The Bender Games

Chapter Eighteen

The Bender Games:

Chapter 18: Just another Corpse

 

    It is now turning dark, so I slowly creep out of my hiding spot, and put all of the pond water back into its original position. I take a tentative step forward, and look around me to make sure that there is no one around who would want to harm me. I see no one in my sights right now, so I decide to make a break for it.

    I carefully creep around the perimeter of the pond, looking around for any possible places I could fall asleep. So far, there is nothing. My eyes roam around the wooden landscape. Trees pop out of the ground as far as the eye I can see. Vines grow around some of the trunks. Bugs swarm around me, and I swat them away with my hand. There are plants everywhere, and the occasional fallen log blocks the landscape. I continue to walk around, when I see a hollowed log, which is the perfect size for me. I throw my things in before me (except my water pouch and thermal blanket). Then I slowly crawl into the log, and squeeze in perfectly. I grab my backpack and use it as a pillow. Then I take the thermal blanket and wrap it around my shoulders. I cover myself head to toe with the blanket, and lean my head against my bag. I feel as snug as a bug. If I close my eyes, I can picture myself back at Providence Five, in my bed with Cam in the cot next to me. Sure, this log is not as comfy as my old mattress, but it's not uncomfortable either.

    Right as I am about to fall asleep, I hear a snap. I lift my head up, but don't see anything. My senses go on high alert for any signs of life. My eyes scan the area around me, trying to make anything out of the shadows. If anything moves, I'll catch it. I continue to look around. The only thing visible to me is a glow on the other side of the pond. Someone has made a fire. I roll my eyes. What an idiot. That is a good way to get killed. I can hear Benjamin's voice in my head now, telling me: "You see? I'm not stupid."

    I turn over to my side and close my eyes. My eyelids feel heavy, and I am exhausted. But I shouldn't sleep for too long, so that way I can use the cover of the night to hunt for food. Then I can take my snacks with me to my little hiding spot. That is my plan. It may not be much, but it is something.

    I can feel sleep overcoming me once again, and I am lulled to sleep.

    I dream about being back in Providence Five. I am with Cam, the two of us are on the edge of the river. I am teaching Cam a new waterbending move that I figured out. From the looks of it, this happened a few years ago. I can tell, because my hair is tied into a ponytail, instead of my usual half up, half down. Not only that, but Cam looks a lot younger. His face is rounder, and he is slightly chunkier than he is now. When Cam was little, he was a little pudgy. But then he hit his growth spout, and now he is as thin as a twig.

    Cam struggles with the move, his face is twisted into a deep, furrowed frown. He moves his hands around, trying to get the water to respond to his command, when the water slaps him in the face. Cam stumbles back and grabs his bleeding eye. Then he starts to cry.

    Younger me turns around and sees Cam, and she runs over.

    "Let me see it Cam." She tells him. Cam shakes his head, the little nutball is so stubborn. Mini me then sighs and crosses her arms.

    "It won't get better unless you let me see it." She prompts him. Cam gives her a big puppy-dog stare, his bottom lip sticks out past his upper lip. The only way you would get him to do anything was if you bribed him. Mini me sighs and takes one of Cam's hands. "I'll give you a piece of my dinner tonight." She prompts him. That one mention is so tempting to Cam that his good eye widens and he pulls his hand away from his bad eye.

    Mini me tilts Cam's head back so she can take a better look at Cam, then she nods and makes a mental note to herself (I always did like to play doctor when I was a kid). Mini me then says: "uh-huh", and takes Cam's hand. She takes him to the river, and has him lay on his back. Cam does as he is told, because he knows he will get a reward if he behaves.