Ambrose Sanctuary

Chapter Two: Rosewood Cabin

"Excuse me?"

"Your cellphone."

"I didn't bring one," I reply, shifting in my seat as I look around the small cabin office, trying to focus on anything but Tammy's ever present grin. The books and brochures that decorate the wall all seem to be brightly colored with different topics painted across each attractive cover. One is a book on helping teens control their anger, while another one seems to be for the adults and how to handle outbursts from their children. The window to my left allows a great stream of sunlight to hit my skin, almost welcoming me here as though it knew I would come.

"Kendall I saw you slip it into your bra before your father left," Tammy says. I had, of course, expected something like this to happen, which was precisely the reason why I had tried to slip the phone into my bra discreetly. Tammy, however, had proved to be much more hard to fool than she looked. Even without a signal, the camp had to have some WiFi somewhere, which was why I still had my hands in my pocket, refusing to budge. "Isn't this like an invasion of privacy or something? You can't take away my phone. It's mine."

"Your parents-" she starts off, but I cut her off before she can finish.

"My parents," I say, pausing as I let my eyes roll, "do not get to say what happens to my belongings. This phone belongs to me. I'm of age now. I legally responsible for my own possessions."

As if she had heard this argument before, which she probably had, Tammy does not waver one bit. Instead, she speaks with a confidence I didn't know she had, almost like she had been ready for me to say those exact words. "Yes Kendall, you're absolutely right about that. However, your parents are still your legal guardians. That phone is technically theirs, and you are still under their legal protection which is also why we are allowed to take away any substances we may find in your luggage. Your father told us you may have brought some along," Tammy finishes, still with the smile on her lips.

"Wha-" I start off, turning around as I hear a pair of feet tread across the hallway and into the office. Another worker, or volunteer, or whatever the hell you call these people walked in, holding my stash of cigarettes, mini liquor bottles, and my dime of weed. I watch as Tammy takes them, looking at my apologetically as she sets them down on the table. "I know this is frustrating for you Kendall. I'm really sorry we're doing this, but this is so you can focus on everything else we have to offer here. We allow the campers to take back their things by the end of their stay, but none of them usually want them back. Maybe you'll be the same?"

"You looked through my luggage?!" I'm fuming now. The package of the things I had brought along now sitting at her desk reminds me of how many clothes I had to leave behind just so I could fit as much of my drinks and cigarettes as I could. Cramming the bottles while being careful not to crush the boxes had been a difficult task, and now all my hard work was thrown away.

Wincing, Tammy sighs, putting her hands on the bag of my things as she looks at me. "You can have it back at the end of your stay if you still want it Kendall."

"I don't fucking care about that! I want my shit back now!" I scream, not caring how childish I sounded. Instead of giving me more fuel to go off of, Tammy quietly opens a drawer behind her, handing me four packages: two of nicotine patches, and two of those gums that are supposed to help you to quit smoking. "The patches are not for everyone, and the same for the gum. Maybe you should try them both and see how you like it, hm?" Her smile is back, though now it seems to be softer. "Alec will show you to your cabin Kendall," she says, motioning towards the door to a brunet I hadn't noticed was standing there. He was tall, built, and though it seemed like he had tried to hide some, I could see several tattoos that covered his arm. Without looking back at Tammy, I get up, only hearing her say "I really hope you'll enjoy your stay here. I'll see you at dinner," before I left the office and walked into the hall. Discovering my luggage by the door and remembering how it had been rummaged through, my bite down on my lips. Walking over to it, I grab the handles before a voice rings into my ears. "No, I got it." As I turn around to see the source, I come face to face with Alec, who I had completely forgotten about. Picking up both bags, he motions to the left with his head, his brown locks covering his hazel hues for a second before he pushes them out of his hair. "Your cabin's this way."

Setting foot outside, we begin walking in the direction of my cabin, though he never tells me which one it is. We pass by several cabins, all lined up on both sides of us. Aider Cabin, Hemlock Cabin, Kauri Cabin, Rimu Cabin, Spruce Cabin, and so on. I scoff, rolling my eyes, which catches Alec's attention. "What is it?"

"You guys really like wood, huh? Rimu, aider, kauri..." I go on, not noticing the smile that tugs at the corners of his lips.

"How do you know that they're all wood names? Most of our campers don't realize it," he asks, pulling at one of the handles on my bags.

"My dad's into woodwork. We used to build stuff all the time," I say with a shrug, stopping when he finally comes to a halt in front of the most intricate cabins we've passed so far. Or maybe it's just that this is the only one I've looked at longer than three seconds. Two pillars hold up the roof on top of the porch, both stunning shades that had to be rosewood. The door, handle, and pillars are covered in carvings that loop across one another with thorns sticking out of each of the smooth looking stems before all connecting at one of the five roses that are scattered across the cabin. "Rosewood Cabin," Alec finally says after allowing me to take in patterns. Dropping my bags at my feet, he straightens up. "Well uh... dinner is at 6 so you have an hour or two to look around and get settled down. I'll see you there tonight. And don't lose this," he says, handing me a brochure which I take with a confused look on my face.

"It has a map inside," he says, reaching back to play with the hair at the nape of his neck. "It'll, uh... help you get around. We'll be handing out the schedules for tomorrow at dinner." And with a soft smile, he's down the stairs and walking back towards the cabin in which we came from. Taking a deep breath, I take a hold of the handle, pushing the door open before struggling to bring my bags in.