Chapter 167

Chapter 167

Joy slumped against a tree, her eyes darting down the two paths ahead. “We’re toast. I can’t remember which way to go.”

Selina craned her neck, peering down both trails. “Does it really matter? Why don’t we just pick one and give it a shot?”

“The higher we go, the narrower it gets. Just be careful, you two,” Skyler cautioned. He stepped forward. “I’ll scout ahead.”

Before he could take another step, Grace tugged at his sleeve. “Please don’t. It’s too risky.” Selina rolled her eyes. “So, you’re suggesting we go first into danger? How very noble of you.”

Grace scrambled for words. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

“Well then, lead the way,” Joy challenged.

Grace’s cheeks went red with embarrassment.

Selina snorted and called out, “Bro! SOS! We’re totally lost here!”

Jeremy excused himself from Leanne with a brief, “Be right back.” He glanced over his shoulder at Curtis, who was staying behind. With Curtis there, at least he knew Leanne wouldn’t face any danger.

Jeremy wasn’t any more familiar with the lay of the land than the others but set out with a determined look, trying to make sense of the surrounding terrain.

After a while, Selina’s voice carried through the trees, “Hey, come on up!”

Skyler and Grace followed her call.

er we found a way

Leanne moved to join them, but Curtis’ voice stopped her. “Leanne, did you drop your phone?”

She spun around. “Isn’t it in my bag?”

“Nope,” Curtis replied.

Without suspicion, Leanne approached to check her bag. As she unzipped and sifted through the contents, her phone lay nestled snugly inside.

“See? Right here.”

“Oh, there you go.” Curtis casually took her phone and slipped it into his pocket.

Leanne, still processing his intentions, watched him shoulder the bag again.

11:30

Chapter 167

“Let’s go,” Curtis said, seizing her wrist and steering her down an alternative path.

Confusion clouded Leanne’s face. “We’re going the wrong way.”

“Both paths lead there. This one’s just shorter.”

“So why didn’t you say that before?”

“Why didn’t I? Because I didn’t feel like walking with them,” he said with a shrug.

up with

“You can travel however you please, but I plan on sticking with the rest of the group.”

Leanne yanked her wrist free-Curtis hadn’t held on tightly-and turned to catch. the others. He didn’t stop her or follow, but his voice trailed her, teasing with a spooky tale. “There was a girl named Anne, wandering alone in the mountains, surrounded by darkness, no soul in sight, when suddenly…”

He didn’t finish. Leanne stormed back, her frown as fierce as a cornered kitten, and kicked him.

The hiking boot was sturdy, and her foot connected solidly with his shin.

Curtis hissed. “Easy! If you break my leg, you’ll have to carry r me.”

That’s when Leanne realized why he had distracted her with the phone-he was keeping her from calling for help. Annoyed, she demanded, “What are you doing really?”

Curtis grinned. “I’m on a royal quest from the Squirrel King to capture

you.

She glared at him, “you are sick.”

“Yeah, I’m sick,” he admitted smoothly, “sick for you, and you’re my cure.”

Leanne’s brows nearly knitted together.

Seeing her distress, Curtis dropped the act. “Relax, I’m not going to get us lost. This way, we might even beat the others there.”