Mirror, Mirror (Book 2)

Chapter 32: An Odd Surprise

Finishing their breakfast, the children and Jonah have already left the orange trays on the lunch tables, as they follow Jake deep into the forest.

The line stretched from sophomores to seniors, trudging along the sun-baked dirt. At first, it was fun but as minutes became hours, the walking suddenly became boring.

It was at least thirty kilometers north from the campground; the trees soared like rocket ships, the fields of green grass begins to rub against bare legs, and on Oliver's left, just near the dying oak tree, were small insects flourishing on a squirrel's dead carcass.

"God," Oliver moaned.

He could see pink meat escaping from its belly; the squirrel's eyes looked as though it has been gouged out by a bird, and its tail became a garden for mushrooms to grow.

Disgusted, Oliver's eyes flickered to Adam Jackson, whose white shirt was drenched in sweat.

The jock has nut-brown hair, light pink skin, and matching brown eyes. Other than a white shirt, Adam had on a pair of khaki pants and black NIKE sneakers.

Like his friends, Adam was muscular, but he has a round face-it's about the size of a baby's.

"Hey, Adam."

"I just wanted to thank you for saving me," Oliver explained. "you, Jim, and Max helped me from that hail storm last night."

Adam rolled his eyes. "It wasn't like we have a choice."

"Thank you, anyways," said Oliver, treading on the cool dirt.

"No problem."

As he swats a fly buzzing near his nose, Oliver said to Adam, "do you know where we are going?"

The jock shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe someplace fun."

Someplace fun? Oliver doubted that an expedition in the forest will be enlightening. Looking over Adam's shoulder, Oliver saw Jake walking in a cheerful way.

His movements were lithe and fluid, his eyes shined with excitement, and the uncomfortable heat didn't bother him.

Oliver wonders whether Jake was stoked about the surprise, or if he was on his meds. Not only was Oliver suspicious, so were his classmates, who questioned themselves about the counselor's erratic behavior.

They didn't know whether this was a prank or not, but the kids were clueless when it comes to the woods.

"Jake!" a little girl whined. "How much further?"

"We're getting close!" Jake boomed for the umpteenth time.

"Are you sure?" Ivy, who stood behind Oliver, whined: "my feet won't last fifty miles!"

"We're almost there, Ivy," Jake vowed. "Don't give up!"

Ivy? thought Oliver, glancing over his shoulder.

The smug strawberry blond girl was getting tired of walking, her pink skin is coated with mosquito bites, and Oliver could hear grunting about her boobs popping out of her bra.

Not that Oliver cares about that.

As Ivy catches Oliver looking at her, the girl scoffed, "what are you looking at, pervert?"

Subsequently, the boy replied, "I was hoping if you know where Harriet is."

Ivy raised her red eyebrow at him. "Harriet? Why do I care about that slut?"

"Isn't she your friend?" Oliver implied, making Ivy laugh coldly.

"She used to be my friend, but we moved on to other things."