Welcome to Hawnee - Week 1 - Day 5

Author's note:

Welcome to the first little "climax" of this slow-burn story, at least in the narrative sense - There's also some public sex in this chapter, but whether this leads to a sexual climax for those involved, hmm... well... I don't want to spoil that...

After the lectures Jenny will join Sheena and some friends on a trip to Mount Delamore, where she learns more about the local customs of nude swimming and watches the Perseids in a romantic mood.

If you want to watch the Perseids for yourself, you'll still have to wait a little longer. The real Perseids can be observed in the night sky every year in August.

As always, I welcome your comments, critiques, and thoughts - they help shape the story! I wish you a good read.

Jay Hawnee

***

Beep-beep... Beep-beep. Jenny opens her eyes and fumbles for her alarm clock. She manages to silence the beeping quite fast. Strangely, she feels very refreshed today. Her recent encounter with the naked girl in the library obviously hasn't sneaked into her sleep after all. She stretches, groans slightly, and rises from her bed. At the bathroom door, she hesitates for a moment, then knocks -- just in case her landlady is in the shower again. After a refreshing shower and brushing her teeth, she fixes her hair, slips into her uniform, and gives herself a last satisfied smile in the mirror. Then she grabs her backpack and heads out toward the university.

***

Jenny slides into a seat beside Sheena, Tina, and Steven in the lecture hall. The room hums with quiet conversation as students settle in.

Jenny sighs. "Another day with Professor Cavanaugh, isn't it? Hope he's in a better mood as the weekend looms."

"Yeah, it's Sado again." Sheena nods, glaring with disgust. "But I hope it's over soon and we can move on to the good parts of the week!"

At this moment, the door at the front opens, and an androgynous person in their early thirties enters. Their short blonde pixie cut and tailored jacket give them a professional yet relaxed appearance. They move toward the lectern, adjusting the microphone with practiced ease. Jenny and Sheena look to the front in surprise before the lecturer offers the students a warm, composed smile. "Good morning, dear students, and a hearty welcome to this lecture. My name is Alex Swince, and I'll be standing in for Professor Doctor Cavanaugh, who, unfortunately, can't be here today. I am honored to be your lecturer for a cross-cutting topic that is closely interwoven with the other subjects discussed this week: the human immune system."

They inhale deeply, as their hands rest tensely on the lectern. "I must confess... this is my first lecture, and I'm still finding my footing here. But I assure you, I've come prepared to make this session both informative and, I hope, inspiring."

While the lecturer starts to introduce herself, Sheena yawns and glances bored at her Smartphone. She scrolls absently through stock market news as Professor Swince's gaze sharpens and flicks toward her for a brief moment.

"The immune system is an important part of the human body - a quiet guardian that works steadily to shield us from microbial invaders. It's an orchestra of cells, tissues, and organs. Each part plays a different unique role, and only when they perform together in harmony do they create a wonderful symphony of protection and care. When it's working well, it's a marvel of precision and robustness. But like any system, it isn't infallible. If even one section falls out of tune - or worse, goes silent entirely - the entire harmony can collapse into confusion, leaving the body vulnerable - not just to infections, but to its own misguided defenses. In this lecture, I will discuss the impressive strengths of the immune system as well as the challenges that arise when it malfunctions. We will talk about innate and adaptive immunity, examine key immune cells and antibodies, and look at the significance of immune memory. But we will also discuss issues such as immunodeficiency, autoimmune diseases, and the importance of immunization to keep the music playing."

Professor Swince scans the room with a calm but expectant expression before they continue.

"Before we start, I'd like to gently remind everyone to stay engaged - this material is important for your understanding and, of course, for passing the exam on Monday."

Their tone shifts slightly, carrying more weight now. "So it would be better to concentrate on the lecture... than on your smartphones."

Sheena's head snaps up.

"Yes, this applies especially to you, Mrs. Hawk." Professor Swince glares at Sheena.

Sheena freezes, her cheeks flushing as she realizes Professor Swince's gaze is locked directly on her. With an almost sheepish movement, she tucks her phone away. Jenny bites the inside of her cheek to suppress a grin - until Sheena, now slightly defensive, nudges her under the table.

Professor Swince's expression softens again, their voice returning to its previous gentle warmth.

"I hope I won't... urm, overwhelm you with all this knowledge, and I promise to break things down step by step. But it is necessary that you study all this thoroughly for your exam on Monday. So, urm... let's better dive directly into the topic."

***

Later, at lunch, Jenny, Sheena, Tina, and Steven sit together in the dining hall, trays of food in front of them. The atmosphere is relaxed, but Sheena seems preoccupied, absentmindedly stirring her food with a fork.

"How did he know my name?" she blurts suddenly, looking up.

Tina glances at her. "Who?"

"Mr. Swince," Sheena replies.

Tina frowns. "Urm, I think it was Mrs. Swince."

"No, it was Mr. Swince," Sheena insists and crosses her arms.

Steven raises an eyebrow. "Wait, the lecturer didn't mention their gender, did they?"

Sheena huffs, "Come on. Only a man would call me out like that - so smug."

Jenny smirks. "But you're not exactly the shy type either."

"I'm just direct," Sheena mutters. "Still - how did he know my name?"

Tina shrugs. "I guess she was just well prepared."

"Yeah," Steven says, stabbing a potato, "they probably got a list of our names and photos to enforce that stupid uniform rule... and to weed out rebels like you!"

"Wouldn't surprise me," Sheena mutters, "this place gets weirder every day."

She shifts in her seat, then turns to Jenny, her tone more focused. "Anyway. Let's talk about things that really matter. I spoke with Denver, Jenny. The train to Lake Mount Delamore leaves at 7 p. m. Frankie's driving. All you need is a mat and a sleeping bag! And trust me, you don't want to miss this."

Jenny blinks, caught off guard. "I really don't know..."

"Come on." Sheena grins. "There's some water for taking a dip, those shooting stars, and a campfire. Everything one needs to recover from the stress of the week, at least for a little while!"

Jenny exhales, then nods reluctantly. "I really need to think about it, but if there is a lake I'd better take my swimsuit, don't you think?"

Sheena waves it off. "Clothes are totally overrated. Honestly, I wish everyone just went nude. Would save us the whole What are they? - guessing game. Just be open about what you've got - like that naked woman in the library."

"Sorry, I'm not going skinny dipping!" Jenny says firmly.

Tina looks dismissive. "I'm quite sure a world of obscenity isn't coming anytime soon. And you also do know gender isn't just about genitals, right?"

Sheena shrugs. "Sure, sure. There's behavior, identity, how you feel inside, and all that stuff... But you can't deny clothes just complicate everything. Layers and layers of made-up rules and expectations."

Steven laughs. "And your solution is full public nudity?"

Sheena nods. "Sure, down with those rags and show your own weirdness -- bodies are fun, no matter what label they've got."

Tina raises her voice. "Under no circumstances!"

Jenny grins. "And surely not with Professor Cavanaugh."

"Exactly why I like the idea." Sheena smirks.

Jenny exhales. "But still a no. I'm bringing a swimsuit."

Sheena shrugs. "Your choice, darling, but I really don't think this is necessary!"

"For me it is," Jenny says firmly. "And let's definitely study this afternoon. We've still got a long way to go before we pass that exam."

Sheena grins. "Promised! But tonight? Fun, fun, fun."

"Then let's continue eating," Jenny says firmly, "and then head back to the lecture..."

***

After lunch, the students return to the lecture hall. Professor Swince enters with brisk, determined strides, moving straight to the lectern. Their voice are sharp and commanding and slice through the room's post-lunch murmur.

"Good afternoon. This will be your final lecture before the exam. I'm not a fan of long introductions, so let's get straight to the point. Today's topic is hygiene."

They pause, scanning the room.

"Whether we're dealing with viruses, bacteria, or larger invaders like fungi or parasites, hygiene remains one of the most effective tools for protection. And one of the simplest yet most powerful defense measures is - believe it or not - just washing your hands thoroughly." Professor Swince's tone hardens slightly, "This won't do much good, of course, if you have them buried as deep in filth as some of the professors at this university. But for everyone else, thorough hand hygiene can reduce the microbial load by more than 90 percent."

They continue to lead the students through antiseptic techniques, transmission protocols, precise and unsparing, and finally get to the darker side of infection control.

"Sometimes, hygiene protocols require action that affects individuals rather than the public sphere. In certain cases, it may be necessary to quarantine or isolate individuals to prevent harm to others. If you ever find yourself in a situation where such measures are required, you better have a solid, legally compliant reason. Without a clear legal justification, enforced quarantine means deprivation of liberty - and the penalties for that are severe, even if the subjects may morally deserve it. Believe me, I have studied that thoroughly."

A tense silence follows. Swince lets it hang in the air before concluding.

"Finally, I urge you to spend your weekend wisely. The exam on Monday will be challenging, and thorough preparation is essential. Thank you for your attention, and good luck."

Without another word, Professor Swince exits the room as briskly as they entered.

Tina exhales. "Okay, I take it back. It's probably rather Mr. Swince."

Steven rubs his chin. "I'm not so sure. Was it even the same person?"

Sheena stretches. "Same, it's over! Let's get to the good parts of the day."

Jenny looks sharply at Sheena. "We still have to study."

Sheena nods reluctantly. "Yeah, unfortunately. Then hush, let's get to the library." She glances at the others. "Tina, Steven, are you in for a study session?"

Steven nods, grabbing his bag. "Yeah, I really need to study or I won't pass this exam."

Sheena claps her hands together. "Alright then - let's get this over with."

***

The group leaves the lecture hall and heads straight to the library. When they arrive, they settle around a table and pull out their laptops. The air is thick with the quiet hum of focused students. They hear pages turning and keyboards clicking.

"I think it's a good idea to look for some old exams," Steven suggests, opening his laptop. "Back in school, our teachers often reused their old tests for new classes. Studying those was a fast way to pass a test."

Sheena nods. "Good idea, indeed."

Jenny, already typing on her laptop, scans the screen. "I found the student council's website. They've got microbiology exams from previous semesters. I'm sending you the link now."

"Yes, please," Tina says eagerly.

"You've got mail," Jenny says.

The others open their laptop and check their inboxes. Sheena waits for her mailbox to update on the mail with the link but the first new message, that springs to her eyes is from the Office of Professor Brown. She opens it -- then freezes.

"Son of a Bitch... You've got to be kidding me. Dear Mrs. Hawk blablabla... we received a large number of very strong applications yada yada... but we selected other candidates who better align with our institutional priorities. Signed: The limpest dick in the world." Sheena spits out angrily.

Jenny glances up, concerned. "We told you it would be tough."

Sheena slams her laptop shut. "Yeah. I know. But I still had hope."

The others scroll through the exams.

"Hmm," Tina murmurs, "each exam seems to have a total of 100 points."

Jenny smiles faintly. "And the first question is: Describe the structure of the cell! - for five points. Then some multiple-choice questions."

Sheena calms down a bit and starts to scroll. "Oh, yeah, stuff like What is the basic structural and functional unit of life? and What does the nucleus of a cell contain? -- Easy peasy, answer to the first one is the Cell, and to the second DNA. Seems manageable!"

"The last question appears in almost every exam," Tina notes.

"Yes," Jenny agrees, "I've only seen one without it so far."

Steven leans forward. "Then it might be best if we start by answering all the frequently asked questions first. That way, we build a bit of a safety buffer."

"That seems like a solid strategy," Jenny nods.

Sheena grins. "Sounds good."

Jenny grows serious. "But we still need to pay attention to the rest too. Only studying past questions would be a fatal mistake."

Sheena hesitates. "Hmmm..."

Steven sighs as he scrolls through another exam. "Oh god, This one looks completely different. I'm already totally lost with the first question. What the hell are the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that affect how antibiotics target bacterial infections?"

Tina thinks for a moment. "Urm... Prokaryotic cells, unlike eukaryotes, lack a nucleus, and their cell walls have distinct features, that antibiotics are designed to target specifically..."

Jenny and Steven look at her appreciatively. Sheena looks skeptical.

Sheena overlooks the exam. "Damn it. They didn't really turn those exams upside-down last year, did they? Maybe it's just an outlier."

"... or Cavanaugh's growing influence," Jenny adds seriously.

Steven turns to Jenny and Sheena. "Sorry," he shakes his head, "that's too risky for me. I won't come with you tonight. I have to work tomorrow and have only the evening and Sunday left to study."

Sheena looks disappointed. "Oh, come on..."

"Sorry, no," Steven says firmly.

Sheena turns to Jenny. "But you won't let me down, do you?"

Jenny hesitates. "I don't know... I should really focus. I'm still on job-search, and can't afford to fail this exam."

Sheena pleads, "Come on, darling, there is Denver and also that uniform-desk-guy - Walter or something. And a last relaxing swim before hell breaks loose. It's just that one evening. You can't miss that..."

Jenny sighs. "Okay... okay... I'll come with you...!"

Sheena smiles. "Perfect. Let's cram this brain junk in and get it over with!"

They continue to study for a while. When Sheena's phone chimes, she glances at it. "Oh, time to start the good parts of the day. I'm heading home to freshen up. See you at 7 p. m. in front of the library, Jenny, and for the rest of you: Don't stress yourself too much, alright?"

Just then, Jenny's phone dings. She reads the message and her eyes get wide. "Urm... I just got a message from Professor Brown."

Sheena perks up. "What?"

"A reminder... To apply for that highly gifted program. It says there are still a few positions open." She reads in disbelief. "And that I should send in my application soon."

Sheena's smile fades. "Are you serious?"

Jenny just nods, baffled.

Tina frowns. "Maybe it's a mistake?"

Steven shakes his head. "No, it's not. I bet that guy has an agenda. Don't you see the scheme? First that missing signature on Wednesday, now that. He probably had Jenny on his list right from the start."

Tina throws in, "Come on Steven, not everything is part of some secret master plan."

Jenny looks uneasy. "Actually, I'm starting to think it's not a coincidence either."

Sheena looks thoughtful and stands up. "Anyway... I have to get my things. See you later."

Jenny manages a smile. "Yes, I have to go as well. See you later and the rest of you - don't beat yourselves up too much."

The group says goodbye and Jenny walks home.

***

When Jenny gets home, she pulls together some sandwiches and eats them. Then she goes to her room, takes off her uniform, and puts on an ankle-length dress. She pauses a moment in front of the mirror and adjusts the fabric. Then she tucks her swimsuit into her backpack, slings it over her shoulder, picks up a mat and a sleeping bag, and heads out to the library.

At the library entrance, she waits, the evening air warm against her skin. A few minutes later, the rumble of an approaching van breaks the silence. The vehicle pulls up in front of her, and as the door slides open, Sheena's face appears, grinning.

"Hey, Jen, come in. You already know those two." She points at Denver and Carter. "And the others are Lisa, and our driver Frankie."

Jenny steps closer, offering a polite smile. "Hi, I'm Jenny."

Frankie nods from the driver's seat. "Hi."

"Nice to meet you all," Jenny says, climbing into the van. "And thanks for taking us with you."

Frankie gives a small shrug. "No problem. Just hop in."

As Jenny settles into her seat, Frankie shifts gears. "Next stop: Mount Delamore."

***

The group arrives at Mount Delamore, a vast open field beside a tranquil lake, surrounded by dense woodland. Jenny steps out of the van and looks around curiously. "This is a nice strip of land."

Sheena nods. "I told you you'd have missed something if you hadn't come along with us."

Carter leaves the van and looks around. "Shepherd's work and Delamore's blessing."

Sheena smirks. "What does he say?"

Lisa explains, "Mount Delamore was the owner of a company that excavated gravel in this area. The lake is all that's left from their work and was named after him."

Sheena shrugs uninterested. "Uh, ok." She stretches, her voice excited. "I need some refreshment. Who joins me in jumping into the lake?"

Frankie, Denver, Carter, Lisa, and Jenny eagerly raise their hands simultaneously and the group starts to undress. Sheena doesn't wear a bra, so her suntanned breasts start to gleam in the lowering sun as soon, as she takes off her shirt.

Jenny looks around. "Is there somewhere, I can change into my swimsuit -- urm... undisturbed?"

Sheena rolls her eyes. "Darling, I told you, you don't need a bikini, see." She points to Lisa who just takes off her bra, revealing her pear-shaped breasts.

Jenny shakes her head. "Well, I'm not gonna strip naked in front of all those people here."

Sheena grins and teases. "Oh darling, we are here in a pretty familiar circle. This is only Frankie, Lisa, Denver, Carter, and me being here."

Jenny folds her arms defensively. "No, sorry! You may do that, but not me. What should my mom say about this?"

Sheena has taken off her skirt meanwhile and stands fully naked in front of Jenny. She puts her hands on her hips and says in a sharp tone, "Come on darling, your mom isn't here!"

Jenny shoots her a look.

Sheena looks daunted. "Okay, okay, Lisa and I will form a screen for you."

Jenny glances at Lisa who just bows and slips her panties off her feet. "Yes, we take two towels and form a screen."

When Jenny looks at the boys, she realizes they have shed all their clothes as well, their best bits dangling around like soft spaghetti. She blushes. Sheena and Lisa walk around Jenny and form a screen. "Come on, change in your bikini, we don't have all day."

Jenny hesitates. "Could you please close your eyes?"

Sheena sighs dramatically. "Huh, okay, the things you do for a friend."

Jenny slips quickly into her swimsuit. "It's okay, you can open them now."

Sheena opens her eyes, and takes a glance at Jenny in a one-piece swimsuit. "Hell damned, did you inherit this from your granny?"

Jenny blushes even more. "Urm... no, I bought it with my mom."

"Huh, okay. I hope Walter will like that." Sheena mocks.

Jenny glares smiling. "It's Carter or guardian of knowledge of course."

Carter mocks. "You can use both, if it pleases you, clamorous warrior."

Sheena smirks. "If you stop talking like that, I'm gonna stick with Carter."

Jenny replies, "I like him talking like that."

Sheena looks shocked. "Good shepherd."

At this moment Lisa raises her voice. "Everybody ready now?"

The group looks at her and responds in unison. "Yes!"

Sheena grins widely. "Then let's dive into the lake. The last one in is a chicken!" She shouts and starts to run into the water.

Jenny can't let this go and follows her immediately, with the others close on her heels. Frankie has a slow start and is the last in the water but no action follows Sheena's words. Jenny really enjoys the cool water. She lies down with a smile and lets herself drift. Suddenly Sheena throws a stream of water in Jenny's direction, taking her by surprise. Jenny wants to strike back at Sheena but hits Carter instead. The whole situation escalates to a big water battle.

Eventually, the group leaves the lake, breathless and laughing. Frankie has brought some firewood to make a little campfire. Not that it is necessary in these temperatures but it enlightens the night and creates a pleasant atmosphere. At the campfire, Frankie cuddles up to his naked girlfriend, and Sheena and Denver basically eat each other up alive. But also Jenny has not to suffer any solitude.

After swimming Carter puts his trunks back on again and sits down beside Jenny. He extends his arm with a playful smile.

"May I offer my arm to the beautiful enchantress?"

Jenny smiles softly, her voice teasing. "Of course, my guardian."

Carter lays his arm around Jenny and the group spent their time, looking brightly at the sky where one shooting star after another thrusts their way through the night. Later, out of the corner of her eye, Jenny sees Sheena pulling Denver into the woods - by his erected little man. She doesn't blush, just a faint smile forms on her lips as she closes her eyes in Carter's arms.

***

In the night, Jenny dreams about the library. She and Sheena are standing in front of Professor Cavanaugh. Sheena is of course naked and when Jenny looks down, she blushes a bit, as there is not a stitch of clothing on her body as well. Somehow she manages to keep her posture and smile when Professor Cavanaugh congratulates the two with a glare in his eyes for having passed all the entrance exams. After that Carter comes by and gives her a warm congratulatory hug, but she turns her head when she suddenly hears loud moaning sounds coming from the entrance. She sees Professor Brown, pants down, bumping his hips rhythmically against the bare bottom of the student she'd seen coming out of his office. But his eyes are gleaming - directly at Jenny.

The shelves start to drip like wax and the rows of books sag into shadows as Jenny slowly emerges back into reality. She wakes up slowly, face scrunched, but the moaning hasn't stopped. The world is quiet, except for that sound. She sits up groggily and looks around until her eyes land on the van.

Lisa stands there, still naked, palms pressed against the front of the van. Her body is shaken by Frankie, who's standing behind her, holding her waist, thrusting his hips against her pelvis again and again in quick, determined thrusts. The two are moaning... rhythmically in ecstasy. Suddenly the van is moving a little. Jenny gasps, stunned. But before she can shout, the van starts to roll. Slowly, silently, the wheels start turning. Down the slope, straight for the lake.

It only stops after a few meters, when the water is already up to the door handles.

Jenny screams, "No - wait! Stop! STOP!"

Frankie lets go of Lisa and they look startled at the van. Carter wakes up to Jenny's scream and Denver and Sheena storm naked out of the woods. Sheena looks confused at Jenny and then in the direction of the half-sunken van, Jenny is pointing at.

***

The group stands at the edge of the lake, staring in disbelief at the half-submerged van. Frankie holds his arms above his head, clearly frantic. Lisa stands nearby, slightly bent forward, her head bowed.

Frankie mutters, "Fuck, fuck, fuck, sorry for this, fuck..."

Carter stares at the van. "Oh my god, what happened?"

Jenny crosses her arms, fury flaring. "Two horny bits, that obviously humped their brains out."

Sheena laughs. "Definitely not us - we were in the woods."

Lisa and Frankie lower their head and mumble together, "Sorry."

Denver says stoically as ever, "Make plan."

Lisa steps closer, voice tentative. "Maybe we can call a recovery service to drag the car out of the lake. Does anyone have a smartphone on hand?"

"Yes," Jenny shows her phone, annoyed, "but there is no mobile reception here. I can't even make an emergency call."

Frankie gestures toward the lake. "There's a rope in the trunk of the van. If we get it, we may be able to drag the van out. Maybe it's still running, and we can just drive back home."

Denver plainly says, "Keys!"

Frankie replies, "It's unlocked, you should be able to open it directly."

Denver doesn't hesitate a moment and dives into the water. The others watch as he swims with steady strokes to the half-sunken van. After a short struggle underwater, he manages to open the trunk, grab the rope, and tie it to the towing ring. He climbs back out, water pouring off his naked skin.

Sheena smiles warmly. "You are my hero."

She steps forward, wraps her arms around him, and gives him a kiss.

Denver grins, joyful. "Hrmmm..."

Jenny says quiet but hopeful, "Thank you, Denver. I hope so much, this works."

Frankie takes charge again. "Alright, now we need all your help to drag the van. One person alone can't do this. We need three people on each side to grab the rope to get the damn car out. When we drag, it has to be together."

Carter nods. "Okay."

Sheena goes into fighting position. "Sounds good, let's tackle it."

The group lines up, hands gripping the rope, feet braced against the slick ground.

Frankie calls out, "I'll count down from three, then we drag. Ready? Three, two, one... Drag!"

They pull hard, bodies straining - but the van doesn't move an inch.

Jenny groans. "Damn, this isn't working, Frankie."

Frankie doesn't give up. "We'll try again. Three, two, one... Drag!"

They dig their heels in, faces tight with effort. Nothing.

Sheena pants. "Damn, we're not strong enough..."

Frankie shouts, "Again! Three, two, one... Drag!"

Another surge of energy. Still no shift.

Lisa wipes sweat from her brow. "Damn, this doesn't work, Frankie. We need another plan."

Everyone pauses, breathing heavily. Carter's eyes flicker with thought. He seems to calculate something, then suddenly lights up and snaps his fingers.

"Wait, I have an idea! Do we have some carabiners?"

Frankie blinks. "Carabiners? Urm... well... we actually have some of those in the trunk too..."

"Perfect!" Carter exclaims.

Before anyone else moves, Denver dives into the lake again.

Sheena raises an eyebrow. "How the hell are some carabiners going to help us?"

Carter explains, animated now. "We can make a makeshift tackle - just like it's used in mountain rescue in Switzerland. The rope is long enough, but using the tackle will give us more force and increase our leverage. We'll be able to drag the van out with less effort..."

Sheena raises an eyebrow. "And this works?"

"I hope so," Carter admits. "We'll see. I've never tried it in real life."

Denver emerges again, tossing the dripping carabiners onto the grass. Carter immediately gets to work, constructing the makeshift tackle. Once it's assembled, Denver swims out once more and attaches it to the van.

Everyone returns to the rope, lining up again. The air is heavy with tension.

Frankie raises his voice. "Alright, everyone in position..."

Carter echoes, "Let's do this."

"Three, two, one... Drag!" Frankie yells.

The van groans, then shudders forward just a little.

Frankie's eyes light up. "It's moving! Again - three, two, one... Drag!"

Their muscles burn, but the van moves farther up the shore. The group pauses for a breath until Frankie shouts for the last time, "Three, two, one... Drag!"

With a final collective grunt, the van lurches out of the lake, water gushing from its doors. It slams onto solid ground with a muddy thud. Frankie rushes over and yanks the handbrake into place.

Jenny sinks onto the grass, letting out a breath. "Damn, that was a shock. I'm so done. And it's still 3 a. m. I need to sleep and I just want to forget everything for one night."

Sheena doesn't argue. "Well said."

Denver nods. "Agreed."

Exhausted, they all collapse onto their mats, and within moments, their breathing evens out. Only the van stands in the moonlight, glistening wet, quiet and still.

To be continued...

***

Final notes:

Thanks for reading this far - I hope you've enjoyed the story, or at least found it intriguing enough to stick with. No matter your thoughts, I'd really appreciate if you left a comment. Your feedback helps me see what's working and what might need a bit of tweaking.