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

“I mean, what

question. We came here to pick mushrooms, not to steal from illegal

we stole from their stash,

so many, Karl,” I say, struggling with the conflicting emotions that

could easily chalk it up to animals or something. And besides,

exploiting

eyes search mine, perhaps seeking reassurance, perhaps questioning the fine

Finally, he nods. “Okay. Let’s do it. But like you said, we’ll just

you can

back down beside the truffle patch. My satchel lies open between us, ready

precious fungi that could potentially change the tide

slightly as I pluck the first truffle from the ground and place it

but

is sufficiently filled, a lump of dark

fasten it, looking up to meet Karl’s

sticking in my throat. “Let’s get

we’re caught.”

silence back the way we came, finally stopping a little while

the sunlight through

than it was earlier this morning, which will make camouflaging ourselves a fair

there’s no turning back now. We gather ourselves, I sling

hidden mouth, leaping through the cascade

rocks

them, standing in a line like

shocked to see us, but that doesn’t stop them from

guns.

barks, his eyes

fingers.

our hands, glancing at each other as one

making his way closer. The moment stretches thin, and

snaps as

he shoves the guard on

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

sprint away.