season 1, chapter 1

Chapter: The Star Cabin

Lilly had heard about Camp Reformation, where they sent teens like her, ones who didn't quite fit in. When her parents dropped her off, she didn't even look back. This place couldn't be any worse than home. The sky above was overcast, the camp surrounded by thick, dark woods that seemed to stretch on forever. The trees swayed slightly, their branches clawing at the sky like bony fingers. Still, none of this bothered Lilly. It was the sort of weirdness she had grown used to.

She was assigned to the Star Cabin, one of the more isolated cabins, almost hidden behind a wall of evergreens. Its wooden door creaked as she pushed it open, the smell of damp earth and something faintly metallic flooding her senses. The cabin had six other residents, a mix of quiet faces and whispered names.

Jason sat in the corner, hunched over a notebook, his white hair falling over his eyes. Angel, with her dark, hollow gaze, was sprawled on the top bunk, staring at the ceiling as if waiting for something. Silver was by the window, her sharp green eyes scanning the trees outside like a predator. Damion and Emma sat on opposite sides of the room, not speaking but occasionally casting glances at each other as if sharing a silent conversation. Then there was Comet, who never seemed to sit still, pacing the length of the cabin, mumbling to himself.

"Welcome to the Star Cabin," Jason said, his voice flat. He didn't look up from his notebook.

Lilly gave him a nod, dropping her duffel bag onto the nearest empty bed. "So, what's the deal with this place? Seems like it could use a bit of…life."

Comet stopped pacing for a moment, chuckling. "Life? No one really 'lives' here, you know. You'll see soon enough."

Damion raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Angel shifted on the bed, finally turning her attention to Lilly. "It's just a camp. You get used to it."

Lilly frowned. There was an edge to Angel's words that suggested something more. But she let it go, kicking off her boots and lying back on her bed. The ceiling was high, the wood dark and old. Everything in this place felt ancient, like it had seen too many campers come and go.

The first night was uneventful, though Lilly couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her from the woods outside. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt the weight of unseen eyes bearing down on her. She thought she heard footsteps once, crunching through the leaves. But when she peeked outside the window, nothing was there.

The next day, things got stranger.

During an early morning hike, the group stumbled upon a clearing in the woods. In the center was a tall, crooked tree, its bark blackened and twisted as if it had been struck by lightning countless times. Strange symbols were carved into its trunk, ancient runes that none of them could read. Comet seemed especially drawn to it, his fingers tracing the marks with an odd fascination.

"Don't touch that," Silver snapped, her eyes narrowing. "You don't know what you're messing with."

Comet just grinned, pulling his hand away. "What? You think it'll curse me?"

But that night, Lilly woke to the sound of whispering. Soft, unintelligible voices floated through the cabin. She sat up in bed, glancing around. Jason was still writing, his pen scratching furiously against the paper. Angel was gone, her bed empty. The others were restless, murmuring in their sleep, their faces twisted with unease.

Lilly swung her legs over the side of the bed, creeping to the door. She stepped outside, the cool night air biting at her skin. The camp was silent, save for the distant rustling of the trees. But there, in the shadows, she saw Angel. She was standing at the edge of the woods, staring up at that twisted tree they had seen earlier.

"Angel?" Lilly whispered, stepping closer.

Angel didn't respond. She just stood there, her eyes locked on something Lilly couldn't see. Slowly, her hands rose, mimicking the carvings they had seen earlier, her fingers twitching and contorting in the air as if she were writing invisible symbols.

A chill ran down Lilly's spine. "Angel?"

This time, Angel's head snapped toward her. Her eyes were wide, wild, and for a moment, Lilly swore they were glowing. "You shouldn't have come here," Angel said, her voice barely a whisper. "None of us should be here."

Lilly felt a cold hand grip her heart. She took a step back, but something about Angel's stare rooted her to the spot. Before she could say anything more, a figure stepped out from the woods. It was Damion, his face pale and drawn. He placed a hand on Angel's shoulder, breaking her trance.

"Get back to the cabin," he said, his voice steady but low. "Now."

Lilly hesitated but nodded, backing away slowly. She could hear Angel muttering again, her voice even softer now, almost blending with the wind.

That night, no one slept.