It was camp day 2- lunch time. Everyone was staring at table 11.
DANIEL: You guys are creeping me out.
ANNE: Ugh, Danny! Is it that weird that Cleo and I decided to be friends?
CLEO: It is pretty weird Anne.
ANNE: (scoffs) Wow. Okay.
DANIEL tried to use his face to send a "what the heck" to CLEO who didn't pay attention at all. Everyone was quiet on table 11. Too quiet. After a few awkward minutes, CLEO stood up to get more food.
ANNE: Oh Cleo can you get me a grape soda too while you're at it?
CLEO: K.
DANIEL: No way. Cleo never gets me anything.
CLEO: Stop it Daniel. You're making it weirder.
CLEO walks away from the table and bumps into ZOE and MARGARETTE.
MARGARETTE: What's happening?
ZOE: Is the world ending?
MARGARETTE: Are you sick?
ZOE: You guys look like a love triangle Cleo. It isn't pretty.
MARGARETTE: Not pretty.
CLEO: Maybe I am sick. See you guys later.
CLEO walks away and takes more fried chicken and spaghetti from the lunch table and takes ANNE's grape soda too. "She's pushing it, so I'm going to do the same." CLEO smiles and returns to their table.
DANIEL: You really- I can't man. This is too weird. I'm happy, but it's weird. Feels wrong.
ANNE: You'd rather us be at each other's throats?
CLEO: That could actually, literally be arranged.
ANNE: (scoffs) Uh Cleo? Rude.
CLEO: Was there a time I wasn't?
Just before the two girls were about to start a food fight, the head teacher walked in the cafeteria and announced that the games were soon going to start. "Shoot...unless?" CLEO had a plan.
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MARGARETTE was out cold, "preparing" herself for the upcoming camp games while CLEO opened her luggage to get her secret weapons out - long bandages. She wrapped it around her right ankle and her right wrist. She put some normal bandages on her fingers, legs, and face after putting some wet tint inside to make it look like it blood.
CLEO: That's right. I stupidly tripped and fell trying to go up the stairs. Good job Cleo. Best idea yet.
Someone knocks on the door.
SOMEONE: I need to talk to you.
CLEO opens the door and puts up her act. Limping and rubbing her elbows like everything hurt.
MR NOAH: Cleo! What happened? Are you okay?
CLEO: Ahaha...yeah. Hi, what did you want to talk about?
MR NOAH: No, you're hurt. We need to take care of that.
CLEO: Already did. (shows her bandages) See? Are you here about tonight?
MR NOAH: Yeah.
CLEO: Why? Are you scared?
MR NOAH: No, I just- I'm-
CLEO: Okay. Look Noah, if you want quits, then just-
MR NOAH: Did you just call me Noah?
CLEO: Oh woops.
MR NOAH: (smiles like an idiot) No..no. See you later at midnight. I'll cover for your fake bandages. (winks and laughs)
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The camp games are in full swing. All the students are out on the fields under the scorching sun, drenched in the wet mud, or hanging on for dear life on the cliffs. All the students except one - CLEO. CLEO is sitting on a bench in the campfire area with MR NOAH who was assigned - no self-assigned, to watch over the "poor" girl.
CLEO: What'd you tell them?
MR NOAH: Hmm...let me try to recall...secret.
CLEO: Ah...okay then.
Just then, they see DANIEL and ANNE approach them all drenched in mud, looking mortified.
ANNE: I will never, ever go back to camp. Ever!
DANIEL: Awe, weren't you at least glad I was there with you?
ANNE (somewhere between unsure and disgusted): Yeah! Sure...
DANIEL: Mr Noah! Cleo! (notices her bandages) Hey what happened to you?
CLEO: Tripped and fell. Stupidly.
DANIEL: Ah. (turns to MR NOAH with suspicion) Hi, sir. What a coincidence, huh? You were conveniently assigned to take care of our poor little stupid girl who tripped and fell.
ANNE: Danny, don't talk to Mr Noah like that. He's here to take care of our bestest friend. (fake smile)
CLEO: I'm just sitting. I'm about to turn eighteen. Why do I need a chaperone? Ugh.
CLEO turns around and smiles. She proceeds to go to her room, continuing her act of limping and rubbing her elbows until she reaches her room and locks the door - safe.
CLEO: It's going to be a long night.
CLEO lays in her bed and opens her black notebook. "5 years".
CLEO: Yeah...yeah I'm ready. I'm ready, aren't I? I mean, what's it to me? A Hyde. I'm a Hyde. I need to do this. It's not wrong. Pft, yeah.
YOU ARE READING
FIVE (Book 1)
Mystery / ThrillerCleo is a 17 year old girl who is pressured by her family to hold up the Hyde family name and hold their family's position in their business. She has only ever had one friend in her whole life - Daniel Canmore. She has never, ever let her parents se...
