Chapter 22
“Damm, look at you! Which department is she in? You’ve gotta let us meet her sometime “
Teaht Maybe lure and Aurelia can help you out.”
Water sure-
-they kume everyone on camps. With their sections, you’ll be the first one of stores girlfriend
The students were burning with excitement, completely clueless slot the emotional minefield day were walking into.
Luigi’s eyes burned to Aurelia themgh the rearview mirror as he asked: “Aurelia well you help me?
Instead of answering his loaded question, Aurelia toned armud and kicked sharply on her seat back
“ten up, everyone. We’re heading to Arizona for legitimate field research, not nome fucking summer camp adventure, I need all of you reviewing the theoretical materials I set last night.”
Her voice carried an edge that immediately commanded attention. “Once we reach the Huachuca Mountain near Serra Vura, you be applying this knowledge mreal world conditions. Everything you do out there affects your grade”
The mention of grades killed the party atmosphere instantly. Everyone dove for their notes, valdenly terrified of locking unprepared.
Luigi kept his gaze fixed on Aurelia, clearly waiting for her to address his question.
When their eyes met in the mirror, Aurelia’s voice was arctic: “Luigi, study your materials”
The dismissal hit him like a physical blow, but he got the message and reluctantly joined the others in their cramming session
Isaac’s knuckles west white on the steering wheel as he watched the exchange. The way Luigi looked at Aurelia–like she was his property–made Isaac want to pull over and beat the shit out of him
But Aurelia could handle herself. She’d made it crystal clear where she stood.
The van fell into uncomfortable silence, broken only by haar and Aurelia’s occasional technical discussions that made the new students even more antings about their preparation.
By the time they reached the Huachuca Mountains, night had fallen completely. Instead of finding a hotel, Isaac drove deep into the wilderness.co barely–there mountain roads
As confusion rippled through the group, Isar parked and addressed them.
“Welcome to your first real lesson, everyone. In field research, you’ll often be miles from civilization with zero amenities. You need to learn survival
He divided them into three teams; camp setup, water procurement, and firewood collection
Luigi immediately stepped forward with desperate determination: “Tm going with Aurelia.”
Isaac’s jaw clenched. He knew exactly what Luigi was trying to pull, and every protective instinct screamed at him to shut it down.
“Actually, Luigi, you should help with-”
‘s fine,” Aurella interrupted, placing a calming Hand on Isaac’s a “The temperature drops rapally at this elevation. Let’s just get the firewood so everyone stays ww”
Isaar wanted to argue, but the brief contact of her fingers on his arm and the trust in her yelce made his chest light with conflicted emotions.
He led the water team while Aurelia disappeared into the dark forest with Legi
The moment they were alone, Luigi couljet contain his desperation any longer: “Aurelia, are you falling for Isaac??
Not your fucking business” Aurelia pushed through dense undergrowth, her flashlight scanning for suitable branches.
Luigi’s voice cracked with four years of pent–up anguish: “I searched for you every day for four years. How can you put more on with
*Chapter 22
guy? We promised to be everything to each other.”
Past tense, Luigi We were kids who made stupid promises.” Her tone was clipped, professional. “Tocus on the task. People are depe warmth, and hypothermia is a real tisk up here.”
Lutes fell silent but enntinned staring at her with such taw pain that it was physically uncomfortable
Aurelia tried to ignore him, but his intensity was suffocating. She’d spent four years holding walls, and his presence was threatening in crack them.
A sharp hissing sound cut through the night air.
Aurelia spun around and her blood went cold. A diamonillisek rattlesnake was colled on a fallen log inches from Luigi’s leg, its triangular head rased and ready to strike.
Torror shot through her system. “DON’T MOWE
Without thinking. Aurelia lunged forward and drew the tactical knife from her belt,
hrough the air with deadly precision.
The snake’s head hit the forest flour.
But in her desperate rush, her hand raked across a cluster of thorns, leaving deep, bleeding gashes.
She quickly wrapped the wounds with fabric torn from her shirt and fixed Luigi with a furious stare
“This isn’t your safe linle campus where people constantly protect you out here, one mistake can kill you in minutes. Start paying attention or you’ll get or all killed”
Even as she spoke, her peripheral vision caught movement–another snake sliding out from under nearby rocks
Her blade flashed again, eliminating the second threat
But the sudden movement threw off her balance on the steep, loose terrain, and she tumbled straight down the mountainside-
