//

THE SUMMER IT ALL BEGAN-JUNE 30, 1984. The hot summer weather was slowly reeling into Los Angeles day by day which made people who lived in the city leave their home windows open in the night to cool down.

23-year-old JJ Plympton wanted to leave as soon as possible due to him no longer being able to stand the heat another year.

In the middle of June 30, 1984, JJ had finished an aerobics class with his half-brother, Xavier, as the instructor for the day.

Xavier Plympton was his older half-brother because their father had an affair with a woman by the name of Marylin Roberts who was pregnant with a baby.

When Xavier's mother discovered that he had cheated and had a baby, they fought back and forth until she agreed she would try to help raise the unborn child even if it wasn't her own.

By the time Xavier was three years old, Marilyn gave birth to his brother, little JJ. But once he was born, Marilyn wanted nothing to with him, deciding she can't be a mother to which she gave full custody to Xavier's parents.

Xavier did love his little brother but he didn't like to show it as he believed that JJ was the reason for the fights and the eventual divorce eight years later when Xavier was 11-years-old.

JJ pushed himself away from Xavier, knowing he wasn't wanted around his older brother.

But as they reached their early twenties and late teen years, they slowly started to get along again but deep down, they were still tense around one another.

For example, they always made sure to correct anyone who asked if they were brothers. Their response was simultaneous and always: 'We're half-brothers. Nothing more, nothing less.' It might seem rude but JJ started that saying it first until Xavier did agree and said the same thing with him.

Once the class was over and JJ showered, he and Xavier stood near the juice bar in the Perfect Arrow to which two other friends joined them: Chet Clancy and Ray Powell.

JJ nodded in thanks to the barista who slid over his protein smoothie before raising the cup to his lips as Xavier spoke, "She was stabbed like 40 times. Her throat was cut so badly, she was basically decapitated."

From behind, JJ smiled at Montana Duke who walked behind Xavier, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "Describing your last date?" she taunted.

JJ laughed while Xavier scoffed with a smile. "Hilarious," he replied. "No."

"Actually, yes, he got rejected. Xav took it a little too hard," JJ added making Montana snicker while Xavier rolled his eyes. "What's up, Sugar Momma?" he asked Montana.

JJ did have a very flirty relationship with Montana-he loved calling her names like Sugar Momma and Cougar due to the slight age difference and mutual sexual tension. She never stopped him from saying the nicknames, she liked hearing him say them to which she responds with nicknames like Sugar Baby or Cub.

Montana just shrugged at JJ with a small smile as Xavier gave JJ another look for the previous remark. "No," Xavier stated. "There was a murder a couple of days ago in Glassell Park. My cousin works for LAPD Homicide, and they're convinced whoever did it is responsible for a bunch of other unsolved murders in town."

"Oh, yeah," JJ said remembering the calls he'd hear his cousin make. "Mikey said they're calling him the...Night...Night something..."

"Night Stalker, marshmallow brain," Xavier answered.

"At least I have a brain, pancake ass," JJ remarked.

"Uh, guys?" Ray interrupted. "Back to the Night Stalker?"

"I heard serial killers become more active in the summer months when it's hot," someone spoke. Everyone in the group turned to see a beautiful brunette girl standing a few feet away from them. "Because people sleep with their windows open at night," she added.

No doubt, JJ has seen this girl multiple times in the aerobics studio and flirtingly checked her out when she looked in his direction.

She was cute. Not his type but cute.

Montana hummed. "This is Brooke," she spoke. "She's new in town." She motioned to the group. "Brooke, this is Xavier, JJ, Ray, and Chet." She leaned towards Brooke. "Also Xavier and JJ are brothers but they don't like it when you-"

"Half-brothers," Xavier and JJ spoke simultaneously.

"Nothing more..." Xavier added.

"Nothing less," JJ finished.

"See?" Montana said, motioning in between the two blonds.

Regardless, Chet approached Brooke, shaking her hand. "Hey," he greeted in a flirty tone.

Brooke smiled. "Hey. How do you guys know each other?"

"Well, it's LA. Do any of us really know each other?" Xavier stated.

JJ raised his hand. "Well, he knows me pretty well. I'm a pain in his ass," he admitted.

Xavier nodded. "That, you are."

"But for us, we collected each other over the last couple of years. Xavier and Montana met in traffic and dated for a second," Ray stated.

"That hot second made me sad that Xav took away what could've been away from me," JJ added with a fake pout, looking at Montana.

"Keep your hopes up, Sugar Baby," Montana told him as the group moved to some couches nearby.

"'Met in traffic'," Xavier quoted Ray's previous words. "Is a nice way of saying that I missed an audition for one of the last episodes of MASH because she rear-ended me."

"Ha!" JJ let out as him and Montana sat next to one another.

"You are welcome," Montana added as she stretched out across the couch, resting her legs across JJ's lap.

"You're an actor?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah," Xavier answered. "Not one of those 'happy to get a role on a soap opera or a Coca-Cola commercial' types." JJ held back his laugh as he looked up at Xavier, mouthing his words in sync with him (even mocking a smolder) due to hearing Xavier say this a hundred times. "I'm a serious actor..."

Seeing JJ get Xavier's sentence word for word made Montana giggle. "Here's the best part," he whispered to her.

"I trained at Stella Adler...I'm method," Xavier spoke to which JJ still mouthed word for word with him.

Montana and Ray held in a laugh while Brooke told Xavier, "Cool."

"I met Montana," JJ began, placing his hand on Montana's knee affectionately. "At my other job."

"He works at Chippendale's by the way," Montana added for Brooke.

"And we fell in love..." JJ stated to which Montana rolled her eyes with a smile, shaking her head at Brooke. "Until I found out she dated this dummy," he said, nodding to Xavier. "That was kind of a deal-breaker."

Xavier huffed, jousting his thumb in JJ's direction. "See this asshole? I deal with him every day of my life," he told Brooke.

"Then, lucky you," JJ stated with a smirk. "That means I grace you with my presence every day."

Montana turned to Brooke. "They're like this a lot. It's nothing new," she said.

"Anyway," Ray spoke up, interrupting the siblings' banter. "JJ, Chet, and I met at the gym. Yeah, and I think I met Montana at a party up in the hills at Justine Bateman's house."

Brooke turned to Montana with a smile. "You know her?"

"Not really," Montana casually answered.

"Anyway," Xavier spoke. "My cousin was saying that they think that this guy's gonna go on a rampage, like Son of Sam did in the summer of '78."

"And that's why we're getting the fuck out of here for a couple of months before that can happen," JJ added, motioning to him and Xavier.

Xavier nodded. "We got gigs as counselors at a summer camp, they're opening up a couple of hours from here. You guys should all come. I mean, they're desperate for counselors."

"Yeah, come on, Sugar Momma," JJ said, nudging Montana's leg. "I'd be lost without you."

"Hey, I'm in. When do we leave?" Ray asked.

"Tomorrow, after class," Xavier answered.

"Why can't we leave tonight?"

"Slow down. What's with you? You've been jumpy all week," Xavier stated.

"I'm just ready to get out before the Olympic shit show starts," Ray answered. "Okay? Los Angeles is about to descend into chaos. All right, gridlock on the freeways. And I'm thinking of poor Chet, having to be here getting his face rubbed into it."

Chet stood up. "Fuck the IOC," he stated. "I'm in."

"Do you think they'd let me teach aerobics up there?" Montana asked JJ.

"Can't see why not," Xavier stated.

"And if they don't, I'll just smooth talk them into letting you and only you teach, Mon," JJ said with a smile at Montana.

Montana chuckled. This boy was so whipped for her and she loved it. "I'm in," she stated before looking back at Brooke. "You should come. I'm desperate for some estrogen in this crew."

"Oh," Brooke began. "Sounds fun, but I'm taking classes at Santa Monica College. I'm gonna be a veterinary assistant."

"Wow, aiming high," Montana stated.

"Knock it off, Montana," Chet told her.

"That's cute," JJ stated to Brooke. "The job you're aiming for."

Brooke smiled at the blond. "Thanks."

"I'm in the medical field too," Ray told Brooke.

"Medical field?" Montana questioned. "You're an orderly. You mop up poop."

"We're all putting our lives on hold for this but I'm telling you, it's gonna be worth it," Xavier said as they all stood up to leave.

"You don't want to be in town this summer, it could cost you your life," JJ added as they all left.

***

Later that night, Xavier was sitting on the floor, packing his bag for when they would leave tomorrow while JJ sat on the couch of their shared apartment in the living room, holding the phone to his ear while twirling the landline cord with his fingers.

"Yeah, bring any and all booze you got," JJ told Ray over the phone. "We'll drink on the way there and when the boss isn't looking." He noticed Xavier folding some shorts in his bag to which he told Ray, "Hold on a second." He lowered the phone away from his mouth and told Xavier, "Hey, don't forget to pack your training bra."

Xavier didn't even turn to look at him, only sent him the bird over his shoulder. "If you get caught with booze, I'm not responsible for you," he added.

"Relax, we're not gonna get caught," JJ told him before holding the phone back up to his ear. "Anyway, man. Tell Chet not to bring any of his shit on the trip, I'll throw his ass out."

Chet's 'shit' was his drugs like coke he and Ray often did. JJ did it once with them and doesn't remember what happened that night.

"All right," Ray answered back over the phone. "We go tomorrow after class, right?"

"Yeah, tomorrow I teach so get your ass up early," JJ replied. "All right, good night, Ray-Ray. Sleep tight and don't let the Night Stalker bite."

JJ hung up the phone to which Xavier said, "Hey, I need to ask you something."

"Yes, I think you should pack your floaties since we'll be swimming all summer," JJ replied.

Xavier rolled his eyes. "Not what I was going to say. It's serious." At this, JJ looked at him. "Aren't you at least a little bit freaked about this Night Stalker stuff?"

"Kind of, yeah," JJ answered, getting up to close the open window nearby as he had remembered what the new girl said before about killers. "But not much to worry about since we'll be in Redwood all summer long. Hopefully, by the time we come back, this guy is caught."

"Yeah," Xavier agreed. "Although if he did come to try and kill us in the night, you'd be the first to go."

"No, I wouldn't," JJ replied, walking into the kitchen, opening the fridge to grab a beer. "If anyone dies first, it's you while I'll just relax in my room and sleep peacefully as you get butchered."

"Good to know, love you too," Xavier remarked with sarcasm.

"Aw, you do love me, Xav," JJ said with a flattered tone before popping the lid off his beer. "You melt my heart."

As JJ drank his beer, Xavier hummed. "I'm surprised you have a heart."

"Just for Montana...maybe the new girl, Brooke, right?" JJ asked. "I think she likes me."

Xavier rolled his eyes, zipping his bag closed. "You're a pig."

"And you're the most dramatic person I know."

***

The next day after JJ taught aerobics class, Xavier, JJ, Montana, Ray and, Chet all piled their bags in Xavier's van and as they were about to leave, Brooke from the previous day caught up to them, asking to go.

Of course, the girl was let onto the van, on the long drive to Redwood she sat explained her encounter with the Night Stalker as she sat in the back with Montana, Chet and Ray while JJ sat in the passenger's side and Xavier was driving.

JJ tapped his thigh along to the beat of Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell that played on the radio but he also listened to Brooke.

"Hey, give her this," JJ told Ray, turning in his seat to hand over a flask. "A little Jack might take the edge off."

Ray gave Brooke the flask to which she grabbed as she said, "I still don't really know what happened." She sipped from the flask, making a face at the strong liquor. "How am I alive right now?"

"Face it," Montana stated, removing her sunglasses. "You're a badass."

"I'm not," Brooke replied. "He said he was going to come back and kill me. The cops are gonna find him, right?"

"Totally," Montana answered. "But in the meantime, he won't be able to find you. What's better than a few weeks in the wilderness to forget about everything? And get paid for it. Brooke, you're totally doing the right thing coming with us."

"Absolutely," Ray spoke. "It's gonna be a nonstop party. The kids, the camp. I got enough blow and weed to last us through the summer." He looked at Chet. "And let's just hope we don't have to take any random drug tests."

Yeah, JJ said he would throw anyone out who had blow but Ray mentioned he had weed too and allowed it.

JJ and Montana laughed with Ray while Chet said, "No, it's not fucking funny."

"What? What did I say?" Ray asked.

".001. That's how much shit those waistoids say was in my bloodstream."

"If you haven't figured it out yet, Chet was disqualified from Team USA," Montana told Brooke. "He peed a pharmacy so they kicked him out of the Olympics."

"Come on, you can be honest with us-we're friends," Xavier called to him.

"And we won't judge you, not too much at least," JJ added.

"But I didn't do anything," Chet replied. "I worked my ass off for that spot. I mean, look at this bod," he said, removing his shirt. "Have you ever seen a body like this?"

"Never," Brooke answered.

"You're embarrassing yourself," Ray told Chet.

"Embarrassing myself?" Chet questioned.

"Yeah."

"Yeah, what the hell have you got? Let's see."

"Yeah, I'm up for a laugh," Montana stated, picking up a Polaroid camera.

JJ turned in his seat. "Yeah, let's see what you got, Ray-Ray," he said.

Ray picked up his shirt above his collarbone, showing off his abs to which Montana snapped a picture as JJ let out a loud wolf whistle.

"Well, it's like the ad says-there's always room for Jell-o," Chet taunted.

Ray pulled his shirt down, remarking, "Eat my shorts." He slapped the back of JJ's shirt. "You're up next, Chippendale."

"Can't. I only show off my body for those pay for me to take off my shirt," JJ replied. "Or unless Montana asks me."

"Do you really work at Chippendale?" Brooke asked. Her tone wasn't showing disgust or judgemental, just curious.

JJ turned in his seat to look at her, pulling his sunglasses down to the tip of his nose with a smirk. "What do you think, toots?" he asked, sending her a wink.

Ray offered Chet some of his coke to which Chet grabbed with a shrug. "What the hell," Chet said. "Guess it doesn't matter what I put in my body anyway."

He took a large snort of it before offering it to Brooke who responded, "No, thanks."

"More for me," Montana replied as Ray handed back JJ's flask who threw his head back, dumping the rest of it in his mouth.

He reached over to turn up the volume until Xavier smacked his hand. "We talked about this, dingus. No one touches the radio but me," Xavier told him.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize you owned the radio," JJ remarked, raising his hands in surrender.

"My van, my rules," Xavier replied.

"You're such a buzzkill, Grandma Xavier," JJ stated, kicking his feet up on the dashboard.

Shortly, Xavier pulled up to a gas station. Once the van came to a complete stop, everyone got out mostly stretching as Xavier told the gas station attendant. "Fill 'er up." He asked, "Payphone?"

The attendant nodded. "Takes a quarter."

As Xavier walked away, JJ called, "Xav, pull up your pants. No one wants to see your flat ass."

Xavier threw the bird over his shoulder at JJ, still walking to the payphone as the young Plympton laughed at the reaction.

"You like taunting him, don't you?" Brooke asked JJ.

"It's the highlight of my day, darling," JJ answered while Brooke blushed at the nickname. "He does it back to me all the time so we're pretty used to it."

"Although, when Xavier says something to really piss off JJ, it's so hot watching him get angry," Montana told Brooke.

JJ chuckled. "Whatever you say, Sugar Momma."

Montana laughed and called Xavier who was still on the payphone. "Xavier! Let's go! We gotta get moving if we're gonna make it to Redwood before dark."

The gas attendant looked up. "You say Redwood?"

"Yeah. Camp Redwood," Brooke answered. "We're all counselors there for the summer."

"Turn around," the attendant told them. "Go back to the city. They never should have opened that place up again."

"Yeah, yeah," Xavier said, approaching the group. "How much do we owe you?"

"Ten even," the attendant answered. Everyone got back in the van everyone but Xavier and Chet (who took the passenger's seat) as JJ sat in the back beside Brooke and Ray. Xavier handed the money to the attendant who stated, "You're all gonna die."

Xavier had a weirded-out expression before looking to his half-brother in the back, both laughing as he started up the engine and began driving.

As the drive went on for thirty minutes, Chet read the map off for directions. "You guys, I think we're supposed to turn back there," he said.

"Nah, that was a side road," Xavier answered. "Leads to the same place. This way is much faster."

"You've never been here before," Montana stated. "How do you know?"

"Plympton intuition, baby," JJ answered. "Xav's usually got a good idea about direction."

"Maybe we should have checked at the gas station," Ray spoke as Xavier help light a joint for Chet.

JJ looked to Brooke who seemed more unnerved. "Are you okay?" he asked in concern.

"Why was that guy saying all that creepy st-" Brooke began before yelling, "Look out!"

The van came to a very fast jolted stop as it hit someone, knocking him to the side of the road.

Everyone got out of the van, hurriedly approaching the injured guy who was lying in the road.

"Did we hit him?" Brooke asked.

"No, I-I don't think so," Xavier answered.

"He was right in front of the fucking van," JJ said.

"Hey, you okay?" Ray asked the guy who was awake but didn't respond. "Just keep your head back and relax." Ray looked at the group. "We need to keep him warm."

"I-I'll go get a blanket," Brooke stated, rushing back to the van.

"What's your name?" Montana asked him.

"I can't remember," the guy answered before letting out a pained yell, moving.

"No, no, no, don't move," Chet told him as Brooke rushed back with a blanket.

Xavier pointed at the stranger's hands. "Look at his cuts. The dried blood. He didn't just get those injuries-he's been out here for a long time."

JJ glared at Xavier. "Dude, that doesn't fucking matter."

"We're in the middle of nowhere. We can't just leave him," Brooke added.

"We'll take him back to the camp with us, then, but let's get our stories straight. We didn't hit him."

Everyone turned to look at Xavier while Ray said, "Here, let's just get him up, huh?"

Everyone but Xavier maneuvered to carry him until the guy's hand latched around JJ's wrist tightly, making him jump.

"You have to believe me..." the guy said. "I tried..."

Confused yet trying to stay calm, JJ told him, "It's okay, you're okay, man."

The man's grip fell limp as his head fell back, not moving. "Hey," Ray spoke, lightly patting his face to wake him up. "Nothing."

***

10 minutes later, the van pulled into Camp Redwood.

As everyone but Brooke and JJ got out, there was a woman chopping wood until she noticed the new group.

"Welcome to Camp Redwood," she greeted. "I'm Margaret Booth. I'm the owner."

"Boss lady chopping her own wood," Montana stated. "Choice."

"Well, we'll all have to wear multiple hats. We are short-staffed, and the kids arrive in the morning," Margaret Booth answered.

"Yeah, are we the only counselors?" Chet asked her.

"Well, the Olympics create thousands of temporary jobs, and my pool of potential employees was limited."

JJ barely peeked hid head out of the van. "Um, bossy lady. Is there a medic or a nurse here? We have a situation," he called.

Margaret approached, seeing the injured man lying across the van's seats. "What happened to him?" she asked.

"Uh, he was by the side of the road," Xavier answered. "He was already messed up."

JJ gave his half-brother the ultimate bitch face while Margaret said, "Okay, well, let's get him to the infirmary."

Once the group had gotten the man to the infirmary, the nurse, Rita, checked his heart rate before asking the group, "You say you found him in the middle of the road?"

"He was by the side of the road," Xavier corrected. "He's been pretty out of it, saying weird things, not making much sense."

"Is he okay?" JJ asked.

"He's severely dehydrated," Rita answered. "Probably went for a hike and got lost. Couldn't find his way back. Panicked. People don't realize just how deep these woods are. Hikers get lost in them every year. End up dead of hypothermia or falling into a ravine or just disappearing altogether. He's lucky you found him."

Xavier only hummed as Ray asked, "Is he gonna die?"

"Not on my watch," Rita answered, setting up an IV. "Don't worry, I work in the E.R. at Hawthorne Hospital the rest of the year."

Margaret walked back into the infirmary. "Why don't we give our nurse a little space," she spoke. "Come on. I can show you all a tour of the camp." They followed Margaret out who motioned to the lake. "We have canoes and rowboats. All children must have a buddy to go into the water. The lake is allegedly bottomless, and drowning is the number one cause of death for U.S. campers."

"What's second?" Xavier asked.

Margaret gave him a look but continued walking towards a truck where a woman smoking a cigarette was grabbing a crate full of food. "And this is Chef Bertie, a Camp Redwood veteran."

Xavier looked at his friends, leaning against the truck. "Dibs," he told them.

Chef Bertie smirked at Xavier. "You wouldn't know what to do with it if you had it, handsome," she teased as JJ's mouth dropped open, in amusement.

The younger Plympton started to laugh, applauding the new woman he had just met when he saw Xavier’s incredulous expression, as he dropped his arm from the truck. "I love this woman already," he said.

"Put those scrawny arms to work and help a lady fill her pantry," Bertie told Xavier as she sent JJ a wink. "All of you, grab a crate."

As JJ grabbed a crate, Magaret explained, "Chef Bertie worked here when I was a counselor. We are so blessed to have her with us. I have many good memories of this place."

"It's magic up here in the fresh air," Bertie added. "I'm sorry that one bad apple ruined it for everyone. The minute I heard Margaret was reopening this place, I was first to volunteer."

***

The group followed Margaret through the showering area, the girl's cabin, and the boy's cabin to which Margaret said, "Girls are red. Boys are blue. Don't even try to make purple."

"Damn," JJ stated, eyeing Montana.

"You expect us to be celibate all summer?" Chet asked as they were about to exit the cabin.

Margaret turned to the group. "Well, I'm not banning self-abuse. Although every stroke soils your soul. But how could I ever enforce it?"

"It's 1984, Margaret. They're building coed showers in the West Hollywood gym," Xavier stated. "You ever hear of the sexual revolution? Sex won."

"I am aware of the decadence of our era," Margaret spoke. "Women's underwear that shows the buttocks." At this, Montana glanced down at her own ass before she noticed JJ eyeing her to which she sent him a wink. "Pornography in your own home. Van Halen." JJ's smirk fell. "I have been fighting the Lord's fight against filth around the world for years. Charles Keating is a dear friend. I was right by his side in Cincinnati during that Larry Flynt trial. And that is why, while still grieving my sweet husband Walter's untimely death, I took a small portion of the large fortune he left to me to buy this camp and create a safe, pure, godly and decent place for the children of this country to escape for the summer. It is a dream come true. Now, there aren't many rules, but I expect every one of you to follow them without exception."

As she walked away, Chet nudged JJ. "Who's Charles Keating?"

"Don't ask me, I was barely listening," JJ replied.

***

That night, the group (along with Nurse Rita) was around a campfire, mostly smoking joints except for Donna and Brooke who was the only one roasting a marshmallow.

Xavier took a long puff from Chet's joint before offering to Rita who replied, "I don't smoke that funny weed." She approached Ray who was smoking a cigarette. "Only thing I put in my lungs is a Marlboro Red."

"You know that shit will kill you," Xavier told her.

"All got to die somehow," Rita replied as Ray gave her a cigarette. "Any of you been camp counselors before?"

Everyone muttered a 'no' as JJ answered, "Nah. We just had to get out of L.A."

"I hear that," Rita agreed. "Couldn't stand being in that city another minute. Not with all those gruesome murders happening so close to home."

"I was attacked in my apartment by the Night Stalker," Brooke stated. "He said he'd come after me."

"Brooke, take a chill pill," Montana told her. "He doesn't know where you are, and nobody followed us. Nothing bad is gonna happen here."

"Maybe not, but something did. 14 years ago. That's why they closed this place down-" Rita said.

"Rita," Xavier spoke, moving to sit beside Brooke. "I totally understand the tradition, and usually I'm cool with that, but our friend Brooke here had a for-real assault, and we're just not in the mood for a bullshit ghost story."

"It's not bullshit. And there was no ghost," Rita told him. "I'll be honest with you. I've never been a nurse at a summer camp before. And you've never been counselors. So how did we get these jobs with no prior experience? That's because anybody that knows anything about Camp Redwood doesn't want to be in Camp Redwood. This is the sight of the worst summer camp massacre of all time."

JJ chuckled but saw Brooke's anxious look and called, "Come on, Rita."

"His name was Benjamin Richter," she continued. "But everybody called him Mr. Jingles. Richter was drafted into the Vietnam War. They sent him off to Saigon, and that's where he found his calling. He had the highest kill rate in his company. And even after he was wounded, he went back for a second tour. See, he liked to kill, and he was good at it. He had a nasty habit of collecting trophies from his enemies. Cut off their ears and strung them into a necklace."

"Jesus," Chet mumbled.

"Army found out about it and gave him a dishonorable discharge. Richter came home to nothing. Only job he was able to get...was right here in Camp Redwood. Nobody knows exactly why he snapped. But one random night, Mr. Jingles grabs a knife and slaughters an entire cabin. Ten victims in all."

"You're wrong," someone spoke. Everyone turned to see Magaret approach as she told Rita, "If you're gonna tell a story, tell it right." She grabbed JJ's flask from Ray. "Alcohol is not allowed." She dumped the contents out in the dirt as she looked to both Plympton boys and Chet. "Neither are those funny-smelling cigarettes. What are those, cloves?"

"So nothing happened here?" Xavier asked.

"No, there was a massacre," Margaret answered as she sat down. "But only nine died, not ten."

"So Mr. Jingles is real?" Brooke asked.

At this, Margaret lifted her hair up on her left side to show that spot where her ear was supposed to be.

"Christ, you were one of his victims?" JJ asked.

"Now, I don't usually show off, but since you all are helping me start this camp, I think you deserve to know everything," Margaret answered before sighing. "I was asleep when I heard it. It was the sound of his keys...jingling. I opened my eyes a split-second before I felt the blade. But I knew I was going to die. But then a miracle happened. I saw a bubble rising to the surface, and I had this powerful urge to follow it up to the light. I was so scared. I didn't know how I could stay still. But then the light became so bright. I was lost in it, in the warmth and peace. It was Jesus. I had known him my whole life, but I truly met him that day. I floated out of my body, held aloft by the wings of an angel. From above, I saw him cut off my ear, but I gave him nothing. Not a twitch or a sound. And that's how I managed to survive, through the grace of God and His mercy."

It was silent for a moment until Brooke asked, "What happened to Mr. Jingles?"

"He was arrested and put on trial," Margaret continued. "I was the star witness. The jury only took an hour to find him guilty, and I thought, 'That will be the end of it.' But I can't escape him. And that's why I bought this camp. To reopen it. And to take all of my darkest memories and turn them into something bright and happy."

Chet chuckled nervously. "Dude. That's heavy."

"Okay, well..." Magaret spoke, standing up. "The kids are coming tomorrow, and this is the last time I want anyone talking about that horrible night."

***

Later, everyone sat in the guy's cabin together, passing joints and beers until Brooke came in slightly panicked, explaining what she saw when she left to check on the hiker.

"I think there's something wrong with the hiker. When I went to check on him, he wigged out. I think he has a concussion," Brooke stated.

"I mean, we got him here, made sure he didn't die. Karmically, we're cool," Montana replied.

"He kept saying something bad is gonna happen."

"He might have a concussion like you said but you heard Rita works E.R., don't worry about it right now, Brooke," JJ replied.

As Brooke tried to say something else, heavy footsteps were heard outside and approaching the cabin, everyone fell silent until the door burst open, making everyone scramble to hide the weed and beers.

"Hey," the tall man spoke. "Don't you guys know you're not supposed to be coed fraternizing?" Everyone was dead silent until the man laughed. "I'm just fucking with you. Oh, I'm Trevor, activities director. So, technically, I'm your boss, but don't worry, I'm not gonna be enforcing any of Margaret Booth's rules for godly living." Montana eyed Trevor below the waist. "Between you and me, I bet myself bucks I'd bang her by the end of the summer."

"You bet yourself?" Chet questioned.

"Yeah."

"Don't I know you from somewhere?" Montana asked Trevor.

"Teach aerobics in Marina Del Rey," Trevor answered. "Maybe you've taken one of my classes. They're pretty hot." At this, JJ made a sour face at the way Trevor was eyeing Montana. Xavier made a mental note to tease him later. "Also, if you look closely at the end of the opening credits of Three's Company when John Ritter and the girls are on bikes on the boardwalk, you can see me in the background. Shot it right at my condo."

"I love that show," Ray said.

Yeah, some might already like this Trevor guy but JJ, sure as hell didn't and it was pretty damn evident because of the looks of betrayal he gave Ray.

"I'm sorry, how does one go about making a bet with themselves?" Chet asked.

"No, no, no. Wait. You were in the Jane Fonda workout video," Montana stated with a smile.

Trevor sighed before saying, "Originally, yes. First row, right next to Ms. Fonda herself. I call her Jane."

"I've seen that video a bunch of times. You're not in it," Brooke stated.

"Well, not in the one that went out to the public. We shot the original for two days. But when they tested it with an audience, they realized I was pulling focus from Jane. Well..." He looked down at JJ, grabbing the joint from him. And from the small shorts, Trevor was wearing, his stored away junk stuck like a sore thumb. "A certain part of me was."

JJ looked away, scooting over more to sit beside Brooke.

"That thing was flopping around like a baby elephant's trunk," Montana stated with a smirk.

"They had to recast and reshoot," Trevor stated. "You must have seen one of those bootleg VHS tapes that's been floating around."

"First thing I ever masturbated to," Montana stated lustfully. "You're a legend."

JJ rolled his eyes hard as Trevor looked at Montana. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

JJ spoke up, "Anyway, I'm JJ." He pointed to his friends. "That's Montana...Xavier, Chet, Ray, and that one is Brooke."

Trevor looked over the blond boy. "Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?" he asked.

JJ shook his head. "No. I'm pretty sure if we did meet, I would remember your..." His eyes flickered to Trevor's shorts. "Face."

"Holy shit, I do know you," Trevor laughed, snapping his fingers. "Chippendale's-LA. The owner is Dan, right?"

"Yes..." JJ hesitantly answered.

"I'm one of Dan's old buddies. He pointed you out the other night saying you were one of the best dancers he had," Trevor told him.

JJ hummed until Montana spoke, standing. "That he is. I went into Chippendale's looking for a good time
He grinded me on stage." She eaned behind JJ, her lips near the shell of his ear. "I'm going out for a swim, you're welcome to join me, cub," she whispered before exiting the cabin.

JJ cleared his throat. No doubt, he would go after Montana. "So you gonna...work at..."

"Thought about it for a while," Trevor answered. "But dancers like you, you'd just steal the spotlight." JJ chuckled in response. "And sorry."

JJ met his gaze. "For what?"

"For gazing at your girl. I didn't know," Trevor answered, sitting down.

JJ's eyes flickered to Xavier who grinned in response. He'd be more than happy to correct him.

JJ stood up. "You're good, Trevor," he stated. "I'm...uh...gonna walk. Clear my head."

He hurriedly walked out of the cabin before any questions could be asked.

He walked along the water's edge, arriving at a dock where he heard a splash closeby.

As he approached the edge, he stopped, staring down at the deck. He picked up Montana's black lace panties that were resting on the top of the rest of her clothes. When his eyes flickered the water, he was Montana's naked figure swimming in the water.

"It got hot in there," she stated cooly. "I needed to cool down."

"Feeling a little sticky myself," JJ stated.

"Oh, yeah, you are," Montana whispered.

Montana's eyes were glued to the blond's form. For the next moment, all she could do was watch him strip slowly until he was completely bare to her in ways she's never seen.

Harder breaths puffed from her lungs. The familiar stirrings of arousal heated in her gut, radiating outward gently until she could no longer discern the water from her own wetness.

As JJ dived into the lake, he swam right up to her to which Montana wrapped her arms behind his head.

"I should get you more often," Montana stated, biting down on her bottom lip. "The way you're jaw was clenched and those hands of yours..."

"You did that on purpose, Sugar Momma?" JJ asked as his hands rested upon her naked waist.

"I like seeing you get mad. It's hot," Montana added, pushing a stray hair out of his face. "And watching you get undressed just now, you were hard." She ran her tongue over her lips. "It gets me excited just thinking about it, Sugar Baby."

JJ smirked. "You lured me out because you knew I wouldn't say no."

"You never say no to me, baby," she replied, her hand running through his hair, fisting it gently at its roots. "You are welcome to say no. But will you?"

JJ immediately shook his head.

"Good," she cooed. "Hold your breath, my Cub."

All sounds muffled around him as JJ's head submerged underwater. Her hands held his hair and guided him between her thighs. He spread them gently to reveal her cunt, pretty and ready for him to taste.

Before he could do anything, Montana's hands gripped tightly around his hair and closed her legs quickly as if something was wrong.

Maybe she just didn't want to do this anymore.

JJ shot up from the water, coughing. "Are you okay? You almost strangled me with your thighs."

"Let's jam," Montana told him. "A storm's coming. We shouldn't be in the water right now."

JJ only nodded. "Okay. Let's go."

The two made it up to the dock, redressing in their clothes.

"Tana, I don't want to push you but are you okay? You seemed more freaked about something else than a storm," JJ stated.

"I'm fine," she replied, stepping closer to JJ, running a hand through his soft blond hair, leaning close to him. "This isn't over, by the way. It's only beginning. We have all summer, baby."

JJ gulped. Their lips were only millimeters apart. Hers barely grazed his before she pulled away with a grin, walking back to the cabin.

"Fuck," JJ cursed to himself, following her.

***

Rain and thunder began to roll in. Everyone was back at the cabinet, Trevor, Rita, JJ, and Brooke sat on the couch in front of the TV while Xavier sat on a cot nearby, Montana sat on the floor, Ray was trying to fix the T.V. antenna and Chet was pouting near the bunks.

"Yes. They're replaying it," Xavier stated, referring to the Olympics that was playing on the T.V.

"Stop. There," JJ told Ray who raised his hands up as the T.V. screen became clear. "Nice job, Ray."

"This sucks," Chet stated. "Best athletes in the world in one place, and I'm missing it. I should be in the Parade of Nations."

"I know exactly what you missing. The fuck fest," Rita stated, making everyone laugh while Chet rolled his eyes. "Athletes are skanks. There's a reason why they hand out 20,000 condoms at the Olympics."

Trevor leaned back into the couch. "Sounds like heaven to me."

"I heard the male athletes outnumber the females five to one. That's some tough competition," Brooke said, looking back at Chet.

"What the fuck would you know about it?" Chet snapped, his knife cutting into the beer can.

At this, Brooke fell silent, leaning back into the couch.

"Whoa," Xavier said.

"Dude, shut up," JJ told him.

"She was just trying to help. You're being a dick," Ray added.

"Fuck you," Chet snapped, throwing his beer can at Ray who held up his hand, knocking it out the way but his palm began to bleed.

"Chet, what the hell?" JJ snapped.

Chet stood up. "Shit! My bad. I-I didn't mean to do-"

"Back off!" Ray yelled before looking to Rita. "Nurse, a little help?"

"I clocked out already," Rita replied. "I'm here for the kids. You want bandages, you can find 'em yourself."

Ray huffed, glaring at Chet. "Goddamn 'roid rage," he muttered before exiting.

"Nice going, dickhead," JJ remarked at Chet as Brooke followed Ray out.

"That was real smooth," Xavier added.

"It was an accident," Chet replied.

"So you accidentally sliced upon our friend's palm with your beer can?" JJ asked.

"Fuck you," Chet told him.

JJ snickered. "No, thanks, dude. You're not my type."

Everyone fell silent after that, Chet was still pouting away as they all watched the Olympics.

Ray came back shortly, ignoring Chet.

It only five minutes later, the door to the cabin burst open and Brooke exclaimed, "He's here! He's after me! He's trying to kill me!"

As she slammed the door and locked it, Montana asked, "Who? What are you talking about?"

"Mr. Jingles!" Brooke yelled, running to the other cabin door and locking it.

"What happened to you?" JJ asked, noticing she was covered in mud.

"This is a joke, right?" Xavier questioned.

"I could make out his raincoat," Brooke panicked. "His hood. I kept hearing his keys. It was him."

JJ picked up a baseball bat and flashlight before unlocking the door. "I'll check it out."

"No, no, no, no! JJ! He's right outside!" Brooke pleaded. She didn't want her new friend to die.

"It'll be okay," JJ told her softly. "Just relax. I'm going to barely look."

He pulled the door open and stepped out onto the porch with Trevor, Ray, and Chet.

JJ shined the flashlight before saying to the guys, "I don't see anything."

"There's nobody out here," Trevor called out to Brooke.

"Are you sure it was really Mr. Jingles?" Ray asked her.

"Hasn't he been locked up since, like, the '70s?" Xavier questioned.

"No..." Brooke said softly. "I know it was him. He murdered the hiker and he cut off his ear."

Shortly, they all went into the Infirmary. JJ was leading with his flashlight shining everywhere.

"He's right behind that door," Brooke whimpered as she saw the flashlight on a door ahead. "I'm not going back in there."

Both JJ and Rita walked forward. JJ barely pushed the door open, stepping into the room, glancing behind the door quickly as did Rita.

Rita looked at Brooke. Girl...you trippin'."

Everyone went inside to see no one, not even the hiker was in the room at all. "Wha...I...I don't understand," Brooke stated. "He was right here!"

"Well, he's not there anymore," Xavier stated. "Must have wandered back to wherever he came from. Not our problem."

"I think I might've found your raincoat killer," Montana spoke, shining her flashlight on a black raincoat hanging in the corner.

"No, no, no. No, no, no. I am not imagining all of this!" Brooke replied.

"Well, yeah, but...you did indulge in the righteous bush," Chet stated.

"How many hits did you take?" Montana asked.

"Zero," Brooke answered.

"Then you probably just got the mother of all contact highs," JJ suggested.

"We toked on a crossbreed of Northern Lights and Nevil's Haze," Xavier added.

As Brooke left to leave, she screamed as she saw someone in a raincoat standing at the door, practically falling back into JJ who held her steady.

"Relax, it's just Margaret," JJ told her.

"What in heaven's name is going on here?" Margaret Booth demanded.

Brooke sunk against the wall, looking up at Margaret teary-eyed. "It's, um...it's-it's my fault. - I thought-"

"We came to check on that guy they picked up on the road," Trevor spoke up.

"How is he?" Margaret asked.

"I guess he was well enough to leave," Rita answered.

"Okay, good. That's one less person for us to look after," Margaret replied. Now, let's go get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow." As everyone exited, Margaret looked down at Brooke who was still sunken against the wall, noticing she was covered in mud. "What happened to you? Cleanliness is next to godliness. Go clean yourself up."

***

The first chapter is in the books. Hope you guys like JJ already.