Into the Flames

Chapter 1: The Crash

The trip to the Amazon became a disaster soon after it had started. "Sir, the engines seemed to be failing" screamed the pilot. The helicopter began to spin wildly out of control, just as they entered the Amazon. It began to crash from the sky, like a bat out of hell. "Cortez, we're gonna have to jump & pray that this piece of shit doesn't crush us!!!" Yelled the pilot, handing me a parachute.
"Alright John, grab some bags, and let's move. And if this is the end, thanks for the ride, my old friend." I yelled as I jumped possibly, to my death with my bags of food, and survival gear. "Jump!!" We both screamed, just at that moment the helicopter slammed into a patch of trees. It seemed to bounce like a ball as hit them, not like you'll expect in the movies for it to explode on impact. But once it finally did explode, me & my best mate  John, who was also my pilot, were already on the ground. As we dusted ourselves and checked for injuries, it seemed in our minds like the helicopter was going to fail regardless.
"I knew that bird was a piece of crap" yelled John kicking the ground. "Something couldn't have been right if it only cost me $5,000." He continued. "Relax, John. We're alive and our gear also survived. That's all that matters. I'll get you a new bird when this is all over." I told him. "When would that be, how long do we have, to find this so called City of Fire." He joked. "I mean hell, we don't even know if it exists." He laughed.
"He gave us 6 months to explore it, if we find it we will receive $10 million each and fame like no other. If we don't, we only receive $5 million and our reputation fails." I replied. "Imagine that, finding a "lost city", wouldn't that grab the world's attention, John." I thought. "It does sound nice and even if we don't we still get paid." John laughed. "It's not all about the money, John. It's about the adventure." I called as we began loading our weapons and searching our maps. "I guess your right, so where do we start explorer Cortez." He joked. "Here!" I replied, pointing to a red tack on a map of the Amazon. "Since, we crashed some where in this area, then the starting point is less than 5 miles away." I yelled. "Great, then let's get moving!" yelled John, as we grabbed our revolvers and M14s from the bag. "Let's move!" I called.
It was getting dark, and we could here the many birds and howler monkeys in the canopy above. I always prided myself for being an animal expert. "Our dinner is calling for us." laughed John. "We have to be careful out here, John. This is one of the most deadliest places on earth. Many venomous snakes, spiders, and other dangerous insects are out here. Even Jaguars and sloth bears can get us." I warned. Just as I was warning him, he fired his rifle and a spider monkey fell from the trees. "What were you saying, I was just grabbing lunch?" He smiled grabbing his kill. "Never mind." I sighed. Grabbing some dry timber and some matches from my bag as I got a fire going, so that we could cook the monkey. "Nice shot." I said while eating a leg. "I learned from the best, old friend." replied John as he devoured the monkey. As the night began to fall, we made a small built up shelter and watched as day 1 of many days to come finally came to an end.