Back near the tents, the student encampment had begun to stir into reluctant life.
Inside one of the larger tents pitched near the edge of the field, Mia sat quietly beside Verena and Kaelira. The three had chosen not to mingle with the larger crowd, at least not yet.
The tent interior was surprisingly livable—three bunks stacked vertically, a table and chair bolted to the floor, a makeshift fan humming with minimal power, and a corner-mounted water filter dripping into a dented steel container.
Verena was busy rummaging through the drawers. A few seconds later, she pulled out a small white box, then another. She tilted one open, revealing silver foil packets and tiny glass vials.
"Well, look at that…" she muttered, juggling the bottles in one hand, her voice laced with bitterness. "Depression pills, anxiety meds… sleeping agents. They knew."
She turned to the other two girls, shaking her head in disbelief.
