Chapter 648:
Whispers around the camp claimed she was already lost.
Brock strapped on his gear and rallied a handful of men to join Brad. But when he arrived at the meeting point, Brad had vanished.
Instead of waiting, he had followed Rylie’s path. He chose to take the burden alone, stepping into the dangerous mines so no one else would suffer for his decision.
The camp was rattled soon after his disappearance, as the roar of engines broke through the rain.
Several off-road vehicles, their tires dripping with mud and plates gleaming with authority, screeched to a stop.
Kendrick emerged first, steadied by his family, with Marcus and Deandre right behind him. Their faces carried nothing but hard, unshakable worry.
Rain had soaked Marcus’ suit through, and the calm man everyone knew now looked frayed and restless.
Deandre climbed out in a combat vest, scowling fiercely, and shoved away a soldier who tried to shield him with an umbrella. His eyes, sharp and restless, swept the camp in search of the one person he couldn’t stand to lose.
“Where’s my sister?” shouted Deandre, his voice booming louder than the thunder. “Tell me where Rylie is!”
Brock moved forward, ready to explain the sudden turn of events. The moment Kendrick heard that Rylie had gone into the deadly mines on her own to save Felix, his legs almost gave out beneath him.
He clutched at his chest as his breath came in short, painful bursts, his face paling with horror. The strength in his eyes faltered, replaced by disbelief and gut-wrenching pain.
“Foolish. Completely foolish! That place is already dangerous.”
“It’s dangerous enough, not to mention it’s under such extreme weather now! Why did no one stop her? Why?”
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The thought hit Kendrick with brutal force. The granddaughter he had barely reunited with, the one he never even had the chance to hold close, had walked into that cursed place just to save his grandson. The realization cut through him like steel sinking deep into flesh.
Marcus caught him before he collapsed, though his own hand shook as he did. He forced his voice into steadiness. “Grandpa, don’t lose hope. We brought specialists here, and they’ll track Rylie down. She’s resourceful, and she knows how to survive. She can make it through this.”
“That’s right! Let them start right now!” Kendrick yelled, desperation cracking through every word.
The specialists they brought along stormed the command tent and assumed control. Sean and other Morgans were there as well, but the two families exchanged no greetings, their silence sharp with hostility.
Yet no amount of manpower could mask the truth.
Even the best soldiers and top-tier experts looked powerless before the fury of nature itself.
Fresh reports confirmed their worst fear: the main mine entrance had collapsed completely. The only other route had been swallowed by a landslide, snow and stone still cascading in waves, turning the path into a death trap. Hopelessness spread across the camp like a blizzard, chilling every soul to the bone.
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