Ravenholm City, the largest hotel.
The room shared by Ronan and Hunter seemed shrouded in dark clouds, thick with a deadly aura so oppressive it was enough to make one panic.
"Still no idea where Captain and my sister-in-law are?" Hunter was so anxious he kept pacing in circles, chain-smoking one cigarette after another. The once-clean floor was littered with cigarette butts.
Ronan was pounding at the keyboard, his eyes bloodshot, red veins crisscrossing them. His entire body looked exhausted, yet he stubbornly continued searching for any trace of the two of them.
"Nothing yet. The signal has completely disappeared. There's absolutely no trace."
Frustrated, Ronan raked a hand through his hair, wishing he could smash the computer to pieces. "If I'd known this would happen, I would've gone to the old warehouse with Captain."
"Regretting it now is useless," Hunter said, gripping the edge of the desk, his eyes rimmed with blood. "What matters is finding them as soon as possible."
It was obvious that neither of them had rested properly lately. They had already searched the entire area around the old warehouse, but found nothing. They had no idea what had happened or how serious it was. Still… Captain was so formidable. Surely he wouldn't let himself be captured so easily, right?
Ronan typed again. Suddenly, a red dot flickered a few times in the middle of the map, then vanished.
Ronan's eyes flew wide open, his expression a mix of shock and joy. "I've found it. I know where they are!"
Hunter rushed over, excitement flashing across his face. "You found them? Where?"
"Right here." Ronan pointed to the spot where the red dot had disappeared. "Deep in the mountains and forests of Country S. The signal there is poor, but the locator just flashed."
"As long as we've found them, that's what matters," Hunter said, suddenly calming down.
Ronan typed again, and a piece of news suddenly leapt onto the screen. He froze, eyes widening in horror.
"Damn it, there was a landslide there!"
Ronan jumped up from his chair. "We need to send rescue immediately. We'll need a helicopter."
Hunter felt a chill run through him. Five days had already passed. They were trapped in a landslide zone, with rain still pouring nonstop. If either of them was injured or caught a cold, wouldn't they starve to death?
"Hurry. We have to bring Captain and my sister-in-law back safely." Hunter immediately pulled out his phone to make calls.
Ronan opened the door as well, moving at once to prepare rescue supplies.
Just as the two were about to leave, they unexpectedly saw someone standing at the hotel entrance.
"Miss William? Why are you here?"
Seeing Vecna in a white dress, beautiful and elegant, Ronan couldn't help but feel surprised. But once the surprise faded, a faint ache crept into his teeth, don't tell him she was here to look for Captain?
Vecna walked over with her bag, smiling gracefully and confidently. "I heard Captain is here, so I came to look for him. I hope it's not an inconvenience?"
"Actually, it is quite an inconvenience," Ronan replied dryly.
Caught off guard by his bluntness, Vecna froze for a moment, but no trace of anger showed on her face.
Worried about delaying the rescue, Hunter quickly explained that Captain had met with an accident and asked Vecna to stay at the hotel to rest and wait for news.
But how could Vecna possibly sit still? Her expression changed immediately, anxiety flooding her features. "Captain is in danger, how could I stay here waiting? I'm coming with you. I have to make sure Captain is safe."
Ronan and Hunter exchanged a look. There was no other choice but to bring Vecna along.
…
Even though panic still churned inside me, I forced myself to stay calm and used rainwater to cook the very last pot of mushroom soup. There wasn't a grain of salt or any seasoning, just mushrooms boiled in rainwater. Yet as we drank it slowly, sip by sip, that natural, subtle sweetness was unexpectedly comforting.
A bowl of hot soup went down, warmth spreading through my limbs, easing some of the heavy unease in my heart.
I set the bowl down and turned to look at him.
"Captain, let me check your wound."
I sat close beside him and carefully removed the bandages around his left abdomen. New skin had formed still bright red and fierce but under such harsh conditions, healing this well was already far beyond expectations.
"How is it?" His low, hoarse voice sounded. His gaze lingered again on my fingers, pale and cold from the rain.
As I wrapped fresh bandages, the corners of my lips lifted slightly. "It's healing very well. But even with new skin, you can't move too much, or it'll tear open again."
He seemed not to care much about the warning. His eyes stayed fixed on my hands, growing darker by the second. I pressed my lips together and instinctively withdrew my hand just then... From afar came the sudden hum of an engine, faint at first, then growing clearer.
I froze for a beat, my heart leaping.
A helicopter.
I nearly jumped up, spinning to look at him, my voice trembling with excitement. "Captain, do you hear that? That sound..."
"A helicopter," he replied firmly, a faint curve lifting his lips.
In that instant, joy nearly stole my breath away. I clenched my hands, words stumbling out. "It must be Ronan and Hunter looking for us. Finally… finally, we can go home."
But the engine noise only circled briefly, then gradually faded, growing distant. There was no landing. No rush of rotor wind.
My heart plunged straight to the bottom.
It flew away?
"Why…" I stared out into the rain in panic. "Is it because we're inside the cave, so they didn't spot us?"
He frowned, a flash of dissatisfaction crossing his eyes.
Biting my lip, I thought rapidly, then seemed to make up my mind and sprang to my feet. "We can't wait like this. Captain, I'll go out and draw their attention. As long as they land, I'll bring them back to you."
His brow furrowed immediately, his voice dropping. "You? Do you think you're invincible? It's pouring out there, the ground is mud, one fall and you'll die without anyone knowing."
I rubbed my nose, scared and irritated at being scolded, and couldn't help snapping back, "Then should you go instead? You're injured, what if the wound reopens and you pass out halfway? At least I'm healthier than you. I'm quicker too."
His expression darkened.
"Captain, stay here and wait. I'll be back as soon as I go."
I didn't give him a chance to object further. I turned and charged straight into the rain.
"Rosy!"
His roar came from behind me, cold and vicious.
"If anything happens to you, I'll wipe out the entire Bailey family every last one of them!"
His voice sent a shiver through me, but I still shook my head and ran. High above, the helicopter was flying north, not very fast. I took a deep breath and chased after it with all my strength, waving my arms and shouting until my throat was raw:
"Don't go! We're here...! There are people here!"
The wind and rain swallowed my voice. The helicopter kept flying.
I fell, got back up. Branches lashed my arms, tearing the skin; mud splattered all over me. By the time my throat burned dry and my lips went numb, I could barely feel anything. Drenched and freezing, my face pale as death, I still grit my teeth and ran.
"Don't go… we're here… Captain and I…"
The next time I fell, a sharp pain shot through my ankle. I knew I'd sprained it. But seeing the helicopter about to vanish into the rain, I forced myself up again and staggered after it.
Finally, as if the sky had suddenly taken pity...
The helicopter tilted slightly. The roar of the blades changed pitch, slowed, then descended through the white curtain of rain, landing in an open patch ahead. Rotor wind sent mud and debris flying.
In that moment, my throat tightened. I could barely breathe.
Rain mixed with something hot spilling from the corners of my eyes, I couldn't tell anymore whether it was rain or tears.
I used the last bit of strength I had, staggering forward. Each step felt like walking on cotton, my ankle burning with pain, but I didn't dare slow down.
Then I saw them.
Ronan.
Hunter.
Two familiar faces appeared through the rain, blurring and sharpening again, as if I were looking at them through a dream about to shatter.
"... Sister-in-law?!" Ronan's voice cracked as it burst out. Both of them froze, eyes wide with disbelief. In the next instant, shock was replaced by sheer horror.
My clothes were soaked and plastered to my body, smeared with mud and dried blood. My limbs were covered in scratches, my hair tangled and dripping with rain, my ankle swollen so badly it was obvious at a glance. I looked like someone who had just crawled out of a disaster.
"Oh my God...!" Hunter instinctively stepped forward, his face draining of color. "How… how did you end up like this?!"
I didn't have time to answer.
I lunged forward and grabbed Ronan's hand like it was my last lifeline, my nails nearly digging into his skin. My voice was hoarse and broken from wind, rain, and exhaustion:
"Follow me! Hurry!"
"Captain… Captain is still in the cave!"
"He's badly injured, we have to save him right now!"
Ronan froze for a single beat.
Then his eyes darkened abruptly. All trace of distraction vanished, replaced by razor-tight focus. In his mind, one chaotic, almost absurd thought flashed...
Who, exactly, was risking their life to save whom?
"There's no time," Ronan said urgently, steadying me. "We'll take the helicopter. It's faster."
I nodded hard, rain and tears streaming down my face.