The camp was coming alive under the evening sky, the air cooling as the sun fully disappeared beyond the horizon. The Achievers and Mavericks separated by their usual batch, were already engaged in quiet conversations, their voices filling the space around the assembly area. In front of the podium, several boxes lay stacked, a silent hint of the upcoming activity that loomed in everyone's mind.
Aime walked in, carrying the last box. He placed it down with a sigh, wiping the sweat from his brow. “That’s the last one,” he remarked, his breath heavy from the strain.
Without missing a beat, a mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. “Let’s see what’s inside,” he added, kneeling and tearing the tape off the nearest box. The ripping sound cut through the chatter around him, drawing the attention of the boys nearby.
As everyone leaned in, Takoda reached into the box first. His hand emerged gripping a small, metal object. He held it up to the faint light, examining it closely. “Flashlights?” he said, eyebrows raised in surprise. Smitty, who had been watching from the side, shrugged, already half-guessing what was coming next. “Well, I think my guess about yesterday was ri—”
“Dude, don’t even,” Aime cut in, pointing a finger at Smitty. His voice was playful, but there was a sharpness underneath it.
“Oh boy,” Axka muttered, shaking his head as he glanced at the pile of boxes still left unopened. Just then, the sound of steps crunching on the grass interrupted the boys’ conversation. Caden strode toward them, his usual air of confidence in every step. “You boys done?” he asked, his voice calm but expectant.
Smitty was the first to nod, his casual tone masking a hint of anticipation. “Mr. Caden?” he asked, though everyone was already holding their breath, waiting for the answer they knew was coming.
Caden raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?” he prompted, though his tone was casual, as if he already knew what was coming.
“We’re going into that building for the activity, right?” Smitty asked, his words barely concealing the mix of curiosity and nervousness that had been building all evening. The boys looking at him, waiting for the right answer coming out from his mouth
Caden’s lips curled into a smirk. “Nah,” he said, his eyes scanning the group as a collective sigh of relief passed through them. But before they could fully relax, Caden let out a low chuckle, the sound filled with mischief. “Maybe somewhere else,” he added, teasing them as he turned to walk away, leaving the mystery hanging in the air.
“Mr. Caden, just tell us, please!” Aime’s voice rose in a mild panic, the uncertainty clearly getting to him.
Caden waved a hand dismissively over his shoulder, not bothering to turn around. “Sorry, y’all, can’t spoil the fun,” he called back, his voice fading into the distance as he disappeared from their view, preparing the night for the activity.
Then, a voice crackled over the loudspeaker, drawing the scattered conversations to a halt. “May I have your attention, please,” Mr. Lawson's calm yet authoritative voice echoed across the camp. “Tonight, we'll be conducting our night activity. Stick with your team, as you did in the previous activities. Teachers will brief you accordingly.”
His voice carried a slight pause before he continued, “Except for the Mavericks. You will go one by one, and the officers will handle your briefing.” A wave of murmurs rippled through the batches.
Takoda raised an eyebrow, glancing at his friends. “So, we’re splitting up then?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
Axka shrugged, the corners of his mouth curling slightly as if amused by the inevitable challenge. “Yeah, but something tells me this isn't just any simple activity,” he mused, his voice low but steady.
Aime let out a shaky breath, eyes wide with anticipation. “Ah, shit. This is gonna be intense. I can feel it already.”
Before anyone could respond, Mr. Lawson strode in, his movements commanding attention. “Alright, move along now!” he barked, clapping his hands loudly. The tension was palpable as Axka and his friends on the podium began to shuffle into their batch. The camp's activity hummed in the background.
Axka was making his way back to his batch with his friends when Caden's voice interrupted his steps. “Axka, a minute?”
Axka stopped, exchanging a quick glance with his friends—Aime raised an eyebrow, Takoda just shrugged—and turned toward Caden, who stood by the podium, clipboard in hand as he scanning the campers like a general surveying his troops. Without a word, Axka headed toward Caden, his steps measured and steady.
Axka approached, his eyes flickering with curiosity but tempered by the usual nonchalance he displayed. “It’s about the activity, right?” Axka's tone was casual, but the hint of anticipation in his voice gave him away.
Caden nodded. “Yeah,” he said, his lips curling into a slight grin. “We're doing the Test of Courage.”
A light laugh escaped Axka's throat as he placed a hand on his forehead. “That was obvious. Aime's probably shitting himself by now.” Caden chuckled softly. “He might've, yeah. But your batch, Axka, y’all got a different challenge. While the Achievers are grouped up in the building, you're going alone—deep into the forest.”
Axka's brow furrowed slightly, but he kept his posture loose. “Alone? And what, I just wander around like some lost soul?”
“Close,” Caden replied, the smirk never leaving his face. “You'll be blindfolded, taken to a random spot, and left there for an unspecified amount of time. You’ll be waiting—just waiting.”
Axka stared at him, his mouth parting slightly in disbelief before a scoff broke free. “Is this even a camp anymore? Sounds more like a setup for someone to get lost.” Caden shook his head. “Nahh. I’ve already set up markers—hidden arrows that'll guide you back. Think of it like a breadcrumb trail, except no one’s supposed to find it unless they really need to.”
“But the difference between you and the Achievers is, you must go alone into the forest while they are in the building with their group. Their task is to bring the posters on the wall back to camp while you...” He paused and laughed. "While you are going to have to wait for a random, unspecified amount of time, and you'll be blindfolded when we take you there. Two people at two different places."
Axka put his hand on hips, his eyes scanning the nearby trees. “But what if someone does get lost?”
“Won’t happen. There's a line you won’t cross, and if by some miracle you manage to, we'll be able to track them down because the area remains enclosed by the iron gates that you managed to hopped yesterday, except near the shed, which is broken down. Until then, either I or one of the officers will come to find and pick you up.”
Axka sighed, his posture finally relaxing as he resigned himself to the situation. “Fine. So, all I’ve got to do is stay put, wait, and hope I don’t trip over anything in the dark, right?”
“Pretty much,” Caden said with a grin, stepping back as the sharp whistle signaling the start of the test pierced the air.
The campers become anxious, the sounds of nervous laughter and whispers cutting through the night. The first batch of three-person groups from the Achievers began moving behind the camp windbreak, guided by Ms. Lyra. Their faces displayed a mix of nervous excitement and determination.
Then, the first participant from the Mavericks group stepped toward behind the separated windbreak with a mix of bravado and anxiety. After a few minutes, he came out into a view from the windbreak and climbed onto a waiting quad bike. Officer Schmidt approached Officer Mendoza and spoke softly but clearly, “Ten minutes.”
Mendoza nodded in acknowledgment. Officer Mendoza sat on the quad bike, who was ready to take him deep into the forest.
The quad bike roared to life, and within moments, they disappeared into the tree line, leaving a cloud of dust and a sense of foreboding among the remaining campers.
Caden softly coughed and then spoke to Axka. “Welp, there's the signal. You'll have to wait with the others over there. I need to brief the other kids so I can take them off. Oh, and don’t tell the others about what I said, 'cause what I gave you is the whole info about this activity,” he noted before heading off.
Axka’s attention was drawn back to Caden when he spoke again. “You’ll go last, by the way. After your friends.”
Axka shot him a look, one brow raised. “Of course. Makes sense why you’re giving me all the details upfront then.”
“Exactly,” Caden said with a nod. “So, just remember—no spoilers for the others.” He gave a final pat on Axka’s shoulder before heading off to Maverick’s windbreak, ready brief them in detail.
Axka watched him go, shaking his head with a small, amused smile tugging at his lips. “Damn, that’s why I’m last,” he muttered to himself before turning to join his friends.
“Hey, Axka!” A voice pierced through the low hum of conversations coming from the Mavericks’ group.
Axka turned toward the source, raising a hand in greeting. His eyes found Kazimir standing by the edge of the group, his figure silhouetted against the camp’s light. “Kazimir! Where’s Takoda?” he asked, glancing beyond Kazimir’s broad frame toward the scattered clusters of boys.
Kazimir jabbed a thumb over his shoulder. “Back there, near the tents,” he said, his voice carrying a casual familiarity. The evening air had begun to cool, the sky now a canvas of deep purples and fading oranges.
Kazimir kept nudging him, somewhat like provoking Axka. If this were their interactions, Axka would’ve had thought this as a provocation to fight him. But Axka knew Kazimir for a few years now, this was how Kazimir respecting his friends. They fought a lot when they first knew each other, Kazimir among the strongest yet Axka never backed down, as if he was both unstoppable force and immovable object. Axka gained Kazimir’s respect ever since.
Axka shrugged it off by keep taking the teasing from him. He nodded his thanks, already stepping away when Kazimir’s voice stopped him in his tracks. “Hey, wait up!” Kazimir called, amusement dancing in his eyes. “I forgot to mention, heard you fought a junior a few days ago. He’s looking for backup now.”
Axka widened his eyes in surprise, his brow knitting together. “He’s a junior?” His stare flicked over Kazimir’s face, trying to reconcile the size of the guy he had fought with his supposed age. “Why’s he so damn big?”
Kazimir threw his head back, a laugh rumbling from his chest. “Man, almost everyone here is twice your size. Get used to it.”
Axka chuckled along, a grin tugging at his lips. “Well, at least I’m taller than most of the girls,” he shot back, his tone light despite the topic. “You know him?”
Kazimir nodded, his expression shifting to something more thoughtful. “Yeah, he mentioned you ‘cause we’re in the same community. I think you two should settle it after camp. He didn’t show up here, so I guess he’s not too keen on a rematch.”
“So, he’s Ivanovian too huh?” Axka scratched the back of his head, his grin fading into something more serious. “Yeah, we’ve technically already settled it,” he admitted, his voice quieter. “But yeah, maybe we should talk things through.”
Kazimir clapped him on the shoulder, a rough but friendly gesture. “Smart move, man. Besides, it’s better to stick together. Who knows what’ll happen if there’s another school brawl like last year?”
Axka smirked, shaking his head. “We’re in the final year, Kaz. I doubt we’ll be starting another royal rumble. Even it started again, I’d say a few of us would be enough anyway.”
Kazimir smirked menacingly, his eyes gleamed with mischief. “Still, it’d be fun if we all got one last punch in.”
They shared a laugh, the sound mingling with the distant chatter of the other boys. Kazimir gave a final nod, leaving Axka to find his friends. As Axka made his way across the campgrounds, the soft sound of dirt beneath his worn shoes was the only sound that broke the steady hum of activity around them.
“Boys!” Axka called out as he reached his friends, their heads turning toward him with expectant grins.
“Where you been, Daddy?” Aime teased, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
Axka grinned at the nickname. “Back from getting your milk, son,” he replied, earning a round of chuckles from the group.
“I just talked to Mr. Caden about the activity,” Axka said, his voice calm, but there was a flicker of intrigue in his eyes.
Takoda glanced from where he stands, idly fiddling with a loose thread on his sleeve. “So, what's it all about?” he asked, though there was a casualness in his tone, masking the anticipation he felt.
Axka hesitated, his smirk widening to tease them. “I was going to tell you guys, but… never mind.”
Aime, who had been quiet up until then, leaned forward. “Come on, man! You can't leave us hanging,” he urged, his voice tinged with frustration.
Axka shook his head, chuckling. “Sorry, but I can’t. It’d spoil the fun, y’know?” His eyes glinted mischievously as if he held the secret to the universe in his hands. Aime groaned. “You're the worst,” he muttered under his breath, but there was no real malice in his words, just a playful resignation.
Axka let out a light laugh before continuing. “Anyway, this just reminded me... do you guys think now’s the best chance to get our phones back?”
Smitty perked up at the mention of their confiscated phones. “Oh yeah, good point,” he said, his brows furrowing in thought. “I think they’re all distracted right now, and I might know where they stashed them.”
Takoda shot a glance at Smitty, the hint of a challenge in his eyes. “Where’s that, genius?”
Smitty pointed discreetly towards a distant tent, where the teachers gathered earlier. “Lawson’s tent, over there. I saw them place something inside.”
Axka's eyes narrowed, scanning the tent. “It's so close, though,” he mused, rubbing the back of his neck. “The officers or teachers might spot us.”
Smitty grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Then we’ll just need distractions. Same as always.”
Takoda glanced around the tent, his eyes narrowing as he scanned for the perfect opening. “Looks like it's up to me and Aime to play bait,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Axka gave him an approving nod. “Let’s get to it.”
As Aime and Takoda approached the teachers, their voices rose in feigned curiosity, bombarding them with exaggerated questions about the upcoming activity. The teachers caught off guard scrambled to provide vague answers, their expressions showing the strain of evasion. Despite their efforts, Aime and Takoda were denied clear answers multiple times, but they kept pressing on.
“Go, go,” Axka whispered to Smitty, nodding towards the tent. They crouched low, slipping into the shadows, making their way quietly toward Lawson’s tent. The fabric of the tent fluttered slightly in the breeze as they ducked inside.
“Shit,” Axka muttered, surveying the cluttered space. “Where are they?”
Smitty rummaged through a pile of bags. “Should be here somewhere,” he whispered back, his hands moving quickly, though with a certain precision, as if he had done this a thousand times before. “Nothing,” Axka murmured while continuing to search for their phones.
Meanwhile, Officer Ron was about to walk past the teachers’ tent. “Takoda, Takoda!” Aime whispered urgently, pointing out the officer approaching the tent. Thinking quickly, Takoda called out, “Officer!”
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“Can I ask you something?” Takoda improvised desperately, trying to buy more time for Axka and Smitty. Officer Ron turned, slightly annoyed.
“Make it quick, I’m going to the bathroom,” he said.
Moments passed, the tension thick in the air, when Axka finally spotted something near a foldable bed. “Got them,” he whispered, holding up their phones triumphantly.
Smitty flashed a grin, pulling out small wooden slabs shaped like phones from his pocket. “Now, to replace ours with these.”
Axka raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a sarcastic grin. “You always bring something stupid for your trickery bullshit,” he muttered, his voice dripping with mockery. He held their phones, tilting his head as if waiting for Smitty to explain himself.
Smitty grinned, holding up the crude bark-like slabs he'd shaped into fake phones. “What? These? Just a little handiwork. Made them in the tent—good, right?” His voice carried a weird mix of pride and amusement, the corners of his mouth twitching as he displayed his makeshift creations.
Axka stared at the fake phones, disbelief written all over his face. “How the fuck did you even have these, dude?” His tone was incredulous, the sarcasm thick, but there was a flicker of genuine astonishment behind his skepticism.
“Barely made ‘em,” Smitty replied, completely unfazed. “Found some tree bark, broke it into pieces like smartphones, then I colored—”
“Whatever the fuck that is,” Axka interrupted, rubbing his temples as if the absurdity was too much to handle. His voice turned urgent, losing its sarcastic edge. “We’ll talk later. Let’s get the fuck outta here before they notice.”
Smitty chuckled, sliding the fake phones to its original place of their phones with a smug grin. “Yeah, good idea,” he agreed, his grin never fading.
As Axka and Smitty slipped out of the tent, they saw the teachers and Officer Ron still engaged with Takoda and Aime, answering their barrage of questions. Takoda caught a glimpse of them emerging from the tent and knew they had successfully retrieved their phones.
“…and you will be taken there behind the windbreaks, where there are boards with quick questions. Each of you will have one. The Achievers' group of three will also have their own…” Officer Ron explained. Takoda nudged Aime subtly with his elbow, signaling that they had found the phones. Aime responded with a soft smirk.
“…while theirs are more than your group, we will take five different groups from the Achievers to answer questions at the same time, while yours will just be two different people,” Officer Ron concluded.
“Oh, alright, thanks, Officer,” Takoda said. Officer Ron nodded and continued his walk to the bathroom, while Takoda and Aime headed back to the assembly area.
“That’s quite okay for the activity,” Aime remarked to Takoda as they walked. “Maybe it’s like a quiz for the Achievers and an interrogation for us?” They both laughed, relieved that their distraction had worked.
As Axka slid his phone out of his pocket, careful to avoid drawing any attention, he glanced around. The flickering light from the campfire danced across the faces of the nearby boys, none of whom noticed his subtle movement. The air hummed with nervous excitement, but he moved with the same practiced stealth he had perfected over years of dodging authority. His fingers brushed against the screen, feeling the familiar weight of it as he passed the phone quickly into Aime’s hand.
“Did you get it?” Aime’s whisper was tight with tension, his mischievous grin still in place.
“Yeah, here,” Axka muttered, passing the phones with a furtive glance around the camp. For now, they were in the clear, but the heavy silence pressed in, broken only by the faint sound of footsteps. He turned his phone over. The unwelcome symbol of ‘no connection’ blinked back at him.
“Damn,” Axka hissed under his breath, frustration mixing with unease. “You guys got any connection?”
Smitty checked his own phone, his face scrunching up like he’d just bitten into something sour. “Nope.” He shook his head, his annoyance clear.
“Same here,” Takoda added, his fingers still swiping futilely across his screen.
Aime chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mockery as he glanced at Axka’s outdated phone. “Damn, boy. You still using that stoner phone?” The tease came out effortlessly, the kind of jab only friends who knew each other’s soft spots could throw without repercussion.
Axka shot him a warning look, a half-smile curling at the edge of his lips. “You better shut up, or I’ll shove your phone up your ass,” he retorted, the sharpness in his voice not entirely masking the amusement he felt.
Before Aime could respond, a voice boomed through the camp’s megaphone, slicing through the night air like a knife: “Aime Richez and Smitty Cole! Move behind the windbreaks!”
Aime and Smitty exchanged knowing glances, their playful banter dropping as reality set in. Without hesitation, they slipped their phones back into their pockets, any sense of rebellion replaced with a readiness for what came next.
“Alright, fellas. Catch you on the flip side,” Aime said with a smirk, throwing up a casual salute before he and Smitty turned to head off towards their assignment. The two of them disappeared from the view, leaving Takoda and Axka standing in the camp’s dimly lit assembly area, still grappling with their connection issues.
As soon as they arrived, Caden rolled back into camp from the deeper forest, the quad bike rumbling softly beneath him. The hum of its engine turned heads, drawing the attention of the gathered group. Caden dismounted in one smooth motion, his eyes scanning the campers with the same casual authority they had grown used to. His eyes settled on Aime and with a quick grin, he clapped him hard on the shoulder before walking away without a word.
“What the fuck was that?” Aime muttered under his breath, his brows furrowed in confusion as he glanced at Smitty.
Smitty shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Heck if I know.”
"Smitty Cole, you're with me," Officer Romero called out, his tone leaving no room for argument. The command was sharp and to the point, and Smitty straightened up immediately, glancing once more at Aime before heading toward the officer.
“And you—four-eyed frog face—Aime Richez, right?” Officer Mendoza's voice sliced through the air, the insult wrapped in a snide tone that made Smitty chuckled before he turned to follow Romero.
“Yeah,” Aime grumbled, his dissatisfaction clear as he trudged toward Mendoza.
The officer motioned for him to come closer, wasting no time. “Alright, listen up. Here's the real deal for tonight’s activity…” Mendoza began, his voice cold and matter-of-fact.
As Aime listened, his jaw slowly dropped. The vague instructions they had been fed earlier were replaced with something far more intense. Meanwhile, Smitty remained composed, absorbing his own set of instructions with a calm nod.
“But Officer Ron said... it was just questions...” Aime stammered, trying to process the sudden shift.
“Questions? Sure. Here’s one for you: Do you need to go to the bathroom now?” Officer Mendoza’s response dripped with sarcasm.
“N-no,” Aime sputtered, caught completely off guard.
Without waiting for further protest, Mendoza led him toward the quad bike. Smitty, already on his own quad with Officer Romero, smirked as he was led toward the forest’s edge. “Hey, better use a diaper, Aime,” he called out before he blindfolded himself.
The quad bike revved up, leaving Aime standing in the dust. “Motherfucker...” Aime mumbled under his breath, barely audible but unnoticed by Mendoza, who was busy strapping on a helmet. “Alright, get on,” the officer barked, and Aime reluctantly complied.
Once he was settled, Mendoza tossed Aime a piece of cloth. His cold stare said it all—no excuses. “Here, blindfold yourself. It’s part of the activity.”
Aime tied the cloth loosely around his forehead, leaving enough space to sneak a peek. “I can still see you,” Mendoza sudden voice snapped Aime, searching for him which he already stood in front of him.
“Fix it,” Mendoza’s voice hardened. Grumbling, Aime adjusted the cloth, narrowing his vision to a mere sliver of light.
“Do not take it off until I say so,” Mendoza ordered, his tone brooking no argument. As the quad bike sped into the darkness, Aime quickly realized the peek hole he had left was completely useless. His heart pounded in his chest as the forest seemed to close in around them.
Fuck, I can’t see shit.
The darkness pressing in like a thick, suffocating blanket. His thoughts raced as his mind conjured every possible scenario that could go wrong. At one point, he thought he saw a shadowy figure lurking just out of view, and his blood ran cold.
Aime kept repeating in his mind: Shit, shit, shit.
The thrill of intense situations with friends was one thing, but being alone was a different story for him.
It’s been a few minutes, the winds seem getting softer and the motion slowly getting steadier. “Alright, we’re here,” Mendoza sudden voice snapped Aime, the quad bike coming to a halt. “You can get off now.”
“Nope,” Aime responded defiantly, refusing to budge.
“I said get off,” Mendoza repeated, his patience waning.
“No,” Aime replied again, his arms holding on the quad bike.
“GET OFF!” Mendoza barked, finally snapping. Without waiting for Aime’s response, he grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him off the bike, tossing him onto the ground like a rag doll.
“Next time, behave if you don’t want to be treated like this,” Mendoza warned, his voice cold. He hopped back on the quad and revved the engine, ready to leave.
As Mendoza rode away, he noticed something behind him in the side mirror, making him focus on it.
“Don’t leave me, Officer! Take me with you!” Aime yelled, holding the back of the quad.
Mendoza turned around, exasperated. “What the—TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF!” he shouted, his patience worn thin. But Aime clung on, desperation fueling his grip.
“Take me!” he insisted, his voice breaking slightly.
“What the heck is wrong with you?” Mendoza shouted, prying Aime’s fingers from the quad. “You’re supposed to be alone, like everyone else.”
“I can’t, sir!” Aime gasped, still clinging on for dear life.
“I DON’T CARE!” Mendoza barked back. “Walk back or stay here! But you're doing this ALONE!”
Aime reluctantly started walking, plotting to follow Mendoza under the guise of the quad's headlight. Sensing his ploy, Mendoza turned off his lights and sped away, leaving Aime in darkness. "SHIT!" Aime shouted, feeling the eerie silence in his spine. "Please don't eat me, mysterious thing," he whimpered, palms together in a mock prayer.
***
Back at the briefing area, Officer Mendoza arrived, his expression darkened by frustration. He muttered a curse under his breath, wiping a hand across his sweaty forehead as he approached Officer Schmidt, who stood casually, arms crossed.
“Hey, you okay?” Schmidt asked, raising an eyebrow as Mendoza walked up.
“Yeah, just that damn kid, Aime,” Mendoza grumbled, recalling the absurdity of the situation. “He really got on my nerves.”
Schmidt chuckled, shaking his head. “Tough crowd, huh?”
Before Mendoza could respond, Mr. Lawson approached with his usual calm demeanor. “Mr. Caden, send out the remaining students. The rest are done,” he said casually, his words more a suggestion than a command. The officers exchanged glances but didn’t stop their conversation, acknowledging him with nods out of respect. Lawson, satisfied with their response, made his way toward Caden, who leaned lazily against a tree, cigarette smoke curling in the air as he listened.
While the officers exchanged stories and casual banter, Mr. Lawson remained focused, moving efficiently toward Caden. Caden blew out a plume of smoke as Lawson neared, his eyes steady with his relaxed posture. “How about the Achievers?” he asked, his tone casual as ever.
“I’m about to send the last batch of them,” Lawson replied, hands on his hips.
Caden took one final drag before flicking the cigarette butt into his portable ashtray. “Well, I think they’ve gotta wait. There are still two of them in there.” His voice was nonchalant, like it was all part of the plan. “Just put them a bit farther from the occupied areas,” Lawson suggested, his brow furrowed in thought.
“Alright, I’m going to brief Takoda,” Caden nodded, straightening up and heading off, his boots rustle softly on the grass path as he walked.
Axka and Takoda, who had been waiting for their names to be called, finally heard the command through the loudspeaker. “Nui Axka and Nodin Takoda! Move behind the windbreaks!” The voice was firm and authoritative, leaving no room for hesitation. The two boys exchanged a quick glance before hiding their phones in the pocket and moving toward the briefing area.
Officer Hermano was waiting for them, clipboard in hand. He was about to launch into his usual spiel when Caden interrupted him, strolling up with his usual air of relaxed control.
“Officer, he’s already been briefed,” Caden said, pointing toward Axka, who stood with his arms in pockets, his expression neutral. Hermano hesitated for a moment, unsure, but Caden’s voice cut through his uncertainty. “The area’s been occupied by a previous kid. Just put him near the line.”
Officer Hermano glanced between the officers but eventually gave a nod. “Alright, let’s go, kid,” he said, gesturing for Axka to follow.
Axka turned to Takoda, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Good luck, bro,” he said, offering a half-smile. Takoda looked confused, still processing what was about to happen. “Huh?” he muttered, his brow furrowed in bewilderment.
Axka simply shook his head and hopped onto the quad bike, feeling the familiar rumble of the engine beneath him as Officer Hermano revved it to life. Hermano handed him a piece of cloth. “Blindfold yourself,” he ordered. Without hesitation, Axka tied the cloth around his head, plunging himself into darkness. The quad bike jolted forward, taking him deeper into the forest.
The ride was short, the sound of the engine a steady hum that reverberated in Axka’s chest. When they finally stopped, Hermano’s voice came from beside him. “Alright, stay here,” he instructed. Axka untied the blindfold, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dim light filtering through the trees. He dismounted, his boots crunching softly against the earth as he listened to the quad bike roar back to life. Within seconds, Officer Hermano had disappeared, leaving him alone in the stillness.
Axka stood still, letting the quiet of the forest wash over him. The air was cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and moss. Then he began to wander, the weight of the trees pressed in, a familiar heaviness that took him back to a different time, a different place.
Just hoping I wasn’t chased down by those people again, Axka sighed, shaking his thought from remembering it again. As if it’s gonna happen again.
As he ventured farther, Axka spotted something ahead—a damaged iron fence, just like Caden had described. He stopped, studying it.
This seems like someone could go through this.
But before he could turn back, movement caught his eye. From the shadows, a figure emerged, its outline hazy but unmistakable. Its eyes glowed with an eerie purple light, just like the day before.
“What the—” Axka muttered, eyes narrowing as his instincts took over. His body moved without hesitation, driven by a single thought: I need to confirm what I saw yesterday.
The glowing eyes flickered through the shadows, familiar, yet elusive. There was no room for doubt, no hesitation in his step. He had to know if this was real. He wasn’t running from it—he was chasing it, determined to confront the truth head-on. Whatever it was, he was ready for it.
The figure led him through the trees, the path becoming more overgrown as he went deeper. Eventually, he arrived at an old shed, the structure covered in moss and vines, barely visible under the faint moonlight. Axka’s steps slowed as he approached, his eyes narrowing at the sight before him.
The figure appeared to be sitting near the shed, its body hunched over, as if resting. From where Axka stood, it seemed headless, its form grotesque in the darkness. He moved closer, careful with each step, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.
Just as he neared, he heard it—breathing. The sound was soft but unmistakable, the quiet rise and fall of lungs filling the silence. But how could it breathe without a head?
Axka’s curiosity piqued. Suddenly, the head popped out from nowhere, making froze for a moment. Axka lunged forward, his hand gripping the figure's head without hesitation, his movements sharp and deliberate. There was no fear, only a sense of challenge coursing through him. Just as his fingers tightened around the surface, a voice rang out with a sharp bite.
“Hey! Get your hands off my head, Axka!” the voice shouted, causing Axka to take off his hand. The figure stood, stepping into the pale light of the moon.
It was Mr. Lawson.
“It’s me. You passed the test,” Mr. Lawson’s voice was calm, his face illuminated by the faint moonlight. Axka blinked, his mind struggling to process what he had just seen.
“Test?” Axka blurted out, disbelief still gripping him. He couldn’t shake the image of the glowing eyes, the eerie figure. Slowly, it dawned on him, but something still didn’t sit right. “That was it? That was the test?”
“Yes,” Lawson nodded, fixing his hair with his small hair comb. “I was supposed to pick you up myself while the others tested your friends.”
Axka felt something was off, his brow furrowing in thought. Those purple eyes weren’t part of the plan, were they? He stood his ground, not scared, just curious. Whatever this was, it wasn’t enough to make him back down—only more curious.
Axka’s brows furrowed, piecing together the strange moment. “So, you were the purple dots. Nice prank, Mr. Lawson.” His tone was casual, almost amusing, as he assuming it had all been a trick. “Contacts to make your eyes glow?”
But Mr. Lawson’s face stilled, confusion flashing across his features. “Purple dots?” he repeated, his voice uncertain, off-balance.
Before Axka could react, something shifted in the shadows behind them. The air grew colder, heavier. From the corner of the shed, the purple dots emerged again—growing brighter, more menacing. They pulsed with an unnatural glow, and this time, there was no mistaking their threat.
Lawson’s eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. Without warning, his legs gave out, and he crumpled to the ground, unconscious before he could react. Axka didn’t move—his focus was on the glowing figure that crept closer.
Axka’s pulse quickened, but not from fear. His fists clenched, muscles tensed, not to hold himself back, but in preparation. “WHAT ARE YOU?” Axka growled, his fists clenched, ready. “COME HERE SO I CAN FIGHT YOU!” filled with a daring edge. This wasn’t a plea—it was an order for confrontation, an invitation for battle.
From the darkness, the purple dots grew brighter, and the figure stepped forward. As it emerged, the shape shifted—revealing a girl, her short hair framing a doll-like face, her expression cold but human. As she moved into the moonlight, Axka’s tension slowly melted away, replaced by curiosity.
“You’re… a girl,” Axka muttered, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease. He hadn’t expected this —someone so normal, so human in the middle of this eerie forest. His guard lowered naturally, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I didn’t see you at the camp. What’s a pretty girl like you doing out here, appearing out of nowhere?”
“I am Hyun Ayame,” she said, her voice calm, yet carrying an unsettling edge. “I deal with things that go beyond what most people can see.”