First Draft Last-Light: Camping Trip
The Journey to the Ozarks
The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden hue over the winding road that led to the Ozark Mountains. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, a promise of the wilderness that lay ahead. Emmaline Cleo’s 2028 Subaru Outback, a reliable if somewhat worn vehicle, rumbled steadily along the asphalt. The car was packed to the brim with camping gear, snacks, and the excitement of a group of friends on the brink of a grand adventure.
Zack Baris Cleo sat in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed on the rolling landscape outside. At seventeen, he was reluctantly tagging along on this trip, dragged by his older sister, Emmaline. In the backseat, her friends filled the car with a lively chatter that contrasted sharply with Zack’s brooding silence.
Emmaline, at twenty, was the de facto leader of the group. Her long auburn hair was pulled into a messy bun, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation. Next to her, Felicia, always impulsive and seeking thrills, leaned forward from the middle seat, her laughter ringing out as she recounted a particularly embarrassing story from their high school days.
“Remember when Jeremy tried to ask out Missy at the dance, and he tripped over the punch bowl?” Felicia’s eyes glinted with mischief. “He was soaked head to toe!”
Jeremy, who sat beside Felicia, chuckled but rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I still think it was sabotage.” Despite his protective nature, Jeremy could take a joke, even if it meant being the butt of it sometimes.
Turner, sitting quietly in the back corner, offered a rare smile. He was the quietest of the group, often composed and reserved, but there was an air of mystery about him that none of his friends could quite figure out.
Rosie, nurturing and optimistic, had her arm draped over Turner’s shoulder, her voice a calming counterpoint to the raucous laughter. “I can’t believe we’re finally doing this. One last hurrah before we all go our separate ways,” she said, her voice tinged with melancholy. “Well, except for Jeremy and Zack.”
Calvin, ever the pragmatist, adjusted his glasses and chimed in, “It’s going to be great. A week away from everything—no school, no responsibilities. Just us, nature, and a whole lot of relaxation.”
Zack glanced at his sister, a silent question in his eyes. She caught his look and smiled reassuringly. “Come on, Zack, it’ll be fun. You might even like it. Besides, you need to get out of that room of yours every once in a while.”
Zack sighed, leaning back into his seat. He wasn’t thrilled about the trip, but he couldn’t deny that a part of him was curious. The prospect of spending a week in a cabin, away from his computer and the familiar confines of his room, was both daunting and strangely appealing.
The car continued its journey, winding through the lush, green expanse of the Ozarks. The friends settled into a comfortable rhythm, their conversation ebbing and flowing like the gentle currents of a river. They spoke of their hopes and fears, their excitement for the future, and the bittersweet reality of leaving their carefree days behind.
As the Subaru climbed higher into the mountains, the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the landscape. The anticipation in the car was palpable, each of them envisioning the week ahead—a week of freedom, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
None of them could have known that this trip would mark the beginning of an unimaginable nightmare. For now, though, they were just a group of friends, eager to escape the pressures of life and savor the fleeting moments of their youth. And in that car, amidst the laughter and stories, they felt invincible, ready to face whatever the future might hold.
For Zack, this was more than just a camping trip. It was a step into the unknown, a break from the monotony of his everyday life, and perhaps a chance to discover something new about himself. He watched the landscape change outside the window, the dense forest rising up to meet the horizon, and allowed himself a flicker of hope that this week might be different.
