Jungle Peril

Chapter one

KEVIN and AVIANCE's marriage was technically over. Thanks to the death of their son LUCAS, the duos conversations around the home have been reduced to monosyllables.

Whats available to eat? Kevin would ask Aviance via text

Its in the kitchen, she would reply also with text message.

And this is one of their most important discussions during the day except if Kevin wants to ask about the recovery group meeting they attend for grieving people where they will hear other parents who had lost their son or daughter share their own stories. Typically, this has been what made their marriage still interesting (if anyone can call that interesting).

However, today they werent going to the group meeting instead they had an appointment with the therapist. Kevin buttoned his collar while looking himself over in the mirror. He was losing weight and he knew it. The weight loss wasnt a positive development; it was due to the emotional stress he had subjected himself to in the past few months. He couldnt help it. He looked at the time; it was 9:00am sharp. Damn! This woman is not through yet! He fussed and walked angrily into the bedroom where his wife was seated over by another mirror obviously applying her makeup.

“Cmon Avy, we are late already”, he shouted. It wasnt the first time he would be this vehement. This was typically the gentlest things he had ever said since the death of Lucas.

I need to look my best K, she replied and seemed to be unrepentant as she lingered longer drawing her eyelashes.

I cant believe you are doing this, for Gods sake the therapist asked us to meet him by 9 and its nine already. We might not be able to make up at all, he shouted again and this time his blood was boiling. He couldnt understand how everything she does repulse him so much. He couldnt believe this was once the love of his life whom he knelt down to propose to in the full view of the spectators and Malibu beach when they even took photos of the proposal. How fast things can change. Somewhere within him he knew he still loved her but he couldnt seem to be able to dig into that part to love her.

Aviance seemed adamant, she looked like she was supposed to have finished with the makeup but had lingered just to make Kevin feel bad.

She couldnt seem to fathom why she feels like she needed to look extra good this morning to the therapist. She admitted to herself however that she lingered at the makeup stand to get back at Kevin for his harsh way of hurrying her up. She clutched her handbag and dashed to the living room where the formerly impatient Kevin is now asleep. He seemed to have given up and oddly this gave her joy of victory.

She ruffled his shoulder in a non-loving manner and walked straight out the door to the Sedan.

Kevin shook his head to stay awake; he saw Aviance walked out the door. I cant believe she just did that. He fussed again and cursed.

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The therapist kept a cool countenance throughout the session as he watched the couple display childish tantrums at each other. He carefully asked questions and requested them to do tasks that will unburden their minds.

She literally left Lucas to be on his own while she went to the boutique. How can a mother do that? Kevin complained to the therapist. They were discussing the event that led to the death of their son and the therapist could feel their pains. He looked over to Aviance to ask for her side of the story.

What more can I say? I have told him countless times that he was the one who neglected us. He hardly stays home, I had told him about my visit to the boutique that day and even suggested to him to take the boy but he didnt listen. He never listens. She shouted. That was a bullet and it had hit the right target. Kevin turned violently over his chair to give her a reply shout but was quickly curtailed by the therapist.

Thats enough you two! he was the responsible adult among two fighting children even though he was about the same age as them. He waited for the two to calm down before he shared his mind. He had exhausted all the methods of bringing couples back together available in the books and there was just one left he could think of

You guys need to take some time together to engage in a common task

But doctor, we had already done that by going for that stupid grieve meetings, Aviance grinned

Not that. I am talking about an adventure, something to bring you two on the same page. To discover what it was that made you loved each other in the first place,

There was an awkward silence in the room as both parties listened attentively to the therapists words. He actually had a point; an adventure seems like a good idea. They both soliloquized in agreement.

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ALDRIN hung up the phone in childish excitement, but he had to make sure the other person on the phone does not know about it. It was his secret crush. NICOLE! The name itself brought sunshine and rain to his heart and calmness to his soul. I am not in love in with her; this is just another one of our many trips. He mused to himself in reassurance. Even if I am, she does not feel the same way. He convinced himself again. The long smile that lingered on his face told otherwise.

Nicole had just called to inform him of her desire to go on another adventure into the forest like they had gone several times before. Aldrin, an early retired middle-aged soldier who still loved the adventure of the wilderness was a world record holder for the most forests visited. Although, he loved the forest, he loved going with his female partner Nicole even more. Nicole is a photographer. Thanks to the numerous adventures she had undertaken with Aldrin in the past few years is rapidly becoming the most patronized photographer. She seemed to be going for the pictures but a third party would have sworn she enjoyed Aldrins company more. No need talking about the secret s****l tension between the two unmarried individuals as long as the trips keep favouring the duo.

Aldrin walked towards the place where his medals and special pictures were hung on the wall. He smiled as he looked at the picture he snapped with the president of the United States of America and the senate president. The one he snapped with the Army General (he was giving a salute to the smiling General). He took this picture with the one he was with the president after his special mission where he took out a notorious terrorist deep in the desert of Iraq.

Two years ago, Aldrin and his seven men team of navy seals had spent a total of 6 months in the desert living off the wild animals and the food the wilderness provides. The s*x months was spent in tracking the operations of the terrorist (ABUQAQA); it wasnt a beautiful experience as they often lived an entire day without food or water lying in the dust to stay undetected. Aldrin led the team and with his special manoeuvres, they were able to find and kill Abuqaqa thereby destroying his entire operations. The escapade was got them the recognition of the president and the Army General of the country.

Aldrin had cherished the experience so much he found it hard to stay off forests and deserts. He had gotten accustomed to the lifestyle so much that he relived it twice every year in forests and deserts around the world. He had been to the Sahara where he spent a month just camping. He had been to the Congo, Greenland, Mount Everest, and even Antarctica, surprisingly, where he was left to tour the sss (a forest renowned for its floral and fauna diversity).

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AZURA was feeling like the odd one out in the party. So far the festival had been wild and the music made her ache with pain. She wasnt the party type and she feels bored despite the excitement that filled the music festivals atmosphere.

DANCE NOW music festival is a renowned worldwide festival held once every year in the entire world. It was a party every wild youth looked forward to and the tickets sell out in minutes. The festival features music, intense decorations, drinking binges, and side attractions. Of course it also featured hard drugs of various kinds, and s*x (homosexual and heterosexual alike). Surprisingly, the organizers of the show had managed to keep guns out of the camp. People from all around the world troop in thousands to DANCE NOW to wherever the new location of the festival would be (it was always held in different locations) of which no one had any idea about until a day to the festival. Any youth lucky enough to be selected would be given a location and a strange number to which he/she must report at a specified time. A helicopter would be waiting for each applicant to take them to the venue.

So far it had been a wonderful experience for Azura who had decided to utilize the opportunity to take pictures and since the decorations at DANCE NOW festival were mesmerizing, the photos she had taken so far had been nice. She was beginning to love the journey until the actual festival itself. The music had been too loud, the people too obnoxious, and the atmosphere so boisterous that Azura found it hard to keep up. She had been dragged here by her wild friend LISA (22-years old female who for some strange reasons love the company of her introvert friend Azura). Lisa had pestered Azura continuously about the DANCE NOW festival that Azura felt she at least owed her. The tickets were very expensive and the network was very slow but finally, they had succeeded in booking their place at the DANCE NOW festival.

Now they had been given their tent in the camp deep into the forest. They had been taken somewhere deep into the sss or perhaps somewhere close to it or so they were told on their first day. They would never know for sure.

The four were assigned to two tents, one for the males and one for the females (Lisa had brought her boyfriend and his friend). The tents were not the boring kind of tents like other festivals. Theres something for everyone. If you want to rough it in shanty town, go to regular NATUREWAY (This is the name of camping in general at DANCE NOW festival). There are tents for people who wish to live like kings while camping called the 12-person Mansion. As the name implies, it is designed to accommodate 12 persons. Then, for people who want tent in between, there are plenty of options to choose from. Each camping section is different, usually within a different fenced area/field. But the NATUREWAY band gives everyone access everywhere. The four friends had gotten the 2-person easy tent set up before their arrival. This camping area comes with rows and room for each person to have his own space. Each one comes with a DANCENOW branded air mattresses, sleeping bags, lanterns, and mirrors for the amount of people in each tent. A lock for each tent is also included in the package and sometimes some gifts. The easy tent also had an upgrade option that came with power, nicer air mattresses, and a wooded ground to walk on rather than muddy grass.

KYLE Lisas boyfriend, s*x partner, or friends with benefit they would never know for sure. So far the relationship between the two had been complicated. Sometimes Lisa would tell of how she hates Kyle so much for his promiscuity but she never succeeded in getting rid of him in her mind. Azura could have sworn Lisa was in love with Kyle but Lisa would never admit. Anyone who suggests such would be treated with absolute scorn. She was the heartbreaker not the lover type she would insist. Yes she had been wild herself and sometimes Azura find it hard to tell which of the two was more promiscuous Kyle or Lisa. There was a time Lisa allowed a guy to fondle her breast in the middle of a party and even though the news went viral, Kyle still preferred to be seen with Lisa. Perhaps, he loved her too, he himself is no saint. He had dated a total of 10 girls (if anyone can call those dates) during the past 6 months. To put simply, the duo had succeeded in tormenting each other emotionally with their promiscuity. Most of their relationships with other partners had not lasted, thanks to the other. Kyle would always find a way to destroy every relationship that Lisa had managed to be in during those times, and Lisa had done the same.

This is Donald, Lisa awoke Azura from her daydream. Azura was puzzled until she looked into Lisas eyes. She understood clearly what was expected of her.

Oh nice, she smiled. Lisa turned to Donald and introduced him to Azura

This is my friend Azura. She loves taking pictures, Lisa commented

Azura found it hard to tell if the she loves taking pictures was a compliment or a berating.

Its nice meeting you, Donald extended his hands with an attractive smile on his face. He is not too bad. Azura thought to herself.

Nice meeting you too, she replied with a shy smile. Maybe his charm is working a little.

Donald here is going to show you around the venue, Lisa smirked.

It came unexpectedly. I think she is setting me up.

Donald pulled her hands and led her away from the tents towards the centre stage where the music was coming from. She could hear Lisa and Kyle laughing behind her. They are definitely laughing at me. She mussed as she let herself be taken away by this charming guy.

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Kevin and Aviance had spent the rest of the week researching the tour they could take. Many options were available. There was the beach; that sounds too conventional and they had gone on numerous beach summers. It wasnt worth it in the end. Yes there was the going for summer jam. As lovely as that idea was, they knew it wasnt going to work for them. One of them will have a large pool of strangers to talk to and away from each other. Kevin squeezed the sheet of papers containing the ideas that had flowed through his mind for the past one hour. Nothing seemed to make sense. He hit the table in anger. Is she even worth it at all? He asked out loud and went to the kitchen to get himself a cup of coffee. He decided to take a break from the brainstorming and relax with the television. He switched it on and BBC news was on; he wasnt ready to stress himself mentally by watching some boring news. He changed the channel to an entertainment station. It was a music channel. An advertisement was on;

The once in a lifetime Summer Jam is on again. The DANCE NOW MUSIC FESTIVAL! You dont have to feel left out. Join the fun at the sss by tuning in to this channel at 12am till dawn.

It was a titillating visual imagery that left an impression on his mind. The sss! He had heard about the place before when his parents couldnt stop talking about it endlessly spouting about its abundance in different faunal and flora. Aviance is a lover of nature, she would love it there. He said to himself and smiled, he couldnt believe he just said considered what Aviance would find exciting. Maybe the sss will bring us back to what we were before it all; I bet it is already working. He took another sip of coffee in his hands. It was morning time and Aviance was still asleep. He had woken up earlier to think about it all.

Suddenly, the TV got less interesting, he needed to find out as much as he can about the sss before she wakes up to start buggering him about the away time they were told to take. He took out his iPhone 8 phone and did extensive research on the sss and how to take some time out there.

Camping! The internet was filled with information about them. Kevin couldnt have escaped without seeing them. How to camp out in the sss? Things you need to know about camping were examples of what the blogs contained about sss. He read it all enjoying every moment of it. It has dawned on him finally; it wouldnt hurt to take our time out in the sss. The pictures of the sss were beautiful and got him interested. He had already decided where they will be going, it was left to Aviance to love it or not. He hoped she really does because it was the best he could come up with. He loves the place already.