The Heart of the Underdog

An hour later, the levitating bus carrying Remond and Sid reached its destination alongside two others.

The students disembarked and began forming neat rows, awaiting the principal's address.

"Students, as you know, this is an educational excursion. Each team will have its own teacher to lead them. I am giving you 10 minutes to submit your team members' names. Afterward, your assigned teacher will be announced," the principal declared in a formal tone.

Remond and Sid promptly submitted their team list. They had already recruited two more classmates, Ronnie and Matt, both good friends of Sid. While they weren't particularly close to Remond, they didn't mind teaming up with him.

Ten minutes later, twenty teams were finalized, each assigned a teacher.

Team 10—Remond, Sid, Ronnie, and Matt—were assigned Mr. Amit Sekhawat as their team leader.

"Bro, do you know anything about him?" Remond asked, his tone curious yet cautious.

"Nah," Sid shrugged casually. "Let's just see how this plays out."

The teams set off into the forest, guided by their respective teachers. Team 10 followed Mr. Sekhawat, who immediately began boasting about his military career.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, Sid, who had been half-listening to the teacher's endless monologue, suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He glanced around, feeling the eerie sensation of being watched.

"Where are you looking, dude?" Ronnie asked, noticing Sid's distracted gaze.

"Uh… nothing," Sid replied hesitantly. "I just thought I saw something, but it's probably nothing."

"Man, is it just me, or is this guy unbearable?" Ronnie muttered, referring to Mr. Sekhawat. "I get that he's proud of his military days, but who talks about themselves this much?"

"Don't let it get to you," Sid said with a shrug. "We'll only have to deal with him this one time. He's not worth stressing over."

Ronnie smirked, then nudged Matt as he gestured toward Remond. "Look at Remond. He's eating up this crap. What a dumb*ss!"

Matt chuckled in agreement.

Sid's relaxed expression darkened instantly. "Watch your mouth, you idiots. If I hear one more word of disrespect, you're gonna regret it."

"Whoa, chill, man!" Ronnie exclaimed, raising his hands defensively. "We were just messing around."

"Yeah, no need to get so worked up," Matt added sheepishly.

Sid glared at them for a moment before letting out an exasperated sigh. Meanwhile, Mr. Sekhawat continued talking, oblivious to the students' banter.

After an exhausting day of exploring, the teams regrouped at the forest cabins, where they were assigned accommodations for the night.

Before checking in, the teachers performed a headcount to ensure everyone was present. That's when the unsettling news broke.

Seven entire teams, along with their assigned teacher, were missing.

Despite extensive searching, no trace of them could be found.

The distressed principal immediately contacted the police.

"Everyone, some of your classmates have gone missing," the principal announced gravely. "Please stay calm and spend the night here in the cabins. The police will begin their search tomorrow, and we will arrange to take you back to town. I must insist—no one is to leave the cabin area tonight under any circumstances."

The students broke into hushed, frantic conversations, their anxiety palpable.

"Oh my God, what a nightmare!"

"Wait—Hitoshi is missing too?"

"Where's Angela? Don't tell me she's gone as well!"

"Bro, have you seen Jack? He's not here either. No way, is he...?"

The once lively group was now shrouded in fear and uncertainty.

---

Later that night, around 11 p.m., Cabin 2—where Remond and Sid were staying—was quiet.

Sid lay on his bed, scrolling aimlessly through his phone, while Remond attempted to fall asleep.

"You know, this place sucks," Sid grumbled, breaking the silence. "No internet connectivity. And we've got 7G now. What's the point?"

"Well, we're in the hills," Remond mumbled, his voice muffled by his pillow. "That kinda makes sense, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess," Sid muttered, staring at the ceiling. His tone shifted suddenly, turning somber. "Hey… did you hear? Innes was one of the students who went missing today."

The words hit Remond like a lightning bolt.

"What? Are you serious?" he exclaimed, sitting upright in his bed.

"Yeah. It's true," Sid replied, his expression unreadable.

"Don't tell me you're planning something reckless," Remond said, narrowing his eyes at Sid.

"Hell yeah, I am," Sid replied with a sly grin. "How about we investigate this ourselves?"

"Are you insane? The police will handle it tomorrow. If we get caught, we'll be in serious trouble!"

"Come on, think about it! If we find them first, we'll be heroes. Maybe we'll even get bravery awards. And don't forget—we owe Innes for what she did for us that day. Don't be a coward now," Sid teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Remond sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew Sid well enough to understand that no matter what he said, Sid wouldn't back down.

"Fine," he muttered reluctantly. "I'm in. Not like I have a choice."

"That's the spirit!" Sid grinned triumphantly.

After hashing out a quick plan, the two boys tiptoed out of their cabin, careful not to wake anyone. They disappeared into the night, determined to uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances.