Experiment Zero

38. My Annoying Shadow

"Thanks," I mutter, and End nods. I guess having a constant shadow is good for something.

For the next few minutes we continue walking in utter silence, nothing but the buzz of insects and humidity to keep us company.

Some point along the way Becky gets tired of Max's antics and shoves him off her shoulder. He yelps, tumbling down and landing in the mud as Becky keep walking.

Sometimes it surprises me how heartless she can be.

Moving past Max, my eyes briefly connect with his bright blue ones, and this time it's my turn to smirk.

He growls at me, but in monkey form it doesn't come out as threatening at all. I thought I could be cold hearted like Becky, and just continue walking past him after my dramatic smirk, but I can't find it in my hear to. Max after all is just a boy who keeps getting rejection after rejection from his crush.

So I swoop down and hold my hands out for Max to inn into, which he does. I turn to ask End if he has a towel, but he's already handing me a small cloth he pulled from his bag.

I wipe Max off and let him climb onto my shoulder.

"Just don't snuggle like you did with Becky." I warn him, and he snorts.

As if, He seems to be saying. No way would I snuggle with you. You're not Becky.

I sigh before jogging to catch up with the others.

From there time passes by in a blur of humidity, green leaves, and even more silence, followed by righting the map every time Peter turns it in the wrong direction again.

I have almost given up hope that we are anywhere near our intended destination when End tugs at my sleeve. I swat his hand away, but my hand just goes right through his. Turning his hand solid again, He tugs my sleeve insistently.

"What?" I snap, looking over at him.

He puts a finger to his mouth, telling me to be quiet, and then putting his hands up and cupping his ears, showing that he's listening.

I stop walking, following End's advice and listening. And that's when I hear it. The faint roar of water. My eyes widen as I realize what this means.

"Peter!" I yell, nearly tripping again as I stumble ahead of Becky and Max, coming to a halt besides Peter, who looks up from the map.

"What?" He asks, confused.

"Listen." I say excitedly, putting  a finger to  my lips in a gesture to be quiet. The whole group quiets, and we all listen to the sound of near water.

"No way." Becky says in surprise, and I nod, snatching the map from Peter.

"There." I say, my finger stabbing the page at the waterfall that was very close to the cave where my dad is. Folding the map up, I start off in a quick pave towards the direction the water sound is coming from, the others keeping up with me.

"I can't believe we actually made it to the right place with Peter as our guide." Becky comments, making Max the monkey snort.

"Hey!" Peter exclaims, frowning and pouting.

I roll my eyes, and then sigh as End takes his usual position right on my trail. I bet if he turned his feet solid they would scrape my heels every time.

After a minute passes the noise has grown louder and now is so loud it's most likely right up ahead where there's a gap in the trees and sunlight streams through.

We all share a glance, before breaking into a sprint.

I laugh, pumping my legs as Max climbs onto my back, wrapping his arms around my neck lightly to hang on. We break through the trees, and I come to a stop, End nearly crashing right into me but stopping at the last second.