The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy Chapter 177

I gasp when my eyes fly open, hauling breath into my lungs as if I’ve just broken out of a pool of water.

I immediately sit up, panting, staring around at my unfamiliar surroundings. And my first thought, absurdly, is that I’m in the dream state –

Because this – this is not the dorm room that I was in with my friends ten seconds ago.

No, as I look around I realize that I’m in the woods now. But it takes me a few moments and blinks to realize that these are not the dream woods in which I meet Luca – but real woods. And it’s dusk, which is absurd, because it was just night time, but why…

My instincts come back to me in bits and pieces and I curl my legs beneath me, ready to get to my feet as I look warily around, trying to figure out what the hell is going on here. My body feels sluggish and tired, but I would swear that moments ago I was drinking a toast with Daphne –

Daphne, who I suddenly remember betrayed us. But why!?

I dart my eyes around, trying to figure out my surroundings, how I got here, why I’m all alone, and I almost jump when I turn to see a wooden box behind me.

Ari Clark, it says, my name written onto a piece of paper nailed to the top. I just stare at it for a long moment, putting together the clues.

I’m here, alone, in the woods, with a long box with my fake name on it.

And the only ones who use my fake name are…the Academy…

Suddenly, as I move my hands to the box and flip open the lid, I figure it out.

The Examination. This is the damn Examination – they lied to us, telling us it was next week so that we wouldn’t suspect or prepare. And Daphne didn’t betray us – she was just doing her damn job, drugging us with the wine so that they could get us here to be…to be examined, I guess.

I glance around in the box, which doesn’t hold much, though I admit that the contents are fascinating. For a moment I ignore the long crossbow and the set of six vials, opting instead for the little folded piece of paper, which surely has the thing I want most in the world right now: information.

My hands shaking a little, I sink back onto the ground with my legs underneath me, my eyes flying over the note as I unfold it.

Cadet Clark, it begins.

Your Examination begins the moment you wake and read this note. In order to continue at the Academy in the spring term, you are required to be amongst the top 60% of cadets in your year who pass the Examination.

The Examination ends when you reach the Final Destination, noted on the included map.

I take my eyes away from the letter just for a moment, glancing into the box to see that there is indeed a map inside along with a small compass.

All cadets have been given the same map and compass, though yours has been marked with your unique starting point. The other supplies in the bin have been given to you by the professors in your specific discipline in order to aid you on your mission to reach the Final Destination quickly and ahead of your fellow cadets. Please note that only the first 60% of cadets to reach the finish line will be invited back in the Spring term; even if you do reach the Final Destination, if you cross the finish line too late, you will not be invited back.

The supplies included have been designed by your professors to aid you to slow any of your fellow candidates on their own way to the Destination, should that be part of your tactics. However, be aware that these supplies are not designed to kill. While this is a war simulation at a military academy, your fellow candidates are your countrymen. Any blatant acts designed specifically to kill will be met with strict discipline.

My eyes go wide at this warning because…well, I mean, they’ve given me a cross bow, haven’t they? What do they want me to do with it, make friends?

I return my attention back to the page, finishing the letter in a quick glance.