VIOLET ROSE
Over the past few days, there was one constant, guilty thought that kept lingering in Violet’s mind. Did I make a mistake in bringing Kade to the camp?
She thought about this question over and over again, and she found herself wondering the same thing on her way to camp right now. It had been two days since Violet had taken him to camp eight, and now it was the morning of the third. She hadn’t had the chance to come back since she had things going on back home, but now that she had time, she wanted to see how Kade was doing.
Apart from what Ajax had said about Kade being a potential spy, - which Violet still didn’t believe at all - she wondered how he was fitting in. After all, pretty much everyone there could think he was suspicious. Maybe Violet had just dropped him off in a super hostile environment and left. Her stomach churned with guilt every time she thought about that.
Whatever, whatever, I’m sure he’s doing fine, she thought to herself. But for some reason, when she arrived at the massive warehouse, she found herself hesitating to open the doors. What if Kade really did have a terrible time and blamed her for it? Maybe he wasn't even there anymore. Of course, he had every right, now that she was thinking about it, but she still didn’t want him to hate her. He might have been a stranger, but he was the person protecting her while she was unconscious in the forest. And she really did have nothing but good intentions when she brought him to camp. But what if he didn’t want to be at the camp? Did Violet just force her own will on him?
Her hand rested on the cold, metal door, but she couldn’t bring herself to push it open.
A lot could have happened in two days. Who knows what could have changed?
A few minutes passed, and Violet was still frozen solid. She was still thinking about all the possibilities when the door opened by itself. On the other side was a boy with fluffy orange hair and wheat colored eyes.
She recognized this boy. In fact, she was friends with him. She always felt bad that no one trusted him, so she would go talk to him sometimes, and he turned out to be a really nice guy.
“Oh, hey, Violet,” he said. “Did you just get here?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah,” she replied, feeling a nervous smile forming on her face. “I was just about to go in.”
It was weird, though. Nest would never come to the main door. He was always cooped up in his own area and never really moved around much because of how cautious people were of him.
“Alright, well go ahead. I need to go talk to Phaper though, so see ya!”
With those words, Nest ran off. Strange. Was Nest always so friendly with Phaper? Last time Violet checked, Nest didn’t really talk to… well, anyone. Or more like no one would talk to him.
I guess they became friends in the three days I was gone, she thought as she stepped into the warehouse.
When she walked in, she thought maybe she had come to the wrong place. This wasn’t camp eight. It couldn’t be. After all, she had never seen the camp in such a happy atmosphere. She stood there, dazed, and a small child ran toward her with the most genuine smile Violet had ever seen on a person. She was smiling so brightly that Violet couldn’t help grinning too.
“Hey, Elena,” she said, patting her golden hair. “What happened? You seem so happy!”
“Guess what, guess what?” Elena yelled, her jade-green eyes sparkling with excitement.
Violet let out a small chuckle.
“What is it?”
“My grandma is back!”
“Huh? Wait, What!?”
“Yeah! I woke up this morning, and she was back!”
Violet frowned for a second, then put her smile back on for Elena. Wasn’t Granny Pia being held as a hostage? She thought the camp had decided not to take the risk of saving her. Violet remembered this clearly because she had tried to go save her by herself and was stopped by Ajax. Multiple times. If she was back, that was amazing news, but seriously, what had happened in these last three days?
“I also met a new friend. He’s really, really nice. He’s the person that rescued grandma, actually.”
“You did? That’s awesome!”
“Yeah, his name is Kade! I can’t wait to introduce him to you!”
“Kade? As in… the guy that came here three days ago?”
“I don’t know when he came to camp, but he found me when I was lost. He even gave me pancakes! I’ll take you to him right now.”
Without waiting for a response, Elena took her hand and started toward the sleeping area. Violet kept looking around, and everyone seemed more energetic than before, which she wasn’t used to seeing in a camp full of phantoms.
Elena led her to three people sitting in a circle playing cards. One of them was a very old woman with snow-white hair and a paper-thin body. She was someone Violet knew very well, and hadn’t seen for a very long time. A relieved smile spread across Violet’s face at the sight.
So she really is back.
Next to Pia was a man with spiky red hair and a scratchy beard. Violet had talked to him a few times, and she remembered his name to be Baus. And next to him, the final person of the three, was a boy with neat black hair and the same misty, silver eyes that Violet remembered from the forest a few days ago.
“Oh, come on!” yelled Baus. “You’re using that trick again?”
Kade shrugged.
“A trick used enough times becomes a method.”
Granny Pia chuckled.
“Hi, Grandma!” yelled Elena from Violet’s side. She ran toward her and tackled her with a hug, which Violet wasn’t sure was all too safe with her current condition.
“Oh, hey!” Kade called out to Violet, holding up his hand as a greeting.
“Um, hi.”
Violet was still a little shocked by everything she was seeing. She had worried about Kade being excluded by everyone, but it seemed like he was fitting in just fine. He was even saying hi to people walking by as Violet stood there.
“By the way,” Elena said to Kade in a friendly tone. “What’s that necklace you always wear?”
“Necklace? Oh, you mean the locket?”
Kade grabbed the golden pendant hanging from his neck.
“It’s something like a reminder, I guess. I made a promise to someone a while back, and this locket kind of helps me remember? Something like that.”
Violet quickly turned to Pia.
“Anyway, welcome back, Granny Pia!” Then, a little more cautiously, “Can I… ask what happened?”
Granny Pia shook her head with a slight, apologetics smile.
“I’m sorry, dear, but I don’t remember anything that happened while I was gone. Every time I try to think about it, the memory is just not there.”
“Oh, no worries!” Violet quickly said, waving her hands. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Maybe she should have expected this with everything Pia had been through. She was old, after all. She decided to ask Kade later.
“Yo, I’m back!” yelled another familiar voice. Violet looked to see Nest, who had sat down next to Kade and somehow already had a hand of cards.
“Want to join us, Violet?” asked Kade.
“Huh? Oh, well, sure,” she replied. She was still processing everything that was going on, but she was sure of one thing; Kade had somehow changed the camp. Granny Pia was back, and people were being friendlier with Nest. Speaking of which, Nest obviously wasn’t used to people being so nice to him. He had an awkward face every time someone talked to him, which made Violet grin a little in amusement. It had been two days, but Kade was already affecting the whole camp more than Violet ever had.
***
The day passed before she knew it. The whole day was just fun things after fun things, and Violet was now laying on her back and looking up at the ceiling in the dark. She looked around at the other people in the camp. Violet had a home to return to, but for a lot of these people, this old warehouse was where they belonged. She knew how hard it was for these people, but today, just because of one person’s return, everyone was laughing like none of that even mattered. Violet once again realized how close everyone was in this camp. After all, they only had each other in a world where everyone wanted them dead. The same was true for Violet, of course. The people at camp were like a second family to her. That’s why she was so happy when everyone was smiling.
…Fine, I’ll do it, she thought as she got out from her sleeping bag. She started to tiptoe around all the other sleeping bags, which wasn’t easy with how dark it was. On her way toward a specific sleeping bag, her head was filled with a battle between her thoughts.
Wait, but he might be asleep!
I’ll go back if he is.
No, but can’t this wait until tomorrow?
I already got up, so I have to start moving if I don’t want to look stupid.
What’s even the point of this?
I need to say what’s on my mind. Maybe I’ll show him that place.
What if he doesn’t care?
Then that’s fine. But I’m already here.
I’ll look really, really stupid if I go back now.
Plus, I really do want to ask him.
Violet came to a stop and took a deep breath. Then, after steeling her resolve one last time, she gently put her hand on Kade’s sleeping bag. Even through the thick fabric, she could feel the heat coming from his body, spreading warmth through her hand.
“Hey,” she whispered. “You awake?”
“Hm?” came the reply.
“Want to go somewhere with me? Right now, I mean.”
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