Welcome to Camp Hope

🐿️ Flynn's POV 🐿️

I am very worried for Vallen. He fainted and collapsed onto the floor. Officer Connor ran to get the doctor. Mr. Sander is at Vallen’s side, so is Kelly. 

I was chewing on my fingernails with nerves coursing through out of my body. Karson stared at Vallen’s lifeless body. I shuddered at the thought.

“He’ll be alright. He didn’t hit his head when he fell.” Karson said with a roll of his eyes.

I turned to face him with a look of exasperation. How can he be so cold-hearted? Something could be seriously wrong with Vallen.

“Can’t you show a little bit of sympathy? Or concern? It doesn’t hurt anyone to have a heart, you know.” I snapped.

He looked at me in irritation. Karson gritted his teeth and I saw the underlying fear in his eyes. I then casted my gaze to the ground.

“Sorry.” I muttered.

Karson sat down at the table where we were working on birdhouses. Vallen’s eyes opened, but they looked unfocused.

“Hey, it’s okay. Let’s get you sat up. Slowly.” Mr. Sander said, helping him into a sitting position.

“What happened?” he asked. 

“You fainted, Officer Connor went to get Dr. York.” Mr. Sander informed. 

Officer Connor and the doctor rushed in. Dr. York went straight to Vallen’s side. Mr. Sander and Dr. York took Vallen to his office. Officer Connor got us under control and had us return to the activity. 

Kelly joined mine and Karson’s group. I tried to cheer them up. Soon enough Mr. Sander came back. Kelly looked over to him in worry. He came over to us.

“Vallen is okay, it just was malnutrition. We will get him back to good health. So don’t worry guys.” Mr. Sander told us. 

I saw Karson physically relax and Kelly calmed down. I smiled reassuringly at them. Our group built a total of seven birdhouses. Mr. Sander told us that we will be painting them at the end of the week.

Vallen was in the cabin, sleeping. I relaxed fully at the sight of him. Karson went into the bathroom to change for the night. I waited for him to get out. After he got out, he laid down in his bed. 

I went into the bathroom and took a shower before getting into my pajamas. I quietly laid down in my bed and stared up at the ceiling. My brain replayed the events of the day in my head. God today was a mess. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. 

Mr. Sander woke us up early the next morning. Vallen jolted up out of bed and looked around the room. I was the first to the bathroom to get changed. When I left, Karson was still in bed sleeping. 

Vallen and Kelly both entered the cafeteria at the same time. Karson barely made it before Mr. Sander had to go get him. I was sitting with Vallen and Kelly. Karson walked over to us and sat down at the table. 

Vallen looked over at Karson with unfocused and soft eyes. I sort of recognized that look from yesterday at lunch. Kelly reached over and took his hand. Vallen looked over to her. Kelly whispered in his ear but I couldn’t hear what was said.

His eyes lit up a bit and reached into his pocket. He withdrew an orange bracelet. He placed it around his wrist. Kelly gave him a cheery smile. I looked over to Mr. Sander.

Breakfast came and went pretty quickly. Kelly and Vallen were partnered up for community service while I was with Karson. Mr. Sander and Emily stood a little ways away from us, talking.

Karson gritted his teeth with frustration. I tried to stay out of his way so as to not get blown up on. 

“I hate this. It’s way too early for this.” he complained.

I shrugged in response, “It’s not that bad.”

He glared at me, but went back to digging. I handed him another tree. I probably shouldn’t have said anything. My focus was directed over to Kelly and Vallen. Vallen wasn’t really doing anything. 

But it looks like Kelly didn’t mind though. Soon enough it was over. Before we went into our cabins, Mr. Sander handed Vallen one of the girls' uniforms. I was able to get in the bathroom before Vallen and Karson. 

The bruises around my throat are pretty bad. I hissed softly in pain as I lightly pressed on one. They were really dark and hurts like crazy. I sighed with exhaustion.

“Hurry up.” Karson yelled.

Lunch flew by pretty quick without issues. Vallen came out of whatever he was in. We went over to the study cabin. Vallen got tested on something and Mrs. Stone sighed.

I was working on Pre-Calculus. I happened to catch a glance at Kelly’s work and it looks like she is working on College Prep stuff. Karson was getting forced to do his work. 

He looks super close to blowing a casket. I moved closer to Kelly to avoid him taking his anger out on me. Luckily everything went smoothly without any trouble. We went back to the cafeteria.

I was pulled out for therapy this time. I sat in front of Ms. Burke nervously. She gave me a reassuring smile trying to calm my nerves.

“How are you today?” she asked. 

I shrugged and averted my eyes away from hers, “It was okay, I guess.” 

“I heard about what happened yesterday morning. Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

I shrugged again, “I’m fine, I am just bruised. It scared me at the time.” 

She nodded and wrote what I said down. She asked to see my throat so I tilted my head up to show her. She clucked her tongue softly at the sight. I lowered my head and looked at the notepad in her hands.

“How are you settling into the camp?” she asked.

“I guess I’m settling in alright.” I said.

I felt the tears building up in my eyes. Ms. Burke saw this so she handed me some. I took them with a watery smile. She asked some more questions before releasing me.