THE CAMP 001

Chapter 3

"That's it for today" I ended the story I was telling.

"The other half is for tomorrow, okay."

Everyone was done with dinner and they were cleaning. I wanted to help, but at some-point little James had crawled on to my lap and now he was deep in sleep. He had himself curled between my arms and his head rested on my chest, warm puffs of breath shifted my hair. Other three boys were looking sleepy too. Cici was taking the two girls out of the tent but when I stood up to go after her, she was gone.

"That is not something we see every day." I turned around to see Alex standing in front of me. He was looking at little James.

"You see, he has trouble with sleeping. Nightmares and all but he seems relaxed. He must have felt safe with you." said Alex.

"Aa, really." I have no idea what to say. what am I supposed to say?

"Can you tell me where to put him down" I finally asked.

"It's fine I'll take him." He leaned in to take little James in to his arms but James put his arm on me and clung on to me.

"Well, he glued himself on you. Let me show you the way." said Alex

Outside the tent, it was cold. Stars were shining bright in the sky. Alex picked up one of the sleepy boys. He took me to one of the longer tenets. This one had mattresses just like the one Cici showed me but few dozens of guys were lying on the mattresses. Some were talking, some were half asleep but went I entered the tent everyone went quiet raising the tension in the room. I walked through a path in the middle of the tent. I could feel shark like eyes following me to the end and one of them shouted

"Freaking Alex brought the new girl in here are you going to invite her to bed?"

"Shut up Jorden" Sammy replied annoyedly.

On to the corner there were four mattresses side by side. Alex put down the boy on one of the mattresses and signaled me to do the same. I slowly put down James on the mattress. Just when I let go of James, he opened his eyes.

"Are you going to leave" he asked with sadness filled in his eyes that I couldn't let myself say yes.

Alex stood up and looked down at me "James, you can't ask her to say you now the rules. No girls in the boy's tenet."

"it's fine I'll stay until you fall asleep. Okay"

Alex looked troubled but he didn't tell anything. He left us and went to his friends who were looking at us without blinking. After Alex left the tension broke and every one was back to normal. I tucked in the boys to their mattresses and sat beside James.

Being relaxed after a while made the horrific activities of the day return to my mind. The bomb in the bus. My sweet mother being dragged away. I really hope she is fine. The only thing I had to do was keeping my mum safe and I failed it so miserably. When I was little, she used to make me pancakes shaped like little harts. Even though I tried to look brave she was the only one who knew how I truly felt inside. The warm summer smile of hers always made me forget the burdens I carry.

Someone tapped on my shoulder and I jolted up. I have fallen asleep while sitting beside James. He was already asleep. I looked up to see Alex standing next to me.

"You should go. It's not safe here if someone finds you."

I nodded and stood up and soundlessly crept out of the tent. It looked like middle of the night. I took few steps forward but all the tents looked alike I was not sure what was the one I was supposed to be in. I turned around. Alex was still there at the entrance.