“Okay,” Glitch said, zipping up his hoodie. “Where did you last see him?”

I turned full circle, trying to get my bearings.

“Over there,” Cameron said, pointing to a patch of trees just past the Clearing.

“That’s right,” I said. “He went through there.”

I was heading that way when Cameron said, “Wait.” He stopped and examined the ashes where the campfire had been.

“What?” Brooke asked, following him over.

“Do you smell that?”

Curiosity got the better of me. I went back and sniffed around. An acrid scent, sharp and tangy, assaulted me.

After taking a big whiff herself, Brooke coughed into her jacket sleeve. “What is that?”

“It’s like vinegar,” I said, crinkling my nose.

Cameron knelt beside the cremated remains for a closer look.

“Well?” Glitch asked, impatient.

Placing his icy gaze on him, Cameron said, “What’s wrong with this picture?”

Glitch took offense. “Oh, right, because I’m Native American, I automatically know everything about campfires.”

“I was thinking back to Boy Scouts, but that’ll work too.”

At the mention of Boy Scouts, Glitch hardened. His eyes glittered with anger as Cameron let a malicious grin slide across his face. He’d done it on purpose. Brooke and I glanced at each other, once again wondering what had happened that spring break years ago. Glitch went on a camping trip in the mountains with his Boy Scout troop. Something happened on that trip. Something bad. And I’d known that Cameron was involved, but no one would ever tell me more, including Glitch. It was a constant source of curiosity. What could cause such animosity between them?

Cameron chuckled, giving up the game first, and said, “I just meant, most campfires don’t turn the wood blue.”

We all stepped forward to look. Sure enough, the charred wood had a blue tint to it, iridescent like a pearl.

“Wow,” Brooke said, bending to pick one up.

Cameron grabbed her arm. “I wouldn’t,” he said, pulling her away from it.

“What is it?”

“No idea. I just wouldn’t. And there’s blood.” He pointed to the side. “A lot of it.”

Startled, I rushed forward to examine the area myself. “Do you think it’s Jared’s?”

“No telling.”

“Well, let’s look over here,” I said, heading to where I’d last seen Jared.

Cameron stood and did a 180. “He’s not out here.”

I turned to argue, but realized if anyone would know, Cameron would. Disappointment ripped through me. “You’re sure?”

He nodded, eyeing the trees like they were about to attack. “I’m sure. And we need to go.”

“Why?” Brooke asked.

“You know how you were feeling fuzzy?” he asked her before walking over to me and grabbing on to my jacket.

“Yes.” She started to become wary, as did Glitch. They surveyed the surroundings too and started making their way back to the truck.

“Well, it’s even fuzzier out here.”

Just then, Cameron stopped and put an arm across my torso from behind. He squinted, peering into the forest.

“Is it Jared?” I asked in a hushed whisper.

He shook his head and stepped back, dragging me with him.

We were only a few yards from the truck when I asked, “Cameron, what?”

That’s when I saw a kid, a boy around thirteen. Partially obstructed by the trees, he wore a huge green army jacket that was about three sizes too big and a gray hoodie underneath that. It was hard to make out his face. I didn’t recognize him from school, but I did recognize his slight shape. And, of course, the blade in his hand.

A razor-sharp tingling raced up my spine. “That’s the kid from the other day. The one in the forest behind the school.”

“Do you know him?” Cameron asked.

“No, do you?”

“No.” He said it purposefully, like he was making a statement.

Before I could question Cameron further, the boy disappeared into the trees. We kept walking backwards past the campfire, the strong scent assaulting us again, before climbing back into the truck.

Brooke clicked her seat belt, then asked, “Okay, what was that about?”

“I’m not sure, but I want a list of everyone who was at that party.”

“Um, I’m not sure I can remember everyone.”

“Right,” Brooke said, “’cause you were wasted.”

I frowned at her. “I wasn’t wasted.”

“And,” Cameron continued, “I want you two to stay inside today.” He looked directly at me. “No venturing out for any reason.”

“You have to tell me why first.”

He put the truck in reverse. “No, I don’t, actually.”

“Yes, you do,” I said, my voice full of false bravado. Army-jacket kid shook me up, and I had no idea why. Probably the fact that he was creepy and carried a knife. But he was young and not particularly big.

Cameron got us headed in the right direction, then floored it as we wound down the mountain. “I want you both to know,” he said, sideswiping an overgrown bush, “I have permission to tie you up if you give me any trouble.”

Brooke gasped. “You do not.”

He grinned. “Call your parents and ask.”