Page 33 of Explorer's Revenge
Logan chuckles. “More like fell.”
“Ah, that explains the yelling. Did you tell a tree to eat your ass?” She laughs.
“Shit, actually,” Rick replies as he looks around. “How long have you been here?”
“About an hour. I was just about to start exploring.” She eyes me. “If you can agree that I found this first—well, since I have footage as proof and all—we can share. I’ll even let you film.”
“Let us? Like you could stop us,” I snarl.
She pushes off the structure and doesn’t stop until I have to crane my head down to meet her gaze, shielding my eyes from the sun to see her. “Yes, let you. You were too slow, Wilder. Just accept it. Now, what was it I won again?” She taps her chin in thought as I grind my teeth. “Don’t worry, big boy, I’ll collect later. For now, I’m going to document my amazing discovery. I have to get all the good angles.”
She walks past me, making sure to knock into my shoulder as she does.
Rick hurries after her, and I gape. He meets my eyes. “What? I want to see it all too.” Logan strides after him, and then Way and Aiyaret follow as well.
“Traitors,” I hiss.
“Just give in, Wilder. It would be easier.” Way laughs and smacks my shoulder before they follow her down the dirt path, leaving me staring after them, grinding my teeth.
I can’t leave them with her, though, so I trail after them, angry that I let her get the jump on us. She found it, which means the discovery and the money is hers—something I loathe to admit.
It should have been us, but hopefully we can get some good footage so this trip isn’t a total waste. Besides, we are only second to her in a place where people haven’t been in a very long time.
That means something.
We break off into the circular pathways, wandering around the houses while we shoot. It’s eerily quiet, and we remain silent, as if sensing something happened here.
I see belongings within the houses that were left behind. It’s creepy, and I’ve been to some creepy places.
“Anyone else getting the heebie-jeebies?” Logan whispers.
“Me.” Rick takes Logan’s arm, and they look around.
Maeve stops as we branch off into what must be the main walkway, and we look at what is left. Items are discarded across the stone, baking in the sun, and wagons and bricks are dotted around as if forgotten.
“I didn’t expect it to look like this,” she murmurs, and we share a worried glance as she turns and heads down the next street. More wagons are abandoned, and one is even right side up with bricks inside. “It’s like they just left one day.”
“Or died,” I murmur, but how did an entire city just up and go missing?
“What were you expecting? Gold?” I ask her when she frowns and comes to a standstill.
“Honestly? Kind of.” She shoots me a smile that, for once, isn’t filled with hostility or anger. “I guess this is beautiful as well though, but you’re right. It has a . . . haunted feeling to it.”
I nod in understanding. I feel it too, not that I would tell her, but my gut tells me something transpired here.
“I don’t think we should be here at nightfall. We can set up camp up there.” I nod toward the tip of the crater.
“You want me to stay with you again?” she teases, nudging me.
“Just for now,” I reply.
That makes her frown as she watches me. “Must be bad for you to let me into your little nest again, but I agree.”
“Don’t think I’m being nice. It’s purely about survival,” I protest.
“Got it.” She winks as Logan calls her name, hurrying past me.
It’s obvious they all want to see the middle of the village, so we rush there instead of wasting time since we are losing daylight. The city was either built around it or it ripped through the center, but there is a gaping black hole in the middle.
