96

Ella's POV

We did it. We all cheered, slapping one another on the back as we climbed down the final tree where the snakes couldn't get to us and walked to the Arok tree.

I glanced back at the spot where the snakes were and felt like flipping them all the bird. They had thought they could stop us but we were smarter than they were.

I placed my hand on my chest, forcing my heart rate to calm down. I had thought I would die there being on top of trees. It hadn't been easy climbing and not look down. It was as if the snakes knew that there was food above them and were uncurling and creating space in their midst like they were eager to have us slip our legs on the trees and drop into their midst.

"Ella,"

I jumped as I heard the sound of my name and looked around, wondering who had called me. I had been so far gone in my thoughts that I couldn't identify who had called me by my name.

The men snickered as they looked at one another. "Where are you at?" Kevin asked.

"I was lost in thought, I