Art of Cameron by ykmrlonm

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It must've been hours but it felt like I had a minute's worth of sleep. Maybe that's a side effect too... of whatever this is.

They make it sound like a disease.

I thought with remorse.

"Hey! Are you ready yet? "I heard a voice say from behind me somewhere.

There was a quiet response so I took it as my queue to 'get ready' as well. On this off chance of fate, my morning routine was simple. Step one: use your thumb and spit to wipe off the dirt. Step 2: run your fingers through your disgusting hair. Finally, step 3: dust off the dirt and grime-ridden clothes' to clean up. I moved to where I had heard the voices and found a shirtless Cameron. He must have heard me coming because he turned as I walked up. He gave me a small smile before pulling on a wrinkled shirt which was barely an improvement from the one last night.

"I suppose you're ready as well. We are heading to camp today, to get you registered"

I laughed cruelly and said, "Well I don't exactly have a choice but to follow you to some random place that for all I know could be a demon realm, now do I?" He gave me another one of those cheeky grins and shrugged. This did not help to settle my anxiety.

"Shall we go?" Cameron questioned rhetorically. Adriana jumped up, chipper as ever, beside him and I followed in suit. It was a quiet and peaceful walk. Quiet other than the voices running through my head telling me this could be trouble. I brushed off any uneasy feelings and just trudged behind the pair trying to keep my mind off the questions looming about my head.

After about an hour of walking, I spotted something off in the distance. I wasn't quite sure what it was but it looked like some sort of wooden fortress. "Is that where we're going?" I asked. Cameron was quiet with thin lips and a tight jaw which I took as a sign that I was supposed to be quiet now. I listened and followed along until we reached the fortress.

"Hey if it isn't the 'Golden boy'. Leo will be so happy to see you." said one guy that appeared to have the legs of a horse and body of a man. It was almost like the creatures in my Mythology textbook.

"Good to see you too Bronco," Cameron said with slight annoyance. The Horseman glared at him. "Its Bronc, thank you."

Bronc motioned us inside and heaved open the large wooden doors. Once inside I took in a deep breath. Despite the appearance on the outside of the fortress, it felt pretty spacious and friendly overall. There were small houses that could fit probably 3 people in each. It really was a beautiful place. Small flower and vegetable gardens lined up behind houses in small grassy patches. People were walking about on makeshift sidewalks carrying baskets of food and so much more. It seemed like a small village.

"Welcome to Camp." said Cameron, "This is where people like us go for a place to stay till our time is up. There are lots of towns like these around the world."

"What do you mean like us?" I asked hoping to get an answer out this time," Are you saying people stay here until they die?" I added frantically.

Cameron placed a hand on my shoulder, which I suppose was meant to be a sympathetic gesture. "You'll see...soon. Leo will explain everything."

Keeping his hand on my shoulder he guided me to the biggest house located at the back of the town. It was as run down and makeshift as the other houses only it was bigger. Cameron opened the door for me and Adriana to go inside and shut it behind him once we entered.

We were in a spacious room with a small, obviously handmade, fireplace. In a wooden chair, a man no older than me sat. He looked up from a model he was making out of sticks and leaves. He looked to Adriana then to Cameron and his face immediately fell. "Hello, Golden boy." He looked over to me and he had a puzzled look on his face. "Who might this be? Another one?"

Cameron stepped forward and said "Well Simba, this is Ember. She's new" The man glared at Cameron before turning to me and smiling. He gestured to the chair across from the short table and himself. "Please, sit."

I did as I was told and he gave Cameron a look that told him to leave. I turned around to look at the "Golden boy" and nodded towards him seeing his precarious look directed to me to ask if it was okay. He turned with Adriana and exited the house. I almost didn't want them to leave, but I also didn't want to make the leader mad.

He began to work on his model and without looking up said "I'm Leo. I'm in charge here at Camp A."

I nodded and replied "Ember." He smiled. Now that I had a chance to sit down and look him over up close I could see he had green eyes, with light brown hair. He appeared a little more masculine and muscular than Cameron but not by much, the light stubble on his face helped to keep up this image. His "new feature", as Adriana explained it was the tail of a large cat, a lion maybe? That would explain his name being Leo.

"Now I understand that this will all be very confusing but I need you to trust me"

I laughed in my head.

It seems like everyone here must have some really bad trust issues.

"Okay," I said. Leo leaned back and clasped his hand in front of him "So Ember, you were very lonely I presume?" With hesitation, I slowly nodded, skeptical of this whole ordeal.

He sighed. "Everyone that can see you now was lonely too. That is why we're here. We are the lost, the hungry, the forgotten, Lumas if you will." He started giving a flourish of hand motions with each descriptive word.

I bit my lip. I didn't fully understand it but I now know what Adriana and Cameron meant by "us". Looks like I'm a part of a bunch of lonely homeless people.

"Why couldn't the old woman see me? "I blurted out.

Leo looked at me quizzically but he must have understood what I'd seen because he answered me, "She is not a Luma. Us Lumas have to stick together. Nobody from that world will care if we're gone. Most don't even notice or care to look. We stay here forever and eventually just... Fade."

"So I'm just going to disappear?" I asked. He nodded, and then I realized what was happening.

It's a dream. Of course, I just haven't woken up yet.

I laughed, "This is one crazy dream."

Leo frowned. "This is not a dream but if that is what you must think to keep your sanity you may do so."

Leo grabbed a small notebook with what looked like freshly made paper and not factory paper. He took a small rock that l had learned from earth science to be graphite. He made a few markings on the paper and said "I presume you will be staying with us. We will get you the supplies you need to make your new home custom to you. I'm sure Cameron would be more than happy to help you make it. I will lend my skills as well if I find the time." I blinked and sat there for a moment. He had just answered most of my questions and now I was quickly being thrown into everything.

He looked up from the paper and shooed me away, "Well go on. I'm sure you will want a roof over your head tonight. It looks like it will rain."

I pursed my lip and nodded, "Thank you," I said before exiting the house.

I stepped outside to find Cameron talking to Adriana as she made a few lines on a paper. It looked to be the start of a drawing. As the door shut behind me Cameron got up and smiled at me. It was a charming smile. He wanted me to tell him everything that had happened even though I wasn't really so sure myself. I gave him a run down and he nodded. "Well, we don't want to be stuck in the rain so we had better start on your new cottage!" He seemed extra happy. I wonder what's up with him. We made our way to the supply pile and found an open space to begin building.

Such a strange dream.