I woke up to the sunlight filtering through the window. I was so glad to feel the warmth over me. It seemed to spread all over my body, warming me up more than the blanket did throughout the night.

I sat up in my bunk and glanced out the window, brushing my tangled strands of hair out of the way. My hair was always a mess after waking up.

It looked like a normal camp now. Sunny and welcoming, bright and warm instead of dark and cold. The sun made the grass and lakes shine and glisten. I had to admit, though, it somehow seemed less bright than in the nighttime. The night sky cast its own mystical glow over the camp in a way that the sun didn't quite seem to.

I was the only one awake in my cabin. I climbed down to the floor, practically jumping down. I always freaked my mom out by climbing the highest of trees and then jumping down them. She said I was her little cat.

When I landed on the ground with a thud, I heard Natalie stir in the bed below mine. She didn't wake, to my relief. I quickly dressed and ran a comb through my tangled hair, before pulling my baseball cap over my head. I was so glad to have it back, I didn't care about the remaining twigs digging into my scalp. I always had something stuck in my hair, anyway.

I started to leave the cabin and hesitated, remembering the story I had been told. Then I realized I was being ridiculous. It was only about leaving at night after midnight, and it was morning now, though there didn't seem to be anyone else outside. I made a habit of waking early.

As I left the cabin, I felt the warm sunlight wash over me. I stayed still and enjoyed the feeling, a welcome relief from the cold chill of the night. Everything looked so much more welcoming. I walked over to the basketball field, picking up the ball on the ground and shooting a few hoops. I started to relax. Maybe I would have a good time here.

After a while, I walked over to one of the rivers and gazed down at my reflection in the glistening stream. The reflection of the sky looked so open and clear. I dreaded for it to be nighttime again. I knew I was being ridiculous. It was just a stupid story they had even admitted was made up. I was the one who always teased my brother about being a drama queen. Now I was acting like one.

"Adelaide?"

I jumped, turning around to see David. He was rubbing his eyes, still in his pajamas with his curly hair sticking out in all directions.

"You didn't even change before leaving your cabin?" I asked.

"I couldn't get to sleep again," admitted David. "The sun was too bright."

"Neither could I," I said. "But I at least got changed and brushed my hair."

David ignored me. He walked up next to me and gazed down at our reflection. "I'm surprised I got up so early. The other boys in my cabin dared me to leave at night. But I didn't."

"Smart of you," I remarked.

"They said if I was brave enough to fight off a snake, I'd be brave enough to leave the cabin," said David, blushing. "Even though they knew I made it up. They kept mocking me. They asked if I was a chicken after listening to that story. I told them I was tired and just wanted to sleep, which wasn't a lie. They even tried to push me out of the cabin."

"What?" My eyes flashed with anger. Only I was allowed to bully my little brother.

"Don't worry, I didn't listen to them," David assured. "I went to sleep, but it wasn't easy. I kept hearing them making fun of me. It's been one day, and they already think I'm a wimp."

"Don't worry," I assured. "I'll have a word with them. They won't even look at you after I'm through with them."

"Thanks, Adelaide... but maybe they're right," David admitted. "You both are. I really am a wimp."

"Well, yeah," I teased. "But not because you didn't leave the cabin at night. I was scared to leave as well."

"Really?" David stared at me.

"I could barely get to sleep with the moonlight in my bunk," I admitted. "I wished there were blinds over the window. I kept thinking about the story, even though I knew it was stupid."

David smiled. "Well, if even you were scared, I guess I'm not as much of a wimp as I thought."

"Oh, you are," I said. "But I'm still beating them up for you."

David stared at our reflection, the sun making his hair even more tangled. "Do you think the story was true?"

"Huh? The one at the campfire? Of course not," I said. "They even said it was a fake story."

"I guess you're right," admitted David. "It was really scary, though. I kept looking up at the stars in the night sky and thinking they all used to be kids."

I was about to reply when we heard a voice from behind. "I thought you weren't leaving the cabin."

David winced and turned around to see Russell smirking at him. "Leave me alone, Russell."

"You were so scared to leave last night," Russell pointed out. "I'm surprised you're the first to leave this morning. Did you finally stop being a coward?"

"I left so I didn't have to put up with all of you," David retorted. "It's much more peaceful out here."

"Be careful," Russell warned. "The stars in the sky will reach down and grab you." David turned away, his face heating up.

"There aren't any stars in the daytime, stupid," I pointed out. "And do you really believe such a lame story?"

He turned to stare at me, surprised. "Of course not. But your brother sure seems to. He's dumb enough to fall for a fake story like that."

"And you're dumb enough to leave your cabin after hearing it," I retorted. "It isn't real, but they said it was to stop us from leaving at night."

Russell stared at me in shock. "Leave my brother alone," I said. "Or you're the one who won't be able to get to sleep at night in your cabin."

Russell laughed. "Oh, yeah? What are you going to do?"

"Make sure you'll be too afraid to leave your cabin," I threatened, raising my hand and beginning to approach him. I pretended I was about to hit him, causing him to back away in alarm.

"Okay, okay," Russell muttered, backing off with a scowl. "I'm hungry, anyway. I have better things to do than pick on your wimpy brother."

I watched him run off. David grinned. "Adelaide, that was awesome! You totally scared him."

"Yeah, well, he'll probably be back to teasing you in a while," I said. "You'll have to stand up for yourself. Prove you aren't actually a wimp." He glared at me.

"Adelaide! There you are." I saw Caroline running towards me. "It's almost time for breakfast."

I glanced at the huge mess hall building by some of the trees. "I didn't eat anything last night," I realized. I had fallen asleep before dinner – or maybe we had arrived too late. "I'm starving."

The mess hall was huge and crowded. Everyone talked and muttered, their voices rising above the plates and bowls and cutlery clinking together. I lined up behind Caroline and Amber, scanning the room. I saw David sitting next to some boys who were imitating someone screaming and running in fear between laughs. He turned away and covered his face in embarrassment. I could tell they were making fun of him. Well, he could deal with it, unless they tried to force him into something.

"How'd you sleep?" Natalie asked, standing next to me.

"Not too well," I admitted. "The moonlight was shining right into my bunk."

"I know. I always wish there were blinds," Amber groaned. "I have to lie down at the other end to get to sleep."

"We know how important your beauty sleep is, Amber," Natalie said scornfully. "But I don't think that's the only reason you couldn't get to sleep, Adelaide."

"It... isn't?" I played dumb.

"She was scared by that story, wasn't she?" Caroline spoke up, placing a juice box on her tray as we reached the food. "It scared me the first time I heard it. It still does, even after all the times I hear it. I wish we stopped telling it. Don't we know any other stories?"

"You have to admit, though, it's a great way to scare the new campers," Amber grinned.

After breakfast, we headed to a wide lake behind two of the cabins for a morning swim. I was grateful, since my shirt was starting to stick to my back from the heat. The lake stretched between the trees and glistened a bright green under the morning sun, the leafy fronds framing the water's edge. It didn't look too cool and refreshing, but I was too hot to care.

"This is everyone's favorite part," Rachel announced, tying her hair up into a bun with her bandana. "Nothing to cool us down like a swim on the first day. The first day here is always the hottest, somehow."

Suddenly, I paused. "Uh, maybe I should go to my cabin to get my swimsuit first." I didn't know why they hadn't instructed us to get them from our cabins first.

Caroline laughed. "Are you kidding? Just jump in fully clothed. Or better yet, in your underwear. That's what we all do."

I laughed as well, thinking she was joking. Then my jaw dropped as I saw her race towards the lake's edge. She leaped into the air, did a perfect somersault, and dove in. Water shot up and around the lake in a huge splash, soaking everyone nearby. A few kids squealed, but most didn't care.

"Showoff," Natalie muttered, wringing drops of water out of her dark hair. "Then again, she's had plenty of time here to practice."

Amber laughed at the shocked look on my face. "She's more athletic than she looks. That somersault was pretty impressive, wasn't it? Don't worry, the lake is deeper than it looks."

"That's not really the reason I'm staring," I admitted. "I'm more concerned that she jumped in fully clothed."

"Any of us can jump in fully clothed," Natalie pointed out, walking towards us. "That's Caroline for you. She's crazy."

Caroline popped her head out of the water. I was alarmed. I was so busy being shocked by her impulsive action, I hadn't noticed that I hadn't seen her reappear above the surface. "See? Told you." She grinned.

"Go change if you want," Amber told me. "I definitely will. I'm glad I wasn't standing too close to the lake. I spent ages brushing my hair this morning."

"What's the big deal? You just would've gotten it washed for you," Caroline teased.

I headed to my cabin with Amber, laughing a little. It was kind of funny what Caroline had done. I was so hot, I almost felt like doing the same thing. I wondered if I dared to. It was exactly the kind of bold thing I liked doing.

"Maybe I should do that as well," I told Amber. "Jump in the lake right now, I mean. I'm almost hot enough to."

Amber groaned, tying her hair up in an elegant knot. I tied mine back into a ponytail. I always wear one while swimming, so I don't get my hair in my eyes. "Oh, not you too. I can't bear even watching it."

"I'd love to show off and impress everyone," I said, adjusting my ponytail. "I'm a great swimmer, too. I can stay underwater for ages."

For some reason, that made her look at me oddly. "Not as long as we can stay underwater," she said.

Something about the cryptic, low tone she said that made my neck prickle. I left while Amber changed and took my swim trunk with me in case, not sure if I actually dared to jump in fully clothed.

I headed back to the lake, shocked to see that some other kids were floating around in their clothes or even after stripping themselves. I was disappointed, both because my action wouldn't be as bold and memorable and because it was more difficult with so many people in the water. I didn't even have a chance to put my plan into action, because then I saw something that shocked me even more than Caroline's somersault.

There was someone thrashing around at the edge of the lake, as if being pulled under.

I was surprised to see no one was paying them any attention, not even Celeste or Rachel. I hurried over to the other side of the lake and tried to grab the flailing person under the surface. I got a bunch of salty water splashed in my eyes, but kept my hands under until I felt the person.

I grabbed onto them tightly and wrapped my arms around their flailing arm. I felt them begin to relax and pulled them up to the surface, dragging them onto the wet ground. I could feel their heart beating frantically against mine, which was also racing.

"David?!" I exclaimed.

I helped him sit up and thumped him on the back as he coughed lake water onto the ground. The top of his body was bare. He choked and spluttered while I pulled his wet hair back. When he finally stopped coughing, he brushed the water out of his eyes and raised his head to look at me.

"You gave me a heart attack!" I exclaimed. "For a moment, I thought you were drowning!"

"I felt like I was," he admitted, blinking water out of his eyes.

"You were barely beneath the surface," I pointed out, beginning to feel less bad for him. "I could almost feel the bottom of the lake from where you were."

David blushed. "Well, I still felt like I was drowning! You know I'm not good at swimming. I didn't want to jump in."

"Don't tell me you slipped," I said.

"No," said David. "The boys kept daring me to jump in, calling me a chicken. I wouldn't mind going in slowly or dipping my feet in. That's why I put my swim things on. It is really hot this morning. But when I wouldn't jump in, they pushed me. I was so scared."

"You just had to raise your head and crawl out," I pointed out, thinking only my wimpy brother would think he was drowning in such shallow water. But my eyes still narrowed. "Where are these boys?"

"They're probably having a great time now," David said bitterly, sticking his bare legs out on the wet, muddy ground. "Unlike me. First the snake, now this. I'm having a terrible time here."

"No you're not," I insisted. "Thanks to me. I saved you both times. It could've been much worse."

"Yeah, you did," David realized. "Thank you, Adelaide."

"Look on the bright side," I teased. "At least they didn't push you in with all your clothes on."

David stared at me and laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

I helped David to his feet and let him rest in the shade. "At least you're cooled down now," I said.

"Yeah," he agreed, resting his back against the pale tree trunk.

"No, I mean, from the water," I teased. He opened his eyes and glared at me.

I quickly found the boys from David's cabin. They were having a great time in the water, splashing each other and racing. I quickly changed into my swim trunk and entered the water, not jumping in as I wanted to. I tried to be as quiet as possible. I still shivered when feeling the cool water. It was colder than it looked.

I spotted the boys from David's cabin laughing. They kept ducking their heads under the water and splashing around. I was worried for a moment, but I realized they were just faking it. They were imitating someone.

Well, they wouldn't be laughing for long. I approached Russell as he was laughing and imitating David's high-pitched screams. The others were too busy laughing to notice me. As Russell was about to dive into the water, I grabbed onto his dark mop of wild, frizzy hair and pulled.

He opened his mouth to let out a scream before being dragged underwater. I dove under as well. I can stay underwater for a long time. I saw his panicked expression, and was panicked for a moment as well. Maybe I had gone too far. Then I was confused as it was replaced with a calm, almost smug expression, as if he barely felt the water.

I burst above the surface with a loud splash, still grabbing onto Russell. I let go of his hair and saw him stare at me in disbelief, floating away. The other boys had stopped laughing as well, staring at me like I was crazy.

"This chick is crazy!" Russell declared.

"No, you are," I retorted, narrowing my eyes at him. "After pushing my brother into the water. He can't swim well, unlike you and your friends. I had to drag him out. He kept coughing and choking."

"We were just having some fun," another boy argued.

"Yeah! What's your problem?" Russell added.

"Well, now you know how he felt," I told Russell. "Not nice, is it?"

To my surprise, his disgusted expression disappeared. The same smug smile he had underwater crossed his face. "Oh, it felt very nice," he said. "We're not wimps like your brother. We can stay underwater for a long time. We barely even feel ourselves losing air."

"Oh, really? I bet I can stay under longer," I said. "I'm the best girl in my swim team at school. I win all of the swimming races."

I felt anger race through me as all the boys burst out laughing. "You could never stay underwater for as long as us," one of them bragged. "We can stay for at least twice as the longest time you could stay under the lake."

"Oh, yeah?" I couldn't wait to prove them wrong. They'd be amazed when they saw how long I could stay underwater. "Well, let's teste that."

"Okay, we will!" a red-haired boy with freckles agreed. "Let's duck under the lake at the same time. We'll see who comes out first."

"Okay, let's do it," I agreed. I knew I probably shouldn't take the bait, but I was annoyed by their overconfidence and excited to prove them wrong. "I bet I can go longer than all of you."

"No, I think only I should go against you," Russell added. "You're the one who pulled me under, after all."

"Deal," I said. I turned around and raised my head to the sky, avoiding the sun's glare. I took deep breaths in preparation, in and out. Russell just waded in the water almost lazily. He'd lose for sure.

"Okay, in three," one of the other boys said. "One... two..."

Russell ducked under before he counted to three. What a cheater! Well, more of a showoff, since that meant he'd have less air for longer. But that didn't matter. I breathed in as much air as possible before diving under, as slowly as I dared before my entire body was submerged in water.

I kept my eyes and mouth tightly closed, which I had learned to do the hard way from all my swimming races. I inhaled through my mouth for several seconds and then exhaled as slowly as possible. It was a little trick I had learned. I kept inhaling and exhaling until my lungs ached. But it was tolerable. I imagined I was a dolphin, floating under the water before I had to dive back up. It was silly, but it helped as well. I was a dolphin, or a fish, or a shark...

It had to be at least a minute before I decided I couldn't take anymore. My lungs felt like they were about to burst. I dove up to the surface, gulping in deep breaths of air as the fresh morning air surrounded me. I shook my head rapidly, sending drops of water flying everywhere. A satisfied grin crossed my face. There was no way Russell would be able to top that. The longest I had been able to was two minutes and thirty-six seconds. All the kids had been blown away.

Then, my jaw dropped. I scanned the lake, but I saw no sign of Russell. His friends were grinning and smirking at me. I didn't see any sign of the dark-skinned boy. But that was impossible. It could only mean he was still underwater...

That couldn't be. I glanced down at the lake, but I couldn't see him below. I couldn't see anything below, since the water was so thick. I could only see my reflection. I splashed water near the area I thought Russell was, starting to get worried. As an experiment, I tried holding my breath again, even though my lungs still ached. I held it for much less time since I had already been underwater, but it was still fairly long. When I let it out, Russell was still nowhere to be seen.

I whipped my head around, really starting to panic now. I saw his friends smirking.

"Ha! You lose," they mocked.

They started chanting and laughing at me. But I was more concerned about what had happened to Russell than my loss.

"Where is he?" I demanded.

"Oh, you're mad that he beat you?" the red-haired boy smirked. "Don't be a sore loser. Just—"

"It's not that," I interrupted. "What if he's drowning? He's been under for so long."

"Relax," a dark-haired boy instructed. "If he was, he'd start thrashing around like your wimpy brother."

"He's just great at holding his breath," another added. "Almost as good as me."

I gazed down at the water, surprised to feel concern for the boy I had been so annoyed with moments before. No one could beat me when it came to being underwater. No one. All the girls in my swim team and some of the boys in the other teams had tried, and none of them had managed to stay under for half as long. One of them had even gotten sick and almost passed unconscious, and I had gotten in trouble with the principal for daring him. I felt bad about that, and now I was terrified that the same thing had happened.

I reached my hands underwater and flailed them around, trying to spot any sign of movement. But I only felt the water. It felt much warmer now, not as cold as before. I felt my heart beating as a whole minute passed. Russell's friends didn't seem concerned at all. They just kept splashing each other and racing amongst themselves.

Suddenly, I felt something grab me from under. I could barely scream before I was dragged down for the second time.