Clang!
A series of cans rattled violently in the distance.
One of Finch’s alarm lines.
Soraya’s head snapped up.
The forest had gone still.
Another rattle followed.
Closer.
Soone was approaching.
Soraya sprang to her feet.
Although scattered around the area, the rest of 11-D heard the alarms at that sa mont.
They stiffened.
It could be Yesu.
But the ti was already four o’clock.
So it could as well be 12-B. Coming to claim the Vault.
Soraya swiftly scanned the area, squinting to see past the thick vegetation.
The rattling had stopped.
That made her even more alard.
Pale blue light gathered beside her arm before hardening into a sharp angular elental construct.
Her stance was ready.
She waited.
A few of her squad mbers burst from the bushes behind her.
Their gaze trailed forward to where Soraya was staring at.
The shrubs there shook slightly.
Everyone straightened, preparing themselves for the incoming encounter.
Flas were already forming.
Rocks were already elevating from the ground.
Hands stretched out.
Eyes already narrowed.
The noise was getting closer.
More squad mbers had arrived. Ready to attack.
So were already advancing.
Jas tilted an ear in the direction.
Footsteps.
Not at all hurried.
Heartbeat...
Faint.
Too faint but steady.
He knew that strange heart rate.
"Wait!" He shouted before soone could hurl flas in the direction.
Everyone paused.
The person erged from the bushes.
Yesu.
"Hey guys." She greeted casually.
The reaction was imdiate.
Relief washed through the squad. Weapons lowered. Tension eased.
Several students let out breaths they hadn’t realized they were holding.
Soraya stared.
Isaiah was the first to recover.
"Where have you been?!" he shouted. "And why did you leave?"
"Yeah." Carrots folded her arms. "We’ve been searching for you forever. You caused a whole commotion."
Yesu giggled.
"Were you worried about ?"
Carrots snorted.
"You wish."
Isaiah stepped forward.
"Do you still have the Scales?"
That earned another giggle.
"Of course." Yesu said. "Do you have so little faith in ?"
Soraya frowned.
Her gaze sharpened.
She had never seen Yesu giggle before. Definitely not in the short ti she had known her.
Yesu wasn’t the giggling type.
Almost instinctively, Soraya searched the crowd.
She found Finch.
He was already staring at Yesu.
Eyes narrowed.
He seed to be concentrating on sothing innate.
"What are you doing standing there?" Carrots hollered. "Bring the Scales. After that you can go wherever the hell you want."
Yesu hesitated where she stood. She looked around her feet.
Then laughed awkwardly.
"Actually, I can’t co any closer."
The squad blinked.
"I forgot where Reggie’s trip wires are." She scratched the back of her head. "I don’t want to trigger the traps before 12-B gets here."
She smiled.
"Can soone point them out?"
Reggie groaned. "Are you actually that dumb?"
He started walking toward her.
"Stop."
Soraya’s voice cut across the clearing. She was back in leader mode.
Reggie halted.
"What now?" He asked impatiently.
Soraya never looked away from Yesu.
"Wait."
"Why?"
Her reply was imdiate.
"Because I said so."
Sothing snapped. Reggie rounded on her.
"I don’t get it. Who exactly do you think you are?"
The clearing went still.
"Seriously." Reggie continued. "What makes you think you can keep bossing everyone around?"
His voice rose.
"Is it because you’re Prefect?"
Soraya’s jaw tightened.
Reggie took a few steps closer.
"Listen, I’ve been tolerating your bullshit all day. And I’ve had it."
Carrots glanced at Farida, looked at her from head to toe in surprise.
"Hey princess," she said. "Your boyfriend’s going nuts again on our Prefect."
Farida grew red.
Carrots went on as usual.
"Aren’t you going to stop this?" she asked in amusent. "Or are you waiting to see who throws the first punch?"
Farida let out a breath, willing herself to be calm.
She folded her arms.
"Reggie’s making a point. Soraya’s being a bit unreasonable."
More voices joined in.
"A bit unreasonable? Impossible is the right word."
"Yeah."
"What’s the matter Soraya? Why are you stopping him?"
"It’s just Yesu."
"What’s going on with you today?"
"You’ve been acting weird since morning."
"If you’re tired of being Prefect, you can just say so."
Sothing flashed across Soraya’s face.
Anger.
"You think this is easy?" she exploded.
The squad fell silent.
"Do you know how difficult it is to be Prefect?"
Nobody answered.
"Do you know how many decisions I’ve had to make for all of you?" Her voice trembled. "How many tis I’ve put this class before myself?"
Silence.
"If you think you can do better—" She pointed toward the forest. "Then lead yourselves."
Nobody spoke for a minute or two.
The outburst hung heavily in the air.
Then—
"Guys."
Everyone turned.
Yesu was still standing beyond the traps.
"We don’t have much ti. 12-B might show up any minute. We have to be ready."
The squad automatically looked at Soraya.
She had already sat back down on the log.
Still fuming.
Reggie regarded her with spite. Then shook his head.
"Fuck this."
He turned and walked toward Yesu.
"Reggie—" Ca Farida.
"Forget it." He snapped.
Carrots grinned. "I Knew you couldn’t resist."
Farida shoved her.
Reggie reached the boundary. He pointed at the first wire.
"There."
Yesu nodded and stepped over it.
He pointed at another.
"And there."
Slowly she crossed through the trap field.
One wire.
Then another.
Then another.
Until only a single line remained between her and the safe zone.
Reggie pointed at it.
"That one."
A wicked smile slowly crept across Yesu’s face.
She raised a foot.
"Thank you, Reggie."
Her voice sounded different.
Barely.
But it was just enough to make Finch’s already narrowed eyes widen.
He moved instantly.
A powerful gust of wind exploded sideways.
The force slamd into Yesu.
She was hurled backward.
Gasps erupted across the clearing.
Her body hit the ground.
Then glitched.
Everyone froze.
The image rippled. Distorted. Like water disturbed by a stone.
The shape stood. Shifted. Twisted.
And stabilized.
It wasn’t Yesu.
A boy stood there instead.
Wearing a jacket with a different insignia.
12-B.
He smiled in satisfaction.
"Well what do you know? One of you juniors can be smart after all."
Squad 11-D was still frozen in shock.
Then Senior dusted himself and advanced.
The squad imdiately snapped out of the trance.
And positioned themselves.
Ready to defend.
But their guard ca too late.
The rest of 12-B were already dropping in.
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