Remote Mountain Conqueror

Chapter 9

Ronald walked with unsteady steps. His heart was beating irregularly as he made his way deeper into the cave. But the footprints still continued, as if there was no break.

Feeling tired, he turned to Felicia and whispered, "Why don't we end this investigation?"

Felicia's forehead immediately wrinkled. The look in her eyes reflected her disapproval. "We've come this far, you're asking to stop?"

"Yes, don't you want to?" asked Ronald desperately.

Felicia let out a rough breath and said, "Don't waste your time fruitlessly."

Ronald nodded resignedly. He was forced to do another search. But this time, his eyes couldn't stop blinking.

Just a few steps back, he saw splatters of flesh and blood. To make sure, he stopped walking and focused the light of the flashlight right on the splatter.

"The shape of this flesh splatter looks strange and the color of the blood also seems familiar," Ronald explained with his voice lowered.

Felicia, who was squatting behind him, also looked closely. "By any chance, is this human blood?"

At the same time, when Ronald was about to answer, his hearing suddenly picked up a strange sound. It sounded like someone breathing hard and occasionally wailing.

It turned out that Felicia had heard the same thing. She shuddered in horror and immediately wrapped her arms around Ronald's stomach.

"Ronald, what do you think that sound was? Have you ever heard any strange sounds or things while you were staying here?" Felicia asked, but her eyes were on guard.

Ronald's thoughts instantly turned to Audrey. "Yes, Audrey heard voices here, but I ignored them and assumed they were animal sounds outside this cave," Ronald said frankly.

"Oh no, you underestimated it, but luckily you survived!" Felicia's tone sounded a little annoyed.

Ronald immediately took a deep breath and said, "I'm really sorry for that, and now I'll investigate everything."

He stood back up and observed the shape of the cave passage in front of him. He realized that there were two branches.

"Now which way are you going to choose?" asked Felicia, who was beginning to look confused.

Ronald thought for a moment and focused on his sense of hearing. After a moment, he made his decision with great conviction, "I'm going to take the right-hand side."

"Okay, I trust you," Felicia said with resignation.

Now Ronald was feeling even more uneasy. Panic and fear had blended into one. But he tried not to show it in front of Felicia.

His panic grew even more when he saw that the road he was about to walk on was watery as far as his knees. He was worried that there might be dangerous animals in the water.

In anticipation, he offered his services to Felicia, "Since the water is murky, can I carry you?"

Felicia quickly nodded without making a sound. The girl's expression couldn't lie if she was scared.

Ronald didn't say much more, so he did just that. Felicia now hugs his neck tightly. Aside from the tingling, there was a warm and slightly cozy feeling he felt.

Instead of that, a strange voice grew louder. It sounded like an angry monster. The color of the water, which had been murky brown, became blood-red.

Ronald's eyes continued to monitor what was around him. While keeping watch, the flashlight on his cell phone accidentally highlighted a hairy and large figure. It was a gorilla. The size of the gorilla almost filled the cave's streets.

"Oh my God, what is this ordeal again?" Ronald said in panic. His voice apparently made the gorilla realize his presence.

Ronald was stunned when the gorilla started running after him. In between his panicked running, he took the time to turn his head and highlight what was in the gorilla's hand. He saw a fresh piece of a human hand.

The gorilla was walking slowly, but because it was so big, it made its pace seem fast.

"Ronald, it looks like we're going to be the next victims." Felicia's voice seemed desperate.

Despite feeling the same way, Ronald still tried to think positively, "I'm sure that won't happen."

Felicia only chuckled while occasionally looking back. Her eyes widened when she realized that the gorilla was almost close to her. Its current position on Ronald's back made her panic even more. "Ronald, that gorilla can almost reach my body!" she shouted in fear.

"Okay, I'll run faster!" Ronald's voice sounded heavy and his breathing was labored.

The path along the cave, which was not slippery before, became slippery because of Ronald's footprints carrying water.

This made it difficult for Ronald to run fast. He decided to take a different approach by lowering Felicia from his back.

"Sorry Felicia, you'll have to run on your own because my energy is running low." Ronald's tone sounded guilty.

Felicia's eyes couldn't stop watching the gorilla's steps as it approached her. Therefore, she quickly replied, "No problem, let's run again!"

Felicia's hand immediately pulled Ronald's as if reminding him that danger was on the horizon.

They continued running at full speed. Until Ronald finally slipped due to fatigue from keeping his slippery feet on the ground.

"Felicia! Wait for me!" Ronald shouted loudly and bounced all around the cave.

Hearing his shout, Felicia stopped running and came over to him. "As long as we're running, I'll hold your hand, Ronald."

Since there wasn't much time for conversation, Ronald simply nodded and got to his feet. He tried to make positive suggestions to reignite his enthusiasm.

Together, they held hands while running. They strengthened each other in the midst of the same breath.

After a full struggle, they finally reached the mouth of the cave exit. There was a feeling of relief among them.

Before speaking, Ronald took a deep breath. "Do you think it's safe now?" His voice sounded heavy, as if it followed his labored breathing.

"I don't think so." Felicia spoke as her gaze focused on the cave.

Ronald immediately followed the direction of Felicia's eyes. Realizing that the gorilla was still following him, he chuckled, "Damn, that demon animal is still following us."

"Where should we hide now?" Felicia asked, as if there was no hope.

Ronald quickly replied, "We'd better run now while we think about it."

They resumed running while holding hands. But at a more leisurely pace than before because the gorilla was still some distance away. Even so, their feelings were equally unsettled.

As they ran, Ronald often looked back to let Felicia know where the gorilla was. He didn't realize that there was also a group of people running in front of him.

Ronald and the group were both unfocused and ended up bumping into each other.

"Ouch!" said one of the group.