"Yeah, I agree. Let's go." I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing my hands up and down my arms to warm myself up a little. I wasn't too cold, but I was ready to get back inside. I needed a shower and more sleep. Today had been a long day, just like the past couple of days had been. It seemed like Sam and I couldn't catch a break. Since the first day I'd met him, which was probably just about a week ago, we'd been running all over the place. I just wanted to feel safe for once.

I nodded with a small smile and led the way back to our cabin, ready to rest. "Wait." I said as I remembered something with a start. "I'm supposed to go back to see Glenda at the infirmary. Shoot. I forgot- with everything that happened." I stopped and looked back at Daisy. "You can go back to the cabin, get some sleep. I'll be there soon." I said pulling a hand out of my pocket and gripped my side as it suddenly throbbed in pain.

I watched as he suddenly gripped his side, trying to stop the pain. "Are you sure? I can come with you, Sam. It's no biggie." I offered. "At least let me walk you there. I'll leave once you get to the door. That way you can have some privacy." I said. I wouldn't mind walking him to the infirmary. He came back in that crowd of people to find me, so the least I could do was walk with him to go see Glenda.

"You really don't have to." I started to protest before I saw her look. She was sincere, she didn't mind, and I could use the company despite how much I knew she needed to rest, I couldn't quite say no.
"Fine. I don't really know the way anyway..." I said as I began walking again, hoping that I was going in the right direction. I wondered if Glenda had found anything on the x-ray she had taken, hopefully this would be an in and out situation.

I walked beside him, stuffing my hands in my jacket pockets and clearing my throat to speak. "So...:" I started. "Do you think she found anything?" I asked, looking at Sam then back ahead of me. It wouldn't take long to get to the infirmary. Just a few minutes and we'll be arriving at the big white building. "I hope she didn't. That wouldn't be good." I frowned.

"I hope not." I looked over at her, slipping my hand back into my pocket. "It doesn't feel like anything's broken so hopefully that's a good sign. I just hope there's nothing else." I said shrugging my shoulders gently. My body still ached, even more than earlier after the riot in the food hall. I couldn't believe we were being sent out to the front line. Why? Did they not want us anymore? Were we a bad group of soldiers? I couldn't help but feel like I helped play a part in their decision if that was the case. "You have any idea where your sister might be?" I asked curiously, ready for a change of subject. "At all?"

I shook my head, "I have no clue where she's at. I haven't seen her in about a year. So I doubt she even knows I got drafted." I shrugged. "Unless my parents wrote her and told her. But I hope I run into her sometime." I gave him a small smile. "Even though we can hardly stand each other, I sure do miss her." I began to think of how Violet always got me in trouble with her and how we always argued. But at the end of the day, we were friends... Sometimes. "Heard from your dad? Any letters?" I asked in return. "I haven't heard from my parents in a while."

I shook my head quickly. "No nothing. I doubt anything would even reach us now. It's not like we're officially apart of this base." I said thinking of my dad. He probably wouldn't even blink an eye when he received the letter of my 'heroic death and the brave dedication I provided my country.' Just drop it in the bin and pour himself another drink. "Last thing I got was a post card. I probably won't even be here still when the next ones sent."

"Ah." He was right. "Well. Whatever base you end up at next, hopefully you'll be official. Then your dad will know you're alright and he can send you a letter." I gave him a small smile. "Same for me. Wherever I end up next, hopefully my parents will send me a letter. Maybe even a package with some snacks because military food sucks." I joked. "Except tonight. That was pretty good...." I paused. "Until we figured out why we were actually being served a gourmet meal." I shook my head, stupid to bring up that conversation again. "Anyway, we're almost there. See that white building?" I pointed.

I smiled slightly before looking towards where she had pointed. "Oh, not too far." I said knowing I would be able to make it back just fine. "Thanks for walking me, but this is far enough, you go and get some rest. I'm sure I won't be long." I told her, slowing to a stop and turning to face Daisy. It wasn't late, but we'd been through so much lately, I could feel the exhaustion hovering over us like a cloud. A good nights sleep would do both of us good.

"Alright then, and you're welcome." I gave him a small smile as he faced me. "Then I guess I'll see you back at the dorms. Good luck in there. I hope everything is ok with you." I stuffed my hands farther into the pockets of my hoodie. "See ya!" I said before walking off back towards the dorms. I couldn't wait to take a hot shower and go back to sleep. We hadn't even been back a full 24 hours yet and everything was already chaotic. I was just ready to pass out and forget about the day.

I smiled and stood as I watched her walk away, clenching my hands in my pocket as a gust of cold air blew over me. "Let's get this over with then." I mumbled to myself and turned around heading towards the only white building in the camp.
Pushing open the door, I followed the hallway down to the room we'd been in earlier today. Stepping inside, I noticed it was quiet and dark, with now only one person sleeping in one of the beds at the back of the room- quite a difference from the amount of people who had been in here this morning.
"Mr. Pace?" A voice from behind grabbed my attention and I spun where I stood facing whoever it was, their body enveloped in shadows from the glow of the hallway behind them. "You're a little later than I expected but I suppose you are here now so lets get started. Follow me." As the voice continued, I recognized it as Glenda's. She sounded tired as she turned away and gestured for me to follow her down the hall.

I crossed my arms over my chest as I walked, trying to make myself warmer and protect myself from the cold wind that began to blow. In just a few short minutes, I was back at our dorm and walking through the door. A few faces turned my way as I walked in, examining me for a few seconds then turning back to whatever they were doing. Reading, playing cards, etc. I walked over to my bed and slipped out of my shoes. I wished I had more clothes with me, but they were all left behind at the other camp that was attacked. Along with the letters from my parents.

"Let's get this over with." I mumbled to myself as I grabbed the extra pair of clean clothes and slung them over my shoulder. I dragged myself to the next room where the bathrooms were located and pulled a shower curtain open, stepping back and looking around for the rack that was supplied with clean towels and washcloths. Once I spotted it, I grabbed one of each and returned to the shower. Turning the water to 'hot', undressing and stepping inside.

"Where is everyone?" I asked as I followed her, glancing into each of the rooms we passed, noticing that each was almost empty.
"Well, since they decided they were shutting down the camp and sending you lot out to the front line, things have been changing." She huffed as she reached the room she was after and pushed open the door, gesturing for me to go through.
"Wait, so they are shutting the camp down?"
"The government can't afford to keep this place running anymore. It's always been the most rundown base we've had. I would know, I've been through many." Glenda raised an eyebrow at me and pointed at a small wooden bench against the wall. "Sit." She ordered and turned around to face a desk, rummaging through a stack of papers as I did what she requested. "It's a recent development. This 'decision' of theirs. To be honest, I don't think the General had any say about it, the orders came from higher up." She took a breath. "Those rooms are almost empty because the sick soldiers have been transferred."
"Transferred." I repeated, taking all of this information in. "Well then why are there still some people here?"
Glenda stopped what she was doing and turned to face me, crossing her arms over her chest. "Those soldiers aren't going to last more than two days. They won't make it to another infirmary, let alone the front line. There's nothing we can do for them, so they stay."
"Either way they die. We die." I pointed out slightly irritated.
A strange silence settled between us as Glenda's eye slipped to the floor, obviously not happy with the situation, that she couldn't do anything about it. After a moment, she stood straight and turned back around, flicking through papers until she discovered what she was looking for. "Your x-rays proved to be positive. No fractured ribs, or broken bones." She announced, pulling out an x-ray and attaching it to a light box on the wall so we could see what she was talking about. "Although some of those bruises are caused by something deeper, so I would like to try do an MRI Scan on your chest, just to make sure I'm not missing anything."
I looked over the x-ray as she spoke. Where was this supposed to lead to? This scan. Was it going to find out what was wrong, to heal me just so I can go and die? And there was Glenda, standing so calm as she spoke, like she'd said all of this before, like this happened all the time. Everyone in this camp was sentenced to death and she was just going to move on to another camp, to a new base. Safe from all of this crap, simply because our government can't afford it.
"There's no point." I scoffed and she looked at me. "There's no point because in less than a week I'll be on that front line and I'll be dead. Along with hundreds of other soldiers from this hellhole. It doesn't matter if there's something wrong with me or if there's not, because I'm going to die anyway." I stood up, not bothering to look back as I stormed out of her office, past the rooms that held the dying and out into the night.
Too many words were running through my head. Too much information and anger.

I'd washed up, rinsed off, and let the hot water beat down on my back. I was thinking. I was thinking of how this camp was sending us all to die. Straight to the front lines with no warning or preparation. They'd even given us our last meal . Everyone's mental state was going to slowly start deteriorating because of this information and no one would be in their right mind to fight when the time came. This would make things all too easy for the Jaxlors.
I began to think of the soldiers that would arrive at my door with a flag and a letter, explaining to my parents that one of their children had died "An Honorable Death" in combat. How when they first arrived at our door, my parents wouldn't know if it was Violet or me. This had all happened before, except they didn't have to figure out who'd died. They knew it was my brother. My parents were going to lose another child and that crushed me. If Violet was to die soon after me, they wouldn't be parents anymore. They would have no legacy to live on after they passed. They would be the parents of dead children who barely got to live to see adulthood.
I took a deep breath and tried not to cry. But I ended up choking on my tears. I covered my mouth and sobbed into my hands as quietly as I could. I didn't want anyone to hear me. What would happen to my sister? Violet was going to go from being the second child born, to the only child. She would officially be alone if she survived the war. My thoughts where everywhere. How would I die? Would it be quick or would they capture me and torture me. Would I even make it to the front lines? Every thought that traveled through my mind began to make me cry harder and harder until there were little to no more tears to shed.

I slowed down as soon as I heard the door swing shut behind me. Moving quickly hurt too much and my frustrated breaths weren't helping either.
I walked blindly, hoping that I'd at least end up near the cabins. My mind was full, swirling with bitterness as I went through, over and over, my resentment about the situation. I just wanted to scream. How could these 'people' think doing such a thing was alright? The government. Our own country, who we're supposed to trust, betray us and decide the easiest way to deal with this camp full of soldiers was to send them out to die. Why weren't we sent out to other bases? Spread amongst them to help and grow, and become better soldiers. To make our side stronger.
Nothing made any sense to me. How could they think that was okay...?
I sucked in a deep breath with a wince as I came to a stop. I just wanted to try and forget about it all. Make my mind stop running around in circles.
Looking up at the dark sky, I could see a small star every now and then through the clouds that hung oppressively low. Letting my eyes slip close, I suddenly thought about my father.
It made me sad, and guilty. He wouldn't have anyone left. He'd be alone and it would be my fault, because it's always my fault. He'd drink himself to death, he was already halfway there, it wouldn't take much more. Just a dead son to match his dead wife.
But maybe that would be okay. For me. Maybe I could finally meet her. The woman that I'd called my mother but never known. Maybe she would be kind and have the sort of smile that made you feel safe.
The idea was comforting, maybe in death I could finally be loved as a son...
Gradually, I began to feel calmer and continued my journey back to the cabin, ready for some well needed rest.

I gathered my thoughts and wiped my hands across my face, getting rid of the tears and water. I turned the shower off and ran a hand through my dripping hair. "Geez, Daisy." I mumbled to myself and took a deep, shaky breath. "Get it together."
I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around myself, stepping halfway out from behind the shower curtain and grabbed my clothes. Returning to the shelter of the shower and pulling the curtain shut, I slipped my shirt over my head and slid into my pants. Now that I was focusing on something else besides my thoughts, I could hear what was going on throughout the cabin. Throwing my towel over my shoulder, I stepped out to get a better listen. There was a small group of people talking about an escape plan so they wouldn't have to go to the front lines. So far, it didn't sound like a good plan. I couldn't tell if it was a boy or girl, but someone was sniffling and crying, letting the occasional 'I know' slip out in response to whoever was consoling them. The rest of what was happening around the dorm was jumbled up.
With a deep sigh, I walked over to my bed and plopped down, throwing my towel over the railing. I connected faces to conversations. The group with the escape plan, the crying, etc. A few people looked at me, studying my face and quickly returning back to whatever it was they were doing. I figured they could tell I was crying.... Or they either heard me. I rolled my eyes and lay on my back, looking up at the ceiling and returning back to my thoughts. I felt like I wasn't sad anymore. I was angry. Furious!

By the time I entered the cabin about ten minutes later, I was tired and sore. All I wanted to do at that point was sleep until everything was over. It should have been a quicker walk than that, but I'd ambled along without any real purpose, thinking way too many things over and suddenly feeling guilty for leaving Glenda how I had. She had only been trying to help, to give herself a task, to give me a sense of purpose before leaving to die. It was her job and I threw it back in her face.
I made my way over to my bed and sank down, lying back on top of the sheets with my eyes closed. It was lucky I hadn't changed out of my comfortable clothes, as I felt like I had no energy to even change.
I knew I needed a shower, to refresh properly after our days on the island and the mess everything had thrown at us along the way, but I couldn't bear to move, to even think about rinsing my sensitive and aching body seemed like a task sent from hell. I knew it was going to hurt, so I was avoiding it.
Instead, I lay still and tried to convince myself I'd have one in the morning. Definitely... Maybe.

"Lights out!" A girls voice chimed in, interrupting my thoughts. About a minute or two later, the room went dark and I slithered under my blankets. Whispers and murmurs filled the room. I wasn't able to make out what anyone was saying. I could just pick a word or two out from the conversations. But then again, I wasn't exactly trying to listen in on them.
I turned onto my side and noticed a lump in the bed next to me. Sam was back and I hadn't even seen or heard him come in. I wanted to ask how his visit with Glenda went but I couldn't tell if he was asleep or not. I decided I'd ask him sometime tomorrow. I reached down and grabbed my ice pack, thinking it would be thawed, but it was still pretty frozen. It had been hours since I'd got it so I had no clue why it was still cold. I shrugged and rolled over on my back, lying the icepack on my ribs and closing my eyes, trying to drift off into a well needed sleep.

Waking up the next morning wasn't easy. I still felt dead tired, despite the fact that I had fallen straight asleep once the lights had gone out. I sat up slowly, holding in a groan as I realized the room was still dark and people were still asleep. Rubbing my heavy eyes, I pulled back the blankets and stretched painfully before climbing out of bed.
I stumbled tiredly through the dark room, aiming for the bathroom, trying not to kick anyone's bed.
Once I reached my destination, I flicked on the light and closed the door. The air was a lot cooler in here, and the old tiles were chilling my toes as I pulled one of the shower curtains aside. Pushing the tap on high heat, I stepped back and watched the steam waft into the room. With a grunt, I managed to pull off my top, dropping lazily it onto the floor as I turned to face the mirror. I took it in slowly, the stitches on my face and chest, the bruises covering my arms, ribs and stomach, it looked horrible. It also felt horrible. Everything ached.
With a sigh, I turned back to the shower, preparing myself for the stinging pain I knew I was about to endure.