Chapter181TheMan
Jodielookedbackasthecarenteredthetunnel,buttheman’sfacevanishedinthedarkness.
Allshecouldseewashishandonhisknee,repeatedlyflickingalighter.
Itwasasilverlighterwithoutanydecorativepatterns.Itwasn’t<b>a</b>famous brand,nordidithaveanydesignir.Justain,old–fashionedlighter.
Despiteitssimplicity,itborean<b>orange</b>gematitsbase,resemblingthesunset.
Thelighterseemedoutofceforsomeoneofhisstature,yethecarrieditfaithfullyeverydayforyears.
Asthe<b>vehicle</b>exitedthetunnel,Marcelncedatthnesonbothsides.Seeingnootherears,hesteppedontheelerator,speedingofftowardtheeasternwoods.
However,theirjourneywashaltedbydensetreesandundergrowth,forcingthemtoleavethecarbehindandwalk.
Jodie,inherleatherjacket,pants,<b>and</b>shortboots,lookedsharpwithhershorthair.
Sheand<b>Marcel</b>grabbedanemergencyshlightfromthecar’partment.Theyquicklyinsertedbatteriesandraisedthemtoshineintothewoods.
Sheturnedtothemanandsaid,“<b>Sic</b>,Mad1willgolookforher.Pleasewaitforusinthecar.”
Asshespoke,themanswiftlytooktheemergencyshlightfromherhandandsteppedintothewoodsahead.
Marcelshrugged,thenfollowedintothewoods,stayingclosetohim.
Thewoodsweredark.Thelightonlybrightenedthepath,leavingtheman’sfaceinshadow.
Withswillstrides,benavigatedthroughthedenselypackedtrees.Hiscoatsweptthroughthebushesontheground,buthe paidnoattentiontoit.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content.
Jodiestruggledtokeeppacewithhim.Hisusuallposeddemeanorwapletelydifferentnow.
Butthen<b>again</b>,itwasEmelle.
Astheman steppedoverasmallditch,herememberedwhatEmellehadtoldhimbeforehewentabroad.
“Ifyouleavethistime,Iwon’tpursueyouanymore.”
Acoldgustofnightwindpiercedthroughhim,chillinghimdeeply.Helookedaheadwithasenseofforeboding
Itfeltemeliewasrightthere,waiting.
Thedenseforestblockedouttheskyandanymoonlightorstarlight.
Emeliewalked throughthewoodslikeablindperson,unabletoseeanything.Notonlycouldshenotsee,butshewasalsoverycold.
Shehadtakenoffhercoatwhenshegotintothecar,leavingheronlyinaloose–knitsweater.Thewindcutthroughthesweater’sseams,makinghershiveruncontrobly.Asshestumbledforward,relyingonmemory,thecknessseemedendless.Therewerenosignsofcivilization.Unabletofindanexit,shedecidedtostopmovingforward.<b>She</b>returned<b>to</b>whereshewasleftbythecarandfoundatreewith afaintlight.Shecrouchedbesideit,huggingher kneestokeepwarm.
EmeliewassucePatriciawouldn’tactuallyleaveherhereorharmher<b>.</b>Shedidn’t<b>have</b>thenerveforit.
Someonewoulddefiniteletopickherup<b>in</b>afewhours.
Hypothetically,JaydenandtheotherswouldaskPatriciaandthedriveraboutherwhereaboutsiftheydidn’tseeherreturn
Inanycase,shewouldsurelyberescued
So,ratherthanblindlywanderingaround,itwasbestforhertowaitwhereshewas.Thisway,therescuerscouldeasilyfindher,andbothsideswouldn’twastetimesearchinginthewoods.
Emeliedidn’tcareaboutwhyPatriciadidit.Itshedaredtoactthatway,Emeliewasdeterminedtomakeherfacetheconsequences.
Asherlegsgrewnumbfromcrouching,<b>she</b>satonthe ground.
Luckily, itwaswinter,somostanimalswerehibernatingOtherwise,snakesandpoisonousinsectswouldlikelybeintheruggedforest.
However,asshethoughtaboutit,sheheardrustlinginthebushes,asifsomethingwasmovingquicklypast.