quiet existence | toni shalifoe

ten

Anya had been pacing through the masses of trees for god knows how long, frantically searching for the blonde Texan. Her feet kicked at stray twigs that were scattered on the ground, while her hands reached in front of her to push away branches.

The silence was broken by a yell, causing the Rivera teen to glance around herself anxiously.

"Dot! Anya! Anybody?! Help!" Shelby called out.

Anya started to sprint in the direction of the voice, muttering small curses as she tried to find Shelby. Trees cut at her arms and legs as she frantically pushed through them.

Soon she came to a halt, skidding in the dirt whilst grasping onto a tree. Shelby lay on the floor, pushing herself into the tree behind her while a snake hisses violently.

"Shit." Anya mumbled, glancing to her left as she heard someone come to a stop beside her. Dot.

"It's a snake, it's a snake..." Shelby cried out.

"Don't move." Dot instructed, taking a small step forward with her arms reached out in front of her. "Stay still, okay?"

Anya watched anxiously as the Texan raised a sharp stick towards the snake, before beginning to stab at it violently.

"Oh my god get it, get it, get it." Shelby called out, her voice still slightly shaky.

Once the snake was finally dead, the Rivera teen rushed forward and pulled Shelby into a tight embrace. The pair watch as Dot continues to attack the dead snake.

"You piece of fucking reptile shit!" Dot seethed, slamming the corpse of the snake repetitively against a rock.

Anya and Shelby held onto each-other tightly, watching as Dot slowly crumbled.

"I was supposed to be in fucking Hawaii, the 50th fucking state, at an aromatherapy massage. Not in this fucking hellscape trying not to die!" The brunette screamed out, tears tumbling down her cheeks.

Anya carefully pulls herself from Shelby's arms, taking a step forward. "Dot?" She slowly reaches out and places a hand on the trembling girls shoulder.

Dot instantly turns around, collapsing into the blondes arms and letting out loud sobs.

The Rivera teen held onto the girl tightly, gently running her hands through her hair and whispering words of reassurance.

"Shh, it's okay. I've got you." The blonde mumbled.

———

Once the trio has cleaned themselves up, they continued their search for a cave.

Soon approaching a large entrance to a decently sized cave, the girls glanced around with large smiles.

"I think this is the one." Shelby gleamed, before cupping her hands around her mouth. "echo."

The sound of the Texans voice bounced from the walls of the cave, causing the girls to smile.

"Dentures." Dot yelled out.

Anya and Shelby chuckled lightly as the former playfully shoved the brunette.