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*****
"I think I found it!"
Facing the incredulous looks of the group, Peter repeated himself.
The four of them immediately gathered around.
"Where?" Gwen asked hurriedly.
Peter adjusted the laptop in front of him, displaying an enlarged image for everyone to see.
The picture was somewhat blurry, but the woman's facial features were still clearly visible.
Peter compared it with a childhood photo of Sally.
The group grew excited.
It was close—really close.
Peter smiled faintly. "Most importantly, I found her name. She's also called Sally. Sally Brown."
"Wait, Brown?" Luke asked in confusion. "I remember her name was Sally Vera, right?"
"That's right, but I found out that her current husband's name is David Brown. So, it's very likely she changed her name after getting married."
"Hold on, my brain is a bit scrambled right now!"
Harry grabbed his hair in frustration. "Sally was kidnapped, but looking at the person Peter is talking about now, no one seems to be restricting her freedom. And what's the deal with her current husband? If her husband is the one who kidnapped her, how could she possibly become his wife? This plot is even more unbelievable than fiction."
"My dear classmate Harry, reality is often more absurd than fiction."
Gwen chuckled, then added, "However, we can't be one hundred percent sure right now that this person is the Sally we're looking for."
"We need to go and confirm it. This is the most reliable lead we have so far. Good job, Peter!"
Hearing Gwen's praise, Peter's face blushed slightly, and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Alright, you guys stay here. I'll go confirm it myself," Gwen said as she walked toward the door, tapping the communicator in her ear. "Peter, guide me."
"Okay!" Peter responded, immediately sitting back down in front of the computer.
Leaving their RV, Gwen stretched her body, which was gradually growing into adulthood. After orienting herself, she headed toward the target under Peter's guidance.
Walking past the harbor filled with the salty, humid smell of the ocean, Gwen arrived in front of a dilapidated fishing boat, guided by Peter's voice.
"Peter, are you sure this is the place?"
"Yes, I checked all the surveillance footage. The woman named Sally was last seen disappearing into this boat."
Receiving a definitive answer, Gwen acknowledged it and walked toward the fishing boat docked at the shore.
Just as she was about to board the boat, a thought crossed her mind. A skull mask formed by her suit's watch appeared over her face.
If the person inside was the one holding Sally captive, he definitely wouldn't just let her in, so it was better to be disguised first.
"Is anyone there?"
Gwen boarded the boat and called out from the bow, though her gaze was already scanning the interior through the window.
"Who are you?"
Accompanied by a suspicious voice, a middle-aged man slid open the door and appeared in front of Gwen.
The man was thin but didn't appear weak. At this moment, he was looking at Gwen with a mix of confusion and wariness.
Gwen spoke politely, "Hello, does Sally live here?"
"She's not here!"
The man spoke coldly and harshly, snapping at Gwen, "Get off my boat!"
Gwen blinked. "I just want to ask her about a few things."
"I told you, there is no one named Sally here, just me!"
The man stared at Gwen with icy eyes, but Gwen caught a trace of barely perceptible... panic in the depths of his gaze.
"You are David Brown, aren't you?"
"So what if I am?"
Gwen's expression turned cold as she walked toward the cabin step by step. "I need to verify for myself whether Sally is here or not."
"Kid! Don't push your luck! If you come any closer, I won't be polite!"
"Heh."
Gwen chuckled lightly and actually quickened her pace.
The man looked at Gwen with shock and anger. When Gwen reached him, he clenched his fist and swung it at her face.
Gwen raised her arm to block it, grabbed his wrist with a backhand, twisted it forcefully, and moved behind him. Amidst his scream of pain, she kicked him hard in the back of the knee.
David Brown stumbled forward, falling to one knee.
"Don't move!"
Accompanied by Gwen's threatening voice, her other hand clamped onto David Brown's throat. Just as he tried to struggle, blue flames erupted from Gwen's hand.
David Brown's pupils constricted, and his tense body instantly went limp.
He realized he was no match for her at all—this kid was a monster.
"Wise choice. Now, can you take me inside to have a look?"
Gwen smiled faintly, but there was a chilling edge to her voice.
The man's abnormal behavior proved beyond a doubt that he had a guilty conscience.
Although David Brown was unwilling, he had no other option.
He wasn't sure if the intruder would kill him if he didn't do as he was told, so he could only nod reluctantly.
Gwen released him and gestured for him to lead the way.
David Brown glanced at Gwen, then hurriedly averted his gaze in fear.
At this moment, Gwen was wreathed in blue flames, and her hands had transformed into white, skeletal claws.
Was this thing human or a ghost?
David Brown turned and walked into the room, his brain spinning frantically, trying to think of a way to escape.
"Don't even think about escaping. You have no chance in front of me."
Gwen spoke indifferently, but a pressure that made his very soul tremble radiated from her.
David Brown completely gave up hope.
"Move faster!" Gwen urged.
David Brown started moving again.
Walking through the cabin, Gwen looked at the furnishings around her, feeling a bit puzzled.
There were quite a few women's items, and even some children's items, but she didn't see anyone else.
Could it be that, just as Peter said, Sally and this man were actually husband and wife? Then was this man the one who abducted Sally in the beginning?
A question surfaced in Gwen's mind.
Seeing David Brown stop, Gwen shoved him hard. "Don't stop. I know Sally is here."
"Yes, she is here."
David Brown suddenly turned around and knelt before Gwen, his face full of sorrow. "I beg you, please don't kill me."
"Cut the crap."
Gwen spoke coldly. Just as David Brown's eyes flickered and he prepared to attack Gwen, she slapped him across the face. "Don't get any funny ideas."
As she spoke, a trace of searing heat appeared in David Brown's soul. While bringing him pain, it also made him feel as if his soul was about to catch fire.
"Ahhh!"
He howled miserably in pain, but a look of disdain flashed in Gwen's eyes.
It was just a sliver of heat. If she really ignited this guy's soul, he probably wouldn't last even a second.
A few seconds later, the burning sensation in his soul vanished, and the terrified David Brown became completely obedient.
He walked to the cabin where he slept, pulled back the rug on the floor beside the bed, revealing a trapdoor with a handle. After undoing the latch, he opened it to reveal a dim space below.
Darkness, dampness, and two pairs of eager eyes.
Wait, two pairs?
Gwen paused for a moment and looked closely.
A young woman and a child who was only three or four years old.
At this moment, the two of them, one big and one small, were looking at David Brown, who stood in front of Gwen, with eyes full of longing.
No, to be precise, they were looking at the sky behind them.
"Go down!"
Suppressing the anger in her heart, Gwen pushed David Brown lightly.
David Brown climbed down the wooden ladder that was positioned at a ninety-degree angle.
The woman looked at the scene in confusion. "Who is she?"
"She's here for you."
David Brown looked at the woman with a gaze that was both affectionate and furious, roaring, "You damn bitch, it's all because of you! She... Ugh!"
Gwen slowly lowered her fist, but suddenly noticed that the woman and the little boy she held in her arms were looking at her with anger.
Anger?
Gwen was stunned.
Joy, relief, excitement...
She had imagined various expressions, but she never expected her actions just now would make them angry.
What was going on?
She couldn't quite understand.
Until...
"I won't let you hit my Daddy!"
The little boy shouted and blocked David Brown, shielding him with his tiny body.
"Daddy?"
Gwen looked at the frail little boy in shock, then turned to David Brown. "You really are a piece of scum!"
David Brown's face darkened. Aside from feeling touched, his gaze toward the little boy was filled with guilt.
Gwen looked at the woman and asked, "Are you Sally? Sally Vera?"
The woman suddenly looked up, staring at Gwen with agitation.
She hadn't heard anyone call her by that name in a very long time.
"I finally found you."
The moment she saw the woman's expression, Gwen was certain she had found the right target.
"Why are you looking for me? Do I know you?" Sally asked cautiously, as if afraid of making Gwen angry.
Gwen shook her head. "No, you don't. But I accepted a commission from your mother. It was your mother who asked me to find you."
"My mother?" Sally froze, murmuring, "Didn't she... didn't she abandon me? Didn't she forget me a long time ago?"
"She never forgot you."
Gwen said in a low voice, "In the ten years you've been missing, she has been looking for you. Even when everyone else gave up, she kept looking for you."
"She collected information, gathered data, worked three jobs a day, and saved money to hire private investigators. She never gave up on you."
Hearing Gwen's words, Sally's body began to tremble. It was as if she could see her mother missing her every day, washing her face with tears.
Her eyes turned red, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
"These are photos she gave us."
Gwen took two photos from her pocket and handed them over.
One was a photo of Sally as a child with her mother, and the other was a picture of her mother as she looked now.
Looking at the photos, Sally finally burst into loud wails.
The resentment and anger that had been suppressed in her heart for so long turned into joy and relief in this instant.
Although she was crying bitterly, there was a sense of joy piercing through it.
But in the little boy's eyes, it wasn't like that.
Like a kitten with its fur standing on end, he used his under-developed body to shield Sally. He waved his fist angrily and roared in his childish voice, "You bad person! Get out of my house!"
Even though Gwen's body was currently wreathed in blue flames, and her hands were stark white bone claws, the little boy showed not a hint of fear.
"House? Home?"
Gwen looked at this tiny space, less than ten square meters. She glanced at the little boy with pity, but then angrily lifted her foot and stomped on David Brown's back.
When the little boy tried to pounce on Gwen, clawing and biting, Sally pulled him into her arms, sobbing, "Jacob, you can't be rude to the big sister."
"Oh!"
The little boy responded, reaching out to wipe Sally's tears.
"Let's go. Leave this place!"
Gwen said to Sally. Looking at David Brown lying on the floor, a vortex of fire appeared in her eyes.
She was going to judge him.
"Are you going to kill him?"
Suddenly, Sally asked in a strange tone.
"Kill? No, I'm going to judge him. Let him experience the pain he has inflicted on others."
Although Gwen said this, to Sally's ears, it sounded no different from killing him.
She hesitated, then said, "Can you... not kill him?"
"Why?"
Gwen looked at Sally in confusion.
"Can I go out first?"
Sally looked at the sunlight spilling in, discussing it with Gwen in a questioning tone.
"Of course, you are free now."
Hearing this, Sally took the little boy's hand and hurriedly ran toward the wooden ladder.
"No, you can't go out! If we're discovered, I'm finished! This family is finished!"
David Brown roared. Gwen immediately gave him two sharp blows.
"No, you can't do this!"
Watching the mother and son climbing up the ladder, David Brown begged Gwen, "Please, don't destroy our home. We are living very happily, please!"
Hearing these words, Gwen felt no pity in her heart, only overflowing anger.
She grabbed David Brown by his hair and hauled him up from the ground.
"Come! Look at this place! Look closely! You kept them imprisoned here, never seeing sunlight, never smelling fresh air, never seeing the beautiful world, and you dare call this a home?"
"But this is home..."
"A home is never a shackle for family members! It is a harbor for the soul to rest, a place where every family member can rely on one another!"
Gwen glared at him furiously, flames practically spewing from her eyes.
"You bastard, don't insult the word 'home'!"
Accompanying Gwen's angry shout, she pressed his head down and slammed it violently against the floorboards.
In Gwen's heart, a home was a sacred place.
Instantly, blood burst from his head.
David Brown's mind went blank; he twitched twice and fainted.
"Dammit!"
Gwen lifted the unconscious David Brown from the floor, leaped lightly, and jumped into the main cabin.
Casually tossing David Brown onto his bed, Gwen watched Sally, who was holding the little boy's hand, walk out of the cabin toward the deck. Gwen took a deep breath, deactivated her transformation, and hurriedly followed them.
Sunlight, sea breeze, freedom...
The mother and son enjoyed everything outside with a near-voracious hunger.
A moment later, a pale-faced Sally turned to look at Gwen. With a smile on her face, she spoke slowly: "Did you know? We were only allowed two hours a week to come out."
One week, two hours?
Gwen looked at the mother and son in shock, unable to comprehend how they had survived this.
"What on earth is going on here?"
(End of Chapter)