Rebel Red Hope

7

     "CLANCY! TYLER!" Were the first things that erupt from my lips upon launching myself awake. Looking around for them in a hazy panic, a noise snaps me to attention and in turn, makes me realize I'm in a tent. The noise came from a man sitting on a crate in the corner, his tape crossed in an X on his sweater over his heart and a loop around one of his knees. His face seems almost familiar and a bit surprised. Understandable as I did just yell. Shaking my head and starting to get up, he steps forwards, kneels next to me, and carefully pushes me back down causing me to sink back into the sleeping bag,

     "What's your name?" he asks, his tone seems almost cold with a hint of something behind his eyes that I can't quite read as he rests one arm on his knee and the other props him up as he sits on the ground next to me,

     "Please, I need to go back for them, they're my friends and-"

     "I know." He cuts me off causing me to pause, "we plan on getting both Clancy and Tyler back around nightfall," he explains, his voice calm and collected.

     "We... you do?" I ask surprised at his words and he simply nods,

     "There's a meeting being held in about an hour to prepare for the event," he informs me, "If you are feeling better by then you can join us." He casually invites me almost in the way an old friend would. The entire thing leaves me at a loss for words, but the man breaks the silence again while leaning slightly closer to me, "What's your name?" he asks again,

"Arlyn," I respond without thinking. Why is he familiar as well? "Who are you?" I ask curiously,

     "Josh," he answers, "Now get some rest, you'll need it." he simply says, something tugging at his voice before he gets up and walks to the entrance of the tent. Just as he reaches it, my mouth blurts out yet another question,

     "Do I know you?" the question even caught me by surprise, but it stops Josh in his tracks as he parts the entryway and freezes for a second before walking out. Weird.

     The hour went by very slowly. Some others were in and out of the tent either have their wounds tended to or checking on me. They were all very kind, welcoming me to the camp with smiles and the occasional joke. Names went over my head most of the time, but they were all so kind. It's unsettling and almost scary how kind they all are. Once the hour was up, someone pops their head into the tent and locks eyes with me

     "Hey, uhh, Josh said you'd want to be in the meeting?" they tell me awkwardly in an almost questioning tone,

     "Yeah, let him know I'll be right there," I tell them and they duck their head back outside the tent, "Wait!" I call back and their head pops back in,

     "Yes?" their eyes very confused and a bit worried,

     "What's your name?" it would be rude to not ask, right?

     "Sam, why?" they asked slowly

     "Just wanted to know. Thank you, Sam." and with that, Sam was gone again.

     "You'll probably need these," comes a voice from just outside my vision causing me to jump a bit and turn a bit too fast, "Whoa there, I'm just giving you your jacket and bandana back," he chuckles and I return it, but a bit more awkward than his. The bandana was my first priority, quickly snagging it and tying it back onto my wrist before getting up and sliding the jacket on, but something on the sleeves catches my attention. A few things actually: The fact it was warm and smelled like fire, the yellow tape on the arms and back, the patches on the shoulder, and my FPE badge pinned neatly to the pocket.