Chapter 205 - 205. Negative Path

The table they all sat down on was pretty average with only a different design setting it apart from the tables the campers used. "I feel like we are about to get talked to by the principal and get suspended." Art was a little afraid since the other campers weren't around now. He had the feeling that they were about to get in to trouble. 

"I am not going to yell at you for anything. I thought you three would like to know why I have taken an interest in you and your friends." Garnet knew that they had noticed that she had been showing them more attention than other campers by far.

"Yes! I thought it was just Asher, Jackson, and Laura at first since they came early. But then you were paying attention to me and Art. Then even to Louis and Sammy. I couldn't figure out why but every once in a while you would be kind of looking off in the distance a little sad…" Jane trailed off since she realized she had said a little too much. 

"I did wonder a little, but I didn't think it was anything I needed to know. I trusted you would say something if you needed us to do something." Asher admitted his trusty in Garnet. He had felt this way since one of the first days a the camp. 

"I see, then maybe my worries are for nothing but I would still like to share the reasoning behind my actions and why other staff members may also be a little harsher or helpful." Garnet took a deep breath and pushed the food away from her since she had no appetite. "This happened about ten years ago. I had just become the head counselor the previous year. My father was on the verge of retirement and my siblings were still getting started." 

"I received three students from a promising school like usual and started them off. The very first day they began their camp experience just like Asher and Laura did. I thought they hadn't thought it through but they were very skilled. By the time the day was done they had enough points to not only stay in a cabin for the remainder of the week but also get their items back with points to spare." Garnet was looking a little stone faced telling this story. It only went to say that it was a tough one to tell. 

"One went by the nickname red since he could control fire and even make it by his own will. His friend went by blue and controlled water even pulling it out of the air to control it. The third called himself purple, he was quieter and controlled rot and decay. At a single touch, he could cause organic matter to decay. The three were inseparable friends and had been pushing themselves to be stronger. They even told me they wanted to be top heroes one day and I believed them. They were promising talent after all." Garnet flinched a little admitting this. 

"By the time the campers had come they had shown every staff member their extraordinary determination. Not a single camper could measure up to their records and they had made a huge impression. This only grew as they continued to build up points and take the best resources to train themselves. We didn't think that someone with dangerous powers like theirs would be so controlled and perfect. Our expectations were wildly changed, and we relaxed." 

There was a long pause as Garnet looked at the three debating if this was really the right thing for her to tell them all. In the end, she decided to follow through on her decision and let them hear the past and strive for their own future. "The last day of camp we have a surprise family day. This is to end things on a high note and let campers show off to any family members that are available to come. It should be an inspiring day of family bonding. For the three of them, it was less so." 

The three were the sons of three prominent businessmen who were always in competition. Their fathers were at each others' throats and speaking about what they would do to overtake the other. The actions they would take with their company and other such matters. It was disgusting to hear how they spoke about people like tools and money farms. But the faces of their children were worse."

Asher had a feeling this was not going to be a happy ending. His gut was telling him that there was something much worse in the story than he had realized. "The three had a pact, unknown to anyone else. They became stronger at all times and pushed each other. After the day had passed and the parents were leaving ahead of the campers they decided to show their parents one last place in camp. Of course, their fathers followed without thinking, they just wanted to be over with and back to work…" 

Garnet bit her tongue before she spoke further. "The brand of heroism I believed them to have was one founded on the close bond they had together. Instead, it was one founded in hatred from their father's mistreatment and brutal business tactics. Like their fathers' they inherited a certain kind of negativity. They wanted to be heroes but not in the same way you three seem to. They want a world full of mindless drones who do what they are told and act the way they should. Of course, that is good since people will follow laws, however, the world is not so black and white."

The three watched Garnet struggle with the final words she was going to say before ending the story. "By the time we realized the three were missing we had already found the fathers. One burned to a charred body. One frozen solid after the water had been manipulated to freeze inside them. And lastly, one that had rotted for what seemed for years. I can still remember it like it happened the day before."