Chapter 2: Departure 1.0
India – Aranya International University
The early morning sky above Aranya International University was pale blue as the selected students arrived at the campus gate with their luggage.
A university vehicle waited to take them to the airport. Their destination: Morocco.
From there, the first phase of the international camp would begin.
15 days in the Sahara Desert.
Then later…
15 days in Ladakh.
Five students stood near the vehicle.
Care.
Cole.
Lyra.
Ash.
Alex.
Care stood slightly away from the others, checking the travel schedule on her phone. Her calm posture hid the sharp awareness in her eyes.
Cole noticed.
He always did.
Their rivalry was well known throughout Aranya University.
Top grades.
Top strategies.
Constant competition.
But never cooperation.
Lyra walked beside Care.
"Can you believe we're actually flying to Morocco?" she said excitedly.
Care glanced up.
"It's a survival camp, not a vacation."
Ash stretched his arms.
"Still better than sitting in lectures."
Alex nodded.
"Thirty days outside the country. That's not normal for a student program."
Lyra smiled.
"Students from four universities… this is going to be interesting."
Ash leaned on the vehicle.
"Or annoying."
Care finally spoke.
"That depends on who the other students are."
Cole stepped forward, lifting his bag.
"You're already assuming they'll be competition."
Care looked at him briefly.
"That's usually how these things go."
Cole smirked.
"Confident as always."
Care turned away.
"Prepared. Not confident."
Lyra sighed dramatically.
"Please don't start arguing before we even reach the airport."
Ash laughed.
"Too late."
Alex shook his head.
"Thirty days with these two… we might need another survival camp after this one."
The vehicle driver opened the door.
"Airport departure in ten minutes."
Care closed her phone and picked up her bag.
"Let's go."
None of them knew yet…
That students from the other universities weren't ordinary either.
---
Vietnam – Hell University
Unlike Aranya University, Hell University felt more like a controlled fortress.
Tall concrete walls.
Watchtowers.
Security everywhere.
And one rule every student knew.
Once you enter Hell University… you never leave.
Yet today…
Six students were being escorted to the airport.
Their destination: Morocco.
The administration called it international representation.
But the students understood the truth.
They were being watched.
Closely.
Two black vehicles waited in the courtyard to transport them directly to the airport. Armed administration officers stood nearby.
Ace stood near the vehicle, calm and unreadable.
Matthew and Mia stood together.
Race leaned casually against the door.
Zein and Allison spoke quietly.
Race broke the silence.
"So… Morocco."
Matthew shrugged.
"Never thought Hell University would let anyone travel internationally."
Mia looked uneasy.
"They're sending administration officers with us."
Ace nodded.
"Of course they are."
Zein crossed her arms.
"They don't trust us."
Race smirked.
"They shouldn't."
Matthew glanced at Ace.
"You're planning something."
Ace looked toward the sky.
"Yes."
Allison's expression turned serious.
"…Escape?"
Ace nodded slowly.
Silence fell across the group.
Mia whispered,
"You're serious."
Race grinned.
"He's always serious."
Matthew looked around carefully to make sure no officers were close enough to hear.
"They'll be watching us the whole trip."
Ace replied calmly.
"Not the whole trip."
Zein's eyes narrowed.
"Explain."
Ace spoke quietly.
"First 15 days – Sahara Desert."
Race nodded.
"Too open."
Matthew agreed.
"Too many eyes."
Ace continued.
"But the last 15 days… Ladakh."
Race immediately understood.
"Mountains."
Zein added,
"Perfect terrain."
Allison nodded slowly.
"Too many valleys. Too many blind spots."
Mia whispered,
"So that's when we escape."
Ace confirmed.
"Yes."
Matthew clenched his fist.
"I'm in."
Race smirked.
"I've been waiting for this."
Zein looked determined.
"Freedom sounds better than Hell University."
Allison sighed.
"Well… I'm not letting my sister escape alone."
Mia looked at Matthew.
"You're dragging me into this."
Matthew smiled softly.
"I'm dragging you out of this."
Ace looked at all of them.
"So we agree."
Race asked,
"What's the plan?"
Ace's voice lowered.
"Until Ladakh… we behave perfectly."
Zein smirked.
"Perfect students."
Ace nodded.
"No suspicion. No mistakes."
Matthew finished the thought.
"And when we reach Ladakh…"
Race grinned.
"We disappear."
One of the officers approached.
"Time to leave. Your flight to Morocco departs soon."
Ace picked up his bag.
He looked at his group.
"Remember."
Race spoke.
"Perfect students."
Matthew nodded.
"Until Ladakh."
Zein whispered quietly.
"Then everything changes."
The officers escorted them into the vehicles.
They believed they were transporting obedient students.
They had no idea…
They were escorting six future fugitives onto an international flight.