7"Psst. Yuni!" An annoying little whisper of a voice stirred her from her sleep.
Her phone told her that it was currently 12:00 AM. The campers were usually put to bed at ten-o'-clock to ensure that they got the recommended ten hours of sleep needed for "growing boys and girls." Safe to say, the city girl was not happy to be awoken so late into the night. She threw on her cardigan, slipped into her shoes, and grabbed her phone before whipping open the entrance flap of her tent with a harsh tug.
She flashed the time on her phone screen before anyone had the chance to explain why they were bothering her. With her eyes still bleary from sleep, Yuni could only kind of make out the faces of the Chaos Trio. Her face held a dark expression.
"Heheh... Good morning?" Nikki treaded forward carefully.
"Did you forget about the plan, Newbie?" Max whispered, nudging his head to gesture her out of her tent. "We're trying it again."
Wordlessly, Yuni shuffled out of her tent, making a big scene of dragging her feet instead of walking properly. She did remember the plan: they were going to try and escape camp from the lakeside with help from some kid Max had contact with. What she didn't remember discussing was when this plan was going to take place. If she knew it was going to be at such an ungodly hour, she would've accepted just being stuck at camp for the next three months.
Max, once they were a good distance away from camp, debriefed the gang on what was to happen. "Alright, guys, our first attempt to bust out of this god-forsaken hellhole didn't work. But tonight's gonna be different, because we have a secret weapon."
Hopping off the boat docked to the pier was the edgiest kid Yuni's ever seen. His hair was greased down and parted in the middle, he wore an eyepatch, and he chewed on the end of a candy cane like it was the butt of a cigarette. Max introduced him as Billy Nikssilp.
"Call me 'Snake.'" The kid just about growled.
Without her Journal on hand, Yuni pulled up her memo app and wrote:
"Snake"
Shit's clearly an act. I can respect the dedication, though. Name's hard as fuck.
"He's ex-Wood Scouts. And he's one of the best. Isn't that right, Billy?" Ex-Wood Scout? Looking at the kid with his badge sash and camo pants ticked Yuni's suspect sensors off. Can you really be an ex-anything if you still rep the thing you aren't a part of anymore? Something's telling her gut that this kid was in this for something else.
Snake took a bite of his candy cane before listing his credentials. "Got my search-and-rescue badge in two weeks. Got my wilderness survival in one."
"That's amazing!" Nikki gushed.
"I never had a choice." Snake said, looking away. His brooding aura was funny to Yuni.
Max turned back to the crew to continue explaining. "The Wood Scouts are some of the most intense, militant campers on Lake Lilac. Billy here escaped."
"Snake"
Oop, bro escaped JROTC. Good for him lmao
"And why is he helping us?" Neil rightfully asked.
"I'm not doing this for YOU." Billy butted in quickly. "I made a vow." The kid struck a pose and looked off into the distance, having a moment while the others watched on in awkward silence.
"...Well, o-kay, let's get in the boat!" Neil cheerfully announced. Whatever reservations he had before seemed to have vanished.
Once they were halfway out on the lake, conversation began to pick up again.
"So... what're you gonna do on the outside?" Neil asked to no one in particular.
"Probably live with the animals." Nikki responded as if the answer was obvious. "Try and get raised by wolves, maybe work my way up to alpha. Pee on stuff." She shrugged, happily thinking up all the ways she could climb the ranks. "What about you guys?"
"I think I'll go to my dad's house and tell him that mom sent me to an abusive summer camp." Neil explained all with a smile. "Pretend to like him more so she'll try to buy back my love."
"Damn..." Yuni could only say.
"That's really dark, Neil." Nikki said giving Neil an approving look. "How 'bout you, Max?"
All eyes turned to Max, who was looking out of the boat. The lack of a response changed the energy onboard entirely.
"Max...?" Yuni probed. She looked around the boat for the source of the issue, finding nothing too out of place. There was no telling if they were going the wrong way or not, but the boy's next question made her hair stand on end.
"Billy... Where are you taking us?"
Billy's response was simple. "Shortcut." The face Max made at this response was enough to get Yuni's adrenaline pumping. Her eyes were scanning the boat and its passengers frantically, darting from one pair of hands to another. She did not miss the way Snake eyed the now sharpened tip of his candy cane.
"Hey, kid." Yuni diverted his attention, standing up precariously. "Care to tell us where this shortcut will take us?" The two shared tense eye contact in a Mexican standoff way until Snake suddenly made a move to stab Max in the back. Yuni launched herself forward, attempting to block the attack and just barely missing it. The candy cane cut cleanly through a part of her sleeve, sinking into Max and drawing blood.
In all the commotion, the boat rocked back and forth, severely enough to toss an unsuspecting Nikki overboard. Yuni was still trying to defend, grabbing Snake's arm with all her might and attempting to pull it away from Max.
"Aah! JESUS CHRIST!" Neil shrieked. "NIKKI!"
With Snake distracted, Max circled around the two kids and tackled the Wood Scout. With face down and hands behind his back, Yuni moved to pluck the weapon out of his hands. But before she got too close, Billy swept his legs and tripped Yuni up and overboard.
"Newbie!" In Max's temporary distraction, Snake was free to deck the other boy in the face. Max stumbled backwards, spine and shoulders hitting the wooden benches uncomfortably. "You never left them, did you Billy?!" The camper asked, cradling his swelling cheek.
"I made a vow," Snake began, similarly to earlier. "To show others the glory of the Wood Scouts." He approached Max as he spoke, causing the other kid to back up like a wounded animal. "And I told you... TO CALL ME SNAKE!"
Thunder clapped in the background, seemingly fading the world to black.
The water was warm. Her head was underwater. She couldn't think of anything. There was no rush to save herself; she couldn't swim. If she had been right of mind, she could probably feel her phone drifting out of her hands.
In the darkness, she saw her parents.
"How's the water, darling?"
"Fine."
"Are you ready? How do you feel?"
An angry splash of water. The tub's contents sloshed around the young lady's legs. The young man beside her merely swiped away the wetness.
"YOU don't have the right to ask me about how I feel." She spat.
"Come on now, Viv. If you blow a fuse, you might just pop the baby out." The man chuckled.
When the sweet baby girl was born, the young lady refused to hold her.
"But ma'am-" The doctor began.
"Let me see her!" The young man exclaimed, holding out his hands to receive his little girl. The doctor placed the child in his hands, instructing the man on the proper way to hold a baby. "Hello, baby." The man cooed. "What do you wanna name her, babe?"
"I don't care; I don't want her."
The doctor, sensing the tension, quietly left the room to give the two new parents some space. Once the door to the bathroom was shut, the floodgates were opened.
"Why do you have to be so difficult?" The young man started, his tone icy.
"Maybe I'm difficult because YOUR sorry ass thinks this is okay! That this is doable!" The young lady shouted, voice reverberating. Her hands were shaking, clenched into fists. "Morgan, this ISN'T DOABLE! I CAN'T DO THIS!"
The man's face softened, huddling the baby closer to his chest. "Oh baby, if you were just scared you could've told me."
"No," the lady's voice dropped, dripping with fury. "I'm not scared, you piece of shit."
"Is she gonna be okay?" A familiar voice asked.
"Don't worry, Neeancy. Our medical center has all the best!" Another voice drawled. Her vocal fry made Yuni's throat involuntarily constrict. This subtle movement was enough to tip the other girl off. "See that?! She's fineeeee."
Yuni slowly opened her eyes, squinting at the fluorescent lighting. She could make out the silhouettes of five people looking over her, slowly feeling around with her hands to get her bearings straight. She was lying on something soft; nothing like the cot she had to sleep on back at camp. Her arms felt bare and as she sat up, she realized that her cardigan was tied around her waist. But more importantly, she was wearing a whole new outfit. Crisp, white button up with the short sleeves cuffed and a pink, pleated skirt were now on her person. Her bright yellow camp shirt and navy skirt from home were carefully folded and placed into her lap by someone on her right.
"Yuni! You're okay!" Nikki exclaimed beside her, the leftmost shadow.
"Uh, of course she is! We just said we had the best." The silhouette to her immediate right responded.
Once her eyes adjusted to the light, Yuni found three new faces. To her right were three new girls all in matching uniforms. The one immediately at her bedside had shiny, pink hair and what looked to be lines of blush placed perfectly on her cheekbones. The next girl was tall with stunning, blue hair covering one of her eyes. The last new girl by the foot of her bed had soft-looking blonde hair and freckles dotting her cheeks. Their eyes, long-lashed and striking, matched their hair. Yuni felt herself growing shy.
"Um... hello." The city girl meagerly offered in greeting. "I'm Yuni."
The girls curtsied in unison. "Welcome to the Flower Scouts." Yuni could see Nikki roll her eyes in her peripheral.
"How'd you find us? Where are we?" Yuni asked, involuntarily sucking in her stomach in her sudden insecurity.
"We found you three washed up on our side of the lake." The blue-haired Flower Scout explained. "Neeancy and Nikki realized you weren't waking up, so they asked us for help. You're currently in our medical center."
"And we have your phone in a bag of rice at the front desk!" The blonde Flower Scout beamed.
"Oh em gee, girls! Where are our manners?" The pink Flower Scout turned to the other two suddenly, her voice a perfect replica of the "basic white girl" voice the kids at school used to mock. They curtsied again as they introduced themselves.
"I'm Sasha," the pink-haired girl said.
"I'm Erin," the blue-haired girl followed.
"And I'm Tabii with two I's!" The blonde girl finished. She held up two fingers to emphasize the uniqueness of her name.
"We were just about to start our morning activities when you guys showed up," Sasha started, rounding the bed. "And now that you're awake, why don't you come join us?" Instead of waiting for a reply, the Flower Scouts exited the room expecting the other three to follow. Nikki and Neil seemed to watch them leave, ensuring that they were out of sight and earshot before turning back to Yuni.
"I know this looks weird," Neil started, pointing to the crappy wig made of lake greenery sitting atop his head. "But this is clearly an all-girls camp and we need to blend in until we get back."
"Did Max get tossed out then?" Yuni joked, huffing a short laugh herself. "Where is he?"
"We don't know where he is," Nikki shrugged. "But I'm sure wherever he is, he'll find his way back!"
(Meanwhile...)
12 P.M. : Just Across Camp Campbell_
Max had been strapped to a chair set under a singular lightbulb, interrogation style. He was being slapped in the face by a kid much older than him in a military-style uniform. He had already developed a semi-black eye on top of the other injuries sustained from Snake's earlier attack.
"Why do yoU KEEP HITTING ME?!" The boy barked, causing the older kid to step away. "AND WHY IS IT ONLY CLOUDY OVER YOUR SIDE OF THE LAKE?!"
A new voice spoke up from the darkness. "That's enough, Petrol. Don't want to over-tenderize the new meat."
Max squinted in an attempt to get a feel for this new guy. "Who the hell are you?"
He could barely make out the silhouette of a third boy walking up to the hot seat. "Cedar Scout, First Class, Edward Pikeman. Senior Patrol Leader of Woodscout Troop 818." The boy stepped into the light, pointing a finger gun at the younger camper's face in what he hoped was a cool pose. "And it looks like you're our latest recruit."
"God, your face is gross." Max responded instantly, physically recoiling in his seat.
All it took was for one comment to blow up the whole atmosphere to bits. "What...?"
"Oh, sorry," Max immediately apologized. "That just slipped out..."
"Dude..."
"Sorry... I know... That was mean."
"It really was..."
"It's just... you were so close..."
"Enough!" Pikeman snapped, making Max jump a little in his seat. The teen turned his back as he continued to monologue. "Enrollment into our organization has reached and all-time low. So, we have no choice but to forcibly recruit new members into our program."
Max mustered all the sarcasm he could to push it into his next statement. "I mean, have you considered that enrollment is low because you guys do things like kidnap other campers?"
"Oh, we don't kidnap campers..." The leader Scout turned back to face the potential recruit. "That'd be immoral"
"That guy LITERALLY stabbed me in the back." Max frantically gestured to Snake with his tied up hands. The boy had somehow gotten ahold of a fresh candy cane.
"No... he RESCUED you after you ran away from Camp Campbell, remember?" Pikeman's expression was one Max couldn't place, but the malice behind it was as clear as day. "And now... we're going to make a Wood Scout out of you, Max. Prepare the ropes course!"
Max's cries of agony could be heard from anywhere around the lake.
From arts and crafts to table manners, Yuni had to admit, she was having fun! Sure, maybe some of this stuff was super girly, but why wouldn't it be? This was the Flower Scouts!
A quick Google search after retrieving her phone back told her that the Flower Scouts were the number one Girl Scouts organization in the country. This place was the stuff of her dreams back before she had to tough it up for the city. She could vaguely remember asking her father to sign her up for something like this after they were approached by a representative at a local mall who was in uniform that looked a lot like the ones the girls were wearing. She couldn't remember anything after that, except for being left with her grandparents while her father winked and told her he would be taking the lady shopping, whatever that meant.
But it was even more fun to watch Nikki fuck things up in her own funny way too. It made Yuni feel comfortable being around someone who could just be. It was getting tiring sucking in her stomach and holding her breath in all the time. Something about these Flower Scouts girls was making her feel self-conscious, so she was glad Nikki could make her feel normal.
The group had just finished cleaning themselves up in the bathroom after Nikki's little scheme during Etiquette and were now lounging around in one of the dining areas. Sasha had brandished two patches for Neeancy and Yuni, a little pink circle with a tulip in the middle.
"Consider yourselves honorary Flower Scouts, Yuni and Neeancy!" She said after sticking the patches to their chests. Erin and Tabii politely golf-clapped to the side. Nikki was nowhere to be seen.
But "Neeancy" wasn't too concerned with that for now. "Wow, Sasha, thanks! This place is amazing!" Neil gestured to the whole of the place with a sweep of his arms. "Air conditioning, indoor plumbing, free wi-fi!" Yuni nodded at the last part.
"The badge is actually a hotspot." Sasha pointed to the patch smugly.
"Word?!" Yuni smiled wide, whipping out her phone to connect to the hotspot immediately. "Holy shit!"
"Wow..." Neeancy stared down at the patch lovingly.
Sasha continued, doing a perfect flip of her hair. "I mean, what did you think this place was like? A girl can't be expected to rough it in the cruel outdoors!"
"A-men, sister!" Neeancy flicked a limp wrist in Sasha's direction, agreeing.
A familiar voice broke up the friendly air of conversation. "Hey guys, check it out!"
All eyes turned to the open doors, finding Nikki with a giant falcon on her arm. The talons, sharp as they were, didn't seem to be causing her any pain. They didn't look like they were even making a scratch. The bird squawks a would-be war cry, spreading its wings in a small show of its impressive wingspan.
"I named him Timothy!" Nikki beamed.
"Nikki, how the fuck!?" Yuni exclaimed, half excited, half worried. "We just let you do anything, huh?"
"Nikki, that's incredible!" Neil responded in kind.
But the Flower Scout girls were less than enthusiastic. "Ewwwwwwwwwww!"
Neil was taken aback. "Huh?"
"Nikki, gross!" Tabii started.
"It probably has worms!" Erin continued.
"What is wrong with you?" Sasha finished.
Nikki's eyes became shiny with a thin film of pity tears. What's wrong with Timothy? He's just a bird... "But he brought gifts..."
As if on cue, Timothy hacked up the still-together carcass of a small mouse, causing Yuni to step away. "Oh nah, Nikki. That I can't deal with."
The Flower Scouts scream and paint their disgust on their faces for all to see. "Neeancy, get away from her!" Sasha cried, waving a hand at the scene like the next thing to do was obvious.
"What? Why?" Neil asked, confused at this sudden change. Okay, he could understand the mouse thing-even Yuni wasn't about it-but the bird itself was wonderful! Nikki taming it is crazy cool!
"Can't you see-uh?" Tabii raised a perfect eyebrow at the stupid question.
"She's nahht normaaal." Erin drawled out for effect.
Sasha walked up to Neeancy to set some things straight. "Neeancy, I know you're new, but you have to see that Nikki's just not Flower Scout material. It's why we ran her out in the first place."
That was news to both Campbell campers. "You RAN her out?" Neeancy echoed, wide-eyed.
"Of course!" Sasha's tone was turning down the road to annoyed. "It was for her own good! She's just so... unladylike. She likes bugs, and fighting, and exercising for reasons other than sculpting the perfect body image." Nikki stroked Timothy sadly all the while, the bird responding to her discomfort in kind with head nuzzles. "It's like if a boy came in here and tried to do what we do." Sasha concluded.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on." Neil backed up from the camaraderie for a second, startling Sasha. "The hell's that supposed to mean?"
The lead Flower Scout scoffed, because wow, Neeancy must be new new. "Uh, hell-ooo? Neeancy, boys are supposed to be tough."
"And rugged." Erin backs up, imagining what a boy that would be.
"And if they pee in you, you get pregnant!" Tabii included with a smile. Her girls were appalled to say the least.
"Whoa. Tabii."
The yellow Flower Scout twiddled her fingers in acute shame. "My sister told me..."
"Look, Neeancy," Sasha continued, turning back to Neil in disguise. "That's just how the world works. Now, do you want to be socially outcast? Or do you want to go get ice cream?"
Neil spared a glance at Nikki, Timothy still on her arm and the two share a look. A "you-know-the-right-answer" look. Neil looked back at Yuni and the two nod curtly, the latter walking over to take Nikki's side.
"Y'all are some ignorant fucking cunts." Neil proclaimed before throwing the now clearly fake wig to the ground and revealing his true self. The Flower Scouts gasp in surprise, unbelieving that they had just spent a day with a boy who followed up with everything they did and more. "And the name's Neil!" Yuni whooped at the declaration.
"Let's get out of here, Nikki."
"And we're keeping the wi-fi! Deuces!" Yuni threw up a cheeky peace sign.
"TIMOTHY AWAY!" Before the trio could do anything more, Timothy took flight, somehow carrying three campers all at once and breaking through the roof. The Flower Scout girls were left to stare off into the new hole in the ceiling as the Campbell campers became little more than specks in the wind.
"He can pee in me anytime~" Tabii broke the silence, a dreamy lilt in her voice.
"TABII SERIOUSLY WHAT THE FUCK?!" Sasha exclaimed, not believing this absolute crap.
"Thanks for sticking up for me, Neil." Nikki began once they were at bird-cruising altitude.
"Yeah, well," Neil shrugged. "Paradise isn't paradise without your friends."
"That was super gay." Nikki said instinctively. Yuni snorted at the blunt statement.
Neil shot her a look. "We JUST learned a lesson about stereotyping!"
"Oh, right. Sorry." The adventurer handed him an apologetic face. After a small pause: "You think Max learned any valuable lessons on his adventure?"
"Oh fuck, we forgot about him!" Yuni remembered, almost smacking herself in the face before thinking better of it. There was already one person missing from their group, she didn't need to be freefalling into the lake on top of it. "Do we tell David when we get back?"
(Elsewhere...)
"You know, maybe I don't hate Camp Campbell." Max, entangled in the ropes course over a pit of what had to be lava. "Maybe I hate everything."