Chapter 69 : Swallowed By Darkness

*Jared*

I woke before the sun and pulled my arms from around Eliza.

For a moment, I just watched her.Her face was so soft and peaceful as she slept, hair curling around her soft features so perfectly.

It was hard to pull away.I could have laid with her in my arms forever.

But Abe and I had a lot of work to do.

I kissed Eliza’s cheek and brushed my fingers lightly down her face.

She squirmed and turned away from me.I smiled to myself.She was perfect, and she was all mine.

Stretching, I threw some clothes on and nudged Abe’s tent.

"Get up, sleepy.We’ve got a long day ahead of us."

Abe groaned and I heard him shifting around.

While he got ready, I lit a fire and threw together a quick breakfast for us–a few fried eggs, some coffee, and bacon.It was the perfect energy boost we needed.

Abe crawled out of his tent and took the coffee I offered him.

He guzzled it down and then devoured his breakfast.

Afterward, he stood up and stretched, yawning like a fog horn.

"Ready to get to it?"I asked.

Abe smirked.

"That rock pile doesn’t look so bad.I bet we’ll have it cleared by noon."

"Right…."

The first rocks we moved out of the way were small and easy to toss aside.

It was just like brushing pebbles or gravel out of the way.

But it didn’t take long for Abe and me to get to the larger rocks.

One by one, we lifted them and hoisted them out of the way.

By the time Eliza woke up and started on her own breakfast, we’d been working for a few hours, and it barely felt like we’d made a dent.

I let my eyes wander toward Eliza as she moved around the camp.

Her tight pants clung to her hips, hanging low enough that I could see the edge of her underwear.

When she bent over, the hem of her shirt pulled up her back, revealing a lickable amount of her skin.

Unconsciously, I licked my lips.

"Hey, are you working, or am I going to do this whole thing myself!?" Abe snapped.

I shook myself out of my daze and looked at my friend.He was huffing and puffing as he shifted a massive rock.I went to him and helped lift.

"I just needed a little break," I smirked.

"Yeah, I know what you needed."

Abe shook his head.We tossed the large rock aside and each got back to work on some of the smaller, more manageable rocks.

The sun was getting higher in the sky and hotter.

Sweat soaked through the back of my shirt and dripped off my brow.

I pulled my shirt off and used it to wipe the sweat off my face and the back of my neck.

I tossed my shirt on the ground.

Abe did the same, only he tied his shirt around his head like a doo rag.

I shielded my eyes from the sun and looked at the rock pile.

and for as much as we’d moved, it didn’t even seem like we were a quarter of

could spend every day from now until my birthday digging, and we might never get through

eyes wandered to Eliza

coals since it was daytime and there was

map was on her lap and her eyes were fixed on

concentration, the way her brow scrunched up just a tiny bit, and how her

knew she was focused, not

should have packed

I asked, creasing

we don’t even know for sure

trust her.If she says this is

"Hey guys!"

my attention.She clamored up the rock pile, waving the map around.Her feet slipped on the shifting rocks, causing several

We’ll come to you,"

reached us at the top before I could

it?"

two need water." She handed us each

"Oh, you’re a Goddess!"

down, streams flowing over the edge of the canteen, around the corners of his mouth, and

drinking the nectar

I took several more

"Alright, I’m hydrated.

What’s the big deal?"

asked, handing Eliza

it over her shoulder and pointed to

map, and I think

and bit her lower

we don’t have to dig through these rocks anymore,

flopped down on the nearest

ached from all the squatting and lifting but I knew if I sat down, I

another way into the city.I can’t promise it will be cleared, but it might

hallelujah! What other way is

throwing his

ran her finger along

"Here."

She tapped the map.

that goes into the

river?" I

looked at the rough map she’d

we went

that cave and then the original

that cave is our way into the

following an underground river?" I arched

sounded a little far-fetched

that came up commonly in

mythical city might have a mythical underground river leading

sure I saw the cave in my vision.It was so big and imposing, just like in real life.But I honestly didn’t think much of it because I was focused on this road.Now, I’m thinking it is worth going back

"Yes!"

and threw

cave more.I mean, I was the one that pointed

Eliza glanced at me.

looked over the

but made hardly any

took some time to go look at the cave and it turned out to be a dead end, it wasn’t like

just come back and

much in the grand scheme of things when it came

in hopes of finding something so we don’t have to come

concerned about it, Eliza and I can check the cave while you keep working on the

way, we don’t lose any time clearing the path." I rolled

"Get your things.Let’s go."

packed up

we ended up coming back, it was better to clean up our

anyone following us, it would make it

on anyone last night,

okay with this?" Eliza asked as we loaded

I cupped her cheek.She knew me so

this made me feel like it was true, even if we couldn’t fully sense it until

about this,

"Do you?" I sighed.

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