Chapter 21

Lorelei "Tonight, we'll stay here," Winnie announced with a saccharine smile. She beamed directly at the cameraman with practiced innocence, clearly hunting for camera time. The production crew member immediately obliged, swinging the lens her way to capture a close-up. Winnie, ever the performer, slowly turned her head to showcase her "perfect" profile before gracefully facing forward again. "Hurry up!" she called out with exaggerated sweetness, waving her hand excitedly. Her gaze remained locked on the camera lens as she batted her eyelashes, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Come, let me show everyone what a natural cave in the forest looks like." I watched her little performance with detached amusement. As Winnie strode forward with unearned confidence, the cameraman hesitated, glancing back at me with uncertainty clear in his eyes. Everyone knew I had discovered the cave and suggested we shelter there for the night. "So there really is a cave! Looks like we have a place