Chapter 257

Crash!

The sky, a gloomy shade of white, rumbled ominously with a sudden thunderclap.

It seemed as if the bolt was aimed right at Thaddeus, paralyzing him completely.

Only his heart was pounding fiercely, waves of complex emotions crashing within him.

Professor Leo,” Thaddeus‘ voice was taut, almost a whisper, “how long has Ms. Ilana been helping you with the patrols?

“About three years now,” Professor Leo replied. “She’s been a great help.”

Those were the three years since he and Evadne got married.

Thaddeus‘ heart gave a painful lurch.

A bitter wave of anguish surged up his throat, almost suffocating him.

All these years, she were hiding the truth, doing the same thing he was doing.

But he had his reasons. What were hers?”

Thaddeus‘ head throbbed painfully as wave after wave of confusion threatened to overcome him.

“Looks like a storm’s coming,” Professor Leo muttered, glancing at the darkening sky and pulling out his walkie–talkie to contact Captain Sean. “Be careful out there, Sean! Especially with Ilana.”

“Don’t worry, professor, came the prompt reply.

Thaddeus turned abruptly and headed towards the entrance of the Misty Mountain trail.

“Mr. Thaddeus! Where are you going?” Professor Leo called after him.

Thaddeus didn’t stop but answered silently in his mind–to replace her.

The sky was a dark gray, rumbling with the threat of a storm.

It was still daytime, but the sky was as dark as night.

“Seriously, who goes hiking in this weather?” one of the team members grumbled as they trudged along.

“No use complaining now,” Captain Sean said, his voice barely audible over the wind and rain. “Our job is to ensure the safety of the hikers.”

“Captain Sean! Look!” Evadne called out, pointing at something wedged between two rocks.

“It’s the missing hiker’s cell phone. We’re on the right track!” Captain Sean announced, his voice grim.

‘Let’s split up! Ilana and group A, come with me. Group B, head west,” he ordered.

“Yes, captain!” came the reply.

Despite the rain gear, Evadne was soaked to the skin and shivering. The wind was howling, making it hard to move forward.

The Misty Mountain was vast, a labyrinth of slopes and cliffs.

“Help, someone help me.”

“I hear her!” Evadne cried, stopping in her tracks. “She’s close by.”

Everyone looked at her in surprise. The pretty woman wasn’t just for show. She had sharp ears too!

“Ilana, be careful!” Captain Sean warned as she started to head in the direction of the voice.

Evadne fumbled with her flashlight, the desperate calls for help echoing in her ears. Her heart pounded erratically.”

She had once been lost in the mountains, praying for someone to replace her. Now, she was the one doing the rescuing.

Finally, after several heartstopping moments, they found the lost hiker.

Don’t worry! We’re here to help!” Evadne yelled over the wind.

“Can you move?” she asked the woman, but the woman could only shake her head.

“Stay calm! I’m coming down to get you!” Evadne reassured her.

“No, Ilana! It’s too dangerous!” Captain Sean protested, but it was too late.

Evadne was already on her way down, her movements swift and sure despite the treacherous conditions. She reached the woman, pulling her into an embrace.

My foot. I can’t move it.” the woman whimpered, her voice barely a whisper.

“We’re going to get you out of here,” Evadné promised, her voice firm.

Then she began the difficult task of rescuing the injured woman from the mountainside.

She hastily held the woman close, securing a rope tightly around her waist.

Just then, Evadne felt the ground tremble beneath her feet as if an earthquake was happening!

“Damn it! It’s a landslide! Pull up, everyone!”

Captain Sean, drenched in sweat and panicstricken, tugged at the rope with every ounce of strength in him.

But no matter how hard he tried, his feet kept sl*pping uncontrollably!

“We can’t hold on, Captain! We’ll all lose our lives at this rate!

“Captain! We’re losing our grip!”

“Captain! We can only save one! We need to get out of here before it’s too late!”

As he spoke, debris mixed with mud began to pour down like a raging flood, carrying with it a destructive force that was unstoppable!

Captain Sean mustered all his strength, letting out a bellow of desperation.

In the last second before the landslide hit, amidst the thick smoke, they managed to pull a woman up.

“Captain! We’ve saved a hiker! She’s alive!”

“Captain! Ilana, Ms. Ilana is gone!”

When Captain Sean heard of Evadne’s disappearance, his eyes darkened, and everything before him seemed to fade into oblivion.

Due to the landslide, the park rangers managed to save the climbers, but now they had to get the injured back to base as soon as possible.

Some of you escort the injured back to base, the rest come with me to search for Ms. Ilana!”

Captain Sean’s eyes were red with determination, his fists clenched tight. “Get in touch with the search and rescue team! We need backup!”

“Captain! Do you think Ms. Ilana got buried under the debris?”

“She might have fallen off the cliff!”

The team members bowed their heads in sorrow, hope fading.

“Don’t you dare talk like that! Ms. llana is lucky. She’ll be fine!”

Even though he said this, tears were threatening to spill from Captain Sean’s eyes.

Three years ago, a park ranger had died in a landslide. He knew all too well how terrifying such a natural disaster could be, but he refused to admit that the brave and determined girl might not be so lucky this time.

“Captain! Look, someone’s there!”

Captain Sean quickly turned, and in the midst of the thunderstorm, a man draped in a dark green climbing suit stood tall and undeterred, walking towards them with an unyielding resolve. “Thaddeus, is that you?”

“It really is Mr. Thaddeus!”

With his austere face drenched from the rain, Thaddeus stood before them, his stern brows akin to a hawk in the night.

His arrival seemed to make the world shift.

“Where is Ilana?Thaddeus demanded, his eyes bloodshot.

“In an attempt to save someone, she got caught in the landslide. We don’t know if she’s alive or dead,” Captain Sean stated the harsh reality. There was no need to hide anything how. Thaddeus turned pale, his broad shoulders trembling. The pain in his heart was like a gaping wound.

“It can’t be. llana can’t be dead! She can’t be!”

Thaddeus thought, “She still owes me so many answers.

She hadn’t gotten her revenge on him yet. He haven’t made up for all the hurt and injustice she’s been through.

How could she just die?

He won’t let her die.

He needed her to stay, alive and by his side!

Thaddeus’s eyes were filled with a crimson rage. Without a backward glance, he charged Into the storm.

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