Alec paused momentarily before asking, âWhatâs happened to her?â
âSheâs been kidnapped,â Jarrod responded somberly.
The severity of the situation weighed heavily on Jarrod.
Who could have enticed Nicole into such a trap? Baffled by the possible motives, he drove to the office to collaborate with Alec and the team in tracking down any leads.
Nicole had been unconscious for a considerable period.
When she regained consciousness, she found herself shrouded in pitch darkness, unable to see.
She attempted to loosen her bindings, but the restraints were too tight, making it impossible to escape without help.
Then, she heard the sound of faint footsteps drawing near.
Nicole immediately stilled, feigning unconsciousness.
She felt someone shake her, and the sack she was confined in was opened, allowing her to breathe the outside air.
A coarse voice asked, âIs this her?â
âYes, sir.
Her blood is sweet.
Perfect for our needs,â a younger woman answered.
âGood.
When do we start?â the chief asked.
The witch clad in red said, âHer condition is poor.
I fear she might not withstand the full ceremony.
Iâll need a few days to strengthen her with herbal remedies before we can begin.
â
âVery well, make the arrangements,â the chief agreed.
After a brief pause, the chief added, âWhy did you bring an outsider here? Have you forgotten our rule against leaking information about our valley?â
The witch clad in red dropped to her knees with a thud.
âChief, the Watts family tasked me with bringing him here for recovery.
They require his safety until the end of next month.
However, the parasites are affecting him rapidly, so I acted on my own to bring him here for treatment.
I accept any punishment.
â
The chief was silent for a moment and then sighed.
âNever mind.
You acted for the valleyâs benefit.
Since we took on this responsibility, ensure itâs completed.
Let him stay.
â
âThank you for your mercy,â the witch clad in red said, bowing deeply.
After the chief departed, the witch clad in red approached Nicole, grasped her chin, forced a pill into her mouth, and then pressed on her stomach to ensure she swallowed it.
Nicole felt the pill travel down her throat, spreading a gentle warmth in her stomach.
Despite the slight relief, Nicole kept her eyes firmly closed, continuing to feign unconsciousness, worried that the witch might detect any sign of her awareness.
Luckily, after giving the pill, the witch clad in red exited without further delay.
Once Nicole was confident she was alone, she cautiously opened her eyes and looked around.
To her astonishment, it appeared that the witch clad in red had not assigned anyone to watch her, presenting her with a chance to escape.
The room was a hut, damp and smelling of mildew.
Nicole attempted to move, searching for anything that might help her sever the ropes that bound her.
Suddenly, she heard a soft hissing sound.
Turning her head, her eyes widened with fear, and her heart pounded as terror took hold.
Nicoleâs eyes widened in terror as she spotted a long, slender serpent of crimson hue.
Its piercing stare, almost human in its intensity, bore down on Nicole with a sinister intelligence.
Poised to strike, the serpent displayed its venomous fangs in a menacing gesture.