Chapter 42
1014 Words
I had no choice but to jump into the deep water downstream before Quinn spotted me.
I held my nose and dove into the deep water, holding my breath and staying still. I couldn't afford to be discovered, not because I feared these women, but because I needed to find out where their camp was. The island was too big to search for Leo and his gang aimlessly. Following these three women was my best shot, and I couldn't miss it!
Quinn searched the area where I had been hiding for a while. "There's no one here. Maybe the wind knocked the clothes down."
"But it's getting late. Let's head back," Quinn said to Crystal and the other woman.
I held my breath until my lungs and throat burned. After what felt like an eternity, I cautiously poked my head out of the water and saw that Quinn had stopped looking for me. I slowly crawled back to my previous hiding spot to observe them secretly.
The three women got out of the river but didn't hurry to put on their clothes. Instead, they rubbed a strange powder on their bodies. The scent of the powder drifted far away; even from my hiding spot in the bushes, I could smell it. It smelled like a mix of pepper and other spices. I guessed it might be something to repel insects or even wild animals.
I remembered that when I was in the army, the field troops would use beast-repellent spray during exercises. It contained a high concentration of pepper. Animals like wolves and bears, which had very sensitive noses, would be greatly affected by the strong, pungent scent of this plant powder. Once they smelled it, they would keep their distance.
No wonder these women dared to venture into the forest. It turned out they had this valuable powder. I became even more certain that there must be some highly skilled individuals in Leo's team.
I hadn't thought of this trick before. I planned to make some of this powder in the future to keep the girls safe while hunting.
As I thought this over, I followed Quinn and her companions closely. They walked through the forest for about ten or twenty minutes before arriving at a valley. Faint firelight flickered from within the valley, indicating their camp was there.
I didn't follow them any further but instead climbed to a high slope at the edge of the valley. From this vantage point, I had a clear view of the entire camp.
I discovered that there was indeed a camp in the valley. Unlike our camp, their camp consisted of grass huts. Inside these huts were dried moss and animal skins, looking very soft and comfortable.
Soon, I spotted Leo inside one of the huts. He was roasting meat over a campfire, taking big bites and looking very satisfied with himself.
I smirked coldly. This guy's wounds had healed. I gripped my gun tightly, determined not to let him go this time.
Besides him, I didn't see anyone else. Judging by the number of huts, there were probably two or three others out hunting. Those out hunting were likely men. I didn't rush to confront Leo. I hid in the bushes and waited patiently.
I planned to deal with them all once they were together. I wasn't arrogant. Instead, I had a significant advantage.
First, they didn't have guns, but I did. Second, I was hidden while they were exposed. Lastly, I was positioned high up, with a clear view perfect for an ambush. With my precise shooting, I could take them down one by one, making them flee in a panic!
I lay in wait, time ticking by, and soon the sun set.
My patience paid off when two men returned together! Seeing their faces, I couldn't help but smirk coldly. I recognized them both. They were both employees of our company. One was Walter Young, a new hire this year in his early twenties but very muscular. He was a typical fitness enthusiast who looked intimidating.
The other man made me feel conflicted. He was Sam Hunter, my only good friend at the company! He joined the company after leaving the army, like me. We both worked in the Advertising Department. But when Sam came to the company, he couldn't even use basic software and struggled to get by. He was scolded by his supervisors and bullied by colleagues; no one respected him.
When he was at his lowest and ready to quit, I helped him out and taught him many things patiently. Even though his abilities were limited and he didn't achieve great results, he managed to get by with my help.
At that time, I thought, since we were both former soldiers, we should look out for each other. Sam was very grateful, and over time, we became good friends. But I never expected Sam to team up with Leo.
Why did he try to murder me? I felt deeply hurt, but I hoped that Sam wasn't among those who had set me up. However, I quickly dismissed this self-deceiving thought.
This group didn't seem to have any wilderness survival experience. If anyone had survival skills, it would be Sam, who had the same military background as me.
I wondered if Sam might have been coerced. Clinging to a sliver of hope, I observed for a while longer, but my anger became hard to contain.
Sam seemed to hold a high position among them, acting like a leader. Even Leo and the muscle guy followed his orders. It appeared Sam was the ringleader. If it weren't for his orders, the others probably wouldn't have dared to act against us!
'He must have played a big role in those dirty tricks!'
Memories of hanging with Sam flashed through my mind. I remembered him saying he wanted to be friends with me for life. Thinking about the betrayal we faced now, I felt like a fool. My disappointment quickly turned into deep hatred.
Since he betrayed me first, I wouldn't hold back!
- Writer
