I squinted my eyes, the sun burning my vision. I pulled my hood over them, a groan escaping my lips.

Day 2

54 days to go

"Oh! Samuel, You're awake!" David's cheerful voice bounced around the cabin.

"Do we not own curtains?" I groaned. He chuckled,

"Why own curtains? The sun is a perfect alarm for every morning awakenings!"

I lifted one side of my hood, locking eyes with the man that sat at his desk.

"Well, I see you're not a morning person." He chuckled before turning back around. I dropped the hood, letting it cover my eyes.

"So what's the game plan today?" I asked.

"Well..." David started, "I was wanting-"

"David!" Gwen screamed, slamming the door open. David jumped, struggling to catch the pencil that flung from his hands. I peaked from above my hood, giving Gwen a 'Calm the fUck down' look. "I can't find Niel!" She yelled.

"Okay-"

"Or Nikki!"

"Gwen-"

"Or Max!!"

"GOSH DANG IT"

David stood, his chair causing it to roll back as he stormed out the door,

"MAX!" David screamed. I sighed, deciding to finally get out of bed. My head went dizzy for a split second before my vision focused. I shut the door and locked it before changing into my morning clothing.

I then stepped outside, being greeted with the smell of the forest and occasional cologne of kids that passed me. A low screech came from the side, Nikki and Niel dropping down from the claw of an eagle. I felt my jaw drop,

"Where have you guys been?!" I yelled, placing my hands on my hips. Nikki smiled, swaying herself as she spoke,

"You see- Snake was supposed to take us out of the campground but we ended up being thrown overboard of his boat and then we ended up at the flower scouts and then-"

"You know what? I don't care. Just as long as you guys are safe on campgrounds now." I smiled. "Uh, you guys have seen Max, right?" I asked. They both shook their heads,

"Not since we've seen Snake," Niel replied. I sighed,

"Okay, you guys just go do your thing."

The two left the area, seeming to enter the mess hall. I scouted the area and searched for Max, but eventually found nothing. Barely any of the campers either. I went back into the counselor cabin, only to find David and Gwen sitting watching TV.

"Um, have you guys found Max?" I asked. David smiled,

"Yeah! We found him a few hours ago, he's in the mess hall with the other kids." He explained.

"Why are you not with them?" I asked. Gwen chuckled,

"The QuarterMaster has them for now, this is our time to plan this week's activities for all these little shits," Gwen grumbled.

"Language." I and David said in unison. I leaned onto David's chair,

"You guys are doing a lot of planning." I chuckled, my eyes trailing to the TV that displayed Bob Ross. I pat the chair before turning to leave,

"Where yah going? Aren't you gonna enjoy a small break?" Gwen asked. I shrugged, turning to walk backward,

"I haven't done enough work to deserve a break," I responded.

"Now that's a hard working and great attitude!" David encouraged. I shrugged once again. "Have you met Cameron yet?" David asked. I felt my knees buckle slightly at the name,

I forgot... That's the reason why I'm here...

"No, I haven't." I chuckled, "he's the founder of this place... Isn't he?" I asked.

"Correct! He's like the best guy you could ever meet! And~ he's coming tomorrow!!" David smiled.

"Tomorrow?!" I yelled. David turned to Gwen,

"See! I'm not the only one excited for his arrival!" David grinned.

"Why is he coming tomorrow?" I asked

"Just for a quick check up on the place! I want him to see that we're great counselors and taking good care of the camp! So I have the campers working in the mess hall right now!" David explain. Gwen sighed,

"I don't know, I feel kind of bad for making the campers work so hard... Just to impress that guy." Gwen said, her eyes trailing to the ground. David smiled, a smile that instantly pushed away from the negativity in the atmosphere,

"Don't worry! Once we tell them about the ice cream pizza party! I'm sure they'll see it was all worth it!" David smiled. I learned again the wall, crossing my arms,

"Expired ice cream?" I asked. David nervously chuckled,

"Maybe."

//

"I hope the campers are doing a decent job," I mumbled, opening the door to the mess hall. There sat the quartermaster tied to a chair while kids went haywire around him.

"We got ourselves an uprising!" He yelled.

"Get them!" Nikki screamed. Many hands then grabbed me, tugging me to the flagpole. I squirmed, not wanting to punch or kick in fear of hurting one of the campers. They tied us counselors to the wood, Gwen right side up, me and David upside down. I could already feel the blood rushing to my head.

"Max! I am very disappointed in you for this behavior! But I'm also torn because you were clearly paying attention in knot tying class!" David spoke. A hand swiped across David's cheek, causing me to flinch slightly at the sight,

"Shut up!" Max ordered, "We're in charge now, Davey! The camp is ours!" Max teased. A few other campers cheered at his words, making random comments about the situation.

"Max, let us down now! Cameron Campbell is coming to the camp tomorrow and we need to get ready!" David ordered. I felt a small smile spread on my cheeks, I've only been here for one day, but I've never heard David sound so controlling or angry. Although it wasn't actual anger... But you could still hear the authority in his tone.

"Oh even better! You'll definitely be fired when he sees the state the camp is in! Or will be in~" Max teased, "C'mon everyone!" Max yelled, walking away with the others following close behind.

"Get back here!" I yelled, kicking my feet.

"Oh, Gwen! We have to stop them!" David yelled.

"Yeah, I refuse to sit up here for the next 24 hours!" Gwen groaned. Niel then pulled out a piece of the rope, using it as a holder for an iPad. Gwen gasped, "Trash Tv~"

"No! Gwen!" I yelled

"Gwen~!" David screamed. I sighed, trying to free my arm. My burn from last night rubbed against the itchy rope, the stinging causing my eyes to tear up.

"S-Samuel, if you continue moving like that you're going to get a burn!" David yelled,

"Last time I checked, I already have one!" I yelled. David was silent momentarily.

"Sorry, I forgot to give you some ointment... " He mumbled.

"No! No! Don't be sorry, Davey, I went to bed without thinking of it..."

"Did you just... Call me Davey?" He asked.

"O-Oh! I-I thought it was okay since Max called you..."

"Its okay, although Davey was my nickname when I was younger when I was a camper at Camp Campbell." David smiled. I turned to him slightly, or as much as I could.

"You were once a camper here?" I asked.

"Yeah!" David's tone of voice got cheerier, "I've known this camp for all my life! And Cameron! I still can't wait for him to show up tomorrow even if the camp isn't in the best condition currently..." David chuckled.

"Why do you love Cameron so much?" I asked. David was once again, momentarily silent.

"Well. Cameron... Has just been such a father figure to me... you know when you're a child... And you do everything in hopes of making your parents proud? To gain their respect? To help them know... That they raised you right?" David asked. I thought of my father and my current job.

I hate being a spy, emotionally manipulating people to tell you their secrets, lying about who you are to everyone. I'm not even being a good spy right now! I'm emotionally connecting to the enemy!

But this is what my father would want right...? For me to be successful... He was pretty happy with my last mission over a year ago...

... That mission where I betrayed my best friend...

"Samuel?"

"Y-Yeah, David... I know what it's like." I chuckled. "But, um... you know... Every human has their faults. What would you do if you learned that Cameron... Wasn't that cool?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" He asked,

"What would you do if you soon learned that Cameron wasn't that good of a guy? Maybe lied a few times... Maybe have criminal records... Uh, maybe have made international promises and now those countries want to kill him...?" I asked. David shook his head,

"I know Cameron! He's nothing like that!" He smiled. I gave a soft smile to his blind determination.

"Maybe he's nothing like that... " I agreed.

(1497 words)

(Finished writing on Fri, Aug 3rd, 2018)

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