greek hero Bellerophon with the help of Athena and Poseidon. Pegasus allowed Bellerophon to ride him in order to defeat the monstrous Chimera. However, Bellerophon later fell from the creature’s back while trying to reach Mount Olympus. After some time, the riderless Pegasus reached Olympus and Zeus transformed him into the famous constellation. Pegasus was also known for bringing thunder and lightning to Zeus whenever he needed it.” She then pointed out yet another constellation “And of course who could forget The Orion constellation named after Orion the hunter in Greek mythology. Located on the celestial equator and made up of bright young blue giants or supergiants, it is one of the most prominent and recognizable constellations in the sky and can be seen throughout the world. In mythology, Orion was a supernaturally gifted hunter who was the son of Poseidon. He proclaimed himself as the greatest hunter in the world. This angered Hera, the wife of Zeus, who had a scorpion kill him (this later became the constellation Scorpius). Out of compassion, Zeus put Orion into the sky. Orion’s Belt includes the three most prominent stars in the constellation: Alnilam, Mintaka, and Alnitak. Betelgeuse, the second-brightest star in Orion, marks the right shoulder of the hunter, and Bellatrix serves as his left shoulder. The Orion Nebula acts as the middle “star” in Orion’s sword, which hangs off Orion's Belt. In the sky, Orion is posed fighting against Taurus the bull with a shield and club.” After that she named all the zodiac signs when they can be seen and the stories about them I ended up falling asleep curled up next to her

I wake up a while later in the house. I suspect that Draya had carried me inside. I turn my head to see her sleeping soundly beside me. She looks so peaceful when asleep, she was laying on her back her hair splayed around her head her lips slightly parted as her chest steadily rises and falls with each breath that passes through her lips, she stirs and turns onto her side unfortunately with her back facing me but no matter. I snuggle up behind her and put my arms around her pulling her close, she sighs contentedly in her sleep. I smile close my eyes and fall back asleep holding my angel.

THE END story continues in story titled Another Ordinary Day ( Week In The Country)

‘My mother used to tell me a story,’ Masahiko grinned, ‘about a haunted house.’

His grin grew wider as the group shuffled closer around the fire.

‘Go on,’ Nigella prompted, hands splayed towards the embers for warmth.

‘The story goes like this,’ Masahiko tucked his legs underneath him, ‘there was once a happily married couple-’

‘Pass,’ Nahara stood up from her log, arms stretched above her head.

‘What? Why?’ Masahiko was indignant. ‘I’ve barely started.’

‘And already you’re conforming to heteronormative standards,’ Nahara sighed, stepping away from the campfire, towards the tents.

‘What if I told you, literally in the next sentence, that this couple dies?’ Masahiko offered.

Nahara cocked her head, considering. ‘I’m listening,’ she said.

‘Alright,’ Masahiko smiled, ‘so, spoilers, they both die-’

‘How?’ Nigella interjected.

‘… What?’

‘How did they die?’ Nigella prompted, pushing her wire-rimmed glasses further up her nose. ‘Natural causes? Murder? Medical negligence?’

Masahiko waved his hands to stop her verbal tirade. ‘Suicide,’ he said quickly, ‘which was why is was so strange. Their family insisted they’d never do such a thing.’

Nahara scoffed, arms crossed over her chest. ‘Remind me how this is supposed to be scary?’

‘Well, maybe if you’d let me finish,’ Masahiko huffed, ‘you’d find out.’

When neither girl said anything, he took a calming breath and continued.

‘So. The coroner ruled suicide. But the family said it was impossible.’ Masahiko leaned forwards on his log, lowering his voice to a whisper. ‘That’s when the screaming started.’

As a rule, Nahara wasn’t one for ghost stories. They were an unnecessary embellishment of the truth. But she was trying, really trying, to be more social – admittedly at her mother’s insistence. So when Masahiko had invited her to sit with him and Nigella at the campfire, Nahara had put aside her reservations and agreed. It would only be for a few minutes, she’s told herself, just to show her face and then leave.

That was before Masahiko told the screaming house story. And suddenly, Nahara was doubting her ability to sleep alone tonight.

Something about his delivery, his smug-boy persona feeding into his orator’s confidence, sent shivers down her spine when he spoke of the way the screams echoed through the house, driving even the most stalwart sleeper mad. Nahara didn’t want to think what such a thing would sound like. Still, her brain provided some examples. Some very detailed and slightly terrifying examples.

That's when Nigella reached across and offered Nahara her hand.

It was rough with calluses where Nigella had eagerly led the gardening club in repotting plants, fingertips ink-stained from her fountain pen.

Normally, Nahara was uncomfortable with skin-to-skin contact, knowing her palms were unnaturally sweaty, but her hand leapt into Nigella's anyway, grateful for the other girl's support.

And if they kept their hands clasped well after the story was told, well, that was nobody's business but theirs.

The boys sit around the bonfire in the whispering woods, watching the blaze with one empty chair—Raymond’s chair.

“I’m back and I have my story,” he said, holding his piece of fire wood. His forehead had a wound that bled.

Taking a place in his seat: “I walked out into the woods and bushes and threw my piece of firewood as far as I could into some brush. ‘Stories are dumb and so is this ritual,’ I said.

“I passed from the woods and into a meadow, and that’s when the firewood flew out of the sky and gave me this wound,” he said pointing to the spot on his forehead. “I turned around and searched for one of you and that’s when it hit me… again. In the same spot, from the ground. And this time the firewood spoke. ‘Why didn’t you tell a story and put me in the fire?’ And that’s when I said it again. ‘This is dumb. I don’t have a story to tell, I can’t read. I don’t have an imagination.’ That’s when I realized I spoke to a piece of firewood and said, ‘I must’ve hit my head harder than I thought.’ The firewood called out, ‘You hear that! He thinks he needs to read to tell a story!’ Another voice sounded from above, ‘You could make me one of characters in your story.’ And that’s when I figured I’d better get back here and tell a story, at least anything! The moon wanted to be a knight in shining armor, and I’m not sure I could make that work, but at least I could tell you all how I got this bump.”

One of the other boys around the fire said, “That’s the best you got Raymond? That was stupid.”

Raymond said, “I thought so, but you can’t make up the truth.” He threw his piece of firewood into the bonfire and it crackled into a giant puff of smoke from the orange tips of the fire. The smoke formed a face that winked at the boys as it flew into the star laden sky.

Raymond decided this was the last time he’d come on a camp out. Too much magic.

A Campfire No Not a place in the Briar.

Two Young Skulls Sit near the Fire.

The Skulls Talk To Each other About The Things they Admire

I Like The Giant One said I’m Going Haywire!

The Giant Would find Came fires All Over The World. Nothing could Stop It Not even Gunfire

The Giant Would Find these Campfires.

And The First Skull Said the Giant Was Right

Near

Bye

The

Fire.

A Whistling Infilled The Two Skulls

The First Skull Was Now Not in Mind

Where Is Second Skull?

He Thought

Where Is The Land Said The Second Skull

Both were Seeing Apex Equivalents Of The LORD Around Them. Bright Circles with Giant eyes And Wings Coming to Take You To Your Rightful Resting Place in Heaven.

The Giant

Footsteps Echoing For

Continents

Marched forward And Stepped On The Camp Fire

Both Skulls Got On K N E E S and Prayed

To The LORD

The LORD is here And he will take us

Home.

It was fox’s idea to come here not mine, It was Maryanne’s idea to light the campfire and Tam’s idea to start the stories it was my idea to go home, but no one EVER listens to my ideas. We sit around the cluster of logs, fox using his expertly expert skills to start the fire (which is never going to happen) Tam and Maryanne are eyeing each other up as if they are both about to pounce on the other one. “Fox” Tam barks “can you get that ruddy fire going, I can’t kiss Maryanne in the dark, I’ll end up kissing her forehead.” I groan begging Maryanne not to brake out her public displays of affection act. I shiver, heaving my coat on over my shoulders.

“So!” Maryanne purrs, “Who’s ready for the....ScArY storiessses!” I moan, and pull my hood over my head. Tam rubs his hands together as if he’s trying to create a fire of his own. A psychotic smile cracks his face in two. “Can I tell the first story?” He growls. Maryanne squeals, stamping her Doc’martins against the floor, and grabbing Tams hand in hers. Maryanne and Tam are one of those couples that look so good on Instagram but in reality weren’t all what they were cut out to be. The only reason they haven’t broken up yet is because both of them create this fake photogenic universe for their social media, Maryanne has a ridiculous amount of followers and she likes it that way.

Tam clears his throat a demented look glazing over his eyes. Fox takes the seat beside me, after finally creating some sort of a flame. “Let’s begin!” Cries Tam, and so his story unfolds.

“Once upon a time, let’s say like 200 years ago lived a privileged and wealthy family. The lord and lady of the family bore only one child, a daughter. The both of them swore from the second the baby was born that they would always always keep her safe. The daughter grew into a beautiful flower, blonde hair, green eyes, you know the deal. The one thing that wasn’t perfect about the girl was her wild spirit, untameable, un-ladylike. Her parents sent her away, to tame her, turn her into a lady. Nothing would work. They became concerned for her safety, the only way to keep her perfectly safe for eternity was to bond her with another person, a strong person who could protect her. And so, the son of Lord Packston, Albert, would ask for the daughters hand in marriage and she would accept.

But the girl had fallen in love with someone else, someone who was wild and free, just like her. On the day of her wedding she fled, escaped into the forest. As an act of worth and masculinity Albert was told to retrieve his fiancé from the dangers of the forest. It took him a few hours to find her and once he did he confessed his deep undying love for her. But the daughter did not love him, she refused to return with him.

Albert loved fiercely and hated fiercely. His love turned to anger in the space of a second, he lost himself in his rage and sadness, holding a dagger above his wife-to-be’s chest. He plunged the dagger into her abdomen, taking her life with it. Shocked at what his hate had forced him to do Albert took his own life to repay and punish his evil. His ghost is said to be still roaming the earth searching desperately for his fiancé who he shall never find, he is hungry for blood, angered, guilty, looking for another lover who he can drag into the underworld alongside him!”

Maryanne yelped “Oooo Tam I didn’t know you were so dark and brooding.” Tam begins to blush, Fox begins to scoff. “Please!” Fox sniggers, “that was not a horror story, that was a luuuuvvv story.” Maryanne giggles, mildly embarrassing Tam. “Like you can do any better!” Tam roars, fox grins and opens his mouth...

“Ok then, if you want a proper horror story, Once upon a time 100 years in the future this kid called Will discovered he had a sweet tooth for human flesh, his first victim was his sister, he ate her. It was quite unfortunate really. Then he bit his best friend but only on the arm. His crazy cannibalistic DNA swarmed into the blood of his best friend kinda like an invasion and so the cannibal virus began. More and more people were eating their friends and so I am very sorry to say that the population minimised quite a lot. It only took 24 hours for all 7 billion people on the earth to be infected. In the end everyone ate everyone else.”

Fox is smiling at everyone else, as if his story is actually scary or anything. “THAT was so bad!” Laughs Maryanne, clutching her stomach. Fox looks slightly hurt. “Ok,ok,ok.” She heaves with giggles, “it’s time for MYYYYY scaryyyy story!” She draws a deep breath.

“A long time ago there was this doll with a porcelain face and big glass eyes. The doll was called Hetty. Every night Hetty would sing this freaky creepy song that went like this: ring a ring a rosies a pocket full of posies, slice, slice, slice they all fall apart. Anyways when she sung the song it meant she was hungry for blood. The first person she killed was irrelevant but then more and more people began to drop dead, until an entire town was down. People say if you sing the song Hetty hears you and her thirst for blood grows and sh.......”

Fox Interrupts the tale, “THAT IS AN AWFUL STORY!!!!!!” Maryanne slaps him across the face a harsh poker face coming on. Tam turns his face towards me, “What’s your story?” He questions a strange smile slipping against his cheeks. I shrug I don’t know any story’s but I tell them the one I remember my camp leader told me yearsssss ago.

“Ok so once upon a time there was this girl called Abby. She was different I guess, she was confident, she was a feminist. Her friends laughed at her told her to shutup and get a husband, start a family. But instead of a family Abby started a business. She sold herbs, strange herbs, dark herbs, magic herbs. The medicines she sold people did funny things to them, burnt them, turned them inside then out. Abby was what you might call a witch. She created potions In the night smuggling ingredients for her cauldron. The people of the town wanted her dead, wanted her gone. And so they sentenced her to death and burned her at the stake, but she would not burn. Her flame lasted for 7 hours and finally ended at 3am, the witching hour, the unlikely hour, the death hour. They say if you wake at 3am and call Abby’s name and ask her for herbs she will come for you, she will do stuff to you, Abby seeks revenge for her death and the girls who lost their lives to the witch trials.”

Tam laughs “Wooow, so scary that was just some GiRl PowEr mumbo jumbo about feminism. How about we try shouting out her name, it is 3:15!” And so Tam grinned into the night and screamed: “Abby! Come get meeeee!” Silence followed. Fox grinned and began to put the fire place out. Maryanne huffed doing up her shoelaces. Tam smiled, happy that he had proved a point. We all got up, knowing it was time we headed back to our tent.

We said our good nights, Tam gave Maryanne a firm kiss on the forehead. Fox and I shook hands as if we were making some weird truce. There were noise in the night, screams, perhaps it was Albert’s ghost searching for his lover, maybe it was the Hetty doll singing for murder, maybe it was the cannibalise virus, maybe it was Abby the witch or maybe it was just a fox or an agitated baby. We woke to the scent of burning, something herbal. Tam was not in his tent, his sleeping bag was covered in blood, flesh, bone, animal feathers, runes, strange languages, signs, dead animals, ferns, leaves and the unmistakable aroma of burning.

Hayley, and Jason dates for ten years and have been together since they graduated from New York City University and became Journalists. They are going to be camping in the woods with their best friends Samantha and Mark for the weekend, they have been friends with them for years and they enjoy spending quality time with them whenever they have the chance to do so.

They are all sitting around the campfire telling scary stories and laughing out loud until suddenly they hear a grizzly bear approaching them and they all scream run! They all went into their cabin for the rest of the night and stayed inside until the following day.

They finally went back home and stayed home until they had to go to work in the afternoon.

“They say that every so often campers will hear him outside their tents at night, still looking for his missing head!” Johnny exclaimed, holding the flashlight under his chin to cast eerie shadows across his face.

Five other boys sat around the fire. Tim and Dave snickered, having heard this story before. Darrel wasn’t paying attention. Alex finished toasting a marshmallow over the fire, and Kyle was biting his nails.

“W-Why would you say that?” Kyle stammered. “I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight...”

“Don’t worry, Kyle. It’s just a story!” Alex assured him. “Right, Darrel?”

“Hmm?” Darrel sighed, looking up from a stick he was whittling with a pocket knife.

“I think we have enough sticks to roast with, man. You can stop, make a somore, and pay attention to the stories,” Alex complained. “Kyle is worried, but none of these stories are real, right?”

“Yeah, ninety nine percent of them are just made up to scare people.”

“Ninety nine?” Kyle shrieked. “What about the other percent?”

“Darrel!” Alex grunted. “Come on, man! Kyle, he is just messing with you. None of these stories are real.”

Standing up from his seat on a fallen log to leave the roaring campfire, Darrel turned to face the pitch dark woods where their tents were set up. “W-where are you going?” Kyle asked.

“We are out of chocolate; I’m just going to grab some more for everyone,” Darrel explained.

“I’ll go with you,” Alex offered, also standing up. “Tim or Dave, did one of you have a story?”

“Oh, I do!” they shouted in unison.

“Well, each of you can tell one. Darrel and I will go when we get back.”

Alex and Darrel disappeared into the blackness with nothing but a small LED flashlight to illuminate to ground by their feet. Tim and Dave argued as the pinpoint of light faded into the night.

By the time Darrel returned, Dave was just finishing his story, “Then he heard a Clang! When he got home, a bloody hook was stuck in the door of his car. That was the last time anyone ever saw the hook-handed killer...”

“I-I don’t want to stay h-here all night...” Kyle stuttered.

“What? Why not?” Johnny questioned him.

“What if they hook-handed killer is h-here.”

“Jesus, Kyle, It’s a campfire story! I’ve heard that story like a hundred times, and no one has ever showed up with a hook instead of a hand.”

“Hey, Darrel is back!” Dave announced. Everyone jumped and turned to face the stocky kid emerging from the shadows. “Did you get the chocolate and gram crackers?”

“Just chocolate,” Darrell corrected Dave, holding up a two chocolate bars.

“What? We can’t make anything with just chocolate and marshmallows! By the way, where is Alex?”

Darrel shrugged. “Didn’t know we were out, and I think the hook-handed killer got him.”

“What?” Kyle cried.

“Okay, that was too far,” Johnny spat. “Stop freaking Kyle out: Where is Alex really?”

“He wasn’t feeling well and decided to stay back at the tents,” Darrel admitted. “I’ll go back and get the gram crackers.”

“I’ll come with you and check on Alex.”

“Come on, guys!” Tim complained. “It’s my turn to tell a campfire story!”

“Just tell it while we are gone,” Johnny ordered. “Kyle is the only one who hasn’t heard the lame axe-murderer story you tell every time.”

“This is Darrel’s first time camping with us too!”

“Darrel doesn’t seem to get scared or care.”

“Fine! So, Kyle, three friends were at a campground—like this one,” Tim started as Darrel and Johnny faded into blackness.

Darrel returned to the fire after Tim was finished frightening Kyle—alone. The three boys around the fire peered into the night as Darrel plopped into his seat on the opposite end of the fire.

“Hey, Umm... where is Johnny?” Kyle asked. His eyes darted from side to side scanning the edge of the ring of light provided by their fire.

“Axe-murder got him,” Darrel answered.

“Very funny,” Dave said. “Did you at least bring the gram crackers?”

“No.”

“What? Why not?”

“Isn’t it my turn to tell a campfire story?”

“I guess, but what does that have to do with the somores?”

“You will see,” Darrel chuckled, flipping open his pocket knife. “Tonight five boys went camping with a kid they barely know, and no one saw them ever again...”

”Okay. I’ll start,” said Pam. It was one blazing hot day, and I couldn’t find my dog. I kept yelling his name from the window, but I heard nothing, so I went out to look for him; it was around 2:30 in the afternoon, and I worked a double at work the night before, so I was exhausted, my feet got so swollen, and my eyes are so puffy that I couldn't see out of them. Not panicking, I put warm water over my eyes before I went out to cool them down so I could see. My backdoor had a dog door for him to come in and out; I just thought that he was somewhere running around and didn't hear me. ”Midnight, Midnight,” I called, still nothing. As I stepped outside, I saw a heatwave, and my leg started to sweat immediately. It was the kind of hot where you only went out if it was necessary.

I kept calling for midnight but no answer. I started to feel the anger form in my body, and it always starts from the bottom of my feet all the way up to my throat, and once it hits, it’s like a big ball that won’t move, and I have a hard time breathing. I’ve had midnight for years, and he has kept me on my toes; if it wasn’t for him, I don’t know where I would be right now. Anyway, still no answer; I decided to go back to the house and grab some water; I ended up lying down because I was tired and hot. Nightfall arrived and still nothing; the next day, I went out and put up posters describing him, hoping that he would come back. He could have gone that far, I said to myself.

Two weeks later, my mom called me and admitted that she killed midnight because she was mad that I was making more money than her and could afford to take care of myself. Ever since my dad left her, she's been bitter and very mean. I decided not to speak to her because I don't want to say anything to her that I would regret. I'm still working on forgiving her, and our relationship will never be the same.

“Linh, c’monnnnnnn. Hurry up! I have a way scarier story than you!” Ash whines impatiently. Linh, Henry, and Mari look at her. “Gosh sis, I’m almost done, ok? And that’s why you never go into the woods alone. Ok, now you