The morning heat thickened as Daniel led a small group away from the camp.
They moved quietly—boots pressing into moist sand, eyes scanning the treeline.
After some time had passed, deep inside the forest…
> "Captain Daniel, let's set the trap here," Francis suggested, crouching near a muddy patch.
"I think this is a regular spot for the boars. See how the mud's been churned up?"
Daniel leaned in, observing the ground carefully.
> "Hmm… you're right. The tracks are fresh."
Then he looked at Francis.
> "Okay, but do you even know how to set a trap?"
Francis straightened up with a confident smirk.
> "Come on, I'm a soldier. Is there anything a soldier doesn't know?"
Daniel raised an eyebrow, amused.
> "Hmm… we'll see."
Francis got to work immediately. It took a little while, but he focused, tying and adjusting, his eyes moving quickly over every detail.
After some time, he stood up and said,
> "Daniel, the trap's ready. We just need to test it once."
Everyone instinctively stepped back from the area.
Francis picked up a long stick and slowly extended it toward the center of the trap.
He poked at the woven layer beneath.
Snap!
The stick struck the trigger, and suddenly a sharp, concealed bamboo spike shot up and embedded itself into a nearby tree.
The group jumped slightly.
Charlie, the engineering student, let out a whistle.
> "Oof… that's brutal. Any boar that falls into this… is done for."
Francis grinned proudly.
> "Of course! Who do you think made it? This trap will work. We're going back with boar meat today—mark my words."
Daniel gave a nod of approval.
> "Good work. Now let's reset it."
Francis carefully lowered the mechanism back into place and covered it again with leaves and branches, making it almost invisible.
Once everything was in place, the group scattered into the underbrush nearby.
They crouched low, hidden behind bushes and trees, careful not to make any noise.
Eyes alert.
Muscles tense.
A few minutes passed.
The jungle was quiet.
Too quiet.
Only the occasional rustle of leaves and distant birdcalls broke the silence.
Charlie whispered,
> "Do you think it'll come?"
Daniel, his hand resting on his knife hilt, nodded.
> "Just wait. Don't move."
Another minute passed.
And then… something broke the silence.
A crack.
A sharp snapping sound.
Everyone stiffened.
> "Did you hear that?" Francis whispered.
Another sound. A faint footstep.
But it didn't sound like an animal.
It sounded… deliberate.
Daniel's eyes narrowed. He raised his hand slowly—a signal to stay silent.
> "Nobody move," he mouthed.
The sound came again. Closer this time.
Leaves brushed. A foot shifted.
It wasn't the boar.
Someone… was watching them.
Daniel shifted slightly and peered beyond the thick foliage.
About ten meters ahead—behind the trunk of a thick, moss-covered tree—a human silhouette stood perfectly still.
Charlie saw it too.
> "Who's that?" he whispered.
The figure didn't move.
Francis reached for his belt.
> "Are they… one of us?"
Daniel stood slowly from the underbrush, raising his voice just slightly.
> "Hey! Who are you? Step forward."
No reply.
The figure remained still.
Everyone was frozen, their eyes locked on the dark shape.
Then—
The person stepped forward, out of the shadows.
To be continued.....
Next chapter release 21/6/25