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“That’s it. Good girl. Keep going.” Hunter’s words came in fits and bursts, out of time to my frantic rhythm, but he never left my side.
Finally, we reached the shore, and my boots slipped on the muddy bottom. Hunter clutched my hand, dragged me out of the water, and pulled me into his arms. “You are fucking amazing.”
Laughing, he kissed the top of my head and my heart soared like a released balloon.
Between my ragged breaths, I whispered, “So are you.”
Hunter helped me to stand and as he pulled out his GPS and checked our position, I studied the surrounding bushes.
“Hunter, look.” I pointed at a yellow orchid about twelve feet up a tree. “It’s a vanilla orchid.”
“That’s nice, Layla, but not helpful.”
“It is, actually. I know where we are.” Squelching in my wet boots, I stepped toward it.
“You do?”
“Yes, I’ve seen that flower before. Come on.” I shoved through a shrub. “If I’m right, the jetty we use for the lab is around the bend.”
“Shit, really? You mean we could’ve stayed on the boat?”
“I think so.” I picked up my speed, rushing through the dense bushes along the riverbank.
“Let me go first.” Hunter pushed in front of me and barged over and through the plants like a rhino. “I hope you’re right.”
I spotted another plant I recognized. “There. Look, it’s thePassiflora edulis.”
“Bless you.” Hunter grinned.
I laughed. “I’ve seen this passionflower plant dozens of times. We’re nearly at the lab.”
Hunter burst through the bushes and onto a path. “Yes.”
“See? I told you.” I turned toward the river and could just see the jetty through the bushes. I turned the opposite way. “The lab is along here.”
Hunter squeezed our palms together. “Let’s go.”
As we ran along the track, he kept glancing skyward and I imagined he was searching for our rescue helicopter.
I hope we haven’t missed it.
Hunter skidded to a stop, and I crashed into his back. He dragged me down to squat next to him and put his finger over his lips.
Ahead of us was the clearing, and beyond that was my research lab where I’d lived and worked for the last eleven months. But the lab was ruined. The screens that had surrounded the front half of the building had been sliced open. The front door had been ripped right off. Inside, tables and chairs were smashed.
A knot swelled in my throat so big I could barely breathe.
Hunter must have decided it was safe to move because he grabbed my hand and strode into the clearing.
He paused at a section of land where the sky was visible and looked upward.
I stepped through the broken doorway to the research facility and crunching over glass, shattered crockery, and scattered cutlery, I entered the hallway. I turned into my test center and my breath choked in my throat as I stared at my ruined lab. The floor was covered in broken equipment. My computer was where I’d last seen it on the floor with all the keys scattered around. Nothing was left in the refrigerated cupboard, and all my samples and scientific equipment were destroyed.
I slumped against the wall, covered my hands over my face, and wept.
“Hey, come here.” Hunter held me to his chest and as I cried he didn’t say a word.
When I couldn’t cry anymore, I eased back, wiping my eyes. “Sorry.”