penjamin24-7-365: I'm sure he wanted to as well, poor Jasper. But yes, more QM starting next chapter.
Dossypet: Of course! But Max's reaction would probably be like that since he's tired and I don't honestly see him overexagerating it on the outside lol
Blue Feathers Pegasus: I know right!
Barroth: That's nice, reading you and Peashooters comments bring tears to my eyes. I love hearing from you two. Do you two know each other IRL or something?
Abbra063: I feel like he just knows anything could happen in this weird as shit camp lol
Peashooter: Thanks xD
PlatoOfAncientRome34: Oh my God that would be freaking amazing. Especially if I was watching Rise of the Guardians.
So here goes another chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it. I wanted to send this out before I left for another fun filled weekend of Drill.
Today's camp was centered around Nikki. The group spent the entire time hiking around the woods. At least, that was the plan until they all got chased by multiple kinds of animals. Some of which didn't even look like they were normal animals. To be honest, who knew what was going on in these woods. When they all got back, they were ready for a treat of smores and campfire stories.
It was basically a treat for no one running away or getting any serious injuries. The group had been sitting on logs, surrounding the fire as they pushed their long sticks into it, hoping to heat up their marshmallows to a perfect amount.
It was weird how everyone was different. Nikki burned hers to a crisp, while Neil barely let his turn a golden brown. Max's marshmallow preference was a bit closer to Nikki's. He literally set it on fire and blew it out when he deemed worthy.
"So, who wants to tell the first story?" Jen asked as she crossed her arms. The campers looked at each other as Daniel smiled.
"How about you Max?" He chose a volunteer.
"Hell no."
"Alright then… how about-"
"I'll do one!" Nikki said happily as she bit her marshmallow off of her stick and ate it quickly. A flashlight was tossed to her as she turned it on, aiming it to shine up towards her face. "It all started when-"
A loud truck was driving in the distance. All campers were frozen, some cringing at the awful sounds of the truck. It seemed someone did something to the muffler because it was way too loud. As the truck pulled up, it looked like it was straight from a horror film.
The truck had stains from God knows where all over it, a dusty windshield made it impossible to see who was on the inside (how did they even know where they were going), multiple broken parts were scattered on the truck. It was obvious that the truck was a piece of shit.
The most obvious thing, however, was the look on Max's face. It seemed that the color left his face, he was pale and completely frozen. That was what made David feel his stomach drop.
What was going on?
David turned towards the other three counselors. "Go take the kids and put them in the Mess Hall. I'll see what's going on." David said, the other three nodded. Daniel wanted to stick by his side and see what was going on as well, but he supposed it would be better if they moved the kids away from the strangers immediately. And if something happened, Daniel, Jen, and Gwen were the best bets with fighting off whatever needed be. So the three of them ushered them off, all of them being surprisingly cooperative as well.
David waited until the campers were gone to approach the truck. "Good evening?" He greeted, walking closer as the doors opened. His nose cringed at the awful smell as multiple cans fell out of the truck with the passengers.
That wasn't a good sign at all.
The two that stepped out looked like some sort of drug dealers. The man was wearing a white shirt that seemed a size too small, but that didn't matter as mystery stains covered him as well. His tan skin and curly hair seemed unkept as he scratched at the stumble on his face. He was wearing gray sweatpants and brown eyes that looked red. The female was in a much similar state, though it seemed she at least made some sort of an effort to look nice. Her long curly hair was pulled up into a weak bun that seemed could fall out at any given moment. Her bright teal eyes were narrowed as she had make up sloppily applied. She was wearing a black sweater along with blue jeans. Thankfully she didn't seem to have any stains on her clothes.
"You sure we left 'em here?" The male asked, a confused look was on his face. "Place looks like shit." The female just laughed softly and crossed her arms.
"I dunno, you're the one who drove us here." She said, David uncomfortably cleared his throat as the two looked at him. David knew who they were, how could he not? They were spitting images of Max! But… why?
"We're here to pick up our son." The lady stated in a none to friendly way. In fact, she didn't trust him at all (which wasn't a problem to David).
"I'm guessing you're Max's parents?" David guessed as he cleared his throat. With his nerves calmed down, it was only replaced by anger. It was clear that they didn't care about Max at all. So why come back now? He was happy, or… David hoped. They dropped him off at the orphanage.
"Yea... now go get our son. We don't got all the time in the fucking world." The male said, getting irritated by the red haired male quickly. David narrowed his eyes.
"No. Both of you need to leave, right now." He said, his voice lost its usual prep as he glared right back at them. The anger burning in his chest, he felt as though he was going to explode.
"You can't keep us from our kid!" The lady yelled.
"Yes I can! He's not your kid anymore, he's mine! You two were the ones who dropped him off at the orphanage." David yelled right back, confused as hell as the parents gave him blank stares. Soon enough, the two of them were laughing as though the situation wasn't serious at all. David only felt his anger grow more. They weren't in the right mind set at all. Along with drinking, who knew what else these two happened to get their high off of.
"Did we do that?" The wife asked as the male laughed harder.
"I don't fucking know!"
Before he knew what happened next, David saw red as his fist connected with the other male's face, sending him flying back. While David held his ground, he ignored how much his fist hurt after that. The laughing stopped suddenly as red eyes glared at him.
"Why are you two laughing? You're his parents and you hurt him! You did God only knows what, but he's constantly hurting on the inside and it's your fault! Why would you do that! He's just a kid!"
The male stood up, and staggered slightly before he tackled David.
"Because we can do whatever the hell we want. That kid ruined our lives."
Thus started up another fight, that David seemed to be losing. While he was sending in some good hits, it didn't measure up to the beating he was getting from Max's father.
"Stop it!" David heart dropped as he looked behind him to see Max standing there. He looked terrified, but David was sure they both were right now. What was Max doing out here? They were supposed to watch the campers!
"Max-"
"Shut up David." Max said as he glared down at the counselor, but his eyes weren't filled with hate. They were filled with tears, and it broke David's heart to pieces.
"Fucking finally." Max's father got up, ignoring David as he went to approach Max, who was standing surprisingly still. David groaned, everything hurt so bad…but… seeing that man approach Max like that… The look in his eyes… the way Max was shaking slightly in fear, it pushed David over the edge. He grabbed the man's pant leg as he shakily got up to a kneel.
"You…. You stay…a-away from him…" David said while panting, the male glared down at David.
"Who's going to stop me?" He mumbled as he reached out and drabbed Max by his upper arm and held him up, the child let out a soft noise of surprise as he dangled in the air. It was only a moment, but in the next second Max was on the ground. All the air left his lungs and it felt as though he couldn't breathe properly. His back and necked ached as he struggled to sit up. That was the effects of getting slammed in the ground. David was over him in an instant as Max saw David's face was covered in bruises and small cuts.
"You…You look like shit." Max struggled out as David shushed him.
"Get your breath back Max, what are you even doing out here?" David said, tears welling up in his eyes as Max's father approached them.
"Will you hurry the hell up?" The female criticized as the man rolled his eyes.
"I should beat the hell outta both of you." He muttered, but as he took his next step a rock collided with the side of his face. He stared down at the rock in confusion before tons more came his way.
"Get away from him!"
"Leave Max alone!"
"Just get out of here!"
"I'LL FUCK YOU UP!"
The two parents quickly covered their heads as a group of children was throwing stones, bricks, sticks, and whatever else they could get their hands on at them. All of the sudden, the attack stopped and both parents were covered in blood and bruises.
"Was that all you little shits got?!" The male yelled.
"Tsk tsk tsk…" He turned to see his other half held at knife point, as it was sticking dangerously close her neck. Jen smiled brightly.
"If I were you, I would hurry and leave." She said, a small plan of her and Daniel's already forming. The two were frozen before the man walked towards his truck.
"Fine! That little shit isn't worth the time of day." He muttered as David slowly stood up.
"You're wrong, Max is worth everything." David said as the man rolled his eyes. When the male was in the truck, Jen let the female go as she staggered and hurried inside too. The tuck turned around and sped off. David laughed as he stood up, a tool box in hand. "What's so funny…?" David asked as David and Jen looked at him, their bright eyes shining.
"I cut his breaks."
David shuttered, he would deal with that in a moment. He looked down at Max and quickly went to kneel beside him. "Max! Are you alright?" David instantly cradled the boy as he seemed to finally have his breathing under control.
"I…I'm fine David..." Max muttered and attempted to get out of his grasp, but that didn't stop the male from tightening his grip on him.
"No Max, nothing is fine... you don't have to keep pushing me away. I'll always be here for you. You don't have to open up right now, but I'll be here when you need me." David explained, which caused the boy to stop struggling for a moment. David nodded at the others.
"Alright, lets head to bed." Gwen said, the campers nodded solemnly. She would've said something along the lines of 'Alright you little shits, time for bed.', but that didn't seem right to use right now. Not after he said it… David smiled down at Max.
"Let's go to bed, alright buddy?"
