Chapter: 1124

These men were not killers from some sort of organization.

She interrogated Hanley, who was still conscious, to understand the situation. It turned out someone had hired them to restrict her freedom.

She was aware that Hanley and his crew were connected to Silverdale's largest underground network, which not only dealt with various illegal activities but also ventured into arms smuggling.

Norah pondered briefly and concluded that the mastermind behind it had to be that fool, Hank. Besides him, she couldn't think of anyone else with such a cruel plan.

Clearing aside bushes and weeds at the cave's entrance, she suddenly remembered the group of people after her eyes. She still hadn't identified who they were working for.

Looking inside the cave, she saw Marlin on the ground, curled up and trembling.

Rushing over, she gently tapped him. "Marlin, are you okay?"

Marlin lay motionless, sweat beading his forehead, unresponsive to Norah's concern.

Norah pinched him sharply, causing him to abruptly open his eyes.

In the next moment, she found herself wrapped in his arms.

Norah quickly pushed him away. She leaned in close, her gaze fixed on his dark eyes.

“Marlin, what are you doing?"

Marlin hugged himself and buried his head in his knees, mumbling a few words.

"I'm afraid."

What was he afraid of? The darkness? Norah wondered.

They had lost Marlin's backpack while running. Norah stood up, gathered some branches from outside, and lit them with her Lighter.

The soft yellow glow filled the cave.

Perhaps it was the light, and Norah's presence, that calmed Marlin and stopped his shivering.

"I'm scared of the dark. I'm scared of this place."

Upon awakening from his coma and finding himself in total darkness, he had attempted to rise, yearning for escape, yet his legs proved too feeble.

It reminded him of being kidnapped. The unending darkness, his gnawing hunger, rats and cockroaches skittering about, and the stench of rotting food.

He was terrified.

Then Norah appeared. Feeling her warmth, he suddenly opened his eyes.

With a radiant aura surrounding her, Norah burst into his world once more and rescued him.