Chapter: Venom and Fear
(Keifer's POV)
The moment Jay said she was fine…
I knew she wasn't.
Her eyes weren't focused anymore. She was staring somewhere past me, like her mind had been pulled back into a memory she didn't want.
I was still kneeling in front of her, my hands gently holding her shoulders.
"Jay," I said softly. "Look at me."
For a moment… she did.
Her eyes were glassy. Shaky.
Like she was trying to hold something inside that wanted to break out.
Around us, the lake was still loud with Section E's chaos.
Cin was shouting again.
"BRO WATCH THIS THROW!"
Rory yelled back, "If that hits me I'm pushing you in!"
Blaster had already jumped into the water and was screaming about how cold it was.
Drew and Felix were racing toward the deeper part of the lake while Denzel and Calix started betting on who would lose.
Josh, Emman, Eren, and Kit were arguing over something stupid near a rock.
Mayo was laughing so hard he almost fell over.
Freya and Ella were taking pictures near the trees.
Mica and Rakki were sitting together with their feet in the water.
Aries was leaning against a tree, watching everything with his usual smirk.
Michel stood nearby, quiet.
The forest was alive with noise.
But right in front of me—
Jay looked like she was somewhere else completely.
"Jay," I said again, quieter now.
Her breathing was uneven.
"I remember…" she whispered.
My chest tightened.
I didn't need her to explain. I already understood enough.
The scar.
The way she reacted.
The fear in her eyes.
Someone had hurt her before.
Badly.
I gently squeezed her shoulder.
"You don't have to think about that right now."
Her hands were trembling.
"It was him…" she murmured.
"Jay."
"My mom's husband…"
My jaw tightened instantly.
I didn't ask anything else.
I just pulled her into a quick hug.
She froze at first.
Then slowly… she relaxed a little.
"You're safe," I said quietly.
"I'm here."
For a moment the forest seemed quiet again.
The wind moved through the tall grass.
Water rippled across the lake.
Everything slowed down.
Then—
Jay suddenly pulled away.
She tried to stand.
"Hey," I said, standing with her. "Take it easy."
"I'm fine," she muttered.
But I could still see the tension in her shoulders.
She took a few steps away toward the grassy edge of the lake.
The tall grass there brushed against her legs.
I watched her carefully.
Something felt off.
Like the calm before a storm.
"Jay—"
Then it happened.
A sharp movement in the grass.
A fast strike.
Jay gasped.
"Ah—!"
Her body jerked suddenly.
My brain froze for half a second.
Then I saw it.
A snake pulling back into the grass.
My heart dropped.
"JAY!"
She stumbled backward.
Her hand instantly grabbed her leg.
Everyone around the lake turned at the sound.
"What happened?!"
"Jay?!"
Cin dropped the rock he was holding.
Rory ran over immediately.
Blaster splashed out of the water.
Aries pushed away from the tree.
Michel stepped forward quickly.
Jay tried to stay standing.
But I could see the panic in her eyes.
"…Keif…"
Her voice was weak.
I reached her in two seconds.
"What happened?" I demanded.
She pointed shakily at her leg.
"Snake…"
The word felt like a punch to my chest.
I looked down.
There were two small bite marks on her lower leg.
My stomach dropped.
"Damn it."
Around us chaos exploded.
"Snake?!" Cin shouted.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Rory yelled.
"Move!" David said, pushing through the group.
Freya gasped.
"Oh my god!"
Ella covered her mouth.
Mica and Rakki rushed closer but stopped when they saw Jay swaying.
Jay's grip on my arm tightened suddenly.
Her face had gone pale.
"Keif…"
"I've got you," I said quickly.
"Stay with me."
Her breathing became slower.
Her eyelids started drooping.
"Jay?" I said sharply.
She blinked slowly.
"…I feel weird…"
My heart started pounding harder.
"Jay look at me."
But her body was already going limp.
Her fingers loosened from my arm.
And then—
She collapsed.
"JAY!"
I caught her before she hit the ground.
Her head fell against my chest.
Her eyes were closed.
Completely unconscious.
For a moment…
Everything went silent in my head.
No thoughts.
No sound.
Just one terrifying realization.
Jay wasn't responding.
"Jay?" I whispered.
Nothing.
"Jay!"
Still nothing.
My chest felt like it was being crushed.
Around me everyone started shouting.
"IS SHE BREATHING?!"
"CALL SOMEONE!"
"WE NEED HELP!"
Aries was suddenly beside me.
"Keif."
His voice was serious now.
Not teasing.
Not joking.
Serious.
"We need to move."
I looked down at Jay's face.
She looked peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Like she was just sleeping.
But I knew this wasn't sleep.
Fear crawled up my spine.
I held her tighter.
"You're not leaving me," I muttered under my breath.
Then I stood up.
Holding her in my arms.
And for the first time since the trip started…
I felt real fear.
Because Jay—
My chaotic, loud, unstoppable Jay—
Was completely unconscious in my arms.