Chapter Text
Another summer has ended,the camp entrance crowded with busses full of campers. As the last one drove away,some of the counselors had left to their respective homes while others stayed to work for the last night. Sydney watched from the porch of the front/Lucille’s office. He felt bittersweet. So much had happened this season,from Elijah to the…unfortunate truth of his rebirth,he rubbed the smooth surface of his cane with the pad of his thumb.
The creek of the old floorboards caused him to divert his attention upwards. It was Jedidiah. The taller man walked next to him,leaning slightly against the wall. Adjusting his glasses before speaking, “I had a talk with Lucille.” Sydney hummed in response. “Was she lecturing you on leaving again?”
He glanced amongst the trees,their red leaves dancing in the wind. “No. …I decided it on my own.” Jedidiah answered. The other man’s gaze turned to him,slight confusion and surprise coming over him. “I just can’t..” He sighs deeply. “ I don’t think it’s best for me to leave after everything thats happened. The Elephant Man,the clock’s malfunction and you finding out-“ He stops himself from saying the last part,seemingly not wanting to upset Sydney or himself.
“You’re actually staying?” He questioned,his blue eyes lingered over at the other waiting for a response. Jedidiah nodded,he seemed relieved. Well,more like relieved in the moment;the strands of frizzy hair said otherwise. Sydney walks over to him;a hand resting on his. “Y’know you don’t have to,Jeddie.” The other replies, “I’m aware. I didn’t want to risk anything from not being here,not being here for you.” The nurse softly squeezed Jedidiah’s hand,he sighed. “A lot happened;I know… I’m glad you’re staying this year.” The man gripped the others’ hand back,his soft gaze studying him.
Night soon fell,the other who were working for there last overnight shift chatted around the fire. The two nurses however were back at the office in the cabin area. Jedidiah toyed with an old radio,trying to see if it would pick up anything;at least some background noise. Nothing but dead static spoke back. “I’m surprise you haven’t thrown it out yet.” Sydney chuckled lowly,making his way to the desk with a mug of tea. The other tinkered and turned the knob until a huff of failure left him. “I am too. Maybe I’ll make repairing this thing a little hobby during the break..” Jedidiah let out a half-laugh/sigh before turning it off completely.
As the hour grew late,the two men were sound in bed. Soft winds and rustling of the trees leaves bring the only thing heard. Jedidiah shifted,he found it hard to keep himself asleep;rubbing his eyelids before sitting up. He glanced over at his partner,Sydney’s dark curls framing his face. Even without glasses,Jedidiah could make it out. Suddenly,a low glitchy noise made Jedidiah jolt in bed. It was faint but unfamiliar. He slowly got out of bed as to not wake the other up. Grabbing his glasses;he carefully went towards the sound. It was the radio. It was working,playing a broadcast. A person could faintly be heard.
“𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘮..Tesstting. I-I. Can’t tell where. If anyone can….My name is..”
Then it stopped. Like the frequency broke off,Jedidiah quickly turned it on and off but no response. It was late,maybe the lack of sleep was getting to him. Rubbing his temple before hesitantly walking back to bed. *Crunch* The sound of a twig being stepped on alerted him back,the window to the office was open,making it sound nearby. Faint footsteps were getting closer from the forest. Jedidiah wanted to believe it was one of the other counselors but it just didn’t feel right. He decided it better to safe than not,quietly he made his way to Sydney’s side. “Sydney,wake up.. please. We need to go.” He spoke with a low tone,softly shaking him awake. “Jeddie,what’s wrong?…” The man yawned as he softly spoke,sitting up carefully.
“I..think someone is sneaking into the camp. We need go tell the others.” He quickly glanced over at the window,making out a faint vague shadow of the unknown man. “Sneaking in? From where..?” Sydney asked,still groggy while getting up. Jedidiah was silently darting around the room before helping guide Sydney out to the front office. “From the woods.. I saw a figure of someone walking towards the site..” He replied in a hushed tone. The two soon reached the door before locking it behind them.
“Jedidiah. Why are you here at this hour?” Lucille called out,walking towards the two. “He said someone snuck into camp,they were in the forest..” Sydney responded. “Are you sure it wasn’t one of the others? Y’know how they like to sneak around at night sometimes..” She added,her wrinkled hand resting on the nearby chair. The lanky man seemed too fixated on peeking through the blinds on the windows,searching for it again. Lucille went over to the windows too,looking out. It walked pass the nurse’s building,as well as the other cabins;scouting for something. Her brows furrowed,watching as the person came closer before she walked away. Lucille opened up the wooden case,her flamethrower laying in it.
Sydney gaze followed the unknown person until they started to head towards the office. “Do you think they know we’re in here?” He asks,slightly glancing at Jedidiah. A noise of hesitate agreement left him as Jedidiah replied, “Probably. It’s the only place with the lights on..” Lucille returned with her flamethrower already somewhat aimed at the door. It’s dark,rough metal glistened in the low light. Time felt slow as the three waited for a sign of the person,the familiar creeks of the porch spiked the fear. A moment passed when it knocked. Lucille gave Jedidiah give a glare,signaling him to open the door. He hesitated but soon quietly unlocked and twisted the door handle open before the figure could react.
It was a man. He quickly jolted back,putting his hands up in a surrender position. “hey,Hey! I come in peace!!” He yelped out,eyes darting between the weapon and the other three. “How did you get in here?..” Lucille’s stern expression twitched,tightening her grip on the handle. “T-Through the woods..!.” He answers, “I didn’t think anyone else was here,I swear..” Jedidiah studies his face for any sign of lying. “Who are you?..” The mysterious man softens his look,trying to calm the situation. “Robin. Robin Hoyt.”