Page 39 of Obscurity
When Olive and Jason emerged from their tent, she saw that a crowd had gathered in the center of the festival grounds.
The volume of complaints grew by the minute, and even from a distance, Olive could see that people were beyond frustrated.
They were furious.
“This is absolutely unacceptable!” Maya’s voice cut through the general murmur of discontent. She stood near the front of the crowd, her phone held high as she documented the scene for her followers. “I paid five thousand dollars for luxury glamping, and they gave me a tent that smells like mildew and a sleeping bag that’s probably older than I am!”
A chorus of agreement rose from the crowd. People held up their phones to document the area and show off the deplorable accommodations. They compared notes about missing amenities and false advertising.
“Where’s the gourmet food we were promised?” called out an older man in a cowboy hat. “Catering ran out of everything except granola bars!”
“And what about the spa services?” added a woman who looked like she’d never been camping in her life. “The website specifically mentioned massage therapy and wellness treatments!”
Connor held his camera, recording the crowd’s anger and the stark reality of their surroundings.
Dr. Z stood at the edge of the crowd, a scowl on his face. He was probably mentally calculating the financial loss he was going to take on this.
That was when Brad Kellerman appeared again. He climbed onto the stage with his arms raised in a gesture that was probably meant to be calming but came across as condescending.
“Folks, folks!” His voice carried across the crowd. “I understand some of you have concerns about the accommodations?—”
“Concerns?” Maya stepped forward, still filming. “These aren’t concerns, these are straight-up lies! You advertised luxury wilderness experiences and delivered summer camp rejects!”
The crowd roared its agreement, and Brad’s smile became more strained. “I know it’s not what you expected. But remember, you’re paying for authenticity. Real wilderness experience. Connection with nature that you can’t get at some corporate resort?—”
“For five thousand dollars?” another man called out. “I could have gone to an actual luxury resort for less than this!”
“When does the music start?” someone from the back of the crowd called out. “At least tell me Midnight Echo is still performing tonight! Aren’t we supposed to have a meet and greet?”
Brad paused for a second too long—long enough for Olive to know what was coming.
“Well . . .” His smile faltered. “I do have a small update about tonight’s lineup.”
The crowd’s energy shifted from angry to dangerous.
“Midnight Echo has encountered some transportation issues getting their equipment to our remote location.” Brad’s voice pitched higher. “But we’ve arranged instead for some incrediblelocal talent that really captures the authentic spirit of Appalachian music?—”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Maya’s voice cracked with disbelief. “Midnight Echo was the entire reason I came here!”
“Local talent?” An older man’s face turned red. “I didn’t pay thousands of dollars to hear some guy play hillbilly music with a banjo!”
The crowd grew more unhinged by the second. People shouted over each other, waved their phones, and demanded refunds that clearly weren’t going to happen.
Olive noticed how Max, Sorrel, and Tom had positioned themselves around the perimeter of the crowd. If she had to guess, they’d done so not to help manage the situation, but to prevent anyone from leaving. Six other men had joined them as new groups had arrived.
“Now, now.” Brad held up his hands. “I know change can be difficult, but I promise you that tonight’s performances are going to be unlike anything you’ve experienced?—”
“Because they’re going to suck!” someone yelled.
“This is already unlike anything I’ve ever experienced!” another voice yelled. “And not in a good way. We want our money back.”
“I want to speak to whoever’s really in charge here!”
Olive caught Jason’s eye and saw her own thoughts reflected there.
If the crowd kept escalating like this, she had a feeling they were about to find out exactly what Brad meant when he said tonight would be “unlike anything they’d experienced.”
The question was whether any of them would survive to tell about it.
