Your Guise Is Slipping, Miss Pearl

Based on Andrei's personality, he and his folks had set up traps, expecting to catch the group. Many would be lying in wait for them.

Pearl was about to speak, but Finnegan, struggling to stay conscious, weakly interjected, "Don't go a different route."

"Why not?" Esther was confused.

"Even if there might be ambushes along the way, other paths could be just as dangerous. Plus, we're not sure if they actually lead out of here."

"That's a good point."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Richard's expression changed. "I don't think it's that simple."

"Why do you say that?"

"Have you seen anyone chasing us?"

Esther shook her head. "No."

"It means they have something bigger for us."

They had no idea what the stupid villagers might do, but they felt danger looming.

To avoid any traps, Pearl slowed down the car for a better look. Suddenly, she hit the brakes hard, causing everyone to jerk forward.

"Why did we stop?"

"Look over there."

Right after Pearl's warning, a voice called

ig, "Enough running. my warnings, so now out

I'm

done being nice."

MS

Andrei, who was cowering a while ago, stood there with his gang,

armed with axes, hammers, and.net

other tools. They blocked their path, looking menacing.

Esther looked terrified. "How did they catch up? We were in a car!"

Finnegan explained calmly, "They know the area better than us, so they took shortcuts."

"What do we do now? Get out and let them catch us?"

Pearl gripped the steering wheel. "No, we've come too far to give up now."

"Finnegan needs emergency treatment, or he might not make it," Esther pointed out, worried about Finnegan.

"But they outnumber us. We can't win against them."

Esther was devastated, never imagining she'd end up in such a situation.

Just as Pearl was about to leave the car, Esther protested, "What are you doing, Pearl? There are too many of them."

"I have a plan," Pearl reassured her with a smile.

Richard joined Pearl outside the car to back her up. Both of them faced the hostile group, standing firm.

"You managed to catch up all the way here." Pearl calmly crossed her arms, unfazed.

Seeing Pearl so composed infuriated

Andrei.

eager for revenge. Conte

remembered how

had

Camed him before a

r for revenge. Coll

With his men backing him, Andrei felt bold. "Let's see if you're still so arrogant when I get my hands on you."