My Jewel - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Chapter Twenty - Margaritas and Missions

"Follow me and do exactly as I say."

The stranger lit a torch and led them though an underground tunnel. There must have been a network of tunnels beneath the bazaar. 

While they attempted to survive blades, crocodiles, and drops, the young man explained that he was the other character, Seaplane McDonough, and that he had been stuck waiting for the rest of them to join the game so that it could continue. 

"I am honestly so stoked you're here, so stoked!"

"He's cute," Sawyer heard Bethany say softly from behind her. 

The tunnel eventually  led them out into the depths of the jungle. 

"Anyways, I'm Alex," he declared, flashing them a charming smile. He had short, curly dark hair and was wearing a leather pilot's jacket.

"Spencer - Gilpin."

"Martha." She waved.

"Fridge." He gave a peace sign.

"Bethany."

Sawyer was just opening her mouth to introduce herself when Dawn blurted, "Seaplane!"  

"Dawn!" Alex's hand flew to cover his mouth. Their avatars had been talking to each other. She then remembered that on her character description it had said 'Companion to Seaplane'. Their two characters must have been close. 

"Sorry, I'm Sawyer."

"Alex. Nice to meet you all. Here, follow me."

He led them further into the trees where they came across a hut - good, someplace to rest. 

"Welcome home," said Alex.  "Go ahead, make yourselves comfortable."

"Alex, what's with all these candles?" asked Bethany.

"Citronella. Mosquitoes are one of my weaknesses, which isn't ideal when you live alone in a hut in the jungle."

"Ah... So he's single..." Bethany mumbled. Oh, Bethany. 

"Who's Alan Parish?" asked Fridge, noting the name carved into the wood of the hut.

"He's the guy who built this place," explained Alex. 

"You mean other people have been stuck here too?" asked Spencer.

Alex nodded. "Margaritas anyone? It's one of my strengths." He passed the drinks around. 

"AHH!" Suddenly, before she even realized what she was doing, Sawyer launched her cup away, as soon as it was in her hand, the drink splashing all around them.

She blinked and everyone blinked back at her sudden outburst. "I'm, I'm so sorry..." She was so embarrassed. "I have no idea what just happened..."

"No worries, here, there's still lots to go around." Alex handed her another margarita.

"Thanks..." She reached out and hesitantly took it, worried she might aggressively bat it out of his hand for some reason.

"Wait!" shrieked Martha. "Sawyer, isn't alcohol one of your weaknesses?"

"Um..." Sawyer tapped her chest, and her character info box popped up. Sure enough, alcohol was on the list Dawn's weaknesses. Her tossing the margarita into the trees was her avatar trying to save her.

"Oh my God... Thanks's Martha."

"No problem!"

"I'm so sorry," cried Alex.

"Don't be, you didn't know."

"I'll take that." Fridge gladly took the deadly drink from her, already finished his own. 

"I have coffee too." Alex handed her a mug.

"Thanks, that's perfect." The coffee was bitter and strong, but it was warm and it instantly perked her up.

"You're not missing out on much," Martha whispered to her. Both she and Spencer had spat out their first sips of their own margaritas. 

"So Alex, how long have you been stuck in the game?" Bethany asked while fanning herself with Dr. Oberon's hat.  She was still eager to make conversation with their dashing hero. 

"I'm not really sure to be honest, time is kinda funny here.  But a few months, at least."

"A few months!" cried Martha. Fridge spit out his mouthful of margarita. 

"Yeah, I can't get past the next level, the Transportation Shed. I get chills just thinking about it. Once I got down to my last life, I knew I was screwed." He lifted the sleeve of his shirt in order to show them his one single remaining tattoo lifeline. "I'm honestly so glad you guys are here. Clearly, I can't beat the game alone."

His words rang in Sawyer's ears: A few months! 

"We can do this," Spencer said, getting to his feet. "Beat the next level. Between us all we've got a lot of strengths."

"Yeah, we're actually pretty good together," agreed Martha. 

Even Sawyer had to agree - they did make a good team.

"I don't know, Bro," sighed Alex.  "I don't want to die in Jumanji."

"We promise we won't let that happen," Spencer assured him.  "We're a team, we've got each other's backs. We'll beat this thing together."

"Oh my God!" Bethany suddenly cried.  "You're the missing piece!" she said, looking to Alex.

"We had to go to the bazaar and find the missing piece," said Martha, also catching on. "It wasn't the elephant the snake was guarding, it was you."

"I'm your missing piece?"

"Yeah you are!" cried Bethany.

Alex was smiling now, looking a little more confident.  "Okay Team. Let's do this."

"Uh, guys..." Fridge was digging around in his backpack. "The jewel's gone."

"What?!"

"The jewel's gone - it must have fallen out of my backpack while we were running."

"That means It could be anywhere between here and the Bazaar..."

"Oh God..."

"W-well shouldn't the game be starting over, or maybe it's a glitch or something?" Fridge stammered. "C-cause we need that jewel, that's the whole point of this stupid game, isn't it? For us to have the jewel."

"Yeah, but now this has happened," said Spencer.  "It must be part of the game. This is supposed to happen."

(Switching things up a little bit! ;)  Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :))