Page 37 of Trivium

But the thought was fleeting, interrupted by a piercing scream that cut through the trees.

25

AHMINA

Ahmina trembled as she took each step out into the forest, adrenaline snaking through her muscles. She wished it were cold; at least then she would have an excuse for shaking like a leaf. It didn’t help that at step ninety-seven, she tripped over a low branch and tumbled to the ground, her orb necklace smashing alongside her.

She traversed the remaining hundred and three steps in complete darkness. She thought about cutting the steps short and lying about how far she went but couldn’t bring herself to break the rules despite her desperation to finish this assessment as quickly as possible.

“Two hundred,” she whispered to herself and spun around. On the route here, she tried to remember as much as she could about any landmarks—large branches, a small stream, a collection of Glowbugs in the trees. But now, everything looked the same. It was so hauntingly dark, and she questioned if she was even facing the right direction. She had walked straight, right?

What if she had become disoriented when she fell? Panic rose in her chest and she tried to push it down.

You’re fine. Stay focused.

The best thing, the only thing, she could do was walk back in the direction she thought she came from. But somehow, her feet stayed planted. She was out here alone, with only a dagger and her chakrams for protection. Her breathing quickened as she pushed back the terrible thoughts clawing at her mind. You’re fine, you’re alive, it’s okay. But any step forward could put her in danger.

A branch snapped, and she crouched down on instinct.

Something was approaching her, and her heart pounded, ready for a fight.

“MINA?”

“RORY!” Relief swept over her when she saw a flash of auburn hair. Their harsh whispers met in the dark, and Rory stumbled fully into her vision.

“Oh Goddess.” Rory’s arms were around Ahmina’s neck in seconds, her frizzy hair clinging to Ahmina’s cheek. “I scared the shit out of myself.”

“Why?” Ahmina let go of her and held her at arm’s length.

“I just had a bad feeling that something was going to happen to you and I ran in the direction I saw you walk. I didn’t think I would find you.”

“I’m fine,” Ahmina reassured her. “I was just about to walk back but…” She looked around. “I wasn’t sure which way to go.”

Rory looked around, nodding to the left. “That way, I think.”

They walked into the darkness, and Ahmina’s heart calmed with Rory beside her. Thankfully, Rory’s glow light was still intact and it lit the way.

“I don’t think we’re supposed to be doing this together.” Ahmina wanted to pass this assessment; she didn’t want to lose points for doing it with Rory.

Rory scoffed. “I care more about you and I staying alive than I do Barrow’s judgement.”

They walked in silence, holding hands, stepping over thick fauna and dodging the small puddles of water that had collected on the forest floor—until Ahmina started to get a gut feeling they had gone the wrong way.

“It feels like we’ve been walking for a long time,” she said, afraid to accuse Rory of pointing them in the wrong direction. They stopped and looked around to gauge their location, although it was pointless. The forest all looked the same.

“We should be back by now,” Rory said, frowning.

“We’re lost and it’s my fault.” Ahmina buried her head in her hands. Her throat swelled as the tears pushed on her lower lids. If they didn’t find their way back, they would both fail, and it would be her fault. “You came to get me, and now we’re lost.”

“We’re not lost until I say we’re lost, and we’re not lost, okay?” Rory reassured her.

“You’re definitely lost.” Lennox’s familiar voice came out of nowhere, and they spun around to find him standing behind them, leaning up against a tree, arms crossed.

Ahmina could barely see him in the dark. Still, he was unmistakable.

“Lennox,” Rory said, as if confirming it was actually him. “You seem to pop out of nowhere often.”

“You’re just too distracted by your own self-centered troubles to notice me.”