It was an ordinary day for John. He was reading an action novel after lunch, as it was lunch break. The rest of his classmates were enjoying the break, chatting and playing with each other. If it was at the start of the school year, John would have felt a little bad for not getting along with his classmates to join a friend's group. But now, it didn't matter anymore. He now has learnt on how to enjoy his solitude with a leasurely attitude.

John wasn't always alone. He'd been a popular kid for several grades earlier, but his parents' passing cast a long shadow on his school life. Though John had a house and the money his parents left behind, which can ensure his comfortable life, it couldn't heal the immense scar left on him.Now, the once-popular kid navigates his new school life alone, content in his solitude.

"John, Have you prepared everything for the trip today?" Stella asked.

Stella is among the few acquaintances who spoke to John in the entire school, Stella was also the class monitor and one of the most beautiful girls in his class. A flicker of hope sparked in John's chest when Stella first addressed him during the beginning of the school, only to be doused when he realized her kindness extended to almost everyone.

"Yep, everything's ready. I still don't get why we need laptops for the trip, though," John said,with a touch of frustration in his voice.

"Apparently," Stella replied with a hint of a smile, "there's a rumor that the teachers might give a short presentation on the steam engine and the Industrial Revolution during the factory visit as it still has one working steam engines used for milling"

"God, Why should we study during the field trip" John said thinking about the coming ordeal.

"Haha, cheer up!" Stella replied, patting his shoulder. "At least you're not alone. The whole class suffers through it together." With a wink, she headed back to her desk as the lunch break ended.

For John, It felt like the time was moving slowly as he was thinking about the trip.It felt as if the hand on the clock was moving slowly as it was stuck.While the rest of the class was buzzing with laughter and excitement, John tried his best to focus on the boring lectures. 

Math equations danced before his eyes, replaced by visions of the promised factory tour. History lessons about past wars faded into the background as he imagined the awe-inspiring machinery he might see. Even the usually engaging science experiment felt like a chore to be endured. Every stolen glance at the clock confirmed his suspicions – time was a cruel mistress when anticipation ran high.

Finally, the long-awaited sound of the bell spread through the air, it was a sweet symphony that sent a wave of relief crashing over John. The classroom erupted in a loud cheer, All the pent-up energy they had was finally released as students scrambled to gather their belongings and head towards the buses. John, with a newfound lightness in his step, joined them, a spark of genuine excitement replacing his earlier boredom.

The big yellow bus came back to life, waking John up from his thoughts. All around him, his classmates were finally free to chat and laugh after a long day at school.

John felt a little lighter and happier, even though he wasn't sure why. He found a seat on the bus and looked around for an empty spot. Luckily, there was one next to Stella, so John sat next to stella

The bus pulled away from the school and John watched the buildings they knew disappear in the distance. As time passed by, Outside the window, fields of green and small towns with colorful houses started to appear. John looked out at the scenery, then back at Stella. She seemed really happy about the trip. She pointed at things outside the window and told him cool facts about them, making John smile.

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The bus ride was full of noise! People talked and sang songs, and sometimes they even shared snacks. John suddenly realized he wasn't so annoyed with other classmates on the bus anymore. It was actually kind of fun being out of school and hanging out with everyone.Suddenly, before the sun dipped below the horizon, the weather took a dramatic turn.

When John looked through the window, the wind had picked up considerably than before and a sudden heavy rain lashed against the glass. He shut the window, the joyous chatter now dampened by the sudden downpour. The once bustling highway now seemed strangely deserted, as if they were the only vehicle braving the storm.

Just when everyone was worried about whether the trip would be cancelled due to bad weather, a deafening bang echoed through the bus, followed by a blinding flash of light. After a moment of stunned silence, everyone cautiously opened their eyes, checking on their neighbors as the driver brought the bus to a halt.

 Outside, the familiar landscape they saw before had vanished. The road they had been traveling was gone and any familiar landmarks which could be seen from the distance was missing. As they all found that they were now in a completely strange place on a vast plain, bordered by dense forests and towering mountains. Fear and panic spread along the students due to this completely unexpected situation. The teachers, however, sprang into action, calming the students and carefully guiding them off the bus to avoid any accidents.

A murmur of confusion and unease spread through the students like a cold wind. Huddled in nervous groups, they exchanged panicked glances and whispered questions. John, himself struggling with disbelief, observed the scene.

"Where are we?" a girl shrieked, her voice cracking with fear.

"Maybe it's just a detour?" said a boy, trying to sound optimistic, but his voice lacked conviction.

Stella stepped forward and said"Let's stay calm. The teachers must know something." Her voice held a tremor of uncertainty despite her attempt to stay calm.

One of the teachers, Michael, a normally jovial man with a booming voice, now looked pale and drawn. "We don't know exactly what happened," he admitted, his voice strained. "But one thing is clear: we're not where we were supposed to be."

His words sparked a wave of chaos. Theories flew around like frantic birds. Was it a prank gone wrong? A natural disaster? An alien abduction, some even dared to whisper. The adults, their own faces etched with worry, tried to maintain order.

John, however, felt a strange sense of detachment amidst the rising panic. The fantastical scenario unfolding before him seemed almost... thrilling. Was this some kind of dream? A bizarre school field trip gone awry?

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the unfamiliar landscape, a sense of urgency settled in. The teachers huddled together, their hushed voices carrying the weight of responsibility. The students, their initial fear morphing into a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, waited for some kind of explanation, or some direction in this strange new world.

As it seemed that the sun might set in a few hours,Michael, the sole male teacher present in our group gathered a group of boys to scout the surrounding areas so as to find any signs of habitation nearby.As it wouldn't be a safe idea to stay here in the middle of nowhere when nightfall was approaching.

John volunteered to take part in the scouting activity. He felt like a brand new adventure was unfolding before him similar to the stories which he read. John still felt anxious as he doesn't know whether he would be a hero, a passerby or just an unfortunate character who meets his end in the beginning.But this uncertainty didn't stop him as it fueled his courage to step forward.

Only eight students felt brave enough to venture out with Mr.Michael, as many still felt it was unsafe to venture outside when they still couldn't be sure where they are.John felt a little surprised when he saw Kane and his gang volunteered for the activity.Gossip around school portrayed Kane, the star football player, as a self-centered jock. But here he was, stepping up when it mattered.

It took some time to stock up necessary supplies such as torch, food, water bottles and knife.After the supplies were secured everybody tried to walk through the forest where it looked like a path which was used by humans.John had no idea what fate had in store for hime when he entered the forest along with the rest of them.