Chapter 14:

We decided to take a moment to catch our breath and rest, for both our bodies and minds had been pushed to the limit. The ordeal we'd endured was mentally and physically draining, and the thought that I had come so close to death still haunted me.

After the harrowing incident earlier, we pressed on further down the winding tunnel cave, eventually finding a place to sit against the rugged cave walls. Our hearts raced, and our labored breaths filled the silence.

I couldn't help but wonder, "What the hell was happening?" We had embarked on this journey into the forest to find a dog, but now, as I looked at Lia cradling the very cause of our troubles – the furry culprit comfortably napping in her arms – I questioned the sanity of it all.

My gaze wandered to the rest of the group. Exhaustion, despair, fear, and unrest were etched on their faces. The kids were on the verge of breaking down, and this adventure had pushed us all beyond our limits.

Yet, it was Don who concerned me the most. His brown eyes trembled with tension, but there was a glimmer of determination within them. It seemed that Don hadn't given up hope, even in the face of our dire circumstances.

If any of us were to be injured, or worse, Don would undoubtedly bear the heaviest burden of guilt. He'd blame himself, curse his decisions, and despise everything about this day. It was evident that Don was a good-hearted kid, and I couldn't let him suffer like that.

I realized that I had inexplicably taken on the responsibility of ensuring that all the children returned home safely, and unharmed. It wasn't my duty, and I was just a child like them, regardless of my mental resilience. Still, the weight of this responsibility pressed heavily on me.

I chuckled internally at the irony of my gullible nature and the tendency to shoulder excess responsibility. But when I boiled it down, the solution was simple: to prevent Don from hating himself, I needed to ensure that none of the kids suffered harm.

Even though it wasn't my burden to bear, the responsibility had somehow become mine. I couldn't help but laugh inwardly at the absurdity of it all. I looked down at my trembling left arm, a testament to my underlying fear.

"This was not what I had in mind for a peaceful life," I thought to myself, trying to calm my trembling hands with deep breaths. Fear threatened to consume me, but I knew that staying level-headed was crucial if we were to safely navigate this predicament.

First and foremost, we needed to get out of this cave. I observed our surroundings—a vast cave with high ceilings and walls far apart, providing enough space for four adults to walk side by side. The tunnel was dark, with only a faint source of light. Perhaps another quirk of my peculiar abilities, which meant the other kids were struggling to see in these conditions.

I took another deep breath, aware of Kyle's curious gaze beside me. My actions weren't inconspicuous, but I couldn't afford to let fear cloud my judgment.

As I collected my thoughts and assessed our situation, I retraced the events that had led us here. We had ventured into this cave after stumbling upon an old chapel ruin used as a base by some shady individuals. We'd been discovered and chased by their vicious dogs, managing to barely escape into this labyrinthine cave system. But our pursuers weren't far behind, and I knew we couldn't afford to stay here.

"I think we should leave," I spoke up, breaking the tense silence, and prompting the attention of the others. As they fixed their eyes on me, I stood up.

"We're not safe here. As long as we remain in this cave, we're vulnerable. It's only a matter of time before they find us. Remember, they have dogs with them, and those hounds can easily track our scent."

The kids exchanged glances in the dim light, and then I said again, more firmly, "We should leave."

And so, we pressed forward, navigating the complex network of tunnels. With each turn and fork in the cave's labyrinth, our sense of direction grew even hazier. I couldn't help but worry that we might accidentally return to the chapel ruins.

In a situation like this, it was entirely possible. I reminded myself to stay positive, focusing on happy thoughts rather than dwelling on the worst-case scenarios.

But the cave seemed endless, twisting and turning without respite. We decided to stick to the left at every junction, avoiding tunnels that sloped further underground and favoring those that inclined toward the surface. Time lost all meaning as we continued our trek.

Then, finally, we glimpsed a glimmer of hope—the light at the end of the tunnel. Relief washed over us as we emerged into the forest, tall trees casting long shadows, and a dimly lit canopy overhead. It felt as though days had passed since we'd seen the outside world.

Sighs of relief escaped the kids, and even I couldn't help but breathe a little easier. Kyle and Trise, who had been tense throughout our ordeal, slumped to the ground, their exhaustion apparent.

Once again, hope ignited in the kids' eyes, and Don regained his determination. "Alright, guys! We made it out with Muffin in tow. Now all that's left is to deliver him back to his owner in the village. Only then will we be done with this adventure!"

Trise, however, pleaded, "Can't we at least take a few minutes to rest? We've all been on edge. Shouldn't we relax a little now that we're out and safe?"

Leon stepped forward, taking charge, "We'll be able to rest as much as we need once we get back home. We're not entirely safe yet. We still have to get out of the forest. Plus, we're already late for dinner."

Meanwhile, I remained on the outskirts of the group, scanning the eerie forest. The unsettling atmosphere hadn't dissipated, and the dense canopy still blocked most of the light. It was impossible to gauge the passage of time.

Yet, something felt profoundly wrong. The entire forest seemed off, and a sense of impending danger gnawed at me, a gut feeling I couldn't ignore.

"I don't like this," I muttered to myself, glancing around anxiously. None of the other kids seemed as perturbed as I was; they were lost in their casual conversations. But Lia and I locked eyes for a moment.

"Hey..." I began, but I stopped abruptly.

"Maybe the forest is just getting to me," I concluded, attempting to shake off the unease. I nodded to the group. "Let's go."

However, my nagging sense of foreboding wasn't unfounded. From behind me, a chilling voice spoke up, sending shivers down my spine. "And where exactly do you think you're going, brats?"

Before I could react, Lia's piercing scream echoed through the forest, followed by the menacing growls that seemed to surround us. "Hehehe. Stupid brats. Did you think you could get away?" One of the bald men, the short one, emerged from a nearby bush as if he had been lying in wait. In his hands, he held leashes restraining two of the hounds. I had a sinking feeling about where the third one was from the vicious reverberating growl from behind me.

"Just come quietly." Scarface's hand clamped tightly at my shoulder from behind, his words dripping with cold menacing threats.

***

Author's thought:

Finally, a new chapter after three whole months. First I'd like to use this medium to apologize for the drastically late and erratic release of DSI. I was in a position where I couldn't update the chapters for about three months, but now that it's all been resolved, I'm here to say DSI will continue publication starting with this chapter from where we left off. And as for the chapter release pattern, DSI will have a chapter update per day in a week. Of course this can always be temporary and or changed all based on you reader's reaction to this novel. I noticed the view count, power stone, gifts, and golden tickets hadn't really gone up and remained the same for the last few months, and honestly, that's kind of a bit disappointing to me as the creator and author. But I know I have no place to really complain about that as I had up and suddenly disappeared for three whole months without a single warning, and suddenly I come back to complain about the progress of the novel, so instead after the first week of the re-publication of DSI, depending on the reaction the novel receive s from now on, I might be bringing it down, or be putting forward mass releases in the nearest future. While as for those of you who have followed through with this novel even up until now, I'd like to say thank you, and if you can continue to do so, I assure you, you won't regret it.

Note: next chapter will be updated by tomorrow.

—Author.