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Chapter 15.2
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Nyla thought she understood. She placed a comforting hand on Eason’s shoulder. “Then why are these still here, if you ended up hating it enough to quit?”
“Dad won’t let me take them down. He wants me to look at everything I threw away or something. So they stay.” Eason shrugged. Before, Nyla wouldn’t have noticed any nuance to Eason’s words, but now she knew him well enough to see the hard glint in his eyes.
He hates them being here. Edmond picked an excellent punishment.
Bringing his attention back to Nyla, he asked, “What do you need?”
Her mind preoccupied, it took Nyla several seconds to process what he said. “I don’t know what to pack,” she blurted out.
Eason blinked at her, and then his empty bag. “Okay,” he said slowly, “do you want my help? Or my mom’s?”
Nyla didn’t hesitate. “Your help. Your mom is nice, bu
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“Each team of three has received a holopad, correct?” the camp counselor asked. The students nodded. “It has been preloaded with a map of the grounds and your first clue. You all have received a different lead to begin with, so there’s no reason to try and follow another group – you’ll end up in the wrong spot. When you find an item, please do not bring it with you; instead, take a picture of it—no need to disturb anything out here. The first group that cycles back here is the winner, given that they’ve completed the rest of the scavenger hunt correctly. We’ll send a message to the pads when it’s time to come back. On the count of three, you’re off. One…two…three!”Sarah, who was holding the holopad, swiped up and the first clue projected into the air for all of them to read.I bloom only three days a yearSurprise! Today is number twoMy fuchsia pe
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“Do you think we won?” Sarah huffed as they rushed back to the chateau.“We have a good chance, thanks to Nyla,” Eason managed to cough out between breaths.Nyla slowed down when she saw how much they were struggling. “No, no, keep going,” Sarah directed, clutching a stitch in her side. “I want that extra credit! It’s enough to fix my C in history!”Nyla sped back up, making it back several minutes before the other two. She waited on the edges of the clearing for Mrs. Smith to notice her.“Are you done already?” Mrs. Smith asked, blinking confusedly at Nyla. She nodded, smiling.“Where’s the rest of your group?” her teacher snapped, looking over Nyla’s shoulder.“We’re here! We’re here!” Eason cried out, running up to them before collapsing in a wheezing heap on the ground. Sarah laid down next to him, exhausted.&ld
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When the news broke that Breanne was missing, there was a moment of silence before chaos erupted. The only two who didn’t jump up out of their seats were Breanne’s teammates. Instead, they shrunk down, then quietly got up and left the room. Nyla watched them go with what she thought was probably disgust rolling around her stomach.Meeting Eason’s worried gaze, Nyla said, “You know what I have to do, Eason.”“Yes,” his voice broke on the single word. Concern made his eyes bright.“Do what? Nyla?” questioned Sarah, looking between the two of them, not privy to their silent understanding.Nyla started towards Mrs. Smith, leaving Eason to explain the situation to Sarah. “What is it, Ms. Braun?” her teacher asked, her usual gruff voice tired and worried. The change unsettled Nyla and strengthened her resolve.“Let me help look,” Nyla said boldly. “The sun’s already
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Ten minutes later, she froze midstep. Something was different; some noise had been introduced that hadn’t been anyplace else. A deep, ragged breath cut through the night again. Starting carefully towards the sound, the faint scent of blood caught her attention. She started running again, estimating that she was several hundred yards from the place of the injured thing. Almost too late, she skidded to a halt in time to not fall into the gaping hole the ground became. Laying on her stomach to disperse her weight, she edged towards the opening. At the very bottom of the thirty-foot drop laid a crumpled, shaking form.“Breanne?” Nyla called down to the figure.She snapped her head up. “Nyla?” she croaked, her voice raw from screaming for help.“Hold on.” Standing up, Nyla edged closer to the edge, took a deep breath, and jumped down into the pit. She landed on all fours, a foot away from Breanne’s leg, which was juttin
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Breanne didn’t return to their room that night, leaving Sarah and Nyla alone. Nyla didn’t say much, and Sarah took her lead. Exiting their bedroom the next morning, they almost ran into Eason, who was waiting outside the door for them.“I’m pretty sure boys aren’t allowed over here,” huffed Sarah playfully. “Your room is on the complete opposite side of the building.”Eason grinned cheekily. “My daddy’s the Governor I can do what I want,” he said in an imitation of Mason so good they all burst into laughter. Linking arms so Nyla was in the middle, they began working their way outside. The hallways were wide enough that they didn’t have to move out of the way as they passed other students.“Ready to have some fun?” Sarah whooped, excited.“For the hike, yes. And then I’ll stay as far away from the water as possible.” Nyla shuddered at the thought of the cl
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Her eyes opened to blinding sunlight and Eason’s lips on hers. A bubbling in her throat forced her to push him off. She quickly rolled to her side, and vomited up the crystalline water. Eason’s hands were all over her, checking for injuries. Vaguely Nyla thought it felt nice, her mind still a hazy from her dip in the water.“Are you okay?” Eason asked fervently.Still fighting to get oxygen into her lungs, she could only nod. Eason fell onto the beach next to her, panting. Sarah crouched down next to Nyla and started stroking her hair away from her face. When Nyla felt like her raw lungs could manage it, she asked, “How did I get out?”“Eason got you.” Sarah’s hand paused. “I’ve never seen anyone swim like that before,” she added in a hush.Nyla turned her head to the side so she could see Eason. Apparently, he hadn’t bothered to take off his clothes when he went in after her as
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