Page 52 of Withered

“Let’s go now.” He starts walking.

I follow him and ask, “Go where? This isn’t the place you were talking about?”

“No. We have to walk a little.” It’s a good thing I wore shoes.

The scenery in front of me is unbelievable. It’s also so serene and quiet here. The air here is cleaner than in the city. I love this place already.

Jake leads the way as we go along the short path between the trees. The only sounds are birds tweeting and our feet stomping on the leaves, twigs, and rock beneath us, while an odd humming sound vibrates in the air.

Five minutes into the walk, there is an opening in the trees that reveals the source of the sound. The scene in front of me astounds me, and a smile appears on my face.

It’s a medium-sized waterfall. The crystal-clear water cascades down smoothly, drizzling the rocks and creating a pool at the bottom. It’s transparent, allowing us to see all the way down to the stony bottom. Lush green trees surround the waterfall from all sides, and a considerable amount of sunlight falls on the water, making it look silvery.

“Wow!” I gasp, mesmerized by the beauty of this place.Is this place real?

“I know,” Jake states, sitting down on the huge rock at the edge.

“How did you find this place?” I ask him, my eyes fixed on the water flowing down the rocks into the pool.

“Serendipity,” he replies.

He pats the space beside him, and I sit to his right, my feet stretch in front.

The water grumbles and rumbles, but it’s soothing to my ears. This place is perfect for people like me. I can bring a book here and read for hours without being bothered. Just me and my book,literallyaway from the world.

“What do you do here anyway?” I look at him.

“Whenever I need an escape, I come here. It’s a perfect place to relax and think,” he answers. I cannot disagree, because this place isperfect. “And sometimes, I jump into the water to calm myself.”

“Wait, you just moved here. It’s not been a week yet. How many times have you come here?” I ask him, confused.

“I’ve been in the city for about a month now. I was staying at Tyler’s place until Mum got here and found a house for us. His parents are always on the road. I was just driving around one day and found this place. I’ve been here three times and now fourth,” he tells me, all the while staring into the distance.

He suddenly gets up and offers me a hand. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?” I ask, taking his hand nonetheless.

He helps me up onto my feet. “Will you stop asking questions? We are jumping into that pool.”

My eyes widen in shock, and I retract my hand from Jake’s.

I returned my gaze to him after gazing at the waterfall. He’s got to be kidding. The rocks prevent us from jumping in. The waterfall isn’t particularly large, but I’ve never done anything like this before. I enjoy adventures, but this takes them to a whole other level.

“Are you scared, Rose?” He grins.

My face must look like something out of a horror movie. “Nope,” I answer, shaking my head. “Of course not. Let’s do this.”

Walkingaroundthecorners,I see rocks covered in a green algae coating that makes it impossible to walk. I slip on one of the pebbles, but I manage to regain my balance before falling.

Jake notices my discomfort and takes my hand in his, making things easier. “Here. Hold on tight.” His palm is so warm and soft, sending little sparks.

He drags me to the top, which surprisingly has a little patch of grass. He lets go of my hand and drops his phone and wallet on the grass.

Next, he proceeds to remove his shirt, pulling it over his head in a swift move. His body looks olive in the sunlight, making me feel things as my eyes scan his tattoos, his abs, his ripped chest, and his broad shoulders.

He looks at me and catches me staring at him. “What are you waiting for?”

“I don’t have a swimsuit,” I state the obvious. If he could have just told me or hinted that we were going in the water, I would have carried one.

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