Hello everyone, or if anyone still follows this story lol, it's been a very long time since I have written anything and mostly it's just because my life has gotten so hectic but its finally settled down.. So if anyone is still following this story here you go part 7.

Chapter 7

"Hi Lena…. I thought I would never speak to you again after what happened…" Hana explains very politely but before she even finishes her train of thought I immediately step in and say,

"We need to talk, meet me after dinner time by the edge of the camp by the river if you're willing to even have a friendship with me," I say as firmly as I can. Before she can even gives me a response I walk back to Alex.

"So how did it go, babe?" He questions me with the softest voice. His voice is so calm and I find comfort in how caring and gentle his voice is. Not only is it his voice that gives me comfort, but his bright golden eyes look at me with the most understanding gaze. It's as if he is in my mind reading exactly how I feel at this exact moment. It's these features in Alex that make me fall in love with him a little more each day.

After my thoughts trailed off a little bit I replied with, "We're going to talk later, after dinner."

"You do know that's after curfew right Lena?"

"Yes, Alex, I know but it's the only time I can get her alone, and without having the entire camp staring at us"

"Okay… but I don't want you to get in trouble or worse..."

I know what he's afraid of. He's afraid if I get caught I will be ex-communicated from the camp. Basically, that's the punishment for people that break our "new rules"; they get kicked out of camp and are left in the Wilds by themselves. I understand Alex is afraid, but I have been through so much worse than just breaking curfew. I'm not scared of what will happen; even if we do get caught my mother is the head of this camp, and maybe just maybe she will get me out of trouble.

"Lena, I can tell what's going on in that rebellious mind of yours," Alex interrupts my train of thought. He continues, "You do know the only reason there is a curfew is to protect you from the dangers of the Wilds… Right?"

"Yes, Alex I get it but this is something I have to do, can you please take Grace back to the tent after dinner and watch over her until I get back. I promise I'll only be like an hour late."

"Yea, Lena I'll take care of her," He warmly says as he leans down to kiss me.

After our conversation, Grace comes running up to me asking where dinner is. That's when I remember it's time to get in line for our rations. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, Alex, Grace, and I receive our rations. We take a seat on the ground and start eating what looks like some freshly cooked deer. I'm surprised how much our camp is like a mini civilization. We all have jobs, besides the children like Grace. Alex is one of the hunters, and I go into Portland, to help find different technological objects that may be of use to us. Most of the children just go to school or play around the campsite. There are some small jobs for the children, like water gatherers, berry and nut gatherers, and even helping to make fabric. I still don't know what exactly is going on with the cureds. I wonder what the camp leaders are going to do with them. It's not like they are actual people; they are monsters, they have no emotions, no feelings. You can't live with people who have no emotions; because you never know how they are going to act or to what extreme they are willing to go to. Like I said they have no emotions so, for all we know they could start another war.

After all of my thinking I realize dinner time is up, which means it is time for me to face Hana by the river bank.