Mr. Matthews pulled the van into the parking lot, and the students gathered their packs.
"I've been waiting all week for this! I've always wanted to hike to the top of Mt. Si. My dad says it's the training hike for climbing Mt. Rainier!" Rachel gushed to Walt.
"So is Rainier next up?" asked Walt, nudging Rachel with a smile.
"Well, since you put it that way, we could go together..." Rachel replied, fluttering her eyelashes in an exaggerated display of coquettishness.
Walt sighed inwardly. He knew that Rachel thought of him only as a buddy, but he would love nothing more than to go to Mt. Rainier with her. Together. With no one else around. His mind began to fantasize about Rachel.
"...right, Walt" said Megan.
"Wha?" asked Walt, snapping back to reality.
Megan sighed. "Earth to Walt. This is Houston, over."
"Sorry, got distracted. What did you say?" asked Walt again.
"I was telling Trin here that Salish tribe used to use fir free branches to ward off evil spirits. Since it's getting close to Halloween, I thought that might be a good idea for us too." Megan clarified.
"Don't listen to her, Trin. She's a goofball." said Walt.
Megan looked on shyly while Megan punched Walt in the arm.
"Ooowww!" Walt said, rubbing his arm. "That actually hurt!"
"Good!" replied Megan with a lopsided grin.
"Alright, let's get going, folks!" said Mr. Matthews.
Mr. Matthews wanted to get Rachel to the target zone to see if she had the sight. If she did, he could probably beat the Others to it. He didn't think that they knew about this location. Of course, the Others seemed to have an uncanny ability to locate the treasures that no one in the Group understood.
Lexi and Brent were off by themselves near the trail marker, deep in discussion, but Mr. Matthews gathered them as well, getting the hike started.
"If anyone needs to use the restroom, now's your chance..." Mr. Matthews announced as they approached the pit toilets just past the trail marker.
"Ewwww, those things stink!" said Lexi, wrinkling her nose. Brent laughed, then headed over to use them, much to his girlfriend's dismay.
The group hiked up switchback after switchback until they finally arrived at the summit ridge. There was a light dusting of snow from the previous night, and the group sat down to put on their jackets while they rested at the top.
Rachel noticed something in the distance, near the haystack and spoke up.
"Hey guys, there's some golden shining thing over there. I'm going to check it out..." she announced.
Mr. Matthews beamed in joy. She did have the gift! She was--
That was Mr. Matthews' last thought as a blood-covered blade appeared in his chest, plunged through from back to front. He dropped to his knees and collapsed, revealing a beautiful woman in a black skin-tight bodysuit and a hand on her hip.
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