“Ohhh, fuck no!”
Panic flared within me as I felt the vine begin to tear. The plant snapped from the weight of me and the alligator pulling on it. It was too much, and a second later, my body fell flat. I tried to grip another vine, but it slipped through my fingers, scratching my hand again. All three gators had their mouths open as the swampy ground rushed up to greet me.
“Maamaaaaa!”
Suddenly, a sting shot up my back, breaking my fall. My feet were dangling, and my shirt was gathered underneath my armpits. My clothing had been caught on a thorn, and the break in my fall allowed me to find a vine that I could grasp. I wrapped my leg around a trim limb to steady my body. When I stopped hollering, I tugged the vine, making sure it wouldn’t tear. Since it seemed steady enough, I pushed my body forward, and I could feel and hear the rip of my shirt from the big-ass thorn. Warm air stung whatever scars I’d accumulated on my hands, arms, and legs, but I’d rather be scratched up than gator food.
“About three more swings, Tunan, and you’ll reach the end.”
“Scarlett?” I heaved as my eyes searched for another vine. I wasn’t trusting one vine to get me through this jungle anymore. I’d been hoping I wouldn’t have to switch before the fall because my arms were beginning to burn. But that shit was dead.
Scarlett cleared her throat. “Yes, cousin?”
“Mane, where da fuck you been? I was almost gator food.”
“Sorry, I took a quick break to return my husband’s call.”
“Aaaagh!” I grabbed another vine, flying through the trees. When I felt stable, I huffed. “A break? When my life hangin’ in da balance?”
“You’re doing amazing, sweetie.”
I kissed my teeth but didn’t lose focus as another thicker vine came into view. I prepared myself as best I could to leap onto it. An alligator thrashed upward, growing impatient that I hadn’t fallen into the dark water yet. Latching onto my vine, it pulled violently, and the vine broke away quickly. It was perfect timing because I’d already jumped and landed on the next vine. I slid onto it lower than I wanted to be but not close enough that any of the alligators could pull me off. Using my legs to lift me higher onto the vine because my arms were done for, I was able to see over the lush.
Sunlight was beaming through from the other side, and I sighed in relief when I saw flat grass with a brown truck stationed on it. I scrambled to regain my grip, muscles screaming in protest. I was going to try to make it without changing vines again. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins as the alligators huddled together near the end of the water. The largest one used its powerful jaws to break through the many vine strands around me, but luckily, it continued to miss mine. Deciding I should leap once more since these motherfuckers were determined to knock me down, I used all my might to grab one last vine. There were a few more trees cascading over me, but I could see the roof of the truck clearly now. We were at the edge of the swamp now, but alligators had legs, and I didn’t want them bitches to get out and chase me to the truck. I needed to land close enough or swing my ass onto the top of it.
“Shiiiit!”
I launched forward when the vine snapped without warning. My arms windmilled as I sailed through the air. I tried grabbing onto the last few vines around me, but nothing was long enoughor close enough. God was the only answer at this point because I could hear the rustling of the alligators and other animals surrounding the open area where the truck sat.
Oomph!
The wind was knocked out of me as I hit the back of the Jeep. I could hear the sloshing of the muddy water as the alligators fully emerged. Seeing the size of their legs and feet would’ve caused my ass to faint, but my blood was pumping so fast that all I could do was holler as my back burned from falling on it for the second time today. Snapping was inches away from my feet, so I climbed up the back of the truck. I didn’t think the truck bed was low enough for the alligators to jump on, but then again, I didn’t know if alligators could jump. The motherfuckers could easily shock my ass since that’s all that had happened today. Balancing myself while trying to steady my breath, I stood on top of the roof, looking at the ground. The alligators stopped at the opening, circling each other, not making an attempt to enter the open area where I was.
A win was a win, but I couldn’t help but wonder why the bitches weren’t trying to come eat my ass as they had been when I was acting like Tarzan.
“Fuck you talmbout! Ahhhhh!”
Tilting my head, I beat on my now bare chest since my ripped shirt had fallen somewhere in the swamp, and I yelled into the air. I’d made it again.
“A fuckin’ hard body, baby! Y’all can’t get rid of me!” I slapped my chest again, the ache not overriding the victory I felt.
“Oh shit!” The truck ascended, pushing me backward as it began moving through the grassy plain. I was able to find my footing before I fell.
“Great job, cousin. Please get inside the truck.”
“Aite.”
The driver’s side window was open, so I slid in, damn near breaking my fucking back in the process. I was going to need two massages a day for a month once I finished playing Don’s games. I couldn’t wait to smack the fuck out of my brother for not warning me about this shit.
“Welcome to the savannah!” Scarlett’s voice broke through my thoughts, blaring from the speakers of the truck.
The savannah stretched out before me, an endless area of golden grasslands dotted with acacia trees. The air, thick with the scent of dry mud and wild herbs, rushed in through the open window. It was a welcomed change from the swamps’ suffocating humidity and vile smells of decay. The truck bumped over a rocky, uneven ground. Since the car was driving itself, I slid over into the passenger seat, with my arm folded out of the window. The sun setting in the distance painted the sky in fiery hues of orange and purple. A sense of peace settled over me as I cruised along in the self-driving safari truck, silence only being broken by the chirping of crickets and the distant call of a bird.
“There are a few things that you must know about the savannah.”
My gaze shifted to the display of the truck, which was only a black screen with the temperature shown. It was ninety-nine degrees, but with all the windows down and my damp pants and shoes, it felt as if it was cooler.
“What I need to know, Scarlett?”
