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Chapter 16.1
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“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 year
Surprise! Today is number two
My 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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The next morning Nyla rose in a haze. She hadn’t gotten any sleep, memories of Eason holding her tight interrupting any peace she might have found.“Are you okay?” Breanne asked as Nyla tried to put her shoe on the wrong foot for the fourth time.“Yea,” mumbled Nyla, trying her hardest to finish getting dressed.Coyly Sarah asked, “Does this have anything to do with the walk you took with Eason last night?”Nyla dropped the shoe completely. “I knew it!” squealed Sarah and Breanne, exchanging excited looks.Playing dumb, Nyla asked, “Knew what?”“Well, Eason has been head over heels for you for as long as I’ve been friends with you,” Sarah informed her, doing a little jig out of happiness. “I thought he would never tell you!”“And I suspected he liked you, he was always around,” Breanne added. “Sarah filled me in with the r
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She went in at the shallow end, stepping down the stairs carefully until she stood in the water, which only reached her stomach. Ripples started emanating from her, and she realized she was shaking so much she moving the water.Strong arms wrapped around her, and Eason turned her, so she was against his chest. “It’s okay, Nyla, I’m right here,” he whispered into her ear. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” They stood there with Nyla clutching onto Eason until her shaking receded. Once still, Eason kissed her forehead and let her go.Almost simultaneously, the door to the pool house opened, and Mason stepped inside, her permanent scowl in place.“Why are you here?” snapped Eason a little too harshly, hastily backing away from Nyla.Mason paused and raised an eyebrow. “Can’t I enjoy the show? This is going to be hilarious.”Eason stared at her mutinously. “Fine. I can't m
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The door opening behind her altered Nyla to another person’s presence on the patio. The weather was so lovely, one of the few days of transition between the too cold of winter and the too hot of summer, she had moved to one of the tables outdoors to study. From the stomping of the feet, Nyla knew it was Mason approaching her, and inwardly she sighed. She didn’t want to deal with the girl right now. She just wanted to finish her history reading.“I see my brother’s not hanging onto you. Did you finally scare him off, or did he just come to the conclusion you aren’t worth it?” Mason sneered, stopping next to Nyla.Carefully, Nyla marked her page in her holopad. Turning to Mason, anger sparked in Nyla’s chest. It was unfair she had to be subject to this type of attitude in her own home. Unable to control her anger at the injustice of the situation, Nyla snapped, “What’s your problem, Mason? What did I ever do to you? I
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The days in the James’ household fell into a pattern. Every morning she rose later than she ever had been allowed to before. She then traipsed downstairs to have a light breakfast with Madame James, who was delighted to have a young woman in the house after having raised only boys. The rest of her day was spent reading or exploring the mansion, which was old enough to have hidden rooms long forgotten. This morning Nyla rose the latest she had yet and headed downstairs still in her pajamas. Yawning, she entered the family dining room only to find two guests sitting with Madame James. “Sarah! Breanne!” The girls leaped up, squealing, and attacked Nyla with affection. They each squeezed Nyla tight enough to make her ribs crack. “Nyla!” Gazing over their heads, Nyla found Madame James smiling serenely while sipping on her tea. “What’s going on?” Nyla choked out. Sarah and Breanne let her go and backed up a step. “I was about to send someone up to wake you
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“Oh.” Eason turned round eyes to Nyla.“I’ve had excessive training on obstacle courses. I find them quite easy. But it’s been quite some time since I’ve practiced. Who knows how long it’ll take me,” lied Nyla. She walked over and stood before the peg wall, grabbing a peg in each hand. All she had to do was pull herself up the wall by placing a peg in one of the many holes going up, again and again, until she reached the top.Taking the peg in her right hand, she reached up and placed it in the highest hole she could reach. She followed with her left and then pulled herself up using just her arms. She froze with her feet off the ground, she counted to ten before removing the right peg and reaching up again, placing it in a higher hole. After counting to seven, she did the same with her left hand. Once both pegs were secure, she pulled herself up again. Repeating the pattern, Nyla inched her way up the wall, counting in be
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