Free Accidentally in Love With a God (2012) by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

life. She’d said that after her parents died when she was five, she left Mexico to stay with her only living relatives in the U.S. So what reason would she have to go back?
    “You think she was near here when she disappeared?”
    “ Yes.”
    “But why?”
    “ I don’t know Emma, it’s a hunch.”
    Hunch my ass. “But you said you knew her.”
    “ Yes, many years ago, I was traveling through this area, through her village, and I met her. It was right before I was trapped.”
    Why had my grandmother returned to Mexico, then? Who was she seeing? I stopped in my tracks. The trees suddenly flooded with boisterously squawking birds. “What are those?”
    “ Toucans. Ignore them.”
    “Why are there so many all of a sudden?”
    “ I don’t know, just go!”
    I swatted at the ravenous bugs encircling my head.
    “Not until you tell me!”
    “ What?”
    “Are they going to come after me, too? Is this what you were protecting me from, Guy?”
    “ Toucans don’t eat people, Emma.”
    I rolled my eyes. “You know what I meant.”
    He sighed. “Maybe. But I will protect you.”
    “What the hell have I gotten myself into?”
    “ Too late to turn back now. Move!”
    Although he couldn’t see, I nodded in agreement and continued marching. After several minutes, I ran my hand over my sweat slicked neck. “How much farther?”
    “ About half a mile, my sweet, and you’ll have to pick up the pace. It’s getting dark.”
    It was odd to think we were now so close we were under the same sky. “I’m moving as fast as—holy crap.” Standing twenty yards ahead was a boy about nine, dressed in all white cotton. His bright turquoise eyes glowed against his deep brown skin. He was staring; he seemed to be expecting me.
    “ My point exactly. Crap is not very fast.”
    “It’s a boy,” I whispered. “With funny colored eyes.”
    “ That’s odd ,” he said, absurdly unalarmed.
    “I thought you told me to run if I saw anyone?”
    “ I was thinking drug lords or bloodthirsty Mayan priests.”
    The boy stood motionless, his hands to his sides.
    “What do you want me to do?”
    “ Ask him his name. What else?”
    Yes. Such the obvious answer. “Hi honey, what’s your name?” I called out.
    “ In Spanish, Emma. We’re in Mexico.”
    “Oh. Right. ¿Cómo se llama?”
    His lips twitched into a smile. “Chac,” he answered and then ran.
    “Well, that worked great. He’s running away. What do I do now?”
    “ Follow him! Go.”
    “Wait! Come back.” I followed as quickly as I could, but the branches and vines whipped my face and caught on my feet. “Why am I following him?”
    “ He will lead you to the cenote.”
    “Cenote?” Oh no, bad, bad sign. This must be a trap because we were not going to where he said. “I thought I was going to a ruin.”
    “ Just run, woman! The cenote is near the ruin.”
    “Why does he have turquoise eyes?” It couldn’t be a coincidence that they looked just like the man’s eyes from my dreams. Could it?
    “ Christ, Emma, put it on the goddamned question list.”
    I followed the boy for what seemed like an eternity but my muscles burned, and, finally, I had to slow to a fast walk. “I…can’t…Guy,” I panted, trying to catch my breath. “The air…is way… too thick for any aerobic activities.”
    “ I told you, you need to work out more.”
    “God. You…are…un…belie…vable,” I choked out.
    “ You have no idea,” he replied.
    Helplessly doubled over, hands on my knees, I watched as Chac dissolved into the shadows of the thick vegetation. I realized I was no longer on any trail. I pivoted several times. Which direction now? Every damned tree and plant looked the same. Green, green, and more leafy green. It was like being trapped in a huge spinach salad.
    “Some guide. Now I’m lost.” I grabbed my aching sides.
    “ No, you’re not lost. You are near, Emma, I can hear you.”
    My heart fell through my stomach, into my knees, and to the bottom of