Reverie Dyad

Chapter 38

Iris's POV:

"Okay, how far is Chicago?" I burst out of nowhere. Jude had been driving for 12 hours, stopping occasionally every time we passed a town, and honestly, I was fed up. This had been fun at the beginning, but now it was just exhausting

"You didn't check," Jude drawled, his tone dripping with sarcasm and judgment.

I couldn't help but wonder how Reid could be friends with someone like Jude. His comment irked me, but I pushed down my irritation, focusing on the road stretching ahead. The exhaustion from the long drive hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over what was supposed to be a fun adventure.

Frustration built up inside me as we continued down the seemingly endless highway. The passing towns blurred into one, and the initial excitement of the journey had long given way to impatience. I sighed, reaching for my phone in the hope that maybe, just maybe, we were closer to our destination than it seemed.

Growing annoyance fueled my actions as I started Googling, regret gnawing at me for not doing it earlier. I had assumed it would be a matter of a few hours, perhaps a maximum of 19, but reality hit me hard. The estimated travel time displayed on my screen was far more daunting than I had anticipated.

"There's 13 hours left? 13?" I couldn't conceal the disbelief and dismay in my voice. The sinking feeling in my stomach intensified. Missing my appointment with Mr. Harold was not just an inconvenience; it was a disaster in the making. The gravity of the situation settled in, leaving me feeling utterly defeated in the face of this seemingly never-ending journey.

"Hey, no, please. When we get near a big city, take the turn-off. I've had enough of this; we're taking a flight," I said, my voice edged with desperation.

To my surprise, he took a sharp U-turn without hesitation. "Oh, okay," I exclaimed, clutching my seatbelt as he maneuvered expertly, a chorus of car horns sounding in protest around us. Somehow, he slipped through the traffic smoothly, his determination unwavering.

As we entered Denver, I wasted no time. My fingers moved swiftly over my cellphone screen, desperately searching for a way out of this seemingly never-ending road trip. Finding a flight that departed at 22:15, I quickly booked the tickets, a mix of relief and anticipation flooding over me. Finally, an escape from the endless highway stretched before us, and the promise of a faster, more comfortable journey lay just within reach.

Cole's POV:

We've been lying on the dirt ground for the past 3 hours, and we haven't caught anything. Apparently, whatever we catch is going to be our dinner for the night.

It's 9 pm now. We left the cabin at 6, and I figured the catch was going to be quick, maybe a maximum of 45 minutes. But I'm starting to think the only reason it's taking so long is that Reid genuinely enjoys this. I mean, I get the appeal, but after 1 hour, I'm ready to call it quits and order pizza or something.

I sighed, considering the prospect of abandoning this venture altogether. The promise of a warm, cheesy pizza seemed infinitely more appealing than the uncertainty of catching anything out here. The wilderness was beautiful, but my stomach didn't appreciate its beauty. Perhaps it was time to admit defeat and seek solace in the comfort of a takeout menu.

"If your stomach keeps growling like that, we won't catch anything," Reid whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves.

"Like it matters. We haven't caught anything in like 3 hours," I retorted, frustration lacing my words, just as a twig snapped.

Reid quickly silenced me, pressing his finger to his lips. Confused, I fell into a hushed silence, scanning the surroundings. A rabbit hopped into our hunting area, and my eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't possibly be thinking of killing a rabbit.