Chapter 36 The Shadow in the Dark
Elena POV
The sound of my scream was still ringing in my ears when the tent flap was ripped open. The zipper shrieked as it was forced down, and a flashlight beam cut through the darkness, blinding me instantly.
"Elena!" Liam’s voice was frantic, laced with a raw edge of panic.
I was huddled in the far corner of the tent, my back pressed against the cold ground and my hands trembling violently in front of my chest. I pointed a shaking finger at the nylon wall where the moonlight had just shown those horrific, spindly fingers. "The shadow... someone was there! They were reaching for me!"
Liam lunged inside, his heavy boots thumping on the thin floor. He grabbed my shoulders, his grip firm and grounded, trying to pull me out of my state of shock. He pulled me toward him, his chest a solid wall against my shaking frame. "I'm here, Elena. Look at me. You're okay."
By now, the quiet of the camp had been completely shattered. I heard the crunch of heavy footsteps on the pine needles. Mr. Miller appeared at the entrance, his face a mask of exhaustion and alarm, with the silhouettes of dozens of students gathered behind him.
"What happened? Why was she screaming?" Mr. Miller barked, his eyes darting between me and Liam.
"She saw someone," Liam replied, his voice hard and frank as he kept his arm around me. "A shadow at the back of the tent. She says they were reaching for her through the fabric."
Mr. Miller turned toward the crowd. "Daniel, Marcus—get over there. Check the perimeter of Tent 4. Now!"
Daniel stepped forward immediately, his face serious. He and a few other boys clicked on their heavy-duty flashlights and disappeared behind the tent. We sat in a heavy silence, the only sound being the rustle of leaves and the muffled voices of the boys searching the brush. I stayed tucked under Liam’s arm, my eyes fixed on the empty spot where the hands had been.
After several minutes, Daniel and the boys returned. Daniel shook his head, his expression frustrated. "Nothing, sir. No footprints in the dirt, no broken branches, no signs of anyone lurking.
Mr. Miller sighed, the tension in his shoulders dropping as he looked down at me with a look of pity that made my stomach turn. "Elena, it’s been a long day.
You just got out of the hospital, the altitude is high, and your body is under immense stress. It’s very common to have vivid hallucinations or night terrors when you're this exhausted. Your mind is playing tricks on you because of the hospital stuff."
"It wasn't a dream," I whispered, but my voice was drowned out by the muffled laughter and whispers of the students standing nearby.
"She’s just looking for attention," someone muttered from the back.
"Or she’s still sick," another replied.
"Alright, that's enough!" Mr. Miller clapped his hands. "Everyone move to the fire pit. We’re going to have our meal together where I can keep an eye on all of you. No one goes back to their tent until I say so."
We moved to the center of the camp where a large fire was already roaring. Despite the warmth of the flames, I felt a deep chill settling into my bones. Students sat on logs, passing around bowls of steaming stew and thick bread. The atmosphere was supposed to be communal, but I felt like an outsider.
I sat on a stump near the edge of the light, staring down at my bowl. I began to eat slowly, my movements mechanical. I was so lost in my own head, replaying the image of those dark fingers, that I didn't even notice my own hand was still shaking. Every time I tried to bring the spoon to my mouth, my wrist would tremor.
I was eating so slowly that the stew had started to grow cold. On one particularly bad tremor, a bit of the dark broth splashed against the corner of my mouth, staining my skin. I didn't even have the energy to wipe it away.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over me. I looked up to see Daniel sitting on the log directly across from me. He didn't say anything at first, he just watched me with an intensity that made me feel exposed.
"You're still shaking, Elena," Daniel said softly, his voice barely audible over the crackling fire.
I didn't answer. I just tried to take another bite, but my hand gave a sudden jerk.
Before I could react, Daniel leaned forward. His expression was calm and steady as he reached out, using the pad of his thumb to gently wipe the stain from my lip.
The contact was brief, but it sent a jolt through me. Daniel didn't pull back immediately. Instead, he reached out and took the spoon from my shaking hand. He dipped it into the bowl and held it up to my lips, his eyes locked on mine.
"Let me help," he murmured.
I stared at him, frozen. Just as I was about to lean forward, a figure loomed over us.
Before Daniel could move the spoon an inch closer, Liam appeared unexpectedly from the darkness. His face was a mask of cold, frank determination. Without a word of warning, Liam’s hand shot out, striking Daniel’s wrist with enough force to send the spoon flying.
The metal clattered against a rock and landed in the dirt, the sound echoing through the quiet clearing.
"Oops," Liam said, his voice flat and hard, showing absolutely no remorse. He stepped directly between us, his broad shoulders squared as he looked down at Daniel. "My mistake. I tripped on a root."
Daniel stood up slowly, his height matching Liam’s as the two boys faced off. The air between them turned electric, the silence of the camp growing heavy as everyone realized what was happening.
Liam didn't back down, his gaze fixed on Daniel with a silent warning.
"I've got it from here," Liam added, his tone cold and leaving no room for argument.