Chapter 8: Shadows Around the Camp
The night over the Sahara Desert had turned icy.
The massive sky was full of stars, but the warmth of the evening fire was slowly dying. Only the boundary flames flickered weakly, guarding the camp from the endless darkness around it.
Inside the girls' tent, everyone had collapsed into deep sleep after the exhausting day.
Everyone… except one.
Care's eyes suddenly opened.
Not from noise.
Not from a dream.
Just instinct.
Something felt wrong.
She stayed still, listening carefully.
Wind brushing the sand.
Soft breathing around her.
And then—
Footsteps.
Slow.
Careful.
Circling.
Care's eyes narrowed.
Someone is outside.
---
She slowly pushed herself up and leaned toward Lyra.
"Lyra."
Lyra groaned.
"What…?"
Care immediately covered her mouth gently.
"Shh."
Lyra's eyes snapped open.
Care whispered,
"Someone's outside."
Lyra instantly sat up.
---
Lyra quietly nudged Ash.
"Ash… wake up."
Ash blinked.
"What happened?"
"Someone's walking around the camp."
Ash straightened immediately.
---
The alert slowly spread.
JJ woke up.
Then Freya.
Then Rakhi.
On the other side of the tent, Gorya shifted slightly as Lyra whispered to her too.
Within moments all the girls were awake.
No one spoke loudly.
Everyone sat in a tight circle, their voices barely whispers.
Outside the tent—
Shadows moved across the fabric.
People walking around.
Watching.
---
JJ whispered,
"Please tell me those are camp guards."
Freya frowned.
"Camp guards wouldn't patrol like this."
Before anyone could continue—
A calm voice came from the opposite side.
"They're not camp guards."
All heads turned.
Zein was sitting upright.
Beside her were Allison and Mia, already awake.
Gorya looked at them sharply.
"Then who are they?"
Zein's expression stayed serious.
"They're from our university."
Silence filled the tent.
---
Lyra leaned forward.
"Why would your university send guards?"
Mia took a slow breath.
"Because our university isn't like yours."
Rakhi whispered,
"That sounds concerning."
Allison looked toward the tent entrance to ensure no shadow was close.
Then she spoke quietly.
"In our university… once you enter…"
"You never leave."
Freya blinked.
"What?"
---
JJ frowned.
"You mean… like strict rules?"
Zein shook her head.
"No."
"No transfers. No exits. No freedom."
Ash whispered,
"That's illegal."
Allison gave a bitter smile.
"Not where we come from."
---
Mia's voice lowered.
"And after sunset… things get worse."
Lyra felt a chill.
"How worse?"
Mia answered quietly.
"In Hell University… after dusk…"
She hesitated.
"…killing is legal until dawn."
The tent froze.
---
Rakhi stared at her.
"You're joking."
Zein shook her head slowly.
"No."
---
Gorya's strategic mind immediately started working.
"So students are allowed to kill each other?"
Allison nodded.
"If they want territory. Power. Revenge."
Freya whispered,
"That's horrifying."
---
Mia lowered her gaze.
"We lost people because of it."
JJ leaned forward.
"Who?"
Zein answered softly.
"Dave."
A pause.
"Vanessa."
Another pause.
"And Jerome."
The silence inside the tent grew heavy.
Even the desert wind outside sounded distant.
---
Mia spoke quietly.
"That night… everything turned red."
No one said anything for several seconds.
---
Finally Care spoke.
"And the guards?"
Allison looked toward the tent wall again.
"They're here to make sure we don't escape."
Lyra frowned.
"So they're watching you."
Mia nodded.
"All the time."
---
Gorya crossed her arms, thinking.
"That explains their patrol pattern."
Everyone looked at her.
She continued quietly.
"They're circling the camp instead of standing in one place."
"Smart surveillance."
Zein gave a small nod.
"They're trained."
---
Ash whispered,
"So why tell us this?"
Zein looked directly at Care.
"Because we're planning something."
The tension inside the tent rose immediately.
---
Allison whispered,
"The last part of the camp is in Ladakh, right?"
Care nodded.
"Yes."
Zein leaned forward.
"That's where we escape."
---
Freya inhaled sharply.
"You mean disappear?"
Mia nodded.
"Yes."
"The guards will follow us through the Sahara portion."
"But Ladakh is different."
Allison explained further.
"Mountains. Villages. Multiple routes."
"If we vanish there… they won't find us."
---
JJ whispered,
"That's insane."
Gorya spoke thoughtfully.
"But possible."
Everyone looked at her.
Gorya continued,
"Ladakh has terrain advantages."
"Too many hiding routes."
She looked at Zein.
"If you time it correctly… you could disappear."
Zein nodded.
"That's the plan."
---
Ash asked,
"And after that?"
Zein hesitated.
"We don't know."
---
Care exchanged a glance with Lyra and Ash.
The three of them understood each other instantly.
Care finally spoke.
"If you escape… come with us."
Everyone looked at her.
---
Lyra nodded.
"We're from India."
Ash added,
"We know the routes."
Care continued calmly,
"We can move you to another state quietly."
---
Allison stared at her.
"You'd help us?"
Lyra smiled.
"Of course."
Ash shrugged.
"Your university sounds like hell."
---
Gorya looked thoughtful.
"If this plan happens…"
Everyone turned toward her.
She finished,
"…you'll need coordination."
Zein nodded slightly.
"We know."
Gorya added calmly,
"And secrecy."
"Because if those guards hear even a whisper…"
Her eyes moved toward the tent entrance.
"…this ends tonight."
---
Mia whispered softly,
"Thank you… for trusting us."
---
Outside—
The guards continued circling the camp in the darkness of the Sahara Desert.
They believed the students were asleep.
They believed the situation was under control.
They had no idea—
Inside the girls' tent, an alliance had already formed.
And the first step toward escape would begin in the mountains of Ladakh.