Next chapter will be a challenge, I promise

The day began with a cock-a-doodle-doo.

A small detail the campers neglected to notice; in each of the single-roomed cabins, there was a small birdcage.

A birdcage that contained a small rooster.

A rooster that had somehow been trained to unleash a cock-a-doodle-doo every morning at five o'clock.

A few campers valiantly attempted to drown it out with pillows over their heads. It worked to a certain degree. At least until an earsplitting rooster's call erupted over the camp's loudspeakers.

"Attention, fresh meat!" Chris' voice. You could almost hear the smile he was undoubtedly wearing. "Please assemble at the top of Mount McLean at your earliest convenience! By which I mean now!"

A few campers chose that moment to throw things. The boys were more vocal about their mood. "Suppose we kill it," a scowling Giuseppe said. "There are plenty more roosters in the world. One dead is not a great shame, no?"

A disheveled-looking Miles snorted as he tugged on a pair of jeans. "As attractive as that idea may be, Chris will just have another one in there by lunch. You know that." He tugged on a leather jacket, straightened it out with a snap.

"Plus h-he'll probably punish us," a sleepy-looking Kevin murmured, still in bed. He looked like he was going to nod off at any moment.

The Italian sighed dramatically, tugged on a vibrant Italia shirt. "Alas! You're probably right, as much as it may pain me to say so. I'd admire his efficiency. If it wasn't directed at me." He added the last sentence with a chuckle.

In the girl's cabin, there was somewhat of a small war going on between Jolene, Ariana, and Charlie over who got to use the bathroom first. Possibly because they all knew they'd take an equally long time. The war seemed to take on an attritional feel before Charlie decided on a bold, albeit risky new strategy to break the stalemate, and simply muscled her way through both girls and slammed the door behind her with an air of extreme finality.

Ariana whacked on the door rather petulantly a couple more times before shrugging and turning away. She could always apply her makeup in her mini-mirror, after all, and a simple braid didn't need that much styling.

Jolene, however, already in a bad mood over the early wake-up (She usually stayed in bed until around nine or ten, as beauty sleep was very important to her) put Charlie on her List.

And so, with the bathroom under enemy control, the girl decided to make some alliances. Who first . . . she thought, keen eyes scanning the room, trying to tone out the loud Romanian singing (read: shrieking) coming from the bathroom.

Ah.

The girl named Sasha Gates tugged on her green jacket and closed her suitcase. She was quiet, as always. Until she looked up and saw Jolene.

"Ugh, mornings, right?" she said, rolling her eyes and flashing a smirk.

Sasha stared, then dropped her gaze. "Um, yeah," she said softly.

Silence.

"Do you like the island? I think it's way too hot, to be honest. Almost makes me wish I was back in New York."

Longer silence.

"Okay, um, so what do you like to do with your time? What are your hobbies?"

Painful silence.

Jolene huffed. Damn. Gotta find a weakness. Okay, think now. She could crack this nut. It just takes a little application, a little gray matter . . .

She leaned in close. "Y'know, I know what you're going through," the girl whispered.

Sasha looked up, an odd mix of confusion and apprehension and a bit of curiosity written on her honest face. "What do you mean?" she asked.

A chink in the armor. Jolene looked at her, placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "My sister is going through the exact same thing. Her operation is in a month."

A complete lie, of course. She didn't even have a sister. The poor girl still swallowed it hook, line, and sinker, however. "R-really?" she asked.

She nodded solemnly. "Yes, um, Trisha was very conflicted about her, er, predicament." This was delicate work. Sasha was a mystery, so she had to guess at what to say that would really resonate with her. Easy now, Jolene. Keep it ever so subtle. "I bet sometimes you feel alone, like you're drowning, and that there's no one around to save you."

Sasha's expression gave her all the answer she needed. I have her. "I know," Jolene said, her face a picture of sympathy and affection. "I know, darling. You're strong, and you can do this by yourself if you so desire, but just know that I was always there for Trisha, and I will always be here for you." She squeezed the hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "We have to stick up for each other even if no one else will."

Now, Sasha wasn't a dumb girl. Most of the time she knew when someone was sincere and someone was leading her on. But Jolene's game was so cunning it would ensure that this was not to be one of those times. "I- I don't know what to say," she stammered.

And now, ladies and gents, for the coup-de-grace. "You don't have to say anything. All you need to know is that you have a friend, a confidant, and a sister with me." And so the girl swept away, blond hair swaying freely behind her. She felt Sasha's eyes glued to her, and knew that her blade had found its mark.

The walls had eyes, however. And after she had finished watching that little exchange, the girl named Hui wore small frown on her businesslike face.

I'll see if she comes to her senses. If she doesn't then, I'll get involved. She never had the best social skills, and was often misinterpreted.

She looked around the room and took in the surroundings in earnest. There was the bathroom, with loud singing flowing from it. The one girl with the mute brother, Valeria, was conversing with the blue-haired girl, June.

"So you host a TV show?" Valeria asked.

"Yeah, alongside this one guy named Henry." She smirked sarcastically, shrugged on her orange jacket. "He's kind of a moron, but he's pretty so we keep him around for ratings."

The Spaniard arched an eyebrow.

"Kidding."

"Oh, I would think so!" Valeria exclaimed. "He's your family, no? Family is all you have, and so it must be cherished, and loved, and protected from all who would take it away from you," her fists clenched slowly at the last bit, matching her darkening, grim face. "No matter the cost."

June took a careful step back.

Hui moved on, eyes bored. Danielle and the other girl, Ariana, were in silent conversation, away from the others. Odd. She noticed the Ariana girl sneak out last night, Danielle ghosting only slightly behind her, but couldn't fathom what had transpired in the half-hour that they were both gone.

A secret tryst, perhaps? Hui gave a small chuckle. Not that she was protesting. It was just amusing to think of such things so early on in the game.

The girl, Jolene, was busying herself spritzing on a few puffs of some quartz-bottled perfume. Despite herself, she gave a small shudder. Of all the campers, that girl rubbed her the worst. And what was scary about it was that no one else seemed to recognize it.

Someone had put on music from their phone. The cabin gave a collective cheer. The type of music was never really for Hui. Pop did not greatly appeal to her. But somehow Ed Sheeran could weave a tapestry of beauty with his voice so great that it turned normally girls gray in mindset into giggling, sycophantic ciphers.

Ugh. Not interested. She was already dressed. Hui left the cabin.

The early Japanese morning was beautiful. The sun was just barely up to coat the environment in a sunrise sparkle. It was quiet. Just the way she liked it.

The girl spotted a picnic table, perched herself on the bench. Closed her eyes. Bliss.

"H- hi there."

Hui opened her eyes. A boy stood in front of him. That's odd. No one really talked to her. Or wanted to, at least."Hello," she replied cautiously.

The wind picked up, ruffling hair and snapping at shirts. The boy looked like he was struggling with something. "I- ahem- I like your shirt!" he said, somewhat in triumph.

Hui looked down, tugged at her Hello Kitty tee self-consciously. "Oh, this old thing? Thanks. I like your hoodie." She said with a smile.

The boy stood there for a second, and then he broke out in a grin. "You do?" the boy exclaimed.

"Certainly. The stripes are nice."

"I think so too! I saw it in the store and I was like, "I need the stripes", you know?" An intense period of laughing followed.

Hui blinked.

"I- uh- I think it's great that you want to do this and all," he said.

"What do you mean?"

The boy blinked. "I mean, I think it's great that you want to do this thing, this whole thing, like, even though it's like, out of your comfort, um, zone." An intense period of blushing followed.

Hui cocked her head.

"So, um, yeah." The boy looked like he was about to explode. A sudden wave of affection of the sort a sister would feel for her siblings swept her. "You're sweet," she said, giving him a broad smile.

And for some reason he ran off.

Hui watched him go with a frown. Did she do something? The girl never had the best social skills, but she was reasonably sure that she didn't say anything particularly offensive.

What was that boy's name? She wondered. Kierstan? Kaladin? No, that was from one of her books. Oh, Kevin! Kevin Conner.

"Kevin Conner," she mused out loud.

Just then, the door to the cabin slammed open, and the girl contestants streamed out into the courtyard, right as the boys did the same. They were loud, and laughing, and Hui rolled her eyes. It's like they were in a silent competition on which gender could be the biggest swaggercocks. Or swaggerovaries, depending.

Swaggerovaries? Jesus H. Christ, she needed to get more sleep.

As if pulled together by an invisible rope, the two groups linked into one and began trekking up the mountain. Hui watched them go, and, with a sigh, hopped down and joined them.