Chapter 19

She looked at the location indicated on the map and looked around. Realising that this test was more about how accurate they could read a map. She looked at the map for a while before looking around once more. Something was telling her that she was in the wrong location. She turned around and headed back to the third stamp location.

Looking at the map and around the location, she realised why she ended up in the wrong place. The path she needed to take was, hidden from her. Walking down this path through the bushes and past the trees. She finally found the fourth stamp hanging from what was, called on one of the oldest trees in the reserve. She looked at the map and this time made sure that she wasn't on the wrong path.

Mia was almost at the location of the last stamp when she heard someone shouting at her. "Hey you what are you doing down there?" she looked around but could not see anyone. Puzzeled she looked at the map once again. But was, distracted as the man kept shouting at her that she needed to get out of there. Mia took a deep breath and focused on her hearing. She could hear the man shouting but the mountain made the man's voice move around the mountain.

"It's no use, I can't determine where he is shouting from. It could be any of these mountain peaks," Mia said out loud. Looking around she saw the final stamp sitting on a rock. She had stamped her last location when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Scared she turned around placing lightning in her hand. She calmed down when she saw that it was one of the men taking the ranger test with her.

"Your a real idiot you know that," the man shouted at her. "No, I don't but tell me can you read that map of yours," Mia asked. "Yes I can read it but why did you get yourself lost. The stamp is up there," the man pointed. "That's why I asked you if you could read the map," Mia said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" the man asked. "It means to get lost and leave me alone," she replied. Looking at the map she tried to pick the best way out of the valley and found what she was looking for, the exit. She followed the road out but the man would not leave her alone. "Don't go that way your only going to get yourself even more lost," he said. Mia was confident in her skills and turned around to look at the man.

"Why dont you worry how you are going to pass this test and leave me alone," Mia siad. She broke out in a run and ran the rest of the way to the exit. She smiled when she saw Mary - Anne and gave her the map. She looked at the map and back at Mia. "Well done," she siad.

Mia handed the map in and one of the lady's said, "I didn't think anyone would be able to pass this years test." Mia smiled and said, "It wasn't that hard at all, in fact, it was easy," Mia siad. "Easy, look around you Mia you're the first one that passed the test and in a record time of under two hours," the lady said.

"Wow, I didn't realise it was moving so fast," Mia siad. "Yes well, you can be proud of your achievement my dear. But first I, think there's someone from the clover base looking for you," Mary said.

Mia looked around and saw Luna and Sam standing next to the stall where she signed up for her test. She ran over to them and asked, "don't tell me you're taking the test too?" Luna turned around and smiled when she saw Mia. "You haven't started yet?" Luna asked. "No actually I got back and I passed the test. Joining them wont cost to much but then I will have the permission to stay at the clover base," Mia said.

"So that's why you took the test," Sam siad. "Yes, it's dangerous being alone Sam and someone threatened me. I did report the case to the police and found out I was, registered as my parent's daughter. They didn't tell Jasmine and her friends about me," Mia siad. Sam's raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you okay? Who treated you and why are you talking in riddles?"

Mia looked around and said, "the group that threatened me told me to stay away from clover but I dont know their names. I am okay now but the police said. Finding the group will not be a problem since they already know who the trouble makers are," Mia said. Sam's eyes grew wide and asked, "why dont they want you staying with us?"

"I dont know Sam but like I told the police I want to stay as close as I can to my Uncle. If my dad ever gets out he is going to come here and look for me," Mia siad. "Yes, but what made you take the ranger test in the first place," Sam asked.

"The police told me about the test when they learned that John was my father and that he trained me," Mia said. "I am surprised Mary-Anne would even let you take the test," Sam siad. "Why is that? She is such a nice lady," Mia siad.

"Why is that?" Mia asked. "Not anyone can take this test, Mia. It's difficult and it can be dangerous," Sam said. "I, think it might have something to do with the police. I had to tell them my surname. It turns out my parents weren't declared missing or kidnapped. But they had a source that confirmed it," Mia siad.

Sam looked around and said, "did the police say anything?" he asked. "No, but I told the police if my dad ever gets free. He would be looking for me with either my mother's brothers or his own brother. He sends me to Marry Anne when I told him about the trouble Jasmine and her court was creating for us," Mia siad.

"So your parents did register you but not with our council I, wonder why?" Sam siad. "My father was the main problem. He and my mother fought on several occasions about this very topic. I suspect he had lost trust in the council but I dont know why," Mia siad.

"So how much longer before this test ends?" Luna asked. "Less than three hours I, think," Mia said. "You did the test faster than most," Sam siad. "Yes well dad trained me, I did get lost once but I read the map wrong," Mia siad.

"Did anything happen?" Sam asked. "Yes, a man thought I was, lost and tried to warn me. But there was an eco and for some reason, it was like this man could not standstill. One minute I would determine his location south but the next moment I would hear the same voice north," Mia siad.

Sam was quiet for a while before replying. Mia, it sounds like that man tried to confuse you. He might have realised you were almost done with your test," Sam siad. "Sam but that means that he followed me. That's wrong, it means he cheated," Mia complained.

"If he did cheat Mia, why is it that he is not here?" Sam asked. Mia looked around and said, "you're right, so he didn't cheat at all?" Mia asked.

Sam reposted to Mike that Mia was okay. He also told Mike she was, threatened and that Mia was trying to find a way to be closer to the base. "She doesn't like being alone and I can understand that Mike. Zara and John did register their daughter so why isn't the council seeing Mia as their daughter?" Sam asked.

"They are in on the kidnapping?" Mia asked. Sam looked at Mia and said, "You should be carefull in saying those words out loud. It's not a good thing of others overhears you," Sam said. "Yea but she has a point?" Luna said.

Mia was talking to Sam and Luna when the man came to her. "You must stupid be doing the test on your own. I hope the rangers dont hire you. You will only get rangers killed and didn't we tell you to stay away from Clover?" the man said. "I have family and friends on the base why should I stay away from them?" Mia asked out loud.

"You're lying through your teeth and you know that. Why didn't you stop when I told you to stop?" the man shouted. "Why were you moving around so much?" MIa asked. "What the hell do you mean?" the man shouted. "You were using an eco but the eco moved once it was south then it was north," Mia asked.

"That has nothing to do with you, no pack your bags and leave this town," the man shouted. "You dont have the right to chase her out of town. She is the family of our captain. His sister is her mother and we have proof. If she wants to stay with her family no one can stop her. After all, we do let many of our members keep their families close by," Sam siad.

"She is lying there is no way she is Zara's daughter those documents are fake," the man shouted. "And how do you know that?" Mia siad. "Because I know where your parents are Mia and you are lying. They told you where to go and you're being a spoiled brat about it. We dont need people like you in our ranks because it's people like you that gets people killed," the man shouted.

"But if my parents are free why haven't they contacted me?" Mia asked. "Why would they contact a spoiled little brat like you. I know you cheated with the map Mia and I already reported you to the authority," the man siad. "But I didn't even use the GPS I dont have any way to cheat," Mia siad.

"I dont care what you did all I know is that you cheated. And that your parents left you because if they didn't you would not be, forced to find work for yourself," the man siad.

Mia looked around her and realised everyone was looking at her. She looked at the desk where she signed up for the test and said, "since no one believes me I am pulling out of the test," Mia siad. "Are you sure, you dont have to pull out because he said so?" The lady asked but Mia didn't listen turned around and ran down the road.

She didn't stop running until she found her motel and started to pack her bags. She realised she was breaking one of her Uncle Mikes laws but at that moment she didn't care she needed to know. Was it true? Did her parents abandon her?