Creekwood High

"Creekwood high school,school of the tigers has decided to teach the high school seniors basic life survival skills by taking us twenty miles away from the city, ha ha ha can you believe that rubbish? Like I would even bother to go there. To hell with their life survival skills." I told my best friend,carrie.

" its takes up 30% of our CGPA, Danny," she replied 

"What? Who told you that nonsense? Why will they make it 30% of our result?" I asked

"Well maybe if you weren't to engrossed checking that useless Instagram page you would have heard principal McCarthy saying that." She raised an eyebrow at me.

"You are kidding,right?" I asked pleadingly

"Does it look like I am?" She deadpans

"I need to see the principal then," 

"For what?" She asked

" for permission so I can miss that frigging outing or whatever you call it," 

"You mean 'the adventure'" she said

"Adventure? Ha more like punishment," 

"Well suit yourself, Danny," the bell rang and we both got up from our seat in the cafeteria, dropped our tray and went to the gym which is the next period.

After gym class which was the last class of the day,I went to the principal's office. I knocked on the door and heard a faint come in

"Afternoon ma'am," I greeted her.

"Oh miss carter,I've been waiting the whole day for you," she said, I raised an eyebrow and she continued "I know you want out of the adventure your class is to embark on tomorrow because you have always hate any physical and rigorous activities but am sorry you can't be exempted. You are one of the brightest students here and I won't want you lagging behind in any part of making it in life,Daniella. So you can't talk your way out of it this time Daniella," I open my mouth to object but she interrupted me again

"Daniella you are going and I will make sure to call Mrs carter to help you pack your bags for 1week since we will be going away for a week. I will see you tomorrow Daniella," She said signalling the end of conversation. I stood up crestfallen and went to meet Carrie who was waiting for me knowing that I no longer have the opportunity to opt out of 'the adventure'.

"So what's the verdict?" She asked me as we walked out of the school together

" she said I am going no opting out," and she squealed jumping.

" it is so going to be fun,Danny," 

"I hope so,I pray I don't regret going there. I just want to graduate from high school with good result and go to college," I murmured.

"Are we there yet?" I asked Carrie for the twentieth time

"No Daniella we are not. Stop pestering me, we have been on this journey for just an hour and you have managed to ask me that same question twenty one times already," she adjusted herself on the seat. 

"Oh I thought we have been on the road for 3 hours already," 

"No,we haven't so keep quiet," Carrie snapped and laid her head on the headrest completely ignoring me. I mean,is it my fault? I laid back also and fell asleep

" OK people come out with your loads. We are here already," Mr Damien shout and I woke up startled. We were about 40 students. I carried my suitcase and backpack and walked towards Mr Damien was standing with 3 other teachers, Mr .Alex,Miss Gordonand Miss Bartholomew. We were in front of a very huge cabin in the middle of nowhere.

"Alright we are going to share you all into 4 groups so we can be able to supervise you efficiently," Miss Bartholomew said calling out names. I ended up being in Miss Gordon group which consists of five boys and five girls that I don't know including me. Carrie ended up in Mr Alex's group. We were all taken into the house. We a were regrouped again,four people of same sex in a group,to sleep in a room since there are not enough rooms to accommodate us individually. I ended up sharing a room with 2girls from my group with miss Gordon and another girl in Mr Damien's group. I laid on the lower bunk bed provided for us, I took out my phone to take a picture that I can post on my Instagram page and I was shocked. I ran out to the main room where most students are with the four teachers asking questions.

I raised my hand to call Miss Bartholomew's attention and she answered

"Erm, I noticed that there is no internet reception. Does that mean that we can't use our phones?" I asked.

"Of course,Daniella. We are in a reserved forest area. But all the students were informed about this," she looked confused

"WHAT? I am going back home. I can't stay here,I will die if I don't use my phone for a day talk of 1 week," she tried to explain something but I ran out not listening to her just to get another shock. I turned to look at her with a flabbergasted expression

"The bus drivers were instructed to leave immediately we get here and they with be back in the next 1week to pick us up," she said 

I was speechless,no phone,no transportation. I'm dead.

Mr Damien asked everyone to assembly at the main room. 

"OK,so since we have all settled down in our various rooms,there are some ground rules to follow." He lead us to a paper pasted on the wall by the doorpost inside the room.

1.No walking out of the house before 5am and after 8 pm.

2. No leaving the house without your group and the teacher in charge

3. Don't walk alone and don't go too far from the house

4. BEWARE WILD ANIMALS ARE PRESENT. DONT WALK ALONE.

A Guy,whose name I think is Blake, raised his hand to ask a question. "What type of wild animals are we talking about here, Mr Damien?"

"Mr Blake,you know what is called a wild animal so am sure you get what that sign means," he replied

"Sir,I don't get you at all. Do you mean giraffe and elephants?" I asked 

"Daniella,I mean wild boars,snakes,leopard,tigers,lions etc. Am sure you get me now. Don't worry as long as you don't go past the 'do go beyond this place' sign we are good to go," he said

I nodded slowly trying to process it all. THAT MEANS I CAN DIE AT ANY TIME IF IDONT DIE FROM NOT USING MY PHONE. 

"Now," Mr Alex broke the silence in the room "we have to go in search of a stream where we can take our bath." We all starred murmuring

"There is no water in this house?" Carrie asked and I smiled inwardly knowing that Carrie is a clean freak. I am also happy that could feel the apprehension that I feel

"Yes,the water available are for drinking only,miss Carrie," Mr Alex answered

Everyone murmured and we were all silenced by Mr Alex "so Miss Gordon's group are going south,Mr Damien's group go East,Miss Bartholomew's group go west and my group will go north. Let's move out everyone and be back in the next 1 hour which is 2pm,understood?" 

We all murmured a " yes". We moved out as we were told.

"I really really hate this," I murmured

"The feeling is mutual," one of my group mates,Dante replied

"You all should watch out for a stream anywhere around here," Miss Gordon said 

We walked for thirty minutes before some of us started complaing. I walked beside miss Gordon walking and listening for the sound of rushing water.

"This totally sucks," Matteo,a varsity basketball player,said while picking up a stone and throwing it into the bush angrily

"Matteo why did you do that? That was dangerous you know," Miss Gordon said annoyed

 Then,all of a sudden we heard a growl.we were are all startled

"What was that?" Beatrice,a cheerleader, asked

"Probably a tiger," I said frightened and looking around sharply

"Let's go on," miss Gordon said

"Go where? The only place I will be going to,is to the cabin,"Drake said

" but we have to find the stream," Beatrice argued

"I don't want to die yet," I murmured

Another growl sounded and we all ran back to the including miss Gordon. Beatrice tripped and Drake helped her up as we all ran. We got there to see the other groups waiting for us.

"What took you so long?" Carrie asked me

"We were looking for the stream,of course," I replied sarcastically resting my palms on my knees

"Why are you panting?" She asked again

"I was running from a carnivorous animal," 

"What type of animal?" She asked again

"Why don't I take you there so you can determine what type of animal it is. Dk I need to know the type of animal it is before I run for my dear life?" I snapped. "Did you find the stream," I asked Carrie

"Miss Bartholomew's group found it. It is a waterfall," 

"Oh OK then I can go back to the room," I said going into the cabin together with carrie before we were stopped by Mr Damien

"Now its time to look for woods,"

"Woods for what?" Beatrice asked 

"To make fire for cooking," he replied nonchalantly

"You must be kidding me," I murmured

"Please I hope the food we are to eat is available?" Charles,another senior, asked

"Yes,of course. Its available," Mr Damien replied and we all sighed

"So Mr Alex's group and Miss Bartholomew's group are to look for the wood while my group and miss Bartholome's group will cook. Tomorrow we shall alternate," he concluded. 

We searched for the wood,the other groups cooked the food and we went to bed.

"Wake up girls its time to bath." Miss Gordon came to wake I and my roommates

"Its not morning yet," one of the girls murmured

"But you need to bath now before the boys wake up or will you love to bath with them?"

We all got up grudgingly, took our bath at the waterfall and went back to the house. The boys also did the same.

"So it Miss Gordon's group and Mr Damien's group to look for wood." Mr Alex announced and we all got out of the house and went separate ways agreeing to be back in 30 minutes

"I really need to go home," I murmured "I miss my family and the food and the free WiFi and the cafe near my house and the. " am sure we get what you are saying," miss Gordon interrupted me as we picked up pieces of sticks from the floor.

"I miss drumming,"River,a group member said picking up two small sticks and drumming on a tree

" River,now's not the time to drum. We need to pick up sticks for cooking," Drake told him

"Who cares,I just want to go home," River replied

"Guys shut up and move backward slowly," Miss Gordon said

"Why should we... OH MY GOD," Beatrice cried the moment she saw the boar stalking us.

"Look around for any tree we can climb at the count of 3,"Miss Gordon said. We noticed the boar walking slowly as if it wants to catch a prey,well it wants to 'cause we are the prey.

" 1," I looked around for a nearby tree with sturdy branch

"2," I saw a tree just 4 yards away from me thatmeets my expectation and I readied myself to run

"3," we all ran towards various trees. Then I found out that both I and Drake had seen the tree.Drake climbed quickly and assisted me.

"Oh my God,that was a close shave. Thanks Drake," 

"Welcome Daniella," he replied looking under us for the boar

"Oh my God,hold any branch you can find Daniella," Drake shouted at me holding tight to a branch

"Why should..." I was interrupted by the shaking of the tree. The boar was ramming itself to the side of the tree to make us fall out

"Ohhh God am about to die,please forgive me and accept my soul." I shouted as I held on to the tree shutting my eyes very tight. It rammed itself again and the tree trembled.

"Daniella stop shouting or else it won't stop," Drake said. Immediately I kept quiet. The boar continued shaking the tree and I kept crying inwardly. Slowly the boar stopped and went away in another direction. I heard Drake jump out of the tree but I still held on tight to the tree.

"Daniella,let's go. Let go of the tree," I did as he and looked down at him

"How will I get down?" I stupidly asked

"Uh the same way you went up there," he deadpanned

"I can't remember how I climbed this but one thing is sure I can't climb down. I will die if I try it," 

"Die? I don't get you. Just stop being a drama queen and get down so we can join the others," he said impatiently

"I have phobia for heights,idiot. I can't get down,go to the cabin and get a large foamso I can jump down," He stared at me like I've grown 2 heads

"Jump and I will catch you," 

"Never in a lifetime," I told him

"Then sleep up there then. Am pretty sure the boar will be back any time soon," he walked away slowly from the tree

"Wait,I will jump down bow. Promise to catch me," I shouted at him

"Promise," he came back to the tree. "Pinky promise?" I asked again

"Are you getting down or not?" He asked impatiently.

"Alright,alright I will," I jumped down and he caught me as he promised

"See that wasn't hard at all," he smirked at me. Then we heard people calling our names from afar 

"Its time to go back," we went back to the cabin with no sticks. Miss Gordon ran to us hugging us tightly.

"I thought you both were dead,oh thank goodness," she cried into my shoulder

"Don't worry we are fine maam," Drake said politely

"Since you are back why don't we all go eat breakfast and then go to the waterfall for a bath. Everyone agreed.

All we did throughout the trip was t wake up early to bath,look for sticks,cook,eat,go to the waterfall to relax and go back to the cabin to relax. No more wild animals since everyone learnt their lessons not to make useless noises in the jungle.

The 2 buses that brought us all the first day arrived aswe were packing our things.

" the bus is here,Danny," Carrie ran inside my room shouting

"Thank Goodness. Its about time they got here," I carried my suitcase, backpack and of course,my phone and went to sit in the bus along with Carrie and Drake, who became a friend of since the boar incident. After 30 minutes everyone were all seated and we took off.

3 hours later we got to schoo,the principal and our parents were all waiting for us. I got down took my bag and walked alongside Drake and Carrie.

"Oh I've missed civilization," I commented asnotifications from all my social media rushed in.

"Thank Goodness am out of that hell hole," Carrie dramatically knelt dow,her head facing the sky.

"Oh shush,you enjoyed it,didn't you?" I asked sarcastically

"Puhlease enjoy what? Hearing a the roar of a wild animal with the ability of chewing me? Or Being chased chased by a boar?," she asked me

"Am sure you know those things didn't happen to but to us," Drake pointed at himself and me

"Its the same thing. Mommy am here. Danny,Drake buh bye I will see you next week." Carrie ran to her mom who has her arms wide open

"Well, that was adventurous, see you next week," Drake patted my back and left to meet his parents who were waiting for him

I jogged to my parents who were talking with Mrs McCarthy

"Hello, am back,"I hugged my parents and also Mrs McCarthy

"How was it?" Mrs McCarthy asked

"If anything it was interesting, I learnt how to pick firewoods,how to make fires without matches,how to run from the wild animals and most especially how to climb trees when running from a boar," I shrugged and it really was. Well apart from being chased by a boar

"You see, I told you. Then that means there shouldn't be any problem with you participating if another one is organised

" hell no. I will give up anything so as to miss going back to that hell hole,"I said seriously as both my parents and the principal laughed.