Chapter 15 #2
He takes his place in the queue and shoots me a stony glare.
‘I’m beginning to get the feeling you don’t care very much for my well-being.’
‘You look very well to me,’ I say with a shrug.
His feet remain planted in the queue. ‘Nice try, princess. I’m not leaving until I get to wash this crap off me, and you need me for the next clue. So it looks like you’ll just have to wait.’
Unfortunately, patience is not a trait I possess much of.
My eyes narrow. ‘Where did you even put the clue?’
‘It’s all in here,’ he says, tapping his temple smugly. ‘Not worth searching my pockets.’
A noise of frustration escapes me and I find my hand clenching tighter onto the drumstick with fury. One of his dark, perfect brows arches in amusement.
‘Would it kill you to have some composure? Oh come on, don’t look at me like that.’
‘Then stop getting on my last nerve,’ I say through gritted teeth. ‘Just at least tell me the clue so we can brainstorm together here. I’m not exactly going anywhere, am I?’ I say, pointing down at the drumstick.
‘Otherwise you would be running for the hills at this stage, I imagine,’ he murmurs, looking back at the queue to check for movement.
‘Correct.’
‘But only after using me so you don’t have to go lake-dipping, of course,’ he drawls.
‘That was your idea,’ I mutter, groaning as he peels his t-shirt off again. ‘I just wish you had the willpower to keep your clothes on for more than two minutes.’
‘We either do this now or I go back to the camp to change,’ he says. ‘It’s your choice.’
‘Or you could just remain fully clothed and we continue with our day?’ I suggest, earning a glower.
‘I’m not apologising for getting in the water for you.’
I gasp mockingly. ‘For me? You’re much too kind. I gathered you did it to reap the benefits of the prize we’re hoping to win as a team, but perhaps I’ve been too rash.’
‘Maybe I just would have liked to see you swim with the eels for our prize that we’re trying to win as a team. Next time, it’s your turn.’
‘My “turn”? To remove my clothes?’ I ask, incredulous. ‘Do you think we’ve entered some kind of absurd nudist treasure hunt?’
A muscle in his jaw jumps. ‘Whatever trial is up next, it’s your turn to get your hands dirty,’ he says, a glimmer in his eye. ‘That’s all I’m saying.’
‘Fine.’
‘Fair is fair.’
‘Fine,’ I repeat, still furious he has no shirt on. ‘And may I say, you’re being particularly taxing today.’
‘We’ve literally known each other for less than twenty-four hours,’ he counters.
‘Really? It feels like so much longer than that.’
His brows furrow slightly as he starts to say something, before cutting himself off with a gentle shake of his head. I have stunned him into silence. Finally.
I scuff my shoe into the dirt of the path as we continue to wait for the queue to move along. ‘There are no eels in that stupid lake,’ I mutter.
‘Eels are everywhere, princess,’ he says lightly.
A laugh gets caught in my throat. ‘Trainee solicitor and an eel behaviourist? I really won the lottery. Have you prepared a lecture for me on eel culture?’
He stares at me, mercilessly silent.
‘Just let me know if you have so I can at least take a seat. Or go drown myself in the lake.’
He shakes his head again in disbelief, lips twitching. ‘You’re really something.’
‘Right,’ I quickly say, unsure of how to respond to this. ‘So what is the next clue?’
I’m practically hopping on the spot, my desire to move unrelenting. It also helps to distract me from the sight that is his bare torso.
He casts his eyes around with distrust before leaning closer to me to speak in a low voice.
‘There was a message scribbled on the post. It just said: Trees, drums, and pounding beats. It would help to look up at the sky, and not at your feet.’
I’m instantly nonplussed. I cannot think of a single relevant Queen Ego lyric or idea that links to any of this. Elliot shrugs in agreement.
‘That could just be nonsense, are you sure it was a clue?’
‘Well, it had the Queen Ego logo next to it so I can only assume it was a legitimate clue.’
‘Shit,’ I hiss.
I’ve got nothing.
Elliot is shaking his head in bewilderment too. ‘Don’t suppose that’s given you any ideas?’
Desperately reaching into the deepest crevices of my brain for any information or suggestions, I find myself without even a glimpse of an idea.
‘Nope,’ I say grimly.
‘We might just need the others for this one, hopefully we’ll find them soon. They should at least be on their way over here.’
Doubt has already begun to creep over me, settling on my shoulders like a weight. I knew the hunt had started too easily, and now the beginning of the end is already in sight.
‘This isn’t over yet, don’t worry,’ Elliot offers, bumping my shoulder gently with his own. I appreciate the sentiment, but continue to nervously fiddle with one of my curls as I run through lyrics in my head.
I hear a familiar yelp as I’m almost knocked over by an unstoppable force. Tight arms wrap around me and the smell of Hennie’s musky perfume reaches me; I grab hold of her with relief.
‘Hey, team,’ Owen calls out as he approaches.
Josh’s wolfish grin beams as he comfortably rests one arm on my shoulder and the other on Elliot’s. ‘So what’s the good news?’
Elliot recites the clue quietly, and Owen and Josh immediately shoot each other a look.
‘Now that’s got to be the Jungle,’ Owen says confidently.
‘Agreed, hidden somewhere up high?’ Josh adds.
‘Well, that’s seems pretty straightforward,’ Hennie says with a shrug.
Josh taps his nose. ‘Big brains, babe.’
I’m grateful Josh is here for a multitude of reasons. If this clue is to be believed and the next one awaits us somewhere high up, Josh will be essential.
‘Well, let’s head straight there, then. We might still have a lead?’ I add.
‘Not until I’m cleansed, princess,’ a voice drawls behind me.
He’s enjoying this far too much. ‘This isn’t even necessary and you know it.’
‘We’re next in the queue,’ he says indignantly.
I roll my eyes and turn back to our friends.
‘Okay, we’ll just wait for Mr Clean to wash the illusion of pond off him and we’ll be on our way.’
‘Oh, that’s why you’re so wet? Thank God,’ Hennie mutters.
‘You got in the lake? Oh Elliot, I don’t know whether to be proud or disgusted,’ Owen says with a definite air of pride.
‘You might be diseased now,’ Josh adds, frowning.
Elliot immediately shoots me a look of defiance that says I told you so.
I ignore him and turn to Hennie to discover everything they’ve seen this morning.
I see Elliot out of the corner of my eye strip off his shoes and use the tap to rinse himself off.
Determined to keep my gaze resolutely on Hennie, I fail to notice when he’s finished and find myself suddenly tugged along once again by the drumstick towards the footpath.
‘Come on then, Miss Impatient,’ he says. ‘Time to go.’
Josh’s voice croons behind us. ‘And someone get some sun cream on that girl!’