Chapter 69: Isolated and Helpless
[Elizabeth’s Perspective]
It was very inconvenient for me to walk in the forest in these high heels. When we walked over just now, I complained to Anthony that I wanted to go back. He kept pulling me, which was why I walked so far. Armstrong was taking big strides in front, so it was very hard for me to keep up with him. The distance between us grew.
I looked at his back and gave up trying to catch up with him. Armstrong wouldn’t leave me here. Since he had brought me here, he had to find a way to bring me out.
I stopped to rest by the side of the path. I decided that when he asked me again, I would tell him that I was going back. Anyway, this wasn’t the first day Armstrong knew that I was delicate. He should understand that I couldn’t become Margaret.
I rested where I was for dozens of seconds. Then, to my horror, I realized that I had lost sight of Armstrong.
The forest was densely packed with trees. If I walked more than ten meters, I would be surrounded by trees. I sat where I was, a little afraid, and thought about the attack Margaret had mentioned. Night had already fallen. The moonlight shone through the gaps in the foliage onto my white ankles.
I thought,?I wouldn’t be so unlucky as to be targeted by someone with ill intentions on my first visit to the forest, would I?
I was already regretting coming out this evening. I felt that it was a mistake for me to listen to Margaret and participate in any training that afternoon. I should have stayed in my house. I should have been in a hot bath at this time, not sitting alone in the dark and dangerous forest, feeling afraid.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Armstrong…” I called Armstrong’s name.
It had been such a short while, so he wouldn’t have gone far. If he discovered that I was missing, he would have come back to look for me.
Anthony and I didn’t bring our phones with us when we came out. I didn’t think we would be separated.
I tried to use my Mindlink to contact Armstrong, but I realized that I couldn’t do it at all. For the first time, I felt isolated and helpless.
Where’s Armstrong? Why hasn’t he come back for me?
Although I couldn’t contact him, I could receive the news he sent me.?Doesn’t he realize that I’ve disappeared? Why doesn’t he use his Mindlink to contact me…
I didn’t know how long I waited. I felt thirsty and hungry. I even began to suspect that Armstrong had deliberately brought me here to abandon me.?Could he have gone back?
But what good would that do? I didn’t annoy him in any way. Or perhaps he had already seen that something was wrong between Anthony and me, but what right did he have to do this? What happened between him and Margaret had never really passed, but did I say anything about it?
Just when I thought I was going to stay here until the next morning, I heard footsteps nearby.
“Armstrong?” I asked tentatively.
But there was no answer. I felt my blood run cold. In such a dark forest, a sudden unknown noise was really alarming. I looked around warily.
However, I didn’t have any experience facing the enemy. I could only circle around. I didn’t have any weapons on me. If someone really attacked me, all I could do was wait for death.
“Armstrong? Armstrong! Where are you? Save me!”
Unable to contain my fear, I started shouting.
No one came. The footsteps did not fade.
My heart pounded like a drum against my heart. Will I die here?
The thought came to me and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I felt the footsteps getting closer. It was summer, but my hands and feet turned cold and my mind was blank.
Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around me. I felt my body being shaken.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAfter a while, I came back to my senses and saw Armstrong’s grim face.
“You’re finally here,” I said in a daze.
“What happened to you?” Armstrong asked, frowning.
I hugged Armstrong tightly, as if I could get some assurance from him that I was still alive.
Armstrong pried my hands away. I saw him look carefully at my face. I wanted to kiss him, but he blocked me with his hand and asked, “What happened to you?”
My tears fell uncontrollably. “I was so scared,” I whimpered. “I heard footsteps just now. I thought I was going to die.”
“There’s no one around you.”
“How did you know?” I was still sobbing.
“I’d checked this area. I made sure there was no one before I went away.”
“What did you say!”
I looked at Armstrong in shock. He already knew I was here, but he still left me behind?!
“I noticed that something was wrong on the other side just now. Your side was safe, so I went over to check on the situation over there,” Armstrong said. “I think if there was really a problem, you would have contacted me with your Mindlink.”