The days on the island were slipping away faster than anyone wanted them to.
What had first felt like a temporary trip… now felt like something far more permanent, like a place they were never meant to leave. The air, the trees, the ocean, even the silence of the nights… everything had slowly wrapped itself around them.
No one said it out loud, but everyone felt it.
They wanted to stay.
Maybe that was exactly why the teachers decided to make the most of it.
That evening, as the sky dimmed into deep shades of blue and the forest began to breathe in its own quiet rhythm, the students were gathered together. A strange excitement filled the air- half curiosity, half anticipation.
Jun Li stood in front of them, hands behind his back, a smile that didn't feel entirely… normal.
"The rules are simple," he began.
His voice echoed slightly, though there was no reason for it to.
"This game… will be conducted at night."
A few students exchanged glances.
"First: pairs will be decided randomly. You will pick a slip."
"Second: you will enter the forest. There may be… obstacles."
He chuckled.
Not loudly.
But enough to make a few people uncomfortable.
"Third: you must find five clues hidden within."
"And finally, whoever collects them all and places them at the center of the forest first… will receive the key… to open the chest of mystery."
He paused.
Then smiled wider.
"Now… let's head to the battlefield."
Alex immediately stepped forward, pumped with excitement
"I'm fired up! Let's do this, sir!"
Jun Li threw an arm around his shoulder dramatically
"That's my boy!"
Both of them looked up at the sky like warriors about to march into war.
Lu watched them, unimpressed
"…someone clearly has a favorite student."
The slips were passed around.
One by one, names were drawn.
And soon, the pairs were decided.
Lian with Zhan.
Alex with Kai.
Shaan with Tera.
Lu with Yue.
And the rest… well, no one really cared.
The game began.
The moment the signal was given, everyone rushed into the forest, footsteps crunching against dry leaves, voices fading as they disappeared into the darkness.
The forest at night was nothing like it was during the day.
It wasn't just darker.
It felt… alive.
Lu slowed his pace slightly, glancing at Yue beside him.
She was trembling.
Her steps uneven.
Her breathing shallow.
She's scared…
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly before speaking
"Hey… don't worry. The teachers wouldn't send us here if it wasn't safe."
He gave a small smile
"And even if something happens… I'll protect you."
For a moment-
Silence.
Then suddenly-
Yue started crying.
Lu froze.
*What did I do now…?*
"I- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"No…" she shook her head quickly, wiping her tears
"It's not because of you… I'm just… happy…"
Lu blinked.
That expression on her face…
It didn't match her usual emptiness.
For a second, she looked… alive.
Like someone who had just been saved from something invisible.
Lu smiled gently
"Then… should we go?"
She nodded, taking a breath
"Yeah."
Elsewhere-
Shaan was walking fast.
Too fast.
Get me out of here… God, please…
Beside him, Tera spoke casually
"So… you really don't know anything about Zhan?"
Shaan didn't even look at her
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… it feels like he's really close to Lu. Don't you think?"
Shaan smirked slightly
"You think so? I hope so."
Tera stopped walking.
Her expression hardened
"Why would you hope for something like that? My Zhan would never be with someone like Lu."
Shaan stopped too.
Turned.
And looked at her directly.
"Listen," his voice dropped, calm but sharp
"you might want to rethink that attitude."
A pause.
"Actually, no… don't. Just… stop talking."
And he walked ahead, leaving her behind, stunned.
Meanwhile-
Alex was trying his best not to lose his mind.
Kai walked beside him.
Silent.
Completely silent.
Alex glanced at him
"So… the forest is kinda scary, right?"
"Yeah."
That was it.
Alex stared ahead.
*That's all he's going to say…?*
He sighed internally
Lu said he's interesting… I think I got scammed.
Then suddenly-
Kai spoke again
"Lu talked about me?"
His voice was different.
Sharp.
Focused.
Alex blinked
"…yeah? He said you're interesting to talk to."
The next second-
Kai dropped to the ground.
Literally.
Alex jumped back
"BRO- ARE YOU OKAY?!"
Kai's voice came out shaky
"Did he… really say that…?"
Alex slowly took a step back
"…yeah…"
*Nope. I'm done.*
Far deeper into the forest-
Lian crouched down, picking something up
"I found one. It's a piece of paper, a smiley simbol...."
Zhan stood beside him, holding something metallic
"Same. A badge."
He looked ahead
"That means we only need one more."
Lian nodded
"Let's not waste time."
Their movements were efficient.
Quiet.
Focused.
Almost too perfect.
And back-
With Lu and Yue-
The forest had grown quieter.
Too quiet.
Even the wind had stopped.
Lu frowned slightly
"Hey… do you hear that-"
A rustle.
From the bushes.
Then-
A fox stepped out.
Its fur rough, eyes sharp, body tense.
It wasn't attacking.
But it wasn't harmless either.
Lu instinctively stepped forward slightly
Stay calm… she's already scared… I have to handle this-
But before he could move-
Yue moved first.
In an instant.
She was in front of him.
Her back to him.
Her arm stretched out, blocking his view.
Her stance steady.
Completely different from before.
She turned her head slightly toward him-
Her face calm.
Too calm.
"Stay behind me, Lu…"
Her voice trembled.
But not from fear.
From something else.
"I will protect you…"
A pause.
Her fingers curled slightly.
Her voice cracked-
"…I'm not going to be late this time."