Young Writers Society

Avery nodded.

He ran back into the woods, revisiting the same cabin without getting lost somehow. His sense of direction really wasn't too bad, he thought. Usually, even in places as small as the grocery store, he would forget where he was and wouldn't be able to find his way to the cashier no matter how many times he has been to that store.

He crept into the cabin as if he was an intruder - which he wasn't, mind you - and unzipped his backpack that he had tossed onto the double bed earlier when he and Alex had discovered the cabin. He changed into his blue shorts and slipped his t-shirt back on.

As he slung his backpack over his shoulders, he made his way back out, closing the door behind him and sprinted back to the plane. He was panting by the time he reached the river. Alex was already changed. Avery threw his backpack to the front on the seat that he had been sitting on.

"Alright," he said after he caught his breath. "So what's the plan?" he asked her.

"Well, if I remember correctly, the river with the cave should be two rivers to the right," Alex pointed to the right, past where the cabin was, "We could stop by the cabin and take a picture of the map incase we need it."

Alex threw the goggles and snorkels on the ground and jumped into the water. She quickly climbed out and stood next to Avery, "Are you ready to go?"

"As ready as can be," Avery replied. They both walked back to the cabin - the way was etched into Avery's mind like a map now. A few minutes later, when they reached the cabin, Avery took a quick photo of the map on his phone and Alex took one from hers as well - two is always better than one.

While they were speed-walking back to the plane, horrible thoughts invaded Avery's mind. There could be octopuses or sharks or poisonous fish or really anything that could kill them while they were swimming in the river. Or the river could be freezing cold later on, and then they would be dead, and they'd fail their assignment, and they'd also be a mystery to the rest of the world. Avery could already imagine the headlines. Two Adults Missing: Last Seen, Cape Town. He shivered noticeably.