Betrayed In The Wild by Ryan Cuddy

Author:Ryan Cuddy [Cuddy, Ryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: C&F Alpine Publishing
Published: 2024-05-13T00:00:00+00:00

15

As Olivia and Henry approached the lake shore, Lee and Owen were looking down at a large, warped, white piece of metal. As she walked closer, she realized what it was: plane wreckage. The rocky beach was scattered with metal debris, a haunting reminder of the wreck they survived.

“Wow, we all really made it out of this crash,” Olivia said.

Owen put his arm around her shoulder, brought her in tight, and said, “That’s because we’re survivors, and that’s what we’ll continue to do: survive.”

Although Olivia appreciated the sentiment, she couldn't shake the uneasiness she felt around Owen now that Henry had mentioned it. Initially relieved by his newfound persona without Terry, she grew increasingly unsettled. There was something off about him, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She subtly shifted away from his embrace and took a few steps away to create some distance between them.

He didn’t appear to notice and started to gather pieces of sheet metal, stacking them in a pile. Lee and Henry followed his lead while Olivia went to the shore to fill up the water bottles. She placed one end of the filter’s hose into the water, the other into one of the water bottles, and pumped.

While she did, she scanned the lake, taking in the rugged beauty of the landscape. Besides debris scattering the beach, the lake itself was a breathtaking sight. Its crystal-clear waters shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting the towering peaks. The mountains rose majestically on each side, their snowcapped summits reaching toward the clear blue sky.

Olivia’s eyes traced the outlines of the two gigantic peaks, which seemed to touch the heavens. They were steep and foreboding, challenging even for experienced climbers. No way Terry would have made it to the top of either one. She shifted her gaze down to examine the sides of the mountains.

Amid their rocky face, Olivia noticed a few knobs on each mountain that protruded less sharply from the terrain. They seemed slightly more manageable and potentially accessible for someone looking to signal for help. That’s where I would have gone.

“I really thought Terry would have returned by now,” Olivia announced to the others while she finished filling the last of her water bottles and sealed their lids tight.

“It’s okay, Olivia. I know Terry has the satellite phone and a lifetime of experience, but I’ll make sure we’ll make it out of here alive,” Owen declared, walking over toward her to retrieve a water bottle.

She handed it to him and reluctantly said, “Oh, thanks, Owen. I’m so glad you’re here. I’m not sure what we’d do without you.” She wanted to add in the fact that he and Lee almost froze to death the night before, and that it was Terry’s pack and her skills that kept them dry and warm throughout the night. Instead, she just handed him the bottle with a sideways smile, keeping her reservations to herself.

Owen reciprocated the smile, oblivious to her inner monologue, and took the opportunity to assert more of his leadership.

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