193 Regret, Falling for a False Promise (1/2)

Day 22 – 12:34 AM – Mountain Village, Mount Malabito, General Nakar, Quezon

Four men were waiting outside the house where Trisha and Jollene were staying. Soon, Jollene slowly opened the door trying not to make any noise as she walked out. When she closed the door, she faced the four men who were Jefferson, Sherwyn, Arnolds and Pierce.

”Ready?”

Jefferson asked Jollene who slung a small bag on her shoulder.

”Are we really leaving? How about the other girls? About Huey, Ed and Ron?”

Jollene asked while glancing at the door she just came out from.

”Don't worry about them. I'm sure those three girls had already become whores for that mountain man. You don't want to become one of them right? About Huey and those two, they already chickened out.”

Jefferson said not hiding his displeasure. Being humiliated by that man, he would never be able to stomach staying in this place.

”Won't it be dangerous?”

Jollene still had her doubts.

At that moment, Jefferson reached for her chin and said.

”Don't worry, I'm here and also Sherwyn. We're only held back because they are injured. If it's just us, we'll be fine. If something happens, I promise I'll protect you.”

Due to Jefferson's actions, the smitten Jollene nodded with flushed face.

”Alright, let's go.”

Under the moonlight, their shadows rushed out of the village into the forest.

They did not know that when they left, Huey stepped out of the house. Even though he already fell asleep, he was disturbed when Arnolds and Pierce walked out of the house they were staying together. He was looking at the direction the five went with complicated expression. He expected that Jefferson and Sherwyn would leave but he did not expect that even Arnolds, Pierce and Jollene would go. Although Arnolds was not that injured, he was basically useless in fighting while Pierce for sure had not fully recovered yet. As for Jollene, it a little expected even though Huey did not want to acknowledge it. The reason for her to leave was obvious.

Still, he could not do anything about it and could only watch as their silhouettes vanish into the forest.

But then, Huey saw someone else coming out. It was Mark. He was afraid that this man would go after them so he dragged his injured leg and walked towards his direction. Huey's injury was not as severe as Hallie's so he could still walk on his own but there was no way for him to run.

It seemed that Mark noticed that he was coming and waited.

”Are you going to kill them?”

Huey tried to ask in a respectful tone but it turned out a little off sounding due to him not being proficient in speaking like this.

”Not really…”

Mark replied in a nonchalant tone. He had no plans to kill those people at all.

”Really?”

Huey sounded happy. Even though those five left, Huey did not want something to happen to them. They might have bad points but their whole group still experienced life and death together.

”You're a good person.” Mark complemented Huey but his next words made the latter's eyes dilate with a horrible expression in his face. ”Did that guy with claws managed to wash his body thoroughly? I guess not.”

Even though he could not see Mark's face clearly, Huey saw an illusion of Mark sneering though his face had no emotion at all.

Huey was smart as Mark complemented him before so he understood what the latter meant with his question. He was thinking about too many things that it passed his mind. What Mark spilled at Jefferson before was guts of a dead animal and its smell was not something that could be easily removed.

Right now, Jefferson was a beacon for the savage animals in the middle of the night and all the people around him was destined to die because of him. No, probably, except for Sherwyn.

'Dammit!'

Huey clenched his fists. He should have stopped them!

'What should I do? Jollene… At least Jollene!!!'

As his emotions swirled inside him, Huey raised his head and looked at Mark with resolute eyes.

***

Fifteen minutes after Jefferson and the other four left the village, they had not gotten too far. Even though they could follow the general direction, it was very hard to traverse a mountainous terrain in the middle of the night especially for this group of people that had no experience in hiking. Their pace was the same as the time they escaped from the camp a day ago despite the fact that there was no one too injured to drag them down.

At this moment, they were feeling shivers as they traversed the forest. They ignored it as a passing cold due to the low temperatures in the mountains but for some reason, it did not go away.

Pierce held his weapon tightly, the weapons he was currently using was actually the shovel Mark made them use to burrow the dead monkey. On the other hand, the black colored knife was currently in the hands of Sherwyn. These people not only left the village to escape but also stole Mark's things.

”I feel like we're being watched.”

Shivering, Pierce could not hold back anymore and spoke in a whisper.

”What are you talking about? Don't scare us like that.”

Arnolds said as he tightened his grip on his butcher's knife.

”But…”

Pierce wanted to speak again but Jefferson interjected.

”What are you guys afraid of? We already lost the tiger yesterday and I'm here.”

On the other hand, Sherwyn was not speaking and was just being cautious with the surroundings while Jollene was sticking closely behind Jefferson.

It was then when…

A shadow pounced towards Jefferson.