3

When Sam showed Elyn where she was staying he walked to the edge of the camp.

He checked over his shoulder before he stepped into the forest.

He had an appointment to keep. Money to earn.

When he got to the meeting place, the two men Elyn saw earlier were waiting for him.

Oscar was the taller and slimmer of the two. He had olive skin, black hair, and brown eyes.

Wes was average height with shoulder-length chestnut-colored hair and pale skin. A handful of freckles scattered across his nose.

Oscar looked up when he arrived and folds his arms. "Anything new to report Samuel?"

Sam sat on a tree stump. "Actually, there is. We've recruited a girl."

Wes cast him a bored expression. "Good for you. I told you that using him to spy was a horrible idea, but did you listen to me? Nooo."

"You didn't let me finish. Her name is Elyn, and she's from Earth. How she got here is still puzzling. But if you need more information, I can get it."

Oscar leaned forward. "From Earth, hm? I have an idea how she got here. Do you think you could befriend the girl? Or woo her perhaps?"

Sam frowned and folded his arms. "My job isn't to woo anybody. If you want to kidnap her, then fine. I have no problem doing that."

Wes grinned. "Now you're talkin'."

"But the first step is to earn her trust, then friends, and once she trusts you enough to take her on a little exploration, we'll kidnap her then. I have a feeling she'll be of great use to us."

Elyn was shaken awake.

"Huh? Who is it?"

"Come on, sleepyhead," Jamie whispered. "I have to show you around, remember? And there's someone who wants to meet you."

Elyn sat up on her elbows and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

Jamie was sitting on the edge of her bed, smirking. "I must say you sleep like a rock. I could hear your snores outside."

Elyn laughed, but there was no humor to the sound. "Funny. Do you have a change of clothes?"

"There should be something at Matt's."

Elyn threw off the covers and folded her arms. "It better not be anything perverted."

Jamie shrugged and got to his feet. Elyn slipped from her bed and followed him out. He led her a few huts down to where a dark-skinned boy was sitting out front tending to a fire.

"Hey Matt. How are you doing?" Jamie asked.

Matt shrugged and then pointed at his hut. Jame grabbed Elyn's hand and led her inside.

"Thanks, brother. I'll leave the payment on the table."

Matt waved him off and shook his head.

"You sure?"

Matt gave him a look, then turned back to the fire.

Elyn stepped inside, the hut was set up like hers. A table was in the middle of the room and the bed was to the right.

Elyn wasn't sure where he'd keep all the clothes.

Jamie took her to a back room by the bed and Elyn blinked.

Shelves were built onto the wall and there were piles and piles of clothes stacked.

Elyn picked up a shirt and held it out. "How does he make this stuff without a sewing machine, or pins and needles?"

Jamie wiggled his fingers. "Magic."

Elyn frowned at him. "Funn-."

Jamie flicked his wrist and the shirt flew from her hands and landed in a heap on the floor. "Like I said, magic. Here at camp, the kids are rejects. Magic isn't allowed where we grow up." Jamie sighed. "Our parents sent us away to protect us. Some were just abandoned, like Matt."

The shirt floated back in front of Elyn. She reached out and grabbed it.

"What did your parents do?"

Jamie looked away. "I'll let you get dressed. Don't forget we have the tour."

He left, closing the door behind him.