He ran off the cliff on his own accord. He’d been there in the bushes watching it all. The plan was for the three goons to beat the outer-rim runt and the fake-vein girl and he’d swoop in to savor the final blow. They’d all blown it.

He probably could have saved Reginald, but after that pathetic display up there, he didn’t see why the Archer family even needed someone so worthless any way.

Cyrus kicked the torn apart body over so he no longer had to look at the crushed face of his companion.

He headed back to the cave where Sybil was waiting for him.

Their candles were secured, but the fun he had been hoping to have during this mid-term had turned into a total flop.

* * *

For Max and Casey, the rest of the night went by without any more disturbances.

They forced themselves to stay awake by continuously drinking their water bottles so that they’d need to take frequent bathroom breaks. Or, in the case of the jungle atmosphere, bush breaks.

Eventually the sky began to lighten up and morning dawned on the island.

Casey and Max smiled at each other as the light of a new day came upon them.

“Looks like we survived the night,” said Max.

Both Casey and Toto let out a large exaggerated yawn.

“I can’t wait to get back home and have a huge nap,” declared Casey. “Isn’t that right, Toto?”

“Didn’t Toto sleep for most of the test?” said Max.

“Toto’s a growing gerbil, he needs his sleep!”

Max didn’t pursue the argument any further as they dismantled their base camp.

They waited and watched as the boat with the instructor and the examiners on it came ashore to the island.

Only now would they return to the beach. Otherwise, they were opening themselves up to any last desperate attempts made by other students to steal their lit candles.

They made a wide berth through the island to avoid contact with other students.

They were the first to arrive on the beach where the instructor and examiners were waiting.

The instructor smirked when he saw them.

“I figured you two would make it,” he grinned. “Let’s see who else did.”

Max looked at the empty beach. There must have been other students who made it? There was no way that Max and Casey were the only ones who passed, was it? Or perhaps the other students were simply being more cautious than the others?

Slowly but surely more students emerged on the beach. Many of them carried unlit candles and had dejected looks on their faces.

Cyrus and Sybil amongst a few others emerged from the shadows of the island jungle with their candles lit.

“I guess that’s everyone,” said the instructor, looking the group up and down.

Max’s heartbeat suddenly quickened.