season 1, chapter 3

Chapter: Midnight Mischief

The air was thick with the quiet hum of night as the Star Cabin settled down for sleep. The darkness outside was nearly complete, the moon barely peeking through the cloud-covered sky, casting faint beams of light through the small cabin windows. Everyone had gone about their usual routines—Damion with his head in a book, Silver sharpening some strange stone she had found, Comet muttering as he scrawled nonsense in his notebook.

Jason, ever the quiet one, sat at the edge of his bunk, his long white hair finally gathered and tied into a bun. His face, usually hidden by the curtain of hair, was now fully exposed, his sharp features catching the dim light. The orange glow of his eyes seemed softer now, his stoic expression calm as always. He climbed into his bed without a word, pulling the thin blanket over him.

Lilly lay in her own bed, staring at the ceiling. No matter how hard she tried, sleep wouldn't come. She tossed and turned, but her mind was buzzing, restless after the strange conversation she'd had with Jason earlier that day. His words still echoed in her thoughts—this camp isn't just for misbehaving teens. There was something about the way he said it that made her feel like she was on the edge of understanding something dangerous.

The cabin was silent, except for the occasional creak of wood or the distant sound of crickets. She could hear the slow, steady breathing of her cabinmates, but it did nothing to calm the unease that had settled in her chest.

Unable to sleep and driven by boredom, Lilly threw her blanket off and glanced over at Jason. He was still, his eyes closed, looking almost peaceful in the dim light. A sudden idea crossed her mind—a little mischief, something to shake the lingering dread that had been gnawing at her since the previous night.

She slipped out of her bed, the cold wooden floor creaking softly under her bare feet as she tiptoed over to Jason's bunk. She stared down at him for a moment, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. His quietness had always intrigued her, but tonight, it just made her want to break the silence.

Without thinking much about it, she climbed onto the edge of his bunk and, with a soft plop, let herself drop down right on top of him.

Jason's eyes snapped open instantly, his body tensing as Lilly landed on him. His hands instinctively grabbed her arms to keep her from falling completely over him.

"What…are you doing?" Jason's voice was low, a mix of confusion and irritation. His orange eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, narrowed as he stared up at her.

Lilly grinned, leaning her head on his chest. "I'm bored. Can't sleep."

Jason didn't move at first, his muscles rigid under her weight. He stared at her for a moment, clearly unamused, but then he let out a quiet sigh, loosening his grip on her arms. "And this…was your solution?"

"Yup," Lilly replied cheerfully, settling in like she had no intention of moving anytime soon. "Thought I'd keep you company."

Jason closed his eyes for a moment, clearly weighing his options. He wasn't exactly known for his patience, but something about Lilly's boldness seemed to disarm him. Maybe it was the fact that no one had ever dared to invade his space like this. Or maybe, he was just too tired to care.

"Fine," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "But don't expect me to entertain you."

Lilly laughed softly, her face pressed against his chest as she made herself comfortable. "You're already entertaining me by letting me stay here."

Jason rolled his eyes but didn't push her off. For all his irritation, he didn't seem too bothered. He shifted slightly, turning his head to the side, his hair falling loose from the bun and brushing against his face.

"Try not to crush me, okay?" he said dryly.

Lilly smirked. "No promises."

The cabin remained quiet as the minutes passed, the warmth from Jason's body making Lilly feel drowsy. She could hear his steady heartbeat under her ear, its rhythm soothing in a way she hadn't expected. It was strange, lying there with him—Jason, who was always so distant, so detached from everyone. Yet here he was, letting her stay close without complaint.

"Why are you so quiet all the time?" Lilly asked after a few moments of silence, her voice soft and curious.

Jason's eyes were closed again, but he didn't ignore her. "Just…don't have much to say."

Lilly shifted slightly, propping her chin up to look at his face. "Or maybe you just don't want people to know what you're thinking."

He opened one eye, giving her a sideways glance. "Maybe."

Lilly grinned, satisfied that she'd at least gotten him to engage. She settled back down, feeling her eyelids grow heavy as sleep finally began to creep in. Jason's presence was oddly calming, and for the first time in hours, her mind felt less cluttered.

As she drifted off, she couldn't help but feel that, despite the strange things happening at camp, maybe she wasn't entirely alone. Jason was quiet, but he was solid—like a steady anchor in the middle of the storm that was slowly brewing around them.

And for now, that was enough.