No one knew exactly what had happened inside the bus, but people standing outside were waving at the students by the windows.
“Kids, jump! We’ll catch you!“N
I stepped away from the crowd, phone in hand, typing a quick message. Then I quietly slipped to the edge of the scene.
Somewhere behind me, someone was calling the police.N
I knew that if I stayed and waited for them to arrive, they’d definitely send me straight to the exam hall.
Glancing back at the girls still trapped in the bus, I let my phone fall to the ground–and ran.
Time was running out. I had to get out of this town before anyone realized what I was really doing.”
Using the leftover money from Peter, I flagged down a taxi.N
The driver took one look at me and smiled, “Heading to the college entrance exam, miss? I’ll get you there fast.” My hand froze mid–motion, just as I was about to shut the car door.”
I glanced at him–then bolted.N
Startled, the driver jumped out and chased after me for a few steps, shouting my way.“]
When I didn’t turn around, he gave up and hurried back to start the engine again.”
“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath, ducking into a nearby alley.”
I could hear him behind me, cursing and making a phone call as he gave chase.“]
I dove behind a trash can and crouched low, pretending to be a beggar. My heart pounded as people passed by.”
“I heard a student taking the college entrance exam went missing,” one passerby said. “Now the entire town’s police, firefighters and volunteers are out looking. It’s a huge operation!”
“Did the student get kidnapped?” another asked. “Human traffickers are getting out of hand these days!”
The town was being searched from top to bottom.”
I moved through the city, constantly switching hiding spots. I had close calls–too many.”
I knew I couldn’t keep this up for long.”
Taking a gamble, I made my way into the mountains.
Woodstock had eighteen villages, and if there was one thing it didn’t lack, it was mountains. Endless stretches of rugged terrain, spanning thousands of miles.
But the townspeople were quick to respond. I hadn’t even been hiding in the mountains for three hours when I saw their searchlights.”
From my position up high, I watched the long line of lights weaving through the woods below. Quietly, I pulled a thin flashlight from my backpack–no thicker than a finger–and used it to guide my way down.
No one knew that while they searched the mountains, I was already slipping back into town.”
The trash cans were disgusting, but I needed food. I had to keep my strength up if I wanted to survive.
Just as I was digging through one bin and pulled out half of a baked donut, a familiar voice called from behind me.§
“Camila?”
My whole body went stiff,
I turned slowly. Luna stood there, her face frozen in disbelief.
I narrowed my eyes and pulled her quickly into a nearby alley.
She was limping. Her leg must have been injured at some point and she struggled to keep pace.
Once I was sure no one was nearby, I let go of her hand.
“Why are you here?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you be at the exam hall?”
But Luna didn’t cry like she used to. She looked different now–sharper. Her bottom lip trembled as she bit it, a flicker of resentment in her eyes.
“What about you, Camila?” she shot back. “Why didn’t you take the exam? Why did you run?“N
I couldn’t answer.”
She grabbed my arm, her fingers tight with desperation.!!
“Do you know that your parents–and mine–have been arrested? They said… they said it was all because of you. That you stole Mr. Jasper’s phone. That you took his stuff…”
“I didn’t.“”
I yanked my arm away and cut her off.”
“Luna, they’re lying to you.“”
She stared at me blankly, her eyes filling with tears.”
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She stared at me blankly, her eyes filling with tears.”
I sighed.”
Given everything that was happening, I knew I couldn’t let her go back.”
“Luna… do you trust me?“}
We’d grown up together. Luna had always relied on me, believed in me. There were hardly any secrets between us.
