Camp-19

Chapter 5- Past

It is Myra who wants to join Ace: ''Can I sit here?'' Ace replies: ''Sure.'' Both of them stare at the campfire until Myra says: ''We live in hard times since this pandemic started.'' Ace responds: ''I know. Who would have thought that it will go this far? It seemed so innocent but in such a short time it spread everywhere and so many died because of it.'' Myra looks at the sky who is covered with stars and says: ''At the beginning, it was just a fever but it got worse and people began to hallucinate and also the organs began to fail until the victim spitted blood.'' He says: ''There were a couple of ways to die because of the virus. Firstly because of the fever. Secondly the hallucinations caused some people to do reckless things like jumping from a house. Thirdly internal bleeding. At least one of those symptoms caused the death, right?'' She responds: ''Yeah, I guess. But we are saved here. The virus either spreads through blood contact with an infected person or if you breathe infected air. Most cities had such infected air that you couldn't go there anymore. Since this forest is high in the mountain the infected air won't reach us that's the good part but it's a too big risk to leave this forest so we decided to stay here.''

Ace says: ''I remember when the chaos began. You know I have always lived with my grandfather who is a smart man. He knew that staying too long in the city would kill us so he decided to go to the highest thing he could see and discovered this mountain. Since then we live here but he is in Camp-8 and I am here so I didn't see him in a while but I told Aiden to greed him from me.'' Myra says: ''That's good.''

Ace seems curious and asks Myra: ''And what did you experience when the chaos started?'' Myra looks sad and Ace realizes what he asked. It was insensitive and tactless. She could have had it worse than him who was lucky not to have lost someone. He immediately apologizes: ''I am sorry! It's not my place to ask such a thing.'' Myra smiles and says: ''No, it's okay. I don't remember everything since I was 8 when it happened but I can remember the important things. I lived with my older sister. Her name was Cora. Since our parents died in a plane crash she took care of me. She was such a good person. So innocent and pure. The opposite of me I must say. She always worked hard to be able to give me a good life. Then everything happened so quickly. One night she woke me up and we drove out of the town. Cora told me that her friends called her and told her about a safe place. We drove for days. She got weaker and weaker and one day she collapsed when she was about to get something from the gas station. Someone carried her into the car but he also had to leave. So I was alone with her. She slept but didn't seem to wake up. 2 days after she collapsed she opened her eyes and mumbled: ''Mom? I think I have a cold. I don't feel good.'' I was so shooked. She seemed to see our mom but she was already dead. I was little but even I knew that hallucinations are a symptom to have the virus. But I didn't want to accept that. I spoke with her and told her that it's gonna be alright. The next day she screamed. She said that it hurts and I didn't know what to do. I cried and hugged her. I told her the pain is going to leave soon. Then pushed me away and started spitting blood. Cora said that I should stay away and not touch the blood. I immediately covered my body with clothes and put gloves on that Cora packed for the winter. I covered my face with a scarf so that just my eyes were uncovered. I didn't want her to die alone. She was in so much pain. In the news I heard it could take days until the victim finally dies and is relieved from the pain. I didn't want her to suffer this much. So I searched for a knife. And I found one. It was the knife with that Cora always peeled apples for me. I took it. My whole body shook and I couldn't stop crying until Cora said that's okay and I don't have to be afraid. So I took all my courage and with one strong stab I stabbed through her heart. After realizing what I did I screamed and cried. Then a man found me and my sister. His name was Joe. He didn't ask what happened. He just asked if I want to live. So I went with him and we ended up in this mountain. And that's the story of how I ended up here, I guess.'' Myra looks at Ace and sees him crying: ''I am so sorry that you had to go through this Myra.'' Myra laughs: ''Come on! You don't have to cry! It's in the past!'' Ace can't believe how she acts so strong. He knows she is hurt. Maybe her personality is like that or since she is the leader he guesses that showing emotions lets someone looks weak. So he didn't question her behavior.

Myra says: ''Oh, that's right! I haven't shown you the tree, right?'' Ace is confused: ''What do you mean? Which tree? Here are everywhere trees.'' Myra smiles: ''You idiot, it's a special tree!'' Ace asks: ''And what's so special about it?'' She says: ''Just follow me and you will see!''