Hi. J.
I am so tiered, but I wont sleep. If I do I might not wake up.
Everybody is starving. All remembrance of food is gone. I can barely remember what we were eating the night I was taken. I think it was turkey... I can remember thinking What is this, Christmas? before we ate.
Aaron has been counting the days. Apparently it's 13th December. Wow, already? We were taken THREE WEEKS AGO?!
Hurry up, Heather. Please.
Camels can go without food or water for a long time. I wish I was a camel.
You ok, Lucks?
Just hungry. And tired. And thirsty.
Oddly, she seemed none of these things. There was a strange expression in her eyes... What? Pain? Joy? Evil? Jealousy? It seemed like all of these. These past few weeks, Cindy's changed. Before, I admired her; she had no idea where she came from, but she still knew who she was, still hoped for a great future. Now she's lost that. It's as if she knows what will happen. Where she came from.
And if she does... this past year will have all been a lie.
No, I'm being ridiculous. We're all going a little mad. With me it's the voices in my head... with Jess, it's hallucinations.
Indy and Jo are sick. I doubt they'll make it to Christmas, if I must say. Mum's up all day and night trying to care for them.. but it's pointless, really. Even if they do survive, their lives will be hard, where we're going.
Cindy caught me looking at my little sister.
She's a great person, you know. I satred up at her with big, sad, eyes. My voice was a dry whisper.
I know. We were interrupted by a wail.
Water, Josie croaked. I'm so thirsty.
Cindy begged for it. There was a small hatch to the front of the truck where the guards were. I could here their mocking words.
Aww, is somebody thirsty? Is little Cinderella thirsty?
No. Little dogs are dying. Please, we need water.
Rhythm?
Here's some water, you selfish dogs! Rhythm yelled, sloshing water in a bucket. Mum cupped it in her tail and fed it to Josie. She looked a little better- but who I am I kidding? We're all gonna die.
Great, now I sound like Aaron.
We all crowded around. It was different from last time we drank, though- even though we were so thirsty, we couldn't drink it. My legs collapsed beneath me as I drank. I gave a groan.
Mu-my? Indy whispered. We turned to her. I don't feel well.
Hush, now little Indigo. Just sleep.
Indy closed her eyes. Mum fed her a sip of water. Her breathing was so slow. I was worried it would stop altogether. Josie's ragged breathing alarmed me even more. I crawled over to the dark wall, and lent my head against it, resting.
During the night something alarmed me. I raised my head and peered through the dark. My ears tensed for a tiny sound.
That's when I realised.
I walked over to the hospital corner. Jess and Aaron were resting there, propped up on a pile of sacks we found in here. Mum lay beside Indy. I ignored them and rested my nose on Josie's chest. It was just as I suspected.
She was dead.
DUN DUN DUN!!!!