[Are you scared?]

  [Not at all.]

  I shift in my seat, growing uncomfortable at the leather burning my back. My fingers drum the white metal wall as I wander in my thoughts. A pale light flickers above on the roof.

  A humid, suffocating heat lingers.

  The curtained windows only worsen it.

  Tilting my head, I meet her expectant gaze.

  [What?]

  [I thought you'd have doubts. Do you need any more info?]

  I stay silent, earning an irritated expression from the woman. Her blonde hair, black at the ends, is tied into a ponytail, swishing.

  I decide to ignore her, closing my eyes to the thudding of the helicopter's blades.

  Her palms retrieve something from a pocket on her cargo pants. A small plastic duck.

  [Rookies have no shame nowadays.]

  [We're the same rank.]

  [But you haven't taken a field trip, ever.]

  She smiles widely. Mockingly, almost.

  It quickly vanishes.

  [Listen. It's not Panama City we're going to. Not to mention we're on the opposite side, we'll need you to be careful.]

  The rotor loudens as the helicopter descends.

  [These people don't like magic users. People like you unnerve them. And we can't guarantee a fair and happy understanding between us and them.]

  [Understood.]

  Fed up with the darkness, I pull the curtains back. A rush of light blinds me momentarily, as I blink several times to adapt.

  An infinite green jungle rests below, tall trees shielding whatever's beneath.

  A wide river cuts through, flowing swiftly. After the faint ruffling of leaves, several birds fly out.

  For just a few seconds, before they fall back down.

  [I've heard about jungles like these. Deadly, harsh... A pain in the ass...]

  [Yeah, well, it's even deadlier now.]

  She responds, patting my arm.

  [An Isothe is far worse than whatever else is inside.]

  [Right.]

  I search for a base through the window, darting my gaze around. An uncomfortable feeling sets in my stomach.

  [Where are we even landing, Aya?]

  [Around 5 miles away from where we're supposed to.]

  I sigh deeply, gripping my seat tightly. She does the same after putting her duck back.

  [Does that mean...?]

  [Yeah. We're going to crash through the trees!]

  [Oh, shi—]

  The seatbelt strains against my chest as the helicopter slams into something. Wood scratches the metal outside as the plane falls.

  Safely, by a miracle.

  With my heart racing and my breath ragged, I unfasten my seatbelt, eyes widened in shock.

  [Was... was this the only way?]

  Aya stands up, hitting her head against the roof in the process. Then, after a nervous chuckle, she turns the light off before signaling me to open the door.

  I reach for the handle, pulling it towards me before I push the door open. I lift it and step out.

  The same suffocating sensation from before intensifies, making me sweat profusely. The thousand different birds singing in unison become unbearable, deafening my ears.

  Aya steps next to me, holding out a map before scrutinizing it.

  Green is the only color, with countless vines, shrubs, and trees coating the entire area as far as I can see.

  [How are we supposed to find the base from here?]

  [I thought you'd know? Also, what's the pilot still doing inside?]

  [Can't come any closer to base. He'll leave when we do.]

  I sigh deeply, tugging at my shirt to ventilate myself. I follow Aya as she starts walking through the greenery, pushing plants aside. Flowing water can be heard nearby.

  [So, uh... Where to?]

  [North.]

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  I blink.

  [Right... Where's north?]

  [We find the river, and then go to the opposite side from where it flows.]

  Gasping for air, I try to keep up with her. My boots slip on the wet stones, ankles wrapping around vines. The birds sing intensely.

  Eyes set on me.

  [Are you sure it's safe?]

  Aya stops, closing her map as she turns around.

  [I've been trying to tell you. It's not safe. At all.]

  She resumes walking. A monkey screams from afar.

  [Not even for you, as you can't use your powers.]

  [Right.]

  Just ahead, a small source of water flows down between large stones.

  [See that? It means we're close to the river. A stone may have fallen off, it's leaking water down here.]

  Loud thrumming startles me.

  Somewhere, the helicopter flies off.

  Aya approaches the stream, trying to find a way to climb the rocks. I stare intently, stepping closer to her as I examine my surroundings.

  [Scared? Don't worry, this is usually the hard part. After that, it's the same, but you get used to it.]

  [Can you hurry up? We need to get to base.]

  I exhale, tugging at my shirt obsessively.

  [It's really humid in here, I can't even breathe properly. Plus, these clothes...]

  Aya throws a hook over the rocks, tugging at it to fix it.

  [Well, it's better to suffocate than to die of malaria. Or the yellow fever. Or a venomous bite.]

  Clicking my tongue, I grab the rope, pressing my feet against the rock to climb. After slipping a few times, I manage to reach the top.

  [Well done, wait for me now!]

  She shouts. With a deep breath, I glance around.

  Movement.

  Snapping my gaze to the source, I find a bird sitting on a branch.

  [Hey, Aya?]

  No response.

  [Aya?]

  Fear grips my heart, head spinning.

  Something grips my arm.

  [Hey!]

  Blinking rapidly, I see Aya standing in front, a worried expression on her face.

  [Don't go crazy, now. We're still pretty far.]

  [I-I know. Sorry.]

  [Come on.]

  Opening her map up again, she studies it for a short while before folding it back.

  After a long, straining while of treading, we reach the river, the only open area for the sunlight to reach.

  [Quite wide, isn't it?!]

  Aya shouts.

  My eyes set on the water as it flows violently, numbing my ears. A strong, pungent smell makes my eyes water.

  [So... We need to follow the opposite direction, right?!]

  [Yeah!]

  Stepping through the rough terrain, we re-enter the canopy of trees. After half an hour, I feel my ankles burning.

  [Aren't there predators here?]

  [There used to be monkeys, I've heard. The kind that mangle and rip your face off. Not anymore.]

  [I... see.]

  We make our way through vines and shrubs, cutting them with sharp machetes.

  [It's like in the movies.]

  I say, trying to focus on something other than the constant chirping and cooing.

  [Yeah. But unlike in the movies, you're not protected by plot.]

  Just as my legs start to give out, Aya sighs in relief.

  [Finally...]

  [What?]

  [We're near. See those holes in the trees? Just a little more and we're there.]

  The tension on my shoulders seems to vanish. Just a little more...

  [But we'll have to cross some water. Lake, swamp, whatever you wanna call it. And put your gloves on.]

  Raising a brow, I reach for the gloves hanging on my belt. Aya puts hers on, tightening them around her wrist.

  [Why?]

  [Leeches. That means, your head should be at the surface at all times.]

  Nodding, I follow her. Stepping up a steep hill, I nearly fall off a cliff.

  Small stones crumble, detaching before they fall, plopping in the lake below.

  A thick mist starts to cover the whole area, making it impossible to see more than a few meters ahead.

  [Ready to jump?]

  [Let's do it.]

  Holding my breath, I jump.

  Diving into the water, I try to swim upwards, shutting my eyes.

  I gasp as I reach the surface, wiping my face in worry before looking around. I spot Aya in the distance, swimming towards the shore.

  I try my best to keep up, falling short due to my fatigue.

  Then, the same putrid smell hits me. I cough several times, drifting towards the shore.

  Something hits my leg. Something cold. I pay no mind, trying to focus ahead.

  [Hurry up! Try to swim, even if you're tired!]

  She shouts from afar, standing on firm ground.

  A few droplets fall from the trees above as humidity rises. I gasp for air as the heat becomes unbearable, swimming as my nose burns from the stench.

  Something cold hits me again.

  And as the mist increases, I barely manage to see it.

  Something floating on the surface, drifting towards me. Squinting my eyes, I spot it unmoving.

  Something to get a hold of.

  Swinging my arms under the water, I reach out my hand to grab it.

  It comes apart, tearing slowly under the weight of my arm.

  Hairs.

  Tooth.

  Flesh.

  A corpse.

  Not human.

  My vision shakes, panic rising inside. I kick it away, swimming desperately.

  The shore.

  It's filled.

  With them. Drifting.

  How long?

  [Don't mind these! They're just to scare unexpected visitors!]

  She shouts. With my jaw clenched tightly, I reach the shore.

  [What... Why the fuck are there corpses?]

  I pace around, trying to calm down despite my spiraling thoughts.

  [Where are we going, even?]

  [Base...]

  [I don't think any base has dead monkeys floating around!]

  I reason, gripping her shoulder. She sighs, walking ahead.

  [Look, it's got nothing to do with us what they do. Sure, the base is inside. Kinda. But that doesn't mean we can tell them what to do.]

  [Tell who?]

  I say, following behind.

  [The people who live here. You know, tribes and stuff.]

  [Right. And can't they fend off the Isothe? Can't be harder than that massacre over there.]

  [That's the issue. For all of us, they're demons, right. Evil and shit. But these people don't seem to make active decisions like that.]

  [What do you mean?]

  She steps on a snake, crushing its skull. I divert my gaze, waiting for an answer.

  [They just let life be, as long as they don't die.]

  [Could have some of that mental peace.]

  [For sure.]

  Just ahead, wooden logs are placed to act like walls. Flowers hang around them, as well as two torches at the entrance.

  [We're here. Finally.]

  [Finally, indeed.]

  I stand just in front of the entrance, waiting for Aya to enter. She turns around, parting her lips.

  Aya: [Alright, couple of things before we enter.]

  [No magic. Don't even mention it.]

  [Don't try to speak with them. Well, you can, but we don't speak their language.]

  [And... just try to be calm. If they see you're... shaken up, they might distance themselves.]

  I sigh, rubbing my arm.

  [Alright. Understood.]

  I feel the wet soil sinking under my steps. I find myself in a large enclosure filled with huts made from wood and clay.

  No one seems to be around.

  [Where's the base? And the—]

  Something whacks my head.

  Stripping my conscience away.

  ——

  I flutter my eyes open, a painful headache already setting in. Feeling dizzy, I roll on the ground before sitting up.

  It's pitch black.

  Fear claws inside me as I crawl around, only to be met with cold, rough walls, probably made out of stone.

  Backing into a corner, I wait.

  Shivering.

  Listening to the constant dripping of water.

  The cooing of birds far away.

  My own breaths.

  A feeling of itchiness spreads through my body.

  No magic.

  But...

  Footsteps approach, snapping me back to reality.

  A flickering light glows ahead.

  A figure approaches, calmly, with the torch in its hand.

  It speaks in an unintelligible language before stretching its hand out.

  I raise my hand.

  Hesitantly.

  And take it.