As you probably guessed by the title of the chapter we indeed got lost in the woods. Sensei, who was an old hermit of a man, thought it would be fun to stray off the path, despite the objections of the class. In the process we got hopelessly lost. Guess who he sent to go find food after he fell in the river and ruined it all? That's right, me. On top of it all he stuck me with Zero.
Great, just great.
Now, not only did I have to find food for thirty kids and a hermit I had to deal with a melodramatic, lovesick boy who could probably kick my butt. My life was just turning out to be wonderful.
"Anna."
I turned around and faced Zero. I couldn't see his expression through his silver hair as he caught up with me.
"Don't walk so fast. You've missed about ten blackberry bushes."
"Japan has those?" I asked.
"The Headmaster seems to enjoy them."
By the way we were in the woods near the academy.
"I really need to have a talk with that man," I muttered.
"What makes you think he'll listen to you?" Zero didn't sound like he was kidding. He sounded confused. He was even wearing the most adorable confused expression that reminded me of Adrian. The memory made my heart feel like lead. I looked away so he couldn't read my expression.
"Headmaster Cross is my uncle," I said impassively.
" I didn't know that," Zero said. I looked up at him to see if he was kidding, He wasn't.
We kept searching until sunset. I picked as much fruit as I could before we turned back. As night fell, an awkward silence fell between us. We had been talking on and off all day, but now Zero was quiet, refusing to answer my questions. When we neared the place where we had left the class, Zero grabbed my arm.
"What," I started but he covered my mouth with his hand. He pushed away the brush and pointed into the clearing. I screamed, but it went unheard because he was still covering my mouth.
Sensei and about ten other kids were lying on the ground covered in blood. I started shaking, as memories of my family's death came back to me. I slumped to the ground as Zero pulled a small pistol out from under his jacket. I didn't even question why he had it.
Silently surveyed the sight and came back to where I was still sitting, absorbed in my thoughts.
" It looks like an animal attack of some kind. It looks like it was done a couple hours ago," he kneeled down next to me, "The rest ran away. I don't know where they are but at least they're safe." When I didn't say anything, he reached up and brushed the hair away from my face. I looked at him, tears dripping down my face. I wiped my eyes, his worried expression burned into my mind. It's been so long since someone looked at me like that, I thought.
I heard someone enter the clearing. Zero tensed next to me, gently pushing me flat against the ground. He was lying next to me, one arm wrapped around me protectively. We watched the figure walk over the bodies of our classmates, occasionally picking one up and sniffing it. I heard Zero mutter a curse. Then the figure stepped into the moonlight and I screamed.
It was Adrian.