“It was probably just one of the boys trying to scare you,” said Rebecca Kwon as she shoveled a heaping fork-load of hash-browns into her mouth.

Josie shook her head. “It had to be at least eight feet tall,” she said.

“They probably were just on a ladder or something, wearing a costume.”

“That doesn’t make any sense…” Josie insisted. “The way it moved… it couldn’t have been a ladder—”

“—Or something like that, you know what I mean,” said Rebecca. “It was just the boys pulling a prank. That’s what they do. You can’t let it scare you.”

Channie was sitting on the opposite side of the mess hall, her cheeks still ghostly pale. She refused to talk about what they’d seen. None of the other girls believed Josie’s story without Channie’s corroboration.

For Josie, seeing something that no one else believed existed was triggering. Her experience with Adeona left her doubting her own sanity. Her grandfather and all the therapists she’d seen over the last five years insisted that the accident had not been her fault, but Josie knew there were only two possibilities: Either Adeona only existed inside her head and Josie was entirely responsible for her parent’s deaths or else Adeona really was real and the fact that Josie listened to the little demon still made her responsible for the accident in an only slightly less direct way. She was guilty regardless of which possibility she chose, and also possibly insane.

Deep down, Josie knew she hadn’t been making up Adeona. She’d never had invisible friends before or after the Parca came to her with her silly little games that led to ultimate disaster. There were things in the world that existed beyond human understanding. Channie had seen the tall man too, even if she wouldn’t admit to it now. Her fear was real.

“Pass the ketchup,” said Rebecca.

Josie glanced down at her own breakfast, still untouched, and then over at the red squeeze bottle. She pushed it closer to Rebecca.

Across the mess hall, one of the camp counselors, Matt Greene, was setting up a step stool to hang a banner from the crossbeam that ran the length of the room. The outdoorsman led the water-sports activities as well as manning the climbing wall—anything that required muscle. He unhooked his belt knife, still in its leather sheath, and placed it on a nearby table before stepping up to the top of the stool.

“Did you see Steph’s goat?” asked Rebecca with a scoff. “She wants it to be our cabin’s mascot.”

Josie stood up, her eyes locked on Matt’s knife.

Rebecca looked at her oddly.

“Follow me,” said Josie. She didn’t wait, setting off immediately across the long room.

“What about your breakfast?” asked Rebecca. She hopped up, snatching Josie’s bacon off her plate before following her through the mess hall.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Josie paused briefly to let Rebecca catch up. “Block his sight,” she said to her, gesturing towards Matt. The counselor was still fiddling with a roll of duct tape.

Rebecca stared at her with wide eyes, but then stood between her and Matt. Josie walked past the table, grabbing the knife as she went.

Channie, seated nearby, watched them both with a blank expression as Josie shoved the weapon under her shirt and continued on, straight out of the building. Rebecca’s black ponytail bounced back and forth as she ran after Josie.

Josie stepped around the side of the building. The leather sheath felt warm against her skin as she slipped it down the inside of her pants. She hooked it over her belt and adjusted it to sit snugly against her outer thigh.

Rebecca’s mouth turned down into a frown. “What are you going to do with that?” she asked.

“It’s just a precaution,” said Josie. There was no point in explaining why she felt the need to steal the knife. No one else apart from Channie could possibly understand her worries.

The rattling of a bell caught both of their attentions. A white goat on a leash, led by Stephanie Bennett, jingled into view from around the front of the building. It was gnawing relentlessly on a red bandana that the irritating blonde had tied loosely around its neck. The goat’s bug-eyed stare landed across Josie and Rebecca—one eye seemingly on each of them at the same time. The goat’s awkward gaze drew Steph to notice them as well.

Steph’s expression soured, but she immediately changed her course to approach them. She thrust a clipboard with a list of signatures on it out towards them. “Sign this petition to make Jerry the official mascot of Red Cabin.”

“You named the goat Jerry?” asked Josie.

“Obviously,” said Steph.

Jerry tried to nibble on Rebecca’s pant leg.

“We aren’t signing anything,” said Rebecca, yanking her leg back. “No one wants your stupid goat to be our mascot.” Steph and Rebecca had been feuding since day one of camp when Steph made fun of Rebecca for not knowing how to apply eyeliner.

“Sign it or I’ll tell everyone you were doing drugs back here,” threatened Steph.

Rebecca snatched the clipboard out of Steph’s hand and threw it as hard as she could down the side of the building. It landed with a splat in a patch of muddy grass.

Steph’s face grew red with anger. She was tall and skinny, but still had more muscle mass than Rebecca. She lunged at her, dropping Jerry’s leash in the process. Rebecca and Steph went to the ground immediately, tussling about. Jerry stared ahead mindlessly, unperturbed by the fight. He began chewing on his bandana once again.

Josie joined the fray, attempting to pull Steph off of Rebecca, but she got kicked painfully in the ribs for her trouble. The two girls screeched unintelligibly back and forth, rolling around and pulling each other’s hair until Steph gained control and sat on top of the smaller Korean girl.

Rebecca scrunched her face up as Steph raised her fist, preparing to rain blows down against her.

Josie had to act fast.

She drew the belt knife out of her pants and gestured threateningly at Steph. “Do it and I’ll cut you,” she said, maintaining as calm a voice as she could.

Steph’s eyes grew wide with fear as she looked up at the knife. She started crying immediately. She shifted backwards off Rebecca, hopped back up to her feet, and immediately ran away.

Rebecca’s ponytail was askew, but she wasn’t hurt. “Stupid goat,” she muttered under her breath.

Josie wasn’t sure if she was referring to Jerry or Steph.

“Meh-eh-eh!” Jerry bleated.

“We should go…” said Josie.

They ran off towards the woods before Steph could find a counselor to tell on them.

Steph and her goat…. I’ve got to admit, the silly fella really is starting to gnaw at my heartstrings! Even Jerry’s path is complicated and important. It’s all undoubtedly ridiculous, unlikely, and ever so necessary to the grand design of my plan. So much hangs in the balance….

Keep vigilant,

-Mr. Gray