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Erica Wiley, a 21-year-old procrastinator with a cynical streak, is stuck between avoiding life and facing it. When she impulsively offers to take her aunt’s miserable twins on a gap-year adventure, she has no plan—other than to be lazy. But when their simple hiking trip goes horribly wrong, the trio finds themselves lost in a strange village, caught up in bizarre encounters and a growing bond with Lee, a charming (and suspicious) merchant.

What begins as an unplanned journey soon turns into a series of misadventures that push Erica to confront both her past and the possibility of caring about others. With dangerous beasts, questionable decisions, and awkward moments, Erica must decide if she’s ready to face the responsibilities—and feelings—she’s spent so long avoiding.

A quirky adventure about finding yourself, even when you’re trying not to.

Traveling with the Reckless and Unmotivated

The moment they stepped beyond the village's protective lantern light, the celebration faded into eerie quiet. The night stretched wide, cold, the air thick with the scent of disturbed earth.

Sydney shifted Jasper in her arms. "Mom? Dad?" she called, her voice carrying into the open field.

A rustle. A sharp intake of breath.

A few paces ahead, barely visible under the moonlight, lay two figures. A man and a woman, tangled in the grass. Breathing—but barely.

And looming over them, its body taut with tension, was a beast.

Jasper let out a whimper, clinging to Sydney. "Mom! Dad!"

Sydney barely had time to jump back, twisting her body to shield Jasper as the beast's claws scraped the dirt where she'd been standing.

Sid reacted first, moving faster than he ever did in a fight. His blade cut through the air, forcing the beast back before it could swipe again.

Lee grabbed Jasper from Sydney and shoved him toward Erica. "Keep him out of the way!"

Erica barely had time to register what just happened before the beast lunged again.

Lee didn't go for his usual evasive maneuvers.

Instead, when Jasper let out a frightened cry, Lee moved.

He positioned himself between Jasper and the fight, dagger drawn, gaze fierce.

Lee was uncomfortable around kids. That was a fact. But right now, the way he stood—tense, protective, hyper-focused—

That wasn't the reaction of a man indifferent to children.

That was the reaction of someone who had been the child in need of protection once.

The realization hit like a punch to the gut.

Erica didn't have time to unpack it.

She tightened her grip on Jasper and stepped back, making sure the boy was shielded as the fight escalated.

Sid and Sydney fought like a seamless unit, every movement efficient. Sydney distracted, Sid struck. The beast snarled, but it was slowing.

Then, in a decisive move, Sydney lured it into one last reckless attack.

Silence followed. Then ragged breathing.

Jasper squirmed in Erica's arms. "Mom—Dad—"

The boy ran to his parents, shaking them desperately.

His mother stirred first, coughing weakly. Then his father groaned, forcing his eyes open. Confusion turned to recognition, then to fragile relief.

Sydney exhaled, wiping the sweat from her brow. "That was way too close."

Sid grinned, still catching his breath. "But we did it."

Erica glanced at him. His hand was still tense around his dagger, but his expression was unreadable.

"Interesting." She thought to herself.

Jasper's parents, weak but conscious, pulled him into a trembling embrace. Words of reassurance, apologies, promises—they all blurred together.

Erica, arms crossed, shifted her weight. "Great. Family reunion achieved. Can we leave now?"

"What?" She gestured to the barely-upright parents. "They're alive. He's safe. We've done more than enough."

Sydney huffed. "You're so emotionally constipated."

Erica rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She just wanted to move on.

Jasper, nestled between his parents, looked up at them. His eyes lingered on Lee.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

Oh, she was going to bring this up later.

Chapter 12: The Parent Trap (But Worse)