Page 45 of Explorer's Revenge
I can tell she hates it, but she nods, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “I’m sorry,” she murmurs.
Wilder claps her shoulder, being surprisingly gentle for once, as he slings his bag over his shoulder. “You can pay us back later, Carter. Stop being so stubborn.” He heads over to the ropes. Rick and Logan follow to help him set them up, and I walk to her side, offering her my arm. She leans into it with a grateful smile as Way comes to her other side, offering his.
“Lean on me.” The rest of his words are unsaid—instead of me.
She begins to let go, and I cover her hand. “It’s okay,” I assure them. “Are you okay?”
“Peachy,” she teases. “I know I’m damn tasty, but this motherfucker couldn’t have gone for one of you? More meat. Idiot.”
I laugh, and when I look up, Way is frowning and glancing between us, but when he sees me watching, he clears his expression. “You’re lucky to be alive,” he says.
“Don’t I know it,” she replies tightly. “I wouldn’t have made it without Aiy.”
“You would have,” I reply. “You’re Maeve fucking Carter, remember?”
“Too right. Alright, let’s do this. Get me the fuck out of this hole.”
Way and I help her to the ropes. She seems to walk better as time passes, so I guess the drugs are kicking in. Once there, we hook Way up first and then start on Maeve, ready to tie them together, but a hair-raising growl fills the air, making us freeze.
We turn just in time to see a huge shape lunging from the shadows.
I push Way and Maeve away just as it snaps its maw between us, where they were just standing.
I hit the ground hard, its massive body before me. Its green scales are bigger than the palm of my hand.
Its tail slides across the rock as it curls before the creature looks at them.
“Run!” someone yells.
TWENTY-NINE
MAEVE
Way is still hooked to the rope, so he’s a sitting duck. The creature focuses on him as he struggles with the line, eyeing it as Wilder, Rick, and Logan gawk in shock. Way glances from it to the rope as Aiy’s voice comes from its other side.
“Run!”
It snaps us all into motion, and the croc slides closer to Way. He freezes, knowing he’s going to be too late.
With my good foot, I kick the side of its snout. It snaps and turns its head, focusing on me. I start to back up, but it whirls around and concentrates on the others. They must have gotten its attention somehow.
It’s the chance we need.
Turning to Way, I see him gaping at the croc, his hands frozen.
I grab his knife from his side, cut his rope, and kick him out of the way. “Run, idiot!” Keeping the knife, I turn just as the croc’s tail swings for me. It hits me in the stomach, sending me flying. I smack back into the rocks with a groan, the force making my head spin for a moment.
Sitting up, I see Aiy backing away from the thing as it prowls toward him. Way is trying to get its attention, but it isn’t working. Climbing unsteadily to my feet, I look around for a big rock, then I palm one, but when I look up, the creature is focused on Wilder, who has pushed Rick and Logan toward Aiyaret and is yelling, smacking his palms into the wall he’s in front of.
It lunges at him, and he rolls out of the way at the last second. When he stands, it whips its head around and looks at him. “Go, get out!” he orders. “I’ll keep its attention.”
When it snaps again, Wilder lunges at the last second and gets tossed to the ground. The croc is going to attack again, and he’s a wide-open target.
I throw the rock with all my might, and it smacks into the side of the croc. It spins, lashing out with his tail as he hisses, and I cup my mouth. “That’s it, you ugly fuck, over here!” I back up as I yell, smacking my hands against anything I can.
“Fucking damsels in distress!” I shout, but we are spread around the room, and the croc is in the way of the ropes. It’s like it knows that’s our exit and is blocking it on purpose.
It keeps lumbering my way, obviously annoyed by us and deciding I’m the easiest target. “That’s it, you ugly fucking prehistoric dinosaur wannabe!” I bellow as I step backwards.
