This chapter is dedicated to the silent readers, whoever you are I love you guys

My back ached and made cracks rivaling the fire I was currently tending. Cody had convinced the kids this was just a fun sleep away camp until their parents came to get them. But for now, it looked like we were on our own. 

The kids were surprisingly resilient. Laughing, skip roping, and just being kids. Fewer tears than I had expected had been shed last night. I smiled watching one of the older kids comfort a smaller one and drag them off to play a game with Cody. He met my eyes from the field and smiled before throwing a ball to the kids.

The kids couldn't get enough of him. He was always ready to play a game and seemed a lot more relaxed when freed from the classrooms that held us captive for most of the day. Less fidgety and jumpy. But technically he was moving almost all the time so I'm not quite sure if that was an accurate judgment on my part.

Clara sat idly talking to me as the weird combination of food we had scavenged sat stewing over the fire in a bowl of tinfoil. "Our teachers shouldn't be the ones in charge."

"What makes you say that?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"People shouldn't hide when the people they said they'd protect might be in danger."

"You're right. Maybe you should be in charge instead."

She giggled and looked up from the pieces of grass she was tying together. "I'm too little!"

"Okay fine, maybe when you're nine."

"Only if you help me." She smiles and ties more knots in the grass.

"I'll be rooting for you the whole time." I stir the soupy liquid that has become entirely too thick. "I'm going to get some more water. Will you watch this for me please?"

"Yep."

I get up and grab the bucket sitting next to the rocks we placed around the rocks. Nova's gleaming locked doors send a bright glare in my eyes. I scowl. Clara really should be running this place. How could the assumed smartest people of the generation, entrusted to teach everything to the next, know less than an eight-year-old?

I sighed. Considering everything, I wasn't even that surprised.

I turned the tap to the hose we'd hooked up to the school's water supply. The water trickled slowly into the bucket.

River slowly walked over to me threading her fingers through her messy darkish blonde hair. The bags under her eyes were heavy. She smiled at me and leaned against the wall. "Hey,"

"Hey. You tired?"

She laughed under her breath and nodded.

I had really underestimated her. She had always seemed like, and excuse my judging, a pretty little princess.

She was really popular at school, and popular people usually didn't like to descend from their thrones to help others. I was learning now that I was wrong, and not all popular people were like that.

"We really couldn't have done this without you." I scuffed my feet on the ground. "I may not seem like it but I really appreciate everything you are doing."

"Same goes for me. You really stuck it to the teachers." She grinned. "I never would've gathered the courage on my own."

After a few moments filled only by the trickling water she says, "I like your shoes."

I look down for a moment. Did I remember I was wearing shoes? Maybe not. "I like your hair."

She grins and looks down. "I should probably get back. I'm late for an imaginary tea party."

I turn the water off and grab the bucket. "See you around, River."

The water sloshes around in the bucket, drops spilling out on my shoes. I keep my eyes down trying to steady it.

I wonder how-

"Scarlet."

I yelp and spill more of the water on the ground. "Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there."

I am still confused about Nylena. I'm not sure what to think about her. I honestly just did not get her. I felt sympathetic but for what? What even happened? Why does society dictate that I shouldn't ask and just leave it be? She was so confusing.

She locked eyes with me. I immediately started looking anywhere but at her. Her eyes just gave me a headache. And made it so it was hard to focus on anything.

She rubbed her wrists, fingers trailing up and down the silver and gold bands that wound around them. "I need to talk to you."

"Um, okay? I mean right now? Or, uh..."

"Now. Preferably. But I don't want to intrude."

"Oh, of course! You're not intruding at all." I set the bucket down and sat a few feet away. "Here. Sit with me and we can talk."

She tentatively sat beside me letting her hands rest on the grass. How she managed to wear leather in this heat was beyond me. Though she did look gorgeous.

"So?"

"Yes, right. I-" She paused gazing into the sky for a moment. "I'm not sure how to say this exactly, but... It's just... I wanted to thank you. For everything. Even though I'm a complete stranger."

"Hey, it was nothing. Anyone else would've done the same thing."

"Obviously not. Just look behind you." She pointed at the locked doors. She was right of course, I just didn't want to admit it. I wasn't that person. I was just, you know, normal me. Not some superhero that was going to save everyone. I could try but it probably wouldn't work.

"I just wanted to say thanks." She straightened her shoulders and set her hands on her lap. "But, what's the plan? I mean we can't stay here forever."

"The school will go out of lockdown soon, so-"

"No, what's the plan? They didn't help us. We don't need them." Her face was stern. "Well, we kind of do-"

She cut me off, "This is unacceptable. If it rains the children will grow ill. We have to do something!"

"We can't do much of anything right now."

"Look at me." She grabbed my arm. Instinctively I looked up at her. A small throbbing erupted in my skull. I looked away rubbing my eyes. She drew her hand back.

"Listen, we can figure something out later. I have to finish making this soup."

She mumbled something I couldn't quite make out.

I stood and grabbed the bucket. "If I can help you with anything just let me know."

She nodded, her back to me and casting a long shadow over the sloped hill.

I made my way back up to the fire where Clara's grass chain had grown long enough to touch the ground. I sat next to her on the log and poured some of the water in the bowl. "So, I've been thinking about your campaign. For your colors, are you thinking red or blue?"

"Purple." She finished off the chain and placed it on my head. "And the stickers will be shiny."

"Ah, good thinking." I grinned and squeezed her hand. "We'll make a president out of you yet."

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