Chapter 1
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Any attempt to steal, copy, repost, or replicate this work in any form will not only result in legal consequences, but a visit from The Revengers.
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They find what you care about most and make sure you never sleep peacefully again.
You have been warned. -------
CHAPTER ONE
This School Wants to Kill Me
The shrill sound of the bell rang throughout Silverheart Hall in the early bright morning of Silverleaf Academy. Ayin finished fixing the strap of her satchel, zipping it up with a satisfying click, and jogged ahead to catch up with her friends.
‘...education. Absolute favorite, nothing beats running in the morning sun,’ Kayla dreamed.
‘Yeah, except I wouldn’t want a matching tan with my burns?’ replied Hannah, pointing blandly at her arms.
The sunlight streamed through the glass roof, creating beautiful rainbows that danced on the floor below, hovering on the faces of the students walking beneath it, moving to their next classes.
‘Honestly, I would even do Maths than go out.’
Kayla let out an impatient noise, ‘Then what’s your favorite subject?’
Hannah answered without a beat, ‘History.’
′History?’′ Kayle repeated, in mild disgust. ’History? Who alive likes history?′
‘Me?’ Hannah said, in mock hurt, shaking her head slightly, ‘And many other people from The Pearls. Yin, your favorite. Shoot.’
‘My favorite?’ Ayin asked, fingers stilling when she was about to take her pen out. ‘Ahm... I don’t really like, or have any favorites.’
‘Well, the point is –’
‘There is no point, stop making things up!’
The two squabbled all the way. At last, the three reached the gate of Ground Vine where the lessons were being taken today.
‘Alright, alright!’ said a tired voice. ‘Gather around, people!’
A man no older than 30 came wearing these gloves. ‘Today is a lesson requested by the principal; today we will be having a test.’
An arm stuck out from the heads of the students.
‘Shane.’
‘Sir, what kind of test?’
‘Ay, I’m about to tell you, follow me!’ he barked.
The students followed the teacher into an enclosed area surrounded by tall wooden fences.
‘This is a sudden test designed by the principal, for each of you must have some skills to survive in the wild, whether in some forest lost or on a camping trip.’
The teacher told the students to all go into a room, and he would call them one by one. As the line of students shortened, Kayla became more nervous, and when she was anxious she talked a lot.
‘Ooh, Do you think I’ll pass? What if I fail? What will they do to us? I must pass, I’ve been waiting for something like this to happen- ’
‘Kayla, shut up, You’re not the only one scared,’ Hannah said.
Five minutes later Hannah was called, and soon Kayla was too. None of them returned.
‘Ayin Hill,’ said a voice from outside.
Ayin hesitated at the edge of the enclosure, her eyes fixed on the busy teacher locking the fence behind her. The tall wooden walls felt like they were closing in, trapping her with whatever challenges lay ahead.
“So, are you gonna tell me what the test is... or...?” Ayin asked, her voice shaky with a mix of confusion and unease.
The teacher didn’t look up. “We’ve got people outside the gates if anything goes wrong. Don’t worry—it’s trained not to kill.”
A chill crawled down her spine. “‘Trained not to kill’? What’s trained not to kill?” she asked, her voice rising in panic.
Before he could answer, a low, menacing growl echoed from behind her. Ayin’s heart lurched, and her body froze in place. Slowly, she turned around. Emerging from the shadows beneath a large tree was a bear, its brown fur rippling as it stepped into the light.
Ayin’s breath caught in her throat as she stared at the massive creature, which was now pacing back and forth, its eyes locked onto her. It was bigger than she had imagined—much bigger. The bear’s heavy paws thudded against the dirt, each step sending a tremor through the ground. Ayin’s legs felt like jelly, but she willed herself to move.
Without thinking, she bolted toward the nearest corner of the enclosure, her mind racing. I need to find the key. The teacher said there’s a key! The words ran on a loop in her head, but the roar of the bear behind her drowned out her thoughts. The beast was moving fast. She could hear its heavy breathing and feel the vibrations of its weight pounding the earth as it picked up speed, chasing her.
Her eyes scanned the area frantically. There was no time to think, no time to plan. She spotted a wooden tower near the far corner of the pen, a small platform that looked like it might be just out of the bear’s reach. Without a second thought, Ayin sprinted toward it, the bear closing in behind her. She could hear its snarls growing louder, the sound of its claws scraping against the dirt.
Reaching the tower, she leaped onto the ladder and scrambled up, her hands trembling as they gripped the rungs. Below, the bear slammed into the tower’s base with a ferocious growl. Ayin yelped as the entire structure shook violently, but she clung to the ladder, refusing to fall.
Up on the platform, she collapsed onto her knees, panting and gasping for breath. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of her chest. The bear circled beneath her, pacing angrily, its sharp claws gouging into the earth. For now, it couldn’t reach her, but she knew it wouldn’t give up easily.
Ayin glanced around the enclosure, her mind racing to piece together her next move. She had to find the key, but where?
She scanned the surroundings, flicking her eyes across the dusty enclosure, the scattered trees, and the tall wooden fence. Nothing looked remotely like a key. Think, Ayin, think!
Her gaze returned to the bear, now retreating to its shady corner, seemingly uninterested in her. It was then that she noticed something—something glinting around the bear’s neck. A spark of light. Her heart skipped a beat.
The key.
The key was attached to a chain around the bear’s neck.
Her stomach sank. How was she supposed to get close enough to retrieve it without being mauled?
The bear was still resting in the shade, seemingly calm for the moment, but Ayin knew the peace wouldn’t last. She had to act fast. Her eyes fell on a loose plank near the base of the tower. She had an idea, a reckless one, but it was the only chance she had.
Carefully, she climbed down the ladder, keeping her movements slow and quiet. The bear, still lounging beneath the tree, didn’t notice her. Ayin crouched low, picking up the plank, its rough wood digging into her palms. She took a deep breath and focused her gaze on the bear.
“Alright, big guy,” she whispered to herself. “Let’s see if you like fetch.”
With all her strength, she hurled the plank toward the opposite corner of the enclosure. It clattered against the fence, drawing the bear’s attention immediately. The bear’s head snapped up, its dark eyes locking onto the noise. Then, with a furious snarl, it lunged toward the sound, tearing across the enclosure frighteningly.
Ayin didn’t waste a second. As the bear barreled toward the plank, she sprinted in the opposite direction, making a beeline for the shaded tree where the bear had been resting. Her heart hammered as she closed on the massive creature’s previous spot. The key glinted in the sunlight, still hanging from the bear’s neck.
Reaching the bear’s corner, Ayin crouched low and snuck up behind it, her movements swift but silent. The bear was too busy savaging the plank to notice her. Its powerful jaws snapped at the wood, splintering it into pieces.
Now or never.
With trembling hands, Ayin reached out and carefully grabbed the key, her fingers brushing the rough fur of the bear’s neck. Her heart raced in her throat, every instinct screaming at her to run, but she forced herself to stay calm.
As soon as the key was in her hand, she bolted. The bear’s head jerked up, realizing what had happened, and it let out an enraged roar. It charged after her, claws tearing through the ground, but Ayin was faster. She sprinted toward the fence, the key in her grasp, and jammed it into the lock.
The gate clicked open just as the bear reached her. She slammed the door shut behind her, the force of the bear’s impact rattling the fence, but it held. Ayin stumbled backward, gasping for air, her body trembling from the adrenaline.
She had done it. She had escaped.
The teacher stood by the gate, clapping slowly, a smirk on his face. “Well done, Ayin,” he said, clearly pleased. “You passed.”
Ayin stared at him, still catching her breath. “That... was insane,” she panted. “You’re all insane.”
The teacher only laughed. “The principal will be glad to hear you survived.”
Ayin shook her head, a weak grin despite the storm of confusion in her head. No, this school isn’t trying to kill her. It will be the death of her.
