The news that Ruth, Ericka, and Thalia had also gone missing made Jake grip his head in frustration.

“How did all three disappear at the same time…?” he muttered, exhausted.

He hadn’t slept—not even for a minute. His mind was still reeling from Jasmin’s disappearance, and now this. The weight of responsibility sat heavily on his shoulders. The situation was getting worse by the hour.

“Sir Jake,” someone called.

He turned. It was Harold, his colleague.

“The tracker device picked up something earlier. It kept blinking on and off,” Harold whispered.

Jake stood abruptly. Without a word, he headed to the tent where the monitoring equipment was set up.

“Jake,” another teacher said, “we detected a tracker.”

“Whose?”

“It’s Miss Blanco’s.”

Jake leaned closer, eyes sharpening.
“What did the earlier report say?”

“The signal kept cutting out,” the teacher explained. “Probably because they’re in a place with unstable range. But the good news is—it’s still active.”

Jake’s heart surged with hope.
“Where are they now?”

“She’s moving—slow but moving. If Thalia’s with the others… then all of them might be together. Maybe even Jasmin.”

Jake didn’t waste another second.
The longer they waited, the more danger the students were in.

The teachers quickly organized a small search-and-rescue team while allowing the remaining students to continue their activities. Jake took the tracker from the table, gripping it tightly.

Please let them be safe, he prayed.

He followed the blinking signal on the screen. It flickered erratically, changing directions every few seconds. Difficult to pinpoint.

Maybe they’re lost, Jake thought grimly.

He hurried through the forest, tracker held tightly in hand. He passed an old abandoned warehouse—one he’d seen before—but didn’t stop.

Then something on the ground caught his eye.

A ribbon.

Jake picked it up, heart pounding.

This is one of the ribbons we gave them… the hidden trackers.

His mind raced. The girls couldn’t be far.

He checked the tracker again. Still blinking.
Still active.

Jake ran—switching between sprinting and speed-walking. He knew this forest well. He knew every shortcut. Every hidden path.

Please don’t let me be too late.

The trees slowly thinned out until he reached a paved road at the forest’s edge.

Then—

Rustling.

“Sir Jake?” a voice called faintly.

Jake spun around.

Tall grass shifted—
And from behind it stepped Thalia.

Then Ruth.
Ericka.
And finally—

Jasmin.

Relief crashed into him like a wave.
They were alive.

“Dionson, are you okay?” Jake rushed forward.

They looked exhausted, terrified, clothes wrinkled and muddy. Like they’d been running for their lives.

Suddenly, Jasmin collapsed. Jake caught her instinctively.

“For heaven’s sake… don’t wander off again,” he said, breath shaky. “Come on—let’s get out of here.”

Footsteps sounded behind them.

Jake turned sharply.

A man stepped out from between the trees.

“Jake,” he greeted calmly.

Jake’s eyes narrowed.
“Giovane? What are you doing here?”

The girls exchanged nervous glances.
Jake’s tone had shifted.

Giovane smirked. “Still the same cold Jake. Just hanging out. Didn’t expect to see you here. These kids lost?”

Jake stood protectively in front of the students.

“We had some disappearances. Thankfully, they’re safe now. Didn’t expect to run into you of all people.”

“Well,” Giovane said casually, “I heard about missing girls in this area. Didn’t know it was your school camping here.”

“Thanks for the concern,” Jake said curtly. “We’re leaving. Let’s hope our paths don’t cross again.”

Giovane chuckled. “Still unfriendly as ever.”

Jake ignored him, ushering the girls forward.

He glanced at Ruth.
She looked on the verge of tears.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

Ruth shook her head. Trauma written all over her face.

He didn’t want any of them carrying this fear forever.

“How did you find us?” Thalia asked suddenly.

Jake smiled faintly.
He reached into his pocket.

A thin ribbon.

“A ribbon?” Ericka said.

“Yes,” Jake nodded. “We designed it with a hidden tracker. In emergencies, it helps us locate anyone who’s lost.”

Thalia blinked. “You mean… this thing?” she asked, pulling her own from her pocket.

Jake nodded again.
“Exactly.”

“Good thing I didn’t throw it away,” she muttered.

They approached camp quietly. Jake led them through the back to avoid curious eyes and prevent panic.

Inside the tent, the teachers gasped in relief.

The school nurse hurried over to treat minor cuts and bruises. Jake reported everything to the staff:
The missing students had been found safe.

Finally, when everything settled…

Jake sank into his chair.

Exhaustion hit him like a truck.

But his mind wouldn’t rest.

Giovane…
Why was he there?

What was he really doing in the forest at that hour?

His body ached. His thoughts churned.

But at least—
the students were safe.
They would all go home alive.

And for now, that was enough.