My campers and I sit around the fire. My face burns from the proximity. It’s Sasha’s turn to tell her ghost story. I pass marshmallows to the camper on my right. She passes it down until we all have marshmallows. Several girls stick theirs in the fire.

“It was a dark night, much like this one,” Sasha says.

I pass out the chocolate and graham crackers next. The girls happily scarf down their s’mores.

A scream pierces the night.

The campers look at me for guidance.

“Don’t be afraid,” I say. “It’s probably just a coyote or wolf. They won’t bother us.” I gesture for Sasha to continue.

“It was a dark night. There was no wind…” The fire illuminates Sasha’s features. It illuminates us all, leaving us blind to the darkness beyond.

Kris looks past the huddled group. I squeeze her knee.

I stick my marshmallow into the fire.

“There was a man,” she says. “And he screamed—”

“Help!”

Sasha stops. The girls look to me. “Stay calm.” I stand.

A man runs into camp. “Hide. Hide,” I say. The girls all run and scream in the same direction. “Lock yourselves in the cabin. Don’t come out unless it’s me at the door.”

The man comes closer. He’s covered in blood; from head to toe, but I can’t see any entry point—or exit.

I pull out my phone. The man lurches forward, grabbing it from me. It falls, narrowly missing the flames.

“Help, please, help.” He clutches my wrist and falls to the ground, bringing me with him.

I struggle with him for a few seconds, but get my arm free. I pick my phone up and scramble a safe distance from the man.

He gasps for breath as I dial for Jose. It’s covered in blood. I wipe my phone on my pants before placing it by my ear.

Jose answers. “Aren’t you supposed to be telling ghost stories by the fire?” Jose asks.

I look for any lingering kids as the man pants on the ground. “Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of A109?”

“I am.”

“Yeah? Well when was the last time you checked on his cell?”

Silence.

“He escaped. Get your ass down here before the kids see.” I get to my feet and hang up the phone. I dust myself off.

The man rolls onto his back, groaning. He’s close to the fire. “Who are you?” he asks as if he doesn’t remember that I’m the one who took him and locked him up for experimentation. Maybe he doesn’t.

“I’m the person you shouldn’t have ran to,” I answer.

#

Jose comes into the camp. He ducks low for no apparent reason. “Where are the girls?”

“Hiding, now get him out. One of them is bound to try for their bravery badge and come check on me.”

Jose grabs the man from under his shoulders and drags him from camp.

I wait by the flames until I can no longer see him.

Taking a deep breath, I straighten my clothes and head to the cabin. On my way, I try to think of an excuse to tell the girls as to why the cops aren’t coming.