The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 88

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 it up. panting, staring around at my unfamiliar surroundings. And my

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.

first

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…

as I move my hands to the box and flip open the

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

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

legs underneath me, my eyes flying over the

it begins.

begins the moment you wake and read this note. In order to continue at the Academy in the spring term, you

Examination ends when you reach the Final Destination,

take my eyes away from the letter just for a moment, glancing into the box to see that there is indeed

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

your

designed by your professors to aid you to slow any of 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

I mean, they’ve given me a cross bow, haven’t they? What do they

page, finishing the letter in a quick glance.

hours to reach the Final Destination. Any candidate who takes longer than that will not pass. We wish you the best of

I’m sure that I’ve committed it all to memory. I crumple it and toss it into the corner of the box, sorting quickly through my supplies as I glance around the forest, eager to get on the

1

not only that I’m on a short timeline here, but I’m also newly aware that the vast majority of my fellow cadets are now my enemies, seeking to slow me down. And considering who I am, and how small I

alone like this. No, I’ve got to move, and

to my hip. All their points, I noted, are suitably dulled – not designed to rip through flesh, just, as the note

raised, all of her instincts on high alert as she turns around, examining the forest as I pick

I’m good enough with a crossbow now that I could

mean, would I?

I were pushed to it, could I kill someone,