The Heroes of The Camps

The evil ladies behind me were really getting on my nerves. It didn't matter how many times I tried to kill them, they would always come back. It didn't take long at all for them to reform and come after me with a vengeance, screeching and offering me free samples of food.

"There she is!" One of them cawed, pointing a grungy finger in my direction.

"Crap." I picked up a rock and threw it at her, then took off running down the rocky slope.

"Get her! She hasn't tried our new cheeses yet!" Another screamed.

"I don't WANT your free cheese, crazy lady!" I yelled over my shoulder, my curly black hair whipping into my eyes as I ran. I slid down a steep hill on my side, dirt scraping my skin.

I could see the San Fransisco skyline on my way down, and a twinge in my memory made my eyesight go fuzzy. I couldn't remember anything from the past...it was incredibly frustrating for me to not know who I am or where I was going...I would get small glimpses of people or places, but really I only ever remembered one person.

"I don't even know your name." I whispered to myself, closing my green eyes and watching his grey eyes flash by mine.

An overwhelming smell enveloped me and my eyes snapped open to see a slimy gorgon lady bent over right in my face.

"Corndog slice?" She hissed, shoving a plate full of samples in my face. She was still wearing her green Bargain Mart employee vest over a flower-print dress. If you just looked at her body, you might think she was somebody’s dumpy old grandmother—until you looked down and realized she had rooster feet. Or you looked up and saw bronze boar tusks sticking out of the corners of her mouth. Her eyes glowed red, and her hair was a writhing nest of bright green snakes

"I'm good. Thanks." I pushed the tray away gingerly with my index finger before taking off again.

"Ah ah ah! Not so fast." Another snake lady appeared in front of me. I stumbled to a halt, staring up at her, before shoving past her and running as fast as I could down the hill. I slid all over the place - my shoes had almost no tread. A hand wrapped around my arm and I nearly lost my balance, but I got yanked back.

"Did you really think you could escape us?" The mean one growled at me.

"No." I smirked. "But somehow I still keep slipping out of your grasp." I yanked my arm away from her and sprinted across a bridge, flipping over the rail and jumping into the water.

It was a rush of icy cold that took my breath away, but the water always rejuvenated me in a way that made me feel powerful. I pushed myself to the surface and made my way across the lake, my hair freezing in the thirty degree air.

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