Alex Wreck scratched at a bit of dried blue blood on his school uniform. The stain faded in colour under his attention, but he couldn’t remove it completely. He didn’t even know why he had bothered. His pristine white and yellow uniform was completely covered in filth anyway. He supposed it was a work in progress. Now the others would see the clean spot and know that he cared about his appearance.

  ‘As a leader should.’

  ‘What was that, Alex?’

  Sophie asked, hearing his quiet mumble. She was currently sitting next to him in the opening of the shelter they had built last night. Not because it was raining, (it had stopped last night after the… encounter) but because there wasn’t anywhere else to sit. Tracy and Luke had claimed either side of the Eldest Tree, and Jacob was content to pace around rather than sitting down quietly.

  ‘Hm? Oh, nothing Sophie, forget about it. I was just thinking to myself.’

  Yes, that was what he was doing. Him and everyone else, just thinking. Not yelling or screaming about or flailing their arms around wildly. That phase had passed. He had awoken two hours ago, not in his comfortable bed at home, nor on the cramped bus as he should have. It had first shocked and confused him until he remembered yesterday, and then last night. Then there had been chaos and panic.

  Everyone had awoken changed, with something different about them that hadn’t been there before. It wasn’t a physical change, nor was it obvious. It was deeper than that, it was something fundamental that defined who they were, it was… a class, a level, and for some a skill.

  Alex still remembered the voice calling out to him, it had shocked him awake then, but it had been overshadowed by the Green-Stalker that had attacked them in the middle of the night. The Green-Stalker was of course another name of Luke’s design. It had all been too much—too many new things, too many changes. And worst of all, the realisation that they had all been oh, so very wrong.

  The amazon forest wasn’t inhabited by giant man-eating insect-like monsters, and neither did it or rather their world, earth, have things like classes, levels and skills. Sure, in a game, but real life? Impossible. And yet Alex knew for certain that he was a leader—no that wasn’t correct. He was a [Leader]. Somehow saying it like that felt more special, righter, as if the word itself had power.

  Alex sunk his head into his sweaty palms, trying to cool it down. He felt feverish sitting out in the humid jungle. He was thirsty—ever since the rain had stopped last night every trace of water had disappeared as if it had evaporated into thin air. Or rather been absorbed by the expansive jungle’s flora—but more than his thirst, the thing which sapped his energy away and had made him sit here for so long was—

  ‘I’M HUNGRY!’

  ‘I can’t take it anymore, screw sitting around and thinking. Let’s find something to eat already!’

  Despite the way Jacob's voice penetrated and ground against his mind like a whetstone, Alex was glad for the outburst. They’d been sitting around for hours now, trying to figure out just what the hell was going on, but funnily enough, it all seemed so small in importance when compared to filling their empty stomachs.

  Sophie crawled out from under the shelter and stood up. She gripped her slender stomach in agony.

  ‘Finally, I’m starving. I haven’t eaten since recess, yesterday.’

  Alex felt the same way, he wasn’t sure how he had even fallen asleep with the gnawing sensation of hunger that now consumed him; he supposed his tiredness had won out at the time.

  ‘So, does anyone have any idea where we can get something to eat, Tracy?

  While Alex appreciated everyone’s thoughts, opinions and ideas, and would listen to each one as he thought a leader should, Tracy was his go-to for advice. She had already shown her usefulness through her survival and general knowledge, all from reading or watching videos and documentaries. Alex was sure he’d seen the same, but the difference between them was that Tracy remembered most of the facts better than he could; especially now, considering her… class.

  ‘Yeah, not going to get used to that anytime soon,’ Alex said to himself.

  ‘While food is important, we have to remember that without a source of water we’re not going to survive out here long enough to perish from starvation. With that said, I’m not sure what we could even eat out here.’

  Jacob pointed back behind Alex with his thumb, at the grotesque green exoskeleton being consumed by a swarm of insects.

  ‘What about the bug?’

  ‘NO!’

  Everyone chorused together. Alex found himself paling at the thought. How would you even go about eating it? He blanched. No, stop.

  ‘For god’s sake, Jacob, stop suggesting eating the Green-Stalker!’ Luke yelled, being the most squeamish.

  ‘Look Luke, it tried to eat me, so the least I can do is to try and eat it!’

  That reasoning baffled Alex. Again, his thoughts turned to how to cook the Green Stalker. Maybe boiled? As far as he could tell, the brain was the only fleshy part in it.

  Sophie, skin still crawling from the thought of eating that thing, felt compelled to change the subject.

  ‘Luke, why does everything you name start with “green”? Green-Three-Eyed Lizard, Green Stalker—'

  ‘Because everything around us is green Sophie! We’re in a freaking jungle, in another world!’

  Alex suddenly looked up, that was it!

  ‘Alright enough, shut up! Stop arguing!’

  Sophie and Luke visibly calmed down and ceased bickering. But then the skill’s effect passed. Sophie glared at Alex in outrage, while Luke straight up yelled at him.

  ‘Stop doing that Alex! I hate that feeling, it’s like being yelled at by my mum!’

  ‘Ha, sorry. Just thought I’d give it another go.’

  Alex unapologetically apologised. He had decided to try out the… skill again since it seemed to have recharged or something. He had received it along with his class last night before the battle. As far as he could tell, he was a level 3 [Leader] and could use [Lesser Command], as he did just now to dish out quick and easy to follow commands.

  ‘So that’s the… thing that you can do, Alex?’

  ‘That’s right, Tracy, looks like I can use it every couple of minutes or so.’

  ‘So, it’s not just me that thinks you’re bossy, the whole world does too.’ Jacob spat in disgust, ‘My class is far better, do you think you could take me, Alex?’

  ‘Definitely not, Jacob, you’d win superpowers or not.’

  Among the things they had all discussed, their… classes and skills were one. While Alex could see his own as being useful in a situation where teamwork meant everything, and Jacob’s when they needed something dead. It was Luke’s power that seemed the most useful. Or rather powers, plural. Somehow his younger classmate had already received two. While an internal alarm that somehow sensed danger seemed miraculously useful for their situation, it was Luke’s other ability that would be putting food on the table tonight. Or so Alex hoped.

  ‘Alright listen up, I’ve got a plan that might work.’

  Everyone perked up after hearing that, as Alex knew they would. Luke and Jacob approached from their places, while Tracy listened intently from afar. Sophie simply turned on her spot.

  ‘Finally! Took you long enough.’

  Alex ignored Jacob’s outburst.

  ‘As Luke mentioned earlier, there is a place where we can find both a source of water and something to eat. I’m talking about Luke’s Green-Three-eyed Lizard. From what I am to understand it lives within a swamp. If we can somehow kill it and cook it, we’ll be eating tonight.’

  Everyone stared blankly at Alex in reply. He tried to keep his face as neutral as possible. Finally, Sophie caved.

  ‘Yuck! Why are my only two options for food between a lizard and a bug?’

  Sophie blanched at the idea of eating either one. Tracy pushed herself up, and using Alex’s spear as a walking stick, shambled her way closer to the others standing around the shelter. The spear’s end was dyed a grimy blue, a reminder of the horror they had fought and killed last night. Tracy grinned wickedly at Sophie as the other girl met her eyes.

  ‘Sophie, between eating an oversized lizard and a giant bug, which would you prefer?’

  Sophie twisted her head to stare at the Green Stalker’s corpse positively swarming with insects, inside and out. She shivered from the image and immediately replied.

  ‘You know, when you put it like that, a lizard doesn’t sound half bad.’

  ‘So, were eating lizard tonight then? You better not be over-exaggerating its size, Luke. I could eat a horse at this point!’

  Alex eyed Jacob’s arm, he appeared to be in good spirits, but how much of that was just show? The bandage made from Luke’s hoodie was wrapped tightly around his arm, where the Green-Stalker had bitten him, and it was dyed a faded red.

  ‘Remember that we will need a fire to cook the lizard, once we get it. Tracy yesterday you mentioned wanting to start a fire, does that mean you can?’

  At Alex's words, everyone turned to Tracy who had proven her capability to the others despite her injury, and with the new addition of her class, she was a bonified wealth of knowledge. The group’s [Advisor] thought about this for a moment, then nodded.

  ‘Yes, I can Alex’

  Alex heard Jacob whistle over the other’s exclamations, he just smiled instead.

  ‘Though, I’ll have to sacrifice one of the phones to do it.’

  That last statement raised a few eyebrows around their group. Alex had a fairly good idea where this was going but he asked for the group’s sake.

  ‘What do you plan to do Tracy? How are you starting a fire? With the batteries?’

  Alex grinned at Luke’s clueless expression but left it to Tracy to explain.

  ‘That’s right Alex, by piercing the lithium battery in a cell phone, we can easily start a fire, so long as the phone still has its charge. Obviously, this will wreck the phone though. But it beats rubbing sticks together for hours on end.’

  Jacob looked around the group defensively.

  ‘Whose phone are we destroying then? Not it.’

  ‘Not it.’

  ‘Not it.’

  ‘Guy’s come on, be serious for five minutes, this is a life-or-death situation we're in.’

  Alex looked at Jacob disapprovingly. If he’d had his phone, he’d have gladly offered it for their cause. But he’d regrettably left it in his backpack back on the bus. Hell, if they had been teleported with their backpacks their survival chances would have skyrocketed. To Alex's surprise, it was Luke who raised his hand next.

  ‘Can you use my phone? It stopped working after I fell into the creek, so as far as I'm concerned it's already broken.’

  Luke handed Tracy his lifeless, water damaged phone. Tracy immediately turned it over, removed the back and took the battery out. She then returned the phone to Luke.

  ‘It’ll work as long as it still has charge. Thanks, Luke if it doesn’t then we’ll just have to use someone else’s, so pass them over, people.’

  Sophie nodded enthusiastically despite the rumbling of her stomach but paused when she realised something crucial.

  ‘So, if we can cook the lizard, we’ll have food, but what about water. Didn’t Tracy say we would die from dehydration before starvation? Don’t look at me like that, I get that there’s water in the creek, but won’t we have to boil it? We don’t have anything to hold the water in.’

  Alex frowned, that was a good point.

  There was a moment of silence as the problem washed over everyone present. Alex felt something bite him on the leg and slapped it off hurriedly. He decided to stand up with the others after that. The heat of the jungle was something else today. While it had been hot yesterday, it had also been raining. Today, however, it was as dry and humid as ever; even breathing was hard, as if the oxygen in the air had all but vanished.

  Alex looked towards the others and found them coping in their own unique mannerisms. Sophie brandished a short vine and was actively warding off mosquitoes and insects alike. Jacob was stomping on everything in sight, sometimes even squashing them beneath his makeshift club. Tracy was copying Sophie, or was it the other way around? And Luke was…

  ‘What are you doing Luke?’

  ‘Hm? Oh, just inspecting this insect. It’s completely green, almost like camouflage. I almost didn’t see it; I was thinking of calling it a—'

  ‘Green bug.’

  Sophie and Jacob snickered at the same time, leaving Luke glaring at them from afar.

  ‘You really need to work on your naming sense, Luke, you can’t just call everything a green whatever. Use your imagination a little.’

  Alex listened to the minor squabble happening before him. He didn't see where they got all their energy to bicker from, as it was, he felt as though he was about to collapse from hunger, thirst and the heat, all at the same time.

  ‘We’ll think more about water later. We can’t just sit here all day. Jacob, do you think you can manage with your arm? We’ll need your help to take down the lizard.’

  ‘Ha! I’m fine Alex, besides, I’m dying to try out my new skill on a real target. I honestly can’t wait to meet that damn Green Lizard.’

  ‘Green Three-eyed Lizard.’

  Luke corrected him as he lifted the Green Bug with a stick and watched with fascination as its body colour began to mimic the brown stick in his grasp.

  ‘It’s like a cuttlefish.’

  Jacob chose to ignore Luke’s mutterings; the guy wasn’t at all himself lately.

  ‘Whatever, are we done then, Alex? Let’s go already before we really do die from starvation.’

  ‘Hold on a second guys.’

  Tracy held up a hand as if their class was still in session. She coloured when everyone stopped what they were doing to stare.

  ‘If you’re going out hunting then I’ll stay here. I can’t move around too much with my injury anyway. I’ll work on getting the fire going, just don't lose to the lizard or worse, come back empty-handed.’

  ‘Don’t worry, if it turns out the lizard is a bust, there’s always the bug.’

  Jacob laughed at Tracy’s mirthless face; that never got old. Suddenly Tracy smiled as she was reminded of the bug’s grotesque presence.

  ‘Speaking of the festering giant insectile creature over yonder, would you mind removing it?’

  Luke jolted awake as if his [Dangersense] had just gone off. He didn’t like the sound of that. Jacob stared mirthlessly at Tracy as she smiled innocently, then he swore.

  What was worse than a giant insectile-like monster with razor-sharp teeth that attacked you as you were trying to sleep? A rotting one, swarming with insects. Well admittedly the first was still pretty bad, Alex had to admit.

  Tracy had advised them exactly why a rotting corpse of an unknown species was unhealthy to keep around as decor, as befit her class. The [Advisor] could recall certain information regarding their situation using [Textbook Recall]. Tracy had explained it as a type of personal encyclopaedia, helpfully giving her information when called for; It was quite possibly the perfect skill for a serious student or researcher. But it helped just as well in a survival situation.

  Still, even if they knew the reason why removing the Green Stalker was for the best, it didn’t make the job any easier, or less horrible. Alex pulled with as much strength as he could muster, Luke likewise, but it was mainly Jacob who made moving the heavy corpse possible. They had collected more vines from the Eldest Tree and secured them around the Green Stalker to heave the bug away from their camp. Even Jacob had balked at the idea of touching all the insects.

  ‘ARE YOU WEAKLINGS EVEN PULLING?!’

  Jacob roared as he dug his feet into the ground of the muddy jungle and hauled on the vine.

  ‘Sorry, we’re not muscle heads like you!’

  Luke grunted a retort astonishingly.

  ‘BETTER THAN READING ALL DAY, DAMN IT WHY ARE YOU SO HEAVY!’

  Jacob threw down his vine in frustration, ripped out his club and began bashing the dead Green Stalker in fury. Each blow squashed hundreds of insects and they began to turn on him in a frenzy.

  Alex took one look at Luke, then made a mad dash back to camp; however, it was not until Luke called out to him, that he realised he had run in the wrong direction. Together and with Jacob in toe, they rushed back to camp, Luke leading the way.

  Without flaw, Luke found the camp again. Tracy and Sophie were startled as the trio came rushing through the thickets and into sight cursing obscenities at each other, and… insects?

  ‘You’re back. Did you move it away?’

  ‘YEAH, WE DID. YOU’RE WELCOME.’

  Jacob was practically fuming as he checked himself for bites and threw off a few insects still clinging to him. He furiously stomped them into the ground out of spite.

  ‘Sophie’s helping me gather the materials for the fire. I was thinking she could probably also make a cooking spit to cook the lizard on. Oh, and we’ll need a sharp rock or something to gut it.’

  Sophie blanched at the idea of gutting something, just imagining all the blood left her pale and sick.

  ‘That’s a good idea, Tracey’, Alex said distractedly.

  He had been watching Luke navigate his way back to the camp, it was as if the younger man had a compass, pointing him to the camp. And he did, or at least he had something close to it.

  ‘I have to say, Luke, your [Waypoint marker] power is freaking awesome. I thought I knew the way back, but without you I would have run off into the jungle, never to be seen again.’

  ‘Thanks, Alex, I uh think.’

  Alex realised he’d just complimented Luke over his skill. Something, which must have felt weird, being so new and foreign.

  ‘Right, well now that the Green Stalker is taken care of, Luke, Jacob, and I will head out for the Lizard and water.’

  ‘Oh, about that, Alex—I recalled some information that may help with our water issue. The clay that Luke still has on his clothes, is that from the swamp?’

  Luke nodded to Tracy as he listened.

  ‘That’s right, it was by the swamp’s shore, I had it all over me. Some of it is still stuck to me even now.’

  Alex watched as Luke picked some of the brown dried clay on his filthy shirt off and presented it to Tracy, who immediately took it and began inspecting it closely.

  ‘This may not work, but if it does, we’ll have our water. Though, you may have to make a few trips to this swamp and back. Here’s the thing, I need you to bring back as much of this clay as you can carry. With it, we can create a pot in which we can boil water. It isn't ideal, and it will take most of the day, but I don't see any other choice.’

  Alex had to raise an eyebrow at that. It just seemed so tribal. Just what in the hell were they turning into?

  ‘First, a primitive shelter, now a clay pot; what’s next Tracy, a sacrificial dagger?’

  ‘You’re not quite far off, Alex. I was thinking with monsters like that around, we could use some more weapons.’

  ‘WEAPONS!?’

  Jacob immediately entered the conversation. Clay pots were eh but weapons he could get behind. Or use, specifically to crush giant bugs to paste, to grind their fucking heads in, oh how he wished to use his skill.

  ‘Right, with Sophie’s help I am sure we could put something together. Though without tools or resources we’re talking very primitive weapons here.’

  ‘Don’t worry Tracy, anything is better than what we’ve currently got. Come on guys, let’s go hunt some lizard.’

  Sophie who had been breaking up sticks for the fire glared at the young men going out hunting.

  ‘Look, I don’t accept this, “staying at the camp while the men go out hunting” bullshit, but if I left then Tracy would be on her own. So, just this one time I’m staying, but don’t let it go to your heads!’

  Alex nodded to Sophie, taking her concern to heart, but caught Luke rolling his eyes. Unfortunately, Luke’s covert eyeroll wasn’t so covert after all as Sophie immediately glared daggers at the younger man.

  ‘You got a problem, Luke!?’

  ‘Look, Sophie if you want to go hunt the Green Three-eyed Lizard, I’m more than happy to trade places with you. That’s not something I want to meet again.’

  ‘Oh, please Luke, you know as well as I do that without your skill, we have about as much chance as finding our way back through the jungle as a blind bat.’

  Alex listened to the beginning of an argument and immediately stepped in.

  ‘Okay Luke, Jacob, follow me.’

  This time Alex didn’t turn around and wait, as soon as his command set in, he began pacing towards the jungle with or without Luke. Though really, they needed Luke, he was their way to navigate the maze-like jungle and back to their impromptu camp. It was his second skill as an [Explorer]. Alex had his theories about how Luke had received that class, but what was important was his skill [Waypoint Marker]. As Alex had observed earlier, the camp’s location was permanently known to Luke. He had explained it as that feeling of knowing where something is, less like a point on a map and more like a recollection of a memory, like the way you know where your house is.

  Alex’s musings were halted as he felt a wallop to his shoulder. He turned and glared at Jacob, but as usual, his annoying classmate only grinned in response.

  ‘Are you going to hit me every time I use my skill, Jacob?’

  ‘Just don’t use it on me. You could just say “Let’s go Luke” instead of including me.’

  Alex was surprised. He hadn’t thought of that. He realised Jacob was right, he hadn’t needed to focus on both of them, just Luke.

  ‘Right sorry, I’m still getting used to…everything.’

  Alex gestured at the surroundings around them, but he meant more than just their location. He meant everything, monsters, classes, skills, and teleportation—there was no logical explanation for that. Instead, the consensus was that they were teleported to another world like some trashy novel. That or Alex had completely lost it. Knowing all that should have made it easy for Alex to lose himself in the maddening thought of it, and yet his thoughts were so... grounded. Food, water, shelter, fire, weapons, protection. He didn’t have the luxury of overthinking beyond their group’s need for survival, perhaps that was why.

  Alex and Jacob halted before entering the jungle proper, they twisted around to Luke who was trailing behind.

  ‘Luke, are you going to lead the way? You are our [Explorer]!’

  Alex grinned as Luke quickly walked to the front, ready to explore lands unseen—

  ‘And the alarm for if there’s something dangerous ahead.’

  After Jacob’s snarky comment Luke didn’t seem too enthusiastic about leading from the front anymore. He realised, he could be walking into what could be a life-threatening situation; however, despite Luke’s newfound worries, the trek through the jungle was uneventful. Uneventful, but not easy. It was a slog in the hot humid weather to hike through the claustrophobic and wild terrain. Apart from being attacked by the relentless insects, the trio wasn’t ambushed by some hideous monster, nor did they run afoul of some concealed trap.

  It left Alex almost rattled. The jungle, which seemed so full of life yesterday was silent, almost unnaturally so.

  ‘Well, it works to our advantage.' Alex muttered to himself, ‘Luke, how’s our progress?’

  ‘Huh? Oh, hm. It feels like we’re almost at that clearing where we first met, Alex.’

  'What's the matter, Alex? You getting cold feet?’

  Somehow Jacob seemed to have noticed Alex’s unease. It kind of disturbed him. He didn’t think Jacob was the sort to notice small things like that. Also, Alex thought he had a better poker face than that.

  ‘I was just thinking that isn’t it strange? The jungle is too quiet.’

  Alex heard Luke snicker from the front of their party, but before he could ask what was so funny, Luke began speaking in a strange voice.

  ‘Guy’s, I got a bad feeling about this...’

  ‘Oh, shut up Luke! I was just saying it was strange, is all.’

  ‘Huh?! What did he do, Alex?’

  ‘The bastard is making fun of me by referencing Star Wars. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing Luke!’

  The conversation was meaningless, but it helped Alex take his mind off the surroundings. Staying on edge all the time could drive a person mad. Despite the “quietness” of the jungle, that rustling of bushes, or that snapping of twigs never seemed to stop. Then there was that feeling of being watched that had never left Alex ever since he’d arrived here. If you let it get to you, you’d be twitching and turning at every sudden noise.

  ‘Some nerd thing I guess.’

  ‘Actually, you’d probably like it, Jacob. It’s about these guys that fight with laser swords.’

  Alex explained helpfully, but Luke turned, disgusted by that explanation of one of the greatest sci-fi stories ever. And yes, stories, not movies, as Luke considered some of the books to be just as good as the movies. And yes, there are books.

  Luke thought for a moment of correcting Alex’s poor explanation, but when he looked to the disinterested Jacob, he thought better of it. He’d probably just be called a nerd anyway.

  Huffing in annoyance, Luke turned back to leading the group to their destination. Alex, eyeing Luke could only watch in surprise. It had been what? A day and the young man in front of him had changed so much. Then there was Jacob on his left. The muscle head known for causing a ruckus in the classroom had turned into a reliable, friendly-ish teammate. Although Alex wished he’d stop punching him. He got that it was a “friendly” thing to do, but Alex’s arm couldn’t sport any more bruises. And was it just his imagination, or were Jacob’s blows actually getting stronger?

  ‘It’s just up ahead.’

  At Luke’s words, they entered the small swamp clearing that they had been at yesterday. Upon entering the only area void of the jungle's overabundance of trees and palm-like bushes, the group stopped. At first, they had continued in, through the waist-high grass and around the small bodies of swampish water. But eventually, they stopped practically at the centre of the field, if it could be called that.

  ‘Is that…’ Luke tried but failed. His words caught on his tongue. He almost looked away, but at this point, it seemed almost fitting. It had almost happened to him after all.

  Alex simply looked at the sight in remorse. If nothing else, then perhaps this was what drove their situation home. That this was really happening, and not just some fanciful dream.

  ‘Dwain...’

  It was Jacob at last who spoke his name. The young man—no, the older boy, his friend, Dwain Parkson lay dead in the field. His body was bent unnaturally, as his head lay halfway sunk into the mud. The expression of extreme puzzlement, fear and confusion was written across his face, capturing his last moments of life as he fell out of the sky.

  Alex looked to Jacob, he was after all, closest to Dwain. Luke had little love for Dwain who would often instigate Jacob into bullying. Luke remembered, that his last moment would have been spent showing Jacob a video of a man stepping in dog shit, back on the bus. Luke almost gloated that fact, but the image in front of him was too real, too direct.

  ‘Jacob… If you need a minute.’

  ‘I’m fine. Let’s go. We’ve got a lizard to kill. Which way Luke?!’

  Alex tried to console Jacob, but the older boy wasn't having it. He moved off in a huff. But clearly, the sight of a dead classmate had affected him. Alex knew he didn’t like to show weakness, he’d done it earlier with his injury as well.

  Still, that answered one of Alex’s previous questions. As it was, it seemed as though all their classmates had been teleported here. It had seemed strange that only five of them had found each other, not including their teacher. But that was just it, they were all teleported, it was just that of twenty students, only five had managed to survive the trip.

  Alex and Luke followed after a storming Jacob, occasionally being navigated by Luke silently pointing in a direction. It wasn't ideal, but it gave Jacob a moment to himself and allowed Luke and Alex to converse.

  ‘What are you thinking Luke?’

  ‘Well, I…'

  Luke eyed Jacob in the distance, he was being cautious of letting Jacob hear him.

  ‘I think it’s strange. D-Dwain’s body wasn’t there when we passed through yesterday.’

  Alex’s eyes widened. That was right! They would have noticed something like that, Sophie’s scream would have probably been heard for miles, and attracted all sorts of trouble.

  ‘So, that means he—Dwain was teleported after we had already left. What’s more, he probably fell out of the sky like I did. Only he didn’t land in water…’

  ‘To be honest with you Luke, I’m surprised you’re taking it so well, you’re so calm.’

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  ‘Is that how I look?’

  Alex realised Luke was speaking with an almost bewilderment tone. He was possibly in shock. He decided not to press him, but then Alex’s question came back to himself. Why was he taking it so well? Didn’t he care that one of them was found dead—no there was Mrs Kim as well. Yet, Alex couldn’t even shed a tear over it, what did that make him?

  ‘This is it. We’re here.’

  Luke's comment brought Alex out of his thoughts. Before them was a wall of small vines. They continued left and right, not letting anything pass. Alex could tell, just from a glance that getting in would be a challenge in of itself. Instead, he turned to Luke, the man with all the answers.

  ‘So how do we get inside, Luke? If you appeared inside, then there must be a way out, right?

  ‘Y-yeah, see up there, there’s a hole. I jumped through that.’

  Alex turned to the section Luke pointed out. Indeed, it could be called a “hole”. Part of the growth that the small vine-like bush made up hadn’t reached high enough to fill the space. It was high enough that they would have to climb up to reach it. That means that either Luke was secretly a skilled high-jumper, or that the ground on the other side was higher. Going by Luke's scrawny body, Alex was leaning towards the latter being true.

  ‘Alright! Finally, something to kill!’

  Jacob was holding his club tight, narrowing his focus to something he could deal with.

  ‘Hold up, Jacob. Before we go rushing in, let’s come up with some kind of plan of attack. Right, Luke?'

  ‘R-right.’

  ‘Bah, fine. So, what’s the plan, Alex?’

  ‘Before I get to that, Luke. Can you tell me everything that happened, involving the Green Three-Eyed Lizard?’

  Luke went quiet for a moment at Alex’s question. Then after thinking about it he spoke.

  ‘It’s a bit of a blur honestly. I think that after I landed in the swamp, it might have attacked me. I remember being pulled through the water.’

  Luke waggled his boot for emphasis. Jacob and Alex balked at the huge chunk missing, exposing Luke’s muddy sock.

  ‘After that, I somehow made it on to land… Oh, bubbles!’

  ‘Bubbles?’ Alex repeated confused.

  'R-right. I remember bubbles were surfacing. That's when I thought whatever attacked me was probably going to again.'

  ‘Ooh’

  Jacob listened, enraptured.

  'That's when I threw my spear into the water and ran for it.’

  ‘Spear?’

  Alex couldn’t help catching that small detail that came out of nowhere. Luke’s explanations were generally hard to follow.

  ‘Then it burst out of the water, I only got one look at it, but it was about this high.’ Luke held his arm out to his waist.

  ‘It had sharp teeth, three eyes, oh, and it had this weird, freaky shrill scream; scared the shit outa me the first time I heard it.’

  Alex tried not to laugh picturing it. It was obvious by how Jacob straight up laughed that he didn’t quite believe Luke either. Despite that, Alex tried to picture it. How could you fight something like that?

  As Luke and Jacob began bickering, Alex thought more about it. He was honestly glad to see Luke distracting Jacob. It was a good idea, the less he thought about what happened to Dw—their classmate, the better.

  Honestly, Alex had never really had to strategize before. When, in high school life was that a skill you picked up? He’d never played a lot of the games that some of his more, “gamer friends” spoke of, nor was he into history.

  What was the best decision? He was the leader and the others looked to him, but honestly, he was just as lost as the rest. Only it was because they looked to him for answers that he knew he had to give them something. The best plan? Draw it out of the water and sic Jacob on it. He’d help too, but his “spear” was really just a pointed stick. Those weapons Tracy spoke of, really would be of use right about now.

  ‘So, do you have a plan, Alex?’

  'Who do you think I am, Jacob? I'm your [Leader], of course, I have a plan.'

  Alex heard Luke ooh and aah at that. Fake it, till you make it was an expression he’d once heard. It seemed, it even applied to otherworldly survival.

  ‘Listen up, Luke is the bait. He’ll draw the Green Three-eyed Lizard out of the water. Once it is chasing him, Jacob and I will ambush it from the sides here. The simplest plan is often the best, as there is less that can go wrong.

  ‘Oh! So, a diversion tactic, followed by a pincer attack from the flanks! As expected of Alex… wait b-bait?’

  ‘Would you rather fight it, Luke? I thought you’d appreciate the easier role?’

  ‘N-no, I can be the bait, that’s fine.’

  Alex thanked his quick thinking. Honestly, that was a close one. By the sound of it, Luke was more knowledgeable about this sort of thing than he was. Pincer attack? Flanks? Well, he had to admit, even though it’s the same plan, the way Luke said it, sounded more impressive than he had.

  ‘Ha! I can’t wait.’

  Alex could believe that. Jacob was positively shaking with excitement. He supposed it would be a good stress reliever for the group’s local fighter. If anyone, Jacob seemed like the most at home, here in this jungle. In some ways it seemed as though Jacob was becoming more sociable and friendlier, but then there was this bloodthirsty attitude that would leak out.

  ‘Right, let’s do this. I know we’re all running on empty here, but remember, our food relies on our victory. You could even say our lives are on the line here.’

  Alex reflected on that pep talk. It wasn’t half bad, certainly better than his supermarket boss had given on a “sale” day. Still, what he said, wasn’t exactly untrue. If they failed here, finding something else to eat would be a challenge.

  Alex’s thoughts turned back to the bug and the insects. He’d rather meat than that. He was feeling tired, low on energy, not the best symptoms to have before a life-or-death struggle with a monster, but they had no other choice. So, Alex grit his teeth and held his spear intending to thrust it into something with force.

  After a quick check that everyone was ready, Luke led the way closer to the swamp. Getting in meant Luke had to “climb” into the bush of small vines towards the hole. His body weight, however, meant the experience was more like flattening the bush till the hole became a doorway. By the time it was Alex’s turn, he simply had to step through, making sure not to let his feet get snagged in the flattened vines.

  Once inside he was greeted with the sight of the wall of vines, encircling him. In the centre was an orange-brown ground, supposedly the clay that was stuck to Luke, and what Tracy desired. Inside the clay was a circle of green that looked no different to the ground of the jungle he had seen everywhere else. He almost turned to Luke for an explanation of where the swamp was, but he stopped himself on a sudden suspicion.

  Alex walked closer and stopped next to it. The clay was wet with water, and it stuck to his shoes like glue. He bent down and gingerly poked the jungle-ground next to it and was amazed as his finger poked through into the water.

  ‘Ooh, so the swamp’s hidden underneath that stuff huh?’

  Jacob was content to observe. He was gripping his club hard and kept glancing around as if he expected to be attacked at any moment.

  Luke kept far back near the entrance. His legs were shaking, and he looked as though he would “leg it” at any minute. He called out to Alex who looked as though he was checking the temperature of a pool.

  ‘Careful, Alex. That’s it, Jesus, you can hardly notice it when the water is still like that. Do you think it’s in there?’

  Alex stood up and backed away from the edge. He didn’t feel like swimming in that shit. You could never tell what was lurking underneath. He drew Jacob over to Luke for a quick discussion.

  'Alright, if it's in there it'll come out. Do you see that rock, Luke? Use that, toss it in, if it's in there it'll come after you. Once it passes through the opening in the vines, we'll ambush it.

  ‘Don’t screw this up by falling over and getting eaten, Luke!’

  Jacob felt the need to warn his classmate before walking back out of the area. Alex turned to Luke and tried to encourage him instead.

  ‘You’ve changed a lot, Luke. You’ve surprised us all. I’m sure you’ll succeed.’

  Alex paused before leaving…

  ‘But, really, Luke. Don't fall over.'

  Alex patted Luke on the shoulder and headed outside to get into position as best as he could. The moment it passed through the opening after Luke, he’d thrust downwards with all his strength.

  Jacob was positioned across from him, ready to swing his club like a sledgehammer. His muscles were bulging in preparation for a death blow. Alex didn’t envy whatever came through that opening.

  The thought of what would happen if nothing happened, occurred to Alex at that moment. It would be hilarious to see Jacob's reaction. The thought of it put a wicked smile on his face. Then—

  The splash of water echoed from the swamp, Alex and Jacob’s focus intensified as they waited for the fish to take the bait. Nothing happened, it seemed as though it was a bust then the sound of water exploding rang out, followed by Luke’s outburst. Alex had to force himself not to flinch.

  ‘Come get me you fucker!’

  ‘Sksssar!’

  A shrill cry like a wailing bird echoed out, it sent goosebumps down Alex’s arms, and his vision began to focus to a point. For Alex and Jacob, the entrance to the swamp area was their whole world. His heart was racing, and he felt the strength in his arms multiply. He’d thrust his spear right through it!

  How long he stayed like that, poised to strike Alex couldn’t have said. It must have been mere seconds, yet it felt as though an eternity had passed. The sound of running footsteps and panting neared and he almost attacked as Luke flashed through the entrance and onwards. The other boy didn’t stop running, but Alex had no mind for Luke.

  Something big made to shoot through the gap after Luke, Alex was ready. The moment it entered his vision he moved. He meant to issue an order to attack, but it came out as a bestial roar instead.

  ‘Aaargh!!’

  Surely, it worked though as Jacob swung in fury. Alex struck its side with his entire being, he felt the spear skewer into something heavy and rough. The spear bent with the force, then snapped! The break recoiled through Alex as his momentum carried him down to the ground. Pain flared through Alex’s hands. He looked up at a maw full of razor teeth closing, then Jacob struck.

  '[Powerstrike]!'

  The blow was immense, Alex swore he felt it carry into the ground. He watched, in slow motion, still paralysed from the shock of his spear breaking, as Jacob’s blow ripped into the beast’s spiny back, crushing it down into the ground.

  In a second Alex was back on his feet. He heard a louder shrill cry as the lizard rose to get up, but Jacob was faster. His second blow came down, this time centred on its head. Alex didn’t wait to gawk. Using what was left of his spear, he rammed it into one of the things three eyes, then threw himself out of the way of Jacob’s next blow which landed with pinpoint accuracy on what was left of Alex's spear.

  The fight ended just as quick as it had begun. They had been ready for it; they’d even managed to ambush it unawares. Such was the difference between a blind battle and a planned strategy, Alex realised. In truth, it hadn't had a chance at all. Still, things would have turned ugly had Luke slipped and fallen.

  Alex looked at his hands, they bled where the breaking of his spear had cut them. Human flesh severed in a moment. Whereas he couldn’t even pierce the thing’s skin.

  Luke returned having watched the beat down from afar. No one wanted to quite go near Jacob, who had demonstrated ferocious power. A single blow had flattened the galloping lizard. A dozen more had cracked its head open. Half of Alex's spear could still be seen protruding from its eye. Jacob had even managed to strike that, effectively nailing a piece of wood into its brain. There was no question that it was dead.

  ‘Hah, so, that was your skill, Jacob? Power strike?

  Alex breathed with his shoulders. He had hardly done anything at all, yet even the concentration had taken it out of him. Jacob didn’t even seem to have broken a sweat from the ordeal.

  ‘Yeah,’ He breathed.

  ‘Really? Not going to boast about it?’

  Alex eyed the group’s [Warrior], but he seemed quite content to remain standing over the fallen Green Three-eyed Lizard. Jacob was breathing hard, but he had an expression that Alex couldn’t quite place. Satisfaction? That might have been it.

  ‘Fuck, insects are already coming.’

  ‘They know where the food’s at.’

  ‘Jacob, help me carry this bastard, Luke, lead the way, and try and keep the insects off it. We still gotta get it back, gut it, and cook it, and I’d rather not eat maggot meat!’

  ‘What about the clay, Alex?’

  ‘Forget it, we’ll have to make another trip back.’

  The trek back to their “camp” was more hellish than Alex could have imagined. The bloody lizard weighed more than he and Jacob could lift together. Its blood seeped into his clothes and dripped down his back like sweat. Worse, the insects that descended on them were in the thousands. Luke frantically waved a palm leaf about, trying to keep them off the lizard, Alex, and Jacob, but they were tenacious.

  The trio set a quick pace, as they tried to reach their destination faster, they even risked passing over the “dead spot” in the jungle where nothing grew. Anything to get back to camp as fast as possible.

  As they neared their impromptu camp, the swarm of insects began to mysteriously thin out. Alex guessed it was that foul stench that was in the air; it was making his eyes water. Together, the trio passed through the final thickets and was greeted by the sight of a humble fire, burning under a makeshift cooking station of branches.

  Burning atop the fire was a bunch of green leaves, the source of the foul smoke, Alex guessed.

  ‘You’re back.’

  Tracy called out from within their tent. Only, Alex couldn’t see her. Suddenly a makeshift door opened revealing a sitting Tracey and Sophie.

  ‘Welcome back. How’d hunting the lizard go?’

  ‘As you can see, we got the fucker!’

  Jacob proudly declared as he hefted his side of the lizard upon his broad shoulders.

  ‘Where do you want it?’

  Alex was more concerned with getting it off him than boasting. Tracey pointed over to the fire, where a dozen leafy palms had been laid flat.

  ‘Over there please, we’ll have to work fast. Assuming the meat hasn’t already been spoiled by insects.’

  ‘I tried to keep as many off it as I could.’

  Tracey just nodded to Luke’s statement and repeated herself.

  'We need to gut and cook it now, who's doing it? I already know Sophie cannot.’

  ‘I-I’ll do it.’

  Alex understood why Luke had volunteered. After fighting the creature and carrying it back, he and Jacob were exhausted. Tracy was injured and Sophie was afraid of blood; she’d barely managed to tend to Jacob’s arm. Therefore, by process of elimination, Luke was the only one who could really do it. It helped that Luke probably felt that he hadn’t done much, and being a team player, he would feel responsible for taking on some of the work.

  Still, Alex was impressed by Luke. How far had he changed in the short time they’d been here?

  ‘What do I do?’

  Alex and Jacob relieved themselves of the heavy lizard, placing it carefully down on the leaves Sophie had made for it. After, they were free to relax. Jacob found entertainment in watching Luke attempt to gut the lizard while following Tracey's instruction.

  But exhausted as he was, Alex sought rest inside the tent. Coincidently, squeamish as she was, Sophie was also hiding in there, away from the sight of Luke decapitating the lizards head with a pointed rock and skinning it with his hands.

  The door was tied to the tent by vines that acted sort of like the hinge on a door. It allowed Alex to pry open the door and hunch inside without it falling off. He closed it again, and his vision was engulfed in false darkness. False, as small pinpricks of light still found their way into the tent. Waterproof though it may be light proof it was not. Inside, Alex found to his delight that the muddy floor had been covered up by layers of leaves. It was actually kind of cosy now.

  He laid down next to the sitting Sophie, who had been watching him the entire time, and groaned in exhaustion. It felt amazing to lay down after everything he’d just been through. Alex thought that somehow, this crappy tent actually felt more comfortable than his own bed. Though it would be pretty cramped with the five of them inside.

  As it was now though, he could stretch his legs out with ease. Alex closed his eyes and tried to make himself feel better. It was hot and stuffy outside, and exactly the same inside; they hadn’t installed an air conditioner yet. Alex grinned at the thought of his idiotic joke.

  Suddenly something cool was pressed against his furrowed. He almost opened his eyes to check what it was, but it was so soothing against his burning head, that he just let it be.

  ‘You’ve got a fever, you’re burning up.’

  Alex groaned in response.

  ‘Argh, yeah we are on a different planet after all. I wouldn’t be surprised if after all this we all just caught some unknown hideous disease and died.’

  Though his eyes were shut, Alex thought he felt Sophie flinch through her hand on his furrowed. Regrettably, he felt her take her hand back. He was almost about to demand it back when he heard a quiet sniffing. He peaked an eye open and found the sight of Sophie, kneeling next to him and in tears.

  She was brushing at them determinedly as they rolled down her cheeks as if she was trying to hide them. The sight instantly alarmed Alex. He sat up quickly and turned to Sophie.

  ‘Hey, hey it’s alright, look I was kidding about the disease thing. Argh, I’m such an idiot.’

  Alex reprimanded himself, maybe he was sick, Alex couldn’t remember the last time he’d made a girl cry like this.

  ‘Hic, no, hic, you’re not an idiot. You’re trying so hard to keep us alive, while I’m just dragging you down.’

  Alex was at a complete loss. What was she talking about?

  ‘What? No, you’re not. You, you built this tent, the fire.’

  Somehow Alex’s reassurances just made things worse. Sophie’s face turned wretched, and a stream of tears burst out in shuddered breaths. By now her eyes were red and puffy, after a minute she managed to speak again.

  ‘Hic, that was all Tracy. If she wasn’t injured, she could have done it herself. I’m just useless.

  Suddenly it was like the breaks had come off, whatever it had been that was preventing Sophie from speaking her mind was gone; it all came flooding out like a breached dam.

  ‘I’m just dead weight. I’m scared Alex. I want to go home. I can’t take this anymore, I’m, I’m so scared.’

  She looked as though she was almost hyperventilating, shuddering as she was with a pretty tear-stricken face. Alex could barely contain his frustration.

  How selfish had he been? How could he not have noticed or thought about how the people around him were feeling? They were high schooler’s thrown into a jungle on another world for seemingly no reason whatsoever. They’d be lucky to survive. When in their life before had the thought of death ever been a constant reminder weighing on their minds?

  Alex could barely stand it. He wanted to change it all. He wanted to do something for the scared, crying girl in front of him.

  Gnashing his teeth and stowing his courage—no, his determination, Alex reached out and took the same palm Sophie had put on his furrowed earlier. The action surprised Sophie, she looked up through blurry eyes as Alex held her hand close to him.

  ‘We’re going to be alright, Sophie. You’re not useless, you’re precious… to me.’

  It was as if gravity had suddenly changed direction for each of them. They felt the pull and could barely resist as they fell towards each other.

  Alex glided a hand across Sophie’s cheek and felt a slight shudder at the touch. Her cheek was warm though wet with tears. He brushed at one as he felt the warmth of her breath tickle his nose. He did not hesitate from the kiss.

  It was light and innocent and worthy for a girl’s first kiss. For a moment, it was just the two of them as the world seemed to disappear. The hot humidity, the horrible monsters and bugs, all the scary things that went bump in the night, they all just faded away. It was an immortal moment and for once one not solely unique to this world.

  Then it was over, their lips parted, and both remembered to breathe again.

  'And the winner for the first kiss on a new world goes to Sophie and Alex.'

  Alex whispered jokingly. The tension, if it was there relaxed. Sophie grinned and chuckled as she wiped her eyes and cheeks… or attempted to. She found that her clothes were almost too dirty to use as a handkerchief.

  ‘Here, let me.’

  Offered Alex. Using his sleeve, he wiped her face dry. Before he could pull away, she grasped his arm and seemed to study him for a moment.

  ‘What the? How come I’m covered in filth, but you’re as clean as a whistle?’

  Alex almost laughed but managed to keep a straight face.

  ‘I’m the [Leader] aren’t I? I’ve got to maintain my appearance.’

  To that Sophie did laugh. She couldn't help it, but it was so refreshing as if a fresh cool breeze had blown across her for the first time in a long while. She smiled, Alex thought she looked almost cheerful now.

  ‘Feeling better?’

  ‘Yeah, sorry about that. Argh! Damn tears, they came out of nowhere.’

  He realised she was still holding his arm, he looked at it and she must have realised it too because she immediately let go. But rather than take his hand away he instead found hers. He gripped her hand tightly.

  ‘Everything’s going to be alright Sophie. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.’

  He meant it too. He paused in thought, suddenly troubled.

  ‘I mean… Only If you want me to.’

  That earned him a laugh and a reproach, though she didn’t let go of his hand.

  ‘Idiot.’

  He was pretty sure he blushed when Sophie kissed him next.

*

Maybe it was all the kissing and hand-holding, or maybe it was just a rest that Alex needed, but he was feeling a lot better than before. He felt great, it was hard not to go around smiling, but out of respect for Sophie, he was trying his hardest not to show it…

  Though from the curious looks he was occasionally getting from the others, and Sophie's red face, he was guessing that it was probably a lost cause, to begin with. He just wished Jacob would stop grinning check-to-check and raising his brows at him. It wasn’t like that!

  In an attempt to change the private topic on everyone’s minds Alex turned to Tracy in a leaderlike manner; he was working on it.

  ‘Ahem, what’s the situation with the Green Three-eyed Lizard?’

  Tracy pointed at the makeshift cooking station Sophie had constructed following her direction. It consisted of two sticks making an “A” shape on either end of the fire, with a stick running in between them. Giant cuts of meat were pierced through by the middle stick and Alex could hear a faint sizzling sound coming from it.

  Noticeably the body of the lizard was gone entirely. All that remained was a small puddle of blood on the ground, Alex could see a trail of it leading off into the bushes. He could tell Sophie was trying not to look at it.

  ‘As you can see, Luke and I managed to find some salvageable meat, though much of it was already,’ Tracy seemed to pick her words carefully, ‘unusable.’

  Alex didn’t like the way Tracy and Luke shuddered at that.

  ‘And thus, we had to dispose of it with the rest of the body. Oh, we got Jacob to do that.’

  Alex thought that she added that last bit because if she didn't Jacob would have caused a fuss. He was covered in blood and grime and didn't look pleased by it.

  ‘I think that just in case, we should cook the meat thoroughly. Though I don’t expect it to have any change on the flavour of this beast.’

  Alex sighed at Tracy’s comment. That was true, but with as hungry as they all were, it would have to do.

  ‘As long as it keeps us from starvation, it’ll do. What about water?’

  ‘Right, well now that you’re… uh, rested.’

  Tracy glanced at Sophie and was met with a bright blush. She snorted in response. Alex just rolled his eyes.

  ‘I need you to head back to this swamp and bring back some of this clay. Take this and bring some water back too, we’ll need it to make a pot.’

  Tracy handed Alex the empty water bottle She had found in their dead teacher, Miss Kim’s handbag. Alex took it remembering that fact with distaste.

  ‘You’d better take the handbag too; we’ll need as much of it as you can carry.’

  Alex was a little annoyed. It all felt like such a pain. Tracy must have been able to read Alex’s thoughts as she began explaining why they needed to go through all this trouble.

  'I understand how you feel. The fact is we have nothing. We are in desperate need of drinking water, but for that, we need something to contain it. Worse, we need to be able to boil it. If that lizard lived inside the swamp, we have no other choice but to boil it. Drinking it without would be death.'

  Alex saw Sophie visibly flinch at the “D” word. He sighed, but completely agreed with Tracy, though he did have a thought.

  ‘Maybe we should just move our “base” to the swamp. Then we wouldn’t have to go so far for water. Hell, we could probably bathe in it, everything else does.’

  Tracy looked thoughtful for a second, the idea of a bath was tempting, but eventually, she shook her head.

  ‘It’s too risky. We don’t know what else lives in this jungle. If we decide to live by a potential waterhole, it could be that all sorts of beasts will show up.

  Alex nodded, of course, it wouldn't be that easy. One mistake out here and they'd pay the price in blood. Alex remembered Jacob's wound, the boy hid it well, but he could see it weakening him each day. Another problem they needed to solve, or else they’d lose one of their strongest fighters.

  Alex was reminded of Dwain, the dead classmate they'd found on the walkover. He realised they'd be passing him again. The thought of it killed any joy he was still feeling. When this was all over, he was definitely taking a gap year to just laze about.

  He looked up at the sky, faint rays of sunlight could still be seen through the canopy of leaves above. Somehow already the sun was beginning to set. Hadn’t they just woken up? Either the day had gone fast, or they were just shorter here. Alex couldn’t tell which it was anymore, it was all hard work and no play.

  ‘Alright fellas, come on, get up. If you’re thirsty then work harder.’

  ‘Argh, what are you, some kind of slave-driver?'

  Luke looked up thoughtfully.

  ‘[Slave Driver], Jacob.’

  Jacob protested being made to work anymore. Luke looked like… well like he'd just gutted an animal for the first time in his life. His hands especially were stained red.

  ‘Sophie and I will work on building another fire, one for the pottery. We’ll need to fire them to turn the clay into ceramic.

  Alex nodded, he’d thought about inviting Sophie along, but she seemed more determined now. Instead, he turned back to Luke and Jacob, dispirited and sitting down, well he knew just what to do.

  ‘Alright, enough lounging. On your feet you layabouts! We’ve only got a few more hours until nightfall. I want to be drinking and eating my fill by then.’

  Luke and Jacob’s reactions were almost comical. At once they stood up straight like soldiers being harried by a drill sergeant. Then the skill wore off and their shoulders fell slack. Once more Alex dodged an irate Jacob and a scowling Luke.

  But they had received the push they needed and were on their feet. Once more the [Explorer], the [Warrior], and the [Leader] made their way back to the swamp, thankfully each time they went, the stomped over plant life was beginning to resemble a path. Alex thought he could probably make the journey alone now and not get lost. Not that he would, it was far safer in numbers than to go it alone.

  They’d suddenly appeared in the middle of an enormous jungle, yet they’d only run into two monsters. Luke had said it was like suddenly logging into a “Horde zone” when playing as an “Alliance” character, whatever that meant. Alex could guess though, what the shut-in gamer probably meant was that it would take some time for the wildlife to even notice them. When they did though…

  'The shit is gonna hit the fan?'

  Jacob summarised the result of the conversation Alex and Luke had had as they made the trek.

  ‘Exactly, we’ve been lucky to run into monsters that we can beat. But if we run into whatever is the apex predator? Or hell, even something like a bear? That’s when we die.’

  ‘That doesn’t sound good.’

  Luke paled at the thought of fighting a bear with a stick.

  ‘How strong would you say the lizard was?’

  Jacob growled, looking annoyed. Alex wondered if he was trying to figure out if he could beat a bear in a fight. Luke answered instead.

  ‘The Green Three-eyed Lizard was probably as strong as a single wolf? If not as nimble.’

  ‘Aren’t wolves smaller though? The G-Lizard was at least a meter tall, if not more.’

  Luke looked annoyed at everyone shortening his name for the lizard.

  ‘Some wolf breeds are large. Have you ever heard of the Russian Grey Wolf?’

  ‘Nope.’

  Alex and Jacob chorused. Alex guessed that it was probably monstrous in size, being Russian and all. He’d ask Tracy later to clarify.

  The gathering of clay went smoother than Alex thought It would. But as they'd discussed earlier, their group had appeared in a random section of the jungle. Though that meant food was scarce, thankfully it meant fewer predators. In all the trio ended up making several trips to retrieve the material needed.

  Tracey and Sophie had focused on building the second fire up, but to create a kiln capable of firing pottery, they needed something resembling an oven. Luke, Jacob and Alex had to bring massive amounts of clay back, the other two even using their shirts to carry it.

  It seemed like it would be a long process, but Sophie worked quick. Though low…level Alex thought she was becoming quite the capable crafter—sorry, [Crafter]. He knew it couldn’t have been easy, even with an [Advisor] providing instruction.

  The point was, that it was a joint effort between five people diligently working to make something crucial for their continued survival. In the end, what it all amounted to be was a small burning hot kiln, built from simple bricks. It was by no means a piece of advanced technology to shake the world! But it was a start.

  As the final rays of sunlight began to wane, Luke practically sprinted back with Jacob, both holding a large clay pot, hastily fired, between them. It was splotching with water as the two were heralded into camp by cheers.

  The pot was carefully placed over the fire and set to boil. Occasionally someone would add heated rocks to help speed the process up.

  It took nearly his entire life, but Alex was beside himself with satisfaction. They had done it! They could now drink clean-ish water…

  Survival! Alex felt giddy. He almost wanted to stand up and shout to the world, look! We made this! Behold our greatness!

  Truly they had done it. Victory. How it tasted so sweet. Well, not really, it actually tasted like hot muddy water with bits of algae in it, despite Alex “filtering” it through his shirt beforehand. Then there was the meat. Tracy had said she wanted to overcook it to be safe. But it wasn’t exactly an oven; it was roasted over a fire… and she’d started cooking it hours before they’d started making the pottery.

  But no—nope, Alex wasn’t going to let something like that ruin the good moment. Even if the meat did taste like a burnt shoe. If you thought something like that would overcome the classmates of 11E, you were severely underestimating their hunger.

  Truly, it was a feast for the ages! Each member ate the questionable food before them in a frenzy of gnashing, tearing teeth. Alex would have liked a little more socializing, between bites, but then again, his family never was one to sit at the dinner table.

  His family…? The thought appeared rearing its ugly head for the first time in a long while. Alex went to ask everyone else about their families when suddenly he began to choke on the piece of lizard he was chewing. He coughed and sputtered for a minute, washed it down with some muddy water, and by then the thought, whatever it was, was lost.

  Jacob stopped laughing at the dying Alex and began talking.

  ‘You know I had a thought.’

  ‘Ack!’ Alex cleared his throat, literally.

  ‘Really? I didn’t know you knew how.’

  More laughter erupted, this time at Jacob’s expense. He took it with stride, not showing whether it bothered him or not.

  ‘What if we just set fire to this whole damn jungle and be done with it.’

  ‘What just burn it all down?’

  Alex scoffed. Then he stopped when he realised Jacob was seriously considering it. Thankfully, Tracy had an answer ready.

  ‘You’d perish in the flames with the rest of us. That said, look at these plants… well you can’t right now.

  Tracy scowled. It was night after all. Apart from the flickering flames of the campfire and the small radius it illuminated, everything else was barely visible. Alex thought he heard some movement in the thickets over there, but then the jungle practically came alive at night. It wasn’t that unusual.

  ‘But surely you’ve noticed how green the plant life is here. There’s water in everything around us, if we knew which ones, we could probably get fresh water from the trees themselves. It’s not like back at home, none of this would simply burn.’

  Tracy lazily gestured to everything around them.

  ‘Argh, alright, alright. Forget I asked. I was mostly joking anyway.’

  Alex grimaced at Jacob’s remark.

  ‘It’s the “mostly” part that worries me.’

  ‘Uh… hey guys.’

  Alex looked up at some rare input from Luke; the boy had been rather quiet as late. He thought that maybe Luke was affected by what they’d seen after all. The thought of it alone disturbed Alex. How was he going to explain it to Tracy and Sophie? God, Sophie was afraid enough as it was, that was the last thing she needed.

  ‘What’s up four-eye—ahem, Luke?’

  Alex narrowed his eyes at Jacob. He suddenly had a premonition that this would be the beginning of a fight. But to Alex’s surprise, Luke seemed more preoccupied with something else to get offended.

  ‘Ugh… well, with everything going on I didn’t really get a chance to…’

  Alex raised his brows. He had an inkling of what Luke was getting to. Jacob looked completely oblivious and was growing frustrated if his deepening scowl was any indication.

  ‘What?! Spit it out already.’

  ‘Well… I ugh…’

  Alex was bemused. This timid, shy Luke was more in line with his previous self. And here Alex had thought the boy was losing his marbles. He decided to help Luke just a little.

  ‘Say it, Luke,’ Alex commanded.

  Luke’s jittering ceased and in a deadpan voice, he responded.

  ‘My bladder is full. I need to urinate, and I am scared to go alone.’

  Everyone, including Luke himself, blinked at what he’d just said. It took a second, then Jacob roared in laughter as Luke internally died. He buried himself in his hands with embarrassment. Alex was just as dumbfounded as everyone else. He supposed the skill didn’t have any tact, instead opting to complete the order in the most efficient manner possible.

  ‘Ops, sorry Luke, I thought it’d help.’

  Alex apologised as a crimson Luke glared at him through semi-closed fingers. Tracey interrupted in a huff, trying to defuse the situation Alex had inadvertently created, while Sophie reprimanded Jacob.

  ‘Ahem, speaking of human waste, I think it prudent that the latrine is established downwind away from the camp. A stench is the last thing we need.’

  Jacob roared in laughter a second time and actually fell over. He clutched at his side in what looked like genuine pain. Alex thought the whole jungle probably knew where they were now.

  'What are you two years old?! Grow up, Jacob!'

  Sophie continued reprimanding Jacob, as she tried soothing Luke, but Alex thought she wasn't helping much. He decided it was his fault, so he should be the one to sort it.

  ‘Shut up Jacob, or do you want to be bitten by another Green Stalker?’

  That shut him up. Simply saying the deathly insectile creatures name, which Luke had coined, was enough to turn Jacob’s smile into a scowl. His arm might be the next most pressing issue to tackle Alex realised. Tracy had mentioned a tree from Earth’s jungles, the sap of which had antibacterial properties. Perhaps something similar could be found here?

  The mood of the camp died back down. One thought about the grotesque creature that tried to eat them was enough to kill any joy that they had been feeling. It even cured Luke’s embarrassment as he returned to his more stoic and detached self.

  ‘I’m sorry, Luke. I didn’t mean for my skill—I didn’t mean for that to happen.’

  ‘It’s okay Alex, it helped.’

  Alex nodded to Luke. He turned to Jacob who had calmed down but still held traces of a grin.

  'Go with Luke, Jacob. This jungle isn't safe, we should never split up and be alone out here. Goddammit, that's how "they" get you in the movies.'

  Everyone nodded to that sound advice, Jacob included.

  ‘Fair enough, I could probably take a shit anyway,’ Jacob admitted with nonchalance.

  Sophie blanched while everyone cringed.

  ‘Ew! TMI Jacob!’

  The [Warrior] shrugged. He rose with Luke and paired off into the foliage to the right. Alex could just make out their conversation as they faded into the background ambience of the ever-sounding birdcall and wildlife.  

  ‘How can you just say that? And why isn’t it funny when you say it?!’

  ‘Eh, you make too much of a big deal about it, everyone does it.’

  Alex turned back to Tracy now that the two had left.

  ‘So, we’re making it here.’

  Alex indicated their growing campsite.

  ‘It’s like extreme camping or something.’

  ‘That’s what survival is, Alex. But you’re right, we are making it… despite being in another world.’

  That was another thing. They were in a world so unlike their own. Not just in the way they had lived previously in civilized comfort, but in the way they existed. Here they had… skills. Classes, almost like a game. It sounded ridiculous as Alex thought of it. It hadn't sunken in before.

  ‘Now that we have the bare necessities we should focus on protection. Sophie should be able to make everyone stone weapons. She’s a [Crafter] after all. And all it is is a sharpened stone attached to a stick. But it's better than nothing.

  Alex listened distractedly. He could hear Jacob or Luke stumbling around somewhere. He tried to focus.

  'How do we make them though? Even if they're primitive I wouldn't know where to start.'

  Tracey nodded grimacing. She put a finger to her head and after a few moments, she smiled. Alex guessed that she'd just used a skill, probably [Textbook Recall] if she hadn’t unlocked anything else. It sounded like cheating, though Alex assumed it was only as effective on Tracy as it was, because of how widely read and scholarly she was, to begin with. In hindsight, she could have probably recalled the information had she had a couple of hours to mull it over. This just took out the time and made it instant. Still, Alex wanted it for every exam he’d ever taken and done poorly on.

  ‘I’ve got it. Ha, I read it in a book on Aboriginal stone tools called—’

  ‘You don’t need to cite it.’

  Sophie quickly interjected cutting Tracy off. She frowned at Sophie dejectedly.

  ‘Fine, anyway, it’s quite simple and we can make all sorts of tools, but let’s use an axe as an example.’

  Alex leaned in with excitement building in his chest; this was it. Weapons! He glanced off into the gloom of night. He could vaguely see Jacob… or was it Luke stumbling towards them from the left.

  'First, the idea is to find a material that is hard enough. For rocks, it might be quartz or silcrete. Basically, just something tough and not brittle. You could even use bone.’

  Alex instantly thought of the lizard they’d eaten. He caught a whiff of… something and wrinkled his nose. Alex guessed that eating lizards from another world didn’t agree with someone’s bowels. He was dreading his own trip to the toilet now.

  ‘Let’s say you have a rock; this is what’s known as a core. What you need to then do is strike the edge of the core at an angle, with another rock, to chip off a fragment from the core. This is called a flake. Flakes are what you then use as the blade for the axe. Then it’s just a matter of attaching it to a hand—’

  Two muddy hands suddenly clamped down on Tracy’s shoulders. She jumped as anyone would at the sudden fright, but she wasn’t as fearful as Sophie might have been. Alex barely caught the roll of her eyes as she turned in vexation to Jac—Dwain.

  Alex stared in open mouth shock as Dwain Parkson stood behind Tracy, his hands gripping onto her shoulders.

  ‘You’re. Alive,’ Alex managed in a whisper.

  Dwain’s head swivelled to peer at Alex with a painful crack. It tilted to one side like a broken marionette doll as his eyes popped with excitement. Alex got a glimpse of a caved-in bloody face.

  ‘You. u.rrr. aa.liiiive.’ Dwain echoed.

  His voice was broken and disjointed. It sent shivers down Alex’s spine. Alex saw Tracy attempting to speak through quivering lips. Her hands were rigid on her knees. It was a physical feeling they all felt. Terror.

  Alex heard a ripping sound and like twin doors, as if they were on hinges, Dwain’s body, chest, stomach, and all opened up revealing his decomposing organs. But what Alex focused on most were the black, crawling furry centipedes inside. Thousands of them leaned out as their home opened wide, their feeler’s reaching out. Tracy’s look of disturb morphed to horror. Tears ran down her cheeks, the only thing moving. A feeler brushed her cheek and she instinctively recoiled away, she tried to stand, run, getaway, all in a single motion. Dwain’s chest snapped shut around her. It caught the side of her body like a beartrap. The two tumbled to the ground and it was on her in a moment, pinning her down, pulling her close.

  Alex stared with Sophie, unable to move. Unable to think. Tracy squirmed for a moment, then, at last, broke the silence with a scream so blood-curdling it broke Alex from his stupor. Alex stood to kill the thing on top of his friend when Dwain’s head came down fast, teeth tearing into Tracy’s bare throat with a bite that silenced her with a sick crunch. Dwain tore free the skin and her blood burst free.

  Some of it splattered his face and Alex fell backwards unable to catch himself. He sat in the mud of the jungle unable to move. Tears still streamed from Tracy’s eyes as she gazed at him. Her eyes were wide with shock. She silently shuddered, her mouth gurgling as blood came out instead of sound. Dwain pressed into her with ferocious strength.

  Nine times she convulsed as the small black centipedes crawled out from Dwain and penetrated her flesh, drilling themselves into her body and consuming her alive. Tracy’s blood stopped running from her throat and began to pool under her and Dwain; their bodies locked together like lovers.

  Alex watched, caught in a dream, unable to move, yet unable to look away as one crawled up along her blood-soaked neck. Hundreds of legs pulling it up, as its many feelers waved frantically about. It crested her limp chin and disappeared down her wide mouth. In the next moment, her throat contracted. Her head tilted and locked on to Alex. Dwain awkwardly came apart revealing holes buried into Tracy’s body. He fumbled to stand and turned to Sophie.

  ‘Yoo.uu’re. Aliive,’ He repeated awkwardly.

  Sophie’s Scream penetrated the nightmare Alex was caught in. He jolted awake and tried to muster himself. His legs were so weak, and he could barely stand. Alex looked around aimlessly for a weapon… where was his spear?

  He barely noticed when she moved. Alex glanced up at Tracy, standing in front of him, dyed crimson with her own blood, her shredded shirt revealing her bare stomach where dark holes had been dug. Sophie's screaming became a backdrop to the ripping sound from within Tracy that sounded like clothes being torn. He knew what was coming but couldn’t move.

  A sound saved him. A crash as Jacob and Luke burst into the camp panting. They gaped at a standing Dwain and a blood-soaked Tracy.

  ‘What the fuck!?’

  Jacob burst out, wielding his club in his hand readily.

  Alex fell back from Tracy uselessly.

  ‘Kill them!’ he croaked at last.

  Tracy’s chest burst open dropping a wave of fresh blood that washed onto the ground. She lunged forward and Jacob’s club slammed into her head like a truck. Down she went as her petite body gave way with a snap.

  Alex looked away as Sophie shrieked. He whirled and watched helplessly as Luke, mad with a skill, shoulder charged Dwain. He tumbled down into the campfire and shrieked an ungodly wail. Alex realised immediately, it wasn’t Dwain, but the centipedes. Their furry bodies caught the flames like gasoline, burning with intensity. Dwain’s body flailed wildly then came to a halt.

  ‘What the fuck, Alex!’

  Jacob, still confused, looked at Alex like was insane. A tearing sound interrupted them as Tracy, prone on the ground and unmoving began to shudder. They turned as Tracey’s chest opened back up again. Hundreds of the hairy black centipedes began wriggling out of their broken home.

  ‘What the fuck!’

  Jacob recoiled back from the sight.

  Alex found his feet. The world had ceased making sense, but this was different, this was logical. Silently he stormed over to the campfire where Dwain’s body was fuelling the fire like a dried-out Christmas tree. He reached in and brought up one of the branches burning within, holding it from an unburnt section. He turned and found everyone’s gazes on him.

  He didn’t dare return them. Slowly, just like “it” had shambled over, Alex came upon Tracy. Her cheeks were still stricken with tears. This world didn’t make sense to Alex. Skills and classes. Teleportation and survival. Monsters and who knew what else. Alex couldn’t wrap his head around any of it. He’d tried, he even thought that they might have a chance in this place. But watching Tracey be eaten alive had awoken Alex to the truth. This place they were in was death. But at least that made sense. If you stabbed or beat something it would die, or in this case, burned.

  Alex tossed the flaming branch into Tracey’s chest cavity and flinched from the flames that ignited the centipedes. Their shrieks and the crackling of wood filled the air that night. Little was spoken as everyone piled into the tent, like zombies, to sleep.

  Alex knew no one would though. He sighed, then spoke to himself as much as everyone else.

  ‘Sleep.’

  [Leader] Lev…

  Skil…

  S…

***