“You saved me twice. How should I repay you?” It was rare for Matthew to owe someone a favor, but he had already owed Eleanor two, making him at a loss for how to repay her.
“Haha… Actually… She giggled and used the hand holding the torchlight to scratch her head. “That time… on the mountain. That green snake didn’t bite you. I did it on purpose to show you because… I wanted you to owe me a favor.” ‘Pfft-Miss Eleanor, you’re ruthless to yourself.”
Skyler could not hold his laughter. The truth rendered Matthew helpless, but he was not angry. “No matter what, thank you for your help. If there’s anything I can do for you in the future, just tell me, and I’ll do my best.”
“If that’s the case-” Eleanor’s eyes lit up, and she was about to voice her condition but was interrupted by him.
“Except marrying you.” Pouting, she rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t need anything besides that. You should leave now. Just looking at you makes me angry,” she complained.
As such, Matthew turned around and got onto the raft. He looked at her with obsidian eyes and smiled, feeling more appreciation for Eleanor. After releasing the rope, she looked at them and waved. “Goodbye.”
“Miss Eleanor, thank you! Be careful.” Skyler flashed her a smile, whereas Matthew remained silent. While the raft drifted down the river where everything was pitch black, they could not see anything forward. Skyler reflexively felt around the raft and found another torchlight. “Matt, there’s another one here.”
As he spoke, he was about to turn it on when Matthew stopped him. “There might be bats inside this cave, so we better not turn it on.”
“Oh-Right.” Skyler suddenly understood the situation and put the torchlight down. The two sat on the raft, and he whispered to Matthew everything that had transpired these two days in extreme detail.
An hour later, the stream flowed quicker, and they could finally feel the breeze pick up. At that moment, a hole appeared in the distance, allowing light to illuminate the cave.
“We’re finally out,” Skyler exclaimed. Outside the cave was a massive, steep slope. The two clutched the handles tightly and fell quickly with the rushing water before landing steadily on a body of water. Now that they were outside the hidden cave, Skyler immediately called Veronica with the available reception. Tut-Tut-Tut-
The phone rang a few times before someone answered, “Who is this?” “It’s me. Don’t you save my number?” Skyler complained. When Veronica heard his voice, she immediately turned nervous. ‘Skyler, where are you? Where’s Matt? Have you found him? Where is he now?”
After receiving a train of questions, Skyler was about to reply when the man beside him took his phone away, ‘Roni, it’s me.” Hearing Matthew’s voice, she parted her lips, wanting to speak but choked up instead. Tears streamed down her face as she used her hand to cover her mouth, almost sobbing aloud. “Matt, you-”
She wanted to speak, but words stuck in her throat, making her unable to utter anything despite wanting to. ‘Skyler and I are at the Roch River at Falls. We’re safe. Matt comforted her. “Silly girl, don’t be sad. I’m fine.”
“O-Okay. I’ll get you.” Veronica hung up and threw her phone with a broken screen onto the passenger seat. Since the screen had cracked, half of it was black, so she could not see who had called her and merely answered the call. Who would have thought it was Skyler calling her with good news?
She looked out the window happily and immediately headed to Roch River.
