The Helix Institute's outdoor training grounds were a brutal expanse of jagged cliffs, dense forests, and icy rivers. Ethan stood at the edge of the clearing, the cold wind biting through his thin training gear. His ribs still ached from the mission, and every muscle in his body screamed for rest.
But rest wasn't part of Seraphina Vale's curriculum.
"Listen carefully," Seraphina said, her voice carrying easily over the howling wind. She stood tall, dressed in black tactical gear, her sharp eyes scanning the recruits with clinical precision. "You will spend the next seventy-two hours navigating this terrain. No supplies, no weapons, no backup. Your objective is simple: survive and reach the extraction point."
Her lips curled into the faintest of smiles. "Fail, and you'll learn just how far you have left to go."
Ethan glanced at Elise Laurent, who stood beside him, her expression unreadable. Marcus Wren was a few paces away, his arms crossed and his usual smirk absent.
"Any questions?" Seraphina asked.
The recruits stayed silent.
"Good." She pointed toward the forest. "Your timer starts now. Move."
The first few hours were grueling.
Ethan led the way through the dense underbrush, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of danger. The air was cold and damp, the scent of pine and moss thick around them.
"Do you even know where we're going, Cross?" Marcus called from the back of the group, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"We're heading west," Ethan replied, keeping his voice even. "The extraction point is on the other side of the river."
Marcus scoffed. "Great plan. I'm sure the wolves will love it."
"Shut up, Wren," Elise snapped, her voice low but sharp. "You're not helping."
Ethan clenched his jaw, ignoring the tension building between them.
By nightfall, the group had made little progress. The forest was unforgiving—thick, tangled branches and hidden roots tripped them at every step. The icy wind cut through their clothes, and hunger gnawed at their stomachs.
Ethan crouched by a small clearing, studying the faint glow of a distant ridge.
"We'll camp here for the night," he said.
Elise nodded, already gathering dry branches for a fire. Marcus leaned against a tree, his arms crossed.
"A fire? Brilliant," Marcus said. "Why don't we hang up a sign that says 'Come eat us' while we're at it?"
Elise shot him a glare. "Do you ever stop complaining?"
"Only when I'm surrounded by competent people," Marcus shot back.
Ethan stood, his fists clenching. "Enough, both of you."
Marcus smirked. "Aw, look at Cross trying to be a leader. How cute."
Ethan took a step forward, his voice low and steady. "You want to take over, Wren? Be my guest. But if you're just here to make this harder for everyone, keep your mouth shut."
For a moment, Marcus looked like he might push back. But then he shrugged, turning away.
"Whatever you say, hero."
The night was colder than Ethan had expected.
The fire crackled softly, its warmth barely cutting through the chill. Ethan sat with Elise on one side, while Marcus kept his distance, staring into the flames.
"This is worse than the mountains," Elise muttered, rubbing her hands together.
"At least the mountains had an exit strategy," Ethan said with a faint smirk.
Elise chuckled softly, but her expression quickly turned serious. "You think Seraphina's watching us?"
Ethan nodded. "She's always watching."
From across the fire, Marcus spoke, his voice quieter than usual.
"You think they'd let us die out here?"
Ethan glanced at him, surprised by the question.
"No," Ethan said after a moment. "They want us to think they would, but they wouldn't."
Marcus's smirk returned, but it was faint. "You're awfully sure about that."
Ethan didn't reply.
The next day brought more challenges.
A freezing river blocked their path, its current fast and treacherous. The icy water sent chills down Ethan's spine as he waded across, the riverbed slippery and uneven.
Marcus slipped, nearly being swept away before Ethan grabbed his arm and hauled him upright.
"Careful," Ethan muttered, his breath visible in the frigid air.
Marcus grunted, avoiding his gaze. "I had it under control."
Ethan said nothing, but Elise rolled her eyes.
By the third day, exhaustion weighed heavily on the group. Their clothes were torn, their faces streaked with dirt, and their movements sluggish.
The extraction point was close, Ethan could see the faint outline of the beacon in the distance.
But as they approached, a shadow moved in the trees.
"Get down!" Ethan hissed, dropping to the ground.
The group froze as a wild boar emerged from the underbrush, its tusks gleaming in the faint light. The animal snorted, pawing at the ground.
"Stay still," Ethan whispered.
The boar charged.
Ethan grabbed a branch, swinging it as the animal lunged. The makeshift weapon connected with a dull thud, but the boar barely flinched.
"Elise, move!" Ethan shouted.
Elise darted to the side, grabbing a sharp rock. She leapt onto the boar's back, driving the rock into its neck. The animal thrashed wildly before collapsing in a heap.
The group stood in stunned silence, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"That was…" Marcus began, his voice unsteady.
"Intense," Elise finished, wiping the blood from her hands.
They reached the extraction point an hour later, the faint hum of a helicopter cutting through the stillness.
Seraphina Vale stood waiting, her sharp eyes taking in their disheveled appearances.
"You survived," she said simply.
Ethan stepped forward, his voice steady despite his exhaustion. "Was there ever a doubt?"
Seraphina's lips twitched into something resembling a smile. "Always."
The recruits climbed into the helicopter, the weight of the past seventy-two hours settling heavily on their shoulders.
Ethan leaned back against the cold metal wall, his eyes drifting closed.
This had been a test. A brutal, unforgiving test.
And somehow, they'd passed.
Lex's words echoed in his mind:
"Once you're in… there's no turning back."
End of Chapter 15.