Chapter 301 - End of arc-1 (1/2)

[Use Revon's old jeep and reach high towers.]

Alpha's first message that Suyin received came at a cost. Since taking Honey was out of question she herself wore the Neck-crushing collar to trick him to believe that someone indeed was wearing it. But somewhere she had a hunch he already knows about it.

Xiu Mei had checked its design and confirmed not only he could remotely control the collar, but it had a tracking device and sensors.

Following Alpha's instructions, she hoped on to the old jeep and steered towards the high towers in the west. She drove through the burned farmlands. Smoke emitting from the houses and buildings engulfed in flames. Dead bodies lying on the road. Being under the control of militia, this particular area of the country was most devastated.

She turns the steering to the right to avoid crushing any dead under wheels.

”AHHH,” A jolt of electric shock passed through her nervous system, strong enough to numb her senses, leaving her in unbearable pain.

The collar!

”Mummy!” She heard Honey's voice from the tiny pea size earphone Wang Shi had fixed inside her ear canal. Another of Xiu Mei's inventions. And no need to tell, it's super irritating to get something so close to your eardrum.

”I'm fine.” She bit back the pain, ”A desert fox passed by.” She heard Honey sniff and mutter a tiny hmm. She knew he caught her lying but not exposing her. ”My baby is bravest. I love you.” Another hmm, no words. He was crying. For sure.

It was a bad idea to let Honey hear them. But was there a choice? The little one refused to let them go without it.

[Every time you deviate from route, you will get a small surprise.]

Another message.

...

Wang Shi heard Suyin's pained voice too, leaving him gritting his teeth.

[Mei, cut it off] With a heavy heart he took the decision and messaged Xiu Mei. He had already left with Luo and Evan. Evan taking them from a secret route to Alpha's hideout. While Revon was leading his men from behind in military trucks.

Xiu Mei's lips pursed into a thin line as she paused her work and looked up at the little one curled at the window seat. His watery eyes set on the laptop, watching his parents' position on the map. They were in a military grade SUV inconspicuously moving towards Alpha's base through a different route with Xion's convoy ahead. Jianyu protecting them in the car.

Xiu Mei showed the message to Jianyu. He looked at Honey and slowly nodded.

She did exactly that.

Honey frowned. He couldn't hear the muffled sound of Suyin's breathing anymore, ”Hello? Hello? Ducky?” his eyes snapped at Xiu Mei. She immediately retrieved her gaze, expecting to hear him whine, complain, or request. But the little one did worse.

He did nothing.

Wish he had.

It was heart wrenching to see him look at Xiu Mei knowingly, accusingly. The look of betrayal. Fat tear stained his cheeks as he return his gaze to the screen.