The woman froze the moment she saw the military vehicle. Nina held her breath. She stared at the military vehicle, hoping to see Nash’s face. She wished they could meet right then and there.To her disappointment, several unfamiliar, bronze-skinned faces emerged from the vehicle. They were foreign soldiers. The woman, clutching her child, started gesturing wildly and pointed at Nina, blaming her for everything.The men strode towards Nina with imposing presence, making her feel small in comparison."Do you have a weapon?" one of the men asked in broken English."I do, but I haven’t harmed anyone. The child choked on the bread I gave him, but I didn’t do anything malicious. If you want your child to live, you should step aside and let me help," Nina said calmly, meeting the man's gaze.She had merely pitied the child, but the murderous look in the woman’s eyes was clear in her memory. Initially, she had wanted to ensure the children were fed and clothed, and then ask Scarlett to ex
She was still talking.Nina, having once carried a child for ten months and briefly been a mother, understood the bond between a mother and her child. The woman had acted fiercely out of desperation for her child. The child was innocent.Nina couldn’t bear to watch anymore. She picked up the child and performed the Heimlich maneuver. Initially, there was no response, but then the child began to cough violently, and finally, the piece of bread causing the choking was expelled.The woman’s eyes filled with tears of joy. She clasped her hands together and said, "Thank you, thank you..." Even though Nina couldn’t understand, she felt the gratitude."I only did it for your child," Nina said flatly, with July translating for her.However, she hadn’t expected such a simple emergency procedure to attract the attention of the soldiers. They quickly surrounded Nina."Come with us," the soldier who spoke broken English commanded."No! You can't take her!" Scarlett jumped in front of Nina
This car was different from the military vehicle. It was an off-road vehicle. Covered in dust and mud, the front end was severely dented from a significant impact. The door opened.James got out first and went to the back seat to open the door. "Captain, we've arrived in Kiewarra. I found a hotel where we can stay. I'll send the address so they can meet us here.""Okay," Nash responded hoarsely.He attempted to get out of the car, his brows furrowed deeply. Seeing this, James quickly reached out to support him. With James's help, Nash got out of the car. In the sunlight, his face looked almost ghostly pale, with visible veins on his skin.Felix parked the car and caught up with them. At the front desk, James retrieved the room key, and Felix said, "I'll go buy some food and some hemostatic medicine. You guys wait in the room."They split up, not noticing that the previous occupants of the room were Nina and Scarlett.Twenty minutes later, Felix returned with the hemostatic medici
Nash ended the call, clutching his phone with a mix of hesitation and determination before dialing Nina's number. However, due to the ongoing movement of the vehicle Nina was in, there was no signal.When Nash tried calling, he was met with an automated message, "The number you have dialed is not in service. Please try again later…"The area was a war zone, chaotic and dangerous. A single misstep could result in being caught in the crossfire. How could Nina dare to venture here?"Captain, don't worry. I'll notify our contacts to find her. As soon as we have any information, we'll inform you immediately. You need to rest now. Otherwise, we can't coordinate with others, and the mission will be compromised," James, standing by Nash, overheard the call and saw Nash's worried expression. Nash was always composed, except when it came to Nina. James had seen him anxious only a few times, all involving Nina. Nash truly cared about her."We must act quickly," Nash insisted, wanting to sea
They were in the vast expanse of the desert, with no end in sight. The driver planned to go for help, but it was unclear how long that would take. Camels were the best means of transport in the desert.Nina had an idea, but before she could voice it, Moana suddenly waved and called out, her child mimicking her actions. July said, "She's calling for them."Nina remained silent, watching as a group of people on camels approached them. Moana gestured and pointed at Nina, and she could feel their scrutinizing gaze turn into suspicion.After negotiating with them for a couple of minutes, Moana ran back to Nina, excitedly saying a lot. July translated, "Miss Nina, she says these people are from her tribe. We can ride the camels to leave the desert.""Good," Nina agreed. She wanted to leave the desert and find a place to stay before continuing to Yaren.The driver, overhearing the conversation, said, "The car breaking down isn't my fault, but if you leave on the camels, I won't refund
Scarlett took the bottle and held Nina's cheeks, pouring the black liquid into her mouth.Nina coughed violently as the bitter, pungent taste hit her. It woke her up but leaving her weak and slumped over the camel’s hump. Scarlett, worried about her, called out, "Nina, are you okay? Can you hear me?""Yes," Nina replied weakly, feeling like a dying fish.Scarlett, fearing Nina might fall, kept her arm around her waist. Eventually, even Scarlett began to feel faint. She had also drunk the bitter tree juice, which had a strong and overwhelming taste. It was only thanks to July and Moana that they managed to make it out of the desert.As they emerged from the desert, they reached a barren land. The temperature difference between day and night was extreme. They set up camp, built a fire, and pitched their tents. While they had food, they had no water left.Gathered around the fire, warming themselves, Moana handed them a water bag. "We can’t go any further today. It’s another thre
There were at least ten wild wolves surrounding them. If it weren't for the guns they had, they would have been devoured by wolves that night.However, the locals’ diet, beliefs, and experiences were all different. They even started skinning the wolves right away and roasting the meat over the fire.One of the women offered Nina a wolf leg, but Nina waved it away. She couldn’t eat it, especially with the smell of wolf blood filling her nostrils.Scarlett handed her the last of their bread and some of the black tree leaf juice the woman had given them in the desert. Just a whiff of the juice made Nina feel more alert.She tried to use her phone, but there was still no signal. They had to spend the night here and then travel another three hours tomorrow to reach the populated area, still far from Yaren. When would she finally see Scott and Nash?Hugging herself, Nina looked up at the sky. The stars and the moon were clearly visible.Meanwhile, Nash was also in a grim mood. He had
Nash was resolute. "This minor injury won’t hinder me.""Alright, I’ll make the arrangements," James replied, understanding that Nash wouldn’t be at ease until Nina was found. So, they set off for Yaren that very night.---Nina couldn't sleep. As the night went on, the temperature dropped significantly, and everyone around her gradually fell asleep. The fire couldn't stay lit all night, so she reluctantly crawled into the tent.Scarlett was also awake, so despite Nina's efforts to move quietly, she noticed the slight noise."Get some sleep, Nina. We have a long journey ahead, and you need to preserve your strength. Besides, you heard Scott’s recording."Nina was surprised. "Why aren’t you asleep?"Scarlett had been expending more energy than Nina and yet hadn’t slept. It must have been because she, too, had a lot on her mind."I can’t sleep knowing you’re still awake. Besides, even if you do sleep, I’ll be on guard. I understand how you feel, but we’re here now, and you must