The Skylar Experiment : The "X" in Apex

Chapter Thirty-Eight - The River

I caught some flak throughout Monday's classes, and Luc's temper soured well into Wednesday, but it had recovered during the latest biology lab.

Hey, I'll take it.

"I hope you're game for a hike," he announced next to the passenger door, his chin rested over the top rim. "We have some stuff to check out before the big day."

"Oh. You are helping, after all?"

"Essentially forced my hand into it, don't act surprised." With a crease on his nose, he walked off until he reached his side of the Rover.

Yikes. Still touchy.

I hadn't seen his cabin since the stop on our way back from the hospital. Luc passed by to fill up on water and food. Mainly sweets, but there was a bulky sandwich for me. We left the car in the driveway.

"We're going to that river Scott mentioned," he said once veered away from the yard, "to give you an idea of the terrain."

The reality of the fast-approaching date shook my nerves. I could wimp out of the deal, but too many things were at stake for a reversal.

Luc laid a palm on a pine tree. "You'll mark a tree every now and then so they can smell you, form a trail that leads to where everyone waits."

"Excuse me? Mark them with my—"

"Blood." He dropped his arm and resumed. "A cut I'll heal as soon as it's done. We didn't want to risk pinning clothes and make it look obvious to them. You'll mark the base of trees or bushes, as if you're limping and wounded. They smell better than any natural predator, you'll see how little marks we need."

I sighed in relief, then laughed stupidly as I parted the brush ahead. "I thought you'd ask me to pee on command. You know, like animals that mark their territory."

"And risk you getting attacked with your pants down?" He snorted. "Pitiable."

It was a hike, all right. Not the quick tour around some rocks and back down the mountain. He was the first to pull out gummy bears, and I wasn't tempted until the chocolate-covered almonds that I didn't know I desired.

"We're not doing this on the big night, right?" I said, enjoying that tasty crunch.

"No distractions then. Just water and weapons."

Fair enough. Aside from the blood, our scents in the wind and my trampling should alert anything nearby. It didn't matter how soon one of them would turn up, it'd be sacked and carried off to the river.

Luc seemed confident handling that on his own.

We covered two miles on foot until I heard the soft rush of water. I picked up the pace then, curious to lay eyes on it. On my side, he dove into a pile of leaves like it was nobody's business, disturbing the brush and causing me to stop. What on Earth?

He re-emerged with his hands cupped.

"What are you doing?"

He held it out to my face, opening slightly, and I spotted wet little eyes through the fold. "Is that a frog?"

"A handsome little lad," he said, withdrawing the brown critter to him. "You don't find them a lot this time of the year, but I saw this one wiggling under the leaves. Take out the bottle. It's better if my hands stay wet."

I wouldn't have noticed a thing with the camouflage.

But since a tiny frog depended on me, I rummaged for the bottle no questions asked and doused him. I stared in again. It was just chilling there, throat bobbing, perhaps appreciating the sudden warmth?