The little girl rushed into the dark jungle.
Sharp branches scraped her cheeks, leaving bloody scratches, but she didn't notice.
The firelight and screams behind her were swallowed by the dense vegetation, growing more and more distant.
She had only one thought: run.
Get away from those monsters, away from that bloody pit.
A few dozen meters behind her, several dark figures moved like ghosts, their steps silent on the fallen leaves.
Kael led the way, his body blending into the night.
Xiaolan followed him, her steps unsteady.
Her stomach churned. The image of the man being torn apart and the pirates' maniacal laughter were seared into her mind like a brand.
Kael, ahead of her, stopped without warning and stepped aside.
Xiaolan nearly crashed into his back. Looking closely, she saw a tripwire on the ground, the same color as the vines. The wire was connected to a cluster of bushes, and behind it, she could faintly make out sharpened wooden stakes aimed at the path.
