Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 226

Chapter 226 Into the Mountains 

“Alright, Captain, come with me. 

The captain of Ava’s team was a young man named Linden Oestergaard. 

Flushed 

Their team consisted of 22 guys and three girls. Malory and Holly had originally belonged to the same platoon, and even after getting off the truck, Ava kept aolite distance from the two of them. 

Before long, Linden returned with a map, tents, and other supplies. 

“Everyone, gather the items you picked out yesterday, Let’s sort everything,” he said while pulling a coil of rope and a finely crafted dagger from his pack. 

At that, the young men began emptying their bags. Ava, too, took out a folding military shovel, a roll of gauze, and a long blade. By the time her turn came the day before, most of the good choices had already been taken. 

Meanwhile, Malory and Holly exchanged a look before each produced only a thin blanket from their bags. 

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As Linden glanced over the growing pile of items, he was already devising a plan in his head. He swept his gaze across the team and said, “Prepare yourselves, everyone. I’m going to select certain items as communal supplies. It’s the best way to give our team the highest chance of surviving the next seven days. I hope all of you can cooperate.” 

“No problem. We’ll follow your lead,” Elio Fournier said with a grin. 

Linden went through each person’s bag and collected a few essentials for the shared pile, leaving Edwin Chronis in charge of carrying them. From Ava’s supplies, he only took the shovel and left the gauze and blade for her to keep. As for the other two girls, he didn’t take a single thing from their packs. 

Once everything was packed up again, the group slung their bags over their shoulders and headed into the mountains. But it had only been barely ten minutes when Holly piped up, “Captain, let’s rest for a minute.” 

Linden turned toward her. “It’s only been a few minutes. Our goal today is 18 miles.” 

“Eighteen miles?! Captain, you think way too highly of me!” Holly practically shouted. 

At that, Linden met her eyes and said evenly, “If you’re scared, I’ll report it immediately and you can choose 

to quit.” 

“I never said I was quitting! I just wanted a break!” 

“Thompson, this trip isn’t your personal vacation. Don’t waste everyone’s time.” Linden reminded gravely. “You get two minutes. When time’s up, we move. One hour from now, we’ll rest properly.” 

“Hey, Ava! Do you still remember me?” a voice called out suddenly. 

When she didn’t answer, the young man continued, “We met on the first day of school, remember? My name’s Kenneth Shaw!” 

“Pfft… What are you, trying to flirt?” another young man–Elmer Adams–cut in. 

Ava nodded politely. “Hello, Kenneth.” 

Kenneth glared at Elmer. “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all!” 

18:26 Thu Jan 22 B G D 

Chapter 225 into the Mountains 

Elmer snorted a laugh. 

Linden frowned. “Ehner, knock it off. Two minutes are up–we’re moving.” 

Holly glared daggers at Linden, then turned toward the fall, broad–shouldered young man beside her. “Hey, could you help me carry my pack, pretty please? It’s too heavy” 

The young man–Victor Gilday–blushed and immediately slung her backpack across his chest. 

After an hour of trekking, Linden finally allowed the group to rest. “It’s 10.15 a.m. We’ll rest for 15 minutes. At 11, we stop again to find food.” 

With that, Ava crouched on a smooth rock, sipping water in small, measured sips. 

“Ava, want something to eat?” Malory approached with an open pack of biscuits in her palm. 

Ava met her eyes, then looked at her hand. “Thanks, but I’m not in the mood for anything dry right now.” 

Malory didn’t insist. She took another bite and tucked the rest into her pocket. 

Nearby, Holly was calling every young man’s name sweetly, coaxing laughter out of half the team. 

At eleven sharp, Linden halted everyone again. He studied the paper map, then pulled up the satellite 3D map on his device. Red dots were scattered across the terrain–some stationary, some creeping along slowly. 

After taking a few gulps of water, Linden waited ten minutes for the group to rest before assigning tasks. 

“Adams, Chronis, Fairweather, Crowe–you four build two simple stoves. Fournier, Vogel, Pendleton, Glockner–go find a water source. Head downhill; there should be a stream. Take the bucket and bring water 

back. 

“Shaw, Gilday, Hill, Legrand–gather firewood. Everyone else comes with me to look for supplies. As for you three girls, stay here and rest.” 

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