Chapter 4

Maya and I wandered back toward the open lawn once our run was done. We dropped onto the grass at the edge of the shade, where a few other pairs had already gathered after their run.

The rest of the afternoon drifted by in a haze of sun and chatter. We lay there for a while, having a small talk with others. Maya was leaning into me. It felt like we’ve become friends, maybe even a little bit closer than that.

Eventually, the last pair returned, flushed and panting. That signaled the end. Tyrone, Sandy, and other station masters appeared ten minutes later. Tyrone gave us both a nod, then dropped down onto the grass beside Maya. Sandy sat down next to me with a sigh.

“Fun afternoon, huh?” Maya said.

Sandy shrugged. “It’s kind of a strange experience. I’ve had five cocks in my pussy this afternoon, and none have come inside me. That’s the weirdest part.”

Her words sent a cold shiver down my spine. “Yeah, weird,” I agreed, trying to keep my voice steady. It was a relief that she didn’t feel the warmth of my cum when she was coming down from her own orgasm.

The gathering area grew quiet as the organizers approached, standing on a picnic table with a clipboard in hand, waving for attention.

The organizer raised her voice, eyes scanning the crowd. “Fastest pair through the Gauntlet Run, clean on all stations: Marry and Pedro!”

A wave of cheers went up as the two of them stood, surprised but grinning, and made their way up to the table. The organizer handed them two thin envelopes.

“Tickets to the next Cycle trip, well earned.”

We clapped along with the rest. Maya bumped her knee gently against mine, then leaned over.

“Do you think we could have won if we weren’t stuck at that third station?” Maya told me, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

I glanced at her. “Maybe, if we instead did the task one by one, helping each other, we could’ve gone faster.”

“Then why did my strategist not think of that?” she said with a chuckle.

I shrugged, “I’ve been planning war strategies, not ... whore strategies,” I said jokingly.

Maya whispered into my ear, “Well, I don’t regret it. Because, you know, we got to have some fun along the way.”

The organizer raised the orange plastic bucket. “Now for the station master draw! Marry and Pedro, come on, each of you pull one.”

They each reached in and drew a name. When they read them out, the winners jumped up from the crowd, shocked and laughing. People clapped, whistled. None of us won a ticket. I sat back on my elbows, letting the sun warm my face as the crowd buzzed around us. Even without the tickets, it felt like a day well spent.

Just as people were starting to settle, sipping water and tossing their shoes off to dry, one of the organizers clapped sharply to get our attention again.

“Time for room arrangement,” the organizer called out. “Everyone, team up with five other people to form a group of six. You’ll be sharing a tent together tonight. After this, you’ll have some free time before dinner.”

The crowd dispersed as everyone paired up and began looking for their room assignments. Maya looked at me, then at Tyrone and Sandy, as if waiting to see what the plan was.

Tyrone scratched the back of his neck. “I don’t know ... maybe we shouldn’t all stick together,” he said, glancing around. “Look, we already have fucked each other like how many times? Maybe we should split off, meet new people.”

Maya raised an eyebrow. “If you say so. Is there any girl you’ve got your eye on?”

Tyrone glanced across the lawn, then nodded toward a trio of girls chatting nearby. “I was thinking of asking those three chicks over there,” he said. “They seem like they came together and split off from their pairs, too.”

Maya followed his gaze. “You’re trying to fuck the whole group, Tyrone?” she teased.

As Tyrone walked off, Maya turned to me and Sandy. “What about you? Thinking of joining a different group too?”

Sandy leaned against me, a small shrug in her posture. “I’m sticking with my brother. For the fucking part, we can fuck anyone, anywhere. But I’d rather spend the rest of the night with people I actually know.”

Maya nodded. “And you, Paul?”

I hesitated, then I took a breath. “I was hoping to be in the same tent as you, if you don’t mind.”

Maya’s eyes lit up. “I don’t mind at all.”

The three of us began searching for other members to complete our group. First, we approached Ms. Rita, the female teacher who was cheering on other students as they formed groups, but remained alone herself. Then Jake, one of the organizers who seemed particularly interested in Maya, came over and asked if he could join us. Finally, we invited Jason, a junior civics student who had been scanning the crowd for company.

After everyone had formed their groups, the organizers led us to the campsite just a short walk from the building. The tents were surprisingly spacious, much bigger than I had expected. Inside each tent, an air conditioner hummed softly, six comfortable beds were neatly arranged, a small refrigerator was stocked with drinks, and a modest bar was tucked into one corner.

As we carried our belongings inside and settled in for free time, the atmosphere relaxed. Some people headed to the nearby lake for a refreshing swim, while others wandered into the woods. A few stayed around the campgrounds, helping the organizers prepare for the evening event, and some simply remained inside their tents, fucking their new roommates.

Inside our tent, after Jake stepped out to help prepare for the evening event, Maya turned to me. “So, what’s your plan for the free time?”

I shrugged. “I’m thinking of hitting the bath. Want to come?”

Maya nodded, then asked, “Rita, Sandy, Jason, do you want to join us for the bath?”

Ms. Rita, who was scrolling through her tablet, looked up. “Oh, actually, there’s a hot spring not far from here. It’s one of the perks of this resort, just a little hike. Do you guys want to check it out?”

Maya’s eyes sparkled at the mention of a hot spring. “Yeah, let’s go! It sounds amazing after all that running around today!”

The five of us left the tent and followed a narrow trail that wound gently through the trees. It wasn’t a long hike, maybe fifteen minutes. The air grew cooler under the dense canopy, filled with the sound of birds and the soft crunch of gravel underfoot.

We reached the hot spring nestled in a natural hollow between two low hills. The spring sat in a wide stone basin, fed by a steady stream of steaming water that trickled down from the rocks above. Mist hovered above the surface. The smell of minerals seemed clean and earthy.

Wooden platforms lined one edge, leading down to the water. A small bamboo changing area sat tucked between the trees nearby, but none of us bothered. We’d walked all the way here naked anyway.

Already in the pool were five people, four guys and one girl, playing in the steaming water and chatting lazily. They looked up as we arrived, gave a few smiles and waves. The water looked incredibly inviting, as I dripped myself into the pool, I could feel the tension in my body begin to melt away.