Dead of Summer

by A.J. Merlin

“You going to fulfill your spiciest, romantic dreams with Liza this year?” Liza, the gorgeous camp nurse who has never, not once, given my friend more than a raging crush on her by just breathing and looking pretty.

“Absolutely. And we’re going to get you some summer love too. How’s that sound?” Her tolerance is much higher than mine, and she breathes in from the vape one more time before stuffing it in the pocket of her camp-issued shorts. That, plus the bright purple t-shirt with its gaudy white letters printed on the front, proclaim her and I both as camp counselors for Camp Crestview.

“Summer love?” I snort. “What are we, in some cheesy romance movie? Will we both fall in love and go home, only to think we’ll never see our new loves again?”

gremlins. Working as a camp counselor has been eye-opening when it comes to kids. Namely, how much I don’t

want any of my own.

“So. Summer love. I have a target.”

“Oh no, you are not pawning off Mr. New on me. Especially without even giving me a name. No way, Kins. I have enough shit to do without holding the hand of some eighteen-year-old who’s never seen a summer camp before.” My words grow more and more desperate with every stride she takes, and I can feel the weed swirling through my veins as it hits me with too much force, knocking away most of my arguments for why I don’t want to do this.

“So, was all of your ‘summer love’ talk bullshit? Were you just trying to get me on board with doing you a favor?”

That, or I’m higher than I should be and it’s the weed yapping poetically in my brain.

His dark golden-blond, almost brown hair is pushed back from his face and tousled, like he runs his fingers through it a little more than necessary. It’s longer than most guys keep their hair, the soft curls nearly reaching his shoulders. But it only serves to draw attention to his gorgeous high cheekbones, his full lips, and the fact I’m half sure he uses cherry chapstick on his full lips.

my red-brown hair over my shoulder from where it’s become disheveled and in the way.

“Welcome to Camp Crestview. Please don’t let any of the kids eat you, because that would be a lot of cleanup for me.”

For one thing, the golden retriever type isn’t for me. Friendliness oozes out of Kayde’s pores as I scuff my feet in the dirt of the well-worn trail that circles around Otter Hall to take us wherever we need to go. Today, that means everywhere. According to Kayde, he’d been brought directly to Otter Hall by Liza and left there until we’d come along to show him around.

For me—who’s never had an extra social bone in her body and barely has enough to get through the day here—he seems to be a fountain of wealth in that area.

If I’m going to get my summer love on with anyone, it’s going to be someone who calls me out on my stupid looks. Or, better yet, someone who wouldn’t mind pinning me to one of the trees in the camp and not letting me go until my lips are swollen and my eyes are permanently unfocused.

Kayde isn’t human like the rest of us, as much

as it burns my throat to admit it, even to myself. Especially now, with rumors and whispers floating through the air at my back. To these kids, and probably to my fellow counselors, Kayde is a fucking god.

I hope when someone does, it’s the kids from Coyote cabin. Just so they can make Kayde’s first time here memorable.

“Oh, my god.” The words come out as a whisper as all the warmth drains out of me, into the ground below.

“Not quite,” Kayde responds, still with that half-apologetic smile. “And if you’re really good for me, sweetheart, I won’t make you meet him tonight.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, I never intended to kill you.” His smile is sheepish when he says it, shoulders hunching like I’ve caught him doing something oh-so-sweet. “I’d thought, maybe afterward, as long as I could keep you in the dark, that you and I could be the only survivors. Thought maybe…” His other hand comes up so his knuckles can trail along the edge of the ax as I watch.

“Come for me before I make you scream just so I can fuck you while their blood dries on this goddamn floor, Summer.”

his chest and smooths a hand down my back. “You were so good for me, sweetheart,” my ax murderer whispers against my hair, just over the sound of the water. “Just relax for me, baby. I’ve got you.” Somehow, this is just as bad as everything else. My hands curl against his chest, eyes clenching shut again as I stand there against him, held up like a lover, and shudder with something that’s close enough to revulsion and fear that if it’s something else, I sure as hell can’t tell the difference. “I hate you,” I whisper against his tanned, perfect skin, breathing in open-mouthed pants. “I hate you so much.” “I know, Summer.” His hands shift down to my hips, just to wrap around me again and hold me close in his embrace like he really gives a damn. “But if you didn’t, then this wouldn’t be nearly as fun for me.”

“I came back because I’m in love with you, Summer Walsh. And you’d better understand real quick that I’m going to make sure you feel the same before these kids go home. No matter what I have to do to make that happen.”

and I redouble my efforts to break free of him. “I want that stupid, mythical elk the kids think they saw to eat you. I want you to get hit by a fucking semi truck.” “Only if you’re driving it.” Kayde chuckles, slipping his fingers up until he can trace the edges of my bra.

and not just my own.” “Get hit by a semi.” “Like I said, baby girl, only if you’re behind the wheel.”

“All mine, for the rest of your life. I don’t really believe in an afterlife, by the way. But if there is one, you’re mine there as well.” “What if we go to separate places in the afterlife?” I ask, scoffing a low laugh. “Last I checked, heaven isn’t for murderers.” “Then I’ll just have to drag you down to hell with me.”