Day 2: Darkness isn't my friend

The next morning we woke up and took a walk to the nearest small red lighthouse. Aster walked next to me and yawned before saying - Morning. - I smiled, stretching my arms and rubbing my eyes before saying - Morning, how did you sleep. - A bit confused, Aster looked at me with a confused expression on their face. - Dude, your voice is like, so deep right now. - With a chuckle I nodded still a bit sleepy. - Heh… Yeah it happens in the mornings, sounds like I just smoked a full pack of cigarettes, it'll go away after breakfast. - They chuckled a bit at my comment and smiled a bit. - I didn't sleep very well yesterday… the little girls wouldn't shut up, talking about roblox and that stuff. - They said with a smug face. - I did have a weird ass dream though… really confusing but basically, it was this world divided by different classes depending on if you had powers or not, and so I was someone with someone living in the zone that didn't have powers, who were basically slaves and I freed them with the help of someone. - I listened curiously as I tried to understand the dream before commenting - I swear you have the weirdest dreams… -

We got to the lighthouse as the sun was already slightly peeking through the horizon, reflecting its light against the water of the sea which extended as far as the eye could see, a few boats already sailing and some people swimming in the beach. Everyone was sitting down around the lighthouse as best as they could as there were only a few benches. Aster and I thankfully were able to sit down on one of them that was facing away from the sun. We kept chatting for a while before we had to come back.

After having breakfast I started tidying the room as we were supposed to, getting our clothes organized, making our beds, sweeping and mopping the floor. But suddenly I heard some hustle and bustle coming from the hall that led to the girl's room. I rushed to see what was going on. All the girls and Aster were outside the room as a few monitors walked in with a serious expression. I walked up to Aster and whispered in their ear - Hey, what happened? - They got closer to me and whispered back - Apparently the kids that stayed here last week drew some messed up stuff on the bed's walls. -

We both stood there waiting for them to come out of the room, there was a general mumbling talking about what was happening that disappeared once they walked out and one of them said - Alright girls, get your stuff and follow us, we're gonna move you to another room. - There was a general complaint but they did what they said. The room ended up being two doors away from the guy's room (my room) and they'd still have to use their own bathroom next to their original room.

After everything calmed down we got ready and took two giant paddle boards which we tied to the motorboat. We got on one of the boards with about 8 people on each board and we started moving along the shore. Soon there was no beach next to us and just a cliffside as I put my head on Aster's lap while waiting to arrive where we were supposed to go.

We stopped about 30 meters away from a little beach. Water was clear and it was a sunny day so I didn't hesitate to jump in, so did Alex and my brother but Aster as always stayed on the board chatting with us. After a while I looked down and saw it wasn't really that deep (about 4 meters of depth) so I took a deep breath and submerged. It was a bit harder than doing it without a lifejacket but definitely doable. Reaching the bottom my ears started hurting a bit but I shook it off and grabbed a handful of sand bringing it to the surface.

- Bet I could do it faster. - Said Alex with a challenging smile. - Bet, take off your watch, Aster you take his time. - I said, handing Alex's watch to Aster. - three, two, one, go! - Alex started swimming down as fast as he could. - 8,37! It's your turn now Raven. - I nodded and got ready to go down again. - Three, two, one, go! - I went down again, and again while I was near the bottom my ears started ringing and hurting a bit, I took some sand and started kicking my way up. Catching my breath as I looked around for Aster. - How much? Did I win? - I asked as I got on the board to rest. - Yup! 6,78, your time was faster. - I looked at Alex smiling and then my brother jumped. - My turn! - We kept taking turns to go down and come back up, everyone trying to do it as fast as possible.

After a bunch of time we stopped and just chilled on the water before they took us back to the decks. We changed and then waited for lunch on the couch listening to some music as the guys played some table tennis. After eating we changed for the next activity which was gonna be finally sailing and waited in the main room chatting and listening to music.

While Necromancin Dancin by Bear Ghost Looking over to Aster they seemed to be super concentrated on their phone typing something. - Whaddya doing? - I asked curiously. They finished and looked at me. - Hm? oh, I was just answering to a friend I roleplay with. - I smile and nod - man I've always wanted to get into roleplay. - They perk up smiling and say excitedly. - Why don't we roleplay together then? I could make a discord server, it's pretty simple. - - Sure! seems like a great idea. - Right after that the bell rang, they went to leave their phone and I went to leave my glasses in the room.

- Alright guys, we're gonna go out with the boats now okay? 12 and above will go in the boat for 4 people and the little ones will go in the smaller ones. We'll show you how to set it up and you'll be alone in the sea, we'll be around to help you and give tips but try to do it on your own as you'll have a boat race tomorrow and you won't get help then. - After that they took us to the part of the decks the boats were in, since more than half of us had already been there at least a week before this one the explanation was pretty short and the boats were in the water pretty fast.

There were two big boats, in the first one there was my sister, my cousin and the other two guys that were in the dude's room, and in the second one the remaining people, which were my brother, Alex, Aster and me. There wasn't a lot of wind so we didn't move much but there was enough for us to get a decent distance from shore.

Once we were pretty far away one of the monitors got closer with the motorboat and told us to put the sail in the middle to stop moving. - Hey, there isn't a lot of wind and the smaller boats are barely moving so you aren't gonna get that far like this, just stop here and wait for them okay? take a bath or something. - We stopped like he said so and looked back, they weren't that far away but at that speed it would take them a while to reach us.

It was a sunny day, the scorching sun was hitting us without any coverage in the middle of the sea. After a bit we decided to just take a bath to refresh ourselves, Alex, my brother and I jumped into the water and swam around in the water for a while. - Come on Aster! It's too hot out there, just a little bath? - I said, trying to convince them to get in the water. - But I'm comfy up here. - They complained. - Awww fine. - I said pouting jokingly

After a while Aster stood up on the boat and slowly made their way to the water. Looking at them I smiled and nudged their arm a bit. - Shut it, I'm just doing it because it's hot as fuck out there. - I laugh a bit and pat their shoulder before swimming around a bit longer and getting on the boat to make sure that it didn't float away.

Coming back to shore we left the big boats on the deck and took the smaller ones to shore. We tidied up the small botes and then we had a snack, which were some slices of watermelon, before having some free time at the beach. The girls went to take a bath while the guys played some football (soccer, not the american kind) and me and Aster started walking through the beach, relaxing and talking.

Somehow we ended up talking about food, specifically about desserts. - And guess who won a prize for their own homemade carrot cake? - Amazed I clapped a bit. - Impressive, I gotta say carrot cake is amazing.- Nodding proudly they said - Yup, gotta say tho, it takes a lot of work, other desserts are a lot easier to do. - - Like what? - - I don't know, like, mochis or cheesecake.- - Ohhh I love mochis! they're so good. - They laughed a bit as they sat down on the sand leaning back. - I'm gonna have to make some for you some time then. - Excitedly I sat down next to them. - Yes please, that'd be so nice. - - Oh and maybe I can make some ramen too, right? You told me you haven't tried it and I've done it a few times soooooo ye. - I lay down putting my arms behind my head to not get too much sand on it and answer. - It's a deal then. -

After a while once they let us get back into the camp, we were the first ones to get in and shower. Right after we sat on the couch and I laid on Aster's lap and we put some music on, songs like Gypsy by Bear Ghost or Fine by Lemon Demon. After a bit I decided to put on a song from Hazbin Hotel (An indie animation series on YouTube, as I'm currently writing this the only episode is the pilot but the full series will be released on Prime video January 2024) The song Smile like you mean it by Paranoid DJ. As the video started we heard some dialogue between characters and we both looked at each other. - See! That's what's wrong with songs on spotify! We miss the tiny bits of this on the music videos. - They said a bit annoyed before starting to listen closely to what they were saying trying to understand the conversation they were having. After listening to It we started to sing along on the couch, having some fun and singing the next few songs too.

A while later we were called for dinner. They started explaining to us what we were gonna do that night, which was hide 'n seek. The lights would be off and we had the whole camp to hide except for the kitchen and the monitor's rooms.

We all gathered around the patio and the monitors repeated the rules again before choosing 3 people to be the taggers. Once they were chosen they let us about 5 minutes to find our hiding place.

Aster and I walked down the hall, I was about to go to the right before they grabbed my arm and stopped me - hey! Don't leave me alone… you know I don't like the dark. - They whispered in a low voice - okay okay, lets hide in the bathroom then. - We walked in, they hid in a stall while I hid behind the door. The hiding spot was mediocre at best but It had done the trick a few times in the past so why not try again?

Some time goes by, the bell rings for the first time, I squeeze myself between the wall and the door as I look through the slit on the door, trying to see if someone was coming. The first few minutes were fine, someone did come in and started checking the stalls but I didn't see Aster come out so I assumed they didn't get caught. When the second bell was about to ring my sister suddenly went into the bathroom and started opening the stalls again. For the second time, Aster wasn't caught and I sighed in relief, but It was too soon, my sister walked out but just before doing so, she checked the back of the door. - Damnit! - My sis started laughing and ran off to find more people. On my way to the patio the bell rang. Some kids came out of the camp, I waited for Aster and once they came out I went and sat next to them. - Wait, you got caught? - - Yeah, at the last moment… - - Bummer - They said with a disappointed face.

There were a few more rounds, not much happened, we had a lot of fun and were super exhausted once we stopped playing. After that we refilled our water bottles and went to sleep. That night everyone went straight to bed.