Karsten Knight - The Beast from Cabin X

T he swamp was a terrible place to drive a convertible.

Yet here I was, speeding through the Louisiana bayou in the passenger seat of my dads old Sebring. Tall cypress trees towered over the narrow road. Green swamp water the color of pea soup stretched for miles around us.

My father grinned at me from behind the steering wheel. You smell that, Holly? he asked. Thats the scent of adventure.

I wrinkled my nose. Adventure smells a lot like rotting leaves, I replied.

The air conditioner had stopped working a hundred miles ago, leaving us with no choice but to lower the convertibles top. Even in the shade of the trees, the hot, humid air was suffocating.

I swatted at a swarm of gnats that flew right into my face. I must have been sweating pure sugar because the bugs here absolutely adored me.

I knew I shouldnt be complaining. After all, I was the reason we were driving through a swamp on the hottest day of summer.

Let me back up and explain:

For years, I had begged my dad to send me to sleep-away camp. Summer after summer, his response was always the same. Im sorry, Holly, hed say. Its just too expensive. Maybe next year.

Our budget had always been tight. As a single parent, my dad put in long hours at his mechanic shop just to make ends meet for us. My mom died when I was only a baby. I couldnt remember her face, but I wore a locket around my neck with her picture inside. My dad had given it to me when I was old enough to start asking questions about her.

Id longed for the day when I would be able to attend camp and do all the things I read about in bookssleeping in a rustic cabin, swimming in a tranquil lake, telling ghost stories around a campfire. A girl could dream, couldnt she?

Then, last week, I came home to find my father sitting on the sofa with a frown on his face. My suitcase rested on the coffee table in front of him. I have some very bad news, he announced solemnly. He took a deep breath. I have to send you away.

What? I choked out, panic rising in my chest. W-what did I do wrong? Where are you sending me?

Then I saw that he was struggling to keep from laughing. Unable to control himself any longer, he let out a high-pitched giggle. He was always playing pranks on me like this. I have to send you away he repeated. This time he held up a pamphlet. for a summer at Camp Moonglow!

Im pretty sure the entire neighborhood heard my excited squeals.

Apparently, a spot at a camp in Louisiana had opened up at the last minute. I told the director all about you and how camp has always been your dream, Dad explained. He offered you a full scholarship! The staff seemed eager to fill that last bed, so its almost like youre doing them a favor.

At the time, it seemed too good to be true.

Now, as I sweated through my t-shirt, I started to wonder whether Id made a big mistake. I dont suppose the camp bunks are air-conditioned, I muttered.

My dad rolled his eyes. Its a summer camp, not a five-star hotel, he replied. Part of the experience is roughing it, living as one with nature. By the end of today, youll be having so much fun that you wont even notice the heat.

I hoped he was right. We must be getting close to Camp Moonglow by now, I said. Curious, I pulled the map out of the glove compartment and unfolded it. Our phones didnt get reception out in the bayou, so we had resorted to navigating the old-fashioned way.

As I squinted at the map, a shadow crossed in front of the sun. I looked up

just in time to see the massive cypress tree falling across the road.

With a mighty groan, its roots tore right out of the soggy ground. The trunk slammed down directly in front of the car.

Dad, watch out! I screamed. Then I braced for impact.

D ad slammed on the brakes and jerked the steering wheel hard to the left. The car fishtailed sideways over the asphalt.

Miraculously, we came to a hard stop just inches from the mighty tree trunk. My face was so close to the wood I could make out the elaborate pattern of its bark.

It took me a few seconds to realize I was screaming. I forced myself to stop and took a few deep breaths.

You okay? my dad asked, examining me over the armrest. Anything broken?

I massaged my throat. Just my vocal cords, I replied. And my dignity.

I stumbled out of the car. The smell of burning rubber wafted off the pavement. I followed the trail of brake marks the tires left on the road.

My dad rubbed the back of his neck and frowned at the cypress blocking our path. I thought trees were supposed to yell Timber! before they fell, he said.

Even in near-death situations, my father cracked jokes.

Yall okay? a voice asked from behind us.

I spun around. A teenage girl had appeared beside the fallen tree. Every piece of her outfit was the same pea-soup green of the swamp, from her polo shirt and tennis shorts to the knee-high socks and her sneakers. Shed threaded her blonde ponytail through the back of a baseball cap.

Were, uh, fine, my dad finally answered for us. I cant say the same for this tree, though.

The girl tapped the trunk with her foot. At least well have some new kindling to burn at the camp bonfire tonight, she said. Her voice had a southern twang.

My eyes lit up. Wait, youre from Camp Moonglow? I asked.

Guilty as charged. Im Laurel, the head counselor. She looked back and forth between me and my father. Which one of you is my new camper?

Im Holly, I said, shaking her hand. How did you find us?

Wasnt hard, she replied. Just followed the screech of brakes and the sound of someone screaming. Pretty sure they could hear you all the way back in Mississippi.

I blushed. Seeing that I was embarrassed, my dad cleared his throat. The screaming was me. Holly here is the brave one. He pointed to the fallen tree. Looks like our only way onward is blocked, and I think the bayou will swallow my convertible whole if we try to drive around this. Any chance you can lead us back to camp?

I was surprised when Holly shook her head. No, Im afraid I cant do that, she said, then added menacingly, The two of you aint going anywhere.

W hat? My voice came out shriller than I wanted. Wed come so far driving through this hot, smelly swamp. Now, this crazy counselor intended to just leave us stranded in the middle of nowhere?

A wicked grin broke across her face. I cant lead you to the camp, she continued, because youre already here!

Laurel gestured with her arm toward the other side of the fallen tree. I moved until the trunk was no longer blocking my view of the road.

Just ahead, I spotted an old wooden sign carved in the shape of a gator. In messy white painted letters, it read: Welcome to Camp Moonglow. Beyond it, a path snaked through the trees.