Chapter 8 - The Watch and the Plan
The four swimmers floated on their backs in the water.
"This is quickly losing its charm," Nick declared.
AJ sighed, returning to a vertical position. He tread water for a minute, then stopped dead. "Hey, guys?"
The others brought their heads out of the water. "What?"
"Listen. Do you hear that?"
They all stayed still.
"What is that?" Hazel asked.
"It sounds like . . . a machine," Nick said slowly.
The four slowly climbed out of the water.
"It’s coming from that bush," Becky said, pointing.
AJ pulled back the leaves to reveal a small video camera.
The four stood there, stunned.
"Excuse me," AJ said suddenly. He grabbed a nearby stick and started hacking the camera to pieces. "You sons a bitches! You think you can frickin’ get away with this?! Fuck you! Take THAT! And THAT!"
Nick grabbed his friend by his arms. "Whoa, that’s enough, Bone. That’s enough."
"We should tell the others," Becky said quietly.
"How many of these things do they have out here?" AJ asked.
No one answered him.
~~~
"You found WHAT?!!?!?!" Ellie screamed.
"This SUCKS!" Karen shouted.
"Who the hell is doing this?!" Brian yelled.
"Head explodie!" Maggie cried.
"Okay, we all just need to calm down," Howie said.
"Calm down!? Not a chance in hell!" Ellie retorted.
"Bastards . . ." AJ muttered, swearing quietly to himself.
"How can they just invade our privacy like this?" Kevin asked aloud.
"They’ve been watching us this whole time . . ." Sierra said slowly.
"Oh, that’s a comforting thought," Karen said. "They watch us while we sleep, while we eat, while we’re bathing . . ."
"Shut up!" Ellie shouted at her. She took a few deep breaths. "I’m going for a walk."
"I’m going with you," Maggie and Tom said in unison.
The three set off into the woods.
The nine remaining people chose to deal with their anger in their own way.
Brian took out his frustration on the fire by burning leaves and sticks.
Kevin stayed at his post in front of the supplies, rhythmically digging into the dirt with a stone.
Howie weight-lifted some rocks nearby.
AJ and Nick both paced around, muttering things in low tones.
Becky broke twigs into pieces while Karen, Sierra, and Hazel took turns hurling small stones at trees.
It was in this cheerful mood that the group suddenly heard a familiar voice, "FUCK THOSE MOTHERFUCKING SONS OF BITCHES!!!!!!!!"
A few minutes later, Maggie, Tom, and Ellie came into camp carrying a new load of supplies.
"They want us alive," Tom stated simply.
"They put the supplies in a new place so we wouldn’t see them coming," Ellie explained bitterly. She kicked a tree.
"Well, at least we know they’re not trying to kill us," Hazel said, trying to be optimistic.
"But they’re watching us!" AJ shouted. "What do they want from us?!"
Again, no one answered.
~~~
The next day . . .
"Okay. That’s it. I’m not going to sit here another minute," Ellie announced once everyone was up. "We’re getting out of here. I don’t care how, but we’re doing it today."
"We could split up, each take some of the supplies, and travel as far out as we can," Maggie suggested.
"There are twelve of us. We could break into groups of three and each go in one direction," Nick proposed.
"Someone should stay here," Kevin said. "In case there’s a problem."
"So we could leave four people here and break into pairs instead," AJ concluded, anxious to get going.
"First thing’s first," Howie said. "Who wants to stay?"
"I do," Karen said immediately.
"I’ll stay with you," Sierra offered.
"I will too," Kevin added.
Howie looked around at everyone else. They all looked like they would shrivel up and die if asked to stay in camp another minute. "I’ll stay, too."
"So who goes with who?" Becky asked.
For a moment, no one said anything.
"Not meaning to be sexist, but we might want to split up into guys and girls . . . in case anything . . . happens," Brian said awkwardly.
"We’re going together," Maggie announced, latching onto Tom bodily.
Nick grinned at Becky. "Shall the Chicken Fight Champs join forces again?"
She laughed. "Sure."
Ellie turned to Brian. "Don’t even think of getting all mushy on me because I’m agreeing to go with you now. So don’t ask."
Brian winked. "Thank ya, ma’am."
Hazel and AJ looked at each other. "I guess that leaves the two of us again," he said, smiling. "What a shame."
Hazel thought she felt a faint blush color her cheeks. Why am I blushing? He’s not even that good looking!
"So, that’s settles it," Howie said. "Now all we have to do is divide up the supplies."
~~~