They/Them

In a remote, pine‑scented wilderness a sleek facility markets itself as a haven for LGBTQ youth seeking “rehabilitation.” The camp’s glossy brochure promises safe space and personal growth, yet the sprawling grounds feel more like a maze of quiet corridors and watchful eyes. From the moment the newcomers arrive, the atmosphere crackles with an uneasy blend of hopeful anticipation and underlying dread, as the promise of acceptance is shadowed by rigid routines and subtle coercion.

Leading the group is Owen, a charismatic director whose polished smile masks an unspoken authority that shapes every interaction. Among the campers, Jordan arrives with a fragile bargain struck with a religious family, embodying the tension between survival and self‑assertion. Alexandra, carrying the weight of a concealed trans identity, navigates the camp’s expectations while quietly seeking solidarity. The staff, including a determined nurse named Molly, add layers of complexity, oscillating between compassion and the enforcement of the camp’s strict agenda.

The daily schedule—group circles, structured activities, and mandatory therapy sessions—serves as both a façade of community and a mechanism of control. As the youths are nudged to share their stories, they grapple with the psychological techniques designed to reshape belief and behavior. Friendships flicker into alliances, while mistrust lingers like fog among the cedars, hinting that not all eyes are benevolent.

Beneath the regimented routine, a quiet menace begins to stir. Whispers of an unseen presence circulate, and the once‑ordered environment grows increasingly hostile, turning simple interactions into guarded exchanges. The campers find themselves caught between confronting internal demons and the looming threat that shadows the camp’s corridors, setting the stage for a tense struggle to reclaim agency and escape the sinister grasp of the place they entered seeking refuge.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 16:51