"I think they've panicked enough, Chris."

Chris and Chef Hatchet were sitting on the beach under an umbrella, sipping drinks. Chris groaned at the suggestion that he would have to tell the truth.

"Do I have to tell them?" Chris whined.

"Well, think of it this way: imagine the looks on their faces when they find out you lied."

Chris did so. This did not help; he imagined looks of relief. He groaned again.

"They'll be mad at you, because you lied. They'll be groaning, like you are right now, because they fell for it. See?"

"I bet not. I bet they'll be really happy, and then where will I be?"

"That's a risk you have to be willing to take. Just remember, you've got my support."

Chef broadly grinned at Chris. Chris looked away, saying, "Okay, I'll tell them. Just stop doing that."

He put down his drink and headed over to where the campers were. He sighed before announcing, "It turns out it was a false alarm. There is no psycho at all… I lied."

A wave of relief spread over the campers, and then turned to anger and disapproval.

"I was supposed to protect Owen from the killer!" Izzy yelled.

"You made DJ cry!" Geoff fumed.

"Guys, relax. I know that I lied, but that's what this whole place is all about!"

The campers continued ranting, and Chris walked away, satisfied.

…

On the other edge of the forest, he slashed the wood of a tree, the ground by his feet, the lake beside his hideout. Nothing. The first person he saw, he would kill with no hesitation. It was unbearable how lonesome it was, and how utterly bloodless the area remained. He had a few cuts on his arm; most of them were accidental, but there were just some times he needed to see blood again. And after he cut himself, he would put his blade in the lake. The water was getting darker every time.

He tried perfecting his technique, tried passing the time, but after his dream, he realized he could not wait any longer for people to come to him. He had to take charge. He had to travel towards the group.

He wasn't sure exactly which direction people were, so he decided that he would mark his path by carving his initials into every tree to his left as he walked. He knew that something good could come of this.

…

Now that the killer was known to be a rumour, people started to relax. For instance, people now felt enough at ease to go in the woods… all except Trent.

"You guys…" he started. Gwen cut him off, knowing that he was about to go into one of his paranoid ravings.

"Trent, relax. Chris told you already it was a hoax."

"You didn't believe him when he told you it was true, so why must I believe him when he says it wasn't?"

"Because…" Gwen started, but she hesitated. "Listen, Trent, I just know. Trust me."

Trent held Gwen's hand. She stroked his hair. But even then, he didn't feel at ease.

On the other team, Katie and Sadie were making plans to have a picnic in the woods. They had been wanting to for a while, but the psychotic killer scare had delayed them. Luckily, they now felt safe, so they started packing their lunches and heading out to the woods. They were talking to each other about their every one of their experiences for the short time they were apart.

"So today, I was over at the Screaming Gophers, right?" Katie began, "And I was right outside the boys' cabin, and I totally saw Justin looking at me! And you know who else: Trent! So I was totally eating it up, because you know I totally like them, but then I notice that outside are Cody and Noah, right? And Cody is like, checking me out! Weird! And so Cody's checking me out, and he's staring at my butt, right, but guess what? Then Noah, he turns around, and he totally checks me out too! And I thought it was so weird, because you know, he's totally into Cody. So I was like, what? And I left. How about you?"

"You know, today, something crazy similar happened," Sadie said, getting into her own long story, "I was staying at the Killer Bass, and I see Tyler, and he's waving at me. And I put a smile on, and wave back, but then I notice Duncan is looking at me too! So he whistles and I start posing. But then DJ is looking at me too. And I thought that was weird, because he totally likes Geoff-"

"No, he likes Bridgette!"

"No way, he totally likes Geoff. So anyway, I'm looking at DJ, and he looks away from me! So I figure, I'd better leave him alone."

These stories were embellished slightly, (or rather, quite a bit) but they wouldn't tell each other that. One of their favourite pastimes was telling each other lies, but saying they were the events of the day.

They reached a nice, shady spot with enough room between the trees that they could sit and eat. They wouldn't talk with their mouths full, so the only things they would say were "Mm, this is good," and, "You're such a great cook," and so on.

He saw them eating their lunches. He saw their flesh from his position behind one tree. He heard their small conversation. And he knew then that he would kill one of them.

Which one…

Decisions…

The fat one would be easy, but then the skinny one would escape more easily. But killing the skinny one would be more of a challenge, and he could easily catch up to the fat one if she tried to run.

So, skinny will die.

He came from behind her. Sadie's eyes widened, but it wasn't enough of a signal. Katie looked on, oblivious. He raised his machete. Sadie screamed. Katie turned around and screamed as well. He slashed at Katie's shoulder, and watched as the blood painted her white stripes red. Sadie came over to Katie. Too easy! He raised his machete again, but Sadie was quick and was able to carry Katie out.

Katie was fading. She looked almost sleepy, or tired. Her blood was flowing out of her arm, and Sadie was getting wet.

"Sadie," Katie whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too," Sadie responded. Katie smiled, but it didn't last, as a mist seemed to envelop Katie's eyes from the inside.