CHAPTER 13: Say Tremont!

Griffin point of view:

All of us are on our way to the bunker. It´s time to break the radio forever and throw away all evidence of it. It was an incredible adventure, but it needs to end. Besides, as Harper said, no radio doesn´t mean no adventures.

The last time we were in the bunker was when we were coming back from 2025. So many things happened that morning. We found out Harper´s visions are not only bad, Camp Tremont will reopen, the hotel has an event hall, my family has a new house, I´m moving with Harper to Chicago and… we saw each other in the living room of my new house. The way back home after that was a bit awkward. Harper and I haven´t talked about it. But that moment has been on my mind almost every day.

"Ok, who wants to do the honors?" Wyatt grabs the hammer and waits for one of us to answer before handing it to us.

"If you don´t want to, I´ll do it." Zoey says to me.

"Let me strike it first." I answer. "Then you go on."

Our parents have nylon bags ready for throwing all the pieces away. Wyatt hands me the hammer, and I lift it up in the air.

"Is everyone ready?" I ask.

"Do it." Harper nods.

"Smash it!" Zoey encourages me.

I use all my strength for the first hit. That old radio is made of thick wood, so it´s hard to break it at first, but once a few pieces fall apart, it´s easier. After a couple of hits, it´s Zoey´s turn. She smacks it eagerly, just like Wyatt, Topher and Harper do afterwards.

The radio is gone. Only small pieces left. We put every tiny piece into the nylon bags and throw them away. That´s it. No time travel evidence. We won´t need the radio to remember all the experiences we had, though. I could never forget travelling to the 30s, the 40s, the 60s, the 90s and the future. Those memories will always remain in my mind.

Loud music and colorful lights flood the hotel. New Year´s Eve party! We invited family and friends, but of course, the guests also joined the party. They are all taking pictures and recommending the hotel to their acquaintances.

Everyone´s enjoying good quality food and drinks while dancing and talking. My grandpa is here, he´ll stay for a few days. He congratulated us for the success, and he´s catching up with my dad. Jess is siting on the couch talking to Patrick, her new boyfriend. He seems like a nice guy. Harper told me Patrick is moving to Sulphur Springs to be able to spend more time with Jess. But there are no universities here, so he´ll teach at the school.

"She seems happy." Harper walks towards me holding a glass of coke.

"Sure, she does."

"And I´m happy for her." she takes a sip of coke.

The front door opens, and my aunt Ginny comes in, so Harper adds,

"Who is she?"

"Aunt Ginny!" Zoey and Wyatt yell running towards her and hugging her.

"Oh, never mind." Harper says. "She does look like your mom."

"Yeah, they are very similar. Come on, let me introduce you to her." We get close to her and greet her with a hug. "Hi, Ginny! How are you? She is Harper, my girlfriend."

"Nice to meet you, Harper." She smiles.

"Nice to meet you, too."

"Wow, guys! You´ve grown a lot in only a few months!" she exclaims looking at us. "You are taller!"

"And prettier." Wyatt adds.

"Of course you are!" Ginny replies.

"Ginny!" mom shouts when she sees her. "How have you been?" she kisses her cheek and wraps her arm around her shoulders.

"I´ve been great. No news from Chicago. You should tell me how Sulphur Springs has been treating you. This place is amazing! You did an amazing job!"

"Well, it´s been busy months…" mom answers. "You know, we had to fix some walls, pipes, change the wallpaper, clean all the rooms…"

"And fight the ghosts." Wyatt adds, but immediately shuts up when he sees our angry looks.

"Ghosts?! Oh, damn! Is this a hunted hotel?" my aunt jokes. Oh, if she only knew.

"Enough with the scary stories, sister." Mom grabs her arm and guides her to the hallway. "Come with me, I´ll show you the place and then we can catch up."

We join Topher to the dance floor (the porch), and dance all together for a while. It´s a cold evening, but we keep ourselves warm dancing. As you know, I´m not really good at it, but who cares? I´m having fun, and after these last months, I deserve to celebrate.

A few minutes later, our parents, Patrick and Ginny come here, too. I admit my parents dance better than I do. After a while, one of the guests, a middle aged woman, exclaims,

"Hey! The Campbells should take a picture of this moment! Marvelous reopening and marvelous party!"

"Good idea! Come here!" Jess guides us downstairs. We get away from the porch enough for the hotel to appear in the photo behind us.

I stand in between Zoey and Wyatt, and my parents stand behind us.

"Say Campbell!"

"Campbell!"

After Jess takes the picture, Patrick breaks in, taking Jess´ phone of her hand,

"Hey, you and your family belong to this place, too. Come on, join them."

Jess stands next to my mom, Topher next to Zoey, and Harper next to me, with her arm around my shoulders.

"Say Tremont!"

"Tremont!"