TDIMEH Chapter 54

54. Unexpected News

Since Junhyuk hadn’t left any markings on his way down for secrecy, Se-ah got lost several times before finally arriving at a wide, grassy hill. If she hadn’t watched Amihan draw the map closely, she would have definitely lost her way.

Thankfully, there were no additional gunshots during that time.

Se-ah hid behind the largest tree she could find, panting heavily.

Sweat trickled down her forehead, sliding down her neck, and plastering her hair to her skin. To make matters worse, there was barely any breeze.

But this wasn’t the time to rest.

Her priority was ensuring Junhyuk’s safety, so she had to move quickly.

She roughly wiped the sweat from her face with her sleeve and took a quick sip of water from the bottle she brought.

Then, crouching as low as she could, almost crawling, she made her way down through the dense underbrush.

However, she didn’t get far before she was forced to stop.

Two men armed with rifles walked past, seemingly patrolling the area.

“…...…!”

Se-ah quickly covered her mouth with her sleeve to stifle even her breathing.

The two men were less than five steps away from her.

If they turned in her direction, she would be discovered immediately.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her heart pounded like a drum.

Her only weapon was a sharpened wooden stick, hardly enough to fight off two armed men.

If it came to it, surrendering as Junhyuk had advised seemed like the best option.

Placing the stick beside her, Se-ah fixed her gaze on the men, not daring to blink.

Fortunately, they didn’t bother inspecting the ground or bushes carefully, instead strolling along while chatting casually.

They were speaking in English, not Filipino, so she could understand their conversation.

“[Did that idiot from Korea think he could escape this island? What a waste of bullets. If we weren’t going to kill him, why fire a gun at all?]”

“[The boss said it was to set an example after that Amihan guy jumped into the water. The slaves have been getting too lax lately. Everyone probably realized these guns aren’t just for show, so no one else will try to escape.]”

Though the conversation was brief, it was enough for Se-ah to realize the earlier gunshot wasn’t aimed at Junhyuk.

It seemed that someone, like Amihan, who had been captured and forced into labor, had tried to escape.

The breath she had been holding escaped as a sigh of relief.

“[Amihan must be dead, right?]”

“[Most likely. He was already frail and sick. He probably figured he’d die anyway and decided to jump into the sea to avoid more suffering.]”

“[Tsk. He was so weak. That’s why the boss didn’t bother giving him the antidote, even though he had it. Said it wasn’t worth wasting expensive medicine on someone so useless. The new slaves, though—they’re strong and quick.]”

Se-ah’s ears perked up at the mention of an antidote.

She might be able to save Amihan.

But… who were the new slaves they mentioned?

Though she wasn’t sure what it meant, she had a strong feeling she needed to know more.

Despite the danger, Se-ah slowly followed the men, eavesdropping on their conversation.

“[For people who were adrift at sea for days, they’re in surprisingly good shape. The boss said we wouldn’t need to bring in more workers for a while and seemed pretty thrilled.]”

Adrift?

Could they be talking about Jo Jisang’s?

But since they said 'they,' it didn’t seem likely. Se-ah recalled the other group that had departed earlier.

Could it really be Kevin and Leo?

“[Not like they’ll last for years anyway. That stuff is so toxic. Shouldn’t we be wearing gas masks too?]”

The man’s gaze rested on the vast field filled with the same plants Amihan had drawn on the map.

“[As long as you don’t touch it directly, there’s nothing to worry about. And even if you did, we have the antidote, so what’s the big deal?]”

“[True. It’s not like we’re slaves.]”

One of the men laughed and pulled a phone out of his pocket, reading something on the screen. Se-ah’s eyes lit up at the sight of such a modern object.

If she could just get her hands on that, they could track its location and call the embassy to figure out where they were. It would only be a matter of time.

“[So, two more days until we switch shifts with the other team? The boss is coming then, right?]”

“[Yeah. We’ve been here way too long. When we get back to the mainland, I’m going to ask for a different assignment. This place is boring as hell.]”

“[Right. There’s nothing to see but the ocean. And no internet either.]”

“[At least we can still make calls, thanks to whatever they set up. Otherwise, my girlfriend would’ve dumped me already. Can’t exactly tell her about this place.]”

“[I’ll pay Jack some extra money to make sure we get transferred.]”

“[Count me in. But hey, you know…]”

One of the men began to slow his steps, his movements becoming cautious.

“[What’s wrong?]”

“[Feels like someone’s watching us.]”

“[Really?]”

Swish. The men turned their heads in all directions.

Se-ah flattened herself against the ground, her nose almost buried in the dirt. The short weeds brushing against her face made her feel like she might sneeze at any moment.

“[It’s unsettling, for sure.]”

One of the men kicked at the nearby bushes. The sturdy grass crumpled under his boot.

“[Come on. Who could be out here? This place doesn’t even show up on maps. They must’ve bribed the authorities well, considering no boats come anywhere near this island.]”

“[And the currents make it impossible for boats to approach anyway.]”

“[True. Still, since someone tried to escape today, let’s check a bit deeper in.]”

Unfortunately, the men began heading in Se-ah’s direction.

A sense of deep despair crossed her face. She had been so focused on eavesdropping on their conversation that she had overlooked something crucial.

She had no idea where Junhyuk was, and now she was about to get caught.

The distance between them narrowed step by step.

One step. Two steps. Three steps.

If they took just two more steps, they would surely find her hidden in the bushes.

Just as Se-ah was about to be discovered, the bushes in another direction began rustling wildly.

It was as if the wind was blowing in that spot alone.

“[Looks like something’s over there.]”

Click.

The sound of guns being loaded reached her ears, and the men shifted their attention in that direction.

Se-ah let out a small sigh of relief.

She considered using this distraction to escape, but moving recklessly now might get her caught. She decided to stay put until the men disappeared.

Not long after, the men approached the bushes but soon retreated in alarm. Behind them, a large black-winged creature spread its wings wide.

“[W-what is that? A bat?]”

“[Why is it out here when it’s supposed to be sleeping at this hour?]”

“[Who knows.]”

As far as Se-ah knew, Philippine bats were larger than regular bats but were nocturnal creatures. They usually rested in caves or trees during the day.

For some reason, the bat that should’ve been resting had stirred in the bushes.

“[I hate bats.]”

“[Me too. They give me the creeps.]”

The men, visibly unsettled, quickly moved away from the area.

Se-ah watched them retreat, grateful for the unexpected stroke of luck the bat had brought.

But then—

Rustle.

A small sound came from the forest behind her.

Another bat?

Terrified, Se-ah turned to look behind her. At that moment, a large hand clamped over her mouth.

She was suddenly pulled into someone’s embrace.

“Mmph! Mmmph!”