The Dark Spirits Beneath by Kason Laufenberg

Author:Kason Laufenberg [Laufenberg, Kason]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-03-26T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The Fall

By mid-afternoon on the second day, it was clear that the mood of the expedition had changed dramatically. Gone was the sense of excitement and wonder, marveling at the colorful diversity of flora and fauna, and the feeling of playing at being Lara Croft, adventuring towards some lost city ruins none of them had ever heard of. No, these things had now been replaced by the miserable humidity, aching, tired feet, treacherous, unforgiving terrain, and an almost militant level of perpetual cadence and momentum. Even the constant bickering between James and Becca had wained considerably, though as irritable as everyone still was, it never disappeared completely.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ruiz, Garmin eTrex handheld GPS unit firmly in one hand, a machete in the other, continued leading the slumping mob of grad students, over steep ridges and through dense vegetation, with the motivation and certainty of a man driven by the thought of his own imagined renown-to-be. Following closely behind him, of course, was James, who still seemed to have it in his head that proximity denoted level of interest. The three girls were lagging a bit farther behind, doing a better job at pacing themselves apart from Ruiz's breakneck speed.

"Hey, Professor! How about us taking a bit of water break?" Becca called up ahead, winded, and looking to Layla and Lanie to back her up.

"What's wrong, Becc? Little hike too much for you?" James responded almost instantly as if he were straining to cover up the exhaustion in his own voice, "I could go all day!"

Layla gave Becca a reassuring glance, before shooting James a look. "Shut up, James! You wish!" she fired back, "Besides, we're all of us pretty tired, and you know it!"

"Yeah, even you, you pompous little suck up!" Becca was enjoying a renewed burst of energy to stick up for herself, especially with the added support, "You think so, too, aye Lanie?"

Lanie's olive complexion instantly flushed, "I... uhh... I guess so?... I mean..."

"Alright, alright... you've all made your point!" Ruiz boomed over the commotion that was beginning to escalate, "We'll take five, and pick this up again after a short rest to refuel," he walked a few meters away and sat down on a rock, before adding, "SHORT REST!" The professor shook his head, similar to the way a defeated parent would, and produced a worn composition book to continue reviewing his notes.

Lanie similarly sat down and, after hydrating, pulled out her book of Mayan Folklore, and resumed her own research. Becca, having observed this, shook her head and made a motion to get Layla's attention, before whispering, "poor girl. Y' know, if she isn't careful, she's liable to end up like her old man over there!" Becca took a long swig of water before a smile crept across her face, and she went on, "reckon we oughta do something."

Before she knew it, Layla was chasing after Becca, wondering what it was she had in mind. She knew, however, that unlike perhaps James, Becca's heart always

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