Gwen's POV

I wake up to shouts from the boy's cabin. After changing my clothes and waking the other girls, I head outside. Justin and Rowan burst out of the room laughing.

"You should have seen his face!" They tell each other, making ridiculous faces.

Benjamin comes out with a frown.

"That wasn't funny, seriously."

Mentally preparing myself for what I was about to hear, I walk to them.

"What happened?"

Benjamin opens his mouth to respond but Devon barges out from the room. His hair and face were wet and he was holding a bright green frog.

"What happened was these guys dumped water and a frog on my face!" He glares at Rowan and Justin, who are snickering. 

I sigh, "Don't be jerks, guys." I look around the room, "Where's Patty?"

Jenna shrugs but Jewel answers. 

"I saw her go outside last night looking for the restroom but I didn't see her come back."

Maria adjusts she shawl on her head, "Maybe she's with her mother?"

I nod, then spot my own mother. She looks at our class and claps for attention.

"Would you guys prefer to start with the outdoor or indoor activities?"

The boys shout for outdoor activities and the rest of us agree. We walk outside the bright light of the sun. Justin and Rowan started rubbing sticks together to create a fire, while Devon, Lester, and Benjamin sat on a log and started talking, arguing over building a fire during day. Maria and Jewel sat on another log and talked to each other in their first languages, trying to understand each other. I turn to Jenna.

"So, what do you want to do?"

Her eyes widen at me then she looks at her feet. Patty's mom walks toward us with a worried expression.

"Have you girls seen Patty? I can't find her anywhere."

I shake my head. Jenna does the same and walks away. 

"Well, if you find her, tell me because-"

Someone screams and we all turn around. My mother drops the supplies she was holding, bean bags and a wooden inclined board, and looks at us. Mrs. Blackwood walks toward where it came from, the right side of the girl's cabin, and I follow.

Seconds later, I hear her scream as well.

"What happened?" I turn the corner and stop in my tracks. 

Hanging on a tree, limp and bruised, was Patty's body. Jenna was right in front of her, with her hands on her mouth and tears running down her face. She was the one who screamed when she saw her. Thick green vines were wrapped around Patty's neck, leaving her face with a sickening blue tint. She wore a raincoat and green pajamas covered in dirt. Bright blue and yellow flowers were tucked in her hair, so vibrant in contrast to this devastating scene. 

My stomach churns, threatening to spew sick from my mouth.

Mrs. Blackwood falls to her knees, sobbing. I take a step forward her but my mother beats me to it, wrapping her arms around her and whispering words of comfort. Justin and Rowan stumble over each other laughing but stop when they see what's going on. Rowan takes out a notebook, scribbling something on it. Devon, Lester, and Benjamin stare in silence, while Maria and Jewel run forward. Maria gently grabs Jenna's shoulders and pulls her away from the scene, but Jewel stands in front of the body, her hand reaching out as if to touch it.

"Who would do this?" Her voice comes out in a whisper as she turns to face the rest of us. 

My mother stands and helps Mrs. Blackwood up. She turns to us with a grim expression. 

"I'm going to take Mrs. Blackwood inside. Stay together and no wandering. Somone call the police and inform them." She leaves without another word. We head back to the campfire circle and sit.

"I'll call the police." Jewel says, taking out her phone and walking a few feet away as she dials the number.

Justin stands and dramatically turns.

"This is a private campsite, right? Which means we're the only ones here. No one could have followed us through the woods which means Patty's murderer is one of us!" He eyes us suspiciously.

I roll my eyes, "Don't be ridiculous, Justin. None of us would do that. You shouldn't be saying those kinds of things."

"Exactly," Maria says, "Patty was our friend."

Rowan jumps up, holding a dark blue pocket notebook.

"Not all of ours though! You may not know it, but some of us hold grudges with Patty." He opens the notebook, flips a few pages, and clears his throat.

"Throughout all of high school, Patty had always won the science experiment competition, putting a certain someone to shame." He eyes Benjamin, who scoffs. 

Rowan turns a page of his notebook.

"Next, she rid Maria and Devon of their dates to Senior Prom."

Maria blushes and stands, "First of all, I asked her to do it because he sucked. He would have a much better time with her. And second of all, I got a new date afterward." She sits back down with her arms crossed.

Justin smirks, "Who?"

Maria glares at him, "I'm not saying."

Devon frowns, "She wasn't my date, she wanted to be but I was already taken. Patty found her someone else to dance with. And besides, I'm not even-"

"Wait," Benjamin holds up his hand, "Do you just have random information on us?"

Rowan shifts uncomfortably but is saved by Jewel.

"There isn't any signal so the police aren't responding." She reluctantly sits next to Justin.

"We must be pretty far from town." I say.

My mother opens the door of the main cabin and shouts to us.

"Kids! Come inside to eat!"