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Joshua led Xylia into the hills, and before long, she tapped him on the shoulder.

Xylia was firm–she wanted to walk on her own.

“You’re not a machine. Save your energy. I can walk,” Xylia said, determined.

She was stubborn about it.

Joshua finally gave in and set her down.

Seeing Joshua’s face drenched in sweat, Xylia frowned, her heart aching for him.

She reached out with her sleeve to wipe the sweat from Joshua’s face, and out of the corner of her eye, caught sight of a bag in his hand that hadn’t been there before.

“What’s that?” she asked.

Joshua gave the backpack in his hand a little shake. It wasn’t too big, but it was packed tight with supplies.

“When I came to rescue you, I wasn’t sure what could go wrong, so I brought this as our backup n. It’s loaded with stuff we might actually need,” Joshua said.

“But I didn’t see you grab it,” Xylia said, puzzled.

Joshua chuckled, pinched her cheek yfully, then took her hand and led her down the hill.

“I stashed it outside beforehand. When I picked it up, I did it so quickly you probably missed it,” Joshua said.

Xylia couldn’t help but be impressed by how amazing Joshua was. He was even more thoughtful and meticulous than she’d ever pictured.

‘He’s always so attentive–way more than I ever expected, Xylia thought to herself, feeling a warm ache in her heart.

Since Joshua figured the people outside weren’t likely to just march right into the hills, he didn’t push Xylia to

rush.

Still, they didn’t take it too slow either–with danger lurking everywhere, and no telling when those outsiders might decide to chase after them.

Joshua rummaged through the backpack and fished out a chocte bar along with a jacket.

“It’s a bit chilly out here. Throw on this jacket and have some chocte–gotta keep your strength up. The way down is pretty long,” Joshua reminded her.

Xylia noticed Joshua was only wearing a thin ck long–sleeved shirt and couldn’t help but worry.

“What about you? Aren’t you cold?” Xylia asked..

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“I can handle the cold better than you, can’t I? Just put it on,” Joshua said.

He helped Xylia into the jacket and even unwrapped the chocte for her.

Joshua lowered his gaze, looking at Xylia with a hint of heaviness in his eyes.

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Her once bright face was now tinged with exhaustion, and she seemed much skinnier than she used to be. Joshua felt his heart tighten, a wave of pain washing over him as his eyes darkened with worry.

Just as Xylia was about to take a bite of chocte, Joshua’s big hand gripped the back of her head, pulling her in for a kiss that burned with urgency and heat.

The kiss was fierce, almost bruising, aching with all of Sadie’s endless longing that seemed to pour straight into every touch.

It had only been a few days since they’d seen each other, but it genuinely felt like years had gone by.

Xylia couldn’t fight the ache in her chest anymore; tears slipped from the corners of her eyes as she kissed him back, giving in to all the longing and love she’d hidden inside.

After a long, lingering kiss, Joshua pulled Xylia into his arms, holding her tight.

“I know how much you’ve suffered through all this. Once we get out of here, I swear I’ll make them pay,” Joshua said, his voice low and fierce.

Xylia leaned into him, rubbing her tears against his shirt, her voice choked with emotion as she spoke.

“I don’t need you to get revenge for me. All I want is for you to be safe,” Xylia said, her heart aching with nothing but worry for Joshua’s safety.

She’d seen it for herself this time–Richard was just a heartless, soulless beast.

Once he’d locked onto Joshua as his prey, he’d do anything to rip him to shreds, to drink his blood.

Xylia didn’t want Joshua to fall right into Richard’s clutches and end up as food on that monster’s te.

She was terrified.

Terrified that Joshua might get hurt–even if it was just a scratch.

Feeling Xylia trembling in his embrace, Joshua’s heart twisted as realization finally hit him–Richard must have done something terrible to her, and he hated himself for not noticing sooner.

“Did he hit you?” Joshua growled, his voice rough with suppressed anger.

It was only then that he really saw her—those faint red marks circling her neck, the unmistakable evidence of someone’s hands having been there.

Joshua’s eyes burned red with rage. He reached out, his hand trembling as he gently brushed her neck.

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“Did he… did he do this to you?” he choked out, his tone a mix of fury and aching pain.

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Xylia’s tears slid down her cheeks and sshed onto the back of Joshua’s hand, the heat of them like a hot knife, burning straight through his nerves.

Each drop stung, a jolt of pain that shot deep into him.

Joshua gritted his teeth so hard his jaw ached, his voice rough and savage as he spat out,

“I swear, I’ll make him pay for this!”

Xylia grabbed Joshua’s hand, determination burning in her eyes. “Let’s get out of here first. When we’re safe, we’ll call the cops–Richard has to pay for what he’s done, no matter what.”

It was the only way Joshua would ever truly be safe.

Joshua pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight.

He didn’t tell Xylia that Daltonia’sws weren’t nearly as tough as the ones back home, and Richard was definitely not the kind of guy who’d just sit quietly behind bars.

Even if he actually got thrown in jail, he’d always find a way to slip through the cracks.

For someone as messed up as Richard, the only way to keep him from causing chaos was to take him out- permanently.

Joshua’s fingers trembled. There was no way he could let Xylia know what was really on his mind.

He didn’t want her thinking of him as some cold–blooded monster, the type who’d kill without a second thought.

“Let’s go,” Joshua murmured, his voice both gentle and resolute.

After a long pause, he finally released Xylia, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear before taking her hand and leading her down the hill.

Joshua kept listening for any sounds behind them. When he didn’t hear anyone following, he finally let himself slow down a bit.

Once Xylia finished her chocte, he sped up again, picking up the pace as they moved on.

Even though it was only daytime, the untouched forest in the hills felt like a real–lifebyrinth. Above them, the massive trees had woven a thick, tangled roof that shut the sunlight outpletely, wrapping the whole ce in an eerie gloom.

The sunlight kept fading, and it got harder and tougher to move ahead.

Joshua whipped out a shlight and checked thepass in his other hand, pushing leaves aside as he led Xylia forward, lighting their way as they pressed on.

“Stick with me–don’t you dare let go,” Joshua said in a low, urgent voice.

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“Got it!” Xylia shot back, nodding quickly as determination shed in her eyes.

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She clung to Joshua’s hand with both of hers, sticking so close behind him she barely left a gap between them.

The silence was heavy all around, and yet Xylia kept catching the faintest hints of breathing nearby–soft, barely–there sounds that set her nerves on edge. shes of every horror story she’d ever heard about the jungle flickered through her mind, and she couldn’t help but swallow, the taste bitter in her mouth.

‘I can’t let Joshua notice how scared I am–not even for a second, Xylia told herself, forcing her fear down so he wouldn’t have one more thing to worry about.

Maybe they were just unnaturally lucky, or maybe it was because the sun hadn’t gone down yet and whatever beasts lurked deep in the woods were still dead asleep. fn6b1f Chapters first released on FιndＮovel/fn6b1f

They’d been trekking for a full hour and nothing bad had happened–no trouble at all.

Sure, they’d spotted poisonous spiders, watched snakes slither right past their feet, and even glimpsed bizarre creatures darting through the undergrowth–stuff Xylia couldn’t even name. But by some miracle, they stayed totally unharmed.

By now, Xylia’s face had gone pale.

It was a mix of exhaustion and fear.

She was terrified of snakes.

Joshua was at a loss for how tofort her. He wanted to carry her, but Xylia was absolutely insistent on walking by herself.

They’d been trekking for so long, and both of them were running on fumes–especially Joshua, who was feeling it even more from zing the trail up front.

‘I can’t let myself be the one slowing Joshua down, Xylia thought stubbornly, forcing herself to push through -she refused to be his burden.

“Wait,” Joshua said suddenly, his voice low and sharp.

He stopped dead in his tracks, his arming out in a guarding motion to shield Xylia, pulling her close behind him.

Xylia’s heart jumped straight into her throat. She gripped Joshua’s arm tightly and instinctively held her breath.

It almost sounded like something was slithering or weaving through the trees.

“What… what’s that?” Xylia asked, her voice shaking.

Xylia’s words trembled out as she clung to Joshua, fear threading her every syble.

Joshua didn’t answer right away. He just stood there, listening intently.

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Suddenly, a blood–curdling scream ripped through the forest.

“Snake! There’s a snake!” someone started screaming in Daltonian, their voice echoing in a panic.

Xylia didn’t understand a word of it.

Joshua shot her a quick, serious look. “That’s Richard’s crew–they’ve caught up to us.”

Judging by the sound, they were still a good distance away.

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But since Joshua and Xylia had already carved out a path, the ones chasing after them could just follow it- and that meant they’d catch up much quicker than the two of them could run.

Joshua paused to think, then opened his backpack, moving quickly as tension filled the air.

“Xylia, wait here for just a minute–I’lle right back,” Joshua said, his voice firm and urgent.