Max just sighed. Another day of this horrid camp, he thought. Complaining to himself about being sent to Camp Campbell for the summer was the usual for him. At least it can't get any worse...

"Maaaaaaax!" He heard the familiar, cheerful voice that was the subject of his nightmares.

Oh, I just had to say it.

All he did was lower his head in frustration, as soon as he felt the presence of David by his side.

"We're getting two new campers today!"

Nikki and Neil were just discussing the day's camp activities when they noticed Max with an even more agitated expression on his face than it normally had.

"Hey, Max! What's with the long face?" Nikki questioned him as he sat down next to them.

"Yeah, something's bugging you. Is it David?"

Max turned to them. "No." He switched back to gaze at what seemed like nothing. "Even worse, new campers."

The other two campers just peered at each other in response with a perplexed look.

David waited patiently as he spotted the bus approaching from a faraway hill. His grin got wider and happier as it got closer and closer. He didn't even seem to acknowledge that Max, Nikki and Neil were behind him until he heard Max's voice.

"What did they sign up for, again?" He almost regretted saying anything.

David faced Max, not looking surprised that the ten year old seemed to care at least a little bit, but was instead excited by what he said.

"I'm glad you asked!" He beamed. " One of them signed up for Happy Smiles Fun Camp, and the other joined Math Camp!"

Max felt his eyes twitch as soon as he heard the word, happy. "Just great. This kid is definitely going to be a pleasure to be around."

Nikki seemed to be in awe. "I can't wait to meet them!"

"Math Camp? Maybe they'll be interested in Science, too." Neil shrugged.

"Here they are now!" Nikki pointed.

A couple of seconds later, when the bus pulled up to them and made a stop, David squealed in delight, while Max braced himself for the incoming bombardment of smiles that would probably be worse than both David and Nikki's optimism and hyperactivity combined. The door of the bus slowly opened, making a creaky noise as it did so, because of how old it was. It was really only the best the camp could afford, with their small budget and all.

Max raised an eyebrow as he saw a young boy about his age leave the opening first. The kid was wearing a red hat, striped shirt, shorts, and for some reason, had a humongous nose. He seemed to be all giggly and was fascinated by his surroundings. Yep. He realized. This is the one.

Next, what popped out appeared to be the complete opposite of him. It was girl with glowing blond hair, as bright as the sun, with a pink dress with a flower in the middle of it. He would most likely assume that she was the one who signed up for Happy Smiles Fun Camp, if it weren't for the angry, intimidating even, glare that she had possessed.

Before Max could say anything to Nikki or Neil about the two new campers, David bolted to them like a energetic kid that just saw an ice cream truck.

"Welcome to Camp Campbell! My name is David, and I'm the counselor here!" He announced in great enthusiasm. "You must be Billy and Mandy!"

"Yep!" The boy replied almost immediately.

Mandy, however, didn't say anything at all to him, like he wasn't worth her time. All she did was focus her piercing gaze to him as he spoke.

David looked at Mandy, but as soon as their eyes met, his joyfulness immediately shifted into nervousness. "Uh... Right! Come on, I'll show you two around camp."

Max stared at her strangely as he noticed this. How did she break David out of character this easily? Even if it wasn't that long, it's like she had this mysterious effect on him. Max shrugged it off as he followed them, since Nikki and Neil also tagged along.

When Max finally caught up to all five of them, all he heard was them asking continuous questions to Billy and Mandy that never seemed to end. He didn't dare say a word, for he knew they didn't even distinguish that he was there. Just what was so interesting about these kids?

After the tour, David left them by themselves, so the only people who were there were the kids. Billy was having a full on discussion with Nikki and Neil, and during so, Mandy got off and left. Some strange force pressured Max into accompanying her, which resulted in them engaging in a conversation.

"What do you need?" the blond girl stopped without changing to his direction.

"I can see that you're already fed up by this camp," Max answered. "I'm not surprised, after all, I've been trying to escape this place for what seems like forever now. The name's Max by the way."

She looked over her shoulder to examine him, however not making an effort to turn completely around. "I'm Mandy."

"So, I'm guessing you joined the Math Camp? You don't seem much of a person that likes to smile."

She sighed in annoyance and finally swiveled to fully look in his direction. "Wrong," she responded. "My parents sighed me up for THAT camp so I could adjust my attitude. Or whatever."

Max looked unimpressed. "You're not the only one, of course, that's why I'm here. By the way, why is your friend in Math Camp?"

"Oh, him?" Mandy eyed Billy, who has acting ridiculous. "He's an idiot, his parents wanted to make him smarter, I guess. Like that's gonna work."

"Hm."

"I'm going to unpack now, don't go in my tent, or else." She ordered as she exited the door of the main cabin.

"Okay? That-"

Before he could finish, Nikki dashed to him and interrupted. "Hey, Max! What were you doing just now?"

He was mildly irritated that Nikki had just crept on him like that, but he replied to her nonetheless. "Oh, I don't know, talking?" he retorted.

"Well, duh!" She changed her expression from straightforward to thrilled. "Billy's pretty cool by the way! You should totally hang out with us. We're gonna search for supernatural creatures!"

"Well, that's great," he had said in a sarcastic tone. "You do know that the supernatural isn't real, right?"

"Ooooooh, please! Billy says he sees monsters all of the time!" She put her hands on her hips and gave him a look that suggested she thought that he didn't know what he was talking about.

"Whatever. Do want you want, I'm going to my tent for a bit."

"Well, see ya then Max!" Nikki waved goodbye to him as she ran off.

"Mandy was right, he is an idiot. There's no such thing as monsters, or ghosts, or stupid made-up creatures."

"How come you're already by yourself, child? You just got here!"

Mandy glanced at her best friend, who was actually the Grim Reaper. "Who cares about this stupid camp? I've got better things to do."

Grim exhaled. "Uh huh, whatever you say, mon."

All she did was shake her head as she brought out a mysterious journal that she had found before she arrived at the camp. "Besides, this may be the key to what I plan to do."