Chapter 63 Encountering an Old Friend Again

Behind the stone pillar, a shriveled corpse was staring right at me, just inches from my face!

The mummified body had a gaunt, bluish-purple face with sunken features, but its mouth was slightly upturned, almost like it was smiling at me.

"Shit!" I jumped back, not sure how long this person had been dead.

Glancing at the other stone pillars, I noticed a corpse behind each one, all sporting that same unsettling smile.

"Dennis, what's up?"

Lorenzo came over, saw the corpses, and patted my shoulder, "Come over here and check this out."

I had no idea what he wanted me to see, but I followed him to a nearby stone pillar. He pointed to the corpse behind it, "Take a look yourself."

"What?"

I walked around the pillar, and by the light of my headlamp, I was stunned: the corpse behind this pillar was Zack, who had been given a water burial that morning!

Zack's body was also shriveled, but the sunken, smiling face was unmistakably his!

How did he end up here?

Did someone secretly move his body here?

No, the stone door was only unlocked at noon, and no one had left!

Unless there was another way out of here!

I looked at Lorenzo, realization dawning on me, "Zack was just with me yesterday... how is he here?"

Lorenzo sighed, "I guess there must be an underground river here. Zack's body was probably carried here by the water, there's no other likely explanation."

"Do all the dead get washed up here?" I wondered aloud.

"Maybe. Let's keep moving."

After a considerable time inside, with no sign of Teddy and the others, the confined space raised questions. If Teddy had noticed our lights, why hadn't he sought us out? The unsettling silence hung heavy in the air.

I looked at Lorenzo, hesitated, and then walked deeper. Suddenly, there was a rustling sound behind us.

"What was that?"

I turned around, and in the light, I saw a dark mass rushing towards me at high speed!

"What the hell?"

It was too fast. In the blink of an eye, it was upon me. Instinctively dodging to the side, I was still struck hard in the ribs, causing me to stumble back and fall to the ground.

"Dennis! Turn off the light!"

Lorenzo's voice rang in my ears. Ignoring the pain, I reached up and turned off my headlamp.

Instantly, the cave was left with only the faint glow from the stones.

I panted heavily, cold sweat breaking out on my forehead.

"Are you okay?" Lorenzo asked.

"I'm fine, my bones should be intact. Lorenzo, what was that?"

"I couldn't see clearly, but it looked like some kind of wild animal, probably a wild boar."

Damn, I almost got taken out by a wild boar!

I endured the pain, caught my breath, and listened intently to the surroundings.

However, no more sounds of the wild boar.

"Be careful, it's in the dark. Don't turn on the light unless necessary," Lorenzo warned.

"Got it, Lorenzo."

"Let's go."

I got up and followed Lorenzo, constantly observing the surroundings, afraid the wild boar would charge out of the darkness again. Another hit and I might not survive.

"Lorenzo, how do you think the wild boar got in here? There's nothing in here for it to eat."

I clutched my ribs and smiled wryly, "It didn't look big, but it sure was strong. If I hadn't dodged, it would have killed me!"

Lorenzo didn't respond and kept walking.

"Lorenzo, should we call out for Teddy and the others? This isn't working."

Suddenly halting in my steps, I pondered, puzzled by Lorenzo's silence and his persistent stride ahead.

He kept walking slowly ahead. The light from the stones was too dim, and I could only vaguely see his outline.

Sensing something amiss, I hastened forward and discovered the figure ahead was short and hunched, clearly not Lorenzo.

"Lorenzo?" I instinctively called out.

The figure stopped.

I reached for the Bloodstone and put it in my mouth, just in case.

"Dennis…"

The person in front suddenly spoke, and my heart tightened: that voice, it was Zack.

Although I had never really heard Zack speak, I had a conversation with him in a dream-like state that night, and I felt like we had become good friends.

"Zack?"

"Dennis, do I look scary now?"

I smiled wryly, "Zack, you've moved on to another world. Now, you belong only to yourself, understand?"

Zack sighed, "Dennis, I really want to live. I even want to leave here with you and see the outside world."

I opened my mouth, not knowing how to comfort him.

"Let me take you somewhere, Dennis."