Page 25 of Hide And Seek

“There’s a nurse here with all that stuff,” Sutton said, giving her a withering look. “And she hitched a ride with me to camp this year, so she doesn’t have a car.”

“Maybe she felt better and decided to go for a walk somewhere,” Jesse suggested.

“We thought of that too, but she’s never liked going for walks alone. She’s scared of running into a bear.”

“Right, well… we haven’t seen her all day. Sorry,” Tamsin said.

Sutton let out a small sigh. “Let me know if you do, okay? We’re getting worried, because it’ll be dark soon.”

I didn’t really like Sutton, but I could tell she was genuinely concerned about her friend, so I spoke up.

“Does Piper know anyone in Millhaven?” I asked. “Or anywhere else around here?”

Sutton frowned. “I don’t think so. Why?”

“Well, seeing as she had the whole day off, she might’ve called someone she knows to pick her up so they could hang out. And maybe she just hasn’t checked her phone for a while. Or maybe there’s no service where they are.”

“I don’t think she—” Sutton stopped abruptly, brows shooting up. “Oh, wait. Shedoesknow someone around here.”

“Who?” Wren asked.

“There’s a guy she’s been on and off with for a while back in the city, and she told me his parents have a vacation house near Saranac Lake. That’s not too far from here, is it?”

Wren nodded. “It’s about a forty-five minute drive.”

“So maybe he came and picked her up,” I said.

Sutton didn’t look convinced, but some of the concern had faded from her expression. “That could be it,” she said, nodding slowly. “But I still think it’s weird that she’d leave without saying anything.”

“I guess so, but you know her. She’s always been pretty flaky,” Tamsin said with a small shrug.

“Yeah, I’d only be worried if she doesn’t show up before lights out,” Jesse added. “But I’m sure she will.”

An awkward silence followed that. Sutton remained at our table for several more seconds, eyes moving across our faces like she was looking for something more solid to hold onto, but I didn't have anything to offer her. Neither did anyone else.

“We’ll let you know if we see or hear anything, okay?” I finally said.

Sutton nodded, but the furrow between her brows didn't quite smooth out as she turned to go. I found myself watching her walk away with a faint, crawling unease I couldn't entirely account for.

Jasmine leaned in, lowering her voice. “I’m going to assume a bear got her,” she said, eyes twinkling. “One Legacy down, fifteen to go…”

The others didn’t laugh. They just looked uncomfortable.

“Guys, I’m kidding!” Jasmine said, throwing her hands up. “I can’t stand those assholes, but it doesn’t mean I actually want them dead.”

“I get it,” Tamsin said. “It’s just… one of them reallydiddie not so long ago, so maybe it’s a little too soon for a joke like that?”

Jasmine cringed. “Shit.Gen.I completely forgot,” she said, head shaking. “No idea how I managed that. I only heard about it yesterday.”

A lull settled over the table after that, the conversation tapering off into the quiet of people who'd eaten well and weretoo tired to manufacture any more energy. Around us, the dining hall was thinning out, kids being shepherded back toward cabins by counselors who looked about as exhausted as I felt.

There was no secret campfire tonight. Zach and Knox had floated the idea earlier, but they were met with a unanimous lack of enthusiasm from the others, who seemed to be operating on the same unspoken agreement: tonight should be an early night.

I could get behind that.

But what I couldn’t get behind was the particular hollow feeling that took up residence beneath my ribs a couple of hours later, once the girls in my cabin were tucked into bed and swapping stories before lights out. Jasmine and I were stretched out on our bunks behind the partition, quietly reading.

“I’m kinda hungry,” I said, glancing over at her. “Are you up for a trip to the Snack Shed?”