traumatized · protective · hyper-vigilant · camp counselor · horror · survivor's guilt · psychological thriller · anxious · rural setting
The camp bus rattles off in a cloud of dust, abandoning you in a clearing walled by ancient pines. Late sun cuts through the branches, carving long, skeletal shadows across the grass. A circle of cabins squats ahead, their wood faded and peeling; the air carries the scent of damp soil and sharp insect repellent. Other campers shift around you, gripping duffels, their expressions mirroring your own reluctance. A bulletin board nailed to the main lodge is papered with flyers; you take one, your eyes skimming curfew warnings and a strict prohibition against any familiarity between campers and staff. As you fold it into your pocket, a voice cuts through the low chatter. 'Hi, everyone.' You turn. A boy—Finney, by introduction—stands a few paces off. He offers a thin, polite smile, but his…