Read The Ruins (An Avernus Island Tale) for Free Online Page B

barely discernible break in the trees. “Once you reach the beach, head north–you can’t miss the ruins.”
    “You’re not coming with me?” Julia asked, surprised.
    Brad shook his head. “We had three people call in sick this morning.”
    “Oh,” Julia said, not unhappy. She preferred the freedom that came with exploring on her own.
    “I’ll be back to pick you up at four,” he said and handed her the smaller pack that contained food and water.
    Julia double checked to make sure she had everything, stowed the food and water in her larger pack, and strapped the entire thing to her back. She was eager to get started. She was only on the island for a few days, and she wanted to explore as much of the ruins as possible.
    “Take this,” Brad said and handed her a walkie-talkie. “It has more than enough range to reach the Big House. The operator will be monitoring it in case you get into trouble or decide you want to come back early.” Brad gave her a quick demonstration.  
    Satisfied that she knew how to use it, Julia clipped it to her skort and slid on a pair of sunglasses. The last thing she did was tie her hair back into a ponytail and slap a hat on her head.
    “All set?” Brad asked.
    “I’m good,” she said and smiled. “Thanks for the ride.”
    Julia didn’t wait for Brad to leave. Stepping into the tress, the forest quickly swallowed her up as she made her way toward the beach.  
    It was cool under the shade of the palm fronds, and the forest was alive with the sounds of several tropical species–none of which she recognized. There were beautiful flowers, their vibrant colors breaking up the rich greenery of the trees, and the ground gave off an earthy scent.
    It didn’t take long to make it to the beach. Stepping out from the tree line, her boots sinking slightly in the loose sand, Julia was smacked with the first real heat of the day.
    The temperature had risen significantly since she left the Big House. There was no breeze to clear away the humidity and Julia felt sweat break out at her temples. Grabbing a bottle of water from her back, she broke the seal and took a sip as she stared across the beach to the water.
    The waves rolled in slowly, a languid end to the journey from parts unknown. Turning to the north, the ruins were easy to spot. She weighed the advantages of staying in the shade of the tree line against walking in loose sand. The sand closer to the water would be packed hard and easier to walk on, but there was no shade and the sun was hot.
    Opting for the shade, Julia set out. She noted a marker that signaled the path back to the road, but other wise this area appeared untouched by man.
    The ruins were further away than they first appeared and Julia was hot and sweaty by the time she reached the edge. Taking a moment to catch her breath and drink some water, she surveyed the small rocks and large boulders that had been broken down in the face of centuries of storms.  
    Julia carefully picked her way through ruins that littered the beach, watching her step as she headed deeper into the ruins. The rocks grew in size until she was using her hands to help herself and scrambling over boulders. One formation, in particular, caught her eye, and she followed the line of what once was a wall. There wasn’t much of it left but the similar size and shape of the rocks gave her a good idea of how the wall had once looked.
    She spent the morning crawling over rocks, looking for anything that might tell her who had built this place and why. There wasn’t much left and by the time the sun was overhead, Julia was hot, tired, and more than a little disappointed.
    Stopping for lunch, she sat on a large boulder looking out at the water. Mel, or more likely Suri, had supplied her a lunch of crusty bread, creamy cheese, and cured meats. There was even wine, which she avoided given the heat.  
    She ate half of everything, tucking the rest away for a snack later and finished off another bottle of