We raced past walls, covered in myriad colors of paint. Cade took the lead, dodging tires, sacks of sand, and buildings with ease. My legs were beginning to burn, Jenna was starting to lag, and Abby was struggling to keep up. The three of us were winded; Cade seemed as if he could go on for miles, even with the guns strapped to his back. I hadnt thought he was much of an athlete; apparently I had been completely wrong.
He disappeared around a corner before swiftly reappearing. I stopped before him, laboring for breath as I bent over to rest my hands on my knees. We have to keep moving.
I knew he was right but all I wanted was to sit down and rest my weary, shaking legs. I took a deep breath and forced myself to move. Abby looked about ready to collapse, her dark hair was matted to her face with sweat and grime; her dark eyes were red rimmed, wild with fear and exhaustion. I thought Jenna was going to
complain; instead she remained silent as she wiped the tangled hair away from her face.
Cade pulled a gun from the waistband of his pants; his dark eyes were intense as he handed it to me. My hand shook as I took it from him; it was the same gun I had used before. Do not fire it unless it becomes absolutely necessary. I frowned as my attention turned from the deadly weapon, to him. It will only bring more of them.
More? I breathed as Abby stepped closer to me. His attention turned toward the woods. A shiver crept up my spine, the hair on my neck rose as I turned slowly to survey the quiet forest. They were out there. My skin crawled with the realization; I took an involuntary step back. Cade seized hold of my hand, wrapping it around the gun as he squeezed me tight for a long moment as he tried to infuse me with his unwavering strength.
This way, he whispered.
We followed him as he moved swiftly and with relative ease through the course. A sign, painted in different colors, readJUNGLE COURSEand had an arrow pointing down a path. We followed Cade out of the cleared area and back into the forest. These woods had been transformed into a forest that was not from the northeast. Moss had been draped from the trees, I brushed it aside as it fell over the pathway enshrouding it with an air of mystery. Vines hung from limbs and crawled over the trees lining the small path. Some of them were as thick as my calf, others were small and thin. They climbed up the trees, entangling with the leaves and threatening to choke the tree. Ivy grew over the pathway, crawling over the dirt before slipping into the woods and into the trees. Fake birds and monkeys were propped up in the trees; I spotted a couple of jaguars, a few boas, and other snakes hidden within the landscape. I had never been here before, but I was momentarily fascinated by the atmosphere they had created. I probably would have been shot instantly as I would have been far more preoccupied with trying to find the things hidden along the pathway and in the woods.
Cade suddenly stepped off the trail and plunged into the woods. He pushed aside vines and moss as he moved. We followed behind, trying to stay as quiet as possible as we moved as swiftly through the dense woods as we could. Cade stopped near a large locust tree; he glanced briefly around his eyes narrowed as he surveyed the woods. I didnt know what he was doing, but he seemed certain of something as he turned to the right and started walking again.
A twig snapped behind me. I jumped, instinctively raising my gun as I spun toward the source of the sound. I saw nothing amongst the vegetation and trees, but something was there, I knew it. I could feel it in the marrow of my bones as every primitive instinct I had came screaming awake. Cade was at my side, his hand gentle on my arm as he pushed it lightly down. He placed a finger against his lips, shaking his head at me as he gestured for me to remain quiet.
He pulled me back, searching the forest as we moved. He pulled me up, halting me at the base of three intersecting pines that had nearly grown together in the dense woods. He bent; grabbed hold of something and lifted it up. I watched in amazement as he lifted the forest floor into the air. It took a moment to realize that he was actually holding a large piece of plywood that had been creatively, and convincingly, covered with dirt, leaves, pine needles, and sticks. In, he whispered gesturing to Abby.
She stared at him in disbelief for a moment before bending low and climbing into the small hole the plywood had covered. Jenna followed but I hesitated, unwilling to climb under the wood. Cade lowered the wood gently over them. He turned to me, his jaw clenched tight as he pointed at the tree behind me. I glanced at the large maple, understanding what it was that he wanted me to do.
You? I mouthed.
He shook his head as he pulled a long, wicked looking knife from the holster at his side. I remained unmoving, uncertain. I shook my head as he pointed at the tree again. I couldnt leave him down here, unprotected, vulnerable to the things hunting us in the shadows of the forest. He was beside me suddenly, his hand on me waist as he pushed me toward the tree. Climb.