Abby

Karl and I burst into the restaurant, a gust of fresh air sweeping in with us as the door swings shut behind.

Our clothes are still wet, covered in mud, and clinging uncomfortably to our skin, but the euphoria coursing

through my veins easily overcomes any discomfort that I might be feeling. The kitchen, already in full

swing for the day, is a cacophony of noise.

John looks up from behind the line, his knife poised mid-air over a bunch of fresh herbs. His brows knit

together as he takes in our disheveled state.

“Where the hell have you both been?”

Without uttering a word, I slide my satchel off my shoulder and set it onto the counter with a triumphant

grin. My heart pounds in my chest as I untie the flap, feeling a surge of triumph course through my veins.

Enter title…

upside-down, I silently let the truffles

go wide, giving him a comical look. I don’t think I’ve ever

one of the waitresses dropped his prized braised

out of

slightly as he picks

to inspect it carefully. “Is

spring into my eyes as I

truffle, but now he’s also holding his breath and

explanation.

the beaten path,” Karl starts, a tremor in his voice from

escape. I can tell he’s reliving it all, just like me. “Through

and behind it… a cave,” I continue, feeling a chill run up

time to come. “A cave full of these bad boys.

lights, the whole setup.”

wider with each passing second that I

stole from poachers?” he

a little more excitedly than I mean to. “Look, I know it’s bad,”

his voice incredulous. “You guys could’ve been

nods with a grave expression on his face. “And we almost were. They had

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