"Funny enough, close to here.We'll go another day, but they're world-famous.Come this way; I've got something else to show you."Riley reached for Gray's hand, her eyes widening for a second.She'd held his hand enough this past month to know he'd accept hers, but there was always a small jolt when she did it.He smiled and gave her his hand.
"Lead the way, my not-so-local guide!"he grinned, making the moment less awkward.
Moving away from the beach and into the forest, the surrounding beauty again took Gray aback.Mere moments before, they were basking in the sun with blue skies above, and now they were in near darkness.Pine trees surrounded them, blocking out the light, and a path meandered through the forest, barely discernible.Only someone who knew it could follow.
As they walked, Gray's hand firmly in Riley's, he heard a scuttling sound and flashes of movement he couldn't quite see.
"Riley?Please tell me that sound isn't what I think it is?"Gray's grip tightened with a hint of desperation, and he pulled Riley to a stop, eyes wide, pupils dilated.He realizes he's frozen, no longer willing to move until he knows what's moving around them.
Riley leans back into him."Gray?You're squeezing all the feeling out of my hand."But he doesn't loosen his grip.The sounds get louder, more movement comes into view, and Gray's panic intensifies.What fresh hell is this?
She turned in his arms and saw that he's genuinely terrified.She gives a small giggle, but seeing Gray isn't comforted, she steps aside, gently pulling him closer to the ground.He's like a statue, not even blinking.
"Don't be scared, look--" She points at the ground, and Gray begins to identify the noise's origin.Suddenly, there's a crashing sound, and unseen forces knock Gray over.He screams, flailing on the ground.
Riley bursts into laughter while Bear, the ambush hound, has pinned Gray to the forest floor, howling alongside Gray's screams.
"Bear!Get off him!"Riley chides, tears streaming down her face from laughter.Bear finally gives up, deciding it's a terrible game, and bounds off into the forest.
Riley helps Gray to his feet.He's still shaking, not finding the attack nearly as funny.He grabs her, and she lets out a squeak.
"So, you think scaring the life out of me is funny?"He smiled, but she knew he was terrified.And then he kissed her, and she leaned into the comfort.After being trounced onto the forest floor, he smelled of pine needles.
They stay that way for a moment, Gray gently putting her down, Riley with her hands clasped around his neck.
"Now that you and Bear have had your laugh, what on earth is making that noise?"As he listened, the clicking sound returned, and he had the feeling that hundreds of eyes were watching them.
"I wasn't leading you to your doom, though I think you believed that," she teased."And if Bear hadn't bowled you over, I was pointing out the blue crabs.Look--" she gestured ahead along the path, and sure enough, Gray saw crabs, larger than he expected, scuttling on either side of the forest floor.Their eyes like stalks coming out of their massive heads and possibly, no definitely, looking right at them.
"What.The.Hell.There are so many!"he couldn't believe his eyes.
"They're a really cool species, and because the forest is so dense, making it like twilight during the day, you can see them during the day, not just at night.Honestly, I wouldn't come here at night; it'd feel like a horror movie.Imagine hearing all that clicking in the dark without knowing what's making the noise?"She shivered.
"I was picturing some giant creature that'd string me up in its web and eat me!"He playfully slapped her arm."A little warning next time!"
As Gray looked at the dozens and dozens of crabs again, he could see that they were about the size of his hand, a terrifying size for a crab, and that one claw was definitely larger than the other.The crabs look comically off balance, as if they did massive weight training but only with one claw.As he continued to stare at them, shivers ran down his spine and goosebumps jumped up all over his body.While his brain told him they were just crabs, his heart was beating too fast.
The crabs were an incredible blue colour, like an electric blue he'd never seen in nature before.But the damn things looked so much like giant blue tarantulas with their hairy legs and strange front claws that he had to close his mouth so he wouldn't scream.From the size, he figured they weighed about a pound or more, but he would stick to guessing; those claws looked dangerous, and he wasn't sure he could trust that they were crabs.
"But then I'd miss seeing you pale as a ghost and screaming!No way, that was too good!"And Riley knew she needed to run.Gray was back to his senses, and the look in his eyes said she was in trouble.
With a squeal, she took off running down the path, dodging crabs, while Bear bounded after her, barking in excitement.Gray followed, albeit more cautiously; no way did he want one of those tarantula blue crabs latched onto his foot.
The trees thinned ahead, and as they left the forest, Gray stopped short.They were on a secluded beach, with nothing but sand for miles.Riley and Bear were running along the shoreline.She'd dropped her bag of lunch and snacks, laughing as Bear raced in and out of the water.She looked up at Gray, smiling, inviting him to join them.
Gray ran to catch up; the three of them splashed through the waves, warm water swirling around them .He caught Riley, lifting her up and kissing her again while Bear barked, hoping they'll stop and toss him some treats.And all Gray could think was, he never wanted to leave.
Chapter 39
Plans unfold
AsShelleysteppedoffthe small plane onto the tarmac, the salty tang of the ocean and the heat of the day hit her like a wave.
She had left California the day before to catch the island's only daily flight, and it was still early.
Thankfully, Mark had used his points to book the Miami airport hotel; the price was no joke.
Walking into the tiny terminal, Shelley realized there was no luggage carousel in sight.Instead, she spotted a couple of workers unloading bags by hand and lining them up on the tarmac for passengers to claim.This was going to take some time.
