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Chapter One

Lainey

“Legend has it that the Butcher of Braxton Lake stalks these ca for one of you to step out of line…”

I roll o back to fixing my s’more This is my first week at Camp Brax, but I quickly learned tried and truethe campers in line Fear

With a flashlight poised below her chin, the counselor continues to weave the phony tale, while our charges sit huddled around the ca in the pool

“That sound you hear co? That’s the Butcher sharpening his teeth on the trees He needs them to be sharp as spikes, because they’re his weapon of choice for subduing prey” The counselor pauses for dramatic effect “He can’t wield an actual knife, on account of his hook hands!”

On cue, I prod the fire with ht air Squeals ring out from the terrified campers, and I bite back a chuckle I would have loved this as a kid Sitting around a fire, linking ar tomorroould be another day filled with adventure My squeals would have been fake, though When I was their age, I was too busy being scared of real monsters to worry about fabricated ones

Still am

A crunch cooosebumps on my arms No one else seems to notice, they’re so wrapped up in the story, and I decide Iseveral northbound buses fro three days ago, having ca nonstop activities I’h The preteen cauessing that’s going to change tonight when they’re all tossing and turning with nightmares

A too-s the breadth ofaround and brandishing er like a sword Sorowl, but I focus on the ies from my throat when I see who touched me, but my skin continues to crawl “Dammit, Manny”

“Sorry, babe Didn’t mean to scare you”