Chapter One

The evening air is warm and humid as I walk along the edge of the forest gathering firewood for the campfire. Sometimes it seems like the nights in Alabama are just as hot as the days. There's not a single cloud in the sky to obstruct the view of the sun as it sinks low in the west. I know that I should be heading back towards the camp before I lose the last rays of the sunlight, but the camp isn't far. I still don't want to have to travel the distance in the dark though. I run my hand through my short brown hair and quicken my pace.

The campsite is set up in a clearing just past the tree line and less than twenty feet from a small stream that trickles through the middle of the clearing. Short soft grass is the only vegetation that seems to grow in this tiny green oasis. Looking back at the sunset through the trees, it reminds me of the end of some romantic movie with the perfect sunset and a happy ever after.

As I get closer I see a lone figure looming near the campfire poking at it, trying to keep the flames going. He turns as he hears me approaching and gives me an annoyed look. He usually gives me that look when I sneak up on him.

"Take your time with the firewood Ivan," he says as he turns back to the fire.

Scott never seems to get mad at people, he just makes jokes.

"Sorry," I say setting down the firewood. "Why do we need a fire in the middle of the summer?"

"Well, you never know what you might need," Scott says adding a few pieces of wood to the fire. "It should help keep the animals away, but I don't think anything will come around."

I toss a twig in the fire and shr

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