Page 39 of Swipe Right for Stardust

Vanessa listened intently. “It’s amazing how something so small can be so important.”

I nodded, feeling nothing but admiration for her enthusiasm. “Indeed. The universe is full of wonders, if we only know where to look.”

As we continued our journey, the terrain became increasingly treacherous. Slick, moss-covered rocks threatened our footing at every step.

“Careful,” I warned, reaching back to offer Vanessa my hand. “These formations can be quite slippery.”

She took my hand without hesitation, her fingers intertwining with mine.

We navigated a particularly narrow ledge, the drop-off to our right plunging into inky blackness. Vanessa’s grip on my hand tightened.

“Don’t look down,” I advised, trying to keep my voice calm and reassuring. “Just focus on my back. One step at a time.”

We inched along the ledge, the only sound our measured breathing and the occasional crunch of loose pebbles underfoot. Finally, we reached a wider section of path, and I helped Vanessa onto more stable ground.

“You did wonderfully,” I said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before reluctantly letting go.

She smiled up at me, a hint of color in her cheeks. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re here with me. I don’t think I could do this alone.”

The emotions in her voice stirred something deep within me, until I was torn between the urgency of our mission and an overwhelming desire to simply stay here with her, safe from the dangers that lay ahead.

“Vanessa, I...” I began, then hesitated.

She tilted her head, curiosity in her gaze. “Yes?”

Before I could respond, a distant rumble echoed through the cavern. We both froze, looking at each other with wide eyes.

“What was that?” Vanessa whispered.

I tilted my head, my senses on high alert. “I’m not sure. But I think we should keep moving. Quickly.”

With time, I noticed subtle changes in our surroundings. Fresh scratches marred the rock walls, and loose pebbles littered the path where they hadn’t been before. My pulse quickened at the implications.

“Vanessa,” I whispered, pulling her close. “Look at these markings. I believe another team has been through here recently.”

She squinted, tracing a finger along one of the scratches. “You’re right. What should we do?”

I considered our options, valuing her input. “What do you think? Should we follow their trail or try to find an alternate route?”

Vanessa bit her lip, deep in thought. “If we follow them, we might catch up. But they could also be laying traps...”

“An excellent point,” I nodded, impressed by her strategic thinking. “Perhaps we should seek a less traveled path. It may be more challenging, but it could give us an advantage.”

A spark of competitiveness flared within me, surprising in its intensity.

“There,” I pointed to a narrow fissure in the cavern wall. “That looks promising. Shall we?”

Vanessa grinned, a glint of excitement in her eyes. “Lead the way, Doctor.”

We squeezed through the opening, the rough stone scraping against our suits. The passage twisted and turned, forcing us to climb over fallen boulders and shimmy through tight spaces. Despite the difficulty, I felt a growing sense of exhilaration.

Suddenly, a low rumble echoed through the cavern and the ground began to tremble.

“Zarnak?” Vanessa’s voice quavered. “What’s happening?”

A deafening crack split the air. Instinctively, I threw myself over Vanessa, shielding her as rocks rained down around us. The world became a chaos of dust and falling debris.

As the initial collapse subsided, I quickly assessed our situation. First things first.

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