EXT. WOODED CAMP AREA – DAY
The teachers force us out into the forest like it's a summer camp for broken kids. It's not.
We are greeted by a guy in a neon green vest who looks way too enthusiastic for someone surrounded by high schoolers with social anxiety.
ACTIVITY LEADER
"Let's start with a classic! MINEFIELD!"
REI(to Nokko)
"Hey you stupid IKEA angel, you can transform into bracelets, right? Can you do anything helpful?"
NOKKO
"If helpful means chaotic advantage, then yes. Always."
MINEFIELD GAME
Rules: One person is blindfolded. The others verbally guide them across a path full of cones, sticks, and metaphorical landmines (aka a bucket of slime and one raccoon we're not supposed to mention).
ROUND ONE – SHINO (BLINDFOLDED), REI GUIDING
REI
"Okay, step left. No, your other left."
SHINO(confused)
"Wait, my left or your left?"
REI
"Do you know what a direction is?"
SHINO
"I panicked."
She walks directly into a cone and screams like it stabbed her.
REI
"That's foam. Relax."
ROUND TWO – MONO (BLINDFOLDED), SHINO GUIDING
SHINO
"Go to your left... slightly..."
MONO(stepping into slime)
"I no longer trust anyone."
SHINO
"I said... slightly..."
REI(eating chips on the sideline)
"Mono's about to enter his villain arc because of this game."
NOKKO
"He already had one. This is Act II."
ROUND THREE – REI (BLINDFOLDED), MONO GUIDING
MONO
"Walk forward."
REI
"Okay."
MONO
"Now turn... around. And sprint."
REI
"That's just sending me into the forest."
MONO
"Yes."
REI
"…I respect the chaos."
AFTERNOON – TRUST FALL ACTIVITY
They set up a wooden platform. One by one, we climb up and fall backwards. Classic trust exercise.
REI goes first. Shino and Mono catch him. Barely.
REI(grinning)
"I don't feel safe, but I feel… caught. Emotionally."
SHINO
"I'm too small for this."
MONO
"I did not consent to physical exertion."
NEXT: SHINO'S TURN
She climbs up. Looks terrified. Falls like a stiff mannequin.
MONO
"I GOT HER—OH GOD SHE'S HEAVY—"
They both collapse into the grass. Mono groans like a dying microwave.
SHINO(on the ground)
"I... don't feel my spine..."
LAST: MONO'S TURN
MONO(at the top)
"If you drop me, I will haunt your descendants."
REI
"Just jump, final boss."
Mono falls back. It's elegant. Graceful. Like a swan. Or a chandelier collapsing in slow motion.
They catch him. Kind of. Shino's knees buckle.
SHINO
"MY BONES—"
NOKKO
"This is the most beautiful disaster I've ever seen."
LATER – TENT CAMP AREA, MIDNIGHT
Everyone's asleep. The fire's low.
Rei stirs, glancing around.
Mono is... missing.
Rei stands. Creeps past the others.
He spots movement in the woods.
Branches shift. A glow flickers.
Mono stands alone. Back facing Rei. Speaking into a strange device.
In a completely different language.
REI
"…Mono?"
Mono's neck twists downward. Quickly turns.
That wide, chilling smile spreads across his face.
MONO(deep voice, menacing)
"What are you doing here?"
END OF CHAPTER 7