Page 26 of Beyond the Rainbow (Pride Camp 2025 #11)

Ryan spun the tale of a phantom camper who wandered the woods, searching for his lost lantern.

“They say on nights just like this, the light flickers through the trees, bobbing up and down as if someone is carrying it … but when you get closer, no one’s there.

” The boys shivered, glancing nervously over their shoulders at the darkening tree line behind them.

“OK,” Trent said, getting to his feet. “Now that Ryan has scared the hell out of us, who wants to go with me to grab a bit more firewood? We’re going to need it to cook dinner.”

After gathering several volunteers, Trent led them into the nearby woods to find firewood while Colin and the remaining campers laid out the items for dinner.

David’s cooking class had prepared large plastic containers filled with sliced smoked sausages and an assortment of roasting vegetables.

Each camper would fill a foil packet with sausage and then top it with the vegetables of their choice.

Their packets would be folded and placed on the grate that Colin had laid over the campfire.

Dessert, of course, consisted of s’mores topped with the various treats that Colin had provided.

As Colin set out the s’mores supplies, Trent returned with the firewood.

The boys ate dinner in the gathering dusk.

The river’s edge was a canvas of deepening shadows, painted in hues of violet and indigo as dusk surrendered to night.

The water, once sparkling under the afternoon sun, now reflected the dim, wavering light from the campfire, rippling gold and amber across its surface.

The trees bordering the shore stood as dark sentinels, their branches swaying gently with the evening breeze, whispering secrets only the night could understand.

Once the stars began to blink into view, Trent set up his portable telescope. As he adjusted the telescope to the best position, he discussed what they might observe if the sky remained clear and how they could use these same stars for navigation.

Another smaller group of campers had wandered to the river’s edge and gathered near the boats, chatting and laughing about that afternoon’s race.

An older boy named Aaron nudged a companion, snickered, and then turned to Alex.

“Hey, Alex, I heard you’re in foster care.

How come? Didn’t your parents want you or something?

” Several of the campers gasped. Another put a hand on the speaker’s arm.

“Hey, man. That’s bullshit! Don’t say stuff like that! ”

Alex took a step back, his expression stunned and filled with pain.

His mouth opened, then closed as if the words were stuck in his throat.

For a moment, he stood in silence, staring at the older boy, his eyes glistening.

“My ... my dad ... he ... he hurt me.” His hands clenched into fists, and he took a quick step back.

“I guess … I wasn’t ... I wasn’t ...” He whispered, his voice brittle, like glass about to shatter. “I guess… I wasn’t… good enough.”

One of the other boys took a quick step towards him. “Hey, Alex. Ignore this asshole. He?—”

Alex spun away and ran along the riverbank, his footsteps echoing in the darkness.

Aaron bit his lip, his face suddenly blanched. “Alex, wait! I didn’t mean it!” He turned to the other campers who were staring at him, half shocked, half angry. “I didn’t think it would hit him like that. I swear—I was just messing around… I didn’t know.”

“What’s wrong with you, man?” Another boy challenged. “Why would you say that even messing around?” Several others muttered in agreement.

For a moment, no one moved. The only sound was the soft rustling of leaves and the whisper of the river.

Then, as if broken from a spell, they erupted in motion, voices overlapping as they shouted his name.

Ethan and Nico followed Alex along the riverbank, trying to keep him in sight.

But Alex was quickly swallowed up in darkness, and seeing that they couldn’t catch him, they turned back to camp and rejoined the others.

“We have to tell Trent and Colin!” Ethan blurted out.

“Oh, man,” Aaron moaned. “Colin’s going to kill me!”

“Probably. But we still have to let him know that Alex bolted.”

Colin was stacking the last of the firewood when he heard rapid footsteps approaching. He turned, his face lighting in a smile at the sight of Ethan and two other campers, a smile that quickly faded when he saw their wide eyes and frightened expressions.

“Colin!” Ethan called out as he approached, his voice high-pitched with fear. “Alex … he … he ran off.”

“What do you mean, ‘ran off’?” Colin asked. He took a step forward, his eyes locking on Ethan’s. “Where did he go?”

Ethan swallowed hard, his words tumbling out in a rush. “Down by the river. Aaron … Aaron teased him … said something … something about foster care … and Alex just … Aaron didn’t mean it, Colin, but Alex … it really hurt him, man. He just turned and ran.”

Colin hissed out a low, angry curse. He glanced over Ethan’s shoulder at Aaron, who stood nearby, his face twisted in guilt and fear. But now wasn’t the time. He turned back to Ethan. “Which direction?”

Ethan pointed, his hand trembling. “That way. Along the river. He was running. We … we tried to follow, but he was too quick.” His voice wavered. “Colin, I’m sorry I couldn’t stop him.”

Colin laid a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “You did exactly what I needed you to do, Ethan. You told me.” He kept his voice low and calm. “Stay here with the rest of the boys. I’ll find him.” He spun on his heel and strode toward the boats, his eyes already scanning the riverbank.

Trent raced to his side, his face set in grim lines. “I heard. You want me to come with you?”

Colin shook his head, stooping to pick up his flashlight.

“No. Stay with the kids. Keep them calm.” He hesitated, his gaze drifting to the dense woods along the river’s edge.

“He can’t have gone far. I’ll get him. And Trent?

Keep an eye on Aaron. He’s feeling terrible about all this. I’ll deal with him when I get back.”

Trent’s jaw clenched, his eyes flicking to the boy in question. “Got it.”

Colin blew out a long breath, then turned and set out along the riverbank, his long strides swiftly carrying him away from the campsite. As he moved through the growing darkness, his voice rang out again and again: “Alex! Alex, where are you?”

Trent watched him as he ran along the river, disappearing into the darkness, then he spun toward the gear pile, yanked up the second radio—still in its case—and cried: “Wait, Colin! WAIT !” But Colin was already out of earshot. “ Goddamnit !” Trent spat out. “ He didn’t take a radio !”

Colin’s feet pounded along the river’s shoreline, his shouts echoing through the trees, swallowed by the sighing of the wind and the murmur of the river.

I can’t let this happen, he thought, feeling the frantic beating of his own heart.

I can’t let this kid down. I can’t let Josh down this way.

But he didn’t stop. He wouldn’t stop. Not until he kept his promise.

Not until he brought Alex home.