The Camp

Chapter 4

I was woken by a sudden turn and poor little Emily sliding across the seat into my side, she mumbled something that I missed because I was still half asleep. A round of awestruck whispers crossed round the bus and I found myself blinking groggily out of the window.

Outside a huge sign towered above us, painted in a fresh coat of bright paint and carved neatly to resemble a totem pole. The prominent letters were highlighted in a clean white and as I read them my mouth fell open in amazement. "The Camp" I read aloud, receiving a disgruntled look from the girls around me. This grand gesture led on to a gravel path that wound up into what I assumed were hills. Stapled to bleak wooden posts in strange angles were warning signs for trespassing and warnings of high-level security. For a split second I allowed myself to think that the security was for us, that the cruel culling of the weak was a mere televised stunt in a bid for more viewers but as we found our way up the hill I began to realise that the security was in fact for the celebrities and the high tech gadgets that were highly sort after.

Emily leaned forward, pressing her tiny face against the glass. Her hands splayed out and misty handprints began to seep across the cold window. I felt like laughing myself crazy, this place was much more than I'd expected and ten times better than my home.

As the bus pulled into the main yard, I got a view of towering buildings with wooden panelled walls. The paths were made of some sort of grey gravel and the perimeter was lined with magnificent, emerald fir trees. A flag had been attached to a polished silver pole and floated a few meters form the ground, pressed and bright in its glory. Many of the girls around me nattered excitedly, wowing at the sheer size of the buildings and marvelling over the grandeur of the setting. It was true that most of us had never had anything quite like this but as well as that nothing could cloud the fact that it was a luxury before death, a last dig effort to give us the best end possible.

Leaning out into the isle I could see another bus parked up in front of us as our driver spun us into the same position. However, it appeared empty and upon closer inspection I realised that the girls from that bus had already departed and were standing in neat lines at the edge of the yard. Our flabby bus driver suddenly stood up and turned to address us, his bulging stomach poking out from beneath his grubby shirt. "You have arrived at your destination..." he announced, bowing cheekily and kicking the stiff door open, "Now bog off." That was it, the grand finale of normality I thought miserably to myself and then the first row of girls began to trail off the bus in an orderly fashion.

I turned to Emily, "What do you think?" I asked gingerly as she pried her face away from the cool glass, "Its amazing." She chimed and I could almost see her bouncing up and down on the rusty springs of the chair in excitement. A smile settled on my face as I peered through the dirt and smudges to catch a glimpse of the girls lining up. I was actually trying to get a look at this year's celebrities when the gruff driver appeared at my side. "You getting off or not?" I nodded meekly and got to my feet, clutching the metal hand holds. He rolled his eyes as I smoothed down my dress. "All you girls are prissy little-" He was cut off by a speaker blasting out the anthem of the show, it was the kind of song that a country would choose for their national anthem. Dread mixed with an odd hint of excitement propelled me forwards and down the steps, following on from the girls in front. What shocked me the most was the heat, the overwhelming lack of shade from the boiling sun. Judging by this I guessed that we were somewhere in Nevada, yet the fir trees did not back up my idea. The sharp gravel beneath my feet poked through the soles of my old ballet pumps and left painful marks across my soles as I walked.

Emily's cold hand grabbed my arm and yanked me along, jumping excitedly. I let her lead me down towards the mass of gathering girls, once there we found ourselves stood awkwardly at a junction where each girl had split off into their separate states. Emily pointed towards an empty lane. "That's Oregon." She exclaimed as she released my trembling arm and darted for our predetermined line. Following her with much less enthusiasm I found my place as second in line before being propelled forwards by weak arms. Looking down I realised that Emily had retreated behind me and was smiling up at me with a cheeky grin, "I guess I'm the first in the line then." I muttered and she giggled as a large black door opened and a flustered woman emerged.