Chapter 1. Well… That Did Not Go As Planned
The sound of tyres spitting up gravel caused heads to rise as campers and councillors alike turned to look at the approaching black car with various levels of curiosity and fear. It wasn't an unusual reaction to black cars at Camp Campbell since the only cars they saw for most of the summer were the camp's battered car and bus and the black tinted vehicles the federal agents drove.
This was no fed car though. It screamed money and power in a showy way rather than the cold practicality of the FBI's cars. People stared as the car pulled up in front of the dented flagpole and a short Indian man stepped out, quickly followed by a graceful dark haired woman.
The man's piercing teal eyes scanned over the children and councillors with a frown which only deepened as one small boy moved. A dark curly haired head trying to shrink down behind a wooden table covered with rolls of bandages and gauze from the day's second aid activities.
"Maximilian." The name was a command. There was no softness to it. The only familiarity was cold recognition.
Nikki and Neil looked at their friend, concern blanketing their faces as Max whispered something to them before slowly rising to look towards his father. Towards but not at. He was not willing to meet the man's bright teal eyes, their glow harder and more toxic than his own.
"You are leaving. Grandfather's funeral is tomorrow and you will attend," the man stated giving no options, no leniency.
Max's face was hard, teal eyes glaring at the ground. "I'm not going."
The short man's eyes narrowed and he walked stiffly to Max, the other campers moving out of his way without protest. "Maximilian this is important and you will show your respect to me and to your grandfather," he growled out teeth grinding as he looked down at the stubborn boy.
Max shook his head but didn't answer. His eyes were wide now, pupils shrunk to pin pricks staring at the ground in terror.
Shaking himself from his initial shock of the unexpected arrival David bounded up to the man putting himself beside Max, hands placed possessively on the boy's shoulders. That Max didn't fight to get away from his touch was more than enough for David to understand how unsettled he was feeling.
"What a surprise Mr Jones I didn't think Max would get to see you for another month. Wow he must be so surprised! Max really loves it here at Camp Campbell, sorry to hear that he doesn't want to leave just yet. What can I say, he's just been having that much fun! Could I have a word with him?" David asked forcing a smile onto his face while making the man turn to look up at him.
He could feel Max wobble beneath his hands as those hard eyes slid off him, their weight lifting giving the boy some relief. David tightened his grip on the blue hoodie to keep Max standing.
Mr Jones scowled up at David not liking having to deal with the tall smiling counsellor. "There has been a death in the family and Maximilian is going to be there. It is expected and would be disrespectful not to attend," he said teeth grinding, voice rising with annoyance.
David could see where Max got his temper. The man was radiating restrained anger, his frustration thrashing and boiling beneath bright eyes.
"Maximilian's grandfather passed earlier in the week," Mrs Jones spoke, her voice soft but lacking emotion, "We want him to come with us to the funeral." She moved away from the car and something colourful blurred in the background, a small sudden movement ignored by everyone as their eyes remained glued to the drama before them.
"You want me to come play happy family you mean," Max spat leaning against David, trying to hide himself in his counsellor's knees.
"Stop this nonsense. You are creating a scene," Mr Jones hissed reaching forwards to grab at Max's arm.
He never even made it close.
David shoved Max behind him before that tense threatening hand could touch a single blue cotton thread. The smile dropping from his long face, replaced with a stubborn look. "You will not touch this child."
Mr Jones gave David a look of murder. "Maximilian is my son and I will discipline him how I see fit."
Max flinched back, hands dug into the bottom of David's shirt. David stiffened and looked Mr Jones dead in the eyes. "If Max wants to stay at Camp Campbell then he is welcome to. For as long as he wants."
"Maximilian. Come here immediately," Mrs Jones stared through David to Max, leaving the tall man with icy daggers in his stomach. "We have wasted enough time already."
"I'm not going with you." Finding his voice Max poked his head out from behind David's back, eyes shining he fought back tears as he screamed at his parents, "I FUCKING HATE YOU! YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ME! YOU'RE FUCKING SHIT PARENTS! I'D BE BETTER OFF DEAD THAN LIVING WITH YOU!"
"MAXIMILIAN!" Mr Jones roared rushing forwards to grab Max roughly by the wrist. Dragging him away from David with a sharp tug he seemed to grow in size, face flushed, black curly hair springing free of the gel holding it flat and neat.
There was a sharp sound as his open hand collided with Max's face knocking the small boy back a pace, the only reason he stayed on his feet was Mr Jones's bruising iron grip.
David's hands curled into fists and he took a long stride towards his camper before Gwen stepped in beside him. Nails digging sharply into his forearm Gwen looked to him and shook her head.
"David you can't," Gwen whispered to him.
Fists still balled tight David was shaking with rage. "How dare you!" David said voice rising and trembling slightly, "How fucking dare you hit a child! I'll report you to child services you utter monster!"
Max was limp against his father's grip, no longer listening to David rant. Why bother? There wasn't anything Camp Man could do now. He was fucked. From the corner of his eye he could see someone roll away from the black car and he steeled himself. At least something was going to plan, even if the plan was completely fucked. Just like everything else.
"We will be leaving now. Good luck with child services. You won't get anywhere near us, our lawyers will eat you alive. By next week this bloody camp won't even exist and you'll be out on the streets you fucking useless bastard," Mr Jones said face red as he stared down David before turning sharply and dragging Max through the other campers towards the car.
Mrs Jones followed closely behind them. One hand on her husband's back the other reached into a pocket and produced a cell phone. She was preparing to speed dial their layers the second they were back in decent service range.
As soon as they were near the car Max started to scream. Scream and swear and fight. No fucking way were they taking him without a fight. Not again. Not this time.
Wrenching open the door Mr Jones picked up Max and threw the squirming child into the back seat, slamming the door shut as soon as Max hit the leather cushions. Max recovered and scrambled over, frantically trying the door while his father looked down at him through the tinted windows with disdain.
Walking with a calm that chilled everyone Max's parents quickly entered the car. Once the doors were closed Gwen released her hold on David and the lanky man ran to Max's door trying the handle with an intensity that matched Max's own. Useless.
Catching Max's eyes through the dark window David pulled himself together enough to put on his bravest face even though he was screaming inside. "Chin up Max. Just hold on a little longer... I'll come and get you. I'll fix everything Max, I promise." The confidence he had painted on his face didn't make it into his voice and they both knew it.
Max stared at David then slid his eyes past him to where Neil and Nikki stood hidden amongst the other campers. Neil looked grey as he gave a small nod. Nikki was crying. Max hated it. He hated this whole fucking situation. Why couldn't his parents have just stayed the fuck away like always? Why did they have to ruin everything? Well fuck them. He wasn't going to let them hurt him anymore. Even if he had to die to do it, he wasn't going to fucking take it.
Pulling his eyes back to David Max steeled himself. "Fuck you David. You can't do shit. At least I'll never have to see you or this fucking hell hole again." He was crying as he said it. He hadn't realised he had started crying. Fuck it. He came into this world screaming, crying, and covered in blood. He may as well leave the same way.
The car revved, growling as it was thrown into gear. Tyres bit into the loose gravel as it raced down the rough drive, speeding away from Camp Campbell as fast as Mr Jones could manage.
Max looked back and saw David stumble a few steps after them before vanishing into a cloud of gravel dust. Turning away he mustered all the rage and fight left in him and aimed it at his parents. Opening up all the raw dark pain he felt he shouted every curse word he had ever learnt at them. Screaming and crying and done.
Done with it all.
They made it to the turn at the end of the camp drive before the brakes failed.
Neil had done well.
The speeding car seemed to float at first, two wheels lifting off the road.
Then with a screech, four.
Everything seemed to happen at once and forever for Max as the car bounced first on gravel with a grating sound and then flew. The world spinning as they bounced again. Grass churned underneath buckling metal.
They rose into the air again. Another bounce.
A more final bounce.
A bounce ending with a crunch, darkness and the smell of pine.