The Scavenger Hunt

It's all fun and games until ....

“A scavenger hunt? Really?”

“It’s five items; all of which are hidden in the Delta Kappa Tau sorority house. You’ll know which one is yours for the taking by our Letters on the item.”

They were let in through the back door by the Delta Kappa Tau sorority chapter president.

“Alright Prince Charmings, the items you’re looking for are in the common rooms of the first and second floors. You have seven minutes to collect what you can and get back to your own fraternity house. And if you wake up any of my girls, you’re out. Good luck fellas.”

There were seven pledges of the Delta Iota Kappa fraternity, and as they entered the sorority house, they broke off into groups; three of the young men headed up the stairs to the second floor while the other four searched the first.

They were stealthy and quiet at first, trying not to wake sleeping sorority girls. They used their flashlights to keep from bumping into furniture or knocking over the flower vases, speaking in hushed whispers across the rooms.

But a sudden shriek from upstairs, followed by a crash that echoed down the hall, shattered the stillness. And the pledges of Delta Iota Kappa made a run for it.

*****
Back at the Delta Iota Kappa fraternity house ….

The seven pledges were kneeling in the main room. Those who had managed to collect their scavenger hunt items had them laid out on the floor before them. Those who had woken up the sorority sisters of Delta Kappa Tau were covered in paintball splatter.

“Well done pledges, though I see some of you had run-ins with the sisters. How delightful.” Big Brother John chuckled as he paced before the pledges.

“Johnny, can we talk for a minute?”

“Marion, what is it?” The Delta Kappa Tau president handed him a sheet of paper. “Three thousand dollars in damages? But I thought -?”

“We weren’t anticipating one of your pledges throwing a punch.” Marion sighed. “One of my girls is being treated at the campus clinic for a broken nose.”

“In my defense, she had a weapon pointed at me. How was I supposed to know it was just a paintball gun?” One of the pledges spoke up; the side of his face, shoulder, and his hands were covered in paint.

“And while I can appreciate that, you’re damned lucky Meredith was only using a paintball gun. She’s a championship sharpshooter. If you had been an actual intruder and she allowed a personal firearm, you’d be in the morgue.” Marion looked over her shoulder at the pledge, then back at John. “The sorority insurance will cover most of her medical expenses; this is just what we’re asking the fraternity to contribute, since it was a joint activity.”

“Of course.”

*****
The next day ….

Marion and Meredith were walking down the sidewalk in front of the Delta Iota Kappa house on their way to their morning classes, when a whistle rent the air. They turned to see where it’d come from, to spot a Delta Iota Kappa pledge making his way down the lawn towards them.

“Meredith, this is Steven Macintosh. Steven, meet Meredith Ferguson.” Marion introduced them, then made a discrete exit.

“How’s the nose?” He asked without any preamble.

“It’ll heal.” Meredith took off her sunglasses, and he could see the bandage across her nose and the bruising below her eyes. “How did your scavenger hunt go? Did you get everything on your list?”

“I did, thanks; but now I’m on trial and my pledgeship is in jeopardy.”

“Why?”

“The brotherhood doesn’t condone violence, especially against women.”

“But you acted on pure survival instinct.” Meredith scowled, tears stinging the corners of her eyes as pain ripped through her nose.

“And while that’s a valid argument, the Council has rules and regs it is required to abide by and enforce, just like the rest of us.” Steven shrugged.

*****
At his pledgeship trial, it was determined that Steven Machintosh’s violent actions were purely reactionary and justified, and therefore that particular black mark against him was officially erased from record. However, due to the financial compensation the fraternity was now responsible for, he was still being dismissed from the semester’s pledge class.

During the Council meeting that followed, it was decided that Steven Macintosh would be extended an invitation to re-pledge during the winter recruitment; and that their traditional pledge scavenger hunt would be moved to a new location.

As for Meredith, she gave testimony at Steven’s trial that swayed in his favor, her nose healed just fine, and she and Steven became sparring buddies and teammates on the university’s paintball league.

~ * ~

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The Writer's Cramp  (13+) Write the best poem or story in 24 hours or less and win 10K GPS! #333655 by Sophy

05.24.2025 Prompt: Write a story or poem about a scavenger hunt that gets someone into trouble.