Rolling grassy hills and trees slowly emerged and began replacing the urban setting. The surrounding landscape became more rural while the Jeep sped down the highway toward the secluded retreat.
With the windows down and the air rushing through the open vehicle Dante proclaimed, "Ah! Smell that fresh air!" as he inhaled deep and exhaled.
"I think that stench is cow manure," Vergil flatly corrected him from the back seat.
"Well ... it's fresh cow manure," Dante sourly replied to Vergil's comeback.
"Indeed."
The girls giggled at the twins bantering.
"Were gettin' close," Dante then stated over the radio.
The girls gave an enthusiastic reply and Vergil just stared out the side window as they traveled closer to what he convinced himself to be a most unpleasant weekend. His only assurance of a good time, was that he held true to the thought of Dante losing their little wager and having to live with embarrassment for an entire month. For this, Vergil figured he could suffer a weekend for.
The Jeep curved around a long winding road that led to the opening of a surrounding forest. It continued up a steady incline into a deep tree lined road. The canopy of the tall trees shaded the road now and much to Vergil's delight, the radio began to lose reception of the rock station as it reached the limit of its signal from the city.
"Aw, damn," Dante pouted as he clicked off the radio.
By now Vergil was getting a headache from the music and was all too ready to get out of the cramped quarters of the Jeep.
"Okay, just up over here turn right," Dante directed Niki.
Vergil narrowed his vision and observed a small off road path coming up just directly ahead.
Niki slowed down the Jeep and followed Dante's direction, turning off the main road up an unpaved dirt path through the trees.
The change in terrain caused the vehicle to buck and jump slightly. As the Jeep began to bounce on the uneven surface, Beth suddenly lost her balance and was jostled and tossed into Vergil seated next to her. She fell directly into his lap but he quickly grabbed hold of the girl and righted her. She looked up from her precarious position and stared into his eyes blushing.
"S-sorry, about that ...," she shyly apologized.
Vergil nervously cleared his throat and helped steady the girl as she seated herself back up.
"Hey you two, can't you at least wait 'til we get to the cabin?" Dante teased and winked from the front passenger seat watching the incident.
Vergil just shot a steel cold stare at his twin as Beth blushed and looked away from the gawking Dante.
"Exactly how much longer is this journey, brother?" Vergil quickly asked.
"We're practically there dude, like ten more minutes," Dante reassured.
The Jeep had to crawl now as the terrain got even steeper and more unrefined. Some small low tree branches began smacking the sides of the vehicle as it climbed further up the trail.
"Are you sure this is where it's at, Dante?" Niki questioned as they slowly got deeper and deeper into the dark woods.
"Positive. Trust me, babe," Dante reassured his date. "I told you it was out in the sticks," he chuckled.
As the vehicle continued on, Vergil was certain the ten minutes Dante mentioned had passed. He let out a deep sigh and said, "Dante, it's been more than ten minutes. Where exactly is this place?"
"Dude, I swear, just another ten minutes."
"Do you even have a concept of time?" Vergil accused.
"Yeah, another ten minutes."
"Moron." Vergil mumbled.
Dante just looked back and sneered at Vergil from the front seat. "Just ten more minutes, trust me," he added.
Vergil just sighed. Ten more...
As the Jeep crawled up the uncharted trail, everyone was suddenly taken by surprise as it's back tire hit an unseen rut and the vehicle tilted harshly to the side coming to an abrupt stop.
"Dante, I think were stuck," Niki said as she tried to give the vehicle gas, but it didn't move.
"Fantastic." Vergil grumbled.
"Nah, punch it babe, it's fine," Dante replied.
Niki tried to get the Jeep unstuck, but to no avail the back tire just spun and the vehicle remained stuck.
"We're stuck." Vergil flatly confirmed.
"Nah, she just needs a push is all," Dante gingerly reassured. "C' mon Verg, give me a hand. We'll get it out," Dante said as he jumped out of the Jeep.
"What?" Vergil said in confusion. But before he could protest Dante grabbed a hold of him from the back and forced him out of the car.
"Alright ... fine!" Vergil groaned and swatted away Dante. "Quit pulling me!"
Dante told Niki that when he yelled 'Alright' she was to give it gas and the two brothers walked behind the stuck vehicle.
"Ok, Verg, lets grab it here and lift," Dante ordered.
Vergil eyed the situation and held a hand out to stop Dante. "No. I don't think that's correct. To get the vehicle properly moving we'd have to lift it here otherwise the tire will just continue to spin," He corrected as he pointed to a different spot on the back to grab onto.
"No way, we gotta just lift it here and it'll come right out," Dante disagreed.
"Really, I'm positive if we lift here it will properly come out," Vergil growled in protest.
"Dude, just do this," Dante went to grab for where he thought it would be appropriate to lift.
Vergil grabbed his wrist and stopped him. "Dante, would you just listen," Vergil now barked. "Lift here and we can be on our way!"
The two brothers argued back and forth about what the proper way was to remove the vehicle from its situation. Finally, Dante thoroughly frustrated with Vergil, gave in and shouted, "Alright! "
Upon hearing Dante's word, Niki throttled the Jeeps gas. As the two brothers stood behind the vehicle, the tire spun rapidly kicking up a shower of dirt and debris all over an unsuspecting Vergil standing right behind the lodged wheel.
He immediately cringed and roared upon being pelted by the flying dirt. Then surprisingly the Jeep regained traction all on its own and the vehicle dislodged itself from the rut pulling forward. Both twins slowly turned and looked dumbfounded at the now freed vehicle waiting their return.
Vergil stood rigid and huffing as he glared at Dante. His entire front was covered in dirt and debris. Baffled by the whole thing, Dante stared dumbstruck at the aftermath on Vergil.
"Dude ... you got a little something there," Dante casually stated as he reached over to Vergil's hair and tried to pull some leaf matter from it.
Vergil smacked away his hand and turned. He angrily brushed the loose soil off himself the best he could.
Dante tried to speak but Vergil quickly spoke over him. "Get-in-the-car," he angrily emphasized every word while brushing himself off.
Dante raised up his hands in surrender, "Okieee," he replied. As he walked away back to the Jeep.
Vergil followed a moment later. As the two brothers got back into the Jeep, the girls gave them praise for dislodging the vehicle.
"Ah, it really was nothin'," Dante smoothly replied.
As Vergil stepped in the back of the Jeep, Beth and Niki took note of his dirty appearance. Even though he had cleaned off the thick layer of soil, his face and clothes were still smudged with dirt.
"Oh no! What happened?" Beth said concerned.
Vergil huffed and didn't respond as he seated himself in the back.
"Oh, he lifted in the wrong spot," Dante spoke up from the front. He knew Vergil would probably attempt to kill him later for that comment, but as usual, Dante couldn't resist.
Vergil was huffing and glared at the back of Dante's head when he was taken by surprise from Beth's hand reaching out and gently plucking a dried leaf from the front of his hair.
He quickly glanced over to her as she pulled back her hand with the debris.
"You still had something in your hair," she nervously stated as his glare softened from her comment.
"Thanks," he flatly stated and she grinned.
Dante then gripped the roll bar handle to the side of him, "Alright! Away we go!" he shouted as Niki giggled and the foursome continued up the uncharted terrain.