"We don't even know where she came from!"

"Well she came from somewhere, but we aren't going to know anything until she wakes up, so let's just focus on what we're going to do with her for now."

Voices were swarming around my ears as my thoughts swam in and out of focus. Where was I last? Oh yes, I was walking through the desert. And then I fell…into a hole maybe. Or maybe I just imagined the hole and I really just passed out. Well someone had obviously found me, and now they were talked about what to do with me. The woman's voice cut through my train of thought clearer than before.

"Look, I think she's waking up. Can you hear me? Are you ok?" I felt someone's hands gently shaking my shoulders. I scrunched my eyes up and attempted to open them. I was in a small room. There was a soft light coming in through a curtained window. So it was still day time. Or maybe I've been out of it for a few days…I didn't know what to think.

"Hello?" the woman asked again. I looked over at her. She had red hair and a blue flowered blouse on. Her belt buckle reflected the light from the window as she fidgeted back and forth, making me squint again. I brought my hand up to cover the glare. I turned my head to look at the man's voice, and discovered two men standing on the other side of the couch that I was lying on. One was short and dorky, the other was fat and mean looking. I looked back at the woman.

"Where am I?" I asked tentatively, still blinking as my eyes adjusted to the light.

"You are at Camp Green Lake, the boy's correction facility. Who are you?"

"I'm…hmmm." I had to think about that for a second, but then it came to me. But first…Camp Greenlake? I thought about it. Oh yes, I remember the girls telling stories of this place before. The kids had to dig holes or something for the Warden who was looking for some sort of treasure. Of course, those were just the stories. It could have nothing to with treasure. But anyway. So I walked all that way…wow. The lady's voice distracted me as she spoke to me again.

"What is your name?" she pressed.

"Oh, I'm Avery. Avery White," I responded in a faraway voice. I was still trying to figure things out. So if I had come all the way from Ms. Carpel's Academy, that would be roughly…4 miles? Yeah that sounded right. Maybe more though. I don't think anyone's really measured the distance before. I mean, why would they need to? Barely anyone travels around here. Just to get supplies and get in and out of the camps.

"Where are you from?" she asked, sounding frustrated. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had asked several times already. I was feeling pretty out of it.

"Oh right. I came from…" I stopped mid-thought. Could I tell her? I mean, I had run away from my own correction facility, so what would stop her from turning me in? She bent over and got close to my face, so I figured that I should just tell her everything. Maybe I could just beg her to let me stay here if worse came to worse. Anything was better than where I came from.

"Ms. Carpel's Academy. I…ran away. I wasn't really heading for here, but I guess this is where I ended up anyway." I was faintly aware that my voice was slightly shaky as I spoke.

"Ah, that bitch. She's always competing with me for state funding." She was glaring into the distance when suddenly her eyes lit up. "Well, I think it would convenient for her to "lose" a student for once, wouldn't it? I don't think you will be returning to her camp."

"Oh thank god," I said as I breathed a sigh of relief. She smiled at me.

"I think you will make a fine addition to our camp for the time being. Welcome to Camp Greenlake." She stuck her hand out and I shook it. She had a firm grip. I had a feeling that I was going to have an interesting time here. I shifted on the couch, about to get up, when something poked me.

"Ouch!" I muttered. I stuck my hand in my pocket and took out the small and dirty metal case that I had found when I was walking. I had almost forgotten that I had found it. The woman's eyes lit up again, her eyes glued to the case in my palm.

"And what, may I ask, is that?" she asked curtly, smiling.