Chapter 52: Las Grutas Cave
(Scarlet's POV)
The bus was a rattling coffin of rust and peeling paint. The air inside was thick, a suffocating stew of stale sweat, diesel fumes, and cheap cologne. The driver greeted Paca and Mateo with a familiar nod, pointing us toward a block of four seats. Paca shoved us into the row ahead of them, she and Mateo taking the seats directly behind us, right next to the exit door.
The bus didn't stop for anyone else. It was packed to the brim, hurtling down the highway. To fight off the fatigue of the long drive, the driver cranked the volume on the stereo. A heavy, repetitive Spanish beat slammed against my temples, vibrating through the thin metal of the bus walls.
My head throbbed with every bass note. I pulled a tissue from my pocket, tearing it i
