Chapter 89
I finished unpacking the basics- my t–shirts, jeans, my toiletry bag, and tossed my clothes that I just took off into the hamper by the wall. I wrap a towel around my body. The room felt surprisingly cozy with soft beige walls, a small dresser, a mirror, and a queen size bed.
I grab a set of fresh clothes- a simple black top and fitted jeans, and lay them on my bed, freshen up with a splash of cold water to help wash off the bus ride sweat. I got ready quickly, combed out my hair, leaving it loose over my shoulders, then slipped on my sneakers.
“Aria!” Maya knocked as I was tying the last lace.
“Come in!”
The door slid open and she stepped in, already changed into a cropped hoodie and cargo pants. She flopped onto my bed with a groan.
“There really is no signal,” she complained, waving her phone. “This place is nice looking but no network? It’s a three.”
“I told you there would be no network, Mrs Hopkins said it too.”
“No, she said no Wi–Fi, and some of us know no Wi–Fi is different from no network.” She grumbled.
“It’s a nature reserve, Maya. The point is to experience nature,” I said, pulling a sweater from the drawer and tying it around my waist.
“At this point, I will say nature is overrated. I’d rather experience high–speed internet.”
Before I could respond, a loud microphone crackle burst from outside the window.
“ATTENTION STUDENTS,” Mrs. Hopkins‘ voice blasted. “PLEASE REPORT OUTSIDE FOR THE OFFICIAL TOUR. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.”
Maya clutched her chest. “Two minutes? She’s unhinged.”
I grabbed my now empty backpack and tossed in a few snacks in it. I grabbed my phone and room key. “Come on, she’ll scream again if we’re late.”
We stepped out into the living room area, passing Nora who was smoothing down her skirt nervously. She smiled nervously and hurried out. Maya grabbed a couple of bottled water and stuffed them into her backpack. Chloe came out of her room at the same time, hissed at us and walked out.
“Someone please let me humble her.” Maya muttered under her breath,
“Not today,” I whispered.
We made our way downstairs and outside into the clear area. Jamal was already there, leaning against a rock with his hands in his pockets. His face lit up when he saw us.
Chapter 89
“There you two are.”
“We had to change,” I smiled
“Have you got any network signal on your phone?.” Maya asked
“Nope, I expected that” he shrugged.
“If we survive this trip, I’m treating myself to ice cream.” Maya shuddered
Jamal grinned. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“So,” I asked, looking around, “did we miss any information? Where are they taking us first?”
He pointed toward the center of the clearing where Mr. Halden was gathering everyone. “Apparently there’s a big path loop they’re showing us. Something about safety zones and activity points.”
Maya frowned. “Why do we need safety zones? This place looks safe, I doubt there will be anything harmful, maybe snakes…”
Jamal shrugged. “Maybe they think some of us will get lost.”
“Yup definitely. Some might.” She muttered side–eyed Chloe, who was loudly complaining about the dirt on her shoes.
“Let her be, girl,” I chuckled under my breath.
“Alright everyone! Here is Mr Felix” Mr. Halden’s voice blast out through the speaker. “He’s going to help us out on our tour. Fall in behind me and no wandering off the trail.”
I adjusted the strap of my backpack as we joined the group.
“Silverwood Nature Reserve encompasses over five thousand acres of protected woodland,” Mr. Felix began, his voice taking on the practiced flow of a tour guide. “It’s one of the last old–growth forests in this part of the country. You’ll see flora and fauna here that exist nowhere else.”
We passed a cluster of strange, twisting fungi that glowed with a faint, eerie bioluminescence. “These are Fox- fire,” Mr. Felix explained. “A type of fungus. They are harmless.”
“Looks like something created from a fantasy science movie,” Jamal murmured from beside me, pulling his camera out to record it.
“Or a horror movie,” Maya countered.
“You’ll also notice the trees here grow taller than average.” Mr. Felix continued talking as he led us down a narrow path lined with moss–covered stones. “Some are over two hundred years old.”
Maya craned her neck up. “Two hundred? Damn… these trees have lived longer than my ancestors.”
“Probably wiser than you too,” Jamal teased.
15:15 Wed, Jan 14
Chapter 89
She elbowed him. “Watch it.”
:
Chloe gagged loudly from the middle of the group. “Ugh, why does it smell like… forest.”
“Because it’s a forest?” Liam replied to her.
“Oh, shut up nerd,” Chloe shot back.
“I’m thirsty” I whispered to Maya
“Hold on!” She passed me a bottle from her bag.
Mr. Felix stopped at a fork like path and turned to us. “This first trail leads to the stream. It takes about half an hour to walk. Along the path you’ll see-”
Suddenly, something snapped sharply in the trees to my right.
I froze as another sharp crack sounded again.
Jamal leaned forward, squinting. “Could be a branch falling.”
“Maybe,” I breath out
“Moving on,” Mr. Felix said, continuing down the trail.
“Up ahead is the North Point,” he said, gesturing to a wooden platform built around a massive tree. “Moving along this lane leads to a lake. The stream is also connected to the lake.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
