The winding roads leading to Camp Brightwater were a sight for sore eyes. Mary had been driving for hours, her little hatchback packed to the brim with camping gear, coolers, and duffel bags. Her passenger, Jessica, was lounging in the seat next to her, making fun of Mary's over-preparedness with playful insults.
"Jesus, Mary, did you pack the entire house? We're going camping, not moving in!" Jessica teased, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement.
Mary rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips. "You can never be too prepared, Jess. Besides, I'd rather have too much than not enough."
Jessica snorted. "You're such a control freak."
As they bickered, the trees began to thin out, giving way to a large clearing. In the distance, they could see the tents and campfires of Camp Brightwater. Jessica sat up straighter in her seat, her eyes scanning the area.
"Looks like the party's already started," she remarked, nodding towards a group of people setting up a tent.
Mary's eyes followed Jessica's gaze, landing on a tall, broad-shouldered man. Steve. She felt a flutter in her chest, but quickly pushed it away. She was here to have fun, not to hook up with Steve again.
Steve noticed them and waved, a grin spreading across his handsome face. He was joined by a group of his friends: Wayne, the hard-partying friend; Chad and Tiffany, the horny couple; Ed, the stoner and comic relief; and Alex, Ed's sister and "hippie chick."
Mary and Jessica set up their tent, exchanging playful banter about their new acquaintances. Steve pulled Mary aside, attempting to be romantic, but Mary playfully rejected him, saying she was not ready to "get down and dirty" in the great outdoors.
As the night went on, they started a fire and began to tell scary stories, with Ed's stoner humor providing comedic relief. Alex, the "hippie chick," shared a story about a masked killer who haunted Camp Brightwater, causing a few nervous giggles among the group.
Mary couldn't help but notice Steve and Tiffany acting flirty, leading to a playful confrontation between Mary and Tiffany. Jessica pulled Mary aside, expressing her concerns about Steve's intentions and the group's wild behavior.
Mary reassured Jessica, but couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The group decided to go for a night swim, leaving Mary and Jessica to set up the rest of the camp. As they worked, Mary and Jessica heard strange noises in the distance, but dismissed them as the group's partying.
Mary and Jessica finally joined the group for the swim, but the atmosphere had changed. Steve and Tiffany's flirting had become more obvious. Mary confronted Steve about his behavior, leading to a heated argument.
The argument was interrupted by a chilling scream in the distance, causing the group to freeze in terror. The long night at Camp Brightwater had only just begun.
Mary's heart raced as she looked around the group, their faces pale in the moonlight. "What was that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Steve shook his head, his eyes wide with fear. "I don't know. It sounded like it came from over there," he said, pointing towards the woods.
Tiffany clung to Chad, her eyes filled with tears. "We should go. Now."
Ed, the stoner, laughed nervously. "It's probably just some animals, man. Don't freak out."
But Mary couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. She had heard that scream before, in her nightmares. She knew what it meant.
The masked killer was real, and he was here, at Camp Brightwater.
Mary's mind raced as she tried to think of a plan. She couldn't let the group panic. She had to take control.
"Everyone, stay calm," she said, her voice firm and steady. "We need to stick together and find a safe place. Steve, can you grab the flashlights from our tent?"
Steve nodded, and ran off to get the flashlights. Mary turned to the group, her eyes filled with determination.
"We can do this. We just need to stick together and be smart."
Jessica smiled, her eyes filled with admiration. "You're right, Mary. Let's do this."
Together, they faced the long night at Camp Brightwater, ready to fight for their survival.
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