Chapter 9 - Shot in the Arm

Exhaustion claimed them all like a boa constrictor. After hours of playing that insane night game and a quarter-mile hike downhill, the last of their energy had been squeezed out of their souls. They ignored cabin assignments. Lane, Luna, Nina, and Aiden collectively entered the first available bunkhouse together and locked the door behind them. The prefab cabins were simple, outdated, but furnished with the essentials; desk, chair, and bunks comfortable enough to catch a few hours rest before the sun came up again.

    The interior was separated into two spaces. The front door opened into a thin foyer with the desk and chair pushed up against the far right wall under the window. Walking the handful of paces toward the writing desk, the thin wall dividing the cabin opened up to the bedroom. A queen-sized bed was pushed against the left wall, a double-decker bunk bed occupied the right.

Aiden called the lower bunk. Lane climbed up onto the top. Nina and Luna shared the queen-sized bed. Within moments, they'd all drifted off into slumber that was anything but peaceful...

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Barking, growling, clawing, no matter what position Lane turned in his bunk, a persistent restlessness hounded him. It felt impossible to tell whether the animal noises were coming from outside among the surrounding woods or within his imagination. Maybe this whole trip was a bad dream? If Lane ever did manage to sleep, he may as well wake back up at their apartment across from UCI. He could conjure a sufficient apology to Becca. They might end up going to that lake house she'd mentioned for the summer? No mysteries there. Becca was simple enough, easy to get along with. There would be no panthers, wolves, or lions prowling outside ushering in a dark omen. Why were they all so hungry, so loud, so ravenous...?

Lane opened his eyes. He was still in the tiny cabin at Trillion Pines Youth Camp, face-up in the top bunk above a snoring Aiden. He adjusted to the darkness, making out the shadow of his sister sitting on the edge of the queen mattress, feet swaying over the side of the bed, while she stared at the wall.

"Luna," Lane whispered.

She scoffed and turned to look up at him, "Can't sleep either, eh?"

Lane shook his head.

"Come," Luna yawned, stretching her arms above her head, "Maybe some tea and fresh air might help before the sun comes back up?" She bent over the side of her bed and reached into the duffle bag they'd brought up earlier from their Jeep. Inside one of the pouches were her standard emergency rations; granola pouches, dried fruit, a jar of Nutella, and an unopened box of rose petal tea.

Lane climbed down the creaking bunk ladder. Fortunately, Aiden was a deep sleeper. Nina was curled up into a ball pressed against the wall sleeping a little less soundly. Slipping on his boots and vest, Lane grabbed the travel mug in the side pocket of his backpack. Both brother and sister felt their way out of the dark cabin and onto the patio deck.

"Seems we're not the only restless ones this morning," Luna pointed to the bathhouse. All the lights were on. Steam poured out from the cracked windows in thick white sheets along with a soft choir of moans.

"Restless is one way of putting it," Lane said under his breath, "How about we try the kitchen in the Great Lodge or the Snack Shack?"

"Do you have keys for either of those buildings?" Luna asked.

Lane rubbed his eyes. Did the moans from the bathhouse grow in volume and intensity, or was it his imagination again? He shook his head, "They shouldn't be locked, right? Even if they were, not particularly a problem for us."

Luna clicked her tongue taking a few steps toward the bathhouse, like a waltz, dancing across the grey planks of the deck, "Breaking and entering doesn't warrant a great first impression, Ursa Major. Come on, we're just popping in for some hot water. Fair bet says whoever is in there won't particularly notice."

"That's not a gamble I'm in the mood for, Ursa Minor," Lane nevertheless followed his sister as they both approached the bathhouse door. It became clear that more than one pair of voices sang from inside. Even if it were only one other person in there, Lane was hesitant to enter after what happened to him hours earlier. Between walking in on someone having an intimate moment and breaking into a building for hot water, he'd take his chances with the Snack Shack.

Luna on the other hand had already gradually pushed in the door. Steam flowed out into the early morning summer night. Lane tried to reach out for his sister, but she'd already stepped inside.

Lane groaned in frustration, annoyance, and exhaustion. All he wanted was sleep. Luna's insatiable desire for adventure had grown into a formidable barrier to that goal. She just had to go inside. There were screams of pleasure, cries of lust, and intermingling moans that could wake the dead. Why hadn't Lane simply walked back to his cabin, buried his head under the pillow, and forced himself back to sleep? There was something crawling up along his skin. He recognized the same sensation from when he'd first been inside the bathhouse. Like trillions of tiny spiders running up over his body, spinning invisible webs and drawing him in, pulling him forward into their woven trap.

"Luna," Lane called out in a stage whisper.

No reply.

His hand was already pressed on the warm, heavy cedar door, pushing inward, into steam and the deafening sounds of sex echoing off the tiled walls. At first, Lane could only make out shadows, outlines of people concealed by walls of steam. Then the group of councilors became graphically visible.

On the far left, Grace faced the wall bracing both hands above her head. She'd been partially stripped down; jean shorts still around her ankles, and her plaid t-shirt halfway off her shoulders. Pulling her long mane of curling blonde hair was another girl, Zoe. Athens and Tallahassee respectively continued to grunt and whimper while the latter pegged the former with a strapon.

On a long wooden table in the center of the room, Cole lay on his bareback with his face buried deep between Kori's thighs while she straddled him. She reached one hand behind herself, and gripped Cole's solid cock, working it in her palm. "Faster," She screamed and encouraged him by stroking with equal intensity. "Harder," she cried and pulled mercilessly upon Cole. The boy's tongue complied.

Leaning against the far right wall with his hands behind his head and sunglasses inexplicably still on his face, was Bozeman. He also wore a Mona Lisa Smile that made it impossible to tell whether he was bored, or truly satisfied by what was going on below his waist. Curiously, both Brad and a fiercely built Japanese boy knelt down in front of Bozeman playing Russian Roulette with the mute kid's cock. Brandon, or Topeka, Lane remembered him being rechristened, was the twenty-something Japanese speech and debate champion from Kansas. He shared a playful rivalry with Brad during Tiki Tiki Fire Drum. Apparently, that sense of competition extended off the field.

"And, time!" Brad exclaimed, exchanging places with Brandon.

Bradon wiped his mouth and took the stopwatch from Brad, "Thirty seconds back on the clock. Come on baby, you gonna make this kid come or what?"

"Well, look who else showed up," Came a suggestive voice dangerously close to Lane.

Lane gasped. He actually audibly gasped.

Jordan stood a little more than an arm's length away from him wearing barely enough to cover her stunning figure. Her open black silk robe revealed a nearly invisible one-piece teddy. The sheer, intricately designed, black singlet was mostly see-through. The combined heat, condensation, and sweat rolling down her porcelain skin made it more so. Her long, damp red ringlets were thick enough to cover her breasts, and Lane followed her sunset hair up to those piercing eyes staring back at him.

"If it isn't Lane Guster Woods, wandering into somewhere he wasn't invited. Unexpected, but not unsurprising," Jordan spoke with an edge.

"Jordan," Lane started, willing his tired mind and body to focus on her face and not her ample chest, rocking hips-- Stop. Focus. Maintain eyecontact.

"So are you here spectating then, or are you coming in...?" Jordan asked taking the smallest step toward Lane.

"Oh, shit!" Floated Brad's voice up from the other side of the room, "Look who it is. Has Roswell Awoken from his beauty rest for a rematch? Let's go then!"

Before Brad could stand up, Brandon slapped his bare back hard, "Yo, one match at a time. You still haven't lost to me yet. You wanna lose again to Roswell?"

"Hey, that was a win!" Brad relented, "Fine. Lane, you want in on some of this cock? I don't know what Bozeman does to it, but this thing tastes amazing!" With that, Brandon shoved Brad's head back down onto Bozeman's.

"What were you expecting here, Lane?" Jordan asked, inching closer still to where Lane could almost taste her watermelon lip gloss, "Did you really want to repeat that childish hero act, swinging to the rescue?"

Lane swallowed hard, "I was gonna get hot water. For tea."

"Why don't you come over here, Lane? Rleax a little. I've got an open seat for you," Kori suggested, pulling once more on Cole's shaft.

Tilting his head back to catch a breath, Cole coughed out while looking up at Kori, "I don't roll that way, honey--"

Kori weaved her fingers through Cole's hair and brought his face back up into her pussy. She silenced her partner in a soothing voice, "No, no sweetie, tongues are for licking not for talking." Reno turned back to Lane and flashed him a grin before grinding her hips harder into Cole's face.

Gracie laughed, "Maybe Tallahasie over here can help turn you out, if that's more your thing?" Athens suddenly let out a yelp and moaned in the same breath as Zoe slapped her ass.

"One pussy at a time, dear. You're more than a handful as it is," Zoe stated, breathlessly.

"I'm two hands full and you love it!" Gracie let out another excited yelp as her partner pumped harder and faster behind her.

"So what's it gonna be, Lane?" Jordan asked, her hand reaching out ever closer to Lane's thigh, "Are you in? Or are you out?" With the tips of her fingers barely making contact over Lane's skin, Jordan gilded her hand toward his waist.

Lane followed the trajectory of her fingers, stunned, petrified. He glanced over again at Jordan's other hand lingering just over her bush; a tuft of fire engine red hair trimmed neatly into a triangle that pointed down.

"Are you going to run away again? Are you scared, Lane Guster Woods?" Jordan whispered his name and simultaneously stabbed him in the spine with icicles.

"There you are," Luna spoke up from behind Lane, "Glad to see you two are getting along after all," She continued, casual as can be. The thermos was gripped in her off hand, presumably full of hot water and tea.

Jordan retracted her hand and sneered, "I think getting along may be a premature assessment of the situation."

"Oh, I'm not cutting in, promise," Luna rushed to apologize, "I just need to borrow my brother for a second or two and he's all yours."

"Who says I want him to be all mine?" Jordan snapped.

With a polite smile, Luna dismissed the wild redhead woman's rising anger, "I'll be just a moment. Thank you." Luna tugged at Lane's shirt, pulling him out of earshot from Jordan. With a whisper, she proclaimed the obvious, "There's some weird shit going on here, brother."

"Really?" Lane mocked, "Nothing wrong with a twilight orgy every now and again."

Luna slapped Lane upside the head, "Not the sex. Obviously. Look at her eyes."

Lane subtly looked over his shoulder at Jordan. It was difficult to tell, but her pupils were slightly more dilated. That could have been from any number of factors; adrenaline, low light, pleasure... Then it hit him.

Alice.

That girl from earlier, the one that nearly jumped his bones, displayed similar symptoms. Slow and altered speech pattern, dilated pupils, exaggerated... um, desire for physical contact.

"Look, as much as I hate to admit it, we're neck deep in another mystery," Luna sighed out, visibly depressed. "I'm sorry, Lane, but that's the situation. That's always how it is. You and me, in the middle of some fucked up puzzle we have to figure out."

"Luna, you don't have to apologize. This is-" Lane stopped as his sister pressed a finger to his lips. She wore a somber smile.

"And as excited as you might be, I'd appreciate it if you curbed your enthusiasm, please," Luna added sharply. "This isn't how I wanted our summer to end up. Again."

"Are you saying..." Lane glanced over at Jordan, "You don't think it's a good idea for Jordan and me to..." Gesturing with his hands for Luna to fill in the blanks, she instead slapped him again.

"First, no, you idiot," Luna snapped, "Not until we figure out what's gotten into people. Second, with the exception of the first part, I'm excited you get a chance to pursue your first crush. Just..." Luna bit her lip, "Don't set your expectations too high, okay?"

Lane tilted his head like a confused puppy.

Luna sighed, of course, he needed her to spell it out, "People change. If you're going to do anything with her, take the time to get to know who she is in the present instead of expecting them to live up to your imagination." She cringed. That last bit may have landed a little harsh, but Luna needed to make sure the advice stuck. There was a flicker of recognition in her brother's eyes. He nodded. Good, Luna thought. Maybe he'll take a different approach this time, maybe he'll be happy?

"Okay, so, what's our play?" Lane asked, "Maybe there's something chemical in the water? We could already be infected if it's turned into vapor."

Luna shook her head, "It's possible, but we've both been exposed to the air and water in here already. I don't know about you but I don't feel any more horny than usual. How about you?"

"Hey, check out the two love birds over there by the door. Get you some, Roswell!" Brandon cheered still on his knees, holding the stopwatch.

Brad took his lips off Boseman's cock long enough to mock Brandon, "Dude, that's his sister, you idiot." He paused, thought about it, "You got a thing for your sister there, Roswell?"

Lane and Luna both ignored the boys while they threw together a plan.

"Okay, let's get a control group going then for observation," Lane suggested.

"Nina and Aiden were still asleep when we left. We keep an eye on them and see if they exhibit similar... Behaviour." Luna subtly gestured to encompass the room.

"Agreed," Lane said definitively.

"Good," Luna nodded and handed him the thermos, "You keep an eye on those two, I'll watch this hot mess and see if anything else--"

"Whoa," Lane interrupted, "You think I'm gonna leave you alone in here with-"

"Ursa Major," Luna cooed, "Which one of us has more sexual experience?"

Lane sighed and reluctantly pointed at Luna.

"AND which one of us gets stressed out and flustered in virtually any overtly sexual situation?"

"That's not entirely fair..." Lane relented, turned his hand, and pointed to himself.

"Hey, we play to our strengths, right?" Luna gave Lane a pat on the back which turned into an extended hold. She was using him as leverage while standing on one leg and wriggling out of her pink gym shorts. "Now, you open up a fresh page in the journal, make sure we write up a full report and compare notes tomorrow over breakfast. Deal?"

Luna handed over her gym shorts, panties, and removed her size too big Houstan Texans jersey. Lane folded up his sister's clothes and tucked them under his arm.

"You sure you'll be okay?" Lane asked once more.

Luna kissed her brother on the forehead, "You're sweet. If anything happens out of the ordinary, I'll scream."

"You never scream," Lane shot back and pointed at her.

With a grin, Luna asked, "And why is that?"

Lane sighed and smiled, "Because you're capable and know how to handle yourself," he remembered, mostly reminding himself. Luna was in fact overqualified when it came to defending herself. He'd always seen her as his sister. But, she was also well trained and disciplined when it came to meeting any objective or obstacle in her path without fail.

Ursa Major and Ursa Minor: equal partners.

"Go watch our control group. I'll see you at breakfast," Luna added and walked away, changing her whole posture at will. Shoulders back, hips swaying and finger poised. Like a predator on the prowl, Luna stalked straight for Brad.

"Vegas," Luna boomed out, her voice echoing off the tile walls, "What are you doing down there on your knees?"

Brad whipped his mouth, licked his fingers and stood up, "We're playing a little game called--"

"Did I order you to stand?" Luna reached out and grabbed Brad's partially erect penis captive in her hand and gave it a firm squeeze. Brandon chuckled, only to be quickly silenced by Luna snapping her fingers, "Undisciplined boys. How disappointing. How long has it taken you to finish Boseman off?"

Luna reached down with her free hand to grab the stopwatch around Brandon's neck. She tugged it upward, like a leash. She checked the time and clicked her tongue, "Unacceptable." Looking up into Brad's eyes, she asked in a soothing tone with a wave of malice behind it, "Do you want to learn how to properly suck a cock like a good boy, or do you want to waste Boseman's time, like a bad little boy?"

Brad continued to stammer, "I, um, do you wanna show us how to suck--"

"I will teach you how to properly please this poor, bored young man if you behave. Now, on your knees!" Luna commanded and released Brad's now rock-hard junk. Vegas complied and knelt down level with Boseman's waste. Before he could say anything, Luna gripped the bottom of Brad's chin in her palm. "Open wide..."

To the casual observer, Lane considered, it may have appeared that Luna had snapped and lost her mind. He knew better. Luna was perfectly in control. If she needed help, he trusted his sister would indeed ask.

"Not a terrible performance," Jordan scoffed, "Those idiots are too horny to see through it though. The question still stands, Lane. Are you in..." Once again, Jordan had closed the gap between them, "Or are you out?"

Lane took a breath, and forced his racing heart to pace itself, "I don't want to take advantage of... whatever this is, Jordan. I don't want to take advantage of you. How about we talk tomorrow?"

Jordan stepped back, and slammed her back against the cold tile wall; "Coward."

Lane felt that body-blow to his pride right below his ribcage, but shook it off, "Goodnight, Jordan." Taking one last look back to check in on his sister, Lane pulled open the heavy cedar door and left the bathhouse.