“We’ll get in and get out,” May said. “With all of us videoing independently, we’ll have enough footage to cover a few shows without spending hours in there.”
“C’mon, Ash,” Bean said. “Aren’t you curious about the death pits? How can you live with yourself if you get so close to them without experiencing them?”
Ash was, in a sick way, curious about what was hidden in the jungle, but she’d seen enough horror flicks to know she was the odd one out in this group, despite their assurances otherwise.
“Look, you can stick with me and May,” Bean offered. “No way am I going to let anything happen to either of you, even if that means we have to cut out before we’re finished.”
Ash shook her head. “The kid said there are still bodies in there.”
“The museum said they’d all been recovered,” Larry replied. “There’s nothing in there—but ghosts.”
Celia punched his arm. “Knock it off. She’s scared enough as it is.”
Bean made an X over his heart, then held his fist against it. “We won’t let anything happen to you. I swear.”
Ash caved. “Fine.” She pointed to him and narrowed her eyes. “But if anything does happen, you better try keeping up with me when I run outta there.”
“That’s the spirit,” Larry said.
Ash changed into her trail pants and tucked her passport, phone, and wallet into zippered pockets. She pulled her long-sleeved shirt on over her tank top and rolled the sleeves down. Where they were headed, there was bound to be a ton of bugs.
While the guys were loading the car, she sent Summer and Kiera a text.
Hey, just checking in. Going on a nighttime tour. I’ll text you in the morning. Love you!
WTF? Kiera was the first to write back. You’re in Valle de Lágrimas. There are no nighttime tours there.
Unless she’s going into the jungle, Summer added.
Ash, don’t do it, Kiera said.
I agree, Summer said. You’re a seasoned traveler, A. You know how you got to be that? By not making bad decisions. This is a very bad decision.
Ash smiled to herself. Summer’s fingers had to be flying across her phone, so fast was her response. I’ll be safe and will stay aware. I’m going with a small group.
Shit. Now neither of us will get any sleep until you get back to your room.
You better text us the minute you can, Kiera said.
Just go to sleep. Nothing you can do. Love you. Gotta go.
When everything was packed, Larry locked the door and everyone piled into the car.
The main plaza and the blocks surrounding it had a few streetlights, but once they were in the newer, rougher side of town, there were far fewer lights illuminating the streets. A few people were out, but not many. Ash definitely didn’t want to be out and about on foot at that time of night.
Just as they were about to head out of town, Larry slammed on the brakes and brought the car to a sharp halt. A kid stood in the headlights. Ash had seen him around, but none of them had spoken to him.
Larry lowered his window as the kid walked over to his side.
“Where are you going?” the kid asked.
“For a little drive,” Larry answered. “Why are you out so late?”
“My friend told me you were going up to the graves.”
“Maybe. We’ll see where we end up.”
“You’ll end, all right, if you go there.”
“Why is it so dangerous? The bodies have all been removed,” Celia said, leaning across Larry.
“The pits pick who they keep.”
That sounded cryptic.
“A curse?” Celia asked.
The boy nodded. “One set by our own Saint Merc.”
The boy from their tour earlier joined the older kid at the window. “And if the pits don’t get you, la Tunda will,” he said.
“What’s that?” Larry asked.
“It’s a shape shifter that tricks you into going into the jungle,” the younger boy said. “It looks like someone you know, then, when you’re in deep enough, it shows its real self to you and eats you.”
“That sounds perfectly awful,” May said.
The boy nodded toward his older friend. “Pablo’s seen it. It’s real. It only comes out at night. We stayed up tonight to warn you. Please, don’t go into the woods.”
“Welp,” Ash said, “that’s good enough for me. Let’s turn around.”
Larry shot her a look in the rearview mirror. “No. Listen, kid. You’ve warned us, but we’re going in.” He handed each boy a ten-dollar bill. “Keep it quiet, okay? If you do, I’ll give you another ten in the morning.”
The kids looked at the money he held out, but shook their heads and stepped back, their eyes sad. They said nothing more, and Larry drove on.
Ash wanted, desperately, to turn back, but this group was too determined to do that. She considered staying in the car a few minutes later when they parked and everyone got out, but then she realized there might only be safety in numbers.
Ash squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that if the Tunda got her, it would make quick work of her and not eat her slowly, limb by limb.
Summer looked over at Sam, who was sound asleep and gently snoring. She’d been practicing her new mutant skills, especially being able to reach out to any of Sam’s friends to communicate mentally. Given what they did, it was one skill she knew might be useful, even to a non-fighter member of the team.
She tried to reach out to Merc, who was still in his forced coma, but it was like knocking on a door when no one was home and expecting an answer. She had to get one of the guys to astral-travel out to wherever Ash was. She needed to be protected. Summer thought about rousing Sam, but Merc and Ash had formed some kind of a bond. Sam might be able to help, but Summer felt her best bet was to get Merc involved.
She slipped out of bed and quietly went down the hall to Merc’s room. He was alone, lying so still on his bed.
“Merc,” she said, shaking his shoulder. “Merc, wake up. Please. I know it’s early yet. I know Guerre wants you to heal more, but Ash needs you. She’s in trouble. She’s doing something very bad. I’m afraid for her. Please. Please, wake up.”
“Summer, what’s going on?” Sam asked as he came to stand beside her. Summer startled. She looked at Sam, her eyes tearing up. He wore only his gray boxer briefs, making his body seem even more massive than when he was dressed. He pulled her close, and a warm feeling of comfort came over her.
“It’s been weeks and weeks. Why won’t Merc wake up?”
“He will soon. Guerre still has his hold on Merc. We’re just waiting for signs Merc’s ready. But why are you in here?”
“Ash is doing something dangerous. I don’t know what, but it involves exploring the jungle, now, at night. She and Merc had some kind of connection. I didn’t tell you about it, but she was in here that day she came over to plan her trip. Guerre and I think she connected with Merc somehow.”
“I see.”
“He knows Valle de Lágrimas. I was hoping he could stop her. Can you get to him?”
“Valle de Lágrimas?”
Summer went still, fearing Sam’s reaction. “Yes.”