A/N: Hey guys. Thanks to all who read and/or reviewed. I really appreciate it. Again, another fast update. This chapter contains some more deep thoughts inside Cam's mind which might be kind of discomforting to some readers. Just a heads up which might be useless, but there's no such thing as being too careful on this.

Ordeals of Life

Chapter Nine: Unexpected

It was around 6:00 A.M. when Hunter woke up. He looked over at his sleeping brother in the extra bed. The older sibling had thought a lot about what Blake said Cam did on the camping trip. He immediately felt guilty for not paying attention to him. Hell, the gang was so caught up in punishing Dustin that they forgot the main reason they were there, to get Cam to open up.

"God, I really hope that Cam is going to be alright. If something turned out to be very serious with him, I don't know what I'd do. I didn't know that Cam was talking to Blake about whatever it was that was bothering him. How could I be so stupid?"

He had whispered all that to himself so that his brother wouldn't wake up since he usually was a light sleeper like himself. He knew that because they would always wake up to Cam going outside on his nightly walks. 'I wonder what he does all those nights. Walking can't be that relaxing since something is still obviously bothering him.' Hunter decided to go and invite Cam to tag along with the rangers for some lunch today so they could talk. They had recently scheduled it before they dropped them off, but Cam probably didn't hear as he was always in some distant land.

Silently, Hunter tip-toed out of bed towards the door, occasionally stopping if Blake stirred. Fortunately, Blake always managed to get back to sleep. 'Maybe last night's talk took a lot out of him.' The crimson ranger silently opened the door leading to the hallway that connected to Cam's room. Silently closing the door behind him, he made his way to the samurai's door. He got ready to knock before he stopped, even though he knew that the ranger would probably all readybe up. 'I don't know if this is a really good idea. He probably will refuse the offer saying that he had 'responsibilities' to uphold. But maybe it will be different this time. Only one way to find out,' Hunter thought. He gathered up the courage he had and knocked on the door a couple of times. "Cam, are you up?"


Cam laid still on his side on his bathroom floor. He had fallen asleep here and didn't make his way to the bed. Opening his eyes after a half an hour of being awake, he realized that the room was still in a wreck from last night's rampage. He immediately screamed inside himself, cursing the anger that had succeeded in taking him over. 'How could I be so weak? I thought I was stronger than that. I don't want these stupid feelings taking me over. I don't want them, I don't need them, and I won't let them stay.'

Cam slowly tried to get up. For some strange reason, each day felt like all of his energy was draining out of him. He couldn't pinpoint the cause. However, each day became harder and harder to go through. 'Hell, since when has my life ever been easy to go through?' he asked himself with good reason. Looking at the mess that he had caused, he silently whined knowing he would have to clean it up soon. 'Well, I'll do it in the afternoon.' "Cam, are you up?" It was Hunter.

"Shit!" Cam whispered with force to himself. What was he doing knocking on his door? "Um, yes I am. What is it? Is something wrong?" "Well, nothing's wrong really. I just wanted to ask you something." "Well, could this wait later?" Cam asked as he closed his bathroom door and began furiously to hide the vase pieces under his bed. "I don't think it can. May I come in?"

Cam knew that Hunter would suspect if he just hurried him along. Finishing his cleaning of his room, unlocking the door, and putting on a long-sleeved shirt to cover his scars, Cam called out, "Yes, you can."


"Yes, you can." Hunter was surprised. He had thought that Cam would complain about not having space, even though he usually had all space to himself. Cautiously, he entered his world. Cam was sitting on the bed, kind of out of breath. "You okay?" "What do you mean?" "Well, you seem like you had a work out of some kind because you looked fatigued. Did you have one after you got up?"

Cam thought this through, and was immediately happy that Hunter had given him a good cover story. "Yes, I was practicing down in the training area when I got up at around five. I was bored, so I decided to get a workout in."

"Oh, okay," Hunter said. After that, he began to notice some major differences about Cam. First of all, he looked seriously tired, almost to the point where he looked like he didn't have a nap in 20 years. He looked wasted of energy, and also the bags under his eyes had gotten bigger. He looked sick. Another thing was that Cam looked like he lost some weight. Though the samurai was slender to begin with, he looked downright scrawny to him. Perhaps it was the imagination playing a trick on him. Afterall, lack of sleep can make anyone look like anything nowadays. "Cam, have you been getting any sleep at all like I told you?" "Yeah, I have. I practically fell asleep the second we got back. Why?" "Well, no offense, but you look sick."

"Well, I guess I've been overworking." Cam said. It was the first thing that came to his mind to explain it. Hunter responded, "Finally, you admit that you are overworked. You need to take a break, Cam. You're seriously going to burn out." Normally, Cam would have defended himself, but with the close call of his visit, he just agreed. "I know, and I'm sorry to have worried you. I promise to hang out with you more. Are you guys doing anything today?"

This took Hunter completely by surprise. He had actually asked to join them. What the hell was happening? Was it possible that he was getting better? The ranger couldn't help but smile. "Actually, me and the gang were all going out to eat. Would you mind if you came?" "No, not at all." With all that Cam was saying, Hunter couldn't help but feel happy. "Great! We're meeting at Storm Chargers at noon. Why don't you take a little nap, and then meet us over there." "Sure Hunter, that sounds excellent. I really need the rest." Hunter smiled proudly and turned to leave. Before going, he said, "Thanks, Cam. I appreciate it." With happiness filling him, he walked off towards his own bedroom.


When Hunter left, Cam couldn't help but feel stupid. "Idiot, Cam. Do you realize what you've just done? Now, I have to go otherwise he will get suspicious. And as if it couldn't get any worse, we are going to EAT OUT! That is the last thing I want to do. How could I be so stupid?" Cam asked to himself. Now, he felt pathetic for doing what he just did. He couldn't help but cry. He had practically consumed nothing in a week, and the thought of all his efforts being dashed away just brought him down. He closed and locked his bedroom door, and walked like a zombie to his bathroom.

When he entered, he closed the door and looked in the mirror. He hated what the mirror showed. It showed nothing but a useless, pathetic, idiotic, and ugly soul. "You have know idea how much I hate you. What are you supposed to do here? You are useless." Trying to regain his composure, he went on to say, "Wh…Why must y…you…make me l…li…like this?" He couldn't stand it anymore.

He was tired of feeling like this. He was tired of feeling unloved and alone. 'Why do they try so hard to comfort me? It's not like they actually care. They're just doing this because they have pity on me and are bored. Well, I won't need them at all.' Pretty soon, Cam felt confused. Somewhere, he knew that the rangers actually cared. However, he didn't want them to find out what he was doing because then they would reject him. Then, he would have no chance of being friends with them. Then again, it's not like he would fit in. But, another voice said that they just pitied him. That filled him with anger and depression that he couldn't handle.

Cam felt all emotions you could feel (besides happiness) at the same time. He hated being bombarded by all these emotional problems. He couldn't stand having all this inside him. If he didn't let it out, he was going to burst. Automatically, he took out the blade he had in his pant pocket. Looking at himself in the mirror smiling, he took the sharp metal and brought it to an old scar he had. Immediately, blood began to flow, opening up all the pain before.

Grimacing, he brought the blade up higher and made another deep cut not just into his skin, but into his soul. Cam couldn't stand having all his emotions he couldn't control with him. The pain he inflicted on himself brought the hurt down to physical, something he could handle. For some time, Cam felt happy. He could finally control anything that came his way. He was strong. Watching the blood and emotions pour out of him, he couldn't help but feel calm and at ease.

After a while of staring at the warm liquid come out, Cam's control became replaced with grief and shame. "Oh god, what is this? How could I do this? How could I ever come to this spot in my life?" Cam let the tears come out of his now dull eyes. They became numerous and started to drop on the cuts, smearing the blood. Cam knew that no matter how much he cried, it would never get better. Not wishing to shed anymore watery tears, he made several more bloody tears before washing the blade and his arm. After putting on a new long-sleeved sweater and pants, he went to take a restless nap until 11:30 when he took off.


Dustin: You got Cam to come along? How did you accomplish that?

Hunter: I don't know. This morning, he was different. He was agreeable, easy to handle, and he though of the idea of coming along with us to lunch.

Shane: Wait a minute,he came up with the idea?

Blake: Would you all stop this? It doesn't matter who thought of the idea first. The important thing is that Cam's finally coming along with us.

Tori: Remember, we still need to find out what's been bothering him. I still don't feel right.

Blake: You know, you still haven't told us why you are so concerned.

Tori: What? I just care about Cam. Don't you?

Shane: Come on, you know he does. We all do. It's just that, you seem to have all attention on him.

Tori: I just want to make sure he will be fine.

Hunter: Well, don't worry. By the way Cam was this morning, I'd say that he is getting better.

Dustin: I hope so, Hunter. I hope so.


Cam walked down the sidewalk leading to Storm Chargers. He honestly didn't want to go, but he had no choice. "What am I going to do? I hope they don't have all attention on me. If not, it will be easy to get around the meal." Just the thought of food made the samurai's stomach rumble. Relishing in the feeling, he continued to walk.

As a skateboarder passed him by real close, Cam quickly turned around. He regretted it afterwards. The quick motion started to make the world spin to him. Leaning against a wall near his destination, he struggled to gain back strength but was failing. Kelly of Storm Chargers walked out throwing some bags into the garbage dump when she spotted Cam.

"Hey, haven't seen you in a while, Cam. Decided to rejoin the living?" Cam tried to respond, but he started to breathe heavily due to lack of energy. "The others are inside waiting. Come o…Hey, are you alright, Cam?"

Cam tried to speak, but soon more energy left and he became weak at the knees. "CAM, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" Kelly asked. That was the last thing he heard before darkness engulfed him as he fell to the ground.

A/N: I know, cliffhanger. I hate those myself. Sorry if this angers anybody. Please review and I promise to update as soon as possible.