Jason walked back home as always in deep thought, tomorrow is another school camping trip that though necessary, will take several months before he will come back home. A cool wind blew past his ear as the sent of damp sand hits his nose. How he loved it especially because it reminds him of the home he left years ago. He never expected to be in the US, because he always disliked it, back in Nigeria he has always heard rumours about racism and crime in the US, and even though that crime was prevalent there in Nigeria and that killing people was as easy as plucking oranges from a short tree, he always found contentment, and joy for he was also no stranger to joy, and happiness and has never seen people killing people but only heard in the news perhaps because it was quite a large country.

        Pushing his thoughts away he approached the door to the duplex his uncle built, where he now lived in. Opening it warmer air greeted him as he landed on a sofa breathing heavily with the relief that he was away from society; the main reason why he didn't want to relocate to a new country. The house was quiet strangely in the evening because his uncle was surprisingly sleeping and his aunt was still at work. Back home, he was never used to this quiet because of his siblings and the neighbourhood where generators for electricity was constant noise. Finally, he now had electricity constantly along with freshwater but he was still not happy. There though they had access to them they were not constant and weeks could go by without them. Perhaps, it's because he barely adapts to a new surrounding talk less of a new race that was extremely rare in Nigeria.

          After the delicious dinner, Jason carried himself upstairs to his unkempt room where he shoved his clothes on the closet leaving only his shorts on and went fast into the deep pit of sleep.

          The next day, Jason made his way to school after breakfast and was soon in a bus with other students getting ready for the journey ahead. Observing his surroundings as usual his eyes soon caught sight of someone hair as golden brown as the soft soil and heavenly eyes that is blinding and brown skin that looks like chocolate vanilla his crush May. As she goes to her sit a few sits in front of him he suddenly remembered just how much the girl drove him crazy. He started his crush on her since the very first day she welcomed him to class, but of course where ever there's a beautiful princess there's always an ugly Dragon that keeps a close eye on her. Mike, the bane of his life the white jerk have always bullied Jason to make things worse he is ALWAYS with May even right beside her on the bus but Jason never understood why.

            Soon the bus arrived at its destination "The Asterian Woods" and the beautiful site the camp has been set up. After the long boring rooming arrangements the place was enough for each student to have a room for themselves.

          Jason after packing went outside the camp as usual enjoying nature which he loved dearly just outside the camp. Jason sat down on a tree's enormous root when he suddenly thought that his eyes were deceiving him. May was coming right in his direction he then looked left and right to check whether there was anyone else but they weren't so he took a deep breath as she came closer

"Hey, Jason! "

"H-hi"

"We are going camping, would you like to...ugh" May stopped as Jason just stared at her with his mouth semi-open

*awkward !! what is wrong with this kid ?* May thought it was if he couldn't hear her funny still, this wasn't the first time he was caught doing that since they first met.

"ugh... go on"

"oh, so would u like to j..."

"yes"

"oh" May giggled "okay! we're waiting" May said before leaving.

Jason stood up and followed her he could barely believe that he walking with her but before he could remember to think what she meant by "we" it was too late. Mike was as usual with her and he didn't look happy.

Jason stopped moving for a moment before deciding that running away will be cowardly, so he just kept moving with them. Mike who was then waiting patiently for May to walk a few blocks away from them pushed Jason to a tree

"Hey jerk"

"let me be Mike"

"listen if I ever see u close to her again..." punching Jason supposedly so his words will hit deeper "I'm going to make sure you regret it all ur life you imbecile." he insulted tightening his collar.

"guys quiet it and come take a look over here" May interrupted while Jason was trying to defend himself. Letting him go Mike ran towards her

"what's up"

*imbecile me !!, I'm not even that ugly* Jason thought, he was right his face looked innocent and adorable. Going towards them Jason looked towards where May was pointing a few meters away. There was pitch black sand that seemed to be moving in a semi-circular pattern.

"whoa !! what the heck is that ?" May asked mouth opened wide in amazement

"I dunno, hey jer... sorry Jason go check it out," Mike said right when Jason was about to turn away.

" No it could be dangerous " Jason responded with uncertainty in his heart.

"what !? it's just sand, are u scared? " May rebuked thinking that it was just sand, not quicksand which would be quite dangerous.

"coward" Mike insulted then May hit his hand "sorry" Mike apologised to her

*I'm not a coward * he thought as he went to the sand even though his mind kept warning him not to. He turned when he was right in the middle and said

"it's nothing just sand" said in relief

May who was not expecting him to walk into the sand cautioned him to; "get out of there" but, as he was just about to leave the sand, something like a hand gripped his feet

"Ahhh" May screamed in the horror of the sight of a black sandy hand pulling Jason's feet.

Much to their dismay several series of black sandy hands grabbed him and pulled him easily to the ground no matter how much he so tried to get out of their grip. Without thinking, May rushed to his rescue but Mike grabbed her by the shoulder

"Are you insane" he shouted not wanting to lose his girlfriend. The shock was written all over his face as he struggled for he did not expect her to risk her own life for Jason's sake. Eventually, he succeeded in drawing and discouraging her suggesting that they too may also be in danger, so she reluctantly agreed to run with the just few seconds that were available to think.

"Help me !! he..." hands covered his face and his last sight was of the bully and his crush running away.

They covered several miles running before they could stop to breathe properly.

"I ... I only told him" she managed to say while panting heavily "to check it out ! not to walk right into it"

"Hey ! ... calm down it's not your fault," Mike said reassuringly while catching his breath

"it's not my fault !?" she asked angrily "Jason is dead Mike" she continued shouting at him, there was grief written all over her face and her heart kept pounding heavily as tears kept pouring down her eyes. She was too sad to notice that Mike barely showed any emotion at all but only heard his reassuring words. Managing to calm her down enough; he escorted her to the female students' lodge after several hours of comforting and reassuring her.

Noiselessly entering his room Mike fell on top of his bed exhausted, not thinking of anything else, he brought out a magazine to read.

"who is it, " Mike asked annoyed when he heard a knock on the door

"It's me Mike" Liam his childhood best friend and classmate answered as he entered the room, knowing his friend well he expected him to be too lazy to get up.

"What's up"

"I should be asking you that question, Mike! what were you doing in the woods this late at night" Liam asked standing by the side of his bed and combing his hair backwards with his other hand in his pocket. He gives Mike a serious look but he just keeps reading his magazine uninterested. Mike has always had pride in his friend's cool fringe hairstyle that matched his golden brown straight hair and his spectacles with the same golden brown colour perfectly and even usually try to imitate him but his hair is too wavy so he could never reach Liam's perfection.

"Nothing! " Mike responded sharply

Liam kept silent for a few minutes before sitting down on Mike's bed, wearing a worried look on his face he asked "Where's Jason? Mike! "

"why are asking! am not his keeper Liam! " Mike said not surprised at the question at all for he was well aware of his friend's cleverness

"This is the first night in two years that you did not complain to me about Jason"

"So we sorted things out "

"Sorted things out ?" Liam said raising his voice before remembering that it was ten o'clock close to midnight so he lowered his voice "If indeed you have sorted things out you should've told me first but, here you are lying on your bed reading a magazine...so I ask again Where is Jason? Mike! " Liam asked again, the redness growing in his white face told Mike that he was getting angry so he decided to take his friend more seriously. Pulling himself off the bed, Mike opened the door and looked left and right in the hallway making sure that there are no students around, sure enough, there weren't because most were already fast asleep in their rooms.

"Listen, this may sound crazy," He said sitting down next to Liam and rubbing his hands together in preparation to tell his tale. Liam adjusted his eyeglasses with his finger and opened his ears wide knowing fully well that this won't be a happy story.

**" You remember the time the principal was giving rooming arrangements "**

"How can I not, You weren't there so I had to carry all the instructions that were meant for you including your luggage" Laim answered rolling his eyes in annoyance.

**"well I was in the woods exploring"**

"You were what? "

**" shhh !! listen. So I was exploring the woods when something caught my eyes. Not too far 'way from camp there was this sand ! not like an ordinary one cause it was pitch black and moving in a concentric circular motion.

I ain't stupid so I only got a bit too close to close to it but..."** he paused looking to his right and straight into his friend's eyes demonstrating with his hands showing seriousness **" a hand! a freaky black hand! stretched out of the sand"**

Liam's eyes grew wide, he never expected Mike to mention "a black hand" and there was no scientific explanation in his mind to say what it was

**" I fell back, fortunately, so it didn't get me. So then I had an idea, a really good one, a payback  !"**

"oh no," Liam exclaimed silently partially closing his eyes and putting his fingers on his forehead.

Mike continued putting a grim smile on his face **" so in the evening I made May bring Jason along with us for a stroll and I made them go towards the path where the sand was. Good enough May saw it and called us. So, I told that idiot ! to check without and May boosted him up so..."** smiling more in enthusiasm making his face look stupid and eviler

**" the idiot walked right in the middle of the sand"** Liam stood up suddenly sweat trickled down his cheeks knowing what will happen next so Mike stood up too.

Demonstrating with his hands the more Mike continues **"the hands ! so many of them gripped the dumbass and buried him right there and then I grabbed my babe and we ran 'way from there"**

"oh my! Jesus Christ !! Mike !" Liam exclaimed putting both hands in his head looking sorrowful at Mike, his face grew pale and his heart pounded wilder when seeing the stupid look on his friend's face, he had no idea of how bad what he had done is.

"Why didn't you warn him" Liam shouted at him

"shhh !! shhh !! calm down"

"I'm not calming down Mike! How do you think poor May will feel! this is the second time you're doing this to her'

"relax !! No one will find out, we didn't kill him you know"

" Are you stupid Mike !!! May is most likely not even sleeping now and the first thing she would do tomorrow morning is to tell the police AND YOUR GOING TO PRISON MIKE !! A FREAKING PRISON "

Mike's face suddenly turned pale and his eyes wide and grief-stricken.

"oh no... you're... you're right !" he stammered

"Of course I'm right Mike! I'm always right, why do you keep doing this to yourself. This is the tenth time you're getting yourself in trouble because of DAMN! girls and the second time you're risking a decade and this case the rest of your life behind bars MIKE !!" shouting his name out loud, at this a student who had had enough of the noise knocked at the door shocking them down to their spines.

They both stood still and Liam motioned Mike to be quiet.

"He...hey what's up," Liam asked faking a smile when he opened the door to check who it was.

"Hi, Liam what's with the noise man," the student asked sleepily.

"sorry we were... uhh just playing video games" Liam replied relieved that he didn't hear what they were talking about.

"uh you know that isn't allowed here..." the student said rubbing his eyes, drunk with sleep "well keep it down"

"oh sorry! sorry !" Liam apologised while closing the door.

He turned and looked at Mike who is now sited crying profusely and silently on his bed

"Hey don't worry I... I'll fix it," He said reassuring him feeling unsure himself.

"You will..." Mike asked subbing "how ?"

"I'll talk to May and after tomorrow we can continue to pretend that we know nothing...she's a good actor, she can do it"

"ok...buddy thanks..." Mike said shedding tears in gratitude "I will never ever do anything like this ever again"

"Alright I'll be going, whish me, luck mate"

" 'K thanks a lot," he said cleaning his eyes and lying down on his bed wishing Liam the very best of luck.

Liam managed to sneak through the girl's room undetected and slowly approached May's room, his heart raced as he walked closer but then...

"Hi Liam" Stacey his classmate shouted out loud behind him catching him sneaking red-handed.

"Hush !!" Liam said eyes wide with his index finger on his lips urging her to be quiet

"oh sorry," she said quietly putting both hands together and a sorry face on trying to look as apologetic and as cute as ever "what are you doing here," she said blinking waving her body to and fro like a pendulum bulb.

Liam wore an "ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME, RIGHT NOW !?" look on his face but just smile and gave her the silliest excuse ever, which she believed and hopped back to her room with her ponytailed blonde hair dangling behind her.

Liam finally knocked on May's room but entered when she didn't reply. He caught her with her head buried on her knees weeping on her bed

"Hey !... May !" He called calmly

"yes !" she answered still crying profusely

He then knelt before her and said "Mike told me what happen how are you feeling"

After a few seconds of silence she raised her head and answered " guilty !... very very guilty" sobbing "I only told him to check it out... why...why did he walk right into it" she said looking at him. Her dark brown eyes depicted fear and guilt.

"Hey it's not your fault, what has happened has happened "

"yeah I know but now I have to suffer for it. Tomorrow I'm telling the cops first thing" she said confirming Liam's worst fears

"Hey hey !" he said holding her checks "you loved Jason right?

"ho...how did you know," she said her eyes growing wide with surprise

"he would've wanted you to live out your life and not suffer in prison"

" After ending his !? "

" Hey he must've known that it wasn't your fault... did you push him inside the sand ?"

" No"

"Did you force him ?"

"NO !!"

"Then why are you blaming yourself," he said comforting slowly lifting her head cleaning her tears with her long dark brown hair.

"Yeah !!" she said bringing back some light on her beautiful face " I didn't cause his death, he did in a way... though it's my fault shouldn't go to prison..."

"it's not, so listen"

"yeah "

"Tomorrow we are going to pretend that nothing happened okay"

She remained silent for some time then nodded in agreement.

"If we're asked? we act, can you do t m asked slowly smiling anxiously to brighten her mood, and then put back his serious face.

"Sure I can" she replied "thanks Liam," she said wiping off her tears she should've hugged him standing but she was relatively shorter than him so they hugged knelt ad. Accomplishing his mission he left the place not noticing Stacey and her worried look.

"how !!" she moaned and went back to her room.

Mike immediately opened the door when he heard the knock and saw Liam

"Hey how did it go ?" he asked looking at him as if ready to die at the slightest bad news.

"it went well Mike! don't worry" Liam answered entering his and wearing a smile to warm Mike up.

"thank God! " Mike gasped closing the door and landing on his bed

"Hey make sure you never do anything like this ever again." He said still standing looking very serious then he sat on the bed "Hey bro look at me" Mike turned his head looking at Liam attentively.

"Girls are not everything you know! don't go do crazy things just to win them because one day..." he paused "one day I may not be able to help you. Always think my friend THINK !! before doing anything" Mike nodded as his spoken words penetrated deep into his heart.

"I just hope what you do never catch up with you before you change, " Liam said finally leaving Mike's room.