I do the same and we both slip inside.
44
An hour later, I wake with a foggy head but a clearer mind.
I found out that Rebekah is from this town. That at least gives me somewhere to start. This is something. I finally don’t feel so far behind Lillian. We’re closing in.
“Morning,” Kayla says cheerfully.
I roll over and see her head peeking over the top of my bunk.
Whatever. It’s been morning for what feels like five days already. I think I managed to get about forty-five-minutes’ sleep. It’s almost seven.
Groaning, I rub my tired eyes. “Morning. I need coffee.”
She laughs. “Let’s go get some then. Whoa, babe, you look awful.”
“I didn’t sleep well.”
“No shit. Your eye bags are suitcases and you’re washed out.”
“Thank you.”
I sit up and slide my legs over the ladder. Twisting, I climb down and stretch my arms over my head.
Do I tell her?
She’ll find out. I don’t think Andy and Olly will keep last night’s insanity a secret.
We both get dressed and then head to the food hall for breakfast. Some of the girls are dawdling, getting ready slowly and messing around with their hair. That’s pointless, we’re swimming today.
In the lake of dolls.
Which I’m glad to see is American Girl–free.
The lake looks peaceful, as if it’s frozen in time.
“Let’s eat lunch outside today,” I tell Kayla.
“Huh? It’s hotter than lava.”
“Trust me, Kayla.”
She does a double take. “Why are you so tired? Oh my God, is it Olly-related?”
“Nothing like that.”
“Then, what?”
“Not here. Too many people around.”
Her eyebrows knit together.
“I’ll fill you in on everything then, I promise.”
“Okay,” she says slowly. “Let’s get you fed.”
Olly is sitting at our usual table with a big plate of bacon and eggs. He’s gulping down a mug of coffee like it’s air.
I load up a plate with croissants and fruit. Then I get my beloved coffee and take a seat. Kayla has opted for a big cup of tea.
She didn’t spend most of the night running around dodging Lillian’s every move.
“Morning,” I say to Olly.
He looks sideways with guilty eyes. “How are you doing?”
“I’m exhausted. You?”
“Same.”
I sip my coffee.
“We need to talk today,” he says, keeping his voice low so that the others won’t hear. They’re engrossed in their own theories about the person in the woods anyway.
“I agree.” I turn to him. “Kayla too…and Jake?”
Olly subtly shakes his head. Does Jake not know about this? He was there the night of the fire, but Olly said Jake didn’t see anything, that he called Olly from somewhere deeper in the woods. Maybe Olly never told him. But then why did Jake agree to lie about how long he’s known Olly?
“All right,” I whisper, nipping off a chunk of croissant.
“Morning, campers,” Andy says as he enters the food hall with way too much energy for someone rolling on one hour’s sleep.
I’m a zombie.
Olly and I exchange a tired glance.
“Who’s ready for music and swimming?”
Not me.
The campers cheer, and I wince.
No one is particularly hyped about walking the trails anymore, so we’ve been keeping close to camp. This week, we’re supposed to camp out in shelters we make ourselves. No freaking way.
It’s on Andy’s color-coordinated schedule that he printed for counselors and CITs. I want to scribble crosses all over it like the creepy dolls’ eyes.
I don’t know if he’s thrown the dolls away yet or if he plans to store them. I couldn’t care less about that, what I want to know is why Lillian put them in the lake. What kind of mind thinks that up? It’s sick.
I pick at my food.
“You tired, Esme?” Rebekah asks.
Are you?
Tia must sleep like the dead if she’s not waking up every time Rebekah sneaks out of their room and back in.
I have the upper hand here. Rebekah doesn’t know that I’ve found out she’s Lillian’s accomplice.
“I’m fine,” I reply with a smile. I probably look like I’ve been drugged.
She knows I’m not fine because she knows that I was outside removing the dolls from the lake. But neither of us can admit it.
We have to keep on playing the game.
“I’m going to go find the particular guitar that Ellen likes.” Rebekah rolls her eyes. “She doesn’t do well if she doesn’t get that one.”
“I’ll come with,” Tia says. “I need the bathroom before the campers make my ears bleed.”
My eyes slide to Jake. He’s still lying too.
Why, though? I guess he doesn’t know that Olly told me the truth.
But why would he need to lie about where he’s from in the first place?
It doesn’t make sense.
There is something I’m missing, or rather something Olly hasn’t revealed yet.
I watch Rebekah and Tia leave, and then I turn to Olly. It’s on the tip of my tongue. I’d love to grill them both on why they lied.
“Let’s go, man,” Jake says to Olly. “I need to piss.”
Lovely.
Olly doesn’t look at me when he leaves with Jake, but he does chuck a “see you later” over his shoulder.
Is he mad at me again?
We were fine when we left for bed…I think. It was early and I was tired. Am I forgetting another argument we had?
“Something wrong?” Kayla asks.
“I don’t know.”
She glares. “Yes you do. Fill me in.”
“I’m not sure that now is a good time. We’re in a room full of people.”