Page 62 of Cavern of Silence

---

She winces. "The hill is going to be a bit of a muddy roller coaster."

"Why do I feel like you're warning me?"

"Like I said, it's a narrow path cut out, and there's a rain forest in the middle of it we need to go through."

"You were being serious about the rainforest?"

She nods. "Yeah."

"And you did this before?"

"Yes. Often."

"Sounds like an adrenaline rush."

"It is."

I kiss her cheek. "Well, let's do it, then. You only live once, right?"

Excitement crosses her face. "Very true."

I carry the tarp outside.

Hunter stops kissing Vanessa and barks, "You took long enough."

It doesn't look like you've been bored.

Vanessa climbs off him.

I grunt and throw the heavy tarp on his lap, and he gasps for air.

Serves you right, but I'm not letting you rain on my parade today.

"What on earth do we need this thing for?" he grumbles.

Julieta turns from the front seat. "You'll see."

"Julieta—"

"Do you still not trust me?"

Vanessa blurts out, "No, we do. Let's go."

"Give me my food, then." Hunter holds out his hand.

"You might want to wait a bit before you eat," Julieta advises.

His eyes turn to slits. "Why?"

"Just trust me."

Monkeys and birds screech as I follow the path through the green, dense jungle. We get to a muddy, rolling hill. I stop the Jeep. "Wow. You weren't exaggerating."

"Nope."

"Well, the day isn't getting any younger." We all get out of the vehicle. I open the hood and top off the windshield wiper fluid.

"What are we doing?" Hunter asks.

---