Feeling embarrassed, I stood up and offered a hand to Karlos. We dusted ourselves off, and Karlos was taken away by Daniella and Pedro while Camila quickly came over to me.

"¡Gracias a Dios, Karina! I am so glad you are alright!"

Camila gave me a hug, which took a while for me to reciprocate. Shocked by Camila's words, I gave her a small smile.

"Your Spanish is fluent Camila," I said, impressed, "Thank you for your concern, it was all thanks to Karlos."

"Again," Camila said. "Are you sure no feelings are attached between you two?"

"No Camila," I replied. "He helped me a second time, that's all."

"But really Karina," Camila said, hugging me again, "Thank you for your kind words."

"You are welcome," I replied.

"Hey, you two!"

Daniella called out to us. "Get yourselves here."

"Bossy Daniella," Camila muttered under her breath. "Let's go before we lose sight of the class."

"We wouldn't want that to happen," I said, as we joined the others.

"We are here now, Miss," Camila said, giving Daniella an annoyed look.

"As you should be," Daniella replied. She had this overconfidence about herself that radiated more than the sun itself. Her obsession with Karlos, her thinking she is the main character, everything about her felt annoying. I could see how she didn't like Daniella. Something that I could use to my advantage in finding out the secrets of Everest Academy. I knew that if I had to become an Imperial Scholar, I would have to work my way to the top with a continuous fight against Daniella - which I in fact, look forward to more than the lessons themselves.

"Okay everyone, we need to speak about how we are going work around looking for some help in this... forest," Daniella spoke, looking disgusted just being among trees.

"So, we might have to do some walking," she said.

"North, South, East, or West?" Pedro asked. "Specify."

"Any direction should be fine," she said.

"Are you not scared we might lead ourselves to a cliff?" I asked.

"And I suppose, you have a better suggestion?" Daniella asked.

"Yes, I do," I said, walking over to Karlos, who was sitting on a cut tree trunk.

"Tienes un---"

"It would be pointless if we don't have it," Karlos said, handing me the device.

"Thanks," I said, turning away and walking over to Daniella, "This device shall notify us if we are heading on a dangerous path."

"And if we didn't have it?" she asked.

"Don't you think we should be grateful that we have one?"

"Cut the fighting," Pedro intervened. "Let's go."

Daniella pushed her way past me, snatching the device off my hand as everyone started the journey. I looked for Camila to see her standing next to me.

"Déjanos ir, Karina," Camila said, taking my hand.

We followed everyone from behind in silence. We walked on the narrow path until two direction routes were presented in front of us.

"Hey, Karina!" Daniella shouted my name.

"Yes?"

"How do you get this thing to work?"

"By facing the device in a particular direction," I replied.

"Come do it!" Daniella shouted.

"You don't have to do everything she asks you do to," Camila whispered.

"That's okay, let her feel like she is in control for a while," I replied, as Camila and I walked to the front.

"I asked her, not you," Daniella said, glancing over at Camila.

"Well, I am here, am I not?" I asked, gesturing her to lend me the device.

Daniella walked away and threw the device at me, which I luckily caught.

"I walked to the left side with the device, when I heard it beeping.

"Karina! Watch out!" Camila shouted.

The pathway, cracked open, nearly making me fall over until some strong hands caught my waist. It was Andres. However, I lost a grip on the device, yet with all the strength I had, I tightened my grip on the device's antenna. Andres placed me on the ground gently, as he checked to see if I was hurt.

"Gra- I mean, thank you, Andres," I said, fixing my clothing.

"You are welcome," he said, joining the others. I walked back to where Camila was, "As you can see, there is one path to take."

"Thank you," Daniella walked away with her friends, Pedro and Cruz. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder.

"Karlos," I said.

"No, it's Andres."

I looked to my side to see Andres looking at me with concern.

"Oh! I am sorry, Karlos always bothers me, that's why," I explained.

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"No problem," he said, "I was checking up on you."

"Thanks," I said as he walked away.

"Is Princess used to me so much that she mistook me for Andres?" Karlos whispered.

"You are getting on my nerves," I replied, giving him my death glare.

"That draws me closer to you than away," Karlos replied smugly.

Camila placed Karlos' hand on my shoulder took my hand and pulled us together, "We are going to lose the class."

"Sorry," Karlos and I said.

"M.I.A.M.I, running out of time?"

Cruz started singing. Annoyed sighs followed as he continued singing.

"We are alive Cruz, let's be grateful for that."

This time, it was Reina. "Soon, we will be out of this... forest."

"When?" Cruz asked. "When, Miss Positivity?"

"I don't know okay?!" she shouted in response.

"Shhh," Pedro pointed at us to keep quiet.

We heard a howl from afar. As it continued, some of us stared into the dark starry sky. We had been walking for hours that we didn't realize nighttime had befallen us.

"Wolves," Pedro said.

More howls were heard from proximity. Karlos removed his shoulder and reached for my hand, pulling me behind him, meaning, Camila was dragged too.

"¡¿Qué crees que estás haciendo?!" I whispered. We could hear wolves and Karlos didn't seem to care about himself, whether he could be eaten by one or severely wounded.

"I'm protecting you," Karlos replied.

"Are you not scared that you might die?"

"SHHH!" everyone shushed us.

"Do you want the wolves to find us?!" Daniella whispered.

Karlos and I ignored her.

"Who knows? I might have to call my troop to look for you," he whispered.

I laughed a bit, "Yeah, I think you need to check your watchlist - it needs help," I replied sarcastically.

"Princess!" Karlos exclaimed in a low voice.

"SHUT UP!" they exclaimed.

The howling got progressively closer and closer.

"Will they turn us into werewolves?" Rico and Maya asked.

"You watch too many supernatural movies," Camila replied, "Seems you need to check your watchlists too."

Daniella gasped, causing us to look in her direction.

Two wolves were standing in front of Daniella.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Daniella shouted.

"Daniella, DON'T!" Karlos and I shouted.

The wolves then turned to us. Daniella ran to Pedro's arms as Camila worriedly looked at the twisted situation.

"Karina, Karlos," she said.

"No te preocupes por nosotros, Camila. Podemos manejarlo."

The one focused on Karlos was male, as it was gray and black. The one in front of me was a wif-wolf - black and white.

Staring into its eyes, I felt like I was going faint. After some seconds, they continued on their way, walking past us. Karlos and I exchanged looks before looking at the wolf couple that were now distant.

"Amazing," Maya and Camila said, in shock and amazement at what just happened.

"Yeah," I said, still processing what happened.

"Princess," Karlos said, waving his hand, signaling me to help him get up.

"Sorry," I said, lending him a hand. "Your knowledge of wolves is still fresh I see."

Karlos chuckled as he gave me a look.

"Ahem," Maya said, clearing her throat, "Do you two... know each other? Considering what Karina just said of course."

I paused and quickly responded, "No! I don't know him, we don't know each other - I saw him, that time when I had to find him for History class, I found him reading an article on wolves," I explained with confidence although Maya was not convinced.

"Okay, if you say so," she replied. "Although, Karlos doesn't seem to agree with that."

I looked over to Karlos with a side glance.

"If you spill the beans, I so promise you Karlos Ramirez..." I said mentally, wishing Karlos would read through my side-eye.

"Me? Wolf articles? No way," he replied. "We have known each other since long back, details unnecessary."

"I knew it," Maya said, joining Daniella, "That's all I wanted to know."

I elbowed Karlos on his stomach. "Really, Karlos?"

Despite the pain, Karlos still gave me a smirk, "Princess, I couldn't hide this joy in me any longer."

Rolling my eyes, I walked faster, dragging Karlos with me, as Camila and I joined the rest.

"Let's see if we can find some flat land for us to settle on for the night. Then we will see what tomorrow brings," Pedro said.

We then continued walking for some time until Pedro stopped us in a quiet, open space. While Daniella and her friends simply stared at their surroundings, Camila, Karlos, and I took some big tree leaves, pulling them out.

"Let me help," Karlos said.

"That's okay, I can do it," I replied. I mean, with his knee injury, I didn't want him to strain it further. He even took the hit for me twice.

"There," Karlos offered me a leaf.

I sighed, "Stop," taking the leaf from his hand.

"What?" Karlos asked.

"Stop helping me," I replied. "Worry about yourself."

"Was not taught to do that, fortunately," he said.

The three of us then walked back to the others.

"What are those?" Daniella asked, pointing at the leaves in our hands. "Don't tell me you once lived in jungles before entering wealth."

Pedro and Cruz laughed.

"Karlos? Not you too!"

Karlos was about to respond when I interrupted him, silencing the three of them.

"It's called survival skills," I replied. "Something that the three of you lack."

Karlos leaned over a tree, as he placed his leaf on the flat ground, taking mine from my hand, while I walked over to Daniella. "Anything else to add?"

"Actually, yeah," she said, "I hate you, Karina Hernandez!"

With a smile on my face, I kept quiet, making Daniella pull the collar of my dress, and dragging me closer to her face.

"I wish you died when the path collapsed."

"Sorry to hear that," I said. "Keep it coming though."

"Argh!" Daniella said, pushing me away.

Luckily I was able to regain my balance without needing assistance. Camila was worried while I could feel Karlos' eyes on me.

"You are too calm Karina, you know that?" Daniella asked, with spite in her eyes.

"Yes - since I was a child," I replied.

"Yeah, and I must believe that?" she added, "Who knows, maybe YOU caused the plane to malfunction!"

Everyone gasped, and all eyes turned to me. Some girls started whispering to each other while Pedro and Cruz joined Daniella's side.

"Makes sense," Pedro added, "You are way too calm for someone who is 'calm' by nature."

"Karina would never do such a thing!" Camila shouted.

"Sure, I am sure she is leading you by the nose," Pedro added.

With a smirk on my face, I shot back, "You seem to know way a lot about me, Daniella, Pedro, Cruz."

I approached them, "Can you back up your stances?"

Daniella was taken aback, "I-It's obvious, you are too calm, and..."

"And...?" I asked. "Please, continue, everyone needs to know the basis for your accusation."

Pedro was about to pull my collar as well until Karlos grabbed his hand.

"What do you think you doing?" he asked in a stern voice. "Is that how you deal with every girl that is smarter than you?"

"Please, Karina is nothing to me," he replied, freeing himself from Karlos' grip. "Didn't know you were part of Karina's plan to kill us all!"

"Woah," Karlos said, placing his hand on Pedro's shoulder. "I think you are still traumatized, man. Take a rest."

"How about we deal with this tomorrow?"

Pedro, scratching his head, grabbed one of the tropical, big leaves he could find, then found a spot and laid down. "Good night guys, I think I will head to bed faster than the rest."

"I will join you on that," Cruz said, doing the same and lying next to Pedro.

"Camila, you will be sleeping with us," Daniella said, as Karlos gently pulled me away from her, fetching our leaves to find a spot close to the others.

"Daniella, I am DONE, being your puppet," Camila responded.

Karlos and I turned around to see her standing in front of Daniella.

"So, no - I won't be going with you."

She walked away and came to join us. "Are you sure you want to team up with us?" I asked, "It's going to get messy."

"Puedo manejar desordenada, Karina," she replied in Spanish, "And if that means we take down Daniella, so be it."

I pulled Camila into a hug, "Thanks for defending me."

"Did you even have to ask?" Camila replied, hugging me tightly before letting me go. "I'm your friend. I will always be here for you."

"I am feeling left out," Karlos whispered.

"Go to bed!" I exclaimed, laughing as we placed our leaves close to one another, drifting off to sleep.

DANIELLA

"Karina thinks she has everyone wrapped around her little finger," Reina said, trying to comfort me.

"Just because she is a Hernandez, doesn't mean anything!" I shouted.

"But the way Karlos defended her though..." Maya said, which infuriated me further.

"Maya, just go," I said, sending her away, "You are no better than them."

"It's called stating the facts," she said, walking to her sleeping spot.

I walked over to Karina's sleeping spot. My heart burned with anger and revenge.

"Tomorrow will be the day everyone knows who you are... Karina."