▬▬ E T H A N  ▬▬

I really thought your test was just normal as our coach says. That, in turn, challenges us --- where he looks at how strong we are as a player.

"Wait, coach. Wait for us," said my companions --- the others were already pale. There are others who even drank water so they only had about half left.

"Keep going. You will not rest until you have reached the top," he told us before pointing to the top.

"If we reach that tree, then I'll let you all take a break there."

I immediately heard the players' complaints about what he did. "You're very mean to us, coach."

"Hey, look at this."

When I looked back, I was surprised that one of our teammates was holding a grasshopper and he immediately threw it at the others.

"Don't throw that at me, man!" one of them shouted immediately when the grasshopper jumped at him --- now the bug was behind him who seemed to be still attached. Seriously, these lunatics.

"I'm not doing anything to you." I heard their loud laughter as Benedict and I walked. We don't talk to them much so we couldn't really scold them.

If there was anyone here on this mountain, I hope they wouldn't be angry because of the noise of my colleagues.

"Hey, which of you two hid my cell phone? A**h*les, take out my cellphone," I heard one of them complain while they looked at each other and refused.

"None of us took your phone."

"Not me."

"Maybe it's in your bag. Check it again."

"Why do you only accuse us? How dare you."

When I heard my companions shouting, I immediately looked at Benedict. He is no longer wearing a headset so I know he is annoyed with those with us.

Benedict doesn't get along very well with others so he doesn't know the personality of our teammates. Hell, I'm sure that he was forced to come since it's more likely training instead of for fun.

"Do you think they'll shut up?" I was surprised when he asked me suddenly. He was not looking at me but I knew he was still waiting for an answer. I just shrugged at him.

"I'm just letting them be," I told him before I continued speaking.

"There aren't too many people so it's okay for them to make noise."

He then scoffed, knowing that the other members should still have to lower down their voices. "If they get cursed by—"

I immediately punched him in the arm so that he would be silent and not be heard by others. "Hey, don't be like that. Those are our teammates, Benz."

"Their mouths don't seem to stop." He threw a bad look when he saw our teammates once again.

"I'm sure that you hid it!"

"I didn't."

"Can you just stop lying? Don't even—"

They threw complaints at each other and almost interrupted the others here on Scarlet Peaks --- if anyone else is mountaineering today.

But when they started to laugh out loud, I was just surprised when someone shouted from above.

"Hey! Shut up!"

A girl's voice had rung out, making all of my other teammates look at us before looking up. Maybe they were surprised that there are also other people who come here today.

"You're not the only ones on this mountain!" The girl continued to shout.

I then hear one of our players mockingly answering the girl. "Then, you keep quiet!"

After that, most of them laughed. Benedict was suddenly shaken and immediately took off the black cap he was wearing. Maybe he can't believe they'll answer her back with sarcasm. Seriously, unprofessional.

"How dare you—" said a man but I saw that Benedict approached him.

"Don't. Let's go, let's just continue so we can rest," he said but the guy just removed his hand and laughed.

Benedict's eyes widened when he shouted again, "Oh, why are you so quiet?"

"Maybe she's gone," said another. Should I get involved in the trouble? After all, they don't seem to stop.

But it is also not possible. The trouble will only get worse when I join. I can't risk it. The coach was angry with me earlier so it would not be good if I added this to his problem.

Our companion's smile only widened when he heard no one shouting. Because of that, he tried to make her mad, "Baby girl, where are you?"

"Baby girl your face!" I heard from above so I chose to just go ahead. Nothing will happen if I join this ruckus. The best thing that I can do is maybe apologize to the woman upstairs.

Benedict must have noticed that I was about to ascend, so he immediately shouted. "Ethan, wait for me!"

"Cap, wait for Benedict."

Before I could take another step, I was startled when someone shouted from above. Wait, was that woman the one who shouted?

"Ethan!" her friend shouted.

"Wait, what was that?" our teammate asked.

"It looks like it's coming from above," Benedict immediately told me as I swallowed. Suddenly my heart beat faster when I heard other women shout and immediately got into a commotion.

When Benedict and I wanted to find out what had happened, we did not notice that there was a snake in front of us.

The two of us were just surprised when it was so close to us and seemed ready to attack.

"Snake!" my classmate shouted so we immediately backed away. We didn't hesitate to run back, I saw that those players with us also backed away.

"Speed ​​up, Benz, run!" I shouted because he was behind me. The snake slithered towards our way so I thought I would just climb a tree. But, I thought I might just be more trapped so I just followed the others.

What is this misfortune? Will this also be my death?

This was on my mind even if I was almost out of breath while running.

Instead of being afraid, the snake even looked like it was ready to get us at any time. So we tried to run faster so it won't catch us.

As I ran, my eyes widened when I suddenly slipped — out of balance, I went straight down the mountain. My whole body ached, I could feel the forming wounds on my arm and knee.

Fortunately, Benz saw an old man, who immediately heard our screams so he immediately helped us. He was carrying a bolo and approached the snake slowly.

The snake looked at him and prepared himself to bite the old man. Suddenly he hit the snake, blood suddenly came out and everyone remained silent.

And me?

I just stopped rolling when my back hit the big tree. My eyes couldn't focus anymore. My hands trembled as I reached out to my other teammates.

I was surprised when I felt like my back was wet. The tree isn't even wet. My shirt wasn't also like this when I slipped.

Forcing myself to stand up, I felt that I couldn't handle it anymore and knelt down because of the pain I was feeling. Seriously, it felt like a baseball bat had hit me in the back.

I immediately touched it and I felt the wet substance sticking to my back. I didn't look at it anymore because it might just sweat out of fear from earlier.

That's right. I'm probably just nervous.

Suddenly my phone vibrated and I immediately heard a ringtone I did not want to hear - "We don't talk anymore' was still ringing.

I immediately knew who called me based on the ringtone.

Vanessa.

I wouldn't have answered her but I knew she would be very angry with me. So even though my body ached, I tried to hide it just to answer.

I'm right.

I heard Vanessa furious.

"Love? Why weren't you answering my calls? Where the hell are you?" She immediately opened it before continuing.

"I messaged you about 40 times already! Yen told me everything. Why did you lie to me? Was that all true?" I just heard in her tone that she almost wanted to breathe out the fire to vent her resentment toward me.

I would have answered the case but before I could speak, my companion came.

"Are you okay? You have a lot of wounds. You're still bleeding!" he told me as I nodded. Are you serious right now? You see me talking to my girlfriend, then that is the first thing you tell me.

I almost facepalmed at this point.

"Ethan, what injuries? Where are you?" Vanessa asked quickly as I hadn't dropped the call. But, I just ignored her.

Take a deep breath, I forced myself to just smile at my friends. "I'm fine but take me to the hospital after this."

"All right, I'll go with you. We're almost there!" another said so I almost strangled him. Great, reveal more details. Later, I'll get in trouble with my girlfriend again.

"Ethan, what the hell ?! Answer me! What happened to you?" I suddenly noticed that I did not answer Vanessa. Damn. I'm sure that she won't let this pass the next time I call her.

"Vanessa? Sorry, sorry, I'll just try to talk to you later. Is that okay?" I said before pushing the phone away --- ready immediately for the long scolding session coming from her.

But, I suddenly felt like water was flowing behind me. At first, I thought it was just sweat, but now, my heartbeat suddenly speeds up. Since I wasn't very comfortable, I immediately wiped the towel on my back.

And just as I looked at it, I saw that there was a red stain on my towel.

Blood.

I didn't know what was going on but I felt like I was drowsy. I feel like I have a hard time opening my eyes and standing up so I immediately sat down under a tree.

I just heard my friend and Vanessa shout before my eyes darkened.

"Ethan!" they all called out before darkness had finally taken over, engulfing my vision into the abyss.