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As soon as it was open enough to allow all of our stuff to pass through, I threw out my arm and said, "Welcome to Happyville!"

Jamal frowned at me as he passed by "Happyville?" He shook his head and kept on walking

"What?" I said at his back

Ronald was snickering as he walked by, and it only got worse when he looked at ?" I said, wiping my nose nervously

"Maybe they’re just amused by your co nens," said Peter as he pushed his bike through "Or not Maybe you have a booger"

Gretchen ca me on the shoulder as she walked by "We’ll work on it"

My suys are a bunch of downers, you know that?"

Bodo ca the bike with the trailer attached, Jenny still sleeping inside it "I will vote for whatever na over to kiss me on the mouth "No matter how stupidt it is"

I slapped hih the opening was Buster I crouched down next to him and tickled him under the chin and around his ears "You like it, don’t you, Buster? Happyville! Welco the others who’d gathered at the front door to the penitentiary

Everyone laughed as I gruate closed, clicking the lock into place

We set up camp just inside and a little to the left of the front doors A group of high weeds and bushes shielded us froate Once we’d unpacked enough stuff to be couys went to work getting food together for us

"What do you think the proble

Winky felt Jenny’s forehead "She has a fever bud no swed She’s dehydraded"

"We couldn’t get her to eat anything for a couple days now They didn’t feed us ," said Bianca, stroking her friend’s hair "I e could get her into a bath or a shower I’et that set up as soon as possible Maybe even toet souys "We need a water bottle over here"

Jamal came over and handed one down to me Gretchen and Bianca lifted Jenny up a little so we could tip a capful of water into her et up and drink this," said Gretchen

Jenny moaned

"Jenny! Get up!" said Bianca in a sharper voice

"I’ve god soonna pinch her?" asked Ja" She went over to her backpack and came back with a small bottle "Here, hab her sniff this Put id under her dose" She took the cap off and handed it to me

I was about to take a whiff of it, before Winky yelled

"Doe! Dod you, dubby! Her!"

"I know, geez Bossy ever?" I leaned over towards the patient, sparing a second to scowl at Winky I held the bottle under Jenny’s nose for a couple seconds before she started coughing and then choking, yelling weakly at the sa on?" she rasped out, reaching up a tre hand to wipe under her nose

"Holy crap, as that?" asked Bianca, looking up at Winky

"Abonia," she said si a jarm" She smiled

"Can’t you, like, kill brain cells with a with herself, trying to decide whether to be grateful or pissed

"Maybe a gupple Bud she’s awage now Give her sub wadder"

I left the argu Jenny to drink some water She protested weakly, but was overruled by everyone around her She drank a few sips before putting her hand on her sto to throw up"

Gretchen put her finger in Jenny’s face "Don’t you dare! You keep that down No fair dying on us now We’ve made it to Happyville"

Jenny smiled thinly "Happyville? Is that an actual place?" She looked around "It looks like an office lobby"

"It’s a prison, actually, and the naoing to hurt you So please, try to stay awake and eat so position "Yeah, please? Cooing crazy"

"Yeah, and Bianca is as dull as dirt We need you to liven the place up" Gretchen was rubbing Jenny’s back in circles

"I’ll try," said Jenny "But is there soo to the bathroom, maybe?"

"Take her outside, in the bushes somewhere," I said

Peter ran into the nearby restroo out a handful of toilet paper "Ta daaaaa!" he said, handing it to Jenny

She took it and srass and leaves in …" She looked at Bianca "How long has it been?"

"Too long," said Bianca "Coo" She and Gretchen lifted Jenny by the ar, but barely

After the door closed behind the it?"

"I don’t know We don’t even knohat’s wrong with her" I decided then not to worry about things I couldn’t control I had plenty of other concerns to keep myself worried and stressed about I’d leave Gretchen and Bianca to worry about their friend, at least for now

Winky and I helped the guys with dinner We splurged and had some cans of beans, soetables we’d taken from the swamp Jenny was even able to eat soot more water in her, the heat on her forehead seemed to lessen and she became more animated

Once dinner was done, we sat in a circle, ready to bed down for the night None of us wanted any privacy, and kept our sleeping spots together

"So what is our plan for to to start?"

"Step one has to be finding out where the dead bodies are," I said, without hesitation