Chapter 29 Chapter 27 Hesitation

I groped my way back to the cave where I was imprisoned. It's been weeks since I walked down this passage; I haven't been back since Jeb released me that morning after Jared left.For me, I'm alive and Jared is in these caves, so this must be where I should be. There's no light here now, and I'm pretty sure this is my last leg of the ride—the twists and turns are kind of familiar.As I groped forward, I lowered my left hand as much as possible and touched the wall, hoping to find the opening.I haven't decided whether to crawl back into that tiny cave, but at least this gives me direction and lets me know I'm where I want to be.

It just so happened that I didn't intend to live back in the cave any more. Meanwhile, my fingers hit the rough edge at the top of the hole, my foot kicked a foreign object, and I tripped and fell to my knees.I stretched out my hands to support myself, but I heard a crackling sound, like something was being ripped through, not a rock, it didn't feel like it was here. The sound startled me, and the sudden foreign object startled me.Maybe I took a wrong turn and I didn't get anywhere near the hole I was in.Maybe, I'm in someone else's hole.I quickly recalled the road I just walked in my mind, not knowing how I got here.At the same time, I was in the dark, holding my breath, trying to hear the reactions around me after I fell.

Nothing - no response, no sound.The cave was, as usual, dark, hot, and humid.It was very quiet in the cave, and I knew I must be alone here. I tried not to make a sound, and carefully groped to understand the surrounding situation. My hand is stuck in something.I pulled out my hand and touched its shape. It felt like a cardboard box—there was a thin layer of plastic paper on the top of the cardboard box, and my hand just pierced it.I groped into the box again, and I touched another layer of plastic paper—I fumbled around in the box, and the rectangular objects in the box made many noises.

I think I should find the top of the hole.I groped to the left again and found more square boxes stacked here.I was trying to get to the top of the pile of cardboard boxes and had to stand up - the pile of boxes was as tall as I was alone.I groped slowly, and finally I found the wall, and then the hole, which was where I thought it was.I'd like to crawl in to see if it's the same hole - just stand on the bowed ground for a second and I'll be sure - but I can't get in the hole, which is also full of boxes. There was no other way, so I groped my way to the aisle again.I found that I couldn't go down the passage, which was also full of mysterious chests.

I scoured the ground to figure out what was going on, and I found something different from the box.The fabric is very rough, like a sack, and the contents of the bag are very heavy, and when I touch it, it makes a squeaky sound.I rubbed the bag with my hands, and the muffled sound of the bag was not as loud as that of plastic paper—it seemed impossible for anyone to notice that I was here. Suddenly, I understood at once, it was that smell.I fiddled with the sand-like things in the bag, and suddenly smelled a familiar fragrance.It reminds me of my bare kitchen in San Diego and the cabinets to the left of the sink.I distinctly remember a bag of untouched rice, a plastic measuring cup for measuring rice, rows of canned goods behind the rice bag, and the bag I touched was rice, and realizing that, I get it.After all, I was in the right place.Didn't Jeb say they use this place for food storage?Hadn't Jared just returned from a long safari?Now the stolen goods of those who disappeared for a few weeks to go hunting are thrown in this remote corner until they are needed.

Suddenly, many thoughts flashed through my mind. First, I understand that food is all around me.Not just rough bread and bland onion soup, but food.In the pile, there might be peanut butter, chocolate chip shortbread, chips, and Cheetos. Even if I imagine myself finding these foods and taking a few bites, feeling full for the first time since I left civilization, I feel guilty.Jared would not feed me the food that he had spent weeks hiding and stealing, risking his life, for other people to eat. I'm equally concerned that maybe the food isn't all there yet.What if they hid more boxes of food?Did Jared and Kyle bring the food here?It's not hard to imagine what would happen if they found out I was here.

But isn't that why I'm here?Don't I just want to think about it alone? I lay listlessly against the wall, and the rice sack served as my pillow.I closed my eyes—it wasn't necessary, because I couldn't see my fingers here—and began to discuss the problem slowly. Well, Mel, what now? I am glad that she is still awake and alert, and that going against the trend can bring her strength.She disappears only when things are going well. focus.She firmly stated, what is the most important thing to us?alive?Or Jamie? She knows the answer.Jamie.I repeated it, sighed and said something very loudly.

agree.Would it be good for Jamie if we let Jeb and Ian protect us, we might hold on a little longer? Maybe.Would it hurt him more if we let it go and it would end badly?Or if it seems inevitable. She didn't want this, and I could tell she was flustered and trying to find some other solution. Trying to escape?I suggested. Impossible, she said firmly, besides, what can we do if we escape?How do we tell them? Let's imagine together—how do I explain the months I've been missing?I could lie, make up another story, or say I don't remember anything, but I remembered the skeptical look on the hunter's face, the suspicious look in her bulging eyes.I knew she would not believe my poor subterfuge.

They'll think I've got you under control, and Melanie agrees with me, and then they'll throw you out and let her in. I moved my body, as if the new position would free me from the thought, and I was shaking.Then, I thought about the ending.She'll tell them about the place, and hunters will come looking for it. Fear overwhelmed us all at once. That's right, I continued, so no escape. That's right.She whispered that she was emotional and her thoughts were unstable. So, decide to go fast or slow.Which decision would hurt him less? It seemed that whenever I was thinking about practical issues, at least my discussions became very formulaic, and Melanie was imitating me.

I'm not sure.On the one hand, logically, the longer the three of us were together, the harder it would be for him to separate.Conversely, if we don't fight, he won't feel good if we let go. He will feel that we have betrayed him. I thought about the two aspects she said, trying to look at this matter as rationally as possible. So be quick.But we must save our lives as much as possible. to fight.she declared firmly. struggle.awesome.I imagined - the scene of fighting with arms, raising my hand to hit someone.I can express it in words, but I can't imagine the picture like that.

You can, she encouraged me, and I will help you. thanks.But no, there must be other ways. Xiao Man.I don't understand, you've completely given up on your fellow man, you've sacrificed for my brother, you've fallen in love with the one I used to love.Now it's time to kill our people.But you can't give up habits that are completely impractical. Mel, I am me, and I can't change that, but other things can.You have been persisting, please allow me to persist. But if we were going to, she would have continued arguing with me, but our conversation was interrupted by the sound of shoes rubbing against the ground from the other end of the passage. I froze—stopped all function except my heart, which, however, was beating erratically—and I listened, not expecting the sound to be imaginary.A few seconds later, I heard more soft footsteps coming towards me. Melanie was calm.But I panicked. stand up.She orders me. Why? You don't want to fight.But you must run.You have to try to do something - for Jamie. I started breathing again, but as softly and shallowly as possible.Slowly, I rolled forward and stood up.But the muscles are a little disobedient, painful and numb.I'm faster than those who try to catch me, but where can I go? "Xiao Man?" Someone called softly: "Xiao Man, are you there? It's me." His voice was hoarse, and I knew who he was. "Jamie!" I called out anxiously. "What are you doing here? I told you I was going to be alone." He was obviously relieved in his voice, and now he raised his voice: "Everyone is looking for you, by the way, you know, Trudy, Lily and Wes—everyone Alone. It's just that we can't let everyone know what we're doing, no one will think you're missing. Jeb is back with his gun, and Ian is with the doctor. When the doctor is free, he will Talk to Jared and Kyle. Everyone listens to the doctor, so you don't have to hide. Everyone's busy, and you're probably tired too" As Jamie explained, walking forward, he touched my arm and grabbed my hand. "I'm not hiding, Jamie, I told you I'd think about it." "You can think with Jeb, can't you?" "Where do you want me to go? Back to Jared's room? I think I should stay here." "You can't stay here." There was that familiar stubbornness in his voice again. "Why is everyone so busy?" I asked Jamie, trying to distract him. "What is the doctor doing?" My efforts were unsuccessful and he did not answer my questions. After a minute of silence, I touched his face and said, "Look, you should stay with Jeb, tell the others to stop looking for me, I'll stay here for a while." "You can't sleep here." "I used to sleep here." I feel him shaking his head in my hand. "At least, I'll get the mattress and the pillow." "I just need one." "Jared is such a jerk, I won't sleep with him anymore." I sighed to myself, "Then you sleep with Jeb and his purrs! You should be with them, not me." "I stay where I want to be." All I could think about was that Kyle might find me, but it only made Jamie feel more responsible for protecting me. "Okay, but you have to ask Jeb's permission." "Later, I don't want to bother Jeb tonight." "What is Jeb doing?" Jamie didn't answer, and it was only at this moment that I realized that this was the first time he had purposely not answered my question.There were things he didn't want to tell me, maybe the others were too busy looking for me, maybe Jared's return had brought them back to where they were.Just like in the kitchen, they looked at me with their heads down, their eyes full of guilt. "Jamie, what's going on?" I asked eagerly. "I shouldn't tell you," he murmured, "and I won't tell you." His arms were wrapped tightly around my waist, his face was on my shoulder, "everything will be alright Yes," he assured me, his voice hoarse. I patted his back and stroked his messy hair. "Okay," I said, agreeing to his silence.After all, I have my own secrets too, don't I? "Don't be sad, Jamie, things are going to work out for the best no matter what, and you'll be fine." When I said those words, I wished they were true. I opened my eyes blankly in the darkness, trying to figure out what he didn't want to say, and a faint light at the end of the corridor caught my attention-although the light was very faint, it was in a cave where you couldn't see your fingers. , this light is already very bright. "Shh," I took a breath, "someone is coming, hide behind the box." Jamie jerked his head up and turned to look at the yellow light in the distance, which only got brighter for a second.I listened carefully for other footsteps, but I didn't hear them. "I won't hide," he took a breath, "Xiao Man, stand behind me." "no!" "Jamie!" Jared yelled, "I know you're there!" I felt weak and numb in my legs.Is it really Jared?It would be easier for Jamie if it was Kyle who killed me. "Go away!" Jamie yelled back. The yellow light moved faster, turned a corner, and shone on the wall on the other side. Jared turned the corner slowly, bouncing the flashlight back and forth on the ground.He was spruce up again, wearing a faded red shirt that I recognized—it hung in the room where I lived for a few weeks, so it looked familiar.His face was familiar too—the expression on his face hadn't changed since the moment he appeared. The light from the flashlight shone on my face, making it hard to keep my eyes open.I know the silver behind my eyes is reflected in the torchlight because I feel Jamie jump up—a little startled, and then Jamie is more determined than ever. "Get out!" Jared yelled. "Shut up!" Jamie yelled at Jared. "You don't know her! Let her go!" He was leaning against me and I wanted to let go of his hand. Jared approached like an aggressive bull.He grabbed Jamie by the collar and yelled at him to get away from me.He gripped Jamie's collar tightly, screaming and shaking Jamie vigorously. "You idiot! Don't you see it's using you?" I instinctively squeezed between the two of them and asked.As I thought, Jared let go of Jamie because of my intervention.I don't want or need anything else to happen - I smell Jared again, my hand on his chest. "Let go of Jamie," I said.Just for once I hope I can do better than Melanie expected - now my hands have strength, my voice has strength. He grabbed my wrist with one hand and flung me out of the way into the wall.I was taken aback and almost lost my breath.I hit the wall, bounced to the ground, and fell onto the box.Jared gave me a cold look—I cringed back, but the anger on his face seemed to be gone—then he bent to pick up the flashlight, kicked the boxes out of the way, and chased after him. Jamie went. "I'm sorry! Okay? Don't cry, kid!" He turned a corner and apologized to Jamie in a canine sound, with a hint of anger in his voice, and I lay there in the dark. For a long time, all I could do was breathe.I concentrate on taking the air in, out, and in again.After I felt free to breathe, I tried to stand up.It took me a few seconds to remember how to move my legs, my legs were trembling and ready to fall over, so I sat against the wall and moved slowly until I found the bag full of rice and put it Use as a pillow.I slumped to the ground, contemplating my current situation. Nothing was broken—maybe Jared's nose should be removed, I shook my head slowly.Jamie and Jared shouldn't be fighting, I'm causing them pain and unhappiness.I sighed and rethought my current situation.I had a sore spot in the middle of my back, and the spot where my face hit the wall was raw and wet.As soon as I touched it, I felt a tingling sensation, and some warm liquid was on my hands.This is where it hurts the most, the other scrapes and bruises are not serious. Thinking of this, I suddenly felt relieved. I'm alive.Jared would have had a chance to kill me, but he didn't.Instead, he followed Jamie in an attempt to reconcile.So no matter how much damage done to their relationship, their relationship is not irreparable. It was a long day—long enough that Jared and the others who had been out had returned, for what seemed like eons of years.I closed my eyes and fell asleep with the rice on my pillow.