Angel Falls

Chapter two

We arrive at a hiking guide and he was already explaining the details and precautions for the hike up to Angel Falls. Most if the time, more like every time, I zone out when instructions were given. Kate, on the other hand, pays attention to everything. She's, like, hypersensitive to EVERYTHING.

I zone out when he repeats the instructions. I wasn't fully listening to it the first time he told us his precautions. Kate, every once in a while, would bump me back into attention with her excited squealing.

"Alright, guys, I believe we are ready to begin our journey." The hiker guide says.

We begin walking while our enthusiastic tour guide rambles on about how old the trees are. I slow my pace and let myself wonder with my thoughts about Venezuela.

I observe the towering trees above me and their overlapping vines floating over the exceeding point of my reach. I hear a shuffle of leaves to my right. I instantly turn my head to the direction of the noise.

A twig snaps under the weight of an object. I step farther into the jungle as I follow the sound that echoes in my mind.

It's too quiet.

The closer I go into the heart of the jungle the more twigs I hear snapping. I'm looking for anything that might be a source to the twigs breaking. I see a movement in a shadow. A silhouette starts running in the distance.

"Hey! Wait! Where are you going?" I yell.

No, Cyrus, where are you going? Are you trying to get yourself killed?

Ignoring my own protest, I chase after it. Stupidly hoping that I'll have a chance to catch up.

Surprisingly, I do. With all of the humidity and running I must look like a frizz ball. I realize the silhouette is a boy. From the look of his profile he isn't a child. He's around 18 from the look of it. Around my age. I'm nineteen.

"Hey. What are you doing out here?" I say breathless. I need to workout more. I put my hands on my knees.

He turns around and all the regret I feel for leaving Kate vanishes.