The weather was windy during class break for the students, and they sat around their usual hang-out spot. Peter was sitting on the bench, studying.
"What are you studying, Pit?" Angelo asked.
Peter scoffed while rubbing his head. "Economics, Jesus Christ." He paused, taking in a deep breath. "These exams will kill me, I tell ya."
The group chuckled.
"All of us. If it makes you feel better," Ann said.
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
"I mean, by all of us you probably mean those who actually want to study, right?" Mario asked.
She chuckled. "Well, of course. It's not like you'd know what to write. Anyways, are you giving an exam, Pit?"
"Yes, this Sunday at my private course." He paused for a moment. "Five and a half months till the finals!" He said with heavy breathing as soon as he finished the sentence.
"Don't remind yourself of that, malaka," George said. "It will make you more anxious."
"Yeah, I know."
"Don't take it personally, you're making me anxious as well. That's why I'm calling it out."
Peter let out a sigh while closing the book. "Forget it. I can't give my 100% concentration during breaks."
"Wise choice," Mario said. "You should be more chill, like me."
The group turned their gaze upon him, and they laughed.
"You haven't touched a book since 3rd grade," Lucilia said, laughing.
"Incorrect. Since kindergarten."
They laughed harder.
"Really? What was the occasion?" George asked.
"My mom said she would take away my Playstation. Can't have her doing that now, can we?"
The group laughed again.
"Guess not," George said.
They started calming down slowly, slowly.
"I truly hope I get into uni on my first try. Can't go on like this," Peter said in a dead tone without any room for excitement.
"Word," Ann said. "It's dreadful, however I like to think that it will be worth it. I mean, we've come so far."
"True," Peter muttered.
"No need for the long face, man," John said. "We will make it."
"Thanks, man," Peter said. "Anyways, let's change the topic, shall we? Mario, George, how did it go? The games, I mean."
"Challenging," George said. "Really challenging."
"I was EASILY the best player."
The group glanced at each other.
"Is this another joke?" George asked.
"What da you mean, joke?"
"No comment."
"Soooo, you don't know if you've been selected yet?"
"No man, it will be announced later this week. I believe after the girls' volleyball qualifiers."
"Don't remind me of that," Ann said, scratching her forehead.
"What is it?" George asked. "Aren't you excited?"
"I am, but not that much."
"Why so?" Angelo asked.
"Helen will be taking part in it."
"Ohhh," the group said in union.
"Yeah, that does it," Angelo said.
"Wait, are we talking about the same Helen?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, we are, dummy," Ann said.
The bell rang, and the students either started going to their classrooms or lingered a little longer. Whispers could be heard through the school and its hallways. The group started walking slowly toward their classes.
John started stretching. "At last, the last period of the day, then we can finally go home."
"To continue studying?" Peter asked.
"Speak for yourself, buddy."
"Whatever," Peter let out a sigh.
"Ohh, by the way, Emily, what do you plan on doing now?"
Emily looked up from the ground. "Huh? What plan?"
"About the whole magic island and stuff," John said.
"I… I don't know. I'm looking into it."
Mario looked puzzled while George stopped, and his smile turned into a serious expression.
"What magic island? As in a new video game?" Mario asked.
The group stopped.
"Oh right, you two don't know about it yet," Eva said.
"KNOW WHAT?" Mario raised his hands.
The group continued walking while they explained to George and Mario what they had missed. Mario stopped again, and so did the rest.
"What??!" Mario almost yelled at them. "Why didn't you tell us through the messages??"
"We forgot, dude. Don't freak out," Ann said.
"Da fuck you mean don't freak out? WE LITERALLY JUST FOUND OUT MAGIC IS REAL." Mario yelled again.
"One, people are staring at us, so please stop shouting. Two, you believe in God. What made you so surprised about learning magic is real?" Peter said calmly.
Mario looked at him dumbfounded. "WHAT ARE—" Peter put his hand in front of his mouth.
"Relax, it's just another normal Tuesday," Peter said.
"Okay, normal is a big word," Ann said.
"Details."
George started laughing as he continued walking.
"Why are you laughing?" Emily asked.
George turned around smiling. "What?"
"Why are you laughing?"
"Nothing. I just find your attempts at fooling us… quite disrespectful. Like, did y'all truly believe that we would fall for it?"
The rest looked stunned.
"Yeah, it is hard to comprehend, but we are serious," Angelo said.
"I noticed. Must have put a lot of work into this play."
They looked at each other.
"We are telling you the truth. We can prove it," Emily said.
He laughed. "Good one, haha."
"What is it with you?"
George's tone changed. "Let's suppose this is real. What will you do?"
"What… what do you mean?" Emily asked, stumbling between each word.
"OKAYYY, I think we should get going, guys. I don't want to get any more absences. Need to save them for April and May, you know?" Peter said, trying to walk away.
"No, wait a minute. Let her speak. So, tell us, Emily, what do you plan to do? Do you know any magic to begin with?"
"No, I do not, but that's not—" George interrupted her.
"You don't know, you gave them false hope. Congratulations. What will you try to do next? Go back in time and stop the Rwanda genocide? Or the Holocaust? Or one of the more modern ones? I'd love to see you try."
The rest of the group were left stunned by George's boldness. Nonetheless, they let him speak his mind.
"Listen here. Not just you, everybody. That is not our problem. There are so many messed-up things in the world. Why is this important? Because they're Zakynthians? Why mess with things that are beyond your understanding? Magic. Do you want to be cursed for life? Because that's the only thing you'll succeed at. You have a good life, Emily. Why ruin it all?" George ranted as the others listened. Nobody tried to stop him. "Let's keep going. We are getting late for class." He started moving toward the classrooms, and the others followed.
"I still need to know more about this though," Mario whispered to Peter.
Peter let out a sigh. "Sure, man. Whatever. I'll try to find time."
The group went to their separate classrooms. They tried to ignore George's words, but they couldn't. They knew deep down that he was right. During class Emily found herself replaying his words.
"What am I supposed to do?" she thought. "Why do I even want to do this?" Although it was hard, she tried paying attention to her lesson in an effort to take her mind off their argument.
The day was very cloudy, and the sun showed up one moment and disappeared the next. Teachers' voices echoed through the hallways. In the teachers' office, many had already started to leave and go home. The school's gate had been opened as Mr. Rose started walking toward his bike.
"Good afternoon, Mark," Mr. Papadatou said while sitting on a bench reading a book.
Mr. Rose turned his head. "Oh, George, what a pleasant surprise."
Mr. Papadatou got up and walked up to him.
"How have you been?" Mr. Rose asked while extending his hand.
Mr. Papadatou shook it. "Good. You know, the usual. Finished early today, huh?"
"I wouldn't say one hour earlier is finishing early, but still. What brings you here today?"
"That student of yours, the one you sent to talk to me."
"What about her?"
"How did she know?"
"The island, you mean?"
"What else?"
"I don't know. She must have found out herself."
"How?"
"How should I know?"
"Why did you send her to me?"
He shrugged. "Thought you could see if she could take the exams."
He narrowed his eyes. "Are you serious?"
"Why wouldn't I be? She has the qualities of a hunter."
"What qualities? Athletic? That's not the only thing necessary to be a hunter." He raised his voice.
"I know her better than you. That's why I sent her to you. Didn't think it would be so hard for you to come to a decision."
He paused and thought to himself. "Very well. If you truly think she is capable and willing to do anything in order to gain knowledge, then she should be capable of anything necessary to win, no?" he said with a sharp voice.
Mr. Rose's eyes narrowed. "Sounds like you're planning on threatening her."
"It's not a threat. It's the reality she lives in. We were also put in this kind of position. This isn't a game or a normal exam. This is the opportunity for her to understand the world around her. It is something that must be earned through sacrifices. If that's her ambition, she must know it herself."
Mr. Rose nodded while looking at the sky, a little more cloudy than before. "Hope you are prepared, Ms. Emily," he thought to himself.
"I will give her the location of the exams if she succeeds in my test. I am a man of promises. You know that."
"Of course I do. Those are what your beliefs are based on. Promise, conflict, resolution, and struggle." He paused, looking back at him. "What, will you give her a test?"
"You could say that. As you know, I have a couple of students who know about the exams. One of the girls will be taking part in the volleyball team. If Emily is as good or even better than her while also juggling her exams successfully, I will give her the location of the exams."
He thought for a moment. "How will this determine if she is capable or not?"
"This will show her determination, as well as her dedication when she puts her all into something. So with volleyball she needs to be as good or better than my student, whereas in her exams here she should take at least a 17/20. How does that sound?"
"Good enough," he said, walking up to his bike.
"Why have you never bought a car? Doesn't it get tiring biking every day?"
"I'm trying to make a small contribution to preventing climate change, even just a bit."
They both laughed.
"Very well. Hey, who am I to criticize your decisions?"
"Exactly." They laughed again.
"Very well, see you around."
"Sure. Goodbye."
Before he left, Mr. Rose asked, "Will you kill her if she fails?"
"That is up to her," he said calmly.
"I see."
He watched Mr. Rose ride down the street as he walked out of the school and down to the road where buses were parked to pick up students and send them home. He sat on one of the stone benches, waiting for Emily to come out of the school. He continued reading his book. "The thought of a child being put into the real world," he thought, "truly fascinates me." He chuckled at his own thoughts.
The school bell rang and students burst through the gates like cheetahs. Peter and Emily walked side by side.
"Is everything ok?" Peter asked.
"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"
"You know he's got a point though, right?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Peter stopped and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, this doesn't make you a bad person. Think of it this way: if you're a bad person, then we're as bad as you since we hang out with you."
Emily turned her head, smiling. "Thanks. I appreciate it."
"Anytime," Peter smiled.
"Guys, what took you so long?" Mario asked from behind.
The two turned around to look at him.
"I was waiting for a long time, man."
"Why so?"
"My teacher told me to get out of the classroom."
"Why? What did you do?" Emily asked.
"I was 2 minutes late."
"Seriously? For that short period of time?"
"Who was your teacher?" Peter asked.
"Informatics…"
"Oooohhh. Understood," Peter said.
They continued walking down the road to get to the buses.
"Is everything ok, Em?" Mario asked.
She nodded. "Yeah, it could have been worse." She laughed.
"He… had a point, you know?"
She nodded, not uttering a word.
"Dude!" Peter called him out.
"What? I'm right."
"Ms. Emily," Mr. Papadatou said, getting up from the bench. "Was waiting for you."
"Oh sir, hi. Didn't expect you here." She laughed awkwardly. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you."
Peter looked at Mario, who looked back at him, to see if they were thinking the same thing.
"I spoke with Mr. Rose and realized you have too much potential to let you sink in the mud."
"Yeah, he's definitely a pedophile," Mario thought to himself.
"The chances of him being a pedo are as much as Trump being on the Epstein files," Peter thought to himself.
"I don't understand," Emily said.
"I'll tell you as soon as we're left alone." His gaze went toward the boys.
"Oh, we ain't—" Before Peter replied, Emily said,
"Yeah, of course, no problem. Guys, do you mind?"
"Of course we mind," Mario said.
"It's between the two of us. Hope you understand."
Peter and Mario looked at one another again.
"Not like that," Emily said angrily, while Mr. Papadatou spoke in a tired voice.
"Right," Peter said, grabbing Mario's arm. "We'll be around here… well, unless our bus leaves before you're finished. I'm not walking back home."
"Me neither." Mario leaned close to her. "If you need anything, text."
The boys left and went onto a bus.
"Goodfellas."
"Yeah, they are." She turned back to him. "What did Mr. Rose tell you that changed your opinion?"
"Nothing much. Figured that if he was willing to send you to me, then you're the real deal. However, I can only tell you so much."
Emily raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I can't give you direct answers to your questions. However, I can give you a clue or two. Would you mind talking with me in a car ride? You'll probably miss the bus anyway." He started walking toward his car.
Emily hesitated for a moment but eventually followed.
"Why's he going to his car?" Mario asked.
"I don't know, man."
"Does she look good to you?"
"Hard to say."
"We better get out of here."
"You're right. We should get with them in the car."
They tried to get out of the bus, but it had already started, and there were too many students standing in the aisles for them to squeeze through.
"Shit," Peter said, slamming his leg. "We can't get out now. Look at this."
"It's good we're in the last seat and that they're following the bus. We can see them more clearly."
"True." He turned his head back.
"Aren't you going to keep looking?"
"No, I'm getting dizzy."
"So easily?"
Peter shrugged.
"You're weak, bro." He looked back at them. "I'm just wondering what they're talking about."
"So that's what I need to do to earn your trust?" Emily asked.
"Yes. Simple, no?"
"Too simple. So you won't tell me anything until then?"
He chuckled. "Well, it depends. What would you want to know?"
"What's this test all about?"
"I told you. To see if you have the right amount of determination and concentration."
"For what?"
He laughed. His laugh made Emily shiver. It was sincere, yet psychopathic. He turned his gaze on her.
"Don't chicken out now. If you do, I might have to kill you."
"Why's that?" She spoke in a voice of both fear and anger from his comment.
"Can't let you go on to tell more people about it, can we?"
"We?"
He smiled. "The Hunter Association."
Her eyes widened. "The… what?"
"You heard it."
She was left stunned. "Why… why are you telling me this?"
"To give you an extra boost. No pressure though," he said calmly in a chilling voice.
Emily laughed nervously. "Thank you, I appreciate it."
He stopped his car and looked at her with a dead serious expression. "If you lose, you die. So will everybody who knows about this."
He smiled at her, and they continued the ride in pure silence. Emily was conquered by her feelings of fear and anger. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked out of the window.
"What have I put us into?" she thought to herself.
"Do you understand?" He said in a demanding tone.
She turned to him and took a deep breath.
"If you're trying to scare me, it won't work. In fact, quite the opposite. I'm more intrigued to find out more about all this mysteries than I was before." She said in a very clear, confident and reassuring tone.
He looked at her eyes for quite some time. Her eyes were sharp but they still had a feeling of an uneasy to them. As if she still can't get over the fear of failing. He laughed as he continued driving.
"I love people like you."
Emily still scared of him, was taken aback from his reaction.
"If you accomplish the small mission I gave you. I might even start training you myself, if you'd like of course. Think of it as my congratulations gift to you. So you can become a hunter in your first time."
Emily was stunned by his sudden character change. "Is he messing with me?" She thought to herself. Trying to scan his face for something that will give away his true intentions.
"What is it?"
"What do you want?"
He didn't answer immediately. He thought of his answer.
"To be entertained of course." He smiled at her. "Don't give too much thought into it. I can see it in your eyes that you'll succeed. So just enjoy the ride."