Crimson Vale Academy
Chapter 25: Code Red: Infiltrated

Chapter 25: Code Red: Infiltrated

The sky was a roiling sea of gray, lightning flashing faintly in the distance. Thunder muttered like a distant beast. The entire Class D had gathered by the burned remains of their test manual. Smoke curled upwards, mingling with the damp earth, as everyone wore looks of fear and uncertainty.

Riven stepped forward and he raised a steady hand.

"Now—now. Let’s not get worked up. We can handle this," he said, voice calm.

Slow nods spread through the group.

"Alright!" he called out. "Let’s get to work!"

With that, Class D scattered, task by task, determined to salvage what they could.

---

AT THE LAKE

Caden waded into the lake, water splashing around him as he dragged the net along the surface. "Let’s catch more this time!" he yelled, full of energy.

Aria watched him from the edge, offering a small, genuine smile. "He’s surprisingly useful."

Kairon, standing beside her, nodded. His voice was calm: "Yeah. This is his forte."

Aria glanced at the sky as the first sting of rain hit her cheek. "It’s getting cloudy... I think it’s going to rain."

Kairon looked up, expression thoughtful.

"Storm clouds are gathering fast."

Behind them, Ivy, Miya, and Torin were picking fruits. Ivy paused, eyes flicking to Aria and Kairon.

"Don’t you think those two are... close?" she whispered to Torin.

He shrugged and stayed silent.

Back at the net, Caden held one end steady while Kairon looked at Aria.

"Aria," he whispered, "can I see the message on your smartwatch?"

Aria raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"When Akira and I went scouting, we found ourselves near Class A’s hideout. I saw a message... but it felt off. I want to compare it."

Aria paused. "Why not check your own?"

Kairon’s eyes darkened. "I’m a Predator. You’re a Prey. Our messages might differ.

The message from Class A looked like a Prey one. You’re a Prey. Show me yours."

Aria hesitated, then tapped her watch. The screen glowed.

Ivy watched from the background. "What are they doing?" she murmured.

Miya stood and walked over. "I’ll go see."

Aria held the watch for Kairon. "So? What do you think?"

Suddenly, Miya’s calm voice cut in: "Excuse me." Aria retracted the watch.

"Sorry," Miya said with a polite tilt of her head. "Did I interrupt?"

"Not at all," Aria said, masking her anxiety.

Aria leaned in, whispering to Kairon. "Do you think she saw what was on it?"

Kairon remained composed. "I don’t think so."

Aria turned toward him. "So... did you figure anything out?"

Kairon shook his head. "I couldn’t make it out clearly. Too blurry."

Aria sighed in frustration. "Great... what a waste of time."

---

CLASS A HIDEOUT

Miles away, inside a slick, secured hideout, Adams and Adrien spoke in hushed tones.

"Tomorrow is the final day," Adrien said, clasping a strategic blueprint.

Adams eyed his book filled with strategy notes and point deductions. "Class A will finish first. Class D will be last."

Adrien smirked. "That’s exactly where they belong."

---

BACK AT THE STREAM

Back at the lake, Miya had taken over the net. Kairon stepped back, rejoining Aria.

From behind, Torin rushed in and flung mud at Aria.

"Now you’re all covered in mud!" he laughed, chest puffed in childish victory.

"Torin! That’s not funny!" Ivy shouted.

Aria turned toward Torin—her expression calm, cold.

She stepped forward, grabbed his wrist, and twisted it. With fluid force, she flipped him over her shoulder.

Torin yelped in surprise, mid-air.

Kairon warned, "Aria—watch it!"

Torin landed with a splash—right in Kairon’s arms. Both of them plunged into the stream.

Aria closed her eyes and walked away.

Kairon followed, hauling Torin out. He shook water from his hair. "That wasn’t necessary," he said calmly.

"What do you mean?" Aria replied without turning.

"You could’ve cracked his skull if I weren’t there."

She said nothing, continuing away.

---

AT THE RIVER

Rain now pouring, Aria stripped off her soaked clothes and slipped into the freezing river. Her teeth chattered as she hugged herself.

"What was he thinking..." she whispered, trembling in the icy current.

She rinsed off, dragged in a breath, and quickly dressed, eyes burning with frustration and cold as she headed back toward camp.

---

CAMPFIRE SABOTAGE

She arrived just as flames burst from the center of the campsite. Smoke roiled. Shouts pierced through.

"Isn’t that the test manual?!" Caelen shouted, panic in his voice.

"Plan for the extinguisher!" Riven barked, eyes searching.

Kei sprinted away and returned moments later with a fire extinguisher, dousing the flames.

Aria’s heart pounded—this was sabotage, no doubt. She scanned the crowd... her gaze fell on Miya.

Miya trembled, staring at the dying embers of the manual.

Meira’s cry rang out: "Who would do this?"

Ivy dropped her voice: "Who among us...?"

Sena spit a question: "Is there a traitor?"

Yua slammed her fist: "It must be the boys."

Kei flared back: "Don’t pin this on us!"

Tempers flared, arguments exploded. Then a sudden silence—rain began to hammer down.

Riven stood motionless. Damp hair plastered to his forehead.

Caden finally spoke breathlessly: "I can’t believe we were tricked."

Yua stared at nobody: "Now what do we do?"

Torin swallowed hard: "Let’s ask Riven... maybe he has a plan."

Everyone turned... but Riven’s gaze was vacant. His voice cracked as he admitted, "How did this happen? Why did it happen? It’s my fault."

Kairon walked up and gripped Riven’s shoulder. "Snap out of it—everyone’s waiting on you."

Riven blinked, shook his head, and regained composure. "Right. Grab everything—gear, blankets, laundry. We move."

The group scrambled, working quickly in the pouring rain.

Kairon hung back—rain running down his face. He looked up. "Now... then."

---

SOMEWHERE IN THE JUNGLE

Night had fully fallen, rain heavy on the canopy. Stillness pressed around the forest.

Miya knelt in mud, digging carefully. Her fingers brushed the handle of a bag. She pulled it out, muddy and soaked.

She slipped the bag around her shoulder. A low chuckle escaped her lips.

"You came after all," she said in a low, knowing tone. She turned around—and froze.

Aria stood ten steps behind, soaked through to her bones, eyes burning with fury.

"You... you were sent as a spy to Class D, weren’t you?" Aria demanded, voice wavering but forceful.

Miya dropped her bag with a clatter. "And if I am?" she replied evenly.

Aria’s brow knotted. "I want all the intel you’ve collected. Now."

Without a word, Miya shrugged and nodded. Her hand dropped—and the bag slid slightly.

Aria stepped forward to grab it... but Miya shifted and flicked her leg in a lightning-fast kick.

Aria blocked reflexively—thwack! The mudspattered blow pushed her back two steps.

Miya smirked. "Not bad, President’s little sister."

Aria breathed hard. "I... can’t hold this much longer..."

Miya’s grin grew sharp. "At first, I thought you lit the fire. But no... I was wrong."

That hit Aria deep—then who set it? A glimpse of Kairon’s face flashed in her mind—but she shook it off.

Miya vanished into motion—two quick stabs with her fists. Aria sidestepped, blocked. She launched a strong kick, which Miya ducked—but then swept Aria’s legs from under her with a twisting low kick. Aria tumbled into the mud, coughing rainwater.

Miya knelt over her. "Yes... I’m a spy." She whispered as Aria struggled to rise. "For following me all this way..." They locked eyes.

Aria got to one knee, using a hand to brace on the ground. The rain plastered her hair to her face.

"Then why... why betray us?" she asked, voice fierce but shaky.

Miya paused. "That’s what you’ll learn next." Then she sprang back, leapt forward—and delivered a double kick: first to Aria’s ribs, then a spinning heel to her gut. Aria screamed, eyes rolling back, collapsing into the mud.

Miya watched as blood mixed with rainwater. "For this," she said quietly. "I’ll give you the truth."

Aria’s vision dimmed. She tried to hold on—but the darkness took her.

---

UNDER A TREE... LATER

When Aria awoke, it was still raining heavily. The forest was drenched.

She sat weakly against a tree, spine shivering not just from cold, but regret.

"Kairon." Her voice was small.

He knelt beside her, wrapping his cloak around her shoulders.

"How do you feel?" he asked softly.

"I... I failed," Aria whispered.

He tucked a lock of wet hair behind her ear. "You did what you could."

She rubbed her arms. "No. I always criticized them. Called them losers. I can’t... I can’t be the one dragging the class down."

Her voice cracked. She rested her head against his shoulder. Kairon laid two fingers gently on her neck, feeling the pulse.

Aria closed her eyes. "I should’ve known... I should’ve seen she was a spy."

Kairon’s eyes softened. "You did well, Aria."

Rain dripped off his hair as he held her quietly.

---

CLASS D HIDEOUT – 8:00 PM

Everyone was packed into their small hideout dome, faces drawn tight.

"It’s over," Caden said darkly. "Miya knows everything."

Riven stepped forward. "We have to move. They know our base."

"Let’s count," Juro said, starting roll call.

Eight names called... but no Aria. Twelve... still no Aria.

"Kairon—weren’t you with her?" Ivy blurted.

He looked calm, voice steady: "No. I don’t know where she is."

"You don’t?!" Meira spat. "You’re always with her!"

Kairon flicked his gaze away, calm. "That doesn’t mean I track her every move."

"This is too cruel," Yua said softly.

Kei stormed forward and grabbed Kairon’s collar. "If anything happens to her—"

Kairon grabbed his wrist. "Let go," he said firmly.

Riven slammed a hand on the table. "Enough!" His voice shook. "We leave now."

They retreated into the night, hearts pounding.

Kairon looked to the sky.

"It’s almost time," he whispered to himself.

---

NIGHT AMBUSH – 9:00 PM

Class D crept through the forest, eyes sharp.

In the clearing, they saw tents and a dying campfire. A mocking flash of flame danced in the center.

"Good job, Miya," Ren hissed from the trees.

"Thanks," she replied softly. "They won’t see this coming."

Ren held up his hand. The group charged!

Then... real panic.

They realized—they were surrounded by dummies.

"Trapped!" someone whispered.

A sudden BAM! ropes swung out and dozens of red paintballs burst like grenades. Streams of red splattered every student.

"Retreat!" Ren yelled. Then he disappeared into the shadows, leaving the rest fallen, bleeding paint and soaked through.

From above, Kairon watched, crouching on a branch. Rain pooled on his hair.

"One got away..." he whispered.

He looked down, expression cool.

"Guess I’m not the best hunter."

He stepped backwards onto a higher branch—then disappeared into the black.

---

DEEP FOREST ENCOUNTER

Ren walked alone, coated in red paint, muttering to himself.

Suddenly—he froze.

Something moved in the shadows. The air shifted, colder.

He drew his gun. "Come out! I know you’re there!"

A leaf quivered. He fired—blue paint splashed into the leaves.

"Just a rabbit..." he whispered.

He exhaled.

Then a hand touched his shoulder—light.

He spun—and a dark silhouette pressed a pistol to his temple.

Deadly still. A cold predator presence.

His heart slammed.

Before he could make a move—BANG!

Red paint exploded across the forest floor.

He slumped.

The figure vanished as silently as a ghost.

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