Chapter 72: A Hungry Morning

Bonita woke up, stretching her arms and yawning. "Guys, I'm really hungry," she said, her voice laced with a hint of desperation.

Bella, who was busy tidying up their shelter, looked up and smiled. "I found something good to eat far in the forest. Let me go and bring it," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

The girls looked at each other, their faces lighting up with anticipation. "What is it?" Lisa asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"I'll show you when I get back," Bella replied, winking at them. "Just stay here and keep an eye on things. I'll be back soon."

Bella had discovered a cluster of yellow, small bananas growing deep in the forest. She had stumbled upon them the previous day while out exploring, and she couldn't wait to share them with the girls.

As she made her way through the dense underbrush, the sunlight filtering through the trees cast dappled shadows on the forest floor. Bella's senses were on high alert, her ears tuned to the sounds of the forest, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

After what felt like an eternity, Bella finally reached the banana cluster. She carefully plucked a few of the ripest ones and tucked them into her bag. As she turned to head back to the shelter, she caught a glimpse of something moving in the distance.

Bella's heart skipped a beat as she froze, her senses on high alert. She strained her eyes, trying to make out what it was, but it was too far away. Shrugging it off, Bella continued on her way, the bananas secure in her bag.

Meanwhile, back at the shelter, the girls were getting restless. "I'm so hungry," Bonita complained, pacing back and forth in front of the shelter.

"Just a little while longer," Lisa replied, trying to reassure her. "Bella will be back soon."

But as the minutes ticked by, the girls began to worry. Where was Bella? Why was she taking so long? And what was that noise they heard in the distance?

Little did they know, Hampton Jr. was closing in on them, his determination to find the mysterious woman driving him forward. And Bella, unaware of the danger lurking nearby, was headed back to the shelter, the bananas clutched tightly in her bag.