Chapter 3

We walked in silence. I led the way, with Serena trailing behind.

“I’m so tired. How much longer until we get there?”

Serena finally broke the silence, but it was just a string of complaints.

“I didn’t ask you to come. If you’re tired, you can go back.”

“Don’t provoke me! I’m not going back.”

“Then shut up, say less, and conserve your energy.”

Serena scoffed, then abruptly changed her tone.

“Guess why I wanted to be on your team?”

I didn't answer.

“I just wanted to tell you to give up on Caleb early. He’s never going to be with you! You’re his enemy now; he hates you more than anything.”

“…What do you mean?”

Seeing me turn back, Serena hugged her shoulders triumphantly.

“You don’t know yet, do you—”

Her words were cut short by a sudden roar of a wild animal in the distance.

I quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.

“Don’t speak!”

The roar was long and low, carrying a strong warning.

Serena was shaking all over, tears streaming down her face.

I pressed myself against the ground, feeling the vibrations from the roar.

The beast’s footsteps were relentless, getting closer and closer—

“Run!”

I gripped Serena’s wrist tightly and sprinted forward.

Every second was terrifying; I ran with all my might.

But Serena was losing stamina, her steps growing heavier and heavier.

“I’m tired! I’m not running anymore!”

Serena cried, shaking off my hand and plopping down on the ground.

“Do you want to die?”

I couldn't leave her alone there, so I desperately pulled her!

“I’m just not running! What’s that thing going to do, eat me?”

The roars grew closer, my heart was pounding out of my chest.

In that instant, I forcefully dragged Serena behind a thick tree.

Holding my breath, I silently watched the direction the roar had come from.

Within seconds, a tiger slowly emerged from the depths of the woods.

It was over two meters long, exceptionally robust, with piercing amber eyes.

Serena, who had just been loudly complaining about not running, was now too terrified to move.

If it weren't for me, she would have collapsed into a trembling heap.

The tiger didn’t seem to notice us. I was secretly relieved when Serena suddenly let out a shriek.

“Ah!”

A flying insect had landed on her hand.

“Bug! Bug!”

With that scream, my heart plummeted.

Without thinking, I dragged Serena deeper into the forest.

In our escape, we bumped into Paul, who was collecting firewood.

“Run!”

Paul, confused, looked back curiously.

Before he could even register what was happening, the tiger sprang from the dense bushes and bit deeply into his thigh!

Serena’s screams were so loud they drowned out Paul’s last cry.

I don't know how long passed, but the tiger’s roars gradually faded. I went back alone to look for Paul, but only found half of his body and his head.

His internal organs had been torn out, his intestines dragged far away, and his thighs and arms were mangled beyond recognition.

Serena had run back alone and told the others about encountering the tiger.

The others arrived with torches. Seeing Paul’s body, they were all struck speechless with terror.

Serena reacted even more violently, throwing up on the spot.

Then, she pointed at me, turning it all around on me.

“Jocelyn, I never thought you’d be this kind of person… Because I traded crackers with you earlier, you bore a grudge and wanted to get back at me… The tiger was clearly going to pass us by, but *you* screamed, which made it notice us! If it weren’t for you, Paul wouldn’t have died…”

Serena cried and accused, pinning all the blame on me.

“Even if you hate me, you can’t play with people’s lives… What did Paul ever do wrong?”

She sobbed incessantly, tears flowing like a flood.

Paul’s death was truly horrific, and it fueled the anger of the others.