Tic, Tic, Tic  Zaria could feel a weird ticking sound in her head the countdown for something had begun. Zaria  ignored the feeling and continued to row the boat.

'Clank' the boat came to a sudden halt as it reached the end of the waterfall. Just a bit more and they were all dead.

Suddenly a running  motor's sound sprang out from the stern of the boat.

Zaria and Ateel looked around to find a small motor set at the rear end of the boat hidden well with paint. 

"There's a timer set on it." Zaria peered at the motor as she said in an agitated voice. 

The boat started moving upstream with a jerk and Zaria who was standing fell onto the deck with a thud.

"Was this some kind of dirty joke the teachers played on us ." She frowned as she sat up. "Ateel see my hands are all red now and they are paining like hell."

Ateel giggled shaking her head " You come back with a million bruises, bet all black and blue by some ruffians you fought with, in some alley, and now you're making a scene about your hands turning red."

Zaria gave a low chuckle as she changed the topic  and pointed towards Xian "Isn't she dead." 

"She's still breathing," Ateel  pinched Zaria "Don't declare a person dead so easily. Even if you're just joking about it."

"Isn't it normal to joke like that?" Zaria tried reasoning her way out.

Ateel glared at her for some time and sighed.

" We are almost at the camping site wake her up," She told Zaria with a stern voice.

Zaria splashed some water onto Xian's face.

Xian sat up and looked around and when she realized that they were going upstream she heaved a sigh of relief and moved closer to Zaria.

The boat came to a halt near a small stone wall with stairs moving up at it's base.

There were many other boats along the side and many kids were disembarking them.

Zaria's group followed suit and moved along with the kids as they climbed the stairs.

When they reached the top they saw a clearing on the other side with tents set up . The teachers were all seated on stone platforms made under huge trees . The kid who had fallen off the bridge earlier was also there. 

The students rushed down and gathered around the boy who was happily munching on a chocolate.

"How come you are still alive?"They asked the boy shaking him vigorously.

"There was a safety net under the bridge. The teachers helped me out and bought me here with them." The boy replied.

The teachers did a head count to check if someone was missing and nodded at each other with relief when they found everyone safe and sound.

"Settle down everyone, now your survival training is over and tonight there will be a dance, so chose your partners and get ready you all have to be present at the dance by 9 . There's no electricity in the forest so don't go off somewhere by yourself, one person from a group should come and meet me before the dance begins."

All the students were back to normal by nightfall. There was lots of chattering and discussion as they decided on their partners.

"Zar, you'll be my partner. "Xian declared.

"Xian your admirers will be disappointed and please exclude me from this world war." Zaria refused sternly.

"They won't even dare to touch a single hair of yours so you're the best option." Xian pointed out.

"I don't know how to dance ," Zaria tried making an excuse .

"Don't lie " Xian scolded " I once saw you teach Ateel how to dance .

"How did you see that?" Ateel asked a bit tensed 'did Xian instal a hidden camera to observe them.'

"The door was open and I just happen to see it."

"So you were peeking." Zaria chuckled "What did you want to see?" 

Ateel dragged Zaria to a corner and  kicked her. " Do I have to keep on looking after you? How can you be so careless?"

"It's not that big a deal. " Zaria shrugged her shoulders.

"Zaria you need to worry about yourself. How can you leave your life up to fate?" Ateel said in a broken voice.

"I have you right ? " Zaria smiled.

"You will act this way until the end." Ateel shook her head in disappointment.

"Let's go. We are getting late for the ball. Let's just lose Xian in that crowd. And Ateel can I carry my weapon bag with me?" Zaria made a puppy face.

Ateel nodded as she walked towards Xian who was staring at them.

Soon it was completely dark and the students started moving towards the appointed area with lanterns in hand.

Zaria's group also moved ahead with a slow pace. They talking with one another. Soon they were left alone. 

"I don't have a lantern." Xian suddenly realised that she was the only one without a lantern in their group. ' Did I forget it somewhere?' she turned around to go look for it and soon she disappeared into the forest.

Zaria turned around and frowned when she realised that Xian was missing.

"See there are footprints of her heels ." Ateel pointed out .

"Let's go search for her." Zaria sighed and followed the traces left behind.

They soon found her running around in circles unable to find her way back.

"Stop running" Zaria screamed as she approached Xian.

But Xian continued running around while mumbling to herself.

Zaria and Ateel ran after her no matter how much they tried Xian just ignored them.
She only stopped after falling down.
" Are you mad " Zaria scolded Xian "Why did you run into the forest. "

"I forgot my lantern. " Xian responded
"You never had one. Each group has only 2 lanterns given to them. Don't you remember that I was the one who went to the teacher to get them."

"Ah yeah, I remember now " Xian stood up.

Just then a gust of wind put out their lanterns.

"Is my life a joke?" Zaria screamed frustrated." How can these many things go wrong all at once?"

Xian took out a lighter and lit the lanterns.

"Oh, I'm happy that you still have some sense left in you." Zaria mocked at Xian to vent out the sudden frustration that build up inside her.

"Uh... Zar, I don't think you will be happy after you look at that" Ateel pulled on Zaria's sleeve as she urged her to see what was in front of them.

The wind hit their faces with full force. The trees bent violently and in the blink of an eye, they were face to face with a tornado. Unable to run, unbable to dodge as it swollowed tham up.

A/N: ??? ...

To be continued.

Go ahead and do your best to think of good ways this can turn out you can also think of bad ways. I am sure you won't be able to guess what happens next even if the world ends :)

And don't forget to vote and comment :}

Bookworm10192002 is a good girl and she continuously supported me by reading this book  so this is just a small token of thanks to her . Thank you Bookworm.