“I know.” It was Natalie’s turn to smile wryly.
Looking outside the cave, Sean suggested, “You can try to look for some food nearby if you don’t want to
starve.”
“There’s food nearby?” Following the direction of his gaze, she shook her head. “What could we possibly
find in a place like this? Are you asking me to hunt?”
He laughed at her question. “If you have the means, be my guest. I’m your excuse in case any rangers
decide to hold you to the law.”
“I’m not going to hunt. I’ll look around for some wild fruits. We can try to make our way out after we
eat,” Natalie announced and stood up.
Sean watched wordlessly as she left the cave.
She was gone for a couple of hours, and she had found some wild fruits reminiscent of kiwis. Despite
their sourness, it was palatable enough to fill her stomach, and that was far better than starving.
She ate about three of those fruits and fed the rest to Sean.
The fire went out around the same time they finished eating.
Natalie clapped her hands together and declared, “Let’s go.”
Sean followed without protest. He got to his feet with Natalie’s help, and they left the cave in slow steps.
Meanwhile, an exhausted Shane sat on his sleeping bag at a camping site located at the foot of the
mountain. His rumpled, mud-stained clothes added to his disheveled appearance. Fresh cuts marred his
handsome face as well.
A doctor was applying ointment to his face while Silas stood beside him. Anxiously, he asked, “Mr.
Shane, do you have other injuries besides the cuts on your face?”
Half an hour ago, Mr. Shane had gone into the mountains to search for his wife.
He had slipped and rolled off the slope then; hence, the cuts on his face.
If Silas had not dragged him back here to get treated, he would still be scouring for Natalie in the
mountains.
“I’m fine,” he said gruffly, resting his forehead in his hand.
Silas was still concerned. “Are you sure? We can drop by the hospital in town-”
“I said I’m fine!” Shane cut in fiercely.
Silas shut up after that.
Suddenly, a member of the rescue team drew back the mesh of the tent and came in. He looked agitated
as he said, “Mr. Shane, we have good news.”
“Did you find her?” Shane’s pupils widened, and he shot to his feet in an instant.
The doctor who had been applying ointment on him was knocked back by his force.
“No, but someone saw smoke coming from the mountains.” The rescue team member continued, “It’s not
the natural mist in the mountain forests, but smoke from a fire. We’ve explored the area in the past, and
we know that this forest is uninhabited. So the smoke-”
“It must have been from the fire that madam lit!” Silas interrupted excitedly. “Mr. Shane, that’s great!
Madam’s still alive!”
Shane’s entire body was vibrating with barely concealed joy as he clenched his fists.
“Send your team there ASAP!” Silas gave the order when Shane remained silent.
“Hold on,” Shane said as he picked up his jacket. “I’m going too.”
“No, Mr. Shane, you can’t go. You’ve barely slept since yesterday. What if-”
“I said I’m going!” Shane narrowed his eyes at Silas.
Silas opened and closed his mouth like a fish before sighing in resignation. “Ok.”
They made the necessary preparations and set off for the mountains.
The mountain was vast. By the time Shane and the rescue team reached the cave, it was empty.
From the temperature of the ashes on the floor, it seemed like they had left not too long ago. They
probably had a maximum head start of two hours.
“Mr. Shane, if they’re still walking, it means madam isn’t seriously injured! Thank God for that!” Gazing at
the ashes on the ground, Silas finally felt a sense of relief.
Shane’s relief was palpable as well. The tension in his brows relaxed slightly.
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