That night, the bonfire on the beach was a huge blaze as everyone sat on the sand to celebrate their last night at camp, tomorrow morning they would pack up and say good bye before they got on the boat that afternoon. So tonight they would live it up one last time before returning to a new school year, they BBQ'd meat, had plenty of marshmallows for smores, and a cooler of ice with a bunch of cups for drinks. Tonight they would be happy, one more time without a care in the world, one more day, at camp.
"Man this sucks, the last day already. Where did the time go?" Booker T sighed.
"I know, really. The time flew by, I can't even remember what we did." Ken Kennedy chuckled.
"Well I remember that I showed everyone that I was in fact the true king of the camp." Triple H snorted smugly, turning away from the group.
"I still haven't found my super powers…" Shane Helms sighed, staring at his feet.
"I fell in love for the first time, only to have my heart break." Jamie Noble grumbled.
"Okay, we get it." Chris Jericho laughed. "I mean when you look back and you think about it, it really wasn't a long time, I mean it was like what, two months?"
"Summer always goes by quick, it's just like the weekend." Triple H replied arrogantly.
"Well yeah that's true, but, whatever the case was…" Chris smirked. "Now we all have a new year of school to look forward to." Everybody groaned, rolling their eyes. Chris laughed jokingly, "Come on, it'll go by fast I'm sure, then we'll have summer break again and we can come back to the island for camp." Nobody replied, they all glanced away. Chris sighed with a frown, "Oh yeah, that's right… we don't know if there's going to be a camp to come back to." He put his chin on his hand.
"Oh, well looks like the food is ready." Booker mumbled, trying to break the silence. "Come on." He stood up and walked off, motioning to Kennedy.
"Alright, right behind you." He followed him towards where Spike Dudley and Al Snow were making the BBQ, Farooq was in charge of the ice cooler and cups for the drinks.
"Guess we should get in line too." Shane got up and cracked his back.
"Yeah, let's go before Ken eats it all." Jamie grinned to lighten the mood, they both walked off.
Chris sighed and glanced down before looking at Triple H, "Shall we follow as well?"
"I don't see why not." Triple H nodded and they both got up and slowly walked to the end of the line together. "So, uh… how's the throat?"
"Huh?" Chris blinked. "Oh. Uh, fine I suppose. It's rough, I'm trying not to bring everyone down because I'm still sick, I want today to be happy, you know?"
"Yeah, I know what you mean." He smirked. "Taking your meds?"
"Well I hardly think that's any of your business." Chris scoffed playfully and they chuckled. "So, how was your Gwammy?"
"Granny, is fine. But I don't think that's any of your business, either." Triple H snorted with a smirk. "Thanks again man, I don't see her a lot so it was really nice. I'm going to leave with her this afternoon, so I won't be on the boat with the rest of you guys because she's going to be on the speedboat."
"Don't worry, just say you're so special and important as the king that only you get to ride the fast boat, while we get on that big slow thing." Chris winked.
"Oh don't you worry, I already had that in mind." Triple H stopped in the line as they stood and waited with their friends. "Looks like with all the plastic plates and silver wear, you guys won't have to do the dishes after all, huh."
"Hey…!" Jamie growled over his shoulder, and they all laughed.
But Kennedy wasn't laughing, he was looking around, he looked up at dark sky, the fog was in thick that night and you couldn't see a single star, not even the half moon. He frowned, the dark smoke was billowing up from the fires into the sky. He groaned with discomfort and turned away to focus on something else. His eyes froze upon the overflowing single trash can, half of the kids weren't even using it, plates and cups and trash littered the beach they had worked so hard to clean that day. What a waste, and from waste! He swallowed hard, trying not to sweat it, but his dreams kept coming back to him. He couldn't shake them, every night he would have nightmares, he would wake up, only to fall asleep again and have the same thing happen, each time, a new bad dream, each time they got worse, and not only that, more realistic.
"Hey, you alright?" Shane asked. "Hey, Ken!"
"Huh!" Kennedy gasped, snapping out of it.
"You're next, are you gonna eat or what?" Booker asked.
"Oh, yeah, sorry." Kennedy flashed a smile and served himself.
"Something on your mind, bud?"
"Yeah, just thinking…"
"That's odd." Jamie joked.
"Well it is the last day, he hasn't thought once at all this summer, he has to cram it all in the last day, just like studying for a test at school, it's all last minute." Chris chimed in.
"And even then he still only gets a C- too." Triple H added with a snicker.
"Alright, let's harp on somebody else now." Kennedy grimaced.
"Yeah, like Shane, the super zero." Jamie elbowed him in the ribs.
"At least I didn't get my heart broken in my first love." Shane socked him in the arm.
"Burn!" Chris laughed.
"Yeah, burns like your throat." Booker laughed.
"Not as bad as getting your but burned by me in the competition." Triple H smirked slyly. So they all began to play fight and joke once more, even Kennedy joined in, he wanted to forget those bad dreams, because in only a few hours, he would be facing them once again.
That night…
"Well, this is our last night in these beds, then we can go home and get a good night sleep in a nice bed for once." Booker laughed.
"And we don't have to hear anybody snore." Jamie winked.
"Hey, what are you implying there?" Shane threw his pillow at him.
"No more looking up at you either." Chris poked his head out.
"Please, you all will always be looking up at me." Triple H sat up, looking dignified.
"Yes your highn-ass." Chris hissed.
"Here let me strangle you, on your knees dog." Triple H cracked his knuckles, and again before bed they got their ribbing out of their system.
"Well, good night guys." Kennedy sighed.
"Night." The lights went out and soon everybody fell asleep, well all but Kennedy that is.
"The last night." He sighed to himself, closing his eyes. "Maybe back home these bad dreams will stop. Everything's going to be okay. The litter of the world won't destroy mother nature." He had changed from the happy go lucky, careless, carefree guy who got off the boat and stepped into camp, into quite the opposite, believing in global warming and can't sleep and worries constantly so much that it even invades his dreams. "Not real, it's not real…"
Later…
"Ken… Ken… Kennedy."
"Huh?" Kennedy opened his eyes, he was still half asleep but he knew he had heard somebody calling his voice. "What?" He blinked and looked around, he was surprised because it had been at least a half hour or so and he hadn't had a dream yet.
"Kennedy."
"What's up?" He sat up, for sure that he had heard somebody this time.
"Hey." It was Booker and he was standing out of bed. "Something's wrong."
"What is it?" Kennedy whispered and got out of bed.
"Outside, it's acting really weird." Booker crept over to the door.
"What's weird?" Kennedy asked and he slowly opened the door a crack and gasped at what he saw. "Oh my gosh, what in the world…?" The branches and vines on the trees were waving wildly, but there wasn't even a gust coming off the ocean. "What's going on?"
"I don't know, it's freaky." Booker's voice was a stammer, trying not to be afraid.
"We should stay inside." Kennedy gulped and stepped back.
"No, something's wrong, what if somebody is out there?" Booker went out the door.
"Yeah, you're gonna be out there in a sec!" Kennedy tried to grab him but missed, so he ran after him. They reached the trees, the branches were groaning and the vines cracked like whips in the air. "This weather, it's too weird man…"
"I know, this just can't be real…"
"Why, why don't we go back inside… it's safer in there." Kennedy stepped back, shaking.
"Yeah, you're right." Booker turned around with a smirk and went to follow, but there was a loud moan of bark creaking. "Huh?"
"Book…!" Kennedy's face went pale in fear.
"Eh? Whoa!" Booker cried as the branches trapped him and the vines wrapped around him. "Ah! Help, what's going on here, get me down!"
"Booker!" Kennedy cried.
"What is this, cut it out, what's going on?" Booker tried to thrash and free himself.
"What do I do, what do I do!?" Kennedy stammered, his voice cracking in fear.
"Booker, Kennedy!"
"Huh?" Kennedy turned around just in time to see Shane rush over.
"What's going on, I heard you yell and I… whoa! What the hell!" He saw Booker.
"You gotta help me, I don't know what's going on!"
"Never fear, the super hero is here!" Shane fearlessly charged towards the trees. Just then a huge burst of wind shot out from the bushes, blowing Shane back, holding him up in the air for a moment. "Whoa, that was strange…"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I gotta get Booker!" Shane jumped up and tried again, the gust hit him hard again, the leaves from the trees swarming around him, blinding his visibility. "Ah, I can't see, where am I, what's going on?"
"Shane!" Kennedy could only watch as the leaves cocooned around him, the gust of wind pulling him into the dark of the woods along with Booker. "Booker, Shane!" But all he got back in response was the fading of their screams. "Oh no, oh no what do I do, what do I do…!?"
"Hey, what's going on, stop yelling…" Jamie groaned as he saw Kennedy sitting in the dirt.
"They're gone, it's my fault…" He choked pitifully.
"Who is, what's the matter?"
"Shane and Booker, something weird happened, I lost them, it's my fault…"
"What are you talking about?" Jamie shook him, trying to snap him out of it. He looked into the dark hills, "There's nothing there, you must be dreaming."
"It's not real, it's not real…" Kennedy mumbled quietly to himself.
"I'll show you, you're seeing things." Jamie started walking but the nearest tree ripped its root from the ground and tripped him. "Whoa, what in the…!"
"Jamie!" Kennedy gasped, jumping up.
"Ah, what's going on, help!" Jamie slid down a slope that appeared from in the middle of the ground, he landed at the bottom, clumps of dirt and small rocks and logs falling down on him. "Ah, stop it, that hurts, help me!"
"Jamie!" Kennedy was frozen, he could only watch as his friend disappeared beneath the ground. "No!" He pulled logs and rocks and tried to get him out, but it was no use. "He's gone, he's gone too, everybody is leaving me, it's all my fault! This can't be real!" He began to pant and look around, backing up. "I need some fresh air!" He ran to the beach, he stood in the sand and looked out to the ocean, it was calm, as if nothing had happened. "What is going on here? This all can't be my fault, could it be, mother nature?"
"Hey, what are you doing out here."
"Huh?" Kennedy turned around to see Triple H scowling at him. "What are you doing out here?"
"I asked you first, what's going on." He snarled.
"Something's wrong, I dunno what's going on, but Shane and Booker and Jamie are all gone, those trees attacked them and the ground opened up, and, and it took them all away, it's not safe here, mother nature is getting her revenge, and she's getting it on me, it's all my fault!"
Triple H just stared blankly at him, "…uh, oh...kay… Have a bad dream?"
"It's not real, it can't be…"
"Whatever, it's not like I care. I'm going back." Triple H turned to go.
Kennedy was frozen, a wave crashed on the beach in front of Triple H, turning the sand into a dark, thick spiral, "Hey look out!"
"Huh what?" Triple H glanced over his shoulder only to stumble forward. "What the…!"
"You're sinking, it's quick sand!" Kennedy stammered and rushed to pull him out, but it was hard to run in sand. "Get out, quick!"
"You think I would if I could!?" Triple H roared back, but his voice was cracking in fear, trying to pull his arms out only to fall in deeper, he struggled, trying not to be afraid.
"No!" Kennedy cried, he watched as the wave crashed again, the sandy spiral disappeared. "Trips!" He dug and dug in the sand but nothing happened, a wave just hit him again. "Ugh, Trips… no." He looked around, everything was normal again. He looked down at his hands. "No matter what I do, I can't save them, I can't help my friends. They were innocent, why take them? If this is my fault, hurt me!" He was shivering and shaking violently from fear, his body was cold, he could feel it, he was completely aware. "This is too real, this can't be a dream, it's real!" He gasped. "Oh no, Chris is the only one left, he's still asleep back in the cabin!" He jumped up and started to rush over, but he heard a roar from behind him, and it was getting louder. "Huh?" He turned around, only to gasp in fear at what he saw. "Whoa!" A huge tidal wave was about to crash on the beach. Kennedy ran and panted, rushing towards the forest to avoid it. The huge wave crashed down on the camp, drowning the beach and the cabins under water. "No, Chris!" He screamed, the entire camp was gone, there wasn't a trace left. "This can't be, that's impossible!" He looked around frantically. "Maybe I'm not too late… maybe I can save the others, maybe they got taken up the hill, maybe I can find them. I have to avenge Chris and Triple H!" He took off, charging blindly through the dark forest and up to the top of the hills. It was hard for him to see though and he tripped over a rock, "Whoa!" He fell and rolled down. "OW!" He crashed through the bushes and hit his head against a tree, knocking him out.
A bad dream…
The hot sunny summer blows in a cold storm out of nowhere, with bad winds, heavy rains, the cold night frosting the drops into tiny bolts of hail.
"My vision is coming to pass…" Kennedy stood outside the cabin. "Come on everyone, we have to get out of here! The whole world is in danger!"
"But to where, we're on an island?" Booker asked.
"Up, to the top of the hills above the clouds, we should be safe there!" He took off, leading the gang as they ran up through the forest. The cold wind blew the hail rain drops in their faces.
"Ken, what's going on?" Shane asked.
"You know something you're not telling us aren't you." Jamie added.
Kennedy sighed, "You're right, this is all my fault." Kennedy tried to explain to them how the world really is coming to an end and leads them to what he hopes is salvation. "I was the worst of all the litter bugs, we're destroying the environment. And now mother nature is taking it out on me, by taking it out on you, my friends, those most valuable to me. I'm sorry guys, I didn't think this could be real."
"It's alright, it's not your fault." Shane replied.
"Yeah." Jamie nodded. "I mean you're just one guy."
"One guy can't save the world, and one guy can't destroy the world." Booker shrugged.
"Maybe…" Kennedy sighed.
"Guys, we need to hurry." Triple H spoke up. "Chris isn't waking up, and his fever is getting really bad, he's sweating all over me." He was carrying the unconscious Canadian on his back, Chris was struggling to breath, if he got any worse, his life would be in great danger.
"We're almost there, come on, just a little bit further!" Kennedy drudged on. "If I lose Chris I could never forgive myself. He was the one who was right about me all along, he was just trying to help me, trying to make me see that I had to change. I can't be too late!" He glanced at Booker not too far off. "Booker is my best friend, I have to do this for him, I can do this, I'll make him proud. This may be all my fault, but maybe, if I can save them, that will be because of me too." He glanced over at Shane, who was pulling Jamie along by his arm. "Shane, you may have no super powers, but you have a strong heart, and you're more a hero than I'll ever be. I won't let my friends down, I have to make things right, I will save them!"
"Look!" Booker pointed, they had reached the top, the wind died down, the cold faded away, the hail lightened into misty drops as they stood on the hill above the clouds and looked around over the world. "Whoa, check it out, what a view."
"Huh?" Kennedy turned and he gasped, his eyes wide at what he saw. "It's… beautiful." The scene they saw wasn't one of destruction at all, the ocean was wide and clear, the sky was full of stars, the moon shone bright, and the island was lush and green. "The world wasn't ending, not at all, mother nature wasn't trying to get revenge, she was trying to warn us."
"See, you did lead us to salvation, we're saved!" Jamie cheered.
"Yay, you did it Ken, thank you!" Shane cried, jumping up and down.
"There's no danger, we aren't trapped, it…" A tear fell down his face, his lips quivered. "It wasn't real." A smile spread across his face. "It wasn't real, it's not real! Hahah!" He raised a fist into the air.
It was all just a bad dream… a bad dream… a bad dream…
Kennedy groaned and opened his eyes…
"We aren't trapped in danger." He heard himself mutter and looked around. He gasped and sat up. "What the…" He was in bed in the cabin. He was completely confused. "But it seemed so real, even though…. I mean I could feel it, I could see it, I could control it, I could hear it… a dream within a dream…?" Too wierd. He gasped and jumped out of bed, rushing to the door. He opened it and looked outside. "It wasn't real, not at all…" He paused for a moment and smiled, he closed the door and looked out the window. "Thanks mother nature." He got back in bed and went to sleep, only this time, he didn't have any nightmares, he wouldn't have a bad dream like that again, because he had learned his lesson. He could change himself, but not change the world.
That morning…
Kennedy was the last to wake up, having finally received a good night sleep he slept in and awoke feeling happy and refreshed. He changed and went outside, the sky was clear, the sun was bright, the birds were singing, and the waves crashed gently on the sand. He took a deep breath and let it out, it was his last breath on the island, but the first breath of relief he had in quite some time. He went to go get some breakfast, in the cafeteria everybody was finishing up saying good bye to each other, the counselors would be the last ones to leave the island, they would go on a separate small speed boat that night, they would be meeting with the camp founders, Hillbilly Jim and Earl Hebner.
"Everyone, if we can finish our breakfast, Jim and Earl are here to speak with us." Al announced, everybody clapped quietly as the duo stepped forward.
"Thank you, I hope you all have enjoyed your summer here at the camp." Earl nodded.
"Unfortunately due to lack of interest, the small turn out of girls, and boys, the decline in funds, the raise of land propery lease on the island, and such, it doesn't look like we'll be able to have a session next year." Jim sighed.
"AW!" The collective response was unanimous and loud.
"I know, I know, we're all so sorry, we tried, we did our best." Spike hung his head in defeat.
"We will work very hard throughout the school year to see what we can do, but things don't look good, I'm really sorry." Earl turned to leave the cafeteria.
"We thank you all, and again, we really hope things improve and we'll see you next year." Jim nodded and followed Earl out, flanked by Al and Spike with Farooq bringing up the rear.
"What a drag… oh well, all we can do is hope for the best." Kennedy sighed with a shrug.
"Yeah, I guess." Booker grimaced. "If we can't change it or do anything about it, maybe it's just not meant to be."
"Well at least I'm the final, and true King of the Camp." Triple H sauntered off.
"Well we should get our things all packed and ready so we can leave." Shane stood up.
"Oh that's right." Jamie looked at his watch. "We only have a few hours, let's get going."
They all finished up and went back to their cabins, cleaning up and packing what was left was quick and easy so they headed to the dock to wait to board the boat, as they left the camp behind, Farooq was pulling off the pictures of that year's camp off the wooden podium. The gang stopped to watch the last of them. There was one of Triple H as the king of the camp, one of Chris after getting his hair cut, one of Shane in mid-air as he jumped off another roof, one of Jamie and Terri, and the last one of Kennedy and Booker. They all smiled at the memories of the good times they had those past two months. In the water, the boat appeared and let out a whistle of its horn. Everyone on the dock cheered as the boat got closer. The gang let out a sigh as they stood to wait with the group, taking one last glance back at the island.
"See you jerks later." Triple H said as he walked off alone to go take his special speed boat. Chris watched him go and grinned. They would all see each other in a few weeks at the start of a new school year, and he couldn't help but wonder how different they might be, now that summer camp was over…
A/N: So that's it, that's the end of the story how I wrote it. But no story really has an ending. But I guess I didn't make it obvious enough what the inspiration behind my little story was, that or maybe nobody has seen it. There was once a show like a decade years ago called Jungle Cubs, based on the characters of The Jungle Book as, well, cubs obviously. Anybody remember that, I loved that show, I hated how so short lived it was, and I got nostalgic and missed it, so this was my own tribute for it. I hope you liked it.