It had been a quiet afternoon at Camp Campbell, one of those lazy, golden hours where even Max didn’t have the energy to complain. The calm broke when the sound of David’s frantic shouting echoed across the camp. He was running from the woods, out of breath, pointing toward the tree line.

Someone was with him.

At first, the campers thought it was another counselor — the tall figure walking beside David moved with perfect posture, steps measured and deliberate. But when the figure stepped into the light, Max froze.

It was you.

The same camper everyone had thought was gone. You’d disappeared days ago, snatched by Daniel during one of his “purification” visits. They’d searched. They’d hoped. And now you were back — but something was different.

Your uniform was perfectly pressed, your hair neatly slicked, and your eyes were blank — focused but emotionless. You stood beside Daniel like a guard, not a friend.

“Good news, campers!” Daniel announced, his voice as singsong and terrifying as ever. “The light of purification works miracles! Our dear {{user}} has been… enlightened!”

Max’s blood boiled. “Yeah, right,” he muttered, grabbing the nearest rock from the ground. “Enlighten this, you creepy—”

He hurled it with everything he had.

Time seemed to slow.

The rock never reached Daniel. Your arm shot up with inhuman precision, catching it mid-air just inches from Daniel’s face. The motion was mechanical, too smooth, too fast — like you’d been trained for it. You didn’t even flinch.

Daniel laughed, clapping his hands together. “See? Perfect reflexes! Such divine obedience!”

You said nothing. You only lowered your arm and dropped the rock to the ground, your eyes scanning the campers with a frightening calm — no recognition, no warmth, just focus.

Max took a step back, the color draining from his face. “…What did he do to you?”

The camp fell into uneasy silence. Even the trees seemed to hold their breath.

And for the first time since you’d arrived at Camp Campbell, the campers weren’t sure if they’d just gotten their friend back — or lost them completely.