Apologies this chapter is coming a few days late. It was a busy weekend!
The following morning he was met with the familiar morning alarm that rang out across the whole camp. Alan groaned, deeming it was too early, but when he tried to roll back over, their cabin's assigned counsellor was there to make sure they all got up.
Despite Alan's slow start to the morning, now that he was up, he was feeling enthusiastic and ready to get on with the day. He was also hungry, but couldn't head to breakfast yet as he had promised to wait for Kayo.
He stood outside her cabin, watching as people headed to and from the main hall, already worrying that by the time they got there, all the food would be gone.
But then she finally emerged from the cabin, bouncing down the steps as they tied their hair into a ponytail.
"What took you so long? I was waiting here forever," Alan whined, already turning towards the hall.
"There was a line for the showers," Kayo explained. "And you were not waiting forever, it was like five minutes."
"Still, if all the best food is gone, you owe me."
"I recall you still owe me for last summer when I let you have that last slice of lemon cake," she said as she fell into a step next to him.
Alan paused, thinking back on the memory, and realised they were right.
"Fine," he relented as he carried on walking. "Maybe I can let it slide this once."
When they reached the hall, it was filled with noise as campers and counsellors alike sat and ate their first meal together of the day. Alan and Kayo made their way over to the tray rack, where they bumped into Gordon, who was placing his dirty tray with the others.
"Hey, Gordo," Alan called to his brother, who seemed startled as he turned around. When he saw who it was, he gave Alan his usual lopsided smile. "Did you want to come to archery club with me and Kayo today?"
"Sorry, bro, but they're getting the jet skis out on the lake today. Maybe another time?" He looked a little guilty as he spoke.
"Oh, sure, okay." Alan tried to not let his own smile fall as his chest panged in hurt.
He shouldn't have been surprised. He knew Gordon wanted to spend as much time out on the water as he could, and trying to pull Gordon away from swimming was almost impossible. Still, Alan had hoped.
"We'll still have fun without him," Kayo said as they watched Gordon head out of the hall with his friends, and then grabbed a tray before she got in line. Alan followed them, knowing she was right, and soon forgot about his worries as he was hit by the smell of fresh bacon.
Alan's first full day at camp was an exciting one. At their first archery lesson, he and Kayo learnt how to nock an arrow and even got to have a try at hitting the targets. Kayo managed to hit the target from their very first try, but it took Alan a while until his arrows stopped landing in the grass. Even then, they barely hit the board, and Kayo's sides were almost hurting by the end from how much she laughed at him.
Then, after lunch, Alan attended space club, where they learnt about the air on Venus and made carbon dioxide using vinegar and baking soda. It had been a fun day, and it still wasn't over.
"The rules of capture the flag are simple. We'll have two teams, which you have all been assigned to. Each team will have five flags and five bases to defend, and you'll win by capturing the opposing team's flags and taking them back to any of your bases. A bell will ring to signify the start and end of the game."
Penelope, the head counsellor, was standing in front of the crowd. Alan was feeling giddy with excitement as they prepared to start their first game of camp. These were always one of his favourite activities of the next two weeks.
After Penelope's speech, they were all given their team assignments. It was just Alan's luck that he was put on the opposing team to Gordon. It was just another way he couldn't hang out with his brother. Nonetheless, he was still put on the same team as Kayo, so he took what he was given. With his best friend at his side, they were sure to win, and Gordon would be sorry he wasn't on their team.
The game was to take place in the woods on the edge of camp. Each base had a counsellor nearby so they could keep an eye on the bases and what flags had been captured. There were five flags for each team due to the number of campers playing, and so before the game began the teams split up across the bases so they were spread out.
Alan and Kayo made sure they were at the same one, and once everyone was in position, they soon heard the sharp ring of a bell.
"This is so boring," Kayo groaned ten minutes later. She kicked her shoe into the dirt, sending a small stone flying towards a nearby shrub.
"Tell me about it. No one's even come for our flag yet." Alan's arms were crossed over his chest as he glanced out towards the woods. He couldn't see anyone nearby, but in the distance he could hear the joyous yells of the other campers actually getting to play the game.
It hadn't been Alan's choice for the pair of them to be the ones guarding this base, but the older kids on their team had overruled them. At first, he hadn't been too upset about it as he thought he'd still get some action when the opposing team came for their flag, but it seemed like everyone had forgotten they were even there.
"I've had enough, let's go," Kayo abruptly announced, and began to walk away from the flag.
"Wait, we can't just leave!" Alan called after her, but followed her deeper into the forest nonetheless. "What if someone comes for the flag? There'll be no one there to defend it."
"No one's come for it so far," Kayo argued with a shrug. "And we can't win without the other team's flags anyway. Why should everyone else get to join in on the fun and not us? If someone takes it, we'll just try and get it back."
Alan couldn't help but agree with them. It wasn't fair that everyone else was clearly having fun and they weren't. The pair of them couldn't help their team win by just standing around, but they could help by trying to capture a flag or two.
"Looks like they also only have two people guarding this base," Kayo's hushed voice sounded from next to him as she came to crouch behind the shrub Alan was currently using as cover.
Alan lifted his head slightly to look over his hiding spot, but he couldn't quite see the base through the trees. Kayo had snuck closer to get a better look before she came back over to him.
"Do you have a plan?" Alan whispered as he dropped back down and turned to his friend, who gave him a sharp nod.
"I'll go and distract them and draw them away from the base. That's when you sneak in and grab the flag. Run straight back to our base. Don't wait for me."
Alan nodded intently, feeling a little giddy at the anticipation of getting to do something. This was much better than just standing around.
"Got it."
In a flash, she was gone. Alan watched them go, purposely making their steps loud as the ground crunched beneath them. Alan knew that Kayo could make her steps as light as a feather, which honestly made her a little scary and made him glad she was his friend and not his enemy, so he knew they were purposely making noise to get the attention of the other team.
From his spot, Alan couldn't see the base, but he could tell when Kayo had caught their attention as he suddenly heard raised voices.
"Get them!" He heard someone yell, and then heard a commotion as several pairs of feet started running through the trees nearby.
Alan knew that was his cue to move. He stood up, keeping his body low and his feet light as he picked his way across the forest, trying his best to match even a fraction of Kayo's stealth on his way to the other team's base.
As the flag came into view, he stuck to the shadows, which were getting longer by the second as the sun began to set. He couldn't see anyone yet, but that didn't mean there wasn't someone else also lingering in the shadows.
He paused at the edge of the clearing, the blue flag of the other team now in clear view as it fluttered lightly against the pole from the small breeze. He took a glance around, and couldn't see anyone. He knew this was his one chance to grab the flag and go, and there was no time to hesitate.
So, without thinking about it any further, he darted forward, straightening to his full height as he reached up towards the flag.
There was only a slight pull of resistance as the velcro tore away, and then Alan was standing there, in the middle of the clearing with the opposing team's flag in his hand.
Alan only took a moment to bask in the triumph as he clutched the wad of fabric tightly in his hand, before his mind screamed at him to just get back to base. He could celebrate the victory once they had won.
He ran back in the direction he'd come, partially trying to be quiet but also just concentrating on getting back as fast as he could.
As several moments passed without a sound from anyone coming after him, Alan foolishly began to believe he might make it back. The thrill of stealing the flag fuelled him and his steps grew faster, no longer attempting to be sneaky or quiet.
He broke into a run, darting around tree trunks and leaping over roots so he didn't trip over them, too busy concentrating on just getting back to base that he didn't see the figure step out into his path before it was too late.
He was sent flying to the floor with a thud, the air expelling out of his lungs as dirt flew up around him and his hands barely bracing his fall as his chest hit the ground.
He only realised what had happened when he felt the flag get ripped out of his hands. By then, it was too late, and he was left grasping at air as he reached out in the direction the flag had disappeared in.
"Sorry, bro!" He heard from above his head, and he twisted around in just enough time to see Gordon running back in the direction Alan had just come from, his giggles echoing after him.
Alan grumbled as he pushed himself up onto his feet, brushing the dirt off himself but not wasting any time in chasing after his brother. If that was how Gordon wanted to play, then so be it.
He ran after his brother, but Gordon had gotten a headstart and Alan didn't know how he was going to catch him. However, Alan did track at school, and Gordon's strength and speed were mainly contained to the water. They always joked that Gordon was nearly as clumsy as John, given that he practically had fins and wasn't meant for dry land, so it was only inevitable that as Alan began to gain speed on his brother, Gordon went down as suddenly as Alan had as his foot caught on a root.
Alan was at his brother's side before he had a chance to get up, but this time Gordon was prepared for Alan to snatch the flag. He grasped it tightly in his hands, his grip unrelenting as Alan tried to yank it from him.
"Give it here!" Alan cried through clenched teeth.
"Not a chance." Gordon was grinning maniacally, and for a moment, Alan could believe they were at home fighting over the television remote, his own smile forming on his lips.
Then, a shadow leapt from the darkness and landed on Gordon.
Alan fell back onto ground as the resistance was suddenly gone as Gordon let go.
"Go!"
Alan blinked up to find that Kayo had planted herself on Gordon's chest, her hands going down to his arms to pin him down.
"Hey!" Gordon yelled as he squirmed and tried to get free.
"I've got him. Go!" She yelled again, and Alan quickly scrambled to his feet.
"Sorry, bro!" He called over his shoulder, a cackle emitting from his lips as he ran away.
In the distance, he could hear his brother's protests as he attempted to free himself. Alan knew Kayo well; Gordon was not going to get free any moment soon.
He didn't slow down as he ran back in the direction he believed the closest base was, the same one he and Kayo had been guarding. He didn't even realise when he'd reached it until he nearly ran into the pole that the flag still flapped lazily against. He didn't waste time in sticking the flag against the velcro on the pole to indicate the flag had officially been captured.
His hands then fell to his knees, finally able to take a moment to gasp in deep breaths that his lungs were deprived of. He felt like he'd just run a hundred metre sprint. In a way, he had.
He was startled as he suddenly heard a bell ring out, and his head darted up in confusion, and then elation as he realised what had happened before the announcement was made.
"Red team wins!" A voice sounded through a megaphone.
Alan couldn't believe it. He hadn't realised it was the last flag that was needed. He wondered what the rest of his team had been doing, whether they had only just captured the other flags too. The finer details didn't matter though. His team had won, and Alan was a big part of that.
Not only that, he had beaten Gordon. He was going to enjoy rubbing that in his brother's face for the rest of camp.
"Red team wins! Please make your way back to the designated meeting area." The voice was louder now as the person got closer. They were walking through the forest so that everyone could hear them and know that the game was over.
People started to appear out of the trees as they headed out of the forest, the campers from his team all cheering whilst the other team looked defeated. Alan began to follow them, but soon he felt someone grasp his shoulders and his shoes skittered in the dirt as he braced himself against the sudden stop. An arm was hooked around his neck as he was pulled against a chest, and a hand ruffled his hair.
"Nice work, Al," a familiar voice said from behind him. "I really thought I had you for a moment."
Alan pushed his brother off to spin and face him, grinning at him smugly.
"Oh yeah? Even after you ate shit?"
Gordon only laughed and wiped at his face. Alan only just noticed the dirt that smudged his cheeks, and realised he probably looked the same. It was worth it though, to finally spend some time with his brother like he'd wanted.
"Speaking of," Gordon turned to his side, where Kayo was standing next to him. "You're freakishly strong."
"Don't you forget it." She pointed at him, and then without another word, she walked away.
"They're kind of scary," Gordon said as they watched them go.
Alan laughed as he was reminded of his thoughts from earlier. "Yeah, she is, but she's harmless, as long as you're on their side."
"Got it." Gordon nodded intently.
A moment later, the pair of them continued on their way out of the forest. However, Alan only made it a few steps before a sudden chill up his spine made him stop.
He looked back, into the quiet darkness as the sun almost completely disappeared over the horizon. His heart was racing but he didn't know why. It was like he could suddenly hear every noise. Every leaf that blew in the wind, every twig that crunched under a step, but he could no longer hear the sound of campers as the forest grew empty.
He had a feeling of dread, like something was watching from the shadows.
"Hey, you coming or what?"
Alan jumped out of his skin and nearly gave himself whiplash when he spun to face Gordon again. His brother was looking at him curiously, but before he could ask what was wrong, Alan nodded as steadily as he could manage and continued on.
"Yeah, I'm coming."
He was being ridiculous. The woods at night would do that to you.
There was nothing out there.
oh hey uhh what's happening here? probably nothing :)