Thanks SO MUCH to sixstars who is allowing me to use her characters. ^_^ Jimmy and his mom are her characters, and the house is her house, lol.

Thanks incubus4lotr11 for reminding me about the life links! I was starting to forget those. You've started a chain of ideas for me. Thanks again. ~.^

Hey, Spike! ^_^ Everyone, just to tell you, this is my friend. She's odd. Thanks for the review, Spike. I'm sorry it's so confusing to you. LoL. Just keep reading it, maybe you'll figure it out.

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How many days now? A week? A half of a week? More than that?
What did it matter.


Alan yawned. He got up and did the already boring morning as he liked to call it. He didn't call it that out loud, just to himself. Somehow today he felt extra tired. He'd never felt this bad before. Well, physically anyway.
For a long time now, his emotions had gone down the drain.
He leaned on his shovel half-heartedly.
This just isn't my day, he mumbled.
What's wrong, man? Barf Bag asked.
Alan jumped at the voice. First time the kid had spoken to him directly.
I... I'm fine, just a little tired, Alan answered.
Barf Bag smiled. We all get over it.
Alan nodded as Barf Bag went to start his own hole. He tried again to puncture the hard dirt. This time he dug up a shovel of hard dirt. He tossed it aside and continued digging.
Soon he had his hole a foot or so deep. He couldn't really measure until the hole was five by five. Slowly he made his holes wider. His muscles hurt. They were over strained.
When he reached at least a little over two feet and four feet wide, the sun had began rising. Magnet, digging two holes away from Alan, looked up at it.
Look, it's the good ole sunrise! he said.
Be quiet, X-Ray said. He was digging in the hole next to Magnet, on the same side as Alan.
Come on, Magnet whined playfully. Look at it!
We've seen it! Armpit said.
Come on! Magnet said again.
Shut up! Armpit and X-Ray said at the same time. Magnet shut up then.
Barf Bag was digging next to Alan, facing the sun. He blinked as the rays grew stronger. Stopping for a drink and rest, the boy sat down on the ground. In the new light he saw a movement near Magnet's hole. He looked over and saw nothing but dirt piles. Shifting dirt, he thought. Barf Bag turned away and was about to get back into his hole when he noticed the movement again. Looking up he saw a long body lying on the dirt by Magnet's hole. A small red tongue flitted in and out and a rattle lay motionless on the ground. Barf Bag hoped it would just slide away. It didn't. Magnet stopped and leaned on his shovel.
Why don't any of you ever watch the sun? he asked the others.
Seen it, Armpit answered. No one else even heard him.
Magnet shrugged. I guess I can understand that. He placed his shovel against the wall of his four foot hole and reached for his water canteen.
He didn't hear the rattle, he didn't sense the dark body lying there in wait. . . .
Magnet screamed. Everyone looked up.
It bit him! Barf Bag yelled over Magnet's screams of pain and terror.
Alan didn't waste a second watching like the others did. He jumped from his hole and raced to Magnet, sliding into the other's hole.
Where'd it bite? he demanded. Without waiting for an answer Alan grabbed the hand Magnet was covering. He checked out where the bite was, then suddenly put his mouth on it. He quickly sucked the venom out of the two deep punctures in Magnet's hand.
Magnet crumbled to the bottom of his hole. Alan followed him, still drawing the blood from the wound. Magnet watched him. The sudden fright had nearly made him pass out. He'd never been good with those. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. He slowly counted to ten and opened his eyes again. Alan had let go of his hand as Magnet had reached five. He was now washing his mouth out with Magnet's water.
That was totally strange, Zigzag said. That snake just bit him. Then Squid runs over here, acting like a hero. I bet he only wanted to drink Magnet's water. He pointed to Alan, who was gurgling with the water in his mouth.
Alan climbed out of the hole and walked up to Zigzag. He spat all the water in his mouth straight into Zig's face. You think that, Alan said simply. While Zigzag made aimless threats at everyone, Alan went and retrieved his own water and returned. Jumping into Magnet's hole he gave him the canteen.
You all right? he asked in such a low voice that only Magnet heard him.
Just a little scared, Magnet replied in the same low voice.
You'll be fine, Alan said. Your hand might just swell up a little. You ain't allergic are you?
Magnet forced a laugh. It sounded weak. To what? The snake venom or the swelling?
Alan gave him a light hit on the arm. You know what I mean.
That that I'm aware of, Magnet answered. He took a drink form the canteen.
That shit tastes really bad, Alan joked. Make sure it doesn't happen again.
How did you know to do that? Magnet asked after a moment.
Read it in a survival book once, Alan said. Guess that's a good thing.
Magnet said.
The others had drifted back to their holes, slightly confused by the way Alan and Magnet were looking at each other, but weren't saying anything. Creepy. They couldn't hear the two talking, and couldn't see that they were talking because their lips were hardly moving. Weird.
What's going on here? Dr. Pendanski suddenly asked.
It seemed like it had been hours to Alan, but only a few seconds to Magnet. It had actually only been around five minutes from the moment Magnet screamed to the moment Pendanski appeared. The counselor watched Alan help Magnet out of the hole and into the truck. While no one was looking but Magnet, Alan picked up his right hand, the one that had been bitten.
He looked at the swelling that was already happening.
Guess I can't steal anything for a little bit, Magnet groaned. What's a one handed thief?
It'll go away, Alan assured him. See you back at the camp.

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The girl jumped up from the bench she'd been resting on. Her right hand hurt. It felt as if someone had just jammed it between two boulders.
she said, biting her lip.
The pain slowly ebbed away until it was just a dull ache.
In the sky the rain clouds disappeared. That last day it had rained, only stopping once night came. Somewhere a small song bird was gladly singing at the fresh day. She shook off the dew that had settled on her and got up. She knew her letters had reached the people they had been sent to.
She started to walk down the street, wondering if she should stop somewhere for food. She decided she would get some food and turned towards a gas station nearby.
When the girl entered there was only one other person in the small building of the station.
She stood next to him, looking at the doughnuts.
Do you know if these're any good? she asked absentmindedly.
He didn't answer but pointed to a pack of twelve doughnuts.
I'm sorry I was hanging around your house a few days ago, she said after picking the pack.
The boy shrugged.
You mute now? she joked.
Sometimes I just don't wanna talk, he said.
What's your name? she asked.
he answered, following her to the isle with drinks.
the girl repeated. Never known anyone called that.
Really? It's a semi-popular name, the boy informed her.
Is it really? I guess you do learn something everyday.
They both reached for the same Sobe. She laughed and let him take it. She grabbed the one after it. They paid for their goodies and walked out.
You don't seem like a talkative person, the girl said after a few silent minutes.
I'm not really sociable, Jimmy answered. I usually only talk with my friends, a lot, anyway.
Then what makes me special? she asked, eating a doughnut. Want one?
Jimmy gladly took a doughnut. Thanks. Well, I don't know why I'm talking with you. That only sounded rude. Sorry.
No problem.
Did you hear about that thing that happened at Gerbeo's Eat?
She shook her head. Gerbeo's Eat? What, and where, was that?
They say some girl stole a whole two meals right under their noses, Jimmy laughed.
The girl nodded. Is that possible? Wouldn't someone of seen her?
Jimmy shrugged. That's what makes it so weird. People say they saw her come in and get seated and eat and start writing something, but no one can remember when she left. It's really weird.
Look how much I got you talking, the girl teased.
Jimmy smiled and stuffed the rest of his doughnut into his mouth. That made him quiet a little while.
Wanna come into my house? Jimmy asked suddenly.
At first the girl couldn't figure out what he was talking about. Oh, yeah. Sure. She smiled.
That way you won't just have to stand and stare at it, the boy joked.
Sounds cool, she said.

The girl was glad Jimmy had, for some reason she couldn't guess, invited her over. She was feeling flirtatious. Not a flirtatious like she wanted to be Jimmy's girl or anything, but just that she could actually become friends with someone. It had been a long time since she'd been friends with anyone for more than a few days or weeks.
And, with Jimmy, she was allowed to become friends. With people she sent to Camp Green Lake she couldn't become close. SHE could get attached to THEM, but THEY weren't allowed to get attached to HER.
Inside Jimmy's house was just like many other homes. She was led to the kitchen and served a coke, since both of them had long since finished their Sobes. She sipped it, enjoying the taste. It had been a while.
Hey, Mom! Jimmy called into the house. Come meet a new friend.
Jimmy's mom appeared a moment later. Hello, dear, she said.
The girl looked her over. A normal mom. A working mom by the looks. She was pretty, unlike some moms this girl had run into.
she answered with a wave.
Jimmy, honey, I got to run down town, she told her son. I'll be back for dinner. Hope to see you again, she added as a good-bye for the girl. The girl replied with a wave.
Her name's Jane, Jimmy said. Welcome to the home of Brezacks. He made a twirl on the kitchen's smooth floor, tripping over himself.
The girl laughed. You all right?
Jimmy picked himself up. Of course!
They laughed.

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Alan walked slowly back to camp. They had been told there still had to be seven holes. He had to dig Magnet's hole without help. Damn the others. He didn't care. Actually, he slightly wanted to avoid Magnet. Maybe he would skip dinner.
He went to the shower and then straight back to the tent. Screw the Wreck Room.
But Magnet was there, sleeping. He looked sick.
Man, it couldn't have been the venom, Alan cursed. Dammit it all. Magnet, wake up.
Alan gave him a shake, but Magnet stayed as he had been, his hands resting on his chest. The sight was scary, and hardly anything scared Alan anymore.
Magnet, wake the fuck up! He shook him again.
No response.