Chapter 43 Chapter 43
Amber
I stifled a yawn the next morning in our first class of the day while Professor Jones explained the importance of book-keeping and taxes in pack treaties.
The classroom was quiet except for the scribbling of several pens on paper. My gaze flicked to the empty chair for the hundredth time in the past thirty minutes or so.
It was almost a week since I last saw Damian and his girlfriend gave me cryptic warnings before darting off into the woods.
He was riddled with bruises the last I saw him so I hoped he would be fine wherever he was.
Movement near the front door dragged my attention and someone rushed in to announce that students from all classes were to assemble in the auditorium. Thankful for the break, I joined my friends to grab a seat in the auditorium overflowing with students.
The stage was empty for a while before I saw Principal Davison walk in, holding a mike in his hand.
“Good morning students of Silvercrest Academy. I hope you are working hard towards improving your grades and points. The last challenge was just a warm up but today I have exciting news for you.”
A few students exchanged glances, listening attentively.
Principal Davison began with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for declaring war.
"In two weeks time," he began, his voice booming across the packed auditorium, "the challenge that you are most looking forward to participating in will go live.”
He said with a dramatic effect and added after a long pause. “We will hold the Annual hunt as per our yearly schedule two weeks from today!"
A ripple of excitement and anxiety swept through the crowd.
I glanced at Ellie, who had gone pale. "What's the Annual Hunt?"
"You don't want to know," she whispered back.
Principal Davison continued, clearly enjoying the drama. "As many of you are aware, the Annual Hunt occurs once a year for exactly twenty-four hours. During this time, our four esteemed alpha heirs will go on a hunt."
The last word sent a chill down my spine.
"The rules are simple," the principal said, pacing across the stage like this was perfectly normal. "All students affiliated with the four factions will be considered prey. The heirs will not restrain themselves, but relax, they won’t hunt members of their own factions…they are free to go after others. If you are caught, you are at their mercy, just as wolves hunting in the wild show no mercy to their quarry."
A student near the front raised his hand. “And what are we supposed to do in this challenge?”
“Survive. Hide and not get caught. The ones who escape the heirs are winners. Easy right?” Principal Davison grinned.
Another student commented. "But sir, that's not fair! The alpha heirs are far stronger and more powerful than regular wolves, let alone humans like some of us."
"An excellent observation," Principal Davison said, not sounding concerned at all. "Which is why each faction will elect a leader whose responsibility will be to protect their camp members. These leaders will have certain advantages during the hunt, including access to safe zones and protective wards. The heirs themselves will choose their faction leaders before the challenge begins. Once you find these safe zones, all you have to do is sit out for the remainder of the hours and walk out. It can’t get any easier than this."
Someone grumbled. “But we need time to strategize and find hiding spots big enough for a large group.”
He smiled benevolently, like he wasn't describing what essentially amounted to sanctioned violence.
"You have two weeks to prepare. Train hard, learn your territory and form alliances. Remember, you don't have to fight the heirs, you simply have to avoid being caught. The academy believes in giving our students real-life experiences, and what better way to prepare for actual warfare than a controlled hunt?"
Nothing about this sounded controlled to me.
"Classes are dismissed for the day, and for the next two weeks, as a special exception, all students are allowed to be out of beds in the curfew hours provided they are working towards winning the challenge. Any student caught misusing the liberty will be failed in the exams" Principal Davison added, making a few students in the front row gasp.
"Use your time wisely. And may the goddess favor the swift."
The auditorium erupted into chaos the moment he stepped down.
Students were shouting, arguing, some already forming groups and strategies. I noticed the four heirs standing together near the back exit, and even from this distance, I could see the predatory gleam in their eyes.
This wasn't just a challenge to them.
This was entertainment.
Maya and Jess appeared as we filed out into the corridor. They caught up to us, both looking equally worried.
"This is insane," Maya said. "How is this legal?"
"It's the academy's tradition," Jess replied grimly. "My older brother told me about it. He said it gets brutal. People use it to settle personal scores, and the heirs don't stop them as long as it's entertaining."
"That's barbaric," I said.
"That's Silvercrest." Jess shrugged. "The strong survive, the weak get eaten. Literally, in some cases."
"We're going to die," Ellie said flatly
"We're not going to die," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
"Easy for you to say. You punched Alice in the face. I rubbed my nose on her shoe." Ellie's voice cracked slightly. "I'm going to be her primary target. She's going to hunt me down specifically just to make me suffer."
Ellie made a small, distressed sound.
"Hey," I grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at me. "You stood up to Alice yesterday. You called her out in front of everyone, including Caspian. That took courage."
"That was different. I had you there, and Caspian showed up, and I just got lucky."
"It wasn't luck. You were brave." I squeezed her shoulders. "And you're not weak, Ellie. Don't let Alice or anyone else make you think you are."