Chapter 5 The River

As they sped down the river, Sophia felt a sense of relief wash over her. They had escaped the jungle and the guardians, and were one step closer to safety. But as she looked over at Marcus, she saw that he was frowning, his eyes fixed on the river ahead. "What's wrong?" Sophia asked, feeling a twinge of concern. "I don't know," Marcus replied, his voice low. "But I think we're being followed." Sophia's heart skipped a beat as she scanned the river behind them. At first, she saw nothing. But then, she caught a glimpse of a small boat, its engine roaring as it gained on them.

"It's them," Sophia breathed, her eyes locked on the boat. "The guardians." Marcus's face set in a determined expression. "Hold on," he said, pushing the throttle forward. The boat surged forward, speeding down the river as the guardians gained on them. Sophia felt a rush of adrenaline as they twisted and turned through the water, narrowly avoiding rocks and sandbars. But no matter how fast they went, the guardians kept pace with them, their boat equally maneuverable. Sophia knew that they couldn't keep this up for much longer. They needed a plan, and fast. "Marcus, we need to lose them," Sophia shouted above the roar of the engine. Marcus nodded, his eyes scanning the river ahead. "I see a tributary up ahead," he shouted back. "If we can make it there, we might be able to shake them." Sophia's heart was racing as they approached the tributary. She knew that this was their only chance. As they entered the narrower waterway, Sophia felt a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could escape the guardians after all. But as they sped down the tributary, Sophia heard a strange noise - the sound of rushing water, growing louder by the second. And then, she saw it - a massive waterfall, cascading down a rocky cliff. They were headed straight for it.