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 all 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.

It was a rough night for me. I could barely sleep and I woke up three or four times during the night. I had too much on my mind. The death battle we would be entering in just a few days, how hurt Sam was, everything. Everything was clouding my mind and destroying my thoughts. It was all wearing on me. But I knew I wasn't alone. I knew everyone else in the camp was just as worried as I was.
I rolled onto my side, only to find a puddle of water where my ice pack was. It had melted all over the bed and now I was stuck in it. I sighed, carefully sitting up and picking the watery sack of an ice pack up and tossing it beside my bed. "Great." I mumbled to myself. I was now stuck with a wet bed and had no spare sheets to change it with. Sighing, I crawled to the other end of my bed and relaxed. It was dry but I'd rather be at the other end.

I hissed through gritted teeth as I stepped into the shower and the hot water cascaded over my sensitive skin. Taking a deep breath I tried to relax and concentrate on other things. Once I'd gotten used to the water, I began washing. Grabbing the soap, I lathered it on my skin, scrubbing off all the dirt and blood I'd accumulated over the last couple of days. I washed away all the horrible things I'd found out, the memories of the Jaxlor camp, the things we'd all discovered yesterday, the fact that I wasn't going to be alive this time next week. By the time I'd finished, my skin was raw and ached even more than before. But I was clean, and I felt more awake. More revived and sharp.
Shutting off the water, I quickly dried off and dressed back into my clothes, the only ones I seemed to have now; track pants and a plain top.

I stared up at the ceiling as I mindlessly picked at the damp clothes that stuck to my body. I hated the fact that the ice pack melted and I hadn't even realized it. The room was slowly beginning to go from almost pitch black to light blue. The sun was going to rise any minute now and that meant we'd all have to get up and do whatever it is they wanted us to do. I looked over at Sam's bed to see he was going. I could faintly hear one of the showers running and figured that's where he was. Sitting up in bed, I swung my feet to the hard cold floor and stretched my arms to the ceiling. "Might as well get dressed." I said to myself and slid my shirt over my head. Everyone was asleep so I had nothing to worry about.

After rubbing the towel through my hair, in an attempt to dry it, I threw it into a large box by the door on top of other used towels. I left the bathroom and stepped into the now lighter cabin room. As I made my way quietly over to my bed, I noticed Daisy sitting on the edge of hers.
"Morning." I said as I sat down on my bed, reaching gingerly for my shoes and socks, pulling them on slowly.

After rubbing the towel through my hair, in an attempt to dry it, I threw it into a large box by the door on top of other used towels. I left the bathroom and stepped into the now lighter cabin room. As I made my way quietly over to my bed, I noticed Daisy sitting on the edge of hers.
"Morning." I said as I sat down on my bed, reaching gingerly for my shoes and socks, pulling them on slowly.

I jumped, when I heard Sam's voice. I hadn't realized he was back in the room and sitting on his bed. Good thing the room wasn't exactly lit up yet. I looked a mess and I still needed to find a shirt. "G'morning. How ya feelin'?" I asked, bending down and digging through my bag until I'd found a shirt. I quickly put it on and ran a hand through my messy hair. Our roommates were slowly starting to rummage in their beds, tossing and trying to go back to sleep. I could hear light breaths and quiet murmurs of people beginning to wake up.

I looked up at her as I tied my laces. "Hungry actually." I said giving her a small smile. "Feel like seeing if they've got a whole big breakfast for us as an apology? Or maybe they'll make it into a trend until we leave, you know I wouldn't mind that to be honest." Sitting up, I grabbed my jumper from the end of my bed, slid it on and zipped it up as I waited for her reply.

"That sounds great to be honest." I smiled back. I kind of hoped they did have a big breakfast set up for us. And lunch and dinner later. If we're going to die, might as well make us feel like kings and queens before we go out right.? "I just need to fix myself up. I look terrible." I said with a small, quiet laugh. "Give me a few minutes. " I stood up and grabbed a pair of pants from the frame of my bed then reached down into my bag for a toothbrush and toothpaste. "Be right back." I walked into the bathroom to change and brush my teeth. Once I was done, I returned to the room just a few short minutes later. "I'm ready when you are." I plopped down on the bed and began putting my things away as I waited for his response.

"Cool, then let's get going." I said as I stood up and ran a hand through my wet hair. Leading the way out, I weaved between and around beds, trying to keep quiet so not to wake anyone. Reaching the door, I pulled it open and stepped back as I waved a hand and bowed slightly to Daisy, letting her know to go through first. "M'lady." I smiled cheekily.

I smirked, letting a small laugh escape from my lips as I looked up at Sam. "Well thank you, kind Sir." I said with a smile as I walked through the door and held my arm out for him to loop his through mine. "I'm guessing you'll lead us to a grand breakfast on this fine, cold morning?" I smirked as I waited for him to lead the way.

"You know all to well that's what I intend to do. I am ready to eat a horse." I said as I wound my arm through hers and began pulling her alongside me as we walked. "I wonder if they'll be another surprise at breakfast." I glanced down at Daisy as I raised an eyebrow. "If there is, it better be good. I'd prefer to eat cold porridge over hearing something like last night again."

"Man, I have no clue." I looked up at him then towards the small path we were walking. "If there isn't any good food, I probably wont eat, honestly. If they're going to send us off to the slaughter house, they better fatten us up before they do it. It's the least they can do." I sighed. "Do you think we'll get another surprise?" I raised a brow, looking up at him as I waited on him to answer.

I shrugged as I looked up at the lightening sky. "I seriously hope not. I'd be okay without anything happening for a couple of days." I said then sighed, looking down at my feet as we walked. There was a moment of silence between us as I thought over last nights events. "Glenda didn't find anything on my x-rays. She said I'll be fine soon enough." I said changing the subject with a lazy smile, leaving out the fact that the sick had moved bases, and that in actual fact, Glenda still wasn't fully sure of my condition.

"Oh my gosh, really?" I smiled brightly. "That's amazing! I'm glad you're okay." I gave him a small nudge. "You can make a full recovery and we can get back out there." I smiled, almost forgetting that we wouldn't be back 'out there' in about a week. I ignored my mistake and continued to walk. I could see the cafeteria in the distance and a few people were already walking in. "Looks like we're not the only ones up early this morning." I nodded towards the people emerging from their dorms and others into the food hall.

I smiled at her excitement before seeing the people she was talking about. "Yeah. To be honest I'm not even sure why I'm up, I'm never up this early. This is a rarity. I mean what is it? Five thirty? Six?" I shook my head. "I guess the stomach has it's way of showing you what it wants."

"Yeah, I'm never up this early either. Anything before 11 is too early for me. But I couldn't sleep." I said as we approached the door. I opened it, letting Sam lead the way and I followed. A waft of something delicious hit me in the face as we walked through the door. It didn't smell like anything special, but it did smell good. "I wonder what they cooked." I asked curiously. "Smells kind of good."

"Maybe we've been met half way." I suggested glancing over at Daisy before I looked around trying to find out what it was. "Smells like eggs?" I guessed as I led Daisy over to the food station and picked up a plate and tray. Moving along the line, I discovered it was eggs. Eggs, toast and- "Wait, is that bacon?" I asked in disbelief, pointing to the smaller dish down the end. "You've got to be kidding me!" I almost shouted excitedly.

"Oh this is going to be soooo good." I smiled, grabbing a plate and tray. "Smells just like home. Violet and I would always make this for breakfast... Pancakes or waffles takes too long." I said with a small smile. I held my tray out to the woman serving us food. She had gray, curly hair that you could see sticking out of her thin hairnet.

"Here you go, honey." She said as she piled a scoop full of eggs on my plate. "Want some toast too?" She asked me. I nodded politely and she placed tow pieces of freshly made toast on my plate. I thanked her before moving on towards the bacon.

I could barely conceal my grin as I moved along the line, holding out my egg and toast laden plate for the bacon that would accompany it. The smell was amazing. I hadn't had this sort of meal in years, hadn't smelt this food in forever. "This is what I'm talking about." I said as I turned to Daisy once she'd gotten her own breakfast. "And we're nice and early too so everything is hot and fresh. Maybe we should get up early more often." I said sending her a quick wink.