𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃 | 𝐣𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢

𝐗𝐕𝐈. 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭

Between the two of them, Matt and Bethany only had the one torch. Although they were in the middle of a situation in which their lives were in danger, Matt could only focus on one thing: the regret of never telling her how he felt.

He took a deep breath, swallowed his pride, and tried to clear his throat and get back some of the masculinity he'd lost. "Hey, Bethany?"

"Yeah, Mattie?" She didn't face him as she focused on the path ahead of them.

"I was thinking..."

"Uh huh."

"Well, I was thinking—"

"Can this wait, Mattie?" she asked looking back over her shoulder, "We're a little busy right now."

"Not really..." he muttered inaudibly under his breath.

"Did you hear that?" Bethany whispered as her eyes shifted left and right.

The bushes rustled and before he had time to react, a jaguar pounced from the undergrowth and pinned him to the ground. A second and third jaguar emerged and cornered Bethany so that she couldn't escape.

"Mattie, what do we do?"

Matt's eyes shifted, trying to figure out any solution that might get them out of there alive. All hope of that idea faded as Van Pelt entered the picture and stared them down.

"Where's the jewel?"

"Don't tell him anything, Bethany," Matt instructed calmly even though he was staring down the throat of the beast above him.

Van Pelt clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I only need one hostage."

Matt's eyes widened as Van Pelt signaled for the beast to attack. The last thing he saw was a flash of blinding white teeth before he reappeared alone in the same spot.