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,

pick mushrooms, not to steal from

If they somehow found out that we stole from

Karl,” I say, struggling with the conflicting

need, they could easily chalk

exploiting nature

reassurance, perhaps questioning the fine

“Okay. Let’s do it. But

you

beside the truffle patch. My satchel lies open between

the

the first truffle from the ground

own movements hesitant but growing

satchel is sufficiently filled, a lump of dark truffles gathered at its bottom like some sort

over and fasten it, looking

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

we’re caught.”

in silence back the way we came, finally stopping a

the sunlight through the

which will make camouflaging ourselves a fair

We gather ourselves, I sling my satchel over

through the cascade of water that covers the

the ground running, boots slipping on the wet rocks as we aim for the path leading back to

we see them: guards, three of them, standing in a

They’re just as shocked to see us, but that doesn’t stop them from raising

guns.

his eyes

fingers.

hands, glancing at each other as one of the guards slowly

making his way closer. The moment stretches thin, and I feel like

moment snaps as Karl

almost practiced movement, he shoves the guard

on their faces a split second before they react, guns

sprint away.