chapter six
"truth or dare"

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The Wilderness  ━━ Hacketts Quarry 2021

THE SUMMER sun hung low in the sky as Nick, Abigail, and Lilith set out to collect firewood. As they walked, Lilith's eyes constantly scanned the forest around them, her mind elsewhere.

"Everything okay, Lilith?" Nick asked, noticing her distraction.

Lilith startled slightly. "Oh, yeah. Just... thinking about where we might find the best wood."

They soon reached a fork in the trail. "Shady Glade or Rocky Road?" Nick asked, looking between the two girls.

Lilith saw her opportunity. "Why don't we split up? We'll cover more ground that way. I can take Rocky Road, and you two can go down Shady Glade."

Nick frowned slightly. "Are you sure? We could all stick together."

"It's fine," Lilith assured him with a small smile. "I'm used to being in these woods. Plus, you can help Abigail carry the wood. I'll meet you back at camp in a bit."

Before Nick could protest further, Lilith headed down Rocky Road. As soon as she was out of sight, she abandoned any pretense of looking for firewood. Her eyes darted from tree to tree, searching for anything out of the ordinary.

The forest was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. She paused at a large oak tree, running her hand along its rough bark.

Suddenly, something caught her eye. Near the base of the tree, partially hidden by overgrown roots, was a glint of metal. Lilith's breath caught in her throat as she knelt down, her trembling fingers brushing away years of accumulated forest debris.

It was a watch. Not just any watch, but one she recognized instantly. The worn leather strap, the slightly scratched face - it was Aiden's watch, the one he had been wearing the night he disappeared. Lilith's vision blurred with unshed tears as she gently picked it up, cradling it in her palm.

"Aiden," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What happened to you?"

As she stood, clutching the watch tightly, Lilith's gaze was drawn upward. There, about eye level on the tree trunk, were three deep gashes - claw marks that no normal animal could have made. They were old, the edges softened by time, but still clearly visible.

A chill ran down Lilith's spine. These marks, combined with Aiden's watch... it was the first real clue she'd found in years. But it also confirmed her deepest fears - whatever had happened to Aiden that night, it wasn't a simple accident or a case of getting lost in the woods.

Lilith took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She carefully pocketed the watch and took out her phone, snapping a quick picture of the claw marks. As much as she wanted to stay and search further, she knew she had to get back before the others grew suspicious.

With one last look at the tree, Lilith turned and made her way back towards the camp, her mind whirling with questions and possibilities. She barely noticed the bundle of sticks she absentmindedly gathered along the way, her thoughts focused entirely on her discovery.

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As she approached, she saw Nick and Abigail had already returned, looking somewhat shaken. Kaitlyn, Ryan, and Dylan were there too, huddled around Kaitlyn's phone.

"No luck with the internet?" Lilith asked, setting down her firewood.

Kaitlyn shook her head, frustration evident on her face. "Nada. You'd think we were on the moon or something."

Ryan nudged Dylan. "Tell them what we found in Mr. H's office."

Dylan's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah! You won't believe it. We found this secret surveillance room-"

"What?" Kaitlyn and Lilith exclaimed simultaneously.

Ryan quickly clarified, "Relax, it's just trail cameras. For monitoring wildlife and stuff."

Lilith's heart raced. Trail cameras? She made a mental note to investigate later.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of a gunshot. Everyone jumped, but moments later, Emma and Jacob emerged from the woods, Jacob brandishing a shotgun.

"Where did you get that?" Kaitlyn demanded, eyeing the weapon warily.

Jacob grinned. "Found it in the lodge. Don't worry, we'll put it away. But first, who's up for some target practice?"

Despite Kaitlyn's protests, Jacob, Nick, and Kaitlyn ended up at the makeshift shooting range. Lilith declined to join, using the moment of distraction to slip away and hide Aiden's watch in her cabin.

When Lilith returned, the group had reassembled around the campfire. The flames cast dancing shadows on their faces, creating an almost eerie atmosphere. Dylan was rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"Alright, guys," he announced, "I've got the perfect way to spice up this night. Who's up for some Truth or Dare?"

A chorus of groans and eager agreements met his suggestion. Lilith settled onto a log, the rough bark pressing into her jeans.

As the game began, Lilith found it hard to focus. Her mind kept drifting back to the watch and those mysterious claw marks. The laughter and chatter of her fellow counselors seemed distant, as if coming from another world.

"Lilith? Hello, Earth to Lilith!" Kaitlyn's voice snapped her back to reality.

"Huh? Oh, sorry. Um, truth, I guess," Lilith mumbled, realizing it was her turn.

Dylan leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Alright, Lilith. What's the real reason you came to work at Hackett's Quarry?"

Lilith felt her heart skip a beat. She forced a casual shrug, hoping the firelight hid her sudden tension. "Just needed a summer job, I guess. Wanted to get away from home for a bit."

She could feel Nick's eyes on her, and when she glanced his way, there was a hint of skepticism in his gaze. Lilith quickly looked away, focusing on the flames.

The game continued, with Lilith giving vague answers for "truths" and opting for safe "dares" like doing a silly dance or an impression of Mr. Hackett.

The game took an interesting turn when Kaitlyn, with a devious smile, turned to Emma. "Alright, Emma. I dare you to kiss either Jacob or Nick. Your choice."

A hush fell over the group. Jacob puffed out his chest, a confident smirk on his face. "Well, obviously she's going to choose-"

"Nick," Emma interrupted, her eyes locked on the surprised counselor.

Lilith felt her breath catch as Emma leaned in towards Nick. The kiss seemed to last forever, the firelight painting them in warm hues. An unexpected twinge blossomed in Lilith's chest, a feeling she couldn't quite name. She quickly pushed it aside, attributing it to the stress of her earlier discovery.

As the kiss ended, chaos erupted. Abigail, her eyes shining with unshed tears, stumbled to her feet. "I... I need some air," she choked out before retreating into the forest.

Jacob leapt up, his face contorted with fury. "What the hell, man? Emma, how could you-" He cut himself off, storming off in the opposite direction of Abigail.

Emma, seeming unfazed by the drama she'd caused, turned to Nick with a casual smile. "Well, that was fun. But I guess we should probably go find our respective romantic interests, don't you think?"

As Nick hesitated, his eyes met Lilith's across the flickering flames. There was a question in his gaze, a hint of concern that made Lilith wonder if he had noticed more than she realized. For a moment, it felt like he was seeing right through her carefully constructed facade.

But before she could dwell on it, Nick turned away, following Emma into the shadowy woods.

Left behind at the campfire, Lilith found herself with Kaitlyn, Dylan, and Ryan. An awkward silence fell over the group, broken only by the crackling of the fire.

"So," Kaitlyn said, her voice overly bright as she tried to break the tension, "anyone up for Parchisi?"

No one responded. Dylan picked at a loose thread on his shirt, while Ryan stared into the fire, lost in thought.

Lilith stood up, brushing off her jeans. "I think I'm going to call it a night," she said, her voice sounding strangely hollow in the quiet clearing.

As she turned to leave, Kaitlyn called out, "Lilith, are you okay? You seemed... off tonight."

Lilith paused, forcing a smile onto her face. "Yeah, just tired. It's been a long day."

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