Chapter 11

The crackling fire in the cave cast a cozy warmth, enveloping Ryan and Sherry in its comforting embrace. Despite its flickering light, an unsettling chill began seeping into their bones as if trapped in a frozen cavern. Were they resigned to their fate, awaiting death in that desolate place? As he warmed his hands by the crackling fire, he suddenly noticed her presence beside him. Though, he couldn't quite recall when she had joined him. Sherry hugged herself tightly, her expression downcast as she spoke, "I can't believe Yasmine turned out like this. I defended her earlier, but now I see how naive I was. "It's clear now why you were so angry that time. I never imagined she could be so cruel. She's so despicable." "Hey, remember the other day when you and the others were preaching about how wrong it was for me to kill her just because she found love? Where's that tune now, huh?" Ryan taunted. Her face turned red with embarrassment. "I never knew she had this side to her. She's not who I thought she was." "Sadly, I realized the truth too late. We're stuck here, facing our doom. By the way, can I ask you something?" The flickering flames cast a gentle glow upon her beautiful face. She seemed lost in thought. Her mouth was slightly ajar as if she wanted to say something but held back. Though she tried to speak, she ultimately fell into silence. "Go ahead and say what's on your mind," Ryan said casually. Sherry's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red before she uttered a word. Then, she looked at him timidly. "So, what's on your mind?" he repeated. "Ugh, you're so clueless sometimes!" she exclaimed, her frustration evident. "Forget it, it's not important." It was as if she was shrugging off the awkwardness of defending Yasmine. She then winced and rubbed her belly uncomfortably. "It's like fate brought us here since we both fell into the crevice. There's no point in turning against each other. Our best shot at survival is sticking together," she reasoned. Ryan glanced at Sherry and remarked, "It seems you've finally come to your senses." She chuckled awkwardly with her hand over her hungry belly. She slowly approached and nudged his arm. "Now that I've come to my senses, could you help me find something to eat? I haven't eaten since last night, and I only drank water. I'm starving right now." As soon as she mentioned it, Ryan's stomach began to rumble. It had been a while since he'd eaten, and his stomach was cramping from hunger. He instructed Sherry to maintain the fire by breaking down branches and adding them to the flames. At the same time, he set off to explore the cave for anything edible. His first instinct led him to the water's edge, where he hoped to find some fish or snails. As he took a sip, a sense of relief washed over him. The water tasted familiar, reminiscent of the plain mineral water he once drank, with a faint sweetness. After quenching his thirst, he began hunting for food. Sadly, the pond was clear but devoid of fish, with only a scattering of snails clinging to its edges. He gathered them up and tossed them by the fire to roast. After all, they offered a decent source of protein. Still, he knew a few snails wouldn't be enough to stave off their hunger. As he continued searching for food, his hopes dwindled as there seemed to be nothing edible around. Then, in a moment of sudden insight, he flipped over a large rock near the pond and discovered it was covered in moss. He recalled some survival advice he'd stumbled upon online. Ryan learned that any moss typically found in clean areas was edible and unlikely to upset the stomach. Given their dire circumstances, anything safe to eat was a blessing. So, he diligently scraped off every patch of moss he could spot. Then, he washed it thoroughly in the nearby water before returning to the crackling fire. He also gathered a handful of leaves, scrubbing them clean before spreading moss on top. Then, he stuffed it into his mouth. Taste was momentarily ignored as his priority was to ease his hunger. With every hearty mouthful, he felt his hunger fading and his strength replenishing. Surprisingly, the flavor wasn't as unpleasant as he had anticipated. As Ryan munched on the moss, Sherry's mouth hung open in shock. After a moment, she snapped out of it and asked, "What are you eating?" Once he finished the last bite, a sense of fullness finally settled in his stomach. He replied, "Moss. I found a bunch of these. If you're hungry, help yourself." She was once a travel blogger. Although she was not famous, her charm, pleasant nature, and knack for flirtation had earned her a significant male fanbase and a fair income. She had never eaten anything so simple in her life. When she heard the word "moss", a look of disgust crossed her face. "Is this edible? It looks so unhygienic." Ryan gave her a sidelong glance. "I've looked around. Apart from moss, there's nothing edible here. If you're fine with starving, suit yourself. I won't stop you." With that, he grabbed the roasted snails and swiftly devoured three. After enduring hunger for quite some time, even snails seemed remarkably appetizing. Sherry hesitated briefly, then yielded to her hunger. She scooped up two fistfuls of moss and devoured them without chewing. Then, she ran toward the nearby pond and swallowed the moss along with water as if she were taking medicine. Despite her initial reluctance, she eventually finished all the moss. With their hunger and thirst appeased and the comforting warmth of the fire embracing them, they found a momentary reprieve from the looming threat of death. Ryan wasted no time to continue his quest to find an escape route from the cave. It was clear to him that lingering indefinitely wasn't an option. The crackling fire, fueled by the tree branch he'd pulled down during his fall, would only last until tomorrow morning. Hence, they needed to find a way out before then, or their fate would be sealed. Ryan gestured for Sherry to accompany him as they embarked on their quest for an exit. Inside the cave, their voices bounced off the walls, filling the space with echoes. They combed through every nook and cranny, but each pathway they explored ended in a dead end. As the realization sank in, a heavy silence enveloped them. Ryan knew that their fate was sealed if there was no way out or rescue mission for them. Sherry, too, understood the gravity of their situation. Though no words were exchanged, she leaned closer to him for solace with a pallid face. After exploring the cave, they found themselves again by the fire, right where they began. There was a silence between them this time, neither exchanging words. He lay on the ground with his head resting on his hands. Just as he began to doze off, he was stirred by the sound of gentle sobbing. His eyes fluttered open to see Sherry crying. "Why are you crying?" Ryan frowned and asked impatiently, "We're not doomed yet. We can search for an exit tomorrow morning."