The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 23

The five of us stand in a small clearing of forest in a semicircle around our Lieutenant who repeats the instructions we were given his morning. I look around as he talks, only half–listening because 1 already know what our job is. I’ve got a good memory, after all.

I look up at the sky above the trees, thinking that it took longer than I thought to get everything ready and get us here. It’s already well past noon, which doesn’t give us a ton of time before night falls.Our task is pretty simple, though. All we have to do as a group is light a fire, boil water so that it’s potable, produce some kind of sustenance for ourselves – fish or edible plants – and demonstrate that we can do basic first aid if anyone gets hurt in the process. Once that’s done, we’ll be given a compass and a map with our location marked and we’ll be required to traverse the ten miles back to the barracks. Anyone who doesn’t complete the group tasks, or fails to make it back tomorrow by dinner, receives a failing mark.

I shrug, thinking it will be pretty simple, as the Lieutenant hands Alan our small packet of supplies, which contains the first–aid kit, flint, a machete, and a small spool of wire with some fish hooks. We’re strictly forbidden from using anything in our packs to aid us – they’re only supposed to carry extra clothing and blankets in case we need to sleep out here before the jobs get done.

“I think.” Alan says, turning towards the group of us, “that our best plan is to get this done and hike through the night. I, for one,” he says, looking at Luca and I with particular venom, “have no true interest in spending more time as a group than we have to.”

“No argument for me,” Luca says, nodding in agreement. I don’t say anything at all as Alan begins to parcel out the supplies to his friends.

“How the f**k,” Perry murmurs, “are we supposed to boil water when they didn’t even give us a pot?”

Alan looks askance at Graham, who just shrugs, making my eyebrows go up. Am I seriously the only one who knows the answer to this?

I wait a second for Alan to volunteer the answer but he just stares at the flint in apparent confusion while Graham grabs the machete and strides over to a tree, starting to hack at the branches. Luca’s eyebrows go up as he smirks, and I can tell that he’s a little entertained, watching the smaller smack at the branches.

“What – what the hell are you doing?” I ask, my voice ringing through the clearing.

guy

All eyes turn to me, including Graham, who glares. “I’m getting firewood,” he says, as if it’s obvious.

“Oh my god,” I huff, stalking over to him and grabbing the machete out of his hands. “You can’t use live wood for a fire – it’s wet. Wood has to be dry.” Graham shouts and grabs back for the machete but I quickly move out of his way. I sigh and look around. “Do any of you know how to do any of

this?”

“I can fish,” Perry says, reaching out for the coiled wire and set of hooks. He looks over at the deep

12:38 Sun, 10 Mar

Chapter 23

stream that runs by our clearing. “I mean, I usually use bait, but…I can dig up worms and tie these lines to some poles.”

“Great,” I say, my voice dry. “Why don’t you take Graham and do that. Us other three will get

the rest.”

not in charge here. Clark,” Alan says, his voice bitter.

to pretend you know what you’re doing out of pride, I guess that’s fine – but

–

have skills he doesn’t even if I am a shrimp. But eventually he exhales and tosses the flint at me. I

says, turning to me with raised

give terse instructions, falling into a very pale imitation of my father, who taught us all of this stuff when we were very young. I mean, Jesse and Rafe have been going on big camping trips with dad and Uncle Roger for years, doing much

berries.” I snap my head up and hold his gaze, “do not eat any of the ones you find a lot look good but will make you sick. Just….bring them all back here, in case the fishermen don’t have any success with their worms. Alan, I want you to go into the woods and find the fattest birch tree you can find. White, with

–

f**k is this,” Alan growls, crossing his arms over his chest. “Are you trying to embarrass me, sending me on

at him, exasperated. “I don’t know what your problem is

it until we’re through this. I’m not f**king with you can be used to make a container for

—

in the opposite direction. I take a glance over at Graham and Perry, who are busy

of brush, I use the machete to scape some magnesium on the back of the flint. Leaning close, I strike the flint

gently on the flame to give it oxygen. I dangle some dry brush above the baby flame so it has something to consume. It stutters for a moment, but the flame

Chapter 23

starting to flare. I grin. pleased, and sit back on my heels, starting to add some small sticks.

says, and I blink, looking up at the Lieutenant, who nods at me. “That was….that was

been hard for me. I’ve always even been faster than Rafe and Jesse with this part. The lieutenant nods again, making a notation on his clipboard, and I grin, realizing that I’m getting credit for making the fire.

of berries, the fire is burning cheerfully and I’ve started adding small logs that I’ve hacked up with the machete. “Holy shit,” he says, his eyebrows

blank sarcasm. “When you were gone the Lieutenant tossed me a lighter.”

I grin, stupidly pleased at his compliment as I stand up and reach out my hands.

what you’ve got, pretty boy,” I say, teasing. Luca laughs as he drops his haul into my hands. I sigh as I quickly sort

says, looking mournfully after

–

things? I already told you

like, the King?” Luca asks, wrinkling his

little. “Except, we don’t call him the King. We just call him…Uncle Dom.” Or, dad. Uncle Dom is just what Jesse

his head at me, making

coming into the clearing and renewing his

ever cheer up? – Alan leads Luca and I into the woods. I grab the machete on our way. It doesn’t take long to get to the