The Hunt (Part 1)

The two girls ran down the hill together but soon broke off in different directions at the bottom. Neither was keen on being seen in the light of the setting sun and both were more interested at the moment to sticking to the outskirts of campus where they were less likely to be seen than to move with the speed that running straight thru the middle of campus would provide.

Amelia quickly ran thru the list of things in her head. To her it made the most sense to head to Sorority row. It was the furthest point from where she had started geographically… but it meant that then she could weave her way back towards the center of campus as she went. She figured the final place to go would more than likely be closer to there.

*****

Nicole had the opposite idea. She wanted to hit the items closest to her as she made her way across campus. Unfortunately that meant posing in front of the Campus Police Station first.

The sky was still painted in beautiful shades of pink, Orange, and very subtle blues as Nicole looks out from behind a bush across the street from the station.

“This is insane…” she whispered to herself. Rose though responded from right next to her.

“I agree… but kinda exciting!” Nicole looked at the freshman.

“For you maybe. It won’t be very exciting for me if I get arrested.”

Checking that the coast was clear the blonde made her way out from behind the bush and she sprinted across the street. Right outside of the police station was an old fashioned lamp post that she quickly leaned against in a pose.

“Hurry! Take the picture!” She shouted at Rose who was fumbling with her phone. God she missed Marci right now.

“Hey!” A gruff voice shouted from behind her. Nicole didn’t look back just gestured at Rose to hurry up.

As she heard the sound of footsteps on the steps behind her Rose blurted out “I got it!” And Nicole took off back across the street. She could hear by the heavy footsteps that the person behind her was giving chase.

*****

Amelia was still only halfway across campus. She kept having to duck behind bushes or dive into paths between buildings to avoid getting caught. Mel laughing all the while running along side her fully clothed.

She knew that there was no way to get thru this hunt unseen. The GameMaster had pretty much assured that. But she knew that the longer she prolonged it the better. The minute word got out about two girls running around campus completely naked the whole school would be out trying to catch a peek… especially campus police.

“You got a message.” Mel said checking the phone Amelia had given her to hold. “Looks like Nicole is off to an early lead.”

Amelia hiding in a dark alley between to buildings took the phone from her friend. Sure enough there was a photo of Nicole leaning casually against the pole outside the campus police station. But her face showed nothing close to casual as she had a look of full panic. It was easy to see why. Behind her was a campus cop in full uniform descending down the steps towards her.

“That idiot.” Amelia said handing back her phone. Now Campus Police were going to be on high alert.

“I guess we’re gonna have to pick up the pace.” Mel grinned.

“Maybe… but first let’s make sure we have other ways to slow her down…”

*****

Nicole was out of breath as she hid in a dark doorway outside the campus rec building. She’d managed to give the campus cop the slip… but she now needed to be on high alert.

She jumped as the door behind her began to open, but was relieved when it was just Rose.

“Sorry! Took me forever to find the right emergency exit. This is a hallway I really don’t think were supposed to be in…”

Nicole just gave her a look. Getting caught trespassing in a back hallway of the Rec building was the least of her concerns. She pushed past the mousy brunette and attempted to get her bearings. She needed to sneak thru the building undetected and into the pool area.

Luckily she managed to make it to the women’s locker room undetected. She let out a sigh of relief. If there was somewhere on campus she was allowed to be naked this was it. The relief was short lived as and Rose made their way to the door to the pool deck.

“Well… at least there are people… which means I only need to do one of the two things…” the blonde muttered as she looked at the crowded pool deck.

She tried to assess the situation. From the door to the edge of the pool was maybe 20’. That was nothing. And there was an empty lap lane right there. All she needed to do was slip into the water unnoticed and swim her lap and then sneak back out and into the locker room and no one would be the wiser.

Making sure this time Rose had the camera at the ready she slipped out the door and as quickly as she felt she could without attracting the lifeguards attention made her way to the edge of the water and slide in. She repressed a yell as the cool water enveloped her body. Quickly glancing around she breathed a sigh of relief at slipping into the pool unnoticed.

Nicole had never been a great swimmer and did a simple breaststroke across the pool. The first 2/3 of the way across went smoothly…. Till the lifeguard turned her direction.

“I’m just another swimmer…” she thought to herself. “He can’t see that I don’t have on a suit…”

She made the turn and started to swim back now with the lifeguard stand behind her. She prayed that he would remain seated in his chair but the look of panic on the freshman video taping her said otherwise. She swam faster.

Reaching the finish line task now technically complete she caught Roses eye.

“He’s coming over.” She said with anxiety. Nicole looked and indeed he was now level with her on the end of the pool by the deep end turning the corner and walking towards her.

“Shit!” Nicole said aloud. “It’s Michael…”

“Who’s that?” Rose asked.

“This guy I once did a group project with. I might’ve implied I’d go out with him if he covered for me not doing much work… and then i might’ve ghosted him the second the semester ended…”

She was now faced with a terrible choice… get out and make a run for it or stay and talk to the lifeguard…