Chapter 2

Stanley woke up to a bright light shining in his eyes. It was X-Ray holding a flashlight.

"Hey," whispered X-Ray, "its 3:00 in the morning. We can talk now."

"Ugh, alright," said Stanley as he rolled over in his cot. He got up and sat on a crate next to X-Ray.

"Alright," said X-Ray, "let's start by saying the camp isn't, well, the same anymore."

"How could it be different," said Stanley.

"Remember our task when you were here," asked X-Ray.

"Well obviously I remember. We had to dig holes," replied Stanley.

"Not anymore," said X-Ray.

"Wait, what," asked Stanley

"Stanley," answered X-Ray, "do you notice anybody with shovels?" Stanley looked confused.

"What do you guys do then," asked Stanley.

"We Mine. You know with pickaxes," said X-Ray. Stanley had a puzzled look on his face. "You ever heard of Retilium," asked X-Ray.

"Yeah, sure. It's that really cool looking mineral they use in jewelry and stuff. It's worth a lot of money too," replied Stanley.

"That's what we're mining for. The lake bed and the surrounding mountains are a jackpot for this stuff," said X-Ray.

"There is Retilium here," asked Stanley.

"Loads of it. The new Warden is supposedly using the Retilium to power the camp so they can keep this place going, and we can keep working as our punishment," said X-Ray, "I don't believe it for a second."

"Well, why don't you believe them? That seems like a pretty logical explanation," said Stanley. X-Ray shifted in his seat, and leaned in closer to Stanley.

"They are not using it for power," said X-Ray.

"You don't know that," said Stanley.

"I do know that. In order to use it to power the camp they would have to take it to the basement of the main building. I saw them take the load of Retilium behind the main building. Not into it," explained X-Ray.

"Well," replied Stanley, "they could have gone through a back door."

"There is no back door. Only door is in the front. They don't want any campers sneaking in through some back door. I've seen it," said X-Ray. He shifted again. "I snuck to the back of the main building, and found a large shed. That's where they are taking it," X-Ray said.

"You can't be sure of that X-Ray," replied Stanley.

"I know what I saw! Something's not right Stanley, and we need to figure it out," yelled X-Ray. He looked worried that he was being too loud. Zero sat up in bed and looked around with squinted eyes. He looked at X-Ray and Stanley who were staring right at him, shook his head and fell right back asleep.

"Try to be a little quieter," said Stanley. X-Ray rolled his eyes and got up.

"I'm going back to bed, its 3:30 in the morning, we still have time to sleep," said X-Ray. X-Ray got in bed and Stanley did the same.

There was light shining through the tent doors. X-Ray had woken him up.

"You want to come mine with us today," asked X-Ray.

"Uh, I guess I'll do it," said Stanley. He got up and walked outside the tent. The blistering heat beat down on his skin. Stanley shaded his eyes with his hand and kept walking. X-Ray opened a big closet and grabbed a pickaxe. He threw one to Stanley.

"Follow me. You should blend in just fine," said X-Ray. They both walked off onto the dry lakebed.

"So, what made you want to come back," asked X-Ray.

"I wanted to see you guys," replied Stanley. X-Ray smirked.

"Nice. Armpit's already out there. The other guys aren't here anymore. They got put in another camp near San Antonio."

"Why did they have to go?"

"I have no clue. I was told it was none of my business," said X-Ray. "Alright, here we are. Just start right here and work your way down," said X-Ray as he gestured to the area.

Stanley was tired after all of the work. They started going back to the tent to check on Zero. They figured he was still sleeping. So far no one noticed that he wasn't a real camper. X-Ray waved to his friends as the walked through the sandy desert. A staff member gave him a weird look. Stanley tensed up.

"Hey kid," yelled the staff member, "get over here." Stanley looked at X-Ray nervously, and X-Ray nodded his head telling him to go over there.

"Good afternoon sir, what can I do for you sir," Stanley asked.

"You can put your pickaxe back, because you forgot to when you were coming back into camp," said the staff member. Stanley nodded and walked to the big closet. He let out a big breath as if he was holding it in the whole time. He shook his head at X-Ray. It was already getting dark. They walked into the tent and sat on their beds.

"So this is how camp is now," asked Stanley.

"Yep," replied X-Ray. "You getting tired," he asked.

"Oh yeah, this is more tiring then digging," Stanley replied.

"Alright," said X-Ray, "I'm going to bed." He lied down and rolled over. Stanley did as well. It was hard for Stanley to sleep. He was thinking about what X-Ray said. He decided he should just try to go to sleep.

"Hey kid," a voice yelled. Everybody in the tent jumped up. It was a staffer. He had caught on to Stanley. He must have been told by the staffer he met yesterday! Zero recognized that he was a staffer and got under the covers. Stanley put his hands up, assuming the staffer had a gun. He assumed right.

Thanks for reading CHAPTER 2! Tell me what you think so far. I have good plans for this story.

=Connoristheman=