Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

~3rd person pov~
~neil~

Gwen and Campbell were watching all of the campers for lunch while David was doing something in the councils cabin.

'Gross.' Neil thought as he picked a part his mashed potatoes. Neil doesn't know why he defended the food when max would be pushing it away and asking David if they could just order pizza. Neil caught himself smiling fondly at the memory and forced himself to stop. It was no good thinking about him now. Neil shoved some of the shitty potatoes into his mouth. 'If he want to talk to you he would have called by now.'

For a while Neil tried to image any other reason on why max would have ignored all their call or texts but he for every explanation there was a loop hole on why it didn't make sense. Neils first thought was that he had gotten grounded but after the second month that theory was thinning. Then he thought maybe his phone broke and he had to get a new one, but max had made Neil write down everyone's number in a notebook and give it to him when he was done in case something like that happened. And besides if either of those were the case, it didn't explain why max didn't show up to camp when summer came back around. If he moved than he still would have had his phone, right? So why? There was only one explanation left with no loop holes.

Max was avoiding them. At first Neil thought it had something to do with his parents. While he didn't know much about Max's home life he knew it wasn't good. Back before the summer ended max had a night mare.

//////////////////////////////past./////////////////////////////////

Neil was already awake he didn't know why but he just couldn't sleep. He felt like he was forgetting to do something but couldn't remember what it was. Then he heard max mumble something. He looked over about to ask if he was awake, but the words died on his tongue when he looked over at Max. He was surprised to see the boy holding on to his stuffed bear Mr. Honeynuts (only max would name the bear that) as if his life depended on it, sweat covered the boys face and his hair was more of a mess than usual. But the most concerning thing was the boys facial expression. Neil had learned by then that max was the most open when he was either tired or caught off guard. But never had Neil seen the expression that was currently on the boy's face. It looked scared and broken.

A look that was so foreign on the usually confident and stubborn boy Neil had grown to care for. Neil knew right then in that moment he never wanted to see that look on max's face ever again. Neil was broken out of his thoughts when he heard max whimper.

Neil got out of his cot as quietly as possible and walked over to Max's cot and sat down next to the dark haired boy he felt the small cot dip at his weight. He took a deep breath and reached his hand out letting it hover above the other boys shoulder before letting it down to gently shake the boy awake. That his plan anyway.

Almost as soon as soon as Neil put his hand on top of Max's shoulder, max jumped up wide awake so fast that Neil fell off the cot and on to the hard ground.

"Ow..." Neil said as he rubbed his lower back.

"Neil..?"

Looking up Neil saw max looking back down at him with a look of shock and confusion.

"Ah..hey.."

Neil cringed at how awkward he sounded.

".....What the hell are you doing on the floor?"

"Um..I couldn't sleep and you looked like you were having a nightmare... So I decided to wake you and make sure you were alright."

As Neil looked back up he could see the gears shifting in Max's head. Could see as the realization dawned on the boy. But he could also see as the boy froze. It was only for a moment. Something that would have easily been missed if Neil hadn't been look for the other boy's reaction. But just as quickly as it came it was gone.

"I'm fine." Max said with a sigh. Then he used the hand furthest from Neil he prompt himself up while using the other one to move the hair out of his face. He looked down at Neil while raising a eyebrow. "You just plan on sitting on the floor for the rest of the night like a dumbass or you gonna stand up?"

Neil's eyes widened and he felt his face heat up in embarrassment. He than got up as quickly as he could. When he turned back toward max with his face all red he triped and fell back down on the floor. Neil heard max laughing behind him. And turned around (still on the floor with his face still red) to give the boy a half hearted glare, witch only seemed to make max laugh harder.

Neil rolled his eyes and got off the floor and waited for max to stop his laughing fit, while Neil was very embarrassed with the fact that his best friend was currently laughing at his misfortune, he was happy that max was smiling and laughing even on a normal day max doesn't usually laugh or smile. Neil felt like this was worth the embarrassment if it helped max to relax.

Eventually max began holding onto his stomach while gasping for air. "Holy shit..I haven't laughed that hard in years."

"Yeah, yeah laugh it up asshole. Move over."Neil said walking towards the shorter boys cot.

" Fuck you. This is my uncomfortable piece of shit." Max replied, but moved over any way.

They sat there in silence just enjoying each others company. Just as Neil was about to say something max spoke first.

"I dreamt that I was back with my parents..."Neil was confused to say the least. 'If he dreamt he was back home then way did he look so confused. As if sensing Neil's confusion max continued.

" My parents are...to be blunt their assholes. They never wanted kids and by the time they found out my mom was pregnant..well it was to late to get an abortion.... Sometimes they lock me in my room for days on end with no food or anything...they never pay attention to me and if they do..let's just say it isn't for something good."

Neil felt his eyes widen and he reached over and hugged max. He felt the boy hesitate but he eventually hugged back.

"I'm sorry." Neil said. He felt the boy shrug.
"S'not your fault... If you tell the others about this I'll kick your ass.." Neil laughed.

If the two boys went to breakfast without getting anymore sleep that night because they stayed awake talking for the rest of the night, then that was between them and them alone.

//////////////////////////// present /////////////////////////////

Neil was startled out of his thoughts by David running inside, the door banging closed behind him.

Chapter Text

3rd person POV
~gwen~

It was quite inside the mess hall something that gwen would have wanted four years prior. But this was not four years ago. Gwen would never admit it out loud but she missed the loud voices of the campers arguing about what to do for the day. She missed the way they would run a muc. The way they would laugh with each other after taking control over the camp. But most of all she missed a certain green eyed small boy. She missed max.

She missed the way max would swear like a sailor at any point of time. She missed sneaking out of the councilor's cabin at two in the morning and going into the mess hall to find the boy already up and sitting at one of the table's. She missed the late night gossip sessions they would have. (Honestly it scared her how much information max knew sometimes. And she made sure to thank every god there was to be believed in that the boy always kept his word. Even if she had to go through hoops so she could sneak the boy an extra pudding at meals time without David finding out.)

When max didn't show up for camp David immediately started to worry. Gwen being the calm grow adult she was stated that he probably missed the bus. But then one day turned to two, and turned to three. And soon days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to weeks, and soon enough weeks turned to months. And then summer ended all without so much as a word from the Indian boy or his parents.

The thing was he supposed to come. They knew he was because they were told so by his caretaker the summer before.

///////////////////// past /////////////////////

One by one every camper had been picked up, said their good byes, and left. Now only one camper was left. Max. The boy was sitting down by a tree with a white pair of in ear headphones witch were plugged in to a light gray iPod. He was looking towards the opened road. David, gwen, campbell, and the quarter master were all talking quietly off to the side, it wasn't to late into the after noon. Only three fouty two but it had been over an hour since the last camper had left.

Needless to say they were all worried. David had tried to call Max's parents to see if they were on the way but it just went straight to voice mail. Just as he was about to try and call again a black limo pulled up in front of them. Not a limo like in movies where they were big and long, but a limo none the less. A man in a suit got out and walked towards the back door and opened it. A woman with red hair and blue eyes stepped out looked around and, once spotting them took long meaningful strides towards them.

"Hello there, you must be the councilor's at this fine institution." The women spoke in a load cheerful tone.

"Uh.. Yes, yes we are! I'm David and this is Gwen, Mr. Campbell and the quarter master. How can we help you!" David answered in a equally cheerful tone the difference was that David had confusion clear as day in his voice.

"My name is Natalie Jameson. I'm Max's caretaker." The woman- Natalie apparently said.

'Caretaker?' Gwen thought puzzled max had always said he lived with his parents. Looking around she could see that the others thought the same thing. It was Campbell who said what they were all thinking.

"I'm sorry did you say caretaker?"

"Yes. I'm afraid maxwells parents are rather busy most of the time so I was hired a few years ago to look after him."

"Oh." Gwen said it was a bit weird but who was Gwen to judge.

"Anyways I just wanted to thank you for taking such good care of maxwell, and give you all this as a bit of a present." The lady said as she pulled out four one hundred dollar bills and gave one to each of them, pausing for a moment when she saw the quarter master's hook for a hand.

"Oh no we can't accept this!" David said as he tried to hand it back to the young woman.

"Shut up Davey!" Campbell whisper from behind as he elbowed David in the back.

"Don't worry about it. Its a gift from Mr. And Mrs. Devinson we all know how much trouble maxwell can be at times. Also" The woman continued as she pulled a envelope out from the inside of her purse and handed it to gwen. "These are so you can make preperations for next summer. I think its safe to say that we will be back."

The woman then proceed to get back in the car sitting next to-wait a second when the hell did max get in the in the fucking car?!?!

Before anyone could say anything else the door was shut and the car drove off. (Later when they all looked inside the envelope they realized there was five thousand dollars cash.)

/////////////////////////// present //////////////////////

Just then Gwen jumped when David slammed the door opened. Smiling like an idiot.

Chapter Text

3rd person POV
~nikki~

Nikki was currently fight muank for a baby carrot. She grinned when she finally got the carrot back, it was half way eat an and has platypus droll all over it. She took a bite of it and looked to her left, looking straight at Neil.

When her eyes went to Neil's face her grin fell in an instant. The look on Neil's face was one she's seen many times over the last few years. She's seen it on many different occasions and at many different times, but one thing was always the same.

He was thinking about max...

Nikki looked back down at her food. After that last summer they saw max in person they still talked to max they all kept in contact. They all had a group chat and would have a group call every night at 8:00 pm. They also had everyone's personal number.

While everyone talked to max it was different for max and neil. While everyone else would talk to the two of them from time to time, the two of them would talk to each other for hours on end. Neil was the only person max called instead of having to be called. He was the only one who could get max to come straight on the group call without having to wait hours just for his message to say read.

Maybe that's why it hit Neil the hardest when max stopped reading their messages. Stopped coming on the calls. Stopped coming to camp...

Nikki didn't know just how hard it was on Neil until she had moved in with him. Their parents had decided to move in together about four months after max had stopped all communication with them. Neils dad lived closer to the school so Neil lived with him and visited his mom on the weekends.

Her and her mom moved in on a Saturday so they had time to settle in before her mom meet Neil properly. But when Sunday afternoon rolled around Nikki noticed thing about Neil that the internet could easily hide.

For one thing the bags under his eyes were way darker and his face was paler than she had ever seen it before. If Nikki was being honest he looked terrible.

There were other things she noticed over time as well. Like how every time a phone rang he would drop what ever he was doing and run to check it. Even if it wasn't his. Or how whenever he got overwhelmed he would rub the string bracelet that max had given him when David made them make friendship bracelets at camp. Neils was a three string (yellow, black, and light purple) bracelet braided together with a silver 'N' in the middle. Nikki had a bracelet similar to his except the colors were mint green, light blue, and white. Nikki started eating again, only to choke on a baby carrot when David bust though the door

Chapter Text

3rd person POV
~ Harrison ~

A lot has changed over the last few years in Harrison's opinion. And that wasn't just talking about max.

All the campers had by now gone or were going through puberty. Gone were the little ten and eleven year olds. Now they were replaced by teenagers. It wasn't just the outside of their bodies that had changed either the insides had to.

Take Nerf for example, he was taller, on the wrestling team at school and he was stronger too. But he had changed on the inside so much. He was kinder, calmer, and he didn't try to go outside of his way to hurt people.(unless it was on the wrestling team.) He also apologized a lot more. And that was just a few of the changes that Harrison had noticed in Nerf's behavior.

There were difference's in all the campers, whether big or small. Like Harrison's magic. Harrison's magic has gotten way stronger over the years. He's learned how to better control his magic over the last four years. He can teleport, (whether that be people or just random objects is really depending on the weight of the person or object) he can float things into the air up to sixty seven feet, and he can track stuff. It can be anything from a sock to a person.

He learned pretty quickly that the farther away you are the harder it is. He's tried to find max a few times, but without any knowing what he looks like now then its impossible. You see in order to track something or someone you need to imagine everything about them (It works better with a photo.) But if what your imaging is what the person or object looked like a couple years ago then the lines can get crossed and instead of knowing were a purple sock with neon green pock a dots on it, then your suddenly looking at a puffer fish in an aquarium in Hawaii.

Which is why the dream he had last night is so confusing and so terrifying. Another one of Harrison magical abilities is dreaming of stuff that is going to happen or has already happened.

........................ The dream ........................

Harrison was standing in the middle of alleyway in a city. The same city that the campers had been to over the summer. Harrison turned his head as he heard a very familiar voice.

Having just turned into the alley was a very familiar boy talking on the phone. Max...

"Look I'm not saying that we should murder him, I'm just saying that next year David could...unfortunately pass away due to unknown causes." Max said.

And wasn't that amazing. Max had just said that! It was the same deadpan voice he used when he was tried. He looked just like he did four years ago. Harrison felt something wet on his face, he wiped his eyes. He was crying. He looked back up when he heard Max's voice again.

"Yeah, yeah whatever you say Neil." Max set his phone against his phone his shoulder as he readjusted a couple grocery bags in his hands. Max's phone made a buzzing noise he grabbed it and cursed loudly. "Mother fucker! Bevakooph kamabakht phon! Bhagavaan laanat baitaree!"

Harrison's eyes widened. 'What in the Sam hell was that?!'

In all the months that he's known max he's never once heard max speak...whatever language that was.

Max put the phone back up to his ear. "Oh yeah laugh it up asshole! My phone is at five fucking percent and instead of comforting me you decide to laugh your fucking ass off at my pain!" .... "Karma for what?!? What the fuck did I do to you!?!"... "OK you know what fuck you Neil! I hope that the next time your phone dies you can't find your charger!"

Hearing the one sided conservation was both comforting and the most confusing thing Harrison had ever heard. 'Has max always been able to talk in whatever language that was or was it something he developed after camp? Did Neil know he could speak it but just never say Anything? Why wouldn't he say anything though?' There were several questions in running though Harrison's mind.

"Yeah well apology not accepted" .... " alright I'll call you when I get my phone on the charger... K later Neil."

Max then proceed to end the call and powered it off. 'Probably to save whatever's left of his battery.' Harrison thought. Letting his eyes watch as max did the little process.

Just as max was about to put his phone inside his pocket someone walked up behind the small tanned skinned boy and put a black gloved hand over his mouth. Harrison's saw widened and he saw as Max's green eyes do the same. Just then the person stuck a needle into the side of Max's neck. Max dropped the grocery bags that he previously had been so keen on not letting go.

Max then elbowed the attacker in the nose. His phone falling out of his hands in the process. Max then ran away from the attacker who was now on the ground. Harrison finally got out of his frozen state and started running after the green eyed boy.

Harrison noticed that max was running around kind of like how a drunk person would be. 'What the fuck was in that needle!?!!?' Harrison thought as he heard the attacker get up.

"Max run!" Harrison called out from behind the boy. Max was surprisingly fast, even while being drugged. Just then max reached the end of the alley. 'Yes!' Harrison thought before seeing max fall to the hard ground.

'FUCK,FUCK,FUCK!!!!'. Harrison ran towards his friends sided and tried to help him back to his feet. He couldn't touch him though. When he tried his hands went right though. Harrison heard heavy breathing and looked behind him the attacker was less than ten feet from them and coming fast.

"Shit shit SHIT! "

Harrison tried to hold back the attacker with everything he could think of punches, pushes , he even used magic. Nothing worked. The attacker moved closer to max and turned him around roughly. Max then kicked his attacker in the throat. The attacker then fell to the ground and max started to turn himself around and started to crawl away. Before he passed out on the ground. Looking behind him, Harrison realized that the attacker had stuck another needle into Max's ankle.

Harrison grabbed the needle out of maxs ankle, but before he could do anything else he heard a loud trumpet sound in the background. And then he woke up.

....................... Lunch time ........................

Now if something had happened differently than it would easily be written off as a weird dream. A very horrible, terrible, scary dream witch would be having him questioning his mental state, yes but it would be just a dream nun the less.

But there was an actual reason why Harrison can't just put this off as a dream.

Because the needle that was in Max's ankle was currently in Harrison's hoodie pocket.

David slammed the doors open with a huge smile on his face

Chapter Text

Okay so I have way too many ideas for some of the campers and not enough for others. I don't want anyone to feel ripped off so I'm leaving it up to you guys.

Should I just cut right to David's surprise or should I continue with the rest of the campers. Please let me know, I really don't want to abandon this work but I also want to know what you guys would like to see in the future.

That being said let me know if there's anything you guys would like to see, or not see. (I will of course give you credit for any ideas you have.)

Chapter Text

~3rd person POV ~
~david~

David was currently inside the councilor's cabin looking over the emails he received yesterday. David couldn't be more excited. There were going to be four new campers! There had never been this many campers come to camp who hadn't come from the start since, well ever!

David was just over looking the kids files and activities.

So far he had over looked two out of the four kids files and was currently looking at the third kids. So far he had a girl named ivy parks who was twelve, and her activities section said she liked soccer.

The second file he read was for a boy who's named was Jackson Booker he was thirteen, and his activities section said he enjoyed photography.

The file he was currently reading was for a girl who's name was amber Katz, according to her file she just turned fourteen.

David paused when he reached the activities section...... It was blank..... David suddenly had a feeling of deja vu.

Max...

The small dark skinned, green eyed, boy who was missed by everyone at the camp. David felt his eyes sting and water in the familiar way they always did when he thought about the small ten year old who never came back to camp.

He, like everyone at the camp missed max. When max hadn't shown up to camp that first year, David had contacted his parents. It was no secret among the councilor's that max was supposed to return to camp that year. It wasn't even a month after camp had ended when Max's parents had sent an application for him to return next year.

It had hurt...

All the adults in charge of running the camp felt hurt. They all knew about Max's file by then. But it was one thing to not write down a small piece of information that could easily be written off as they forgot or that the child didn't show any particular interests in any hobbies.

God knows it wouldn't be the first time a parent sent their child to camp to try to get them to try new things.

But it was an entirely different thing to sign them up for something that was months away.

David shook his head. No point in getting upset about it now. He still had to look though the files. David set a mental reminder to make sure there wasn't a repeat of what happened to max. That is after all why David started to look over the files more closely after all.

He then moved on to the last file. As he flipped the first page he immediately froze. Just like all the other files this one held all the basic information needed, but all the other files it help a photograph of the kid who was coming to camp. The picture inside the file is what made David freeze.

The small photograph held a boy with dark tanned skin, and emerald green eyes. The boy had pure black hair that covered the all of the boys forehead and half of the boys eyes. The boy looked caught off guard, as if someone had taken the photo as the boy was turning around.

David quickly read all the information inside the file, he then read the file twice and a third time just to be sure he wasn't seeing things. He grabbed the file and run towards the mess hall. To tell Gwen the news.

Max was coming back to camp.

Chapter Text

This is what Max's picture looked like in the file.

https://images.app.goo.gl/626JVVUeZGzdRqih8

And this

https://images.app.goo.gl/VShKa4sq2sT1jYvj6

This is ivy

https://images.app.goo.gl/Z8ho7xX9E5F9aFFL8

https://images.app.goo.gl/7uHJCq2DFLum3EsL9

This is Jackson

https://images.app.goo.gl/nHfG7jgPfHqhWAk48

This is amber

https://images.app.goo.gl/KQdymT1nUDNFK4uV6

This is Max's headphones and mp3 player

https://images.app.goo.gl/e7NVBNVE8YWqyJVP7

Chapter Text

3rd person POV
All

All the campers were in credibility quiet, all trying (and failing) to listen to what Gwen and David were saying in their whispered argument. With zero luck.

It didn't exactly help that the two councilor's would stop talking or lower their voices every time one of the campers managed to get with in ear shot.

Now don't get the campers wrong. They had learned years ago that not everything was something they wanted to learn. (They had all heard by now about max, Neil, and Nikki's encounter on spooky island). They understood that their were something's better left not being heard. And they okay with that!

But when one of your camp counselors almost tear the front door off and throw a weird looking file into your second camp counselors face all while grinning brighter than all the stars in the galaxy combined (the sun included). Then your other camp counselor stops shouting at the first one only to stare at the said file that was just moments prior in shock. You'd be curious too. Suddenly Gwen looked over towards the campers, her lip between her teeth (a habit the campers had by now learned she only did when she was nervous or skeptical). As her eyes looked over each camper one by one she appeared to be searching for something, or more specifically someone. When her eyes finally landed on two kids sitting at a table in the back corner of the mess hall. Huffing out a sigh the female councilor seemed to age by twenty years in a matter of seconds. "Neil, Nikki. Can the two of you come over her for a second please?" Gwen's voice seemed tired and joy less. Yet if you were listening close enough you would hear the hint of hope that was laying with in her voice. The campers all looked at each other before Neil and Nikki both got up in sync and started walking towards the front of the room. A thousand thoughts and questions were running in Neil's mind. 'Were they in trouble? Did something happen? I can't remember us doing anything that could get us in to much trouble.' When the two teenagers finally got in front of the adults there was a moment in witch there was complete silence before Gwen spoke. "Do either of you know what Max's full name was?" Gwen asked in the same hushed voice and facial expression that she had when she was talking to David not even three minutes ago. Nikki and Neil both snapped their heads to turn to one another before looking back toward the adults. They both seemed to shocked to speak, opening and closing their mouths multiple times. On the complete other side of the mess hall the other campers just grew more and more curious by the second. It wasn't like the two step siblings to be quite for extreme amounts of time. Nikki was known for having a loud, upbeat personality. And while at times Neil could grow extreme anxiety, and quite down while fading into the background, he would fight through the nerves and speak up when he felt like it. He was also quite loud and outspoken about his opinion. So seeing two of the two loudest people in the camp be so quite. "U-uh.. Maxwell... Maxwell Rakesh Khan... Why..?" Neil being the one to break the silence. "But..um w-why are you guys asking us that now..? Gwen and David shared a look before Gwen let out another sigh and started opening the tan file folder that David had run into the mess hall with earlier. She then took out a piece of paper that was about two inches shorter than the folder and hand it to Neil. When the two siblings looked down at it it nearly fell out of Neil's hands. Nikki sucked in a gasp and Neil had put a hand over his mouth to conceal his own gasp. When the two looked down at a printed out picture of a caramel skinned boy who looked about their age with black curls that fell in a messy, yet elegant and green eyes that looked as if they had been made with pure emeralds, it all made sense. The way David run in looking frantic. The shock on Gwen's face. The hushed whispers. It was all for the same thing. Max was coming back to camp. ~elsewhere~ It was all just the same as it was before he left. It was both surprising and not at the same time. The same cotton blue painted walls. The same led color changing lights strung along the ceiling. The same black desk and chair. The same violin and freashly waxed bow with a black case and navy strap. The same purple mp3 player with white headphones currently in his ears. But there were difference's too. The clothes were different. Some of the pictures are different. The crutches and braces in the corner were different. The phone on his desk was different. If he learned one thing in the last few years its that things can change in ways you would never have expected. Life can change. But there was one thing he knew. Max was going back to camp mother fucking Campbell.

Chapter Text

Neils friend ship bracelet
https://images.app.goo.gl/B7RvVvbWvN9FVge96

Nikki's bracelet
https://images.app.goo.gl/UE6921eUKeebAf7D8

Chapter Text

I am so sorry! I thought I had completed chapter 8! Also I'm sorry about not posting recently. My dad was in the hospital, my charger broke, my siblings were running wild, I had to babysit, and then some. I promise I will make it up to u guys! I'm about to finish writing chapter 8 right now, and once that's finished I'll write chapter 11 (I think that's what I'm on). I'll also try to make the chapters longer.

Thank you all for the support, it means more than any of you will ever know. I was just about to check some notifications and I read all the comments, and this was just what I needed so thank you all every like, comment, or view makes me feel so happy. So I just wanted to say thank you.

Chapter Text

The temp was sixty degrees. It was cloudy and grey. The pavement under his feet was still wet from last nights rain. The breeze held a weight so heavy that one could barley hear ones self think. Most people would be discouraged by the lack of the warm sun in the middle of summer. Most people would be displeased with the heavy rain that had bin rumored to happen for the next two days. Most people would be upset at the fact that they had to walk to the store in this type of weather.

But Maxwell Rakesh Khan has never been like most people. Max has always been different from the people around him. No matter how old or young, what place, his home country or American. No one was like him. He first learned just how different he was when he was at the young ripe age of three.

His ba (its dad here Dumbass) had left one of his company asset files on the kitchen table. Ever since maan died he had a tendincy to drowned himself in work. And he was just a curious young three year old who had seen his ba (dad!) not get an ounce of sleep and barley anything to eat or drink in two days. Two days! So when his ba (fuck it I'm not about to fight with my own god damn mind) finally fell asleep, max went into the kitchen. He just wanted a peak. That's it he swears! But everything looked so wrong.

To this day max doesn't know how he knew it was wrong, but he did. To this day he doesn't know how he knew what exactly was wrong with it. Or what numbers needed to be charged to different numbers, or what the different numbers were. If someone were to ask him how he knew every single thing that was wrong and right on that paper, he would give the same answer he gave to his ba all those years ago.

So he had done what any three year old who wanted to help their parent would do. He fixed it.

It was something so easy yet so difficult to explain. He at the tender age of three had managed to fix a six paged, stapled together packet of quite complexed math equations that had made several grown adults cry, drink until they couldn't remember their own name, and two quit their jobs.

When his ba woke up max grabbed the papers off the table so he could show him what he had done.

But instead of being happy, like his three year old self had imagined he was upset. No not upset. Max thought bitterly. Angry. That's what his father had been. His ba had been angry at the fact that his son had managed to solve something that meant so much to him.

That was the first beating he could remember having. But it most certainly wasn't the last.

Max was snapped back to reality by a cool gust of wind. Pulling a few strands of hair out of his low pony tail. His hair had grown quite longer since he last cut it. He now had bangs that covered his eyes and the rest of his hair went down to the just above his shoulders point.

His hair wasn't the only thing that had grown since he got out of that.....place. He and his new friends had all changed since they got out. They had all started taking self-defense classes the second they were all cleared by their respective doctors. (If max skipped a few physical therapy appointments so they could all practice the new technics they had learned in class that week, then that was between the four of them, and only the four of them.)

His new friendship with the other three kids was...odd to say the least. They were the first people who he felt like he could be himself with. Not the mask of nonchalance he felt a need to put on in front of other people. It wasn't because of what they went through together. Okay that played some part of it (max knew it was probably one of the main reasons why they worked so well together) but it was also because they took the time to understand the real him. Some parts of himself that he didn't even know about was thanks to them.

Like how his love language was apparently physical touch. Or how he would rub his middle and index finger against his thumb when he was agitated. Or the way he would start whispering the lyrics of different songs into something completely new when he was stressed or nervous. They took the time to understand him in a way that only Neil had ever understood him.

And wasn't that sad. In order to feel acceptance from more than one person he had to be kidnapped, tortured, starved, and beaten for just over three years.

Just then the store came into view and he was shaken out of his thoughts by the sight that laid in between him and his desired destination. An alleyway.

The very same alleyway that he had been taken from all those terrible years ago.

Chapter Text

~~~1st person POV ~~~
~~~max~~~

The bright sunlight peeking in through the windows was starting to become overwhelming. I've never been a fan of bright lights, and I guess being locked in a dark basement for nearly four years didn't help that fact.

I sigh quietly as I look around my room. I rub my left knee as the pain starts to increase there's so much I want do do right now.

So much I need to do right now.

Yet I can't. I can't keep packing. I can't clean up. I cant close the black out blinds to stop the way to bright light from streaming in though the windows. I can't even grab my phone, witch is sitting across the room on my desk so I can text anyone. All due to a stupid knee that I can barley do jack shit with.

So I stay where I am. Sitting on my bed, in a room that is way too bright, with nothing to do. Left alone with nothing but my own thoughts. You know your fucked up in every sense of the word when you yourself becomes the biggest enemy you have.

Its ironic actually. Playing a losing battle with the voices in your own head.

It's times like this when I wish maan was alive the most. She'd know what to do. She'd probably sit on the bed next to me and sing while she would rub her fingers in my black messy curls, and I'd fall into a deep slumber.

But she's not here. She's not singing, or pulling the covers up to my chin. And she never will again.

Cause she's dead.

And she always will be.

Dad's been better. He's stopped drinking in the time that I was...away. But not for me.

Never for me.

Turns out he's dating some blond named Kate. She doesn't like me. I can tell. But I don't like her either so I don't mind. They both basically ignore me, so I ignore them.

He stopped drinking for her. He stopped staying at work late for her. He stopped being a straight up asshole for her. But he did none of that for me.

'Why was she worth it when I wasn't? Why did he stop for her? Why can't I have been enough? Why? Why? Why?

Why can't I ever be enough? Why does he seem happier with her than with me? Why does he hate me, but love her?'

I snap out of my thoughts by the sound of a knock on my door.

I look down at my knee the pain having gone down a bit, but not as much as I would have liked.

"Come in." I say already knowing I wouldn't be able to stand in my condition.

The door opens to show a blond girl with blue eyes and rosy cheeks.

"Hey, me and your dad are heading out. Do you want us to bring you back anything?" Kate asks as she starts rubbing her stomach.

'Ah. Yes, how could I forget. One of the mane reasons dad agreed to me going to camp so fast. Turns out dad and Kate are playing family now.'

"I'm fine." I say barley holding back an eye roll.

"Okay. You have our numbers if you need anything." Kate says before turning around and closing the door behind her.

Two more days and I'll be out of here. Two more days and I'll get to see my friends again. Two more days locked with the same cold thoughts.

Two more days before I'm free.

Chapter Text

~3rd person POV ~
~camp Campbell ~

"I can't believe he's coming back."

"I KNOW RIGHT?!? IS IT AWESOME!!!!"

"I wonder where he's been all this time..."

"Yeah well he can answer any of our questions when he gets here."

"He fucking better. Camp hasn't been the same since he left."

There were many nods to that statement. All the campers seemed to be able to talk about was the sudden return of their past friend and former camper. But it wasn't unexpected. They went three years without contact from max now he just comes back out of the blue? They were bound to have some questions.

The campers had some mixed feelings about him coming back as well. They were angry that he hasn't reached out. They were upset about the lost time. They were excited to finally have their friend back.

"I'm hungry!"

....

And Nikki is hungry.

"We'll have lunch after we finish setting up the tents." Gwen says while relishing a small grunt as she is trying to get one of the poles in the one of the new tents. (The spares all had holes in them.)

That was another thing. The three new mysterious campers. They weren't related .(David checked.) And the last time the camp had so many campers check into the camp in the middle of the summer was when the foreign exchange students came to camp. And that ended in a huge disaster.

It was weird, and it wasn't like camp Campbell got a lot of good reviews. So it was more than a bit weird.

"Will you little fuck shits help me?!?" The campers turned to see the tent Gwen was building start to collapse. They started to laugh as Neil, nerris, and Nikki rush over to help.

...........................,............................,. .... ..............
~Else where~

"DAMN IT!!! I LEFT YOU FUCK NUTS ALONE FOR FIVE MINUTES TO USE THE BATHROOM!!! HOW THE FUCK DID YOU DUMBASSES MANAGE TO START A FUCKING FIRE IN FIVE MINUTES?!?!"

"IT WASNT OUR FAULT!!!"

"YEAH! YOUR THE ONE WHO LEFT THE WATER ON!!!"

"EXACTLY! IT WAS FUCKING WATER!!! IT SHOULDN'T EVEN BE POSSIBLE TO LITE IT ON FIRE!!"

"YEAH WELL YOU SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN TO LEAVE US UNATTENDED IN THE PRESENCE OF A LIT STOVE!"

" IT WAS FIVE MINUTES! I WAS TRYING TO TEACH YOU HOW TO MAKE MACARONI AND CHEESE! I DIDN'T EVEN PUT THE FUCKING NODDLES IN YET! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST GUYS!"

"IM SORRY MAX!"

"SORRY DOESN'T FIX THE HUGE ASS FUCKING BURN IN MY WALLS!!

Oh mere pitaajee mujhe maarane am rahe hain."

Chapter Text

Hey guys. So I missed the December update due to some trouble with the internet. By some trouble I mean I didn't have any. But I finally have some so I'm going to update this chapter and last months today.

Also happy late new year.

Chapter Text

~~3rd person POV ~~
~~campers~~

It was the day the campers had all been waiting for. It was the day when they would finally be reunited with their friend after so long.

Everyone was standing outside of the camp Campbell's worn out sign. Waiting for the bus to arrive.

Most of the campers weren't able to sleep all night, where as others had woken up especially early. After all who needs sleep on such a special occasion.

The councilor's didn't look much better. David and Gwen had matching sets of eye bags. Gwen holding a mug of coffee.

Of course while everyone looked excited, most were nervous as well. (Read: everyone except Nikki.) Questions running though everyone's mind. Questions seemed to simply follow the person that was max. Even before max left without contacting them for three years. Before the first summer at camp Campbell ended. Before everything when to shit.

Questions were just something that came with max. Followed him. Engulfed him. Surrounded him.

That was something that they had all realized three years ago. If you wanted to be close to max then you had to be ready to have questions that you wouldn't have answers to. Because certain questions would never be answered. At Least not by max.

There was a small rumble sound from down the road. It sounded like a car driving across the dirt and rocks. Everyone perked up as the sound proceeded to get louder and louder. Until a faded yellow bus was seen twisting around the corner.

Sharp intakes of breath were heard though out the campers and councilor's alike. There was a loud squeal from Nikki as the bus got closer, until the bus finally stopped in front of the campers and councilor's.

The bus doors opened with a loud squeak. "Kids are here." The quarter master said with his deep gravelly voice.

Just then a fairly tall girl who looked about their age with brown hair, followed by a boy who had a camera hang around his neck. Behind him there was a shorter red haired girl. Once they were all out of the bus the three of them just looked around for a while. Looking back at the bus the short red head started to speak.

"Damn M you were right, this place really is a shit hole."

"I'm always right." A low calm voice came from the bus. Looking towards the bus the campers saw light brown skin, and black curls. The most eye catching thing though, were the emerald green eyes looking down the steps.

Once the person was out of the bus they looked up eyes catching the group of people staring back at them. A smirk lifted to the persons lips eyes narrowing slightly.

"Hey nerds, been a while."

Chapter Text

~3rd person pov~

Everything was quite for a long minute as the campers looked at max with a variety of different emotions. The moment was broken by max snapping his fingers at the boy who had come off the bus, before he (max) pointed at the ground.

The boy shook his head as he rolled his eyes before he started walking back over to the bus. He stopped in front of max reaching his arms up picking max up setting him down in front of the bus, waiting until max was leaning his weight on the side of the bus before going back to the doors of the bus and grabbing a meddle stick about the size of the guys forearm, before unfolding it (the stick made snapping sounds as it went to its full size,) and attaching a piece of cloth to the two handles, before handing it to max.

Only when max put his arm in the clothed part of the (now past his waist sized) meddle stick did the campers notice the knee brace on Max's left leg. It was black with small symbols and words drawn all over it in teal blue and emerald green marker.

"...what happen to your leg..?"

Max looked up deep emerald eyes widened for just a moment before they narrowed again.

"Wow, Neil you've somehow managed to grow even less subtle over the years." Max answered with a raised eyebrow.

Neil's face went red but he had a concerned and determined look in his eyes. Him and max just starred at each other for a few moments before max looked away licking his lips and rubbing his index and middle fingers against his thumb before answering.

"I fell off a roof top...."

"WHAT?!?!"

The reaction caused by the campers and councilor's alike caused Harrison to wince. Harrison reached into his pocket and touched the same needle he had pulled out of his 'dream' just two weeks ago.

Harrison didn't know why but he didn't believe that for a second. As Harrison got lost in his thoughts Neil was experiencing similar feelings. After all even if Neil didn't know any of Max's knew tells he still knew max's tells from when they were younger.

He knew avoiding eye contact was a sign max was lying. That when he licked his lips he was nervous. And when he would insult a person to make them forget about what ever topic he didn't want to talk about.

But it was fine he'd talk to max later about it and he would tell Neil the truth weather he wanted to or not. Satisfied with his plan he let out a small smile and looked towards the green eyed just in time to see him side step David as he tried to hug max, with max using his stick (cane?) to trip the red haired male.

This was going to be a great summer.

Chapter Text

Camp Campbell

"I'm joking, Jesus fuckin Christ." Max said rolling his eyes and leaning on the stick as he walked towards the pile of bags that the quarter master had dumped right before he pulled the bus out to go and park it.

"I fell down and hit it on a sharp rock, tried to hide it from everyone and it ended up more serious than I thought." max said as he grabbed a old black duffle bag and a newer looking back pack. "Dumbass move on my part."

Max then looked over at the three teenagers who were just standing on the side and watching the interaction.

"You have ten seconds to grab your shit before I use it as a fire starter." He said as he gave them a glare that held an obvious truth to the threat.

" ...are you still mad about the fire, or is this about something else we managed to do that pisses you off." Said the red haired girl in a quiet voice.

If at all possible Max's glare seemed to get even more threatening. "Take a fucking guess."

The three teens quickly grabbed their stuff holding on to it seemingly tight, as if afraid it would indeed be a fire starter.

"Fire..?" Preston asked in a hesitant voice.

Max looked up at the campers and counselors and looked to have suddenly grown incredibly tired in just a few moments.

"You don't want to know. Trust me." Max said waiting until Preston gave a hesitant nod before looking towards David and gwen. "Who am I sharing a tent with."

"OH! Right max we figured you might want to share a tent with Neil. You know like old times!" David said with so much excitement that it was basically coming out of his ass.

Max atleast thought so.

"Whatever." He said before looking at Neil. "Lead the way dick head." Max said as he started walking down to where he knew the tents used to be.

"Do you wa-"

"If you ask me if I want you to carry my bag, I can and will push you into the lake on our way there."

"....noted."

Chapter Text

camp Campbell
3rd person POV
max

Neil watched as max put his stuff away in silence. what was he supposed to say.

'Hey max are you up for explaining way you left for three years and don't answer any texts or calls. Oh oh, no how about how you come back to camp with a broken leg and a cane?! Or maybe you can explain how you can act like EVERY THING IS PERFECTLY FINE?!?!'

Yeah...no. Probably shouldn't say that...

"So anything interesting happen since I've been gone?" Max asked looking up from the end of the bed where he was putting his own blankets down.

"Uh. I mean yeah kinda, I guess." Neil answered. He continued after it was obvious max was waiting.

"Me and nikki are step siblings now, so there's that I guess..."

Max looked back up tilting his head slightly. "Huh... wasn't expecting that."

Silence filled the small tent. It wasn't a comfortable silence, nor was it an awkward one. It was the thoughtful type of silence. It was like they both had things they wanted to say but didn't know how to.

"So..do you know the new campers??" Neil asked while clearing his throat.

"Huh??" Max mumbled looking back at Neil.

"Its just..the way you guys interacted..it was like you had meet before... Or something." Neil looked away and started to pick at his finger nails.

"This is...weird. Why am I so nervous around him? Am I reading to much into this??' Neil thought as he waited for Max to reply.

"Oh. Uh, yeah. I met them a few years ago and I guess we've gotten pretty close in the last few years." Max responded as he started zoning out with a far away look on his face.

"Oh." Neil said a little hurt.

'So he's been perfectly fine. All this time. I thought something had happened...but he just found new friends..better friends......

......he replaced us...'

"I'm.....going to talk to Nikki while you get settled in." Neil said as he angrily stomped out of the tent.

"Oh, uh, alright see you later-

Neil was out of the tent before Max could finish.

-I guess......" Max sighed as he face planted on his cot.

~~~~

Neil was just about to storm over to Nikki's tent when he bumped into someone, making them both fall to the ground.

"Ugh...Oh sorry Harrison I didn't see you there.." Neil said getting up before helping Harrison up as well.

"It's fine Neil." Harrison responded as he dusked himself off "Hey, uh, is max in your tent? I was hoping to talk to him for a second."

"Yeah he's in there. Look I'm sorry but I have to go talk to Nikki about something." With that Neil walked off to look for his sister.

Harrison hesitated for a moment before walking towards Max's tent and taking a deep breath. They really had to talk.

Chapter Text

-3rd person POV-
Harrison

Harrison took a deep breath before peeking his head into Max's tent. He saw max groaning into his pillow.

"Idiot..." Max groaned through the fabric.

"Max..?" Harrison asked hesitantly.

Max looked up from his pillow with a surprised look in his eyes.

"Hm?...Oh Harrison..? What's up?"

"Um..hey." Harrison said awkwardly. 'God, why does this have to awkward?' He thought as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"...Can I help you with something Harrison?" Max asked with a questioning look.

Harrison took another deep breath. 'Might as well just get it over with nice and quick.'

"Max, I... I had a dream about you a couple days ago..."

He paused letting the information register.

"Oh....Okay..?" Max looked confused as hell, witch...fair.

Harrison let out a small sigh, before simply pulling out the syringe (needle removed) out of his front pockets.

Max froze. And for a moment it was pure silence, almost as if the entire world had stopped.

"..Where did you get that..?" Max asked in a voice so small Harrison almost did a double take.

"I.. well l-like I said I had dream a few days ago, and-and when I woke up I....had this." He finished weakly.

Harrison looked at the look of horror on Max's face, and hesitantly moved closer to him. Max looked... terrified. Witch if Harrison's dream was to be believed it was completely understandable.

"Max..?"

Max's head snapped back towards Harrison and away from the syringe for the first time since he had pulled it out.

"How much do you know?" Max asked in a whispered tone.

Harrison hesitantly sat on Neil's cot across from max. "Not much, honestly... It started in a alley." Max gave a nod at that, despite how much it looked like it pained him to do even such a small movement. Harrison hesitantly started speaking again. "You.. were on the phone..uh I think with Neil?..Anyways you -uh you got off the phone and then-"

Max put up a hand and Harrison stopped talking. For a while the two boys just sat in silence starring at one another.

"You said you... dreamt all of that?" Max asked when he finally broke the silence.

"Yeah... I don't really know.. I just- I don't know." He finished sounding defeated.

"Due to the lack of babying, I'm assuming you haven't told anyone else."

It was phased as a statement but Harrison answered anyway.

"No, no... I wanted to talk to you about it first."

"Hm." Max hummed softly.

"AHHH, MAX HELP." Both Max and Harrison's heads snapped towards the entrance of the tent.

Max sighed and went to grab has came.

"We'll finish talking about this later."

Harrison nodded, and just like that max was walking out leaving their conversation came to a close.

He took a breath, put the syringe back in his pocket and he took left the tent.