As they got closer to their destination, they heard some people's voices. "Looks like we've been beaten to it." Michael muttered.
"We'll wait. It doesn't seem like they are looking for it." Yanda said. "How do you know?"
"It sounds like they're beating up someone." Yanda said.
"Beating? We have to --"
"Don't Michael, we're near their camp. We can't interfere." Eloise warned. "Let's stay here for now." Peeking through the bushes, Eloise saw a tall, black boy (with his short dreadlocks tied up) beating up one of his teammates.
"I won't tolerate any form of nonsense in this group."
He's here, huh? Eloise smiled to herself. That's lovely.
"Why the hell are you smiling?"
"Nothing. We should go."
When they arrived, they searched the whole area but neither found the tag nor anything that could be of help to them. In the end, their search that day was wasted. That evening, Eloise called a meeting for her teammates. She set up a bonfire and everyone sat round it.
"What is this, some cheesy camping experience?" Andrea asked.
"No." Eloise replied. "Tonight, we're going to settle our differences and no one is leaving."
There was no reaction.
"Very well. Let's discuss the most pressing issue: Jean and Class D. Jean, care to explain why you hate Andrea and Michael?"
The recipient folded his arms and sighed. "Please stop treating me like the villain. I've done nothing wrong."
"That's if discrimination isn't counted as a crime." Eloise said and Jean laughed. "I'm afraid you are mistaken. I was only stating their position in this school and I don't necessarily hate them, I just can't stand people of such low class." Just as Michael stood to give him a piece of his mind, Andrea dragged him.
"You know, we can be a better team if you stop your nonsense."
"You call my ideals nonsense? Believe me, not even a low class peasant like you Eloise can make me stop."
"What was that?"she asked with a hint of anger in her tone.
"You are better than them, in educational standings but I'm still better than you."
"I see. I thought we could talk this out but it's quite evident that you are not willing to cooperate with others so I have no choice but to let you be. Just don't interfere with the group's progress."
"I'm sorry but who made you group leader?"he asked. "I remember correctly you weren't elected as group leader so you can't make such decisions like this."
"Yes she can!" Yanda spoke up. "I'm officially transferring leadership."
"What!" Jean exclaimed. "You can't do that!"
"This wasn't supposed to be shown until the end of the exam but I am letting you all see it. Eloise will be your new captain." Yanda brought out a small blue ribbon and handed it over to Eloise.
"Doesn't it come with some condition?" Jonas asked. "Yes it does. If we lose, both of us will be expelled."
"That last one will be less likely to occur. Even if we don't get the tag, we won't be last."
★★★★
Samantha-- the Vice President-- was sitting by the pool on the ship, lost in her thoughts when a familiar voice brought her back to reality.
"What's the VP doing here by this time?"he asked. "Nothing much.It's pretty lonely here."
"Would have been lonelier if I wasn't here. So what is going to happen now? You told those kids to find something that they have never seen in their lives."
"Maybe but I guess they'll know once they see it." The two continued to talk for hours before Samantha decided to leave.
"Well Travis, don't tell anyone about what we just discussed." She gave him a dirty look. "I'll kill you for that."
"What are you talking about?" She smiled before leaving.
Early the next day, the students on the island were awoken by a loud horn that could be heard from any part of the area. Tired and confused, they followed the sound and reached the shore. Standing there with a microphone was Samantha.
"Good morning everyone! I guess most of you didn't sleep well so I won't waste much of your time. I have good news and bad news. The good news is, there will be medical boats on standby in case of any unfortunate occurrence but the bad news is, there is a catch. The number of people left on a team by the end of this exam is a deciding factor of its teamwork score so if more people leave a team, it's less likely for them to have a good score on teamwork. Also, if the team captain is taken away on one of those boats before the end, that team is automatically disqualified and its current scores will be assessed. That will be all for now, I wish you good luck." She entered a small boat behind her and the students began to shout in dissatisfaction with the new rule.
"It's like she wants us to die here!"a student groaned. After some time, the crowd at the shore began to diminish and soon, it was only Eloise. She brought out the map and studied it carefully before going to regroup with her teammates.
"Guys, I think I know where the V-tag is."she said to them. "Are you sure?" Andrea asked doubtfully. "Hear her out first." Michael said.
"Thank you. Like I said, there's a place that is most likely the location of the tag."
"Thanks for stating the obvious." "Andrea!"
"Anyway, it might be hidden in the ' students council building '."
"Why would the school hide it there?" "Well, there are two possible reasons. One, the school just picked it or two and probably the most evident, this isn't an official school exam."
"It isn't?" Jonas asked, confused. "Maybe. Things were pretty much off from the beginning. For starters, the Students council president informed us about this and not the school and even though there were some teachers on board, none of them came when the VP addressed us twice so it's should be alright if it's there."
"For some reason that made sense...I think." Alex muttered. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
When they got there, the team searched the area until one of them found a wooden box in a tree but nothing was inside. "Damn it," Derek, one of them said as he kicked a tree in frustration. "Someone beat us to it."
"How are we sure this isn't a random box?" Andrea asked. "Because," Yanda took the box from Andrea's hands. "this box has the school logo on it." "It could be some clue box." Alex suggested. "Let's check the box." As he ransacked the box, a black card fell out. Alex picked it up and read aloud:"It's all where it began".
"Obviously it's by the shore." Andrea blurted out.
By the shore, Jean was waiting for them. "What do you want?" "What I want? I just want to help you with your search."he replied.
"Are you finally willing to cooperate?"
"No, I just want to let you know that, I found the box of the V-tag but absolutely nothing was inside." "See, I told you." Derek said.
"Are you lying to us?" Michael asked. "Now, why would I lie to you? After all, I am a member of this group and I don't hold a personal grudge against you all." Eloise stared at him for some time before she shrugged and said "Fine then. I guess we have no other choice but to wait until the end of the exam."
On the afternoon of the final day, a loud horn blared throughout the island. The students knew what it meant and they went to the shore. It was just like the last time the VP addressed them, except there were teachers.
"Good morning guys! I'm so glad most of you are here, about 18 of you guys are receiving medical attention but they're nothing serious. Anyway, today is the last day of the special exam and of course one of you is getting expelled. I'll announce the results but first, if your team has the tag kindly step out with it team captain. Two male students stepped out, the boy with the dreadlocks and a dark haired student.
"Huh? What are you doing here? I have the tag!"the dark haired student complained. "You don't want to answer me? Are you scared of getting caught?"
"You should shut up already. I'm tired right now."the black boy replied
"Oh you're tired? I'm sorry princess."he said sarcastically.
"At least a princess has more balls than you."
"What did you just say?"he spoke through gritted teeth, his anger barely contained.
"You're not even ashamed of yourself. You make a fake one because you're broke then you act like a big shot. That's the epitome of low-liveliness."
"That's enough! I don't want you two fighting now. Hand over the tags and we'll see who's lying." Samantha said. They did as told and she held it up, towards the direction of the sun. Though both looked identical, one of them had a small hole in shape of the school's logo. She returned it back to them and concluded that the dark haired student had the fake one.
"Your tag did not have an identification mark so you obviously faked it."she told him. "But don't worry, this won't affect your team's scores." They went back and Samantha announced the results. Eloise's team placed third while the captain of Rae's team was to be expelled.
***
That night, Eloise was taking a relaxing stroll on the ship when she saw the boy with the dreadlocks casually leaning on the metal bars of the ship's promenade deck. He turned to her and let out a soft gasp.
"Devanté."she called out and smiled. "Found you."