Shadowed Eden (3 page)

A few of the girls huddled together under sweaters. Most of the guys were turned as far away from each other as they could get. Avery curled into a corner, alone. Her eyes were closed and her chest moved up and down, slowly.

She'd probably looked that way since everyone else climbed in. They probably all thought she was asleep.

She wasn't, though. Her breaths were too shallow, and she lay too still, like she was trying not to move.

Luca turned around and tried to get comfortable in his seat. The driver was already snoring beside him. No wonder the passenger seat had been empty.

He stared at the ceiling and did a mental run-through of what needed to be done tomorrow. If he was right, no one would make it to them for a while. That meant they needed food and water. There had to be a water source close by with that huge, green jungle behind them, and there had to be fruit. Two groups could go out; one for food and one for water. Everyone else could stay back and wait for help.

Out of the thirteen teens there were six guys and seven girls, even though Benny wasn't exactly a dependable choice when it came to any hard labor. On the other hand, Luca would trust Avery to get any job done, so maybe that evened things out.

They could split the teams, half guys and half girls. Avery was with him, whether she liked it or not. Who knew what kinds of animals lived in that jungle? She could go back to ignoring him once they were rescued.

As the night wore on, Luca glanced around. Almost everyone was asleep. A few people looked out the window. He twisted further to check on Avery.

She watched him but must not have expected him to see her because she quickly turned around.

He grinned as he faced forward. He knew she'd been awake earlier. He knew her better than she knew herself. Maybe this trip wasn't as big a mistake as he thought. She'd actually smiled at him once or twice. There might still be hope.

He kept himself awake until the last passenger nodded off, and sometime in the darkest hours of the night, he fell asleep, too. He woke up when the blinding desert sun shone in his face. The others were already climbing from the van and cold air blew in from outside.

He twisted around. Avery was already out.

Too bad no one had left their sweater behind. Bracing himself against the cold, he hopped out with the others. A few of the girls stuck together, huddling for warmth. Avery wrapped her sweater more tightly around herself, looking anywhere but at him and standing alone.

His gut clenched at seeing her by herself, and he wanted to move toward her. Protect her. Make everything better for her. It'd surprised him when he found out she was still coming on the trip herself. She'd signed up in a flurry of independence, but Mr. Miles usually stomped out those flames pretty fast.

The sun rose toward the sky behind her, towering like the huge ball of fire it was.

One day she'd learn how strong she was on her own.

“Hey, where can I go to the bathroom?” Benny's face blocked his view and Luca punched him in the arm.

“Dude, go find a tree.”

“In there?” His voice went up an octave.

Luca rolled his eyes. Maybe Benny should be on the team that stayed behind.

“You want someone to hold your hand?” He meant it as a joke, but when Benny's eyes lit up, Luca shoved him. “Get out of here.”

Benny skittered away and Luca glanced around.

Avery was gone.

He huffed and scanned the crowd for Erin. He needed to tell her his ideas and try to get her on his side. She wouldn't let anyone go trekking across the jungle if she believed help was coming any minute.

Erin stood near the spot where they'd gathered around the fire last night, and Luca made his way toward her. He scanned the area as he moved—a habit from all his years spent hunting in the woods—and he had almost reached her when he froze.

Something moved at the tree line. Something white.

Whatever it was, it was fast and it looked about his size, maybe bigger.

He frowned and stared for a second, trying to get another look.

Just then, Benny came strolling out of the jungle.

“Are you OK? Luca?” Erin's voice broke into his thoughts.

He looked to her then back to Benny. The white image couldn't have been Benny. The kid had on a red jacket.

He swallowed and turned back to Erin. “Yeah, I'm fine. I just wanted to talk to you.”

He glanced one last time toward the jungle. Whatever it was, it was gone now.

3

Avery

Avery nibbled on a peanut butter cracker June offered. Her stomach was an empty pit of hunger, and she hadn't brought a single snack. She'd kept it to herself last night—she'd gotten used to her isolation, and talking to someone even to ask for food was way out of her comfort zone. She would have continued keeping it to herself this morning, but June commented on Avery's stomach-rumblings and offered to share.

“Do you want another one?” June asked.

“No, that's OK. This will hold me over until the others get here.” But really, she wanted to take the whole pack and shove it into her mouth. She smiled to prove her point, but her stomach growled again and June laughed.

“Here. Take one more.”

Avery chuckled and rolled her eyes as her cheeks heated up, but she took the cracker and made herself eat it slowly so it would last longer.

Most of the kids huddled in groups, watching the silent desert around them, but not even the sand stirred. Where was the other van? Luca stood with Erin and they looked like they were deep in conversation. Erin and her husband, Chad, had been there for her when Mom left. Avery definitely felt comfortable enough to approach.

She shuffled over to them. “What's going on?”

Erin looked to Luca.

He paused like he was waiting for Erin to say something, but when she didn't, he turned to Avery. “I think we're going to be here for an undetermined amount of time. I mean, look at this place. We're in the middle of nowhere.”

Avery frowned and looked around. He was right—she'd been thinking about the emptiness of the desert herself—but she hated hearing him say it. “So, what are you suggesting?”

“We need to find water and food, but no one is going to like it.” He paused, watching her face before going on. “Are you on board with this?”

“Absolutely.” Her words came out much braver than she felt. Inside? Inside the thought of going into that jungle and looking for anything at all scared her to death. The only thing that prodded her forward was the fact that she'd come here to remake herself. She could do it. She had to.

Luca nodded once, his brown hair falling onto his forehead. He pushed it back and turned to look at the group. “We need to split up into three groups; one to stay here, one to look for water, and one to look for food.”

“OK. That sounds good to me. How will we pick the groups?” Avery glanced at Erin who kept her eyes glued to Luca. Erin should be the one doling out the instructions. What was wrong with her?

Luca cleared his throat. “I kind of already did.”

“Great. Then let's get to it. Who do we tell first?”

He watched her for another second. Did he expect her to argue? Finally, he nodded. “Right. Benny can stay here with Erin, that blonde girl—”

“June?”

“Yeah, June, and the other two girls who aren't from our group.” He stopped and pointed to a huddle of boys and girls. Most of them were from Avery's own church group, including Tasha, Mallory, and Brittany—otherwise known as the best friends—and David. He was more of a quiet guy, but he seemed nice enough. “They can look for food and the rest of us can search for water,” Luca said.

The rest of us. Meaning she would be tromping around the jungle with Luca.

He did this on purpose. She could call him out on it—which she definitely wouldn't—or she could act like a grown up, and just do it. After all, she could ignore him just as well in person as she'd been doing for the last three months by avoiding him.

She pushed her shoulders back and raised her chin. “Fine. Let's tell them.”

Luca led the way and did all the talking. Everyone listened to him like he was the adult instead of Erin. The only person who had a problem with it was Benny. Of course.

“I can look for food and water too,” he said.

“Benny, you wouldn't even go into the jungle to use the bathroom by yourself,” Luca said.

Ew.

Benny turned four shades of red and frowned. “I did go, thank you very much. Why do I have to stay behind?”

Luca looked to the sky and growled. “Fine. Do you want to go? You can help look for food.”

“Why does he have to come in our group?” Bradley asked. He was the captain of the football team back home, and he always acted like the leader of everything. Funny how he hadn't done much to help out here.

Avery rolled her eyes and turned away from him. “This isn't dodge ball at summer youth camp. We need food and water. Benny can come with us.”

Luca shot her a look. “Fine. Let's just go.”

Avery hurried after Luca as he stormed toward the jungle. She glanced back at Benny who followed them with a mix of relief and irritation on his face. Poor kid. He didn't know he was totally annoying.

Well, maybe he did know, but he couldn't always help it.

The others followed behind them, but when they reached the tree line, everyone paused.

“What do you think's in there?” Avery asked.

Luca scanned the area, his eyes narrowed.

“I haven't seen any animals,” Avery said. Of course, that didn't mean they weren't there, but talking about it wouldn't help.

Luca frowned and looked deeper. “I haven't seen any animals either.”

Something in the way he said
animals
made Avery pause. She looked into the jungle and gulped.

Luca turned to Benny. “Did you see anything while you were in there this morning?”

Benny turned red again, but he shook his head.

“OK. Let's go.” He took the first step in, and Avery was right behind him. She had to show everyone that she believed in him—that he was right. Boy, she hoped he was wrong about the rescue group, though. Staying here much longer wasn't on her agenda. Sure, she wanted to prove herself, but not in a place full of who-knew-what.

The jungle leaves swished and crunched around them as they marched through the foliage. The group forged ahead, carving a path with nothing but their hands.

“Watch out,” Luca said, ducking under a thick vine.

Avery moved just in time, but she shuddered. What if it was like the Jungle Book, and one of these swinging vines was really a giant snake?

“You OK?” Luca asked.

“Yep.” She didn't look at him, but it was hard. In fact, the last three months had been hard. If only he would just forget about her. Or maybe learn to control his stubborn temper.

“How do we even know there's water out here?” Benny asked. “We're in the middle of the desert.”

“Have you ever seen trees grow without water?” Luca asked.

“No, but what if it's like some underground spring or something?”

Luca shrugged. “We have to try.”

The hot jungle air seemed to cling to their every step. Avery took off her sweater and tied it around her waist. “It's hot in here.”

“We're in the jungle,” Luca said with a grin.

Her face burned—again—and she looked away. The ground went on forever, and everything was green. She could barely see ten feet in front of her. How was she going to spot water?

They hiked farther inside, and Avery struggled for fresh air. It was like a sauna, steamy and damp. Her vision blurred and she wiped her hands over her face, but her hands were sweaty and it made everything worse.

For the first time she realized she hadn't had anything to drink since she got off the plane yesterday. Her throat was swollen and dry, and her head had begun to spin. No wonder it was so hard to see. To think. Avery took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment.

She could use her ears instead. She needed to listen for the babbling sound of water running in a creek or river.

She focused on her senses, listening for birds or water—or snakes. Then she opened her eyes and scanned as far ahead as she could. Something caught her eye and she squinted. Just like back in the desert when she thought the air was moving, something pale and green appeared on a tree branch. Was that what she thought it was?

“Luca, look!” She pointed to their left where small, green fruit grew on a tree. “Are those pears?”

He stopped and scanned the trees then he changed directions. “Yeah, I think they are.” He plucked one off the branch and rubbed it on his shirt before biting into it.

Avery's stomach went crazy in protest. She grabbed one, too, and bit in.

“Shouldn't you wait to see if I, like, die or something?” Luca asked.

“They're pears. They have to be OK,” she said around another bite.

“Miss supper?”

“And breakfast.”

He grinned and she grinned back.

“You can break up the love fest,” Benny griped. He pushed past them and grabbed a pear. “Besides, I thought you guys were over.”

Avery's face burned and she backed away. She looked around, trying to act like his words hadn't bothered her. And she refused to look at Luca.

“There has to be water around here,” she said. “You can't grow a fruit tree without water.”

The others grabbed pears too, and then they continued their search. Her head felt much clearer after eating something, especially something juicy, and her vision had cleared. She kept her eyes and ears open but still didn't see anything. This was useless. They might as well go back to camp.

Sweat dripped down her forehead and her back. She had a tank top in her luggage on the van, which she would be grabbing as soon as they returned.

“This is bogus,” Benny said. “I'm going back.”