Priceless

“What a blistering afternoon!” Kilo exclaimed as he sat down in the shed, wiping a fine sheen of sweat that had pooled on his brow. “One would think we weren’t in the middle of winter,” he mumbled to himself as he observed the slabs of fish roasting on the open fire.

He would have to turn them to the other side soon enough, he mused.

Swatting a mosquito that had been heartily enjoying its meal on his skin, he cursed. “You would think the damned things would pick somewhere great to nibble on. My feet for Pete’s sake! How’s one going to scratch that now?”

Hating how surly he was becoming, he took deep breaths and looked around him. His mind flew to his best friend that was probably right now checking the landmarks from his map and digging frantically into the earth. It was time he told him that there were probably on a wise goose chase. There was no treasure anywhere.

Or maybe there was and there were just going about it the wrong way.

“Life,” Kilo muttered, chuckling mirthlessly. If anyone had told him a few years ago that he wouldn’t be in a well paying 9-5 data analytics job but rather in the middle of nowhere on a so-called treasure hunt based on the mere hunch of his best friend, he’d never have believed it.

But Cyril had never been wrong. His friend was many things, but he was no flibbertigibbet. If he said there was a treasure somewhere in this forest that could change their lives forever, then he was going to believe him.

His reverie was interrupted as he spotted Cyril. He was going to call out to him when he noticed something. Cyril was hastily packing things and kept looking around frantically like he was on the lookout for something. Or someone. He came out from the shed.

“Where are you going to in such a rush, C?” Cyril jumped, dropping some of the items he held.

Kilo frowned. Why was he startled?

“Don’t sneak up on me like that, man,” Cyril grumbled, a hand to his chest.

“Sneak up on you? I live here.”

Cyril stared at him blankly like he was just realizing that. “Why are you home so early then? I didn’t expect you.” Cyril asked.

“I got a nice catch of fish as soon as I got to the river. It’s already roasting on the fire.”

“Oh,” he responded solemnly.

“Oh?” Kilo asked, eyeing him dubiously. “Why were you in a rush, Cy?”

Cyril took a deep breath. Fixing his eyes on Kilo, he began what seemed to have been a very practiced speech. “You know how things have been. I’ve come to accept that this whole thing may have been a wild good chase after all. I’m sorry for bringing you onto something I wasn’t even sure of, but I guess it’s time for me to find my own way.”

Kilo didn’t expect the burst of laughter that came out of his lips. “Find my own way,” he muttered, wiping a stray tear from his eye. Getting serious, he turned to his best friend. “How long?”

"How long?"

“How long had you found out where the treasure was?”

Cyril blanched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No,” Kilo sniggered darkly. “You do know what I’m talking about, Cyril. I’ll ask you again. How long?”

“And I said I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“You don’t? So why were you packing your stuff?”

Cyril sighed. “I told you. I need to find my own way.”

“Your own way?!!!” Kilo erupted. “I left everything for you, Cy. These people promised me a job and I left it all for you. Now you’re asking me to find my own way?”

“I’m sorry, Kilo. I really am.”

Kilo laughed again. Long and hard. But this time there was a sinister quality to it. When he stopped, he began a menacing walk towards Cyril. “Tell me where the treasure is.”

“I’ve told you, there is no treasure,” Cyril said, taking a few steps back.

“I’ll ask you one last time-”

“And I said, there isn’t –” The words were barely out of his lips when Kilo jumped at him. The two men fell to the ground, throwing punches and kicks.

“Get off me, you swine!” Cyril screamed in his face. Just as he tangled free, he caught one single glimpse of his friend lifting something. “Kilo, wait!” The words ended as the boulder came crashing down on his head.

Kilo kept breathing hard, surprised to see how quickly the dark thick blood was spreading on the hard earth. He stared into the unblinking, barely recognizable face of his friend and spat. “That’ll teach you to double-cross me.”

He began a frantic search of his friend’s pockets and retrieved a map and a little rock that he suspected to be a gemstone. “This should start me off nicely,” he thought, a sick smile painting his face. He mopped the sweat on his brow and cursed when he saw the blood on his fingers.

A strong smell wafted to his nostrils. Sniffing around, he swore. “Damn, I forgot the fish.”

Jhymi🖤

---

_{Thumbnail created with Meta AI.}

Posted Using InLeo Alpha