To anyone else, this area might seem like nothing more than chaotic wilderness. But for a tracking expert like Stanley, every footprint told a story, and every leaf revealed a different scenario.
After inspecting the area, Stanley pointed in a specific direction. โMrs. Russell, if my deductions are correct, the couple you mentioned likely ran that way. One footprint is heavier than the other, and the two sets are close together. Itโs clearly a man and a woman.โ
However, that direction differed from their current route. Felicia paused. โYou continue forward. Iโll go check it out. No need to wait for me.โ
โMrs. Russell?โ Stanley immediately stepped in front of her. โItโs too dangerous for you to leave the team alone! We canโt let you take such a risk!โ Felicia shook her head. โYou keep going. Iโll catch up later.โ
Stanley tried to stop her, but Felicia dodged him and disappeared into the forest. Her figure moved swiftly through the trees, and with the thickening fog, her silhouette quickly vanished.
Stanley was beyond frustrated. He tried to chase after her, but a subordinate held him back. โStanley, finding Mr. Russell is our priority. We need to move quickly!โ
โBut Mrs. Russellโฆโ Stanley protested.
โDonโt worry. Havenโt you noticed? Mrs. Russell isnโt the fragile woman we thought she was. Sheโs as capable as any of us,โ the subordinate reassured him. Everyone had witnessed this firsthand. Before entering the rainforest, they had all assumed Felicia would beโฆ well, they had underestimated her. She never mentioned being tired or in pain, and she never fell behind. And then there were her remarkable medical skills. Before reaching this point, a team member had been bitten by an unidentified venomous insect. Half his body became paralyzed instantly. Felicia treated him with acupuncture needles and crushed leaves she found nearby as medicine. In no time, the man could move again, and the pain was significantly reduced. It was nothing short of miraculous.
The subordinate added, โOnce we find Mr. Russell, we can go back and look for Mrs. Russell if she hasnโt returned.โ
Stanley sighed and agreed. As the fog grew thicker, the team quickened their pace.
Felicia navigated the dense forest, occasionally spotting marks on trees left by her parents. Following these signs made tracking them much easier. As the fog thickened, Felicia donned her gas mask and quickened her pace. She only knew from Sebastian that her parents were missing, but she didnโt know how long ago they disappeared. She knew they had gone bankrupt; they had no money or influence. Even if Sebastian wanted to organize a search, he likely lacked the resources.
Her parents would surely die if she didnโt act. Feliciaโs emotions were a tumultuous mix. She hated and resented her parents; the trauma from her two lives was something she could never fully heal from or forget. But faced with the thought of them dying, her feet moved faster than her mind could decide.
Felicia chuckled bitterly. She must have done something wrong to endure them for two lifetimes.