Chapter 24 — Arrival in the Mountains
The aircraft engines slowly powered down as the private jet finally landed on the small military runway of Ladakh.
The moment the aircraft door opened—
A sharp wave of freezing wind rushed inside.
"OH HELL NO—" Percy immediately grabbed the nearest seat dramatically. "WHY IS THE AIR ATTACKING US?"
Keifer pushed him toward the exit.
"Get out."
"BRO I CAN'T BREATHE!"
"You've been breathing for twenty years, Percy. Relax."
One by one the students stepped down the metal stairs of the aircraft.
The environment was completely different from the Sahara.
The desert had been hot, endless sand and burning sun.
But here—
Everything felt raw and powerful.
Massive brown mountains towered in every direction.
Sharp rocky cliffs stretched toward the sky.
Cold wind moved across the open land like a warning.
The sky looked impossibly clear.
Lyra wrapped her arms around herself.
"Oh wow…"
Ash breathed out slowly.
"This place is insane."
Alex looked around carefully.
"Beautiful though."
Behind them the Thailand group stepped down.
MJ immediately zipped his jacket higher.
"I regret every decision that led me here."
Ren chuckled.
"You said the same thing in the desert."
Kavin stretched his arms.
"At least we won't melt here."
Gorya smiled softly as the wind moved her hair.
"This is actually nice."
Thyme nodded beside her.
"Feels peaceful."
Meanwhile the Philippines group was already creating chaos.
Percy was bent over dramatically trying to breathe.
"THE AIR IS TOO EXPENSIVE HERE."
Aries rolled his eyes.
"Stop embarrassing us."
JJ laughed.
"Someone carry him back to the plane."
Freya looked amused.
"We just arrived."
Endrix smirked.
"He might die before the trek even begins."
Cin simply shook his head.
"Drama king."
Not far away, the Hell University students stepped down quietly.
Ace looked around with sharp eyes.
Race immediately scanned the area.
Matt stretched his neck.
"This altitude is brutal."
Mia rubbed her arms.
"It's freezing."
Allison stared at the mountains silently.
Zein spoke softly.
"…Still better than being inside Hell University."
For a moment none of them said anything.
Freedom felt strange.
Meanwhile the Indian group stepped down last.
Care stepped onto the runway calmly, completely unaffected by the wind.
Cole walked beside her.
Lyra stretched happily.
"Finally home country weather."
Ash laughed.
"Not exactly home but close enough."
Alex inhaled deeply.
"Fresh air."
Care didn't respond.
Her eyes were already moving across the terrain.
She scanned everything.
The roads.
The mountains.
The distant guard posts.
The vehicles parked near the runway.
Her mind silently mapped the entire area.
Cole noticed.
"You're already analyzing the place?"
Care didn't look at him.
"Habit."
Cole smirked.
"Or planning something."
She ignored him.
---
A loud whistle cut through the wind.
The camp administration officer gathered everyone together near a wooden board placed on the rocky ground.
"WELCOME TO THE SECOND HALF OF YOUR INTERNATIONAL SURVIVAL CAMP."
Students slowly gathered around.
Some excited.
Some already tired.
Some suspicious.
The officer continued loudly.
"You have survived fifteen days in the Sahara Desert."
Percy whispered dramatically,
"Barely."
Aries elbowed him.
"Shut up."
The officer continued.
"But Ladakh is different."
He pointed toward the surrounding mountains.
"This is high altitude terrain survival training."
He began listing the activities.
"Over the next fifteen days you will participate in:
• Mountain trekking
• Ice river crossing
• Cliff climbing
• Cold survival training
• High altitude endurance drills"
Several students looked shocked.
MJ whispered,
"This sounds illegal."
Kavin nodded.
"Very illegal."
Thyme chuckled.
"Relax."
The officer continued.
"You will receive new tents this time."
Some students immediately sighed in relief.
Percy raised his hands dramatically.
"THANK GOD."
Ash laughed.
"You almost died in the storm."
The officer added,
"But survival conditions remain the same."
He pointed toward a large rocky plateau nearby.
"That will be your campsite."
Everyone turned to look.
It was basically bare land covered with rocks.
Lyra blinked.
"…That's it?"
Matt groaned.
"We're sleeping on rocks now."
Mia sighed.
"I miss beds."
Race crossed his arms.
"Better than Hell University dorms."
Zein nodded slowly.
"That's true."
Meanwhile JJ whispered to Keifer.
"This place feels dangerous."
Keifer looked at the mountains.
"That's because it is."
---
While everyone talked, Care quietly walked a few steps away from the group.
Cole noticed and followed.
She stood on a slightly elevated rock.
From there the entire valley was visible.
The road leading down the mountain.
The guard jeep parked near the administration hut.
Two security patrol points.
Cole folded his arms.
"You're studying the escape routes already."
Care didn't deny it.
She simply spoke quietly.
"Road there."
She pointed.
"Leads toward the main highway."
Then another direction.
"That path probably connects to nearby villages."
Cole raised an eyebrow.
"You figured that out in thirty seconds?"
Care looked at the mountains.
"Observation."
Cole smirked slightly.
"You're scary sometimes."
She finally glanced at him.
"You're still here."
"Someone has to keep an eye on you."
Care stepped down from the rock.
"Try keeping up first."
Cole laughed.
"Oh this rivalry isn't ending anytime soon."
---
Behind them chaos had already started again.
Percy was arguing with the camp officer.
"Why are we trekking mountains when we are STUDENTS?"
Ren leaned against a rock watching the scene.
"This is entertaining."
MJ nodded.
"Very."
Ash shouted across the field.
"Percy stop yelling!"
JJ laughed loudly.
Lyra looked around the valley excitedly.
"This place is going to be insane."
Alex nodded beside her.
"And dangerous."
Thyme walked over with Gorya beside him.
"So."
He said calmly.
"Ready for round two?"
Everyone slowly looked toward the massive mountains surrounding them.
The Sahara had been harsh.
But this—
This place felt like it was testing them.
Challenging them.
Daring them.
And somewhere in the distance…
Care's eyes moved once more toward the narrow mountain road.
The path that would soon decide everything.
The escape planning had already begun.