I looked out the small, oval window pressing my head against the cold glass covered in water droplets. I couldn’t really see anything out the window because the weather was so bad. It was like we were trapped in one continuous rain cloud that was sent from the Gods to mess with me.
Getting tired of seeing nothing but ominous grey, I looked down at the pamphlet hoping the description would magically change, but I wasn’t that lucky. My fingers trembled as I silently read the overview once more.
The ReBoot program is a juvenile camp for mid-range offenders who have yet to become established criminals. Youth in their mid to late teen years are often responsive to this type of program which includes occupational training and behavior rehabilitation. We’ve found that the potential criminals at our work camp for forestry and conservation in Southeast Alaska never become repeat offenders. We generally only accept less dangerous delinquents but all cases are subject for review.
I loved the ‘yet to become established criminals’ part, as if the first time around didn’t really count for these misfits. I so didn’t belong here. It wasn’t like I needed to be reminded that my newfound campmates weren’t savory characters. All I had to do was turn around in my tiny airplane seat to see their predator eyes taking me in.
I couldn’t believe my mom let this happen to me. There’s no way she could have been fooled into thinking this was a conservation-slash-forestry camp… although I was fooled. I actually thought my stepdad was trying to do something nice for me, for once.
God! I hated my stepfather, and he obviously hated me. This was his last sendoff before I went to college, and it was a doozey. As if living with him since my father’s death wasn’t horrible enough, he just wanted one more way to stick it to me.
The tin can I was riding in suddenly took a plunge, and all of the instruments went berserk. Gasps and whines filled the air as the high-pitched warning beeps sounded through our tiny capsule. My hands immediately became clammy as my heart raced. There was no calming down in a situation like this, especially when a person was born as jumpy as I was. My fingers gripped the armrest so hard that my nails hurt, and I took a deep breath in and exhaled slowly.
“It’s okay, everyone. Just a little turbulence,” the pilot told us as the beeps silenced, but the heavy breathing from everyone continued long after his announcement.
I was tempted to turn around in my seat and gloat at all of the guys who were big and tough only a few minutes ago and suddenly turned to pansies, but the Cessna took another huge dip, sounding the bells and whistles again. Man! I hated small planes. Actually, I don’t even think this would qualify as a small plane, more like a car that could fly.
As the beads of water continued rolling down the tiny window, I noticed we had begun our descent. Finally!
“We’ll be landing in approximately fifteen minutes,” the pilot said as he continued adjusting controls.
Things were looking up. The dampness on my palms began to evaporate, and I looked back out the window as our plane flew barely above the treetops. The conifers looked like a brightly massed green quilt underneath us. Turning my head in any direction gave way to a completely different landscape. Alongside the deep green woodlands, there were rocky peaks, and monstrous cliffs that trees avoided calling home. If I wasn’t so scared to death, I might be able to appreciate the beauty of everything.
I maneuvered my head so that I could see out the pilot’s window. Directly in front of us there was a grassy field with small ponds surrounding it, or at least I think they were small ponds. I craned my neck as far as possible searching for the airport. Not only did I not see any buildings, I didn’t see any sort of landing strip.
But I did catch a huge bear. I’m sure it was a bear. There was nothing else that big that walked on all fours.
“Whoa, check it out,” one of the guys behind me said.
“That thing’s huge,” the guy next to him said. “I could totally take it down.”
I couldn’t handle it any longer.
“Why don’t you? I’d love to see it,” I taunted without looking behind me. There was no way I’d undo my seatbelt in transportation like this even if it meant I couldn’t give him my best scowl.
“She does speak,” he replied sarcastically.
Gritting my teeth, I watched as we passed by the brown bear with the plane descending at what felt like record speed.
“Please make sure your seatbelts are fastened. I’ll make the landing as pleasant as possible,” the pilot told us.
What? Landing? There’s no runway!
This can’t be possible. I’ve got a bear as an official greeter and our plane was landing on gravel or dirt or something. The only saving grace of this observation was that it kept the other passengers on the plane as silent as me.
I continued to watch the pilot pulling and pushing on things, and realized I really didn’t want to see how little control he had over the situation. I’m sure he felt he had it handled, but from this viewpoint it was utterly terrifying. I clamped my eyes shut just in time to feel the plane shudder as the wheels began to touch down.
There was nothing smooth about it as our plane briefly greeted the gravel before pushing back up, only to quickly meet again with the surface below. It felt like a rollercoaster that had no tracks and no intention of stopping. Our plane continued to jump and skip its way down the non-existent runway. I slowly peeled open one eye and watched as we whipped by the tall grass and water finally coming to a slow stop.
The guys’ celebratory hollers were deafening. They began throwing off their seatbelts, but I refused to budge. The pilot turned around and I wanted to hug him, but I restrained myself. Instead I looked out the window at the wilderness wondering if I’d survive.
“I’ll be around to open the door, and the CLs should be here to greet you any minute. It’s best if you don’t wander off,” the pilot instructed.
“CLs?” I asked, turning my attention back to him.
“Camp Leaders,” he responded, his eyes connecting with mine. He opened his door and got out of the plane.
“Newbie. We’ve got a newbie on our hands,” the guy sitting directly behind me shouted, kicking my seat. What was he, twelve?
“I wonder if that makes her a newbie in all areas? I can’t wait to find out,” he continued.
That was it! My seatbelt came flying off, and I leaned over the back of my seat, grabbing the guy’s shirt, surprising him and myself. I was gripping the fabric so tightly I raised him slightly off his seat. He looked to be a year or so younger than me with blond hair that was greased back. His clothing was ten times too big for him, but he was still bigger than me.
“If you even look in my direction while we’re at this camp—” I began, but the pilot opened the side door interrupting me. I pushed him back on the seat and turned back around in mine.
“Jeez, chill out,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Still gonna get some, Luke?” I heard someone whisper.
Everyone on this plane was so sleazy, except for the poor pilot. I didn’t even want to imagine what everyone else at the camp would be like.
I was the last to jump out of the plane, as I looked around the land void of civilization. I couldn’t believe my mom fell for allowing my stepdad to send me here.
“Emma Walton?” A girl asked.
I turned around and relief spread through me instantly. The girl looked to be a couple years older than me, so probably twentyish. And she looked normal. Her dark brown hair was bundled into a loose ponytail, and she was dressed in green cargo pants, a black T-shirt and rubber boots. Her smile was friendly, and I knew I’d be sticking around her as much as possible.
“I’m Steph,” she said, smiling as she stuck her hand out for a handshake, “one of the CLs here.”
Wow! That’s formal. I shook her hand quickly.
“Nice to meet you.” I grabbed my duffle bag and backpack
“Got everything?” she asked.
I nodded, and she waved a
t the pilot who was already preparing the plane for takeoff. “See ya in a week,” she yelled at him.
A week! I’ll be eighteen in a week, and then I can get out of here.
“We’re in bear country out here,” she began as our group followed her and the other CLs through the tall grass.
“I saw one on the way in.” I adjusted the large strap on my shoulder, hoping we wouldn’t be hiking all that far.
“It’s all part of being in the backcountry,” she replied. “We’ll go over everything when we get to camp, but it’s nothing to mess with. A ranger went missing a week ago on Baranof Island, and they just found his remains.”
A shiver ran down my spine.
“And Baranof Island doesn’t have nearly as many brown bears as we have,” another CL replied from behind.
Not what I wanted to hear!
BOOKS BY KARICE BOLTON
BEYOND LOVE SERIES
Beyond Control
Beyond Doubt ~ Coming Soon
Beyond Reason ~ Coming Soon
THE WITCH AVENUE SERIES
Lonely Souls
Altered Souls
Released Souls
Shattered Souls
THE WATCHERS TRILOGY
Taken (Watchers Novella)
Awakening
Legions
Cataclysm
THE CAMP
And I want to say a simple thank you to Amazon and all of the other avenues available for the indie publishing world. It allows the art of storytelling to continue to flourish in unexpected ways.
Karice Bolton lives in the Pacific Northwest with her awesome husband and two wonderfully cute English Bulldogs. She enjoys the fact that it rains quite a bit in Washington and has an excuse to stay indoors and type away. She loves anything to do with the snow and seeks out the stuff whenever she can.
TO CONTACT THE AUTHOR OR SIGN UP FOR NEW RELEASE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT Karice’s WEBSITE AT
WWW.KARICEBOLTON.COM
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Beyond Control Page 28
