CHAPTER 6

Emiliana and Jace step outside the cabin later in the day, still feeling uneasy from their conversation with the camp director the other time. The sun is setting, casting an orange and pink glow over the trees. Emiliana shivers, even though it's not particularly cold. Jace notices and takes off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders.

"Thanks," she says, pulling the jacket tighter around herself.

"No problem," Jace replies. "Do you want to take a walk or something? Maybe clear our heads?"

Emiliana nods and the two of them start walking down the dirt path that leads deeper into the woods. They don't talk for a while, both lost in their thoughts. The birds are chirping, but otherwise, it's quiet. The only sound is their footsteps crunching on the gravel.

Eventually, Jace speaks up. "That was weird, right? What she said about the camp?"

Emiliana nods. "Definitely. And the fact that she didn't answer any of our questions. I don't like it."

They walk a bit farther before coming to a clearing. In the middle of the clearing is a large, rusted metal gate. It looks like it's been there for years, maybe even decades.

"What do you think that is?" Jace asks, pointing to the gate.

Emiliana shrugs. "No idea. But it looks like it hasn't been used in a long time."

As they get closer, they see that there's a small lock on the gate. Jace reaches for it, but Emiliana stops him.

"Wait, do you think we should be messing with that? We don't know what it is or who it belongs to."

Jace hesitates for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, you're right. Let's keep going."

They continue down the path, but Emiliana can't shake the feeling that they missed something. She turns around and looks back at the gate, her curiosity getting the best of her. Just then, she sees something move in the bushes next to the gate.

"Jace, look!" she whispers, pointing to the bushes.

They both freeze, watching as a figure emerges from the bushes. It's a woman, maybe in her thirties, with long brown hair and tattered clothing. She looks scared and lost.

"Can you help me?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

Emiliana and Jace exchange a look before stepping forward. "What's wrong?" Emiliana asks gently.

The woman starts to speak but then stops suddenly. She looks around nervously as if she's afraid someone might be watching.

"I can't talk about it here," she says finally. "Meet me tonight, by the lake. Please."

Before Emiliana or Jace can ask any more questions, the woman disappears back into the bushes, leaving them standing there in shock.

"What was that about?" Jace asks, his voice filled with disbelief.

"I don't know," Emiliana replies. "But I have a feeling that we're about to find out."

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Emiliana and Jace hurry back to their cabin, their hearts racing with anticipation. They try to make sense of what just happened, but it feels like they're missing a piece of the puzzle.

When they get back to their cabin, they find it empty. The other campers must still be at dinner. They both sit down on the porch, the silence between them heavy with unspoken questions.

"What do you think she wants to tell us?" Jace finally asks, breaking the silence.

Emiliana shakes her head. "I have no idea. But I have a feeling it's something big. Something the camp director doesn't want us to know."

Jace nods, lost in thought. They sit there for a few more minutes, watching the sun dip lower in the sky. Finally, Emiliana speaks up.

"We have to go to the lake tonight. We can't just ignore what she said."

Jace nods determination in his eyes. "You're right. We have to find out what's going on."

As the sun sets, they make their way to the lake. It's eerily quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps breaking the silence. Emiliana keeps glancing around nervously, half expecting someone to jump out at them from the trees.

They reach the lake and sit down on the bank, watching the moon's reflection dance across the water. A few minutes later, the woman emerges from the trees, her eyes scanning the area before she approaches them.

"Thank you for coming," she says quietly, taking a seat next to them.

"What's going on?" Emiliana asks, her voice low.

The woman takes a deep breath before speaking. "I'm a journalist. I've been investigating this camp for months. And I think I've uncovered something big."

Emiliana and Jace exchange a look, their hearts pounding with excitement and fear.

"What did you find?" Jace asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

The journalist looks around nervously before continuing. "There's something sinister going on here. I think the camp director is hiding something. Something that could put all of the campers in danger."

Emiliana and Jace's eyes widen in shock. "What do we do?" Emiliana asks, her voice filled with urgency.

"I need your help," the journalist replies. "I can't do this alone. Will you help me uncover the truth?"

Emiliana and Jace exchange a look, their minds racing with possibilities. They know they could be putting themselves in danger, but they also know that this could be their chance to make a real difference.

"We're in," Jace says, his voice firm.

The journalist nods, a look of relief washing over her face. "Thank you. We have a lot of work to do."

As they stand up to leave, Emiliana can't shake the feeling that they're about to embark on a thrilling adventure. One that will change their lives forever.