Mike sauntered over and picked up a few pieces of driftwood. “Point taken.” He shot me a gleaming smile. “Besides, I can never say no when you flash those gorgeous baby blues,” he said, as smooth and charming as ever.
My heart skipped a beat. Was that a compliment? Naw. He always says that. It means nothing...right? I knew flirting was as natural to Mike as breathing. I placed my hands on my hips. “Those lines won’t work on me. I’m not one of your love-struck fans.”
“Immune to my charm?” he asked, dropping his wood into the pile I’d created.
Punctuating my words, I jabbed a finger in his chest. “Yes…I…am.” But I wasn’t, and for that I could have kicked myself. Why can’t I just tell him about my feelings? Would he really laugh at me? Could he possibly take me seriously?
Mike winked and pulled me close. “But I’m irresistible.”
He was. His strong arms felt good—so good. I gazed up into his eyes—those sparkling green orbs. My breath froze as I watched the suns glint off his tousled blond hair. He stroked his thumb down my cheek and smiled, and I smiled back. I knew I was playing with fire, and I wondered if Mike would burn me the way he burned all the others. Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I wondered how it would feel to have Mike as more than a friend. But why dwell on something that’ll never happen? He was all talk and had no problem flirting endlessly with any and all girls, including his best friend. He couldn’t be serious about getting them rescued, and he couldn’t be serious about having feelings for me. It was hopeless.
“Don’t you dare treat her like one of your groupies,” said Jack.
Yeah, Mike had lots of those—beautiful girls lined up at his feet, begging for his autograph and catering to his every whim, like he was some famous movie star.
“Chill out, okay? I’m sorry.” Mike’s gaze shifted to my SOS. I smiled as he whistled. “Whoa! I’m blinded. Where’re my shades?” He took a step back and covered his eyes. “It’s shining like a Las Vegas banner. They’d have to be blind to miss that! And I don’t think they hire many blind pilots these days.”
Jack dropped another piece of driftwood into the giant pile. He brushed sand off his hands. “Your award-winning masterpiece is going to get us rescued. Guess we don’t call you Picasso for nothing.”
I smirked. “Thanks.” I watched Jack’s muscles flex underneath his t-shirt as he went back to work. He was a star athlete, and he’d led their California high school teams to countless victories in swimming, football, and basketball. But Jack wasn’t vain like Mike, who held countless titles himself in the world of surfing. Mike and Jack were as different as day and night, even though they shared many common bonds: dirt bike riding, videogames, snowboarding, hiking, and breaking records of every kind, both with a roomful of trophies and ribbons and medals to prove it. Jack smiled when he caught my gaze, and I returned the grin. He had the prettiest blue eyes! If I didn’t know any better, I’d have sworn he wore blue contacts.
Mike fell to his knees and threw a pile of sand over his shoulder. “I got the last hole for the fire pit.”
A soft, cool breeze blew over my face. It felt wonderful against my hot skin, but I hoped it wasn’t too windy for them to get a spark. “So, what’s the best way to get these fires blazing?”
Jack shrugged. “The old-fashioned way, I guess—rubbing sticks together.”
I grinned and nudged his arm. “Great! So we should have fire by sometime tomorrow.”
Meeting my gaze, he smiled. “I know a bunch of different ways. It’s primitive, but eventually we’ll get a spark.”
* * *
Jack placed piles of palm leaves next to each of the three fires. “We should stay right here on the beach. This area’s open, and a helicopter will have a very good chance of seeing our distress signals.”
The suns shined brightly and the cool morning breeze felt good on my face. I threw another log into the fire. I thought about rescue. How long will it take them to find us? Other questions haunted me too. Will we really have to stay the night here? Where will we sleep? I assumed we’d have to make a mattress and blanket out of dry vegetation. Palm fronds and tree bark sounded kind of itchy, though, and sharing my bed with freakish bugs that would latch onto my skin and suck me dry of every red blood cell in my body…well, that wasn’t going to happen either. I decided I’d gladly shower in that termite juice of Jack’s to repel every living insect or arachnid within a fifty-mile radius.
I wasn’t worried about food anymore. Mike and I could catch fish with our bare hands, and Jack could skin them. We had water to drink, plus a fire to stay warm at night and cook with. The flames reached into the air like long fingers as I turned the crackling logs with a stick. Sparks danced like erratic fireflies. The rising heat scorched my arms, and I stepped back. “I’ll start looking for some bigger logs so we can—”
A loud sound in the distance interrupted our conversation. The wailing shriek echoed, like a cry from some savage beast. I whipped my head around as I jumped. “What was that?” Shivers ran down my spine, and Mike and Jack exchanged worried glances.
“Hey, Jack. You’ve been around the rainforest with your mom on all those photo shoots,” said Mike. “What kind of animal was that?”
“Can’t be sure. I need to hear it again.”
Mike shook my shoulder. “Dude! It sounded like a lion.”
That was something I didn’t want to hear. The hair on the back of my neck stood at attention again. “No, it can’t be. They’re only found in Africa or India…aren’t they, Jack?”
Eyebrows raised, Jack stared at the direction of the sound. “Pretty much."
Mike bounded toward the jungle without a second thought.
I shot Jack a look, and he just shook his head and shrugged. Why does Mike always have to prove something? Or does he really crave excitement and risk that much?
“Yo, Mike!” I yelled. “Where the heck are you going?”
“To check things out!” he yelled back.
Jack huffed out a breath. “We better go get him.”
“Yeah, or he’ll hunt that thing deep into who-knows-where.” I ran after Mike, twigs and branches snapping under my feet as I trailed through the tropical foliage. He didn’t get far before I reached him and pulled at his shirt to get his attention. The last time he’d tried something so idiotic, he was four years old. He’d chased two deer into the woods, and a search party found him six hours later. I guessed he hadn’t changed his thrill-seeking ways, or maybe it was just bred into his DNA. “Are you insane?” I gripped his arm to draw him closer, but he quickly pulled away. “This isn’t the time or place for playing big game hunter. Listen, we need to stay close to the fires.”
Mike pushed branches aside, took another step into the dense vegetation, and then straightened to listen. “I can’t see anything.”
I stepped in between the towering tropical plants that sported large elephant ear-like leaves. I scanned past the black and green, splotched vegetation. “I don’t see anything either.”
Another roar. I swallowed, my pulse drumming. “What is it?”
“I think it’s a howler monkey.” Jack shifted his stance as he peered through the giant leaves. “I heard them in Brazil. You can hear them from miles away, and their calls sound more like a roar than a howl. I bet it’s fighting over territory.”
I blew out a loud breath. “So why’s it over here? We’re not in South America.”
Jack shrugged. “I have no idea. Mike, whatcha think?”
“Maybe a pet got loose.”
I placed a hand over my racing heart. “Anything’s possible. If it’s nothing but a monkey, then I’m not going to get all stressed out over it.” The chirping of birds intensified, overshadowing the rhythmical crashing of waves against the shore, and I took that to be a good sign. I knew wildlife usually clams up when a predator approaches. The birds were just more proof everything was A-okay.
I touched Mike’s shoulder. “I can’t believe you’re out here chasing w
ild animals. Do you have a screw loose?”
He smiled, shaking his head. “You make me sound like a lunatic.”
“Aren’t you?” I asked, playfully slugging him.
“As one of my ex-girlfriends put it…” He winked. “I’m beautifully flawed.”
I laughed. Beth used to say that about him all the time. Every guy at their school dreamt of dating the gorgeous Beth. It was funny that he labeled her a “girlfriend” when they’d called it quits after only two months. But that was a record for Mike. If Beth couldn’t hold onto Mike, I thought, then how could I possibly tame him? Beth was right about him being “beautifully flawed,” as those flaws made him individual and unique. “How do you stay so calm, anyway?”
“I think of something funny, like Jack’s haircut,” Mike whispered in my ear.
I smirked, staring at Jack. What girl wouldn’t want to run a hand through Jack’s wild tangle of dark hair? With that hair, those blue eyes, and that athletic build of his, he was definitely a catch. But then again, so was Mike, complete with his shaggy surfer hair that girls love so much.
Another thunderous roar echoed through the jungle. This time, everything became silent, except for the ocean.
Mike’s eyes widened, and his head slowly turned to face the direction of the roar. “I’m really hoping that monkey has had its rabies shots.”
My heart leapt at the noise. It didn’t sound like any monkey I’d ever heard. My imaginings of what it might be twisted my stomach into knots. I so much wanted to believe Jack—that it was just a harmless monkey, howling from miles away—but in a world of two suns, colored water, monster dragonflies, glowing sand, and basketball-sized spiders, who knew what kind of crazy creature was out there waiting to attack?
Episode 2
The roars faded into the jungle. I let my shoulders drop and sighed in relief. What the heck were those scary sounds anyway? Letting out another sigh, I could only explain the upheaval as monkeys fighting over territory. Nothing else made any sense. I pushed the thought to the back of my mind and focused on the waves lapping at my ankles. I wriggled my toes in the glittering sand, enjoying the soft caress against my skin, but the roars kept nagging at me.
Jack sat on a large piece of twisted white driftwood, his messy brown hair blowing in the wind. I caught him staring at me and smiled. He looked away, a red blush creeping up his neck and face. What’s that all about? Does he have something to say? I suspected he might have a crush on me, the way I had one on Mike.
Mike’s voice suddenly pierced through my thoughts. “Hey, Casey.”
“Yeah?” I said.
“I need to cool off for a minute.” Wiping the sweat off his brow, he squinted at the suns on the horizon, the noise from before seemingly forgotten. He whipped off his shirt and dashed into the surf; scooping up a handful of water and pouring it over his head. Sparkling droplets rolled down his striking face, like multi-colored gems.
Talk about movie star hot! It was no wonder crowds of screaming girls flocked to every competition he surfed in, no wonder MTV had labeled him a bona fide teen idol and snagged him for their reality television show, Surf’s Up. I couldn’t help but feast my eyes on his rippling chest and six-pack abs. That body of his sold more surf apparel and merchandise than any other surfing star.
I began to think maybe it wasn’t so bad being stranded on an island for a few days with such cute guys to keep me company, if I could only take spiders out of the scenario. Maybe I can even get Mike to notice me. Yeah, right. What am I going to do? Hang on his leg and yell, “Yo, Mike, down here! In case you haven’t noticed, I’m completely and utterly in love with you? Let’s watch the sunset together, smooch a little, and sip on some coconut juice.” Lame. No wonder I don’t have a boyfriend. Oh well. One day I’ll have the guts to tell him everything. But I wondered if maybe it was better to stay away. After all, not only was Mike my best friend, but he was also the biggest flirt in the state of California.
“We should start making a shelter,” said Jack. “I think we could make a base out of vines and logs and then use some large leaves for the roof.”
I nodded. Knowing him, he’d probably build an attic, basement, and deck too. Having Jack there with me helped to ease my fear. I knew he’d keep us alive with all of his survival skills until help came.
Mike stood, knee deep in the water, and laughed. “Hey, give rescue a chance to get here before we go building a hut.” With a mischievous smile, he pointed to Jack. “He needs to chill…maybe cool down a bit. Casey, are you thinkin’ what I’m thinkin’?”
My arms ached from all the heavy logs I’d carried, but turn down one of Mike’s playful schemes? Never! “Yep!”
At the same time, we scooped up handfuls of water and threw them at Jack.
Laughing, he raised his hands to protect his face. Droplets flew in the air, soaking his hair and dripping down his arms.
“Refreshing, huh?” asked Mike.
A smile curled up on my lips. “I bet it was. Hey, Jack, want another blast of the freaky water?”
He chuckled. “Ha ha. Keep that up, and you’ll both be gutting your own fish.”
Mike laughed and dove back into the water. Jack walked over to a nearby palm tree and came back. He handed me a coconut shell filled with water from the river. “I boiled another batch. It’s been in the shade for a little while.”
I couldn’t stop the grin that formed on my face. “Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without your awesome survival skills.”
He smiled.
I took a long drink before I pulled back, using my fingers to pick something off my tongue. I looked at the water and noticed black specks floating in it. Peering closer, I realized it was ashes from the fire. No wonder Mike wasn’t rushing over for a drink.
“Are you two ready to get back to work?” asked Jack.
Mike stepped out of the ocean and folded his arms. “Look, Jack. The wood’s stacked, and the fires are blazin’. Don’t you think we’ve done enough for a while? Want us to get heatstroke? Let’s cool off first, and then we can start making a shelter.”
“Nice compromise,” I said.
Jack took a drink of water from a coconut shell. “I agree that we’ve been working our butts off, but we need to get this done.”
As kids, Mike and Jack had never fought, but now they often butted heads. Mike’s carefree attitude clashed with Jack’s workaholic, perfectionist personality. I set down the coconut shell and tried to cheer up the mood a bit. I met Jack’s gaze. “You know what helps Mike relax?”
“Girls?”
I shook my head; Jack couldn’t be more right. “No, his other love, surfing.”
Mike’s face brightened, and his tone was playful. “No way! It’s forbidden. You can’t wake up one day and decide you want to surf just so you can be cool. It simply doesn’t work that way. You see, surfing is like a birthright. Either you have it when you’re born or you don’t. I started body surfing when I was, like, two.”
“See? I don’t have surfing embedded in my DNA like you do,” said Jack.
Mike chuckled and slapped him on the back. “Don’t feel bad. Not everyone can be that cool.”
“You didn’t just say that.” Jack laughed, stepping toward us.
I stepped directly into his path to defend Mike. I held back a smirk while I crossed my arms and wrinkled my brow at him. “Not so fast, tough guy. You’ll have to get through me first.”
A playful smile danced across Jack’s lips as he held my gaze, his blue eyes twinkling. “You’re the most awesome quarterback I know, but I’m not so sure about a linebacker.”
He was right. I knew he could easily tackle me into next week. What chance did I have against his broad chest and strong shoulders? Jack pushed his thick hair away from his eyes and grinned, almost like he’d read my mind. I loved his messy head of brown hair.
I grabbed Mike’s arm with a giggle. “Run!” We spun around and sprinted down the beach. Loose, dry sand kicked up as we ran. I g
lanced over my shoulder at Jack, who was gaining on me fast. As I rounded a bend, something peculiar caught my eye: three-toed indentations, measuring three feet in length. I jerked to a halt and felt a shiver run up my spine. Bird tracks! Giant bird tracks.
Mike skidded to a stop, causing Jack to crash into him from behind. Jack, in turn, nearly knocked me off my feet. I stumbled, flinging my arms out to stop myself from falling.
“Look!” I whispered at the odd tracks stretched across the beach in a wide zigzag pattern, gleaming in the sand. I clapped a hand over my mouth. Mike stared wide-eyed, and Jack stood stiffly.
I shook my head slowly. At first, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Squinting against the bright sunshine, I blinked hard, but when I opened my eyes, the tracks were still there. What kind of animal could leave those? Whatever it was, it had to be huge—really huge. “What the heck?”
“Whoa,” said Jack.
“Wow! What’re those?” Mike inched closer.
“Big, giant, glowing footprints,” said Jack, stating the obvious as he dropped to his knees and touched the soft indentations.
“Duh. I can see that. What made them?” Mike placed his foot into one of the strange impressions. “Looks like a chicken to me.”
“Yeah, if you’re talking some kind of mega Jurassic Park chicken.” In spite of my fear, I pictured the three of us battling a giant chicken and had to laugh. “How would we take it down? Rip out its feathers? Threaten to call Colonel Sanders?”
Mike laughed.
I suppressed my chuckling when I caught a glimpse of Jack’s serious face bowed over the prints. “What’re doing?”
Jack walked a slow circle and then squatted. “I’m making special note of their shape, arrangement, and the distance between the paces.” Feeling the smooth sand at the bottom of the indentations, he glanced up, disbelief painted over his features. “These are fresh. My mom and I have tracked lots of animals to photograph them, but none like this. It’s obviously something that walks on two legs, and judging from the size and depth of the prints, the thing’s heavy. It weighs at least as much as an elephant.”
Trapped in the Hollow Earth Novelette Series Omnibus Edition (Books 1 - 4) Page 8
