Chapter 296 Collective River Jump
Chapter 296 Collective River Jump
"Wait, that's not right! Those vengeful spirits by the lake were different!"
Sophie immediately objected. Recalling the scene of churning lake water and dark shadows wrapping around their ankles,
she still felt shaken,
"They clearly wanted to drag us into the water and drown us. Aren't they working together with the spirits here?"
Isabella's brow furrowed instantly, her expression darkening,
"They really are different from the spirits here.
Those things are far more dangerous than these spirits.
But I was prepared - I left something by the lake to suppress them."
She changed the subject, pointing to a compartment on the outside of her backpack,
"I've already drawn a detailed map of the route we took.
After we get out, we'll hand the map over to the police department,
and they can follow the route in and safely transport these bodies out.
With modern genetic matching technology, they should be able to identify them
and solve quite a few unsolved missing person cases."
"Bunny, you're so reliable!"
Melinda excitedly hugged Isabella's shoulder, rubbing her cheek against Isabella's arm, her tone full of admiration,
"So smart and forward-thinking, you're totally my idol!
Let's get out of here quick - it's stuffy and smelly, I don't want to stay another second!"
The moment Isabella said "okay," something strange happened.
In the originally complex, multi-layered honeycomb maze, all the closed doors seemed controlled by invisible hands. The sound of doors opening echoed one after another as they all suddenly swung wide open.
The previously winding passages became clear and open. From the entrance, you could see straight to the exit, where sunlight streamed through the gap, casting a warm band of light on the ground.
Melinda was startled by this sudden change.
She instinctively shrank behind Isabella, gripping her clothes tightly,
"Wh-what's happening? Is something coming out?"
Isabella patted her shoulder, her expression softening, warmth in her voice,
"It's okay, the spirits are thanking us.
We helped reveal the truth for them, and we'll help them rest in peace.
They're opening the doors for us so we can get out safely."
Sophie reacted fastest, immediately pointing her streaming equipment at the open doors around them,
then bowing deeply toward the empty passage, her tone sincere,
"Thank you, kind spirits!
We'll definitely help you rest in peace, don't worry!
Good spirits get good rewards - hope you can find peace soon!"
Viewers in the livestream also started posting comments like [Thank you kind spirits] [Rest in peace]. The previously scary atmosphere became surprisingly heartwarming.
Isabella smiled and shook her head, taking the lead toward the exit.
Just as they stepped out of the maze, before they could even take a breath of fresh air,
they heard Charles and Dylan's desperate screams from nearby,
"Cousin! Don't leave!
Come back and help us!
They're going to fall in the lake! Don't move, don't move - I can't hold them!
Cousin, are you done yet? It'll be too late soon!"
The voices were full of panic and desperation. Isabella's heart tightened instantly, and without a word, she took off running toward the sound.
Sophie, with her long legs, followed close behind. Isabella and Sophie quickly reached the lawn by the lake.
The scene before them made their pupils contract:
The people who had been possessed by spirits earlier were now lined up in a single file,
walking toward the lake like puppets with their souls removed, their steps dragging but strangely determined.
Charles and Dylan were desperately trying to stop them,
one gripping the arm of the person in front, the other pushing hard against the back of the last person,
their faces flushed red, foreheads covered in cold sweat.
But they were too small and weak to stop so many people,
and could only watch helplessly as the line inched closer to the lake.
"What's going on?"
Sophie immediately raised her streaming equipment, pointing the camera at this bizarre scene, her tone urgent.
"I don't know!"
Charles was nearly in tears, though he didn't dare loosen his grip,
"We were guarding the stairs, then suddenly they all stood up like they were cursed and started walking this way, lining up to jump in the lake!
One already jumped in earlier,
and it took everything we had to pull him back up. We can't stop them like this!"
As he spoke, the person at the front had reached the lake's edge, toes barely touching the water - one more step and they'd fall in.
Isabella's eyes sharpened. She rushed over and lightly tapped her right foot on the ground.
A clear, pleasant bell sound instantly spread from beneath the ground,
carrying some kind of magic. The people who had been moving forward suddenly froze in place, motionless, their hanging heads no longer swaying.
But before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, the lake surface suddenly churned. Black shadows rapidly rose from the bottom, gathering into a massive black fog.
Then the fog exploded violently, whipping up a bone-chilling gale carrying cold water vapor that rushed viciously toward everyone standing on the lawn.
The grass on the lawn was blown every which way.
Sophie's streaming equipment nearly flew out of her hands. She gripped it tightly and couldn't help shouting,
"Watch out!"
Melinda was so scared she wrapped her arms around her head, crouching on the ground trembling,
"Wh-what's happening? Are those vengeful spirits back?"
Isabella's eyes turned cold as ice. This time she showed no mercy. She quickly reached into her bag and pulled out seven small, delicate magic knives. With a flick of her wrist,
with several whooshing sounds, the seven knives flew toward the black fog like guided missiles.
After several dull thuds, the massive black fog was precisely pierced by the magic knives, firmly pinned to the lawn.
The fog struggled a few times, gradually condensing and taking shape, revealing seven blurry black silhouettes - the same things they'd encountered by the lake before.
"What are these? Are they spirits too?"
Sophie held up her streaming equipment, carefully moving a bit closer, the camera focused on those shadows. Viewers in the livestream also held their breath.
Isabella shook her head, her tone icy,
"Not spirits - evil spirits. They're looking for people to die in their place."
"Didn't you say there was no Kelpie before?"
Sophie looked completely confused.
"They're not Kelpies."
Isabella looked up at the mountain peaks near the water source.
"Not Kelpies? Then what are they? Those seven hikers you mentioned before?"
Sophie asked, putting it together.
Earlier, Charles had mentioned at the manor entrance that several hikers had gone missing recently.
"To be precise, they're not hikers either."