I had no idea what that guy was up to. Giving a stranger a billion points was crazy. My mind raced with questions about Raiden’s intentions.
Was he playing a game with me, testing me, or was there something more sinister at play? I couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling he left behind, but I had no time to dwell on it as my team finally showed up.
"Where have you been?" I asked, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice but failing miserably. Kairo sighed, looking weary and a bit defeated. "We were sabotaged by another group. They ruined the boat, made it nearly impossible to row back." My heart sank at his words. Sabotage? That explained the delays and the extra effort we had to put in.
"So what now? Is the boat even seaworthy?"
"It’s been patched up," Orion said, wiping sweat from his brow. "But it’s heavier than before. Every minute we go on, I doubt it can hold out much longer." The gravity of the situation was clear, but we had no choice. We needed to press on.
The fourth stop was in sight, and with it, another challenge awaited us. Arriving at the fourth stop, we were greeted with a new task—deciphering Morse code. It looked daunting at first, a series of dots and dashes that seemed like an impenetrable code. But Orion, ever the problem solver, stepped up to the challenge.
"Let’s do this," he said, his eyes scanning the sequence of signals. He quickly translated the message with ease, his fingers tracing the patterns in the air as he read them aloud. I marveled at his skill, the way he could turn something so cryptic into a clear and concise answer.
Within minutes, the Morse code was deciphered, and we were ready to move on. Back on the boat, the weight of the waterlogged vessel was palpable. It dragged through the water like a reluctant beast, each stroke of the oars met with resistance. We all felt it—the boat growing heavier, our progress slowing to a crawl. It was like trying to move a boulder through quicksand.
“We’re not going to make it like this,” Kairo panted, his face strained with effort. Orion nodded, looking around at the churning water. “We need to swim and tow the boat. It’s the only way we’ll reach the fifth stop in time.” I agreed, reluctantly.
The idea of swimming in these conditions, with the cold water and the threat of sabotage looming over us, was daunting. But there was no other choice. We slipped into the water, feeling the chill seep into our bones, and began to pull the boat with all our might.
Halfway through, I felt a sudden, sharp pain shoot through my leg. My muscles clenched involuntarily, and I gasped, barely able to keep my head above water. I had a cramp—an excruciating, paralyzing cramp. Panic surged through me as I struggled to stay afloat. “I can’t… I can’t swim,” I gasped out, clutching the side of the boat.
The pain was unbearable, locking my muscles in a vice grip. Orion was at my side in an instant, his strong hands gripping my arms. “Roxanne, hold on. We’ve got you.” Despite my protests, Kairo and Orion hoisted me back into the boat, taking on the weight themselves.
“I’m fine,” I insisted through gritted teeth. “I can help. Just give me a moment.” But they wouldn’t hear it.
“No,” Kairo said firmly. “You need to rest. We can handle this.”
"But you're injured too," I whispered. I felt like I couldn't let my teammates have a hard time because of me. The guilt gnawed at me, watching them struggle against the current while I lay helpless in the boat. They were carrying me, both literally and figuratively, and it stung my pride.
I wished I could just go back to the water and help them out. But the cramp had left me incapacitated, and I had to accept their help, however unsure.
With renewed determination, they swam and pulled, their muscles straining against the weight of the boat and the resistance of the water. I watched them, feeling a mix of gratitude and frustration. They were doing this for me, for the team, and I couldn’t let them down.
As we approached the fifth stop, the shore was a welcome sight. Exhausted but triumphant, we finally reached the land, dragging the boat onto the beach. I stumbled out, my legs still shaky from the cramp, but the relief of solid ground was overwhelming.
“We did it,” Orion said, breathing heavily, but a smile on his face. I nodded, feeling a swell of pride and gratitude for my team. “Thank you,” I said, my voice filled with emotion. I barely thanked anyone. Orion clapped me on the back, his usual expression softened by a smile. “We’re a team. We look out for each other.”
---
I could barely walk back to the institute. The medical team had already assisted me, applying ointment to reduce the pain. Orion insisted on taking me back to my room. I was already tired, so I didn't protest. The breeze was piercing through my skin. Alongside me was Orion, still assisting me in walking.
It was 8:45, and the curfew was at 9. I didn't know if I could still walk from the gate to our building. "Do you want me to carry you?" he asked, not looking at me. I immediately shook my head. That would be too much already. I continued walking, but I hadn't walked that long when my legs started aching again. Oh no, not now.
"What's wrong?" Orion asked, checking on me. I explained what had happened, and he decided to carry me this time. I didn't have the time to complain when he shushed me. We continued walking until we were in front of our dormitory. Orion set me down gently, his eyes filled with concern.
I was exhausted and in pain, but I managed to smile at him. "Thank you," I said, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. "I don't know what I would have done without you." "Don't mention it," he replied, his voice soft. "We're a team. We look out for each other, remember?" I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude that I hadn't felt in a long time. Despite the challenges and the pain, we had made it through together.
We bid goodbyes, and I used the elevator for convenient travel to my room. Looking at the door of my room, I felt an uneasy feeling. I turned the knob to open the door, and my dimly lit room welcomed me. My bed was at the right side of the room while the other side was left unattended. I wondered if I would ever get a roommate.
I walked through my room before sitting at the edge of the bed. I might be tired, but I didn't feel sleepy. Despite my leg situation, I went out to the balcony to gaze at the stars.
I walked towards the sliding window of the room and opened it. The midnight air welcomed me. I went closer to the railings, the view above was mesmerizing. Too bad the wall was blocking the view around.
"Why are you still out?" I heard a voice and flinched. If I had heart issues, I would be palpitating on the ground. "You really know how to sneak through another’s personal space," I muttered, eyeing the person I liked the least.
Kairo Nightfall.
Instead of answering, he just looked at me boredly before continuing to read a book in his hands. How can he even see it in that dark place? "Nice talking to you," I uttered sarcastically. He looked in my direction, closed his book, and moved closer to my position. I moved back as he stepped closer. He walked next to me and stared at his watch, then looked below the dormitory.
Being confused, I looked below, only to see people gathering around our dorm. My eyes widened as they shot people around. "Do you know why 9 pm is the curfew at this institute?" he asked out of nowhere. "Why?" I asked back. "Because killing is allowed after that," he uttered, and I turned white at what he said.
Killing is allowed? "Over those trees, two people are looking in our direction," he added, increasing my uneasiness. "H-how can you even tell?" I asked. "Because I can see it," he answered in a flat tone before turning his back to me and into my room.
He opened the lights and walked towards the door of my room. I immediately followed him and closed the sliding window. If what he said was true, someone might aim in our direction and kill us without notice. "H-how is that even possible?" I asked.
"I made it possible," he uttered before leaving me alone with my thoughts.