One Stupid Thing

3:10:105

From the cover of an overhanging tree, we watch as a small fishing boat passes by us. Even though they are aware of our presence, the men aboard do not pay us any attention. Usually I would be relieved at being left alone, however this behavior makes me suspicious. If it's not us that they want then they have to be searching for someone else: Big John, and by association John B and my sister.

"JJ, you were right. That's Singh and his men," Cleo says in a hushed voice. Sound carries ridiculously easy over water. "But they're not looking for us."

"Yeah, they're moving real quick," JJ adds. Then his eyes widen with realization. "They're looking for John B and Sarah. They're gonna know where they're headed."

"Big John too. Sarah, John B and I helped him escape," I inform them all.

JJ nods. "We gotta go. They're gonna need us." The blonde boy starts the motor up once more and backs it away from the shore.

"Stay back," Cleo advises. "Don't get too close."

We continue to follow far behind the fishing boat containing Singh's guards. They lead us miles and miles upriver. We continue all through the night, taking turns steering and keeping watch so that everyone can get at least some shut-eye.

It felt like I had just merely blinked and the sun was rising at the start of a new day. My head aches and my stomach growls, desperate for sustenance. Spending these long days in the hot sun has really done a number on me. I feel like I need to eat and drink twice as much to barely have half the energy I usually needed to make it through the day.

JJ steers the boat around a sharp turn and there around the bend is the start of a small village; the first sign of human life since we left Tres Rocas the day before.

"Okay, guys, I think this is El Tesoro." Kie perks up and studies the structures ahead of us. "The trailhead to the mountain is supposed to start here."

Sure enough, the land ahead slopes upwards and forms a peak. Tropical plants and palms provide excellent cover all the way up. To our right where the trailhead is supposedly supposed to be, a few structures dot the shoreline. Beside one of them, a familiar fishing boat is parked.

"Oh shit. That's one of Singh's guys," JJ points out, noticing that the fishing boat wasn't left unattended. Some unlucky bastard was left behind. "What are we gonna do? We gotta get past them somehow."

We devised a plan using the leftover fireworks that I had stowed away in my pack just in case after using them before to help Big John. We parked the boat behind an abandoned building on the opposite side of the river. JJ wrote a note on a piece of paper he found and attached it to the end of a fishing rod. It read:

In five seconds, you will hear a gunshot. That's your warning. The next shot will be at your head.

JJ cast the line directly to the guard's boat and with extreme luck it practically landed in his lap, startling him, but nonetheless he picked it up anyway. Then, JJ began counting down from five. The rest of us hid in various parts of the building, peering through windows and waiting for the countdown to end.

"...One. Now!" JJ whisper-shouts. Instantly, we launch a firework in his direction. It gives off a loud boom, making the guard duck instinctively.

"Is he buying it?" JJ asks from behind the building where he and Pope are armed with more fireworks. Kie nods in response. Pope winds up and chucks another, this time it hits the side of his boat before exploding in the water. The man ducks once more and when he re-emerges he is pointing a rifle in our direction.

"Oh shit. Oh shit," Kie curses, ducking below the window ledge.

"Get down!" I shout softly. My warning is just barely uttered when the guard begins shooting aimlessly.