The Runt was desperate but hesitant. The old broken-down mall was never used except for the lowest of the low that occupied its walls. It was said only the crazy or those wishing an early death entered the falling down structure, but Sam insisted it would be fine.
Madie
Madie
While I was shopping at the market plaza, I overheard some people talking about Xavier and his goons. They’re stirring up trouble all over town. The way they bully the other gangs is getting out of control. Xavier has way too much power, and he uses it to be cruel. People say he turned out this way because his father was always mean to him, especially when he lost a tournament. I don’t know if that’s true or just talk. What I do know is that Xavier likes hurting people.
Madie
I dreamt about being home last night. I swear I could almost feel and smell the clean sheets. It felt like a weekend. One of those mornings, when you had a great night’s sleep, a familiar smell wakes you. My mom was in the kitchen making her famous biscuits. I miss those biscuits. I miss the strawberry jam. I don’t know what woke me from my dream, but it was a letdown when I realized it wasn’t real.
Madie
I held a meeting with the residents of Bear Country to discuss what to do about the Central Bobcats and our missing fuel. Asking for the fuel back wasn’t an option, taking the fuel back wasn’t an option, although two people who shall remain nameless thought, we should storm Central and take it back. Can you say Matt and Jonas? We voted this down because of the possibility of casualties on our side. I asked for volunteers to travel to Wolf Valley to acquire more fuel. Pete has decided to increase the number of people on guard duty around campus. Our resources are few and we don’t need to lose anything else.
Madie
Everyone in the admin hall was awake and standing in the hallway.
The Runt tried to squirm out of my hold as he cried. “Tony’s hurt. They beat him up.”
Tony lives in the basement. He has been my friend since before the world turned upside down. He isn’t very sociable these days, but he is very good at fixing and maintaining whatever we break.
I ordered the Runt to stay put in the admin hallway and grabbed some muscle. When I say muscle, I am referring to Matt and Jonas. The three of us ran toward the basement. The basement was a mess, and Tony was slumped against the far wall holding his stomach, bleeding from his head, and his left eye was swollen shut.
Tony confirmed it was Central Bobcats, Xavier’s Goons. I was not surprised.
Madie
There’s trouble in Bear Country.
The Runt came running down the admin hall before sunrise, yelling at the top of his lungs.
“Get up! Get up! They took our fuel! They took our fuel!”
I jumped off the couch and tackled him in the hallway.
“Okay, we get it!” I shouted, grabbing him by the shoulders, trying to calm him down. “Who took our fuel?”
Madie
Tate and Kylie from the agriculture club are trying their best to supply us with a variety of fruits and vegetables. An unfortunate accident with a bug infestation has damaged much of their crops. In an effort to keep us from starving to death, the agriculture club has asked for volunteers. They need people to help with the crops. I will be spending much of my time next week helping in the back football field. Oh, joy! It’s not that I mind helping out. I just hate manual labor. Better to help now than to starve later.
Madie
