The forest stretched endlessly ahead, but within the group that remained, time seemed to slow—pulled thin by fear, exhaustion, and words left unsaid.
Briony walked beside Fletcher in silence for a long while, her white hair brushing her shoulders, emerald eyes fixed on the uneven ground. Finally, she broke.
"You always look like you're carrying something," she said quietly.
Fletcher glanced at her. "That obvious?"
"Yes," she replied. "And you're bad at pretending otherwise."
He exhaled, a tired half-smile tugging at his lips. "I'm not good with… people. Especially ones who already hate me."
"I don't hate you," Briony snapped, then immediately softened. "I mean— I thought I did. But hatred doesn't make your chest feel tight like this."
Fletcher stopped walking. "Then why are you still angry at me?"
Briony hesitated. Her fingers clenched in the fabric of her sleeve.
"Because you make me feel things I don't understand. And I don't like losing control."
He studied her carefully, not teasing, not smirking—just listening.
"For what it's worth," Fletcher said slowly, "I never meant to cross your boundaries. Not then. Not ever."
Briony swallowed. "I know that now."
Their eyes met, something fragile settling between them—unfinished, uncertain, but real.
A few paces ahead, Malik walked with Darren and Estrella. Malik's expression was distant, reflective.
"Hunter wasn't always like this," Malik said quietly. "Back in junior years… we were close. Brothers, almost."
Darren frowned. "What changed?"
"I left Ashfall," Malik replied. "Family issues. When I came back… it was like someone hollowed him out and filled the space with anger."
Estrella crossed her arms. "Power does that to people who don't know who they are."
Malik nodded grimly. "He used to protect people. Now he just dominates them."
Behind them, Ji Ace walked with Naledi and Eli. The mood was lighter—but sharp-edged.
"You two are painfully obvious," Ji Ace said flatly.
Naledi scoffed. "About what?"
"Please," Ji Ace continued. "The lingering looks. The 'accidental' touches. You're one confession away from being unbearable."
Eli grinned. "Hear that? Even a global superstar ships us."
Sienna casually walked behind them not uttering a single word
Naledi pushed him lightly. "Don't flatter yourself."
Ji Ace tilted her head. "Then why don't you move away from him?"
Naledi didn't answer.
Eli smirked, then glanced sideways at Ji Ace. "Funny. You talk big, but you're awfully quiet about Fletcher."
Ji Ace stopped walking.
"Are you jealous," Eli pressed, "of Briony talking to him?"
Ji Ace looked ahead, her expression unreadable. "Jealousy is a luxury. We don't have time for it."
Before Eli could reply—
The forest changed.
They stepped into a clearing unlike anything they had seen.
The trees curved inward unnaturally, their trunks pale and smooth, branches heavy with golden, apple-like fruits that hung at perfect human height—too perfect. The air smelled sweet, intoxicating. Warm light filtered through the canopy, illuminating moss that glowed faintly beneath their feet.
"Woah…" someone whispered.
"Food," another breathed. "Real food."
Students rushed forward.
"Wait!" Fletcher shouted sharply. "Don't touch anything!"
Too late.
Three students had already plucked the fruit, biting into the flesh eagerly.
"Relax," one scoffed, chewing. "If it was poisonous, we'd—"
Seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
They laughed.
"See? Paranoid."
Darren frowned but looked to Malik. "It might be safe…"
Before Malik could respond—
The three students froze.
Their bodies stiffened violently. Eyes rolled back. They collapsed, convulsing, foam forming at their mouths.
"Help them!" someone screamed.
Malik knelt, fingers searching desperately. His face went pale.
"No pulse," he whispered. "They're—"
The bodies vibrated.
Then they sat upright.
Eyes white. Skin drained. One lunged sideways—biting into another student's neck.
Blood sprayed across Estrella's face.
She screamed.
"ZOMBIE FRUIT!" Estrella shouted, backing away in horror. "I've heard rumors—myths—"
"The forest is weaponizing us," Malik yelled.
Chaos erupted.
Four rabid students sprinted unnaturally fast toward the others.
"Form up!" Darren roared.
Eli, Ji Ace, Fletcher, and Darren stepped forward, weapons raised.
Fletcher moved first.
Sliding across the mossy ground, he drove his sharpened spear cleanly into a rabid student's throat.
Blood poured.
"Kill or be killed!" Fletcher shouted, voice breaking.
Others followed—crying, screaming, striking their former classmates with trembling hands.
This wasn't survival anymore.
It was slaughter.
Meanwhile Somewhere Deep In The Forest
Far from the orchard, Camila walked beside Hunter, breath shallow.
"We need to go back," she pleaded. "Splitting was a mistake."
Hunter stopped abruptly. "One more word, and you walk back alone."
The forest went quiet.
Not the natural quiet of birds resting or wind easing through leaves—but a wrong quiet, heavy and watchful, as if the trees themselves had leaned closer.
Hunter raised a fist.
Everyone stopped.
Fresh tracks cut through the mud—deep, wide impressions that sank far too low into the earth.
His jaw tightened.
Too big.
The undergrowth ahead shifted.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Camila's breath caught. Hunter moved without thinking, stepping in front of her, one arm stretched back to keep her behind him. The others mirrored the motion, tightening their grip on crude weapons—sticks reinforced with metal, stones clenched in shaking hands.
A low sound rolled through the bushes.
Not a roar.
A grunt.
Wet. Thick. Alive.
Someone whispered, "Don't move…"
The bushes burst open—
A hare sprang out, bounding wildly across the clearing.
For half a second, laughter broke the tension—sharp, hysterical relief spilling out like air from punctured lungs.
One boy near the bushes scoffed, turning back with a crooked grin.
"See? Just paranoia—"
The ground rose behind him.
Not stepped.
Rose.
The bear unfolded from the foliage like a nightmare waking up.
It stood taller than any of them—massive, shoulders rippling with raw power, fur matted and dark, breath steaming in thick clouds. Its eyes were small, black, and empty—reflecting nothing human.
Time slowed.
The boy didn't even finish turning around.
The bear moved once.
There was a blur of muscle, a violent snap—
The body collapsed.
Headless.
Blood soaked the leaves in a single, awful splash.
For one frozen heartbeat, no one screamed.
Hunter's mouth opened—but no sound came.
Then the bear roared.
The sound tore through the forest like thunder, shaking branches, rattling bones, flooding every nerve with raw terror.
"RUN!" someone finally screamed.
They scattered.
Camila stumbled, Hunter grabbing her wrist and yanking her forward just as the ground behind them cracked beneath the bear's charge. Trees splintered as its bulk tore through the undergrowth, unstoppable, furious.
A student tripped.
The bear swiped—claws ripping through bark where the body had been a second earlier.
Screams echoed. Footsteps pounded. Breath burned.
Hunter glanced back once—just once.
The bear stood in the clearing again, chest heaving, blood staining its jaws.
Watching.
Not chasing.
As if deciding who would be next.
The forest swallowed the students whole as they ran—branches clawing at skin, roots grabbing ankles, panic drowning thought.
Behind them, the bear roared again.
And the mountain answered.
....