Pain exploded through my back the moment I hit the ground.
"Ow!"
I groaned, clutching my lower back as I slowly pushed myself upright.
For a few seconds, I just sat there, blinking at the towering trees surrounding me.
"…What?"
Confused, I looked up.
A thick tree branch hung a few feet above my head.
It took my still half-asleep brain a moment to catch up.
I'd rolled off it.
Somehow…
I'd fallen asleep on a tree branch.
As ridiculous as that sounded, it wasn't even the strangest thing that had happened to me lately.
I rubbed my aching back and looked around, trying to make sense of where I was.
The forest.
The cold air.
The silence.
Then…
Everything came rushing back.
The sleepover.
The search party.
The woods.
My stomach dropped.
"Oh… no."
I buried my face in my hands.
"I messed up."
…
Earlier that morning…
"Wake up, Dee."
I felt something freezing cold touch my shoulder before it started shaking me repeatedly.
"Come on. Wake up."
Without opening my eyes, I lazily swatted at whoever was disturbing my sleep.
"Ouch!"
The familiar voice yelped.
"You actually hit me!"
"Mmm…"
I pulled my sleeping bag over my shoulder and curled into an even tighter ball.
"I wasn't aiming."
"You absolutely were."
Another voice chimed in.
"And here I thought sleeping beauty was supposed to be graceful."
Conrad.
That idiot.
My eyes snapped open.
"What did you just—"
The moment I sat upright, a sharp pain pulsed through my head.
I winced.
"Easy there," Conrad laughed.
"You sat up like the hall was on fire."
Kennedy and Parker were standing beside him with their hands clamped firmly over their mouths.
Their shoulders were shaking.
They were trying—very unsuccessfully—not to laugh.
"What?"
Nobody answered.
Instead, Conrad grinned.
"So…"
He tilted his head.
"Didn't know you drooled in your sleep."
My heart stopped.
"…I what?"
I immediately wiped my mouth.
Then my chin.
Then both cheeks.
The laughter exploded.
Kennedy doubled over.
Parker had to lean against a nearby pillar to stop herself from falling.
Even Conrad laughed so hard he had to wipe tears from the corner of his eyes.
"There wasn't even that much!" he managed between laughs.
"Just enough to soak your pillow."
"Oh my God."
I pulled my blanket over my face.
"I hate all of you."
"No, you don't," Kennedy giggled.
"I absolutely do."
"You hit me," Parker reminded me dramatically.
"I should've hit harder."
That only made them laugh louder.
I sighed in defeat before lying back down.
If I couldn't erase the embarrassment…
I could at least pretend none of it had happened.
"Oh, no."
Kennedy grabbed the edge of my sleeping bag before I could hide.
"You're not seriously going back to sleep."
"I am."
"Destiny."
"I'm unconscious."
"You literally just answered me."
"No, I didn't."
Parker knelt beside me.
"Almost everyone is already awake."
"They're outside."
"They've brushed."
"They've eaten."
"They've started today's activities."
I cracked one eye open.
A quick glance around the hall showed that, yes, most of the sleeping bags had already been packed away.
A few students still slept peacefully in the corners, but they were definitely the minority.
"I still see people sleeping."
Kennedy followed my gaze.
"There are like… four people."
"So?"
"You are unbelievable."
"I've been told."
Conrad chuckled softly.
"C'mon."
He lightly patted Kennedy's shoulder before doing the same to Parker.
"Let's leave Sleeping Beauty alone."
"If she's late, that's on her."
Kennedy sighed dramatically.
"Fine."
"But if a teacher yells at you, don't come crying to us."
"I'll be asleep."
Parker pointed accusingly at me.
"She's impossible."
"I know," Conrad replied with an amused smile.
The three of them headed toward the exit together.
Just before Conrad walked through the doorway, he glanced back.
For a split second…
Our eyes met.
He gave me a tiny shake of his head, as if silently saying, You're unbelievable.
I stuck my tongue out at him.
He laughed and disappeared through the door.
Within seconds…
I was asleep again.
…
I wasn't sure how long I'd been asleep when loud voices suddenly echoed through the hall.
This time…
There was no ignoring them.
I slowly sat up and rubbed my eyes.
Students hurried past me in every direction, their conversations overlapping into one confusing blur.
Then the school's PA system crackled to life.
"Attention, students."
One of the teachers.
His voice sounded unusually serious.
"A group of students has failed to return after leaving the school grounds earlier this morning."
The hall instantly fell silent.
"We are organizing a search party."
My heart skipped.
"Selected teachers and volunteers will head into the forest immediately."
The forest.
Every muscle in my body tensed.
"The remaining students will stay behind and assist with cleaning the school grounds."
Cleaning?
Absolutely not.
If people were missing…
I wanted answers.
And maybe…
Just maybe…
This was connected to everything that had been happening.
The dreams.
The creature.
The deaths.
I scrambled out of my sleeping bag.
Within minutes, I had changed into more comfortable clothes, brushed my teeth at record speed, tied my hair back, and practically sprinted downstairs.
By the time I reached the front courtyard, a group of students had already gathered around several teachers.
Perfect.
I casually slipped toward the back of the crowd, hoping nobody would notice one extra student joining the search.
I was almost successful.
Almost.
A firm hand landed on my shoulder.
"And where exactly do you think you're going, young lady?"
I froze.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
I turned around.
Mr. Martin.
Of course.
His eyebrows were already raised.
I forced out the most innocent smile I could manage.
"Umm…"
"I…"
"Well…"
Words failed me.
My brain had completely abandoned ship.
"I was…"
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Before Mr. Martin could question me further, another voice spoke up from behind.
"She's with us, sir."
I turned.
Conrad.
Mr. Martin looked from him…
Back to me.
"Is that so?"
Conrad nodded without hesitation.
"She only stepped away to change out of her pajamas."
"We counted fifteen students," Mr. Martin replied.
"So why wasn't she there?"
"She raised her hand before she left," Conrad answered smoothly.
"I figured she'd catch up."
Mr. Martin looked at me again.
"Is that true, Destiny?"
I nodded so quickly my neck almost hurt.
"Yes, sir."
A pause.
Then another.
Finally…
"Very well."
He stepped aside.
"You may join the group."
Relief flooded through me.
As we walked away, I glanced sideways at Conrad.
Our eyes met.
I offered him a small smile.
Barely noticeable.
Just enough to silently say…
Thank you.
He smiled back.
Then gave me a quick thumbs-up before looking ahead again.
For some reason…
That tiny gesture made me smile too.