RS: What a party… last night we had a lot of company over, n' I swear to god not one piece of food was left uneaten. It was rather unnerving.
Pippin Skywalker: Well, I tried. The Warden's hard to write. Maybe she'll end up with Magnet, maybe she won't. You'll just have to read to find out. ;)
Da baddest chic: Bad Chic: that sounds like fun, my 'rents would blow a gasket if I ever tried something like that. N' I don't do much besides work at a nursery school either, so I understand how bored you must be most days. Sexy Chic: I was worried about that… you should've seen what I had before dumbing down their dialogue. I didn't even speak that well.
Chapter 6
Not Heroes, Rescuers
The D-Tent boys had finished their holes and made their way back to their 'room', determined to relax for a while and wait for the activity around the showers to calm before washing up. They walked in, simultaneously collapsing on their beds. There was a group sigh.
"So," Squid asked, turning on his side in order to face his friends, "What do you guys think of Kat?" X-Ray shrugged.
"She's aiight I guess, too sickeningly innocent though." He answered, as Armpit nodded in understanding.
"Yeah, but how innocent could she be having killed a guy?"
"I thought we established that she didn't kill him." Zigzag pointed out.
"No," Magnet corrected, "we established that the story didn't happen the way the chica described it." the tall blond shrugged.
"Whatever, dude… I changed my mind about her, she's not a government agent sent to keep tabs on us like I thought."
"But," grinned the Latino back, "she is damn hot." The others grinned and chuckled at his comment.
"Man… did you see her last night? I think I may begin to worship that thing." Squid nodded his head in the direction of Katrina's curtain. They all laughed.
"We know what you mean."
"Mamasita!"
"Damn fine."
"… ya know, that chica did the weirdest thing this morning." Magnet commented, thinking back to earlier that day.
"Did she say something into a microphone on her shirt or write something in a secret notebook we didn't even know she had so that it could be relayed to government industries conspiring to sell us all to Martians on alien planets?" Zigzag asked, standing immediately.
"No…" Magnet answered slowly, a little freaked-out, "she pulled away from me when I tried to put a hand on her shoulder… I thought you changed your mind about the government thing?" Zigzag shrugged, sitting back down.
"Just makin' sure." He countered, "Old habits die hard."
"Riiiiiiight…" the Latino nodded slowly.
"Hey," interrupted X-Ray, "back to the topic at hand."
"Yeah, Mag, what d'you mean? Did she backed away from you or brush your hand off, or what?" Squid questioned, leaning forward a bit more. His friend pulled the bandana off and scratched the back of his head.
"No," the Mexican answered, "she tried not to make it obvious but the chica definitely did not want to be touched. Ella esta loca."
All was silent for a moment, "… Say wha?" Armpit asked.
"She's crazy." Magnet clarified with a shrug.
"No," Zigzag corrected with a grin, "just slightly bipolar." The boys laughed.
"You must be thrilled, Zig, you're not the only weird one now." More chuckling followed X-Ray's joke.
"I guess…" he answered, pretending to cry a bit, "B-but, I'm not unique no more…" placing his head in his hands, fake bawling was heard throughout the tent. The juvenile convicts cracked up.
"Jeez…" the brown-eyed boy breathed out, before sitting up.
"Ya know," he mused, "she never did explain what bipolar is."
"I think it's when you get tons of mood swings." Magnet stated unhelpfully. Squid rolled his eyes.
"Well we know that. There just gotta be somethin' more to it."
"Look, we'll ask her later." X-Ray intervened.
"C'mon you guys," Zigzag advised while standing, "we'd better get goin'." The blonde's comment marked the end of the discussion. They all stood, collected their shower tokens, and headed out towards the showers.
MeanwhileBy 2:00, all the boys from D-Tent had finished their holes. Zero was first to be completed, leaving at 12:00, and the other boys followed in suit. Kat dug for another hour n' a half before reaching the four-foot completion stage, proud of herself for finishing only a bit later than her roommates.
The female was thoroughly disgusted upon hearing that it was tradition to spit in your hole after completion, but didn't let it bother her. After all, she was used to it with half of her four best friends being boys and two brothers. She decided to overlook their little rule, seeing as no one was around to know that she hadn't taken part in the ritual.
Grunting, she dragged herself over the edge of her hole and climbed out. Picking up her shovel, she trudged back to Camp Green Lake. Stopping at the 'Library', she deposited her shovel and continued onward towards the tent, deliberately ignoring the attention she was receiving from other campers. Finally reaching D-Tent she threw open the flap.
A loud scream filled the air as the sole girl attending Camp Green Lake flipped around, stalking briskly from the towel-clad boys. Her cheeks burned a fiery red from shock and embarrassment. Some people had heard her scream and were staring at her oddly, but she paid them no mind.
'It's always when they're changing. Why the hell do I always walk in on them when they're changing? Is it at all possible for them to not be half naked when I walk in? God, they are never fully clothed…' She jumped at the placement of a hand on her shoulder.
"You can come in now." It was just Zigzag. She nodded and followed him back into the tent. Upon entering, she couldn't help but notice that they were all blushing madly. Normally she wasn't very coy, but she could sense she had been dealt a good hand and just had to play.
"My my my, don't you boys dress quickly? That was quite a show you put on." She smirked victoriously as the boys' blushes deepened in shade.
"Hi Kat," Squid greeted miserably, "you're done early." She cocked her head to the side, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"What are you talking about? I finished, like, over an hour after you guys… and my hole was smaller!" she complained, seating herself on her bed.
"Like?" the boy teased. She blushed and mumbled an apology.
"Sometimes my friend Mel's preppy-ness rubs off on me." The boys chuckled.
"Anyway, usually newbies dig slower than that." Informed X-Ray, "Once some kid from another tent was out there until dinner before he was finished."
"Oh… when's that?"
"What, dinner? 5:30."
Katrina let out a low whistle (1), "That's a long time to be digging." The boys nodded, but did not say anything. As they stood, she walked to her cot and began gathering her clothes. Suddenly, she tripped.
"Oh shoot." She hissed beneath her breath, picking up the hat she'd tripped over. It was Squid's, he'd thrown it aside when he left to take his shower.
"Jeez, man, leave your shit lyin' around much?" Magnet joked while Kat stood and brushed herself off.
"Clean up your trash, you douche bag." She hissed, thrusting the cap into its owner's hands. The guys chuckled.
"Do you ever curse?" She shook her head.
"I try not to out around others, it really isn't polite." She received some strange looks, but it was brushed off.
"Anyway, we're heading over to the Wreck Room. Wanna come?" Smiling kindly, she shook her head at Zigzag's offer.
"No thank you, I'm just gonna take a shower. Maybe I'll meet you there afterwards, though." The boys grinned and nodded.
"Cool," the blond grinned, "see you later, then." She nodded with a giggle.
"Mhm, later." Turning, they sauntered out of the tent. A few of them threw some stray winks her way, causing her to laugh once more. Yawning, she went back to getting her stuff together.
'This place really isn't so bad, once you get past the digging… and the food… and the waking up… and convicts…' she shook her head, 'Never mind. Point is, the guys really are quite sweet and seem to be trying real hard to be nice.' She giggled as her thoughts continued, exiting the tent, 'Not to mention the fact that they're really cute. Mel would die if she were here.'
Looking up, Kat noticed that she'd reached her shower. The walls were much higher than in the boys' showers, reaching far above the showerhead. There was also a door with a lock and hooks to hang personal items on inside. Stepping into the stall, she hung her spare clothing on a hook and stripped herself of her work clothes, which were promptly hung on yet another hook.
Slipping in her shower tokens for the day and grasping the soap, she prepared to wash quickly. Dr. Pendanski had informed her that the boys' showers lasted five minutes and, though he wasn't aware of her shower's length, not to expect any different. The low pressure pushing out the icy water kept her clothing from getting wet.
She rubbed herself down mercilessly, as if trying to wash off her very being. She'd been bathing like that ever since it happened. She could still remember everything from that night: the sights… the sounds… the burning of her throat, intensely sore from screaming… the way their hands were all over her. She sighed.
'At least one of the gruesome twosome is six feet under. That is, after all, the benefit of being stuck in here…' she sighed and checked her watch; thanking her lucky stars it was waterproof, 'How could I have been in here… over nine minutes?' the water shut off like clockwork at the ten minute mark. Grabbing her clothes, she quickly dressed and exited the stall.
Returning to D-tent, she put her stuff of to the side and made sure she was fully presentable, out of habit. It really didn't matter what she looked like, but you can't teach a old dog new tricks. Exiting the space, she made her way to where the boys were.
Suddenly, it all seemed to be happening so fast.
Half way to the wreck room, multiple pairs of arms shot out and wrapped around Kat's body. The pulled and lifted, dragging her petite form behind the Wreck Room building, out of everyone's sight. A hand clamped over her open mouth as she attempted to scream. Her body was thrown to the ground, back colliding painfully with the stiff, wooden wall.
A bit of cloth was tied around her eyes, blinding her. Something warm and moist latched onto her mouth, sucking at her lips. She opened her mouth to scream but was promptly choked by a long wet… something. She struggled to figure out what was going on. Hands were all over her. On her arms, her legs, her hips, her chest, her back, her butt.
A sense of familiarity came rushing back to her. Someone was kissing her, invading her mouth with his tongue. Someone was touching her, and it had to stop. This couldn't happen, not again.
She began kicking and scratching to the best of her abilities, flailing about in her captor's arms. She bit down with the precision of a viper, causing her attacker to jump back in pain. Taking a deep breath, she allowed an ear-splitting scream to fill the air. Midway through she was cut short by a sharp pain erupted from the side of her face in the form of a slap.
"Stupid bitch!" Mere seconds later, the unmistakable sound of running boots vibrated to her ears and the sensation of having her captors' hands being ripped off of her was felt.
Hands now free, the brunette pulled off her blindfold while backing against the log cabin structure and took in the sight before her. She almost smiled at the sight of her heroes, but was too terrified. Hugging her knees to her chest, she fearfully observed her surroundings.
D-Tent stood before her, fighting ferociously with some other boys. Kat couldn't make out any faces, everyone was moving to quickly. She just somehow knew it was D-Tent, her boys. She could somehow tell who each of them were.
X-Ray was holding his own, considering he was a relatively scrawny boy. No one could lay a hand on Armpit, seeing as there was too much fat for him to effectively feel his opponents' punches. Zero had jumped on the back of one of the guys, wrapping his arm around the boy's neck as he bucked like a horse in an attempt to throw the small kid off. Squid and Magnet were mercilessly throwing kicks and hits left and right. She couldn't help but watch in awe as Zigzag picked up one of the boys and threw him into the wall.
Turning, the tall blond locked eyes with her and, for a split second, Kat thought she could see into him and almost into the other boys. She didn't know how, but she could feel burning hatred towards the boys, relief at her own safety, even fear that she wasn't actually all right. But what scared her most was the protectiveness she'd witnessed burning in his soul.
"Behind you!" Kat screamed out, pointing to something past her blue-eyed friend. Spinning around, he defended himself against two attackers who'd tried to take him by surprise.
He wasn't fast enough, though, as one grabbed his arms and the other threw a hard punch to his gut. The blond doubled over in pain without a moment to react before an elbow collided with the back of his head, sending him to the ground unprotected.
Kat shook herself. She couldn't just sit back and let this happen. Jumping up, she ran full force at the two boys, knocking one down. The other fiercely pushed her down, slapping her around a few times. She watched in horror as his hand began to come down for another blow.
Before his hand collided, a sudden yell filled the air.
"The warden's comin'! Let's get the hell out of here!"
At the boy's words, everyone began to scramble. The boys jumped off of her and split while she backed herself up to the wall once more. D-Tent's enemies were running like the pathetic losers they were, scared out of their wits. No more fighting was even necessary as the group stampeded in the opposite direction, barely sparing their victim a second glance.
With the fight over, her friends rushed over to Kat and surrounded her. Magnet and Squid sat down beside her while Zigzag situated himself directly in front of her. Filling in the gaps behind them were X-Ray, Armpit, and Zero. The group crowded around her, thoroughly worried over her safety.
"Are you alright, chica?" Magnet inquired breathlessly from her side. She nodded and, in sudden need of a hug, moved forward, wrapping her arms around the tall blond before her and burying her head in his chest.
"You guys are my heroes." She whispered.
"Not heroes," Zigzag corrected, "rescuers."
End of Chapter
(1) I wish I could whistle…
RS: I didn't like this chapter too much, looking back. Something about it just irks me, like there's something missing… this may be subject to editing. Please leave a review!