Chapter 47 - jane doe

CRASH!

"dammn!" Riggs wince as he crashed to the ground. It was indeed hard to survive the fall without getting injured —even to him. If Uno didn't prepare anything for him to use, he could have multiple broken bones by now. Thinking about the fall, the thought of Seraphina struck him.

"Urrg! Don't die yet! My money tree!" Getting back to his feet, he immediately prepared a flashlight and started his search —limping.

"young miss?! You alive?!" Riggs shouted for Seraphina but to no avail —only echoes of his voice were heard. Still looking for the possible spot where she could have landed, Riggs finally spotted something. He walked towards the reddish hue splotch. Looking closely at it, the color was already diluted probably because of the heavy rain but with Riggs keen instincts, he is convinced that it was indeed blood.

Releasing a sigh, he shouted once again, "Young miss?! It's Riggs!" but still, no response.

Focusing the light of the flashlight to the ground, Riggs was hopeful to see her tracks, fortunately, although it rained, there are still small footsteps or what he assumed they were —he followed it and led him to a rock shelter.

Inside it, he touched the spot drenched with a thick dark red liquid by his pointing and middle finger then rub it to his thumbs confirming its texture if it was real blood.

"Oh crap!"

'Can't an injured person stay still? Damn that girl.' He thought as he pointed the light outside the rock shelter.

Continuing to his quest, though he was getting frustrated at Seraphina who clearly seemed to like too many adventures whilst bleeding or worst, yet she couldn't stay still and went further into the woods.

The forest was not like in the movies. It was rather foreboding and ominous. Only the howl of the wind and the soft susurration of the branches could be heard. Even the silvery rays of the moon could not penetrate the thick canopy of the castle-like trees. The darkness was utterly blinding yet Riggs only clicks his tongue —deciding to move forward and go deeper into the woods.

He went deeper and further into it. He does not know how long he was walking yet no signs of inhabitant was seen.

"Hey, Ms. Troublemaker!  Are you hiding or what?!" He shouted and again, no one responded. Just as he turns to his right, Riggs was almost tripped by something. Fortunately to him, due to his fast reflex —he gained his balance back.

Moving the power light to the thing that almost tripped him, he blinked twice getting a clearer view before his eyes completely widen.

All he saw was a toe.

It was not just a toe but it seems that there is someone buried in there. Riggs was inert to come to his senses —when he was snapped to reality, he swiftly dug the ground with his b_a_r_e hands.

It only took him a few minutes to dig up the body since it was not buried properly. It's as if they buried it just like trash, not a slight intent of hiding it or they are just confident that no one will find out anyway.

After a few brushes, Riggs breathe heavily seeing a corpse of a jane doe.

Looking away, he sighs in relief that it was not Seraphina but all his senses heightened in return. At that moment, he knew the dangers of this island.

"damn." he murmured in gritted teeth. He was not a bit scared about the sight of the cold body beside him —he has seen worst. But the thought of Seraphina on this island and now missing frustrates him. He might as well just dig some more —maybe he'd find her.

Just as he was pondering to his next move, a faint indistinct sound was heard coming from a distance away. The sound was so inaudible that if one did not pay attention, it will go unnoticed. Giving his full attention to the sound, he immediately follows it with his ears open.

Getting closer to the noise, the indistinct noise became much clearer and Riggs confirmed what it was — a gun shooting.

Along the way, Riggs passed by a lot of bodies laying on the ground. The atmosphere became more pressing and suffocating. One after another, it was as if the bodies kept piling up which also means he is getting closer to whatever it'll lead him.

With just a few more yards, it led him to a glade. In the center of it, there is a giant looking warehouse. With the last 'bang', everything fell into silence.

Cautiously, Riggs approach the place. Slowly, he let himself in. But to his surprise, aside from the bloodied bodies on the ground, there are different machines.

Walking closer to it, seeing a familiar white substance in it, Riggs was in disbelief.

"What the actual f*ck." He murmurs as his eyes scan the place.

------------

"So it's a mob territory?!"

"It's a potential hide-out but it is a drug cartel as of now. Manufacturing of drugs to be specific."

"IT'S JUST THE SAME!" Ace raised his voice as if he wanted to knock some senses to the old man.

"Do this people know? Do you know what organization runs it?" He asked in exasperation.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Sir, Elder Hong arrived." after the knock, a voice was heard followed by an old man entering the room together with Alexander Han.

Seeing the scene inside, the two men furrowed their brows. A momentary silence filled the room until Ace voice broke it.

"Do you also know? Then why let outsiders set foot on this island?" Ace scoffs sarcastically to the three people inside the room.

"Elder Meng, who is he?" Elder Hong inquired glancing at the old man in front of him.

"He is the victim's friend." Though they look the same age, none will know that Elder Hong is much older than Elder Meng, thus, the way Elder Meng responded to him contained his utmost respect.

"We can fix this." Alex spoke.

"Sir, everything is clear. We are good to go." Coming from the other side of the door, a youthful voice was heard.

Putting the matter on the truce, Ace stare intently to Alexander Han's gorgeous eyes.

"start praying that she is still alive." He asserted before walking out of the room.