Chapter 35

Lira stumbled into the shelter, her legs swollen and her clothes dirtied from the frantic run. She barely registered the curious glances from other students and staff as she limped toward the nearest teacher. Her breaths were heavy, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she forced herself to speak.

"Sir! My teammate… he's in danger!" she gasped, clutching her side.

The teacher, a tall man with stern features and sharp eyes, immediately straightened. "Calm down, child. Who are you talking about?"

"Kaden! He's still out there, being chased by beasts. Please, you need to help him!" she said, desperation lacing her words.

The teacher's expression turned grave. "Do you know his exact location?"

Lira shook her head frantically. "No, but… he has the tracking device we were given. It's for Group 103. You can find him with that!"

The teacher wasted no time, pulling out a handheld device and inputting the group number. Within seconds, a blinking dot appeared on the screen, marking Kaden's location. He studied it for a moment before his expression softened slightly.

"You don't need to worry," the teacher said, his tone reassuring. "The GPS shows that a teacher is already with him. He will be absolutely safe."

Relief washed over Lira like a tidal wave. Her legs nearly buckled, and she leaned against the wall for support. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. But just as she felt the tension in her body start to ease, a thought struck her like a bolt of lightning.

"Wait!" she said suddenly, her eyes wide. "My other teammate, Jace! He's still out there too, not far from here. He… he lost his energy and couldn't move. You have to help him!"

The teacher's brow furrowed. "Where exactly is he?"

Lira quickly reached for the map tucked into her pocket, her fingers trembling as she unfolded it. Pointing to a spot just a short distance from the shelter, she said, "Here. He should be around here."

The teacher studied the map for a moment before nodding. "Alright. I'll go find him. You—get those legs of yours checked out. There's no point in pushing yourself any further."

Lira hesitated, her eyes filled with worry, but the teacher's firm gaze left no room for argument. "Yes, sir," she said quietly, stepping back as he strode toward the exit.

As the teacher left to search for Jace, Lira leaned heavily against the wall, her mind racing. The relief of knowing Kaden was safe was quickly replaced by a new wave of concern for Jace. She closed her eyes, silently praying that they would all make it through the day. The sound of her own ragged breathing filled her ears as she pushed herself toward the medical station, hoping against hope that the worst was finally over.

Jace was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling in shallow gasps. Sweat ran down his forehead, stinging his eyes, as he leaned weakly against the rough bark of a tree. His normally sharp blue eyes were now clouded with exhaustion and fear, his face pale under the pressure of the chase. He glanced around nervously, the sounds of his footsteps echoing in his mind as if every rustle of the wind, every crack of a branch, was a threat. His hands trembled, and his legs felt like they might give way at any moment.

He wiped the sweat off his brow, trying to steady his breath, but the oppressive silence of the forest seemed to press in on him. Then, a low growl echoed through the trees, deep and menacing.

Jace's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened in horror. He froze, his body tense with the realization. The beast had found him.

Panic surged through him, but his legs refused to move. He had been running for so long, desperately trying to escape, but now, the creature was here—closer than ever, its presence like a shadow looming over him. His body refused to obey, and all he could do was stare as the beast stepped into view. Its eyes gleamed with hunger, its massive form towering over him.

Jace's breath quickened, but it was too late. The chase was over.

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading! You're officially my favorite people—no refunds, sorry! 😄

But seriously, your support means the world. If you enjoyed this chapter (or if I made you cringe with my cliffhangers), drop a comment and let me know! Your motivation keeps me going—because without you, I'd just be a person yelling at a screen.

Also, if you have any wild ideas for the story or think I should throw in a twist that no one sees coming, don't be shy! I'm all ears. Let's create something epic together!

And yes, I wrote the Author's Note to increase the number of words in the chapter.