The Fun of Camping

It was 10 AM on a warm summer day when the Amaris family decided to invite the Rios family camping. Slightly hesitating, the Rios family agreed to take a camping trip to Eastern Washington, even though it was short notice. The two families met at a gas station about halfway between Seattle and Bellevue so that they could drive down to the campsite together, since the Rios' didn’t exactly know where they were going.

About four hours later, they were deep into Eastern Washington and found their campsite. Everyone quickly poured out of their cars, for they were sick of sitting in an enclosed space for so long. The Amaris' kids: Jennifer, Adam, and Cliff, quickly began unpacking themselves and setting up the family tent. Meanwhile the Rios' kids: Olivia, Beth, Ben, and Melody, were all trying to find cell phone signal. Since Melody was only eight, she was unpacking her toys.

By the time the sun went down, the Amaris family was unpacked and prepared for a campfire gathering. The Rios family, however, was still attempting to set up their tent.

“Need some help?” asked Mrs. Amaris.

“Yes please, we aren’t used to these outings you know,” replied Mr. Rios.

With that said, Mrs. Amaris helped the Rios family set up their tent. Mr. Amaris started the campfire. When the Rios family was ready, they all sat around the fire and made s’mores.

“Mom, I have to go to the bathroom,” Melody said.

“Oh, I do too,” said Jennifer.

“Okay girls, why don’t we gather a group of people who want to go and go together?” suggested Mrs. Rios.

So all the girls went with Mrs. Rios to the bathroom, and all the boys went with Mr. Amaris. They each had to hike about two miles from the campsite to get to the bathrooms. When they arrived, Jennifer noticed there was a homeless man sitting outside the girls restroom and she ran inside quickly before he could say anything to her. When they arrived back to their campsite, Mrs. Amaris noticed that her daughter, Jennifer, was missing.

“Has anyone seen Jennifer?” she asked, a little worried.

“No, but maybe she’s still in the restroom,” replied Mrs. Rios.

“I’m going to go check on her, it’s dangerous to be alone out here,” Mrs. Amaris said.

“I’ll go with you,” Mrs. Rios said.

When they got back to the bathroom Mrs. Amaris couldn’t believe her eyes. Jennifer was laying bloody on the floor with a large gash across her forehead and another across her abdomen.

“Oh my goodness! What happened here?” she shouted.

Mrs. Amaris was shocked and couldn’t believe what she had just seen. After a few minutes Mrs. Rios managed to pull her back into reality. Mrs. Amaris wrapped Jennifer’s body in toilet paper and carried her back to the campsite.

She took her husband into their tent and told him what had happened. Mr. Amaris couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His daughter was dead, with no reasoning behind it. Since they didn’t have any cell phone signal, they couldn’t call the police. The family instead decided they would bury her by the most beautiful tree they could find.

“We’ll always remember you,” Melody said.

“Yes we will,” Adam nodded in agreement along with Cliff.

After everyone said a few words about Jennifer, they all went to bed, determined to return home the next morning and get to the police station.

When the Rios family awoke the next morning, they found the entire Amaris family slaughtered in front of their tent. Mr. Amaris had his throat slit, Mrs. Amaris was stabbed what looked to be 20 times, Adam and Cliff were decapitated. Seeing this, the Rios all screamed.

“Who could have done such an awful thing?” Melody asked her mom.

Mrs. Rios was now sure that Melody would be tormented by this sight for the rest of her life.

“BEN DID YOU DO THIS?” she yelled. “I KNEW YOU HAD BEEN CAUGHT FOR STEALING AT SCHOOL, BUT I NEVER WOULD’VE THOUGHT YOU TO BE A MURDERER!!”

“Mom, don’t be ridiculous! You really think I would do something like this?” Ben replied.

“I really don’t know what to think anymore, we are going to the nearest police station right away!”

Mr. Rios stepped in at this point defending Ben, “You are so quick to blame Ben how do we know it wasn’t you?”

Olivia and Beth were terrified and decided to hide behind the car where it was safe, they took Melody along with them.

While Mr. and Mrs. Rios argued about who was guilty, Ben went to check on Melody, who he had heard screaming.

The sight was even worse then what happened to the Amaris family. Olivia and Beth’s bodies had been cut to pieces.

“What happened here?!” exclaimed Ben in a panicked voice.

“You did,” said Melody with a large grin on her face. “At least that’s what mom and dad will think. Here hold this.” She placed an axe in his hands and ran towards her parents screaming.

“BEN DID IT! HE KILLED THEM! MOM! DAD!”

Mr. and Mrs. Rios ran towards Ben.

“Give me that axe Ben, please don’t do this.” Mr. Rios said.

“But it wasn’t me,” Ben said dropping the weapon. “It was Melody!”

“That’s nonsense Ben she’s only eight. I’m sorry Ben, but we have to turn you in,” Mrs. Rios said.

Mr. Rios grabbed Ben and duct taped his mouth shut and tied his wrists together with some rope he found in his truck. Then they dragged him to the car.

“Melody sit in mom’s lap, we don’t want you near him, he might harm you,” Mrs. Rios said.

As they walked to the car, Melody whispered something in Ben’s ear that no one else could hear.

“No one ever suspects an eight-year-old Ben, have fun rotting in prison. Don’t worry I’ll make sure you’re notified when our parents die.”