Chapter 155 *
Scarlett’s POV
He looked young. Maybe twenty-three, twenty-four at most. Tall and lean with that outdoorsy build. His hair was dark and cut short.
But something about him felt off.
His skin was too pale. Too smooth. Not the weathered, sun-damaged complexion you'd expect from someone who spent their life outside.
He didn't move like a camp counselor. He moved like someone with military training.
"We're heading to our base camp in the Catskill Mountains," Mitchell continued. "The drive is about two hours. Use that time to rest because once we arrive, the real work begins."
Lily leaned over and whispered, "He's hot."
I looked at her. "That's what you're focused on right now?"
"I'm trying to find a silver lining to this hell." She took a sip of her coffee. "Let me have this."
Mitchell's eyes swept across the group. "This is a seven-day wilderness survival training program. You will learn essential outdoor skills including navigation, shelter building, fire starting, and emergency response."
He paused.
"If at any point you experience physical distress, allergic reactions, or medical issues, report them immediately. We have staff trained in wilderness first aid and emergency evacuation procedures."
His tone was completely flat. Professional. Like he was reading from a manual.
But there was something almost... considerate in what he was saying. Like he actually cared whether we lived or died out there.
Weird combination.
A guy near the front raised his hand. "Do we need to worry about bears?"
"Black bears are common in the area," Mitchell said. "We'll cover bear safety protocols on day one. Follow the guidelines and you'll be fine."
"What if we're not fine?" Another guy called out. "You got a helicopter on standby?"
The group laughed.
Mitchell's expression didn't change. "Load onto the buses. We leave in five minutes."
The laughter died immediately.
We climbed onto the first bus. Lily and I grabbed seats near the middle. She leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes.
"Wake me up when we get there."
"You're going to sleep through the whole drive?"
"Watch me."
She was snoring within two minutes.
I stared out the window as the bus pulled away from campus. The city lights faded behind us. Trees started appearing more frequently.
My phone buzzed.
Damon: Good luck with your camping trip.
I smiled.
Me: It's wilderness survival training. Very different.
Damon: You're going to terrify your instructors.
Me: I'm going to be a model student.
Damon: Sure you are.
Me: I'm serious. I'm going to blend in perfectly.
Damon: I look forward to it. Call me when you get back.
Me: Miss me already?
Damon: Always.
My chest felt warm.
The supply chain crisis must have calmed down if he had time to text me this morning. That was good. He'd been running himself into the ground for the past week.
Two hours later, the buses pulled into a gravel parking area surrounded by dense forest. The air smelled like pine and damp earth.
"We're here." Lily lifted her head and blinked at the trees. "Where's here?"
"Middle of nowhere." I grabbed my pack. "Come on."
We filed off the bus. The base camp was a clearing with several large tents, a central fire pit, and what looked like an equipment shed.
Mitchell was already standing at the front. Waiting for everyone to assemble.
"Welcome to COOP." His voice carried across the clearing. "For the next seven days, this is home. You'll sleep in those tents. Four people per tent. Choose your groups now."
Lily grabbed my arm. "We're together, right?"
"Obviously."
We ended up with two other girls from our floor. Emma and Jessica. Both seemed nice enough. Emma was pre-med. Jessica was studying engineering.
"First activity," Mitchell announced. "We're doing a five-mile hike to familiarize you with the terrain. Full packs. Stay with the group. Let's move."
Lily looked at me with pure horror. "Five miles? Right now?"
"Right now."
"I hate everything."
The hike started easy enough. A well-maintained trail through the forest. Gradual incline.
I could have done this in my sleep.
I'd spent my entire childhood doing worse.
This was a casual stroll. But I couldn't let anyone know that.
So I acted tired. I adjusted my pack straps like they were bothering me. I took a sip of water every fifteen minutes. I made sure my breathing sounded slightly labored.
The performance of being a normal college student who didn't train like a special forces operative from age five to fifteen.
Lily was genuinely struggling. Her face was red. She was breathing hard. Sweat was dripping down her temples.
"How are you not dying?" She gasped out the words between breaths. "I feel like my lungs are going to explode."
"I'm dying on the inside." I wiped fake sweat from my forehead. "I'm just hiding it better."
That was a complete lie. I felt fine. I could probably carry Lily's pack in addition to mine and still not break a sweat.
But I needed to sell it.
Mitchell was walking at the front of the group. He kept glancing back. Checking on people.
His eyes lingered on me for a second longer than necessary.
I immediately slowed my pace. Started breathing a little heavier.
He looked away.
Crisis averted.
By the time we got back to camp, half the group looked ready to collapse. Lily threw herself on the ground and didn't move.
"I'm dead. This is my ghost talking."
"Your ghost needs to help set up the tent."
"My ghost is going to haunt you for this."
The next three days were brutal.
Mitchell ran us through every wilderness skill imaginable. Shelter building. Fire starting. Water purification. Navigation without GPS.
And the physical training was relentless.
Day two was rock climbing. My arms were screaming by the end.
Well, they would have been screaming if I hadn't done this exact exercise a thousand times before. But I made sure to shake out my hands and wince at appropriate intervals.
Lily actually did fall. She caught herself on the safety rope and dangled there for a solid minute before they pulled her up.
"I'm quitting," she announced when her feet touched the ground. "I'm getting on a bus and going back to civilization."
"No buses," Mitchell said without looking at her. "You signed a waiver. You're here for the full seven days."
"That's illegal."
"Read the fine print."
Day three was river crossing. Wade through freezing water while carrying your pack above your head.
A girl named Sarah got hypothermia and had to be taken back to base camp. Two guys gave up after that.
Lily looked at me with desperate eyes. "Please tell me we can quit too."
"We're not quitting."
"Why not?"
"Because we're not quitters."
"I'm absolutely a quitter. I quit things all the time. I'm excellent at quitting."
Mitchell blew his whistle. "Move out! Next group in the water!"
"I hate you," Lily muttered as we waded in.