Nick chatted for a moment with a couple of counselors, giving them some instructions. As soon as he walked away, Molly missed his presence. Her emotions so easily fluctuated between hurt over their breakup to comfort in their easy companionship. Feelings were rarely simple, she’d concluded, and being with Nick only proved her theory true.
He jogged back over to her and, together, they led the group away toward the cafeteria. As they walked past the woods, Molly shivered again, a foregone reaction, one that she’d had since she was a child. She brushed aside the memories and plastered on a smile, unwilling to show the campers any fear.
Molly was the first of the group to step inside the cafeteria. The eerie quietness made her heart quicken a moment. The message left on her mirror yesterday flashed back into her mind. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Had someone come back this evening while they were at campfire?
No, no one had been in here since dinner, she told herself. The camp was safe and all the craziness of yesterday was behind them now. There was no reason to think otherwise. Quickly, the chatter from the campers filled the space, but Molly couldn’t get the thought from her head.
Her hands trembled as she unlocked the door to the nurse’s quarters. As the door opened, something flew into her face. Molly screamed. She scrambled backward, trying to disentangle herself from the object.
Nick jerked whatever it was off her. “What...?”
It was an old, ratty-looking doll with a missing eyeball and only patches of hair atop its head. “Chainsaw Charlie” was written in red across its body. Someone had hung the doll from the door, knowing it would fly in Molly’s face.
“The pranks have already begun.” Nick put a hand on her arm, his warm eyes assessing her. “I’ll talk to the campers about it, let them know that pranks like these are unacceptable.”
“You think this was a prank?”
He nodded. “This doll has been around for awhile. You never know where it will turn up during any given week.” He ducked his eyes lower to meet hers. “Are you okay?”
“I’m just... I’m just surprised.” She forced a laugh and glanced at the wide-eyed campers beside her. “You guys are going to keep me on my toes, aren’t you?”
The campers let out a nervous laugh.
After everyone took their medicine, Nick and Molly began walking the campers back to their cabins. She gripped her flashlight as they walked down a particularly wooded, dark hill back to the girls’ cabins. Her nerves still felt on edge from the prank earlier. Would she ever be able to relax here at the camp?
The kids didn’t seem to be bothered by the isolation out here, so why was Molly? She knew. She remembered that time camping with her mom and her mom’s new boyfriend. She remembered wandering off when her mom wasn’t paying attention. She remembered how easy it was to lose your direction, for every tree and patch of undergrowth to look the same. She remembered the cold shivers that racked her body as night fell and she was alone...
Molly snapped from her thoughts and looked up. A group had gathered outside of the girls’ cabins. Tension returned to her muscles. “What’s going on?”
Tense lines formed on Nick’s face. “Let me go find out.”
Had someone been hurt? She pushed through the crowd until she caught up with Nick. The dorm mom spoke quickly, frantically. “All the girls are terrified,” she explained. “Someone ransacked the cabins while we were at campfire.”
FIVE
Nick gathered all of the campers together on The Hill to have a long talk about pranks and to question each of them about who was behind the ransacking of the cabin. Most of the campers looked sleepy and confused. Even though Nick sounded stern, he also sounded relaxed, like he didn’t want to scare anyone. Molly was pretty sure a few of the campers already wanted to go home, though.
Molly stood in the back, watching for a suspicious reaction, one that would hint of guilt. So far, nothing. Had one of the campers been behind the incidents today? Or was the same person responsible for yesterday’s terror behind today’s scares? Not knowing caused tension to embed itself in her muscles.
Laura, one of the counselors for the week and Cody’s friend, paced to the back and stood with her. The counselor reminded Molly a bit of herself as a teenager. The two had already had some good conversations in their brief stay together.
At Laura’s nearness, Molly’s thoughts turned to Cody. Could he be behind these incidents like Ernie had suggested? He had the opportunity and means, Molly supposed, but what motive could he possibly have?
Laura leaned toward her. “Some kids never learn, do they? They only think about themselves.”
Molly nodded. “At this age, believing middle schoolers can have maturity is right up there with believing in fairy tales. Hopefully, Nick’s lecture will prevent any more of these incidents this week.” If a camper is behind any of this...
“I was just a camper here myself last year. I never remember the pranks being this bad.” She shivered. “They’re actually starting to scare me. What if some psycho wants to get their kicks by bringing Chainsaw Charlie back to life?”
“Why would you think that?”
“It can’t be a coincidence that the sign was destroyed with a chainsaw and that you heard chainsaws last night. It can’t be.” The college-aged girl shivered.
As the meeting wrapped up, Nick approached her. “Molly, will you walk all the girls back to their cabins and make sure they’re all there and accounted for? I’m going to do the same for the boys. I’ll walk back over and get you afterward so I can walk you up to the staff quarters. I don’t want you walking alone, okay?”
Molly nodded, rationalizing that Nick was simply doing what was best for the camp. His concern over her safety had nothing to do with their past relationship or him still caring for her today. And even if it did, Molly knew they had no chance of a relationship together again, not after the way things had ended before. It was best to push the warm, fuzzy feelings that kept rearing up toward Nick into a deep place where they wouldn’t emerge. She’d made the mistake of dating Derek. Now she had to reclaim her independence, to remember not to look for any type of security in a man.
She began ushering some of the girls toward the cabins. Twenty minutes later, everyone was in their beds and accounted for. Molly stepped outside the cabin door, hoping that once she exited the building the campers would settle down. She’d wait by the door, under the sickly-yellow light where bugs swarmed, until Nick arrived. This way, she could see him coming and, if she stayed close enough to the cabin, she should be okay. No danger. No fear.
The crickets helped her to count the passing moments with their melancholy song. Mosquitoes and other nighttime insects buzzed. A few frogs groaned their midnight soliloquies. They were probably nestled along the swamp creek to the south of the camp. The mere thought of the murky water made her shiver.
What was taking Nick so long? She’d assumed he would be here by now, but he wasn’t. As she swatted at another mosquito, she realized that maybe she should have waited inside.
“Molly.” The wind rustled the tree limbs.
Chills ran up her spine. Had she just heard her name? It almost seemed like a whisper. Had Nick called to her? She squinted toward the distant darkness, looking for him, but saw nothing.
No, she must have been hearing things.
She pressed herself farther into the door, though. Her hand reached for the knob, ready to turn it and go inside if need be. Her heart beat st
eady and fast in her ears.
“Molly...”
She’d definitely heard her name that time. Her gaze darted around her, but she saw no one.
Where was the voice coming from? Not the cabins behind her, she felt sure. The voice called from farther away.
“Nurse Molly, help me. Please. I’m hurt.”
She stepped toward the path, her throat going dry. Was someone hurt? It couldn’t be any of the girls because Molly had seen for herself that they were all okay. Besides, the voice didn’t sound feminine, more like a high-pitched male. Perhaps a prepubescent middle schooler? Were all the male campers accounted for?
“Please, Nurse Molly. I need you.”
Sweat covered her brow as she stepped farther away from the cabins. Her urge to help someone clashed with her fear. “Where are you?”
“I’m over here. In the woods.”
Molly paused, sweat trickling down her forehead. “What are you doing in the woods?”
“I was hiding, and I hurt myself. I won’t play any more pranks. I’m so sorry.”
The prickles deepened until they felt like spiders with needles for legs walking across her skin. She stared at the woods. “Why don’t you come out so I can see you?”
“I hurt my ankle. I can’t come out.”
She stood at the edge of the trees now, but couldn’t make herself go any farther. “I need to go get Nick to help.”
“I’m not far away. Just a few steps. Please. It hurts so much.” A little cry followed the statement.
Molly’s heart lurched. Her gaze frantically darted around her. What should she do? She hated to think about a camper being hurt. But what if it wasn’t a camper?
She touched a low-hanging branch as the damp scent of the forest rushed to her. “What’s your name?”
Silence answered. Finally, a twig snapped. How close was the sound? Who had made it?
Shivers now claimed every muscle until even her teeth chattered. “Hello?”
“I’m here.”
Her heart slowed a moment. “What’s your name?”
The male’s voice changed, sounding deeper, more gravelly. “My name is Chainsaw Charlie.” A psychotic laugh bellowed, coming closer.
Molly darted toward the cafeteria. Adrenaline surged through her, causing each muscle to feel as springy as rubber. Was the man following her? She glanced back. Nothing. The next instant, she collided with something—or someone.
She screamed, visions of a masked man wielding a chainsaw claiming her thoughts. She had to get away before he pulled her into the woods, before he carried out his “or else” threat.
“Whoa. Where’s the fire?”
Her gaze fluttered up. Nick. It was only Nick.
“What happened?” His gaze turned serious.
She sucked in a breath and pointed behind her. “Chainsaw Charlie.”
Nick’s gaze flickered behind her. “What are you talking about? Chainsaw Charlie isn’t real.”
“There...there was someone. He called to me. Said that was his name.”
Nick’s arms went around her. “Slow down, Molly. Tell me what happened.”
She dragged in shallow breaths, trying to calm down. “Someone just called to me from the woods. At first he tried to make himself sound like a camper. When I got closer his voice changed. He said he was Chainsaw Charlie.”
Nick’s brows pulled together. “I’m going to get you back to the cafeteria, then I’ll check it out.”
“Could this be another camper prank?”
He shook his head. “All the guys are accounted for. Girls, too?”
Molly nodded. Nick’s lips pulled in a tight line as he led her back to her quarters.
What was going on here? Molly mused with a frown. And with each “prank,” Molly felt quite certain that these incidents were anything but.
* * *
After Nick made sure Molly was securely in the nurse’s quarters with the doors locked, he ventured back outside. What was going on here? With each incident, his worry grew. What if these weren’t pranks, but attempts to scare everyone away from the camp? But why would someone do that?
The sounds of nature enveloped him as he hurried back to the spot where he’d found Molly earlier. Chills raced across his skin. The damp scent of the woods—usually a comforting aroma—now put him on guard. Something was going on out there in the woods. He just had to figure out what.
He paced the treeline, not foolish enough to go into the wilderness alone at this hour. If he eliminated all of the campers and staff from these “incidents,” that would only leave someone local. Plenty of people had reason to want them off of this property, he supposed. The camp sat on a four-hundred-acre plot of land and numerous people had tried to buy it up over the years, everyone from business owners to conservation groups.
He stood at the edge of the forest and listened. He heard an owl, a few birds and the ever-present crickets.
His muscles tightened. Was that a twig that snapped in the distance? Did an animal’s weight break the thin wood? Or a human’s?
His gaze zeroed in on something in the distance. A piece of paper was nailed to a tree. He trudged through the underbrush until he reached it. He plucked the paper down, squinting to read the words in the dark.
He sucked in a breath when the letters came into focus.
This is only the beginning.
* * *
The rest of the week passed uneventfully, but Molly still wasn’t able to put her mind at ease. Her only comfort was in knowing that all of the threats happening seemed to be centered on her and Nick and not the campers. She prayed that sheriff would catch the person behind everything and lock them away before any more harm was done.
Today was Saturday, her day off, as the first round of campers had left last night and the next round wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow after church. She welcomed the break, though she had no idea what exactly to do with herself. She knew she had to pick up her car and hoped someone might give her a ride there. Otherwise, she planned to try and relax some.
After getting dressed, she wandered out into the cafeteria, ready to scour the fridge for leftovers for breakfast. She was surprised to see Nick there doing the same thing. Her first impulse was to retreat. They hadn’t had many opportunities to interact during the week—only when needed. Maybe it was better that way. There was no need to bring up old hurts. Molly had let go of the disappointments of her past and she didn’t expect closure or apologies.
Nick pulled his head back from the fridge, and Molly saw regret flash in his eyes. Sorrow about the past, or sorrow that he’d run into her today?
She put her shoulders back farther. “Morning, Nick.”
“Morning. Hungry?”
“Starving.”
“There’s usually leftovers, but I can’t find any this morning. I might have to cook.”
Molly gasped in exaggeration. “Cook? What’s that?”
He grinned. “What do you say? French toast and sausage?”
“You’re going to cook for me also? I’m honored. Whatever you’re making will be great, but I don’t want to impose. I can grab some cereal.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Cooking for two is just as easy as cooking for one.”
“I won’t argue.” She leaned against the wall and crossed her arms as she watched Nick get busy.
“So, what did you think after your first week here?”
“I think I wish I had the enthusiasm and energ
y level I did when I was in middle school.” She laughed. “But really, I thought it was great. You couldn’t even tell that you’ve only been camp director for a week.”
Something passed over his gaze. What exactly had happened before he came here? How had life changed him? There was now a heaviness about him, like he’d seen things that he carried around like burdens. He seemed subdued, like his thoughts were elsewhere.
She wanted to ask, but didn’t have the relationship with him to do so. Instead, she went to the coffee pot and began a brew.
“The kids really liked you this week. You still have a way with people that amazes me.”
She raised a brow. “What do you mean?”
He glanced back at her and shrugged. “You have a way of seeing through people to who they really are. People like the steadfastness in your eyes. They’re drawn to your big heart.”
Molly tried not to show her surprise. For a moment, it sounded like Nick actually thought highly of her. Could it be?
A moment of hurt crashed into her heart. He’d broken up with her, she assumed, because she didn’t come from a squeaky-clean family. Her dad had left them. Her mom struggled with addictions. They were on welfare, and Molly was mostly left alone to fend for herself while her mother worked a dead-end job, spent time with another no-good boyfriend or recovered from a hangover.
No, Molly didn’t have a flawless background. She’d always assumed Nick would ultimately want to be with someone who shared his background, who looked like the perfect Christian forward and backward, inside and out.
Nope, she wasn’t perfect. But she did strive to follow God with all of heart, mind and soul. She’d come to learn that that was all that was required of her.
She turned away, afraid Nick might read her thoughts. She cleared her throat as she pulled down two coffee mugs. “We never did figure out who ransacked the cabins or who was hiding in the woods that night trying to scare me.”
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