Chapter 25: Yoa’s Hideout (1)
Yoa snuck Nova around the Sacred Lands, and unlike the few times Nova had been there, the giant of a man took them through a hidden, secret passage that was past the giant jaguar statue. It looked like any ordinary rock to Nova until Yoa put the palm of his hand on it, applying little pressure, and it slid inwards with a soft, grinding scrape, the ground rumbling slightly from the action. Nova’s frazzled state paused for a moment to stare wide-eyed at what could only be described as some sort of Indiana Jones booby trap door.
It was a nice distraction to stare into the cavernous structure, flames igniting in the torches hanging from the walls as they were two steps away from them, lighting up the path. Unlike the rest of the forest, it was a little cooler, a nice respite from the humidity.
The pathway opened up further, and darkness followed them, the torches flickering out like magic. Gradually, as Yoa continued to walk down what seemed like a slope, the ceiling began to glow a soft blue, revealing a large cave. Nova leaned into Yoa a little more, expecting to see some more of those vampire bats. Instead, she gazed in wonder at the high ceiling of the cave as they ventured further underground.
"Glow worms," Yoa explained quietly.
"They don’t... transform into people, too, right?" Nova asked meekly, not wanting to see what they might look like or if they too would attack her.
Yoa chuckled. "No, little mouse. They are just worms."
"So, the insects here don’t transform?" Nova questioned, distracting herself. She might sound foolish, but it was plausible. She had no idea how this island worked and how the resort didn’t even seem to exist... Nope, not going down that route, Nova thought. She would just spiral again, and right now, like the few days before seeing the beach, she needed to keep it together. At least a while longer anyway.
"No," Yoa chuckled, finding her questioning amusing, but there was no mockery in his tone of voice as he answered her. "The island would be far too populated if that were the case."
Nova nodded, feeling a little numb as her mind returned to the beach. Once again, she forced her mind to shut down her spiralling and stare at the cave. "Is this your home?" She peeked up at him.
Yoa glanced down at her and smirked. "No, little mouse." He made it to the other side of the expansive cave and pressed on the wall again. It slid open with a low rumbling, grinding sound. A few loose stones and dust trickled off the entrance.
Nova gaped as he stepped through, revealing a mini oasis behind a giant bed made from a tree trunk, the roots loosely spreading along the smooth floor and sinking into the rock. The inside of the trunk had been carved to fit a comfortable-looking bed, woven from thick grasses and soft animal hides, with the frame, the trunk growing outwards through a large hole, letting in light from the outside world, casting the interior in a golden hue.