When I was twelve my mum took me to summer camp. I remember the bunk beds in cabin with green blankets. The activities were good and meeting new friends was so much fun. But if you asked me to go again...no way I would go. My mum dropped me at the entrance before driving away to work. I met Georgia and Amy who shared cabin 8 with me. That first night I slept on the top bunk bed while another girl laid underneath. I didn’t see her at the entrance ceremony or the speeches from Mr Jones who funded the camp. I guess she came late and joined this room. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Anyway, as I laid in bed I heard movement below and then scratching. I ignored it at first, but as I looked at the clock after 10 minutes I had enough. Why can’t she just go to sleep, it’s 3am in the morning. I sat up and leaned over the bed angrily whispering “can you please stop”. It was dark but I could clearly see a figure sitting up and hands up above the bunk bed. The figure moved laying down. Sighing in frustration as I laid down feeling bad but kept thinking I will apologise tomorrow. I don’t usually cause conflict, well I try to avoid them.

Morning came fast. I awoke seeing Georgia dressed and Amy putting on her socks and shoes. I stepped down from the bunk bed looking for the new girl. “Where is the girl who slept here?” I asked confused pointing to the bed below me. The others looked at me confused. “What do you mean? We’re the only ones here” Georgia said before leaving the room with Amy. I stood shocked for a moment. But...I saw a figure and the sound. That must have been real. Right? I began to get dressed into the camp uniform. I sat onto the bunk as I tied my trainer shoe laces. I looked up stretching my neck. My eyes widen in shock seeing marks on the bed. It looked like someone used a knife to etch words into the wooden frame of the bed. “Cold, dark, alone, Ary” the words said. I kept reading the words over and over. It seemed the last word was rushed. The word was not neatly written as the beginning. Seems as if one more letter needed to be written. I shot up banging my head on the wooden frame as the door opened. “Hurry up Jessica lets go” Georgia shouted at me before slamming the door. During the day I happily took part in the activities but kept thinking about those words. How did they get there? I looked at the beds before choosing where to sleep. There was nothing there yesterday morning. But could it have been that girl? I looked all over the area throughout the day to look for anyone who could resemble the figure. When it was the afternoon break I stood watching the other girls get into the cabins.

“That’s why it shut down last year” a girl said to Georgia. “What was that about?” I asked her as the other girl walked away. “My dad had a job here and he got fired last year after the campsite got closed down. My dad never told me why” Georgia said through tears. “What wrong?” I ask getting worried. “A girl named Arya. She drowned in the lake. That’s why they shut down” Georgia said through sobs. I consoled Georgia feeling bad for the mysterious girl who died last year. As I laid in bed clutching the blanket close to my chest on the second night, I suddenly heard movement below me and then silence. I was stiff, I laid motionless. Scratching noises suddenly began below me in a haste manner. My breathing was heavy. I moved the blanket closer to my head closing my eyes tightly. Once morning came I told Sarah who leads the camp. I showed her the markings which had become deeper. Sarah took me to the lake that day telling me about Arya. Arya was adventurous and did not have many friends. One day she disappeared. The adults searched for her for weeks. They found her in the lake floating. She couldn’t swim. No one would hear her screaming for help. Me and Sarah stood together on the pier with flowers. It was an accident.

Or was it?