Bevis was not used to the early morning start, but getting up and showing up was something she always did and would continue to do even though she felt overwhelmed by what may be in store in the coming week. The open-back safari vehicles had collected them after a good breakfast, dropping them off at a small marina. The rough wooden jetty leading to the canopied motorboat with chairs and storage areas for luggage wasn't really a marina. Bevis wasn't going to dispute the sign carefully staked into the ground. Clearly, another boat or two had been tied next to the one they were walking towards. Coming to a stop, Bevis stared at the vessel and her chatting, excited group before turning toward the shoreline on the opposite side. Taking a moment to attempt some calm version of herself, Bevis looked out over the lake and river they were heading into, inhaled, and closed her eyes. When the slight feeling of peace arrived, she opened her eyes and took in the beauty of the early morning around her. The trees on the other side moved gently in a crisp breeze while the dampness of the air held the smells of the foilage on the river banks and the water they were to travel on.

"Everything okay?" Jason asked, looking in the direction Bevis faced, "it's a beautiful view."

"Yes, it is beautiful," Bevis said, "usually, I'm looking at this kind of thing from a hotel room or a cabin porch, not as I'm heading into the wild."

"I take it you don't do this kind of thing," Jason said, nodding, "everyone needs to start somewhere."

"I would agree with you on that," Bevis said, "but this kind of thing is not really me. I'm totally out of my depth with anything like this, not that I haven't tried it. I have ..." she shook her head, "dating an adrenaline junkie for a boyfriend... well he is an ex-boyfriend now ... wasn't much fun when everything he did was totally uncharted waters for me, and now I'm heading into those exact waters."

"Then why are you on this trip?" Jason asked.

"Chelsea got tickets for an all-expenses paid trip from a friend at work," Bevis said, sighing, "didn't ask for the details, and here we are."

"Do you still want to do this?" Jason asked.

Bevis stood staring at the scenery, silent and thoughtful, "Honestly ... I want to run screaming for the hills."

"Why aren't you?" Jason asked, turning to her frowning.

"I ... don't know," Bevis said, shaking her head, "... maybe it's because Chelsea tried so hard to find something to take my mind off my breakup, or perhaps it's because I want to just be anywhere else but home..." she chuckled, "or it could be that I'll finally kill myself this week trying to prove I can do anything my ex can and I won't have to go home and face the loneliness ... right now ... I just don't know."

Turning toward the boat, Bevis sighed, seeing that everyone, including Chelsea, was nearly ready to go. Glancing up at Jason, she froze. He had a strange look on his face, "Is everything okay? Was that too much information? Do you still want me on this trip?"

Jason smiled slowly, "You still want to go on this trip?"

Bevis shrugged, "I guess I do ... I'm here, so I might as well ... it will be a week of praying for my life to be extended one more day and at the end of it being thankful that I got through the day," looking past him she watched Chelsea talking to some of the women in their group, "but I would do anything for Chelsea, she's my best friend, and I think this week maybe what she needs ... it will be good for her."

"What about you?" Jason asked.

"What about me?" Bevis asked.

"Do you think this week will be good for you?" Jason asked, indicating for Bevis to move toward the boat.

"No idea," she said, walking with him toward her doom, "... we'll have to see ... if I'm still alive, ask me at the end of the week."

Chuckling, Jason helped her onto the boat and moved away to talk to the Captain. Bevis watched him briefly before looking around for Chelsea and heading in her direction. Strangely with all the people chatting with Chelsea, a seat was vacant next to her. Sitting down, Bevis stowed her bag where the signs indicated and tried to relax. If she tried to embrace the coming week's events, it would be alright, and she could learn something new.

"Who am I kidding?" she muttered, grasping the edge of her chair as the boat moved off, "just get through, Bev ... just one day at a time ..." she inhaled and exhaled through pursed lips, keeping her eyes fixed on the opposite bank, "one day at a time."

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Jason stood next to the Captain as they started down the river. They were heading toward the campsite, where they would start their trip from later this afternoon, unlike the more experienced group who had already started their trip in two motorised rafts this morning, getting directly into the journey. Jason and his group would get to their first campsite on the river journey tonight. Hopefully, by the time the two groups met, Jason would have instilled confidence into Bevis. He only hoped she didn't take Brad being on this trip poorly. She had surprised him by following through with the journey. He had expected her to pull out and leave him high and dry at the last moment. Sighing, Jason shook his head, but that was going on what Brad had said about her and never having met her. Did Brad know she had tried to meet his expectations while dating him? It was a question that haunted him about his brother as well. Still, on the other hand, Jane wouldn't be found dead in a gym either, never mind trying to learn anything, even if it were on her own. This afternoon he would get to know the extent of fitness and type of exercise each person preferred. The base camp they were heading to now was more of a sheltered team-building area they used for corporates and various games to build cohesion and mainly used for a day. It was perfect for preparing the beginners for the trip and getting them into a mindset that would keep them going through the journey down the river. Their journey was shorter than the experienced group would take by two days, but it was not for the faint-hearted either.

Glancing back, Jason checked on the group. Everyone was chatting and moving around while Bevis sat silent, staring at the scenery along the shore and clinging to her chair. Was it an act, or was her trepidation real? Only time will tell. Nearing the area they were to land, he returned to the group, calling instructions as he walked along the deck. They moved to follow the instruction while Bevis continued to stare, only moving when Chelsea bumped her, jarring her into action. Frowning, Jason helped dock the boat and assisted the group from the vessel to dry land. Bevis was last; she trailed at the back of the line, pale and fretful.

"Everything okay?" Jason asked as he helped her off the boat.

Nodding, she moved past him, blindly following the others as she looked around. He had seen the "lost look" before ... she wasn't exaggerating when she said she was out of her depth. How could anyone not see that from the start?

"I wonder what you do for a living," he murmured before shaking hands with the Captain and moving toward the milling group, "Okay, everyone, this is not usually how these trips start. The other group who has experience with this kind of trip already left an hour ago and are on the water."

"Then why are we here?" one of the men asked.

"What we're going to do on this trip is dangerous and highly risky," Jason said, "since you are all beginners, it is wise that we run through a few things first before throwing everyone in the deep end and hoping they come out the other side. Safety first."

"Are we staying here tonight?" a woman asked.

"No," Jason said, "we are going to run through a quick course on what to expect and what to do in the case of an emergency ..." he glanced at Chelsea and Bevis, both stood staring at him as if he were speaking a different language, "we will then do the first leg of the river to the next stop ..."

"... in that amazing boat, right?" another of the women cut in.

"... in rafts."

"Oh," she giggled, "silly of me."

Jason suddenly wished he was anywhere else as she smiled cutely and winked. This was going to be a long week ahead.

"Before we start," he said, turning to the one side, "ablution blocks are behind those trees ... don't scream if you see wildlife; we are in their backyard. This is the last time you will have this luxury, so use it. Back there is a small kitchen where food and beverages will be ready to enjoy later ... you will not have this luxury on the trip. Everything will need to be foraged and cooked by all of you. So enjoy all of this while you can. Against the stone wall at the back are gear bags, find the one with your name on it and take it to a seat. You have all received maps in your goodie bags; pull them out, and we will begin. Any questions?" He waited a beat before continuing, "Let's get to it, people."

Bevis looked around the area. It was rugged. A thatched roof covered the space of a stone floor with only one wall to give any kind of protection against the weather. Wooden desks were positioned in rows with chairs facing the river making that the front of the class. Large black bags lay in a row against the back wall, where everyone milled around checking names. A large raft sat on the riverbank a few feet away, the kind she had seen in pictures of river rafting, her heart sinking and panic rising.

River rafting!

Everything around her and the sign hanging behind Jason announced the activity for this week.

Wonderful!

Another thing Brad had wanted her to drag her to, she wondered what he would say right now if he saw her, probably laugh at how fate worked and wonder if she could do anything required on the trip. Slowly moving to the back, she found her bag. It was the last one left. Lifting it, she found she needed both hands to move it and could lift it slightly off the floor. Thankfully the last place left to sit was almost right behind her at the back. Shifting the bag to a spot next to her seat, she sank into the chair and flipped open the folder before taking out her map. An itinerary for the week was in front of her, including the tasks for this week. An explanation was handwritten on her task list. The others would be doing more intimate couples tasks. A grateful smile tugged at her lips until she read further.

Oh, heavens above!

She would be on a survival trip this week. They would all die and starve. Swallowing hard, she closed her eyes and prayed she would find the strength and means to make it through this week.