The bus rattled violently as it swerved.
"Is that a tree? … Watch out!" Malik shouted from the back.
The driver jerked the wheel, tires screeching. The world tilted—bags flew, bodies lurched—until the bus slammed half-sideways into the brush. One side buried in leaves and branches, the other still clinging to the edge of the cracked road.
A stunned silence. Then—
"Tch… damn road's blocked…" Hunter growled, holding his head, jaw tight with irritation as he tried to regain balance.
"Everyone stay calm!" O. Darren barked, already moving aisle to aisle, checking on students.
"Oh—my nose!" Camila gasped as blood trickled from her nostrils. Naledi and Sienna rushed to her side.
"Stay calm, okay? Breathe," Naledi soothed, though her voice shook.
Darren knelt. "Camila, look at me. You're good. It's just a small bleed."
Across the bus, Fletcher had his arm around Ji Ace, shielding her from the impact. "You good?" he asked softly.
Ace blinked up at him, cheeks flushed. "Uhm… thanks. For… that." Her voice was small but warm.
Meanwhile, Eli steadied Briony, whose white hair stood out like a pale flame against the chaos. She trembled, emerald eyes wide.
Miss Verena stood at the front, her expression perfectly unshaken. "Everyone. The driver informed me we'll need to walk from here. Let's exit in order."
The driver repeated, "Backup is on the way. I'll return for you all in four hours."
•••
Outside, students stretched, steadied themselves, and gathered their scattered belongings.
The driver turned the bus around to leave.
"Wow," Eli muttered, watching him go. "Our driver has a cool dragon tattoo on his arm. Didn't notice that before."
Ji Ace froze instantly. Her hand tightened around Fletcher's sleeve—not grabbing, just tapping lightly with her thumb and second finger, a sign Fletcher now recognized as distress.
"It's part of her plan…" Ace whispered.
Fletcher leaned down. "Whose plan?"
"Verena's."
Briony stiffened. "uh? What plan?"
"To kill us," Ji Ace murmured.
Before anyone could respond, Miss Verena clapped her hands lightly.
"Alright, students. Let's begin our journey."
Students cheered, some nervous but excited.
They entered the forest.
---
The trees thickened around them, towering like silent watchers. Light filtered through the canopy in slanted beams.
Verena walked ahead, an eerie calm in every step.
"Since the forest detour gives us extra time," she said cheerfully, "let's review ecosystems. Who can give me an example?"
Malik raised a hand immediately. "A forest ecosystem—like this one. Multiple organisms living and interacting in a shared environment."
"Good," Verena said with a soft smile. "And in every ecosystem, there are predators… prey… cycles… balance." Her eyes glimmered strangely. "When one dominant force enters, everything adjusts. Adapts. Or dies."
Hunter narrowed his eyes. "That's… a weird way to put it."
She ignored him. "Sometimes an outsider infiltrates an ecosystem. It blends in. Learns its weaknesses. And when the time is right—" she inhaled deeply "—the entire system collapses with one push."
Ji Ace shook violently. "She's talking about me. About what happened before—"
Fletcher stepped closer to her. "Ace… you're shaking."
"It's her," Ace breathed. "She's already started."
Verena stepped ahead of the group and turned to face them. "Now then, everyone. A short demonstration."
Her hand slipped behind her jacket.
Hunter stepped forward. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Hunter," O. Darren warned, "don't—"
Verena snapped her fingers.
A faint hiss filled the air.
A strange smell drifted.
Students blinked in confusion.
"What's… that?" Briony whispered.
Verena pulled out a small gas mask and slid it over her face with chilling grace.
"You—!" Hunter lunged.
Verena sidestepped and slammed her elbow into his ribs. He collapsed instantly with a grunt.
Students screamed.
Darren rushed her. "Drop it! Now!"
Eli joined him, grabbing Verena's arm as she tried to move.
Ji Ace, adrenaline exploding, pulled a small concealed blade from her clothes and darted in with terrifying speed.
"She's mine!" Ace snapped.
Verena twisted, her eyes widening. "You brought a knife? Tch—just like your father."
She kicked out at Ace—missed—and her heel slipped on loose gravel at the slope's edge.
Verena stumbled backward.
She grabbed the nearest thing—
Ji Ace.
"ACE!" Fletcher shouted.
Verena's weight dragged Ace forward, both tipping over the edge—
Fletcher lunged, catching Ace's wrist just in time.
Verena's hand slipped from Ace's sleeve.
Her body rolled down the slope, hitting rock after rock before vanishing into the foggy forest below.
Silence.
Only the hiss of the gas lingered.
"Everyone—hold your breaths—!" Darren yelled.
But it was too late.
Students swayed.
Briony's lashes fluttered.
Naledi grabbed Sienna's hand. "Stay awake—stay—"
Camila dropped first, collapsing into Naledi's arms before Naledi fell too.
Hunter groaned, trying to stand but failing.
Malik staggered, blinking rapidly. "Darren… I… can't—"
One by one, they fell.
Fletcher held Ace tightly. "Stay with me—Ace—hey—hey—look at me—"
Her fingers slipped from his.
She collapsed.
Fletcher choked, trying to pull her into his arms—
Then everything went black for him too.
The forest grew silent.
Unnaturally silent.
---