Chapter 48
1029 Words
"No, it can't be Eva!" I retorted instinctively.
There was a spring in the cave we were staying in, and I had checked it before. The spring had fish and shrimp, likely because it was connected to an underground water source.
The others were just as dumbfounded.
"Maybe you were seeing things. Why would Eva jump in such cold weather?" Mandy said, clearly skeptical.
"I'm not sure either. Zack, you said you wouldn't blame me if I was wrong," Susie said, looking scared.
I forced a smile. "It's okay. What you said is a clue."
I quickly started thinking. On the surface, it didn't make sense for Eva to jump from there. But recalling everything that had happened, it seemed to start making sense.
The walls of this cave were inscribed with cryptic writings left by a madwoman. We couldn't understand Japanese, but Eva must have read everything. She might have discovered something important.
'Could it be that there's something under the spring?' Without another word, I decided to dive in and check. Whether for Eva or the island's secrets, I had to see for myself.
The weather was very cold, with temperatures outside the cave below freezing. Even inside, it wasn't much warm. Though the spring wasn’t frozen, the water was still extremely cold.
I had to be careful. After doing some warm-up exercises, I tied a rope around myself with the help of the girls. This way, if I cramped or ran out of strength underwater, they could pull me back up.
The water in this spring flowed quickly, making it a considerable challenge to move around underwater.
"Maybe you shouldn't go," Mandy said, glancing at Susie. "What if Susie was wrong? You'd be suffering for nothing."
"Let him go if he wants. I don't know why he's in such a hurry. If the rope breaks, he might never come back. Eva might just walk in through the cave entrance," Stella said, rolling her eyes and sounding jealous.
I smiled at her, not getting angry. What a silly girl! I was in a hurry because I knew Eva wouldn't be coming back.
I patted Stella's head. "If you ever disappeared, I would go crazy looking for you too."
Stella didn't expect me to say that, and her eyes turned red. She hesitated for a moment before throwing herself into my arms. I felt a warm, wet sensation on my shoulder.
I knew she was probably crying. "I'll be fine. Wait for me to come back," I said softly.
Stella cried for a bit, then pulled away and, with red eyes, kissed my cheek. "You pervert, you better come back safe and sound!"
I nodded with a smile, waved, and then jumped into the water with a splash. Behind me, Stella's face was red, and she glared at the water, muttering angrily.
Eva had left so suddenly, and I didn't know why. I had to find out.
The moment the freezing water surrounded me, I felt like I had plunged into an ice cellar. The spring water seemed clear from the shore, but once underwater, my vision became blurred.
However, I noticed that I was in a narrow channel, like an irregular water pipe made of rock. Following the current, I kicked forward, easily drifting far ahead.
But after a while, the waterway still hadn't changed. I realized I couldn't keep going. The current was too strong. Even with the rope, I might not be able to get back.
'Without me, what will Stella and the others do?' I didn't want to overestimate my importance, but on this island, a capable man was essential. After some hesitation, I turned back reluctantly.
Once I got ashore, I found no trace of Eva. My spirits were low all day. Even when I went hunting, I just wandered aimlessly. Luckily, we still had plenty of supplies in the cave.
The girls noticed my mood. They were also sad about Eva's disappearance, and instead of blaming me, they tried their best to comfort me.
I forced a smile at them, pretended to be fine, and collapsed into the grass bed as soon as the sun set. For the first time, I couldn't sleep, tossing and turning for hours.
As I rolled around, I suddenly felt something unusual in the corner of the bed. Upon closer inspection, I found an old envelope!
Curious, I opened it and found it filled with Eva's handwriting. The paper seemed to have been torn from the notebook she hid from me that day. It was slightly yellow and had a faintly aged smell, but the writing was recent. Eva, who traveled the world, had beautiful cursive handwriting.
"My dear Zack, I must say I'm sorry. I have been deceiving you all along. I told you I was British, but that was a lie. I'm not a member of the rescue team either. I was born in a small village near Bremen, Germany. My father was an explorer. The plane where we first got intimate was his. I came to this island to follow in his footsteps and uncover the island's incredible secret."
"Please forgive me, and don't worry about me. This is my choice and destiny. Please don't search for me. The secret of this island is more terrifying than you can imagine. If you come looking for me recklessly, it will only lead to your death. You are just ordinary people and shouldn't be drawn into this conspiracy."
"I don't even know what I will encounter in the future, but I am certain that if I survive and return one day, I will come to you with a bouquet of blooming lilies. Then, please embrace me and kiss me in the sunset amidst the sweet scent of lilies!"
"Finally, I must warn you. Take those lovely girls and leave this place as soon as possible. The true horror of this island has yet to reveal itself. Do not venture deeper into the jungle. Leave before spring arrives!"
"My father's notes mentioned that in spring, the island is filled with blood rain and is a true hell on earth!"
"Wait for me in the outside world, okay?"
- Writer
