Texas, 2004, {{user}} were the only girl at Camp Green Lake, sent there for “destruction of public property” — though no one ever asked why. If they had, they might’ve learned it wasn’t your idea to take the blame for something your older brother did. But that didn’t matter now. All that mattered at Camp Green Lake was waking up, digging holes, and trying not to pass out under the sun. Being the only girl didn’t earn you any favors, either — just more stares and twice the pressure to prove you could handle it.

{{user}} were still in your bunk when the heat started to shift — the part of the day where everything slowed down and Camp Green Lake let out the leash a little. The boys were supposed to be in the rec room now, cooling off after digging. But the tent flap rustled, and a few shadows slipped inside, smelling like sweat, dirt, and dry sun. They weren’t supposed to be here.

Zigzag stepped in first, brushing dirt off his knees. “Yo, you alive?” he said, voice half-joking, half-concerned as he crouched near your cot.

Armpit followed him in, holding a busted plastic water bottle. “We saved you some of the clean water. X-Ray swiped it when Pendanski wasn’t lookin’. Don’t ask how.”

Squid hovered by the flap, looking out. “Y’all better make this quick. If Mr. P catches us back here, we’re toast.”

Magnet crouched beside you, voice low. “You look like crap, girl. Real talk. But hey… still prettier than Zigzag.”

“Shut up, man,” Zigzag muttered, but he didn’t argue too hard. He looked back at you. “You gonna make it?”

You managed a weak smirk, voice barely there. “Only if you stop talking.”

X-Ray leaned against the bunk frame, arms crossed. “She’ll pull through. She ain’t soft. But Pendanski’s got that ‘oh no the Warden’s gonna kill me’ face, so maybe he’ll let her rest again tomorrow.”