Endless route

Chapter 15 15. Teammates are missing

Zheng Yun had a dream. He was sealed into an underground corpse lake and submerged in the dark water. No matter how hard he struggled, he could not break through the ice and escape.

Cold, biting, oppressive, suffocating, deep and dead silence, no light source, a constant feeling of drowning, and a seemingly non-existent scream in my ears.

Zheng Yun was horrified, but it was so dark underwater that he couldn't even tell up, down, left, and right. He didn't even know which direction the ice was, so he could only struggle wildly underwater.

I don’t know how long it took.

A few flashlights shone on the ice.

Dark yellow beams of light were thrown into the lake from behind Zheng Yun, going straight into the silent and turbid bottom of the lake. When they swept past Zheng Yun, they illuminated his surroundings.

Only then did he realize it.

Countless corpses were a mass of blackness, gathering in groups like deep-sea fish in the dim and cold lake water, slowly floating with themselves as the center of the whirlpool.

From just now to now, they have been silently opening their empty eyes, quietly watching themselves in the darkness, watching their desperate struggles.

Two men stepped onto the ice.

Zheng Yun could see the soles of the visitor's shoes through the ice. He beat the ice desperately under the water and shouted for help, but the only sound coming out of his throat was gurgling water.

He chased their footprints and pressed his hand prints under their feet. As long as they lowered their heads, they would be able to see their hand prints under the ice and themselves in the lake.

But these two men did not bow their heads.

They headed straight into the depths of the glacial lake.

No matter what, Zheng Yun was unable to make any noise to attract attention. All his struggles ended in silence in the turbid lake water. Like the thousands of corpses surrounding him, he could never escape from this strange underground corpse lake.

…

Zheng Yun, wake up first and go to the room before going to sleep. Liu Ming's voice rang from his ears.

Zheng Yun was half asleep and looked sideways. The off-road vehicle had parked in front of a small hotel. Judging from the architectural style, it was almost the same as that of La Maine Town.

Diaojiaolou.

Rainforest.

Aged wooden sign.

What is this place?

Zheng Yun immediately asked alertly.

The town Hu Zi is looking for is engaged in fruit distribution and wholesale. Don't worry, we Chinese are here. Liu Ming got out of the car and opened the passenger door.

Zheng Yun got out of the car and looked around. This town should have been a gold rush town earlier, but there were several modern factories in the west, and a row of trucks waiting for goods were parked at the door.

Hu Ruihua and the others had just parked the car, and several people sent Demona upstairs. Xiao Li moved the car to the side and started to light a fire and boil water to prepare dinner.

Are you okay? Liu Ming asked. He felt something was wrong with Zheng Yun and his eyes were a little confused.

It's okay, just take a nap. Zheng Yun shook his head, waved to Liu Ming and walked into the small building.

Brother Zheng, please sleep on the first floor. The thin young man led Zheng Yun into the room behind the bar, which was right next to the stairs. He could hear any movement immediately.

Zheng Yun looked around.

The smell of anthelmintic herbs.

This place is in a tropical rain forest, and the weather is hot and there are many mosquitoes. There are three layers of screens on the windows, and the legs of the double bed are also higher to avoid insects as much as possible.

The environment is very simple, the area is not small but very empty, there is a bed and a table, there are no latches, but there is a box of birth control kits placed by the bedside.

Zheng Yun fell asleep.

As long as there is a bed, everything else doesn't matter. He just needs a good sleep now.

…

After sleeping until morning, Zheng Yun kept wandering in nightmares. One was the underground corpse lake, the other was the white mist of the cave. Each scene was weirder than the last.

He dreamed of a river under the white mist.

The river will lead to the depths of the rift valley. After a cliff waterfall, there seems to be a loft in front...

Zheng Yun, something happened!

Wake up, something happened.

Shaking violently, Zheng Yun opened his eyes and saw Hu Ruihua's face in front of him. His expression was frightened and he was more nervous than when he walked on the ice lake.

What's wrong?

Zheng Yun immediately sat up and saw Song Wan standing behind Hu Ruihua, and his face turned pale.

They're all missing.

Hu Ruihua took a deep breath and said in an anxious tone: I fell asleep just like you, and when I woke up, I found that everyone else was gone!

Who's missing?

Zheng Yun did not turn around.

Of all the people, I am the only one left in the search and rescue team. Brother Liu on your side is also missing. They drove away. Only two of the three cars are left.

Hu Ruihua still had a walkie-talkie and mobile phone in his hand. He had probably searched around but couldn't find anyone, so he came over to wake him up.

Gone? Where is Demona?

Zheng Yun finally reacted, his brows furrowed deeply, and a chill ran down his back.

Let’s not talk about the search and rescue team.

It was absolutely impossible for Liu Ming to leave without saying goodbye. There was no reason for him to leave alone without saying a word.

They are all gone. Demona is also gone. She still has a locating device. I know where she went, but I don't know where the others went.

Hu Ruihua's face was gloomy. This time was different from before. Their teammate was missing and walked very strangely without even saying hello.

Where is Demona?

Zheng Yun had already had a premonition, and the moment he thought of the answer, he shuddered all over.

She went back to the mine again. Hu Ruihua answered, which was completely consistent with Zheng Yun's guess.

...

Zheng Yun took a deep breath.

The weirdness of this incident exceeded imagination, teammates disappeared mysteriously, and Demona entered the mine again.

There are two possibilities. Teammates discovered that Demona was missing and drove to chase her. However, they had no reason not to wake up Hu Ruihua and themselves.

He and Hu Ruihua were the core of this temporary team. Even if they were tired and fell asleep, the others should not set off alone.

So this guess may not be correct.

Then there is only one possibility. Others, like Demona, entered the mine with Demona for some reason or under some influence.

The possibility is not high either.

Because there is no common ground.

He and Hu Ruihua are the ones who have gone farthest into the mine and have the deepest contact with Demona. If others are affected, there is no reason for them to be spared.

Song Wan never went into the mine, but the same happened to Xiao Li from the search and rescue team. Since Song Wan is still here, why is Xiao Li from the search and rescue team missing too?

There must be some other reason.

But they can't think of it yet.

Your car is still there, let's go back and look for it? Hu Ruihua's expression was serious. This matter was out of control and he had to respond immediately.

Okay. Zheng Yun nodded, looked at Song Wan standing aside and said, How about you stay here?

I'll go too, I can help a lot, and I can also rock climb. Song Wan said seriously.

Zheng Yun was silent for a moment.

His impression of Song Wan was still that of a college girl who could speak French. This matter was too dangerous, and he didn't want Song Wan to be in danger.

The water is too muddy.

There is no need for her and Liu Ming to talk.

But for a moment, Zheng Yun couldn't think of how to place Song Wan. It was really dangerous for her to stay here alone, and Zheng Yun didn't feel relieved.

Brother Zheng, I can go. I will be responsible for anything that happens. Brother Liu is missing. I shouldn't do nothing. Song Wan spoke up again.

Oh, why don't I go first, Zheng Yun, you wait here for my news. Hu Ruihua sighed.

Let's go together. Follow me closely on the road and be smarter. Zheng Yun looked at Song Wan.

Song Wan nodded.

The three of them stopped discussing too much, walked out of the hotel, got in the car, and set off. Hu Ruihua stepped on the accelerator in the driver's seat, and the off-road vehicle sped along the rainforest path.

It's just dawn.

Less than twenty kilometers away and a total of ten minutes later, the off-road vehicle passed through the town of La Maine again.

This was the third time that Zheng Yun looked down at the town. The bonfire at the entrance of the tavern on the main street had just been extinguished. There was no one on the street, and the morning fog seemed to disappear in the town.