Chasing His Kickass Luna Back by Jane Above Story

Abby

“Oh my go d, Abby… could it be?”

Karl’s eyes widen next to me. I crouch down to get a closer look at the dark mushrooms nestled in the dirt

at our feet.

“Yes,” I breathe, reaching out to run my finger along their tops. “This is it. Black truffles.”

This is exactly what we’ve been searching for, but something feels off, discordant in a way that pri cks at

my senses.

Karl crouches down beside me, his fingers gently touching the truffles. “They look genuine. But how is this

even possible? All these truffles growing this far from sunlight? I knew they needed low light, but this…”

Enter title…

His words are mirroring my thoughts exactly. “I don’t think they’re growing naturally,” I murmur, my eyes

scanning the cave, landing on something that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I point

upwards, my finger shaking slightly. “Look.”

Karl’s eyes follow my finger to the ceiling of the cave. Artificial lights hang overhead. They’re turned off

right now, likely to simulate a day/night cycle for the mushrooms that are growing here. That’s why there

are so many mushrooms in this cave; they’re being cultivated.

“Oh, s hit,” Karl whispers, his voice tinged with disbelief and a hint of dread. “You don’t think—”

“That these truffles are being cultivated? By the poachers?” My heart sinks as I complete his thought. I

should have known sooner, but I guess it never occurred to me until just now. “Yeah. I do.”

Karl rises to his feet, his face flushed, his eyes widening. “So should we take any?” he asks, glancing

mean, what if

a fair question. We came here to pick mushrooms, not to steal from illegal poachers. Not

found out that we stole from their stash, what would be the

struggling with the

take just what we need, they could easily chalk it up to

exploiting

seeking reassurance,

Finally, he nods. “Okay. Let’s do

so you

work, we kneel back down beside the truffle patch. My

change the tide in

I pluck the first truffle from

but growing steadier

a lump of dark

flap over and fasten it,

say, the words sticking in my throat. “Let’s get back to the car, and

we’re caught.”

came, finally stopping a little while later at the mouth of the

I can see the sunlight through the loud, rushing water now; it’s much

this morning, which will make camouflaging ourselves a

gather ourselves, I sling my

through the cascade of water

slipping on the wet rocks

guards, three of them, standing in a

to see us, but

guns.

in the air!” one of them barks, his eyes locking onto

fingers.

at each other as one

The moment stretches thin, and I feel like I care barely

snaps

a swift, almost practiced movement, he shoves the guard on the far right, throwing him

registers on their faces a split second before they react, guns firing into the air

sprint away.