Chapter 58
Chapter fifty-eight
Annalise
It takes every ounce of effort to climb out of Matt’s bed this morning, knowing I have to suffer through a full day of Vanguard Land Navigation before I can come back and rush to get dressed up for Bravo Company’s graduation.
Okay, so it shouldn’t really be a rush, but there’s something about spending hours doing something you hate that makes having to get all dolled up feel like a time-consuming chore.
Chore or not though, I’m excited to see my friends walk across the stage tonight, and I’m to the point where I can confidently say I’ll be fine watching Aiden graduate, too.
We’ve found a—comfortable—middle ground over the last few weeks.
Is it because he vacates the area when we find ourselves at lunch or in the courtyard at the same time?
Possibly. But in our two final Ghost Walking classes together, I was finally able to look at him without feeling like I had climbed onto a never-ending emotional roller coaster. Progress.
Unfortunately, Lucas will also be walking today after being released from the infirmary two days ago—the main reason I was up so late last night.
It took a lot of convincing before Tyr conceded not to skip today's hunt with his hoard.
I even made Matt promise him that he wouldn't leave my side tonight.
Pulling my uniform out of Matt’s closet, my eye catches on the beautiful blue dress I bought for the ceremony less than a month ago.
After talking it over with Sasha, I decided to still wear it tonight.
Not only did I not have the energy to go shopping again, but I already spent so much money on this dress; she deserves to be shown off.
“Don’t forget your water canteen,” Matt says, passing it to me before he finishes strapping his daggers on.
“What would I do without you?”
“I’m too afraid of the trouble you’d cause to find out,” he says, nudging me out the door.
With Bravo Company busy packing their rooms before they head to their new duty stations tomorrow, and Delta Company not checking in until Sunday, the academy feels almost empty.
“Ready for a full day of Land Navigation?” Matt asks as we pass the infirmary, which makes me remember Pricilla with a stick poking out of her eye on Wednesday after our night land nav test.
“I don’t think it’s possible to feel ready, but I’ve been studying, and we’re in teams, so that should make it easier…and hopefully faster. I want as much time as I can get to get cleaned up before graduation tonight.”
“Are you sure you still want to go?”
“Pshhh, we are not skipping because of Aiden, Mattey. We broke up, he was an ass, but now he’s leaving. If anything, it’s like a double celebration: our friends are graduating, and I don’t have to see him anymore.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
“Now, what are you going to wear? I don’t want to show up looking hot, and then you’re dressed like a bum.”
“Definitely wouldn’t want to make you look bad,” he teases. “I picked up some navy slacks, a white dress shirt, and a matching navy sport coat.”
“That’ll do, Mattey. That’ll do,” I say with a smile.
“I’m sorry, did you just Shrek me?”
I shrug. “I was thinking Babe, but either works.”
The path leading to the Vanguard building is peaceful. Birds are just beginning to chatter overhead, completely unaware that in twenty minutes their woods will be full of recruits cursing compasses and traversing across every creek conveniently left off the map.
“Hey,” Matt says softly, bumping my shoulder with his. “You sure you’re all right?”
“Yup! You kept your octopus legs to yourself last night, so I actually slept pretty well. I’m ready to be the next Land Nav Master.”
“You do realize half this test is guessing and the other half is not dying, right?”
“Seeeee. My specialties.”
He snorts. “Sasha would be losing her shit if she heard us laughing about that—”
“Yeah, because she’s good and we’re both wonderfully terrible people. And besides, I’ve already decided I’m going to crush it today. We’ll be done early, I’ll do my hair and makeup down in my room, you’ll iron my dress because you love me, and then we will go cheer our boys on.”
Matt chokes. “Iron? I’ll iron your dress. That’s—no. No one said anything about—”
“Aww, you’re so sweet to offer. Thanks!”
“That’s not what I said,” he argues as we join the other recruits.
Professor Renwick stands in front of us, clipboard in hand, and wearing the kind of smile that means she’s excited to ruin our entire day. Professor Kael is beside her, arms crossed, looking like he’s as happy as we all are to be here.
When the regular class bell finishes chiming, Renwick starts.
“As you all know, today you will be tested on your day land navigation skills. You've read about it, you've practiced it, and now it's time to put all of that knowledge to use.
“In just a minute, you'll be split into teams of three, loaded into the ATVs, and dropped off far from here.
Hopefully, you've all been paying close attention in Environmental Tactics this year because you're only being left with what is currently on you.
All food and water must be foraged, just like it would be if you were lost in enemy territory.
“Once your team gets back, send one member from each team here to check you in. Anyone not back by eighteen-hundred tonight will fail and have to remediate the test next Sunday.” Professor Kael finally chips in.
“If we're not back by six, will you come get us?” Of course, it’s Jensen who asks.
“Yes,” Kael says, stepping forward and unfolding the team list. “When your names are called, find your group and head to an ATV.”
He starts reading.
“Hart, Dreer, Silva.”
“Markson, Reyes, Wright.”
“Finnley, Brooks, Gaines.”
People shuffle off to meet their partners.
Then—
“Corvin.”
I straighten slightly.
“Web.”
Great. I’ll be stuck with the guy with the shitty pickup line from Environmental Studies class.
“Platt.”
Quiet, but nice.
Kael’s brows furrow, but he shrugs whatever it was off just as fast. “You three are riding out with me. Let’s go.”
I sling my compass around my neck and climb into the back seat beside Platt.
The ride is silent and bumpy—so bumpy that it’s almost making me regret drinking my coffee because I feel like I may throw up. The deeper we go into the woods, the thicker the forest gets, and by the time Kael finally stops, it feels like we’re on set for some scary movie.
Once he leaves us, Platt, Web, and I spread out so we can cover more area.
We all scan the underbrush for anything remotely edible.
Based on how long it took us to get out here, we should make it back by early afternoon, but worst-case scenario, we come up empty, and I’ll just show up to dinner with an even bigger appetite.
Web whistles off and on as we move, but otherwise, no one talks unless someone thinks we need to alter course.
We walk mile after mile, getting hit with unforgiving pine needles as branches whip our bodies, fumbling over fallen logs, and hearing far too many snakes rattle for me to even begin to enjoy the wilderness.