Chapter 266

The instructor gave a curt nod.

Evelyn ventured deeper into the forest with Winifred, who regarded her with a polite smile. "You're Evelyn, right? I'm Winifred. I've been in the camp for a year. Nice to meet you." Evelyn returned the smile, though her instincts prickled.

"Did you volunteer for this training?" Winifred asked, her tone light but probing.

Evelyn didn't deny it. Instead, she tilted her head slightly. "I'm here for a test."

Winifred's eyes flickered, but she merely nodded and said nothing more.

The dense foliage swallowed the path behind them, the towering trees casting long shadows. New recruits were always paired with veterans—standard procedure. That was why Winifred had been assigned to her.

Evelyn scanned the surroundings, unease creeping in. "How much farther to the camp?"

Winifred hesitated, her gaze shifting away. "Not far. Maybe ten minutes."

But ten minutes passed, then twenty. The forest only grew thicker, the camp nowhere in sight. Evelyn stopped abruptly. "Are we going the right way?"

When she turned, Winifred was gone.

"Winifred?"

Only the rustling leaves and distant bird calls answered.

Evelyn's jaw tightened. If Winifred had been here a year, she’d know the route—unless she’d led her astray on purpose.

But why? They’d only just met.

Right now, finding Winifred was the priority.

Back at camp, the instructor frowned as he finished roll call. "Two missing."

"Sir, the new recruit and Winifred aren’t here," someone called out.

Felix scanned the crowd, his expression darkening when he didn’t spot Evelyn.

Then Winifred stumbled into view—alone.

The instructor marched toward her. "Where’s the recruit?"

Winifred bit her lip, feigning distress. "She wouldn’t listen to me. She insisted on heading north. I couldn’t stop her."

A ripple of shock spread through the group.

North. The restricted zone.

The camp sat on Swallow County’s southern edge, but the northern woods were uncharted—home to predators and treacherous terrain. Only fools ventured there.

Felix stepped forward, his voice sharp. "You expect us to believe a new recruit ignored orders? You left her."

Winifred recoiled, eyes widening. "Felix, I—"

He cut her off, turning to the instructor. "Sir, we need to send a search party. Now. Before nightfall."

The instructor’s face tightened, but he grabbed his walkie-talkie. "Main camp, we have a recruit lost in the restricted zone. Deploy rescue immediately."