Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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The relentless sounds of gunfire echoed through the woods, signaling the enemy’s position and pushing Quinlyn and the others to run forward.
Quinlyn and Stanley each gripped Larry’s arm as they moved, but the group fell into a heavy silence, each person weighed down as if their feet were stuck in mud.
The Hill family members had red–rimmed eyes, the gravity of their situation showing. Then they hit a snag a landslide had blocked their path ahead.
“What do we do? They’re going to catch up!” A student, who had just been complaining about their exhaustion, began to panic like a fly in a hot pan.
There was no choice; they had to take a detour. The slope was steep, and the earth was too loose. They trudged slowly around the back of the mountain, and by mid–afternoon, they were still deep in the terrain.
At this point, even Stanley and Larry were struggling to keep going. Quinlyn led them to a clearing to rest and checked in with the walkie–talkie to confirm their search progress. “Ivan, did you find Michael?”
Static crackled through the speaker before Ivan’s voice came through. “No, the landslide is pretty bad. Our progress is really slow. Bennett is on his way to find you. We’re trying to catch up.”
The thunderstorm had wreaked havoc, nearly destroying the whole mountain.
Quinlyn bit her lip. “Any news on Michael?”
There was a long pause before Ivan replied, “No.”
That answer sank her heart. She instinctively glanced at Larry, who had his head down, a gloom settling over him once
more.
She moved back beside him.
“No news?” Larry turned to look at her, his eyes still puffy.
Quinlyn usually spoke her mind directly, but she didn’t want to give a definitive answer now. Instead, she whispered, “He only fired four shots; there’s still hope.” If it had been a last stand, Michael would’ve emptied the magazine.
Larry managed a faint smile, “You’re right. I can’t give up hope.”
Seeing him smile, albeit so painfully, tugged at Quinlyn’s heart. She moved closer, hoping to offer some comfort.
Larry gently ruffled her hair, his voice hoarse. “Don’t worry. I won’t be reckless like before. Grandpa is waiting for me to come back.”
Stanley turned his head, feeling a lump in his throat. This version of Larry was far from the spoiled rich kid he used to be.
The surrounding students were still shaken and, after sitting for only a short while, they began to cry.
“We just came for a camping trip! Why is this happening?” one student sobbed.
“Will we make it out alive to see our parents again…” cried another.
They were all the pride of their families; none had ever faced such hardship, and their faces were pale, each of them looking frailer than before in just a few days.
The Hill family members sat in despair, not even bothering to speak.
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Quinlyn asked Stanley to distribute some water, and then she pulled out a large thermos from her backpack.
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The large thermos immediately caught everyone’s attention. Given her enormous backpack, it was hard to imagine she’d been carrying it all along the rugged mountain trails. Training weights didn’t even compare.
When she opened the thermos, the contents were still warm.
Quinlyn wiped her little hands and carefully pulled out one egg at a time, passing them around to everyone.
“Where did you get these?” Stanley asked, stunned by how heavy they might have been.
“Elowyn boiled them for me yesterday.” As she handed them out, her small hands were soon stained red from the eggs.
As someone accepted an egg, they curiously asked, “Why are the eggs red?”
Quinlyn thought for a moment, recalling what Elowyn had said. “To calm fears and pray for safety?
The students who had previously complained about Quinlyn’s leadership turned beet red, clutching their eggs in shame. “You didn’t even eat last night but carried these all this way for us. How could we say those things about you… I’m really, really sorry.” By the end of their apologies, they burst into tears again.
Quinlyn shook her head, choosing not to respond. She understood their emotions in such extreme circumstances, but she didn’t think she should be the one they vented to.
As she walked back to Stanley and Larry, she handed them each two eggs–one more than the others.
“You really know how to look after me,” Stanley joked, cracking his egg against his forehead and then shoving the peeled egg into Quinlyn’s mouth. “You didn’t eat since last night. Are you trying to play superhero?”
Larry peeled his own egg and gave it to Quinlyn, his gaze softening. “We’re older; we can deal with a little hunger.
Quinlyn blinked at them and, reluctantly, ate all three eggs. After a full day and night of exhaustion, she felt her strength returning with the food.
Just as they were about to continue their journey, the bushes rustled aside and Bennett arrived with a few team members. Seeing the armed investigation squad, the student group nearly cried out of joy, exhaling a collective sigh of relief.
“You’re all safe! That’s great!” Bennett exclaimed, relief flooding his voice as he took in the students‘ disheveled appearance. His gaze landed on Quinlyn, filled with gratitude. He knew it was her bravery that had protected everyone.
“Captain, my uncle… has he not been found yet?” Larry limped forward, hope in his eyes.
Unfortunately, Bennett shook his head. “The 901 squad should’ve gotten here before us, but the landslide made it tough.”
Larry’s face fell.
“But don’t worry. I’m sending people to ‘surround the area. If we find your uncle, we’ll bring him back for sure,” Bennett said .seriously. With that, he turned to two of his team members, instructing them to escort the students and the Hill family
members back while he led the stronger team forward.
Larry wanted to follow but knew he would only slow them down, so he opened his mouth, then closed it again in frustration.
“Captain, can I come with you?” Quinlyn stepped forward, her backpack already packed and ready.
Bennett hesitated for a moment, taking in her mud–covered appearance. “You’ve been out in the mountains for a day and a night; aren’t you tired?”
Quinlyn shook her head. This level of exhaustion was manageable for her, especially since she wanted to find the missing
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artifacts. If she didn’t, more people would pay the price.
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She explained her reasoning, and if anyone else had made such a request, Bennett would have immediately said no. But Quinlyn… he couldn’t refuse her, even finding himself inexplicably trusting this child.
“Alright, if you remember the path, you might actually get there faster than the 901 squad,” Bennett said, understanding the importance of speed in their situation. They quickly planned the route and prepared to set off.
Stanley held back his worries but didn’t stop her, knowing Quinlyn was resolute and wouldn’t listen to him, especially with Michael’s uncertain fate hanging in the balance. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Quinlyn might be the key to bringing Michael back.
Warren thought for a moment and pulled a hidden gun from his pack, handing it to Quinlyn. “Even if you’ve never used a gun, it’s good for self–defense. I’m sorry for getting everyone into this mess.”
Quinlyn looked at the gun, then up at him, her voice sincere as she addressed him for the first time face–to–face. “I know you’re not in league with the criminals. Once we’re out, I’ll help clear your name.”
AD
