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Chapter_166
Yvette’s eyes glinted mischievously as she glanced at the group. “Want some?” she asked, holding up the self-heating steak in front of them.
Frankie’s eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically. Bruce let out an awkward chuckle, but his eyes betrayed a mix of envy and curiosity.
Emmett, his stomach growling, thought to himself, Dignity? What’s that? Not important, as long as I can get some food.
Chris, still chewing on his compressed biscuit, tried to ignore the hunger gnawing at him. He told himself it wasn’t so bad—he’d eaten worse during military campaigns. But despite the rationalization, he couldn’t stop staring at the steak, his mouth watering involuntarily as he swallowed.
Yvette noticed their expressions and chuckled softly. With a mischievous smirk, she said, “Wait,” before getting up and heading toward the cave’s entrance.
The others exchanged confused looks, wondering what she was up to. They were all aware of Yvette’s capabilities, but that didn’t stop a pang of worry from creeping in.
“She told us to wait, so we wait,” Emmett muttered, his voice a bit more uncertain than usual. The group had grown so used to following her lead that it had become second nature. They had started looking to her for direction, even in moments of doubt.
Ten minutes later, the tension inside the cave grew unbearable. Frankie, unable to sit still, stood up, dusting off his clothes with a concerned frown. “Where did Ms. Zeller run off to? It’s been ten minutes. Shouldn’t we check on her?”
Bruce, too, was feeling uneasy. Though he respected Yvette’s strength, the unease of her sudden disappearance gnawed at him. “She told us to wait,” he reminded the group, though his voice lacked conviction.
Chris, more anxious than ever, added, “Let’s go. We’ve waited long enough.”
Emmett looked around at the restless group, his face darkening as he made a final decision. “Let’s wait a little longer. Yvette’s reliable. We’re not even close to matching her. Don’t forget, she survived in this rainforest alone at twelve. If she told us to wait, then we wait.”
Bruce nodded reluctantly, but his brow remained furrowed. What could she possibly be doing out there? he thought, trying to shake the worry off.
Just as they were debating whether or not to go after her, Yvette appeared in the entrance of the cave, a hare dangling from her hand. The group breathed a collective sigh of relief, their anxiety dissipating as they saw her safe and sound. But their relief quickly turned to shock when they noticed the hare in her grasp.
With ease, Yvette strolled over to the fire and began preparing the hare. The group stared in stunned silence as she skillfully cut and skewered it with a knife, then placed it over the fire to roast.
Looking up at the wide-eyed men, she raised an eyebrow, a little amused by their still-dumbfounded expressions. “How long are you planning to stand there? Get over here and roast it yourselves,” she said coolly, her voice laced with a touch of humor.
The men snapped out of their stupor, and for the first time in days, they felt an indescribable warmth spread in their hearts. They had spent the past few days struggling, relying on Yvette not only for survival but also for guidance, training, and occasional protection. Without her, they knew they’d probably be dead by now. Her presence was more than just a comfort—it was their lifeline.
Bruce, Chris, and Frankie, who had initially underestimated Yvette, now felt a deep sense of respect and awe. They were no longer just polite because of her relationship with Jeremiah. They had come to see her as something far more complex: a leader, a protector, and someone whose strength and wisdom surpassed their own understanding.
A silence settled over the group as they watched Yvette with a mix of admiration and gratitude. It was a rare moment of camaraderie, and even Frankie, who was usually full of jokes, found himself uncharacteristically quiet.
Suddenly, Frankie, unable to contain his emotions any longer, rushed toward Yvette. Before he could reach her, Yvette’s reflexes kicked in. Without even looking, she stuck her leg out and sent him flying into the corner.
Frankie, now sprawled on the ground, blinked in confusion. What just happened? he thought, rubbing his head. I just wanted to give her a hug to thank her…
Yvette sighed and rubbed her temple, looking at the pitiful sight of Frankie, who was now sitting in the corner with a bruised ego. “Next time, don’t approach me so suddenly, or you might get kicked to death,” she said, her tone deadly serious.
Frankie, his face now full of mock injury, nodded quickly, muttering, “Understood… No more sudden moves.” He didn’t dare try again, and his pitiful expression made the rest of the group chuckle.
Bruce, shaking his head with a half-smile, took a seat next to the fire and began roasting the hare. As he passed Yvette, he leaned in slightly, his voice quiet. “Thank you.”
Yvette didn’t respond, her expression as indifferent as ever. She lazily walked over to a spot not far from the bonfire and leaned against the wall, hands shoved into her pockets. Her eyes closed, her posture relaxed, but there was something about her that remained constantly alert.
Emmett, watching her, felt a strange thought begin to form in his mind. He’d always believed that life would be better if he didn’t have to worry about food, clothing, or money—that all he needed was enough to survive. But now, sitting around the fire with the others, he found himself wondering if that life of ease really had any appeal at all. There was something about the way Yvette lived, constantly sharp and always prepared, that seemed… better.
Chris, watching Yvette’s relaxed posture, couldn’t help but feel a mix of admiration and curiosity. Yvette had been sleeping like that for days, always in a defensive stance, as though ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. It wasn’t a posture that could be formed overnight. It had been built over years of experience—perhaps since she was twelve, when she had first entered the rainforest alone. No ordinary girl could survive here, especially not one so young.
On the sixth day, they moved forward again, continuing their journey deeper into the rainforest. They hadn’t seen any sign of Jeremiah yet, and doubts began to creep into the group’s minds.
“We’re sure we’re on the right path?” Bruce asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Yvette, without missing a beat, shook her head with a small smile. “It’s not wrong. I know him well. If I were him, I’d definitely choose this path.”
The group fell silent, realizing the truth of her words. There was no use questioning Yvette’s judgment.
When they arrived at a swamp area, Yvette suddenly stopped. Her posture shifted—becoming more alert, more focused. The others immediately stiffened, their senses on high alert, watching the swamp with sharp eyes.
Yvette’s gaze moved beyond the swamp, her eyes becoming distant and focused. There was a subtle smile on her lips, as though she had seen something only she could perceive.
Turning to the others, she said, her voice low and full of tenderness, “Jeremiah is just ahead.”
The group froze, their breath caught in their throats. After days of searching, they had finally found him.
