Chapter 7

The thick jungle buzzed with life as Mikayla moved carefully through the dense foliage, her senses heightened after a week of survival alone. When she caught a glimpse of movement ahead, she ducked behind a tree, her breath catching as she recognized familiar faces: Ryu, Marielle, and... Nazuyami. Her blood ran cold.

Mikayla stepped forward from her hiding place, hesitating only a second before calling out. "Ryu! Marielle!"

Both turned, surprised, but it was Ryu who stepped forward, relief evident in his eyes. "Mikayla! You're alive-"

But Mikayla's eyes were locked on Nazuyami, who managed to keep her expression neutral, almost innocent, a slight smile on her face. "I wouldn't call it living when you're around her," Mikayla snapped, glaring at Nazuyami.

Ryu blinked, taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"She killed Jennifer. She's not who she pretends to be!" Mikayla's voice was tight with anger, a hint of desperation creeping in.

Nazuyami's face softened, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "Mikayla, I don't know what happened to Jennifer, but I swear I had nothing to do with it."

Ryu looked between the two of them, conflicted. "Mikayla... it's been chaos. People are desperate. Are you sure it was her?"

"Yes! She tricked Jennifer and me... I was nearly next. She's manipulating you." Mikayla's gaze never wavered from Nazuyami, who was giving Ryu a pleading look, tears brimming in her eyes.

Marielle put a gentle hand on Ryu's arm, her face full of concern. "Maybe we should just take it slow. We don't know what happened."

Mikayla's frustration grew as she saw her friends wavering. She wanted to scream, but a deep pit in her stomach told her that Nazuyami was already winning them over.

-----

As they moved through the jungle, Ryu tried to ease the tension in the group, but Nazuyami didn't miss a beat. When Mikayla wasn't looking, she leaned close to Ryu, her voice barely a whisper.

"I know she's afraid, Ryu. We all are. But... sometimes people see things that aren't there when they're in survival mode."

Ryu frowned, glancing at Mikayla, who was scanning the trees nervously. "Maybe. But she was always... level-headed."

Nazuyami placed a gentle hand on his arm. "I don't want her to feel threatened. I'll keep my distance if that helps. Just... don't let her turn this into something it's not."

Ryu nodded slowly, his face softening with sympathy as he watched her. Marielle was watching as well, clearly affected by Nazuyami's act. Mikayla saw the glances, the subtle trust that Nazuyami was sewing among her friends, and her heart sank.

---

Meanwhile, Yuki, Asahi, and Rainne navigated the forest cautiously, still reeling from the recent announcement. They needed more gems to survive, and their options were running thin. Just as they reached a small clearing, they heard rustling. All three crouched low, eyes darting in all directions.

Out stepped Mikayla, alone and visibly distressed. Her relief at seeing them was clear as she almost stumbled toward them. "Thank god... I thought I'd be alone forever."

Yuki remained cautious, his gaze assessing. "You're alone?"

"Yes. But... there's something I need to tell you." Her voice shook, and she seemed both exhausted and frantic.

Asahi stepped closer, curious. "What happened?"

Mikayla took a deep breath, gathering herself. "Nazuyami... she's with Ryu and Marielle. She's manipulating them, and I know she's responsible for Jennifer's death. But they won't believe me."

Rainne, frowning, gave Yuki a look that communicated unspoken agreement. "Sounds like someone we need to keep an eye on."

"Definitely," Yuki replied.

---

Elsewhere, Yuri and Axel prowled through the dense jungle, tracking a lone student who had unwittingly revealed himself earlier. He was a small, wiry boy, clutching a handful of gems-two he'd collected from others and one his own. Yuri's eyes glinted at the sight of him.

Axel smirked, his steps light and deceptively casual. "Looks like we've found our jackpot."

The boy stumbled backward, holding up his hand in surrender. "Wait! Don't kill me. I-I have information. Valuable information. You'd be throwing away an opportunity if you killed me."

Yuri raised an eyebrow, feigning interest. "Oh? Let's hear it, then."

Desperately, the boy, Jeibi spoke quickly, "There's a group of students further east. Crystal, the one leading them, has managed to collect four gems. If you spare me, I can lead you to them. We can all... work together. She's with Takuto and his gang so you'll be outnumbered. Each of them atleast has two gems as well"

Yuri's cold gaze didn't waver, though there was a slight gleam of intrigue in his eyes. "Four gems, you say?"

Jeibi nodded fervently, trying to contain his fear. "Yes! It's real, I swear. If we can take them down, we'll each have enough gems to make it through the next phase."

"Ehhhh- aren't you also part of Takuto's gang? You're his little errand boy" Axel then said.

"That's right, b-b-but I don't have any attachments to them, as you said they treat me as an errand boy and even sent me alone to scout even though it's dangerous" Jeibi nervously responded. "If 7 gem is needed to survive, only 5 of us will win. There's already 4 of them, with Crystal that makes their group 5, I already know their probably get it rid of me when it comes down to it" He added.

Axel gave Yuri a sidelong glance, his grin widening with anticipation. But Yuri only smirked, his tone chillingly calm. "Well, thank you for the information."

Jeibi barely had time to process the words before Yuri lunged, swift and deadly. With ruthless efficiency, Yuri left the boy lifeless in the brush, his grip tightening around the gems in his hand.

"Four gems..." he mused, turning to Axel with a gleam of satisfaction. "I think we have a new target."

-----

Yuki and company sat around a small, carefully concealed fire. Shadows danced across their faces as they stared at the flames, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The silence hung heavy in the air, thick with tension and unspoken fears.

Yuki spoke first, his calm voice breaking the quiet. "We need gems. But the question is... how far are we willing to go to get them?"

Asahi leaned back, running a hand through his hair with a sigh. "I'd rather not hurt anyone else if we don't have to. But if it's our survival on the line..."

Rainne's face paled, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. "I can't just... go after people. They were our classmates. We all came here together." Her voice trembled, her eyes shining with fear and something close to desperation.

Mikayla's expression was resolute, her gaze steely. "I understand how you feel, but I'm not going to let Nazuyami get away with what she's done. She's dangerous. If we don't stop her, who knows what she'll do next?"

Rainne looked down, visibly shaken. "Maybe there's another way. Maybe we can trade or... find a solution that doesn't involve... killing." Her voice was barely a whisper, and she seemed to shrink into herself, clearly struggling with the reality of their situation.

Yuki watched them both, his face a mask of calm despite the inner turmoil. "I don't want to lose any of you. But if we're going to survive, we need to make a plan. One that lets us hold onto who we are. And if we encounter anyone else... we take it from there. Only as a last resort."

He turned his gaze to Mikayla, sensing her determination. "But if we run into Nazuyami, I know you'll be ready."

Mikayla gave a grim nod. "I don't know if I can forgive her for what she's done. She has to be stopped."

---

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, the night was thick with shadows as Nazuyami took her place on watch duty, her eyes gleaming in the dim moonlight. Ryu, Marielle, and Angel were sound asleep nearby, or so she thought. As her gaze lingered on Ryu, her mind worked quickly. Ryu's physical strength made him a threat to her control over the group. If she could eliminate him, the two girls would be far easier to manage.

Silently, she moved closer, her steps calculated, careful not to disturb even the smallest twig. She reached out a hand, aiming for his neck where her fingers could press and-

Ryu's eyes snapped open, startling her. He blinked up at her, confused but still calm. "Nazuyami? What are you doing?"

In an instant, her expression softened, her eyes wide with a feigned innocence. "Oh... I'm sorry, Ryu. I thought I saw something out here. Wanted to make sure you were safe."

Ryu sat up, stretching his arms with a yawn. "You're taking watch duty seriously. That's... good." His voice was drowsy, clearly not suspecting her motives, but there was something wary in his eyes.

"Of course," she replied, her smile sickeningly sweet. "We all need to watch out for each other, after all."

But as she turned away, something caught her eye. Marielle, resting nearby, with an almost ethereal glow around her, her form perfectly blending into the shadows. Nazuyami's breath hitched, realizing that Marielle's seemingly invisible presence had been there all along.

Marielle's eyes opened, a knowing look in her gaze, and for a second, Nazuyami felt her blood run cold. Marielle had seen everything.

Nazuyami managed to regain her composure, forcing herself to remain calm. She couldn't afford to raise suspicions further she needed to blend in, play the part of a frightened girl just trying to survive. Clearing her throat, she brushed an imaginary speck of dirt from her clothes, pretending not to notice Marielle's gaze still locked on her.

"Guess I'm a bit jumpy tonight," Nazuyami said lightly, trying to add a casual laugh to the end. She met Marielle's eyes with what she hoped looked like genuine innocence. "I thought I saw something... probably just nerves getting the best of me."

Marielle watched her closely, her expression revealing a hint of doubt. Though kindhearted and sometimes a little too trusting, Marielle wasn't oblivious. Something about Nazuyami's actions felt off, and the more she thought about it, the more a seed of suspicion started to grow.

Nazuyami could sense Marielle's skepticism. Her mind raced, quickly analyzing her options. If she wanted to keep control of this group, she had to act fast-find a way to reinforce her position and eliminate any doubts, especially if she wanted to avoid a direct confrontation with Ryu's ironclad strength.

"Marielle," Nazuyami said softly, leaning forward to look her in the eyes, "you know we're all scared. I'm... I'm just grateful to have you and Ryu. I don't know what I'd do if I was out here alone."

Marielle gave a hesitant nod, but her eyes remained guarded. "Of course, Nazuyami. We're in this together. But..." She paused, searching for the right words. "Let's just be honest with each other. I don't want any... surprises."

Nazuyami forced a tight-lipped smile, knowing that she had narrowly escaped Marielle's suspicions at least for now. But one thing was clear: Marielle wasn't as naive as she seemed. Nazuyami's window of opportunity was closing, and if she wanted to carry out her plans, she would have to move soon.

------

[Died - 21]

[Remaining Students -19]

Gem Collected Dashboard

Yuri - 6 (↑)

Unknown - 4

Axel - 4 (↑)

Nazuyami - 3

Unknown - 2

Unknown - 2

J̶e̶i̶b̶i̶ - 0 (-2)