Unclassified; Zero and Still Standing

Early the next morning, Squad 11-D sat scattered across the cold floor of their Base.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody had the strength to.

The previous night had stretched endlessly.

They had searched until darkness gave way to dawn.

Every trail.

Every clearing.

Every scorched patch of earth.

Nothing.

Not another trace of Finch.

Eventually, exhaustion had forced them back to Base.

Tired. Dirty. Empty-handed.

Yet not a single one of them had managed to sleep.

Some hadn't even tried.

The moment they returned, Soraya had used the transmitter to notify their supervisors.

Hours had passed.

No reply.

Then not long ago, she had finally broken the silence.

"If they don't respond before midday..." she'd said, her voice frighteningly calm, "...we're going to find 12-C's Base."

Nobody questioned her.

"And the senior who did this." She said in conclusion.

Isaiah had hesitated before speaking.

"What if the Directive comes in while we're gone?"

Soraya had looked at him.

Then, without the slightest hesitation—

"Fuck the Directive."

Silence.

"Fuck Echelon."

That was all she needed to say. No one argued after that.

Truthfully, none of them knew how they intended to confront an entire senior squad.

But somehow that no longer seemed important.

Silence had reclaimed the Base once again.

And now, the first rays of sunlight crept through the entrance.

A new day had begun.

Yet no one welcomed it.

What if they found Finch?

Buried.

Just like the student in Carrots' story.

What if they confronted 12-C and ended up buried beside him?

The possibility was absurd. Ridiculous even. Yet tired minds wandered to terrible places.

In one corner of the Base, Yesu sat alone.

Finch's jacket remained clutched tightly in her hands.

Last night while everyone else had continued searching, she had simply remained beneath that tree.

She hadn't bothered to search any further.

Because she already knew they weren't going to find him.

Her eyes drifted to the gold-plated name tag.

The polished surface reflected part of her face.

She told herself she should have just stayed with him despite his boasting.

"Idiot."

The word escaped quietly.

The one time she'd actually listened to him, this happened.

She was never going to listen to him again.

Ever.

Although Yesu knew one thing with absolute certainty.

Finch was somewhere.

Not buried.

Alive.

But was no longer anywhere on the Trial grounds.

Yesu slowly lifted her head.

Shoe could hear footsteps. Distant, but definitely approaching the Base.

"Someone's coming." She said

Everyone looked toward her.

"What?"

Then the meaning of her words dawned on them.

The squad instinctively turned toward the entrance.

They listened.

Nothing.

Only the morning breeze.

Not even the students with Heightened Senses could catch up on anything.

Someone sighed.

"I think she's hearing things."

Grover shot him a disapproving look.

"Leave her alone." His voice was gentle. "She's probably taking this harder than the rest of us. They were the closest in class."

Farida, who had been red eyed since day break, sniffed, rubbing her nose.

"Yeah." She said in a small voice. "She's probably really sad."

Carrots quietly studied Yesu.

She didn't look sad. Not in the tiniest bit. She just looked…

Yesu.

Suddenly, James' head snapped upward.

"I hear it." He proclaimed.

Everyone looked at him.

"The footsteps." His expression shifted. "I hear them now."

The other two students with Heightened Senses immediately concentrated.

A few seconds later they both looked up.

Then all three slowly turned toward Yesu.

How had she heard the sound before any of them?

Soraya rose to her feet. Without a word, she walked outside.

The others followed.

Yesu stepped out last.

The squad gathered outside the Base, facing the forest.

Waiting.

"Do you think it's Finch?" someone asked quietly.

James closed his eyes. He inhaled deeply.

Then shook his head.

"No. It's not his scent."

He narrowed his eyes toward the trees, trying to see beyond.

"The leaves are in the way. I can't make out who it is." He said finally.

A pause.

"But, he's tall alright. I can make out that much."

He squinted again.

"And big too."

Isaiah swallowed. "Could it be someone from 12-C?"

Soraya shook her head.

"It can't. One of the Trial rules forbids squads from invading another squad's Base."

She folded her arms.

"That's why I told everyone to return here yesterday. Because I knew once we reached Base, 12-C wouldn't be able to touch us."

Isaiah frowned.

"Then, if we go to their Base later, wouldn't that be against the rules?"

Soraya answered without hesitation.

"We wouldn't be going there for anything related to the Trial. So no, it technically wouldn't be against the rules."

Isaiah gulped.

"What if… what if it's that senior coming to tell us…"

He couldn't finish.

Nobody needed him to. They already knew what he meant.

The footsteps grew louder.

Closer.

Now everyone could hear them.

The squad instinctively tensed.

Branches parted.

And a tall figure finally stepped out of the morning shadows.

Mr. Ryco.

The squad silently followed him back inside.

***

Inside the Base, Mr. Ryco stood before Squad 11-D.

His gaze slowly swept across the room, pausing briefly on every face.

When it reached Yesu, it lingered longer than necessary.

Soraya noticed.

At first, the squad had been relieved to see him.

Then uneasy.

This was definitely not the response they had envisioned.

They had expected a reply through the transmitter. Not a supervisor showing up in person.

And the fact that it was Mr. Ryco instead of Miss Heaven spoke volumes.

Perhaps the news was so bad that her perpetually displeased demeanor would've made it worse.

Mr. Ryco remained silent.

The tension became unbearable.

Finally, Soraya broke it.

"You got our message?" She asked.

"Your message was received." Mr. Ryco replied.

"Do you know what happened to Finch?"

"We do. The issue is being resolved."

The squad erupted.

"What issue?!"

"Did you get the senior?"

"Where's Finch?"

"What happened to him?"

Then—

"Is he dead?"

Silence crashed over the room. Every head slowly turned toward Carrots.

She blinked.

"What?" she said. "I just figured someone should ask the obvious question."

Farida finally broke.

She burst into tears.

Seeing that was enough for Reggie.

"I've had it with you!"

He stormed toward Carrots.

Several boys immediately grabbed him before he could reach her.

"You seriously think you can say anything without thinking about other people?!"

Carrots folded her arms.

"You're one to talk."

Mr. Ryco watched the argument unfold without making any attempt to interrupt.

Soraya didn't. She marched between them.

"Enough!"

Her voice shook the room.

"We're dealing with a potential murder case here. Grow the hell up!"

The room fell quiet.

Reggie shrugged off the hands restraining him.

Soraya turned back to Mr Ryco.

"Well?" Her voice was hard. "What happened to Finch? Is he dead? You should at least say something."

Mr. Ryco looked around the room.

"Finch is alive."

The entire squad released a collective breath.

"But he sustained severe injuries and will not be continuing the Trials. As for the senior, he has already been apprehended."

For the first time in hours, everyone could breathe properly.

"I want all of you to continue the Trials without fear," Mr. Ryco said. "You've all done well so far."

His gaze swept across once again.

"Tomorrow is the final day. Soon, you'll all go home. And this will be behind you."

Soraya scoffed quietly.

"Sure," she muttered. "Put this behind us and get ready for the next Trial."

Mr. Ryco ignored the comment.

He turned toward the door. Then glanced at Yesu.

"Kaelitha, come with me."

The room went still. All eyes wide in surprise, wariness.

Soraya's surprise lasted only a moment before her eyes narrowed in understanding.

Isaiah opened his mouth to say something.

One look from Soraya made him close it again.

Without another word, Mr. Ryco walked out.

Yesu followed.