Odyssey Of Survival - Chapter 144

Chapter 144: Chapter 144 Confronting Jack I
Madison materialized in front of Alice in a blur of motion, her breathing ragged as she staggered slightly, gripping Bella tightly in her arms. The teleportation had taken a toll on her after the battle they had endured, and though she was relieved to have caught up, her exhaustion was evident in the way her muscles trembled from the strain.

Bella, still slightly disoriented from being carried, quickly steadied herself as Madison released her. The two had followed as fast as they could, pushing their limits, but neither of them had been able to match Alice’s raw speed. Now, as they stood before her, their eyes locked onto Alice’s face, searching for answers.

Alice was frozen in place, her body tense, her mind still processing what had just happened. Her gaze remained locked on the empty space where Nate had been only moments ago, as if she refused to believe he had truly disappeared.

Madison stepped forward, her voice sharp with urgency. “Alice, what the hell happened?”

Alice took a shaky breath before responding, her voice quieter than usual, almost distant. “He was taken,” she said, her eyes still fixed ahead, as if she could somehow will him to reappear. “Some… thing came through a portal. It caught him, grabbed him by the throat, and then another portal opened, and—” She stopped, inhaling sharply, her fists clenching. “Then they both disappeared.”

Bella’s brows furrowed as she processed the words. “What was that creature?” she asked, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

Alice shook her head, frustration evident in her expression. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Madison exhaled, running a hand through her hair as she looked around, as if expecting the portal to reappear any second. “Where do you think it took him?” she asked, her voice laced with urgency.

Again, Alice could only shake her head. “I don’t know,” she repeated. “I don’t know anything about that thing, where it came from, or why it took him.”

Bella sighed, folding her arms as she looked down. “I just hope Nate’s safe… but there’s nothing we can do for him right now.” Her voice was calmer, but there was an underlying bitterness to it, the frustration of helplessness creeping in. “The only thing we can do is focus on our own situation.”

Madison frowned, glancing at her. “Which is?”

Bella’s expression hardened as she spoke, her words sharper now. “Jack almost getting us killed,” she stated bluntly. “He had to be involved. He must have been hiding in the shadows and escaped when Nate arrived. He’s the only one at camp with the power to block abilities.”

Alice’s face darkened at the realization. “But… why would Jack be involved in trying to kill us?” she asked, confusion evident in her tone.

Madison’s frustration boiled over as she snapped, “Why the fuck would anyone try to kill us at all? We’ve been on our own since Nate left! We haven’t talked to anyone, haven’t offended anyone, and now suddenly, people are trying to murder us? It makes no damn sense.”

Bella exhaled deeply, shaking her head. “We don’t have enough answers right now,” she said, her voice firm. “The best thing we can do is go back to camp and see if Jack is there. If he was involved in this, he must have run back there—or he’s run off somewhere else after his plan failed.”

With that, the three girls exchanged a silent glance before turning back toward the direction of the camp. Their minds were filled with questions, their bodies still aching from the fight, but they knew one thing for sure—whoever had tried to kill them, Jack had been involved. And they needed answers.

—

Back at the camp…

Jack, the smallest among them, was carrying a large stack of chopped firewood, his small arms wrapped tightly around the heavy load. His movements were quick, efficient, as he carefully made his way toward an older woman who sat near one of the cooking areas. He placed the wood down beside her, dusting off his hands as he stood back up.

Just as he turned to leave, movement in the distance caught his eye.

Three figures approached the cave, walking with heavy steps, their silhouettes dark against the fading sunlight. Jack’s sharp eyes immediately recognized them, and a grin spread across his face.

“Wassup,” he called out as they got closer. “You guys are back earlier than I thought.”

But as they stepped into the light, his expression shifted.

Their clothes were torn, their faces bruised, their bodies covered in scratches and dirt. It was clear that they had been through hell.

Jack’s smile faltered, and his brows furrowed as he took a step closer. “Damn,” he muttered. “Things must’ve gotten ugly for you guys.”

Under the watchful gaze of nearly everyone in the camp, Madison took a slow but deliberate step forward. Her expression was cold, her eyes sharp with suspicion as they locked onto Jack. The entire camp had quieted, sensing the sudden tension in the air. People who had been tending to their daily tasks paused, and even those inside the cave emerged at the sound of Madison’s voice.

“You tried to kill us,” Madison said, her voice cutting through the air like a blade.

The moment the words left her mouth, a ripple went through the camp. Heads turned, murmurs spread, and eyes darted between her and Jack. Even Ryder, who had been nearby, instantly turned in their direction, his brow furrowing as he walked forward.

“What’s going on here?” Ryder asked, his deep voice filled with confusion as he stepped beside Madison, looking between her and Jack.

Jack, on the other hand, had frozen in place. His small frame stiffened as he stared at Madison, his expression a mix of disbelief and genuine confusion.

“What?!” Jack finally spoke, his voice laced with shock. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Madison’s eyes narrowed, her patience already worn thin from everything that had happened. “How about you speak for yourself then?” she snapped. “Tell us why you just tried to get us killed.”

Jack let out an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of his head as if this was some kind of misunderstanding. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. “I’ve been here all day—”

“Really?” Bella cut in, stepping forward. Her voice was firmer, her arms crossed over her chest. “Then tell me, where have you been since morning?”

Jack blinked, still looking completely lost. “Chopping wood,” he answered without hesitation. “That’s what I’ve been doing since I woke up.”

Madison scoffed, unconvinced, but before she could say anything else, one of the women Jack had been working with spoke up.

“He’s telling the truth,” the woman said as she wiped her hands on her apron. “Jack’s been working with us all morning. He barely even left this spot.”

Several others nodded in agreement. Even Ryder frowned slightly as he crossed his arms. “I saw him too,” Ryder added. “Every time I passed by, he was here, cutting trees and carrying wood.”

Madison clenched her jaw, her hands tightening into fists, but it was Bella who spoke next.

“We were attacked,” Bella said, her voice calmer but still firm. “We went looking for clues about Zoro, and while we were searching, a group ambushed us.”

Ryder’s eyes darkened. “Attacked by what?” he asked, his tone shifting.

Bella exhaled before shaking her head. “It’s not what—it’s who,” she corrected before turning her head slightly and pointing directly at Claire, her expression sharp. “The same people who defended Claire against Nate the other day. Except for Axel.”

Claire let out an audible gasp, her eyes widening in shock before she shrieked, “You think I had something to do with this?”

Alice, who had remained quiet for a while, finally turned her gaze toward Claire. “I don’t know,” she said, her voice void of emotion. “You tell me.”

The tension in the air thickened, the silence stretching between them. The people around them watched closely, some whispering amongst themselves, others merely waiting to see what would happen next.

Before the situation could escalate further, Ryder stepped in. “Enough,” he said, his voice cutting through the rising tension. “Let’s not start throwing accusations at each other without proof.” His gaze moved between the girls and Claire before settling on Madison, Bella, and Alice. “I understand you’re upset, and you have every right to be, but we need to be rational about this. Right now, we can’t just assume anyone is guilty without evidence.”

A few people murmured in agreement, nodding along with his words. Even Claire, despite her frustration, seemed to calm down slightly.

Madison, however, muttered under her breath, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Funny how everyone is so quick to be rational now,” she said, her voice low but laced with venom. “But when it was Nate, everyone was so damn quick to believe he was guilty.”

Alice, standing beside her, nudged her arm slightly, silently telling her to hold back. “Now’s not the time for that,” she murmured.

Ryder, oblivious to their exchange, turned back toward the girls. “You’re saying you were attacked,” he repeated, his tone steady. “But why do you think Jack was involved?”

Bella didn’t hesitate as she replied. “Because we couldn’t use our abilities,” she said, her eyes locking onto Ryder’s. “The only person we know who can suppress powers like that is Jack.”

The weight of her words settled heavily over the group. Jack, who had remained mostly silent up until now, looked visibly shaken. His mouth opened slightly, as if wanting to defend himself, but no words came out.

Ryder exhaled slowly, rubbing his chin as he processed the accusation. The tension in the air refused to dissipate.

****

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