Kendra emerged from a thicket of plants, tearing through them with her knife. It felt like she had been out here for hours. She was busy slashing her way through the plants and leaving the best fake trail she could, though she had no idea if it would even work. She breathed deeply trying to settle her mind. “I have training, military training. I’ve done way worse than this. I can handle this,” she told herself for what must have been the fifth time. If she didn’t keep talking, she’d go crazy a lot faster.
Kendra knew she must have looked absolutely awful. She certainly felt like it. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were no doubt blood shot. Sweat covered her entire body, along with a fair amount of dirt. All she wanted right now was a hot shower followed by a nice relaxing bath and then maybe snuggle up with a good book. She would have that soon enough. She had shed a fair amount of clothing. It was partially for the false trail and partially just because it was slowing her down. She now wore a tank top, the pants from her uniform, and her combat boots. Kendra’s mind was instantly drawn to her brother; he would no doubt make fun of her appearance.
It had been just her and Jared for a while. Her mother had died when she was fifteen and her father had left long before that. Jared was over protective with her and would be crazy worried when she didn’t get back on time. She felt a tear forming in her eye. She brushed it away. “No, no, no, I can not lose my nerve now. I’ll see him soon.” She brushed a brown hair away from her face and glanced towards the horizon. The sun was beginning to set. She would need to find somewhere to sleep fast. She knew she wouldn’t be able to function in a jungle this thick in the darkness. She would also need her sleep to help her body be able to fight the General when he showed his face.
She scanned the area for any possible form of shelter. She assumed the General was enough of a “gentleman” not to hunt at night, but she needed to be sure she was safe. Kendra scanned the area around her and quickly spotted a tree that towered above the rest. It would give her a good look out. She grabbed on to the nearest branch and push off with her feet, switching places with her hand. “Just like rock climbing” she muttered to herself. “I’ve done plenty of that,” she said, almost as if trying to reassure herself. She pushed upward again, continuing the same motion. After a few minutes, she was at the top of the tree. Kendra pushed through a mess of leaves at the top. She scanned the island, expecting to see something beautiful but it was far from.
Even in a place with such horrible deeds happening she expected something more than this, but the place matched its name. She couldn’t imagine that anyone, even General Zaroff, would want to live here. She had never liked jungles. Give her the arctic tundra any day. She shook her head and looked around for anywhere that could provide a stable hold for the night. Kendra quickly spotted a fallen tree that from her vantage point looked at least semi-hollow. That would work well enough. She worked her way back down to the base, then jumped down the rest of the way landing with a small thud. She looked around to make sure she was alone. So far, there hadn’t been any sign of the General, but she was sure he had already started the hunt.
Kendra kicked the rotting wood and a chunk immediately fell away from the tree. “Perfect” She said with a slight smile. She bent down and cut through some of the vegetation around her, placing it by the entrance of her dug-out. She’d be safe enough for the night. She stretched and rolled her shoulders back. “This certainly is one heck of a work-out,” she muttered before lying on the ground near the tree. “I could market this as some getaway for crazy people.” Then she rolled over and let sleep take her.
