We were all laughing and drinking around the fire on our annual camping trip, it was good to see the guys, some of us lived on the other side of the country. Most of us grew up together causing mischief all the way through school but eventually split to pursue our careers and to support our families. We made this plan almost eight years ago when we parted ways, this trip let us all catch up and enjoy life like when we were kids.
This year was a little different to any year before though, just before we left it was reported that there was a serial killer in the town near our campsite. We weren't too worried as we were decently far into the woods, we were more scared of the wild life out here. The first night was the most fun I'd had all year but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching us, maybe I was just being paranoid, I usually felt this way in these environments so I just pushed it away like usual. The other guys noticed my unease beginning to crack jokes, that's why I liked these trip with them, we make the best out of any situation.
The next morning once everyone was up and fed we got ready for a hike to the nearby mountain, it was the staple point for this location. It was brutal, half way up we considered turning back but we didn't, half of us were borderline throwing up while the other half were about to faint. We made it to the top and I immediately threw up over the edge, while one of the others caught Jack as he nearly fainted.
"Never again" I said between breaths while the others nodded in agreement as they too caught their breath.
We took in the view of the forest below as we unpacked and ate lunch at the peak, as we drank and ate the feeling of being watched fell over me again. I looked around scanning my surroundings for anything out of place, for a split second in the corner of my eye I saw something staring into my soul, I did a second take of it but it disappeared the instant I tried to find it. The unease didnt fade this time as the other cracked jokes again, my body was on high alert. We left the peak after a few hours of chatting and talking about what we've been up to in the past year.
Jack told us about his plan to propose to his girlfriend, they'd been dating for a few years and were quite happy. We all teased him that it was about time, with him questioning what we meant by that.
Harry went on about his family telling us to never make one while also saying it was the best thing he ever did. He loved his family as much as anyone could although they had their ups and downs.
Josh was glad our little get together was on his rotation out of work on one of the oil rigs, he didn't have a family but his mates on the rig were the closest thing.
Anton was on the same track as Jack as he was about to propose to his girlfriend aswell, we teased him the same as we did to Jack.
Copper was planning on joining the military shortly after this trip, he was the youngest out of us and we made a running joke that we adopted him into the group.
I didn't have a wife or girlfriend, I just lived alone but I was happy with that. The others always gave me crap for it so I let them set me up a few times but relationships just weren't for me.
By the time we made it back to our campsite it was practically dark with only a few slivers of the retreating sunset breaking through the trees. We lit a fire shortly after and started to chat but everyone was far too exhausted to keep it up for long, soon everyone had gone into their tents and I was left alone by the fire.