Description

Ramon Frederick, single parent of three-year old Barry that had been abused while at a nursery school, had to figure out how to deal with the situation. His business demands left little time for him to care for Barry, thirteen-year old Becky and eleven-year old David.

Therapist Dr. Coleman had an idea. Shannon Bernard, another of his patients, had lost her husband and young son in a car accident the previous year. Shannon was still struggling to recover, and was pursuing her college education partially as a means to cope. With summer vacation just around the corner, Dr. Coleman suggested that Ramon hire Shannon to help bring Barry out of his shell. Since his abuse by a woman, Barry had been particularly distrusting of most females. Ramon and Shannon soon made an agreement. Ramon owned a cabin on a lake in the mountains, and they decided that Shannon, the cook and the kids would spend the summer in this ideal setting to promote Barry’s healing process.

The summer began with great expectations. Cousins also arrived to share the cabin. In particular, Becky and sixteen-year old cousin Jason began spending a lot of time together. However, a few days later Jason had a strange experience and was almost drowned. Jason refused to talk about it. Only Becky was aware of what really happened, and if she told, who would believe her? Shannon became aware that Barry had made some weird drawings in his notebook, but she did not attach any significance to them. Shannon was slow to accept that something really was not right. Barry had frequently talked to two invisible friends while at home, and this continued at the cabin. Barry’s “friends” seemed less and less friendly as time passed, and he began to realize that they had powers on their own, and that he had no control over them. Worse, his friends seemed intent on doing harm.