Fanon:Invitation to the Grave

Invitation to the Grave
''Eight people gather at there old summer camp for a reunion. But something is very, very wrong...''

Chapter One: A Week on the Lake
One beautiful Moonlight Falls afternoon, Justin Lakes was zipping down the road to the beach on his Kenspa, in response to the invitation he had just received in the mail.

My old friend Justin,

''I would enjoy seeing you at a reunion for our old summer camp. If you can, please arrange for the week and weekend off. I know there's a lot of good memories to celebrate involved with old Camp La Shove, and more to celebrate now. Hope to see you there! ~Sam Riceman''

Justin had stared at the message in annoyance. "More to celebrate now"! He was struggling at the bottom of the Military ladder to keep the apartment he had just rented, he had no new friends, and the love of his life had strode out of his grasp to Plumbob-knows-where. Yay, let's celebrate. Yet he found himself drawn to Camp La Shove. There were good times there, at least. Raiding the kitchen at night, swimming in the lake, and the first fire of tween love. And besides, he had a natural curiosity. So he found himself parking the scooter by a tree and walking towards the beach. A bunch of other people had already gathered there with familiar faces. Agatha Graive sat writing her dark poetry, looking as Gothic as ever. June Green was being her usual plump, clumsy self. Aaron Richards, the ladies man, was hitting on the one person of the group Justin had never seen before, a tiny, dark-haired little creature who just stared at the ground while Aaron flirted. Then a taxi pulled up, and out stepped a figure that brought back so many memories. Swimming together, rummaging in the kitchen for cake, a beautiful first kiss, the biggest question of his life, and waiting for the bride whose hurt had kept her away. Pretty, fiery young Katie Johnson, the one that got away. He thought she had left town. She looked at him in surprise, then looked away as if ashamed. Something was up. She had never looked away. She had been fearless, shameless. At least on the outside. Yet she ran on the wedding day. All of his thoughts were then wrenched to the enormous white limousine that pulled up, scattering sand. Out stepped Sam Riceman, who then helped his wife Mary from the car. "Hello!" he said with a wave and his award-winning smile. "So glad you all could make it. We have a lot to celebrate this week! Mary and I's ten-month anniversary," All but Agatha clapped. "My new role as the lead male in the new movie, Skyscrapers, and," here he paused dramatically, "Mary's new kid!" Mary smiled."It's too early to show, though," she informed them, patting her belly. "And, I have an introduction to make," Sam continued. "This is my sister, Sarah," he gestured to the small newcomer, who shrank under everyones' gaze. "She'll be getting my old cabin, since Mary and I will take the camp superintendent's cabin."

It became standard quickly. June, who said she got fat by being addicted to her own cooking, made the meals for the group, when she got up early enough for breakfast. They enjoyed everything on their plates, and June said she was glad that Sam had bought a lot of food. Sausages, pancakes, smoothies, eggs. Sandwiches, Fruit plates, stir fry, pork. Chicken, salad, mashed potatoes, hamburgers. Camp was a great time. She had promised to get up earlier the second day, saying there was going to be a breakfast surprise. Everyone sat hungrily around the table at eight thirty, thinking that June couldn't get up any earlier than a half hour early. But she wasn't there at nine twenty-one. "Oh, moodlet!" said Katie, jumping up. "I'm starving! Where is she?" She led the group into Cabin 3, the one that belonged to her and June. "Phew!" said Aaron, waving a hand in front of his nose. "Something smells." June was nowhere in her bedroom. Finding the bathroom door unlocked, Katie stepped inside and screamed. the rest of the group scrambled in to the sight of, in bathwater blue from sitting out all night, the dead body of June Green.

 Chapter Two: A Lot To Think About The camp didn't panic too much. They were busy grieving over the loss of a childhood friend. One night, over the campfire, Katie broke the silence. "I'm staying. June would have wanted us to enjoy the trip." "Yeah," agreed Mary. "She wouldn't want us to just freeze." The others nodded and began to get up and head back to their own cabins. Katie sat there, tuning her beloved guitar halfheartedly. Justin stood in front of his chair, rocking on his heels. Around D string Katie looked up. "Yeah?" "Um, I kind of wanted to talk to you..." "Sit," she replied, gesturing to the chair next to her. "You know," he began uncertainly, "Someone so vigorous and happy as June, just going right out of the blue...It gives you a lot to think about." "Yeah. It kind of scares me." "It seems like we just think we're invincible, so we don't think it matters. But we might not get tomorrow. We have to seize the day, 'cause the next might not come." Katie nodded, biting her lip. "Katie," Justin continued, taking her hands. "If I die tomorrow, I don't want to die without love." He stood up, taking a small case out of his pocket. "Katie, do you still love me? I mean, would you try to, even though..." She got out of her chair, wrapping her arms around him. "I never stopped," she whispered. "Why would I?" "Well, I was insecure, and I made a big deal over what people said, and I--" "Don't give me that testing cheat. You are a great guy, and I love you." Her words were punctuated by a kiss that meant everything it could. A toast to love, life, and a fresh start on both.

The wedding itself was fairly quiet, only the people who were already there attended. There was, though, a huge celebration afterwards and everybody just had fun, although Sarah felt sick and Agatha promptly returned to the cabin she shared with Sarah after the ceremony. Somewhere during the festivities, Justin and Katie snuck off to be alone. Katie froze by Sam and Mary's cabin. "What?" asked Justin. "Shh." Justin was startled for a moment by a raised voice in the cabin, but it quickly settled back into the threatening, quiet tone Katie had heard. "--should have known better than to use you. Everything was in place, everything, and you mess it up! It's like you're trying to suck. I swear I thought we were clear on your position in this..." there was a small murmer in response. "Ah, something you're right about. Now don't mess it up! If he leaves now, it goes up in smoke. Get it? Good. Tomorrow, or else!" Katie stared at Justin, her hand over her mouth. "We gotta get in there," she whispered. "Not now," he replied quietly. "We can't be found. This sounds too shady for whoever is in there to like it if we found out. At breakfast, when no one will be in there."