Just then, thunder sounded in the skies, followed by a strike of white lightning.


    It seemed to have struck Jasper to the ground, making his entire body numb and fixed to the spot. Only


    his heart remained tossing and turning in turmoil.


    “How long has she been joining you on your hikes, Mr. Forrest?” Jasper inquired restrainedly as if he


    were


    suppressing some emotion.


    “For the past three years now, actually.”


    The past three years.


    That meant since the start of their marriage.


    Jasper’s heart lurched once again. Bile filled his throat, flooding his senses.


    Alice… Alyssa …


    Jasper came to realize that Alyssa had been keeping that from him all these years, even though they


    were


    doing the same thing.


    While Jasper had his own reasons for his actions, he couldn’t help but wonder about Alyssa’s


    motivations.


    His head throbbed painfully. All these lies and secrets were driving him insane!


    “Oh dear. The rain’s aing.” Elijah nced at the gray clouds gathering above the mountains and


    got


    his walkie-talkie out.


    He said, “Elias, it looks like a thunderstorm is on our heels. Please have the team be extra careful


    during


    the patrol, especially Alice! Over.”


    “Don’t worry, sir. Over,” came Elias’ reply.


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    Jasper’s jaw was clenched worriedly. He turned and ran right into the park.


    “Mr. Jasper, where are you going?” Elijah cried.


    Jasper kept running, with only five words on his mind right now-“I need to find her!”


    The sky darkened considerably as thunderclouds gathered as far as the eye could see. It felt like the


    sun


    has taken a holiday.


    Blinding strikes of lightning crackled through the sky as the wind picked up, howling in the rangers’


    faces.


    “Damn it!” someone cried, “We already warned these hikers about potential thunderstorms! Why did


    they


    still decide to go on a hike?”


    “Let’s just focus on the present, shall we? Our duty as park rangers is to keep the hikers safe no matter


    their personal decisions!” Elias yelled through the torrent of rain and wind.


    “Over here, Mr. Parker!” Alyssa called, noticing a hiker’s phone caught between some rocks.


    “It must have belonged to that missing hiker! We must be on the right track!”


    Elias noticed how fast the weather was turning south. If they continued staying there, they might be the


    ones in danger next.


    He hurriedly instructed, “Split into two formations! Ms. Alice and Team A will go north with me while


    Team B heads west!”


    “Yes, sir!”


    The raincoat and windbreaker Alyssa had on were nothingpared to the violent tearing of wind and


    rain. She was shivering right now. Even her breath came out as a wispy mist.


    The two teams went on their separate ways to search for the missing hiker. It was a dense andrge


    mountain, paths nearly indistinguishable from one another in the torrential rain.


    “Help … Help me! Help me!”


    “The hiker is nearby. I can hear her already!” Alyssa announced, stopping to gauge her surroundings


    for


    more clues as to where the hiker might be.


    The other rangers shared looks of shock. They wondered if Alyssa had a supersonic hearing or


    something.


    “Be careful!” Elias cried, running toward Alyssa when she ran straight to the source of the call.


    Alyssa used her torchlight to guide her way, focusing on that weak cry for help just now. She had found


    herself at the mercy of this mountainous terrain once upon a time, so she hoped they found the


    salvation they needed just like she did.


    After some time, she finally found the hiker who had lost their way, leaning against an inclined ledge.


    “Stay right there! We’re here to help!” Alyssa cried. “Are you okay? Can you walk?”


    “N-No…” the hiker cried, clearly in pain. “My leg is stuck… It hurts…”


    Alyssa gritted her teeth, about to climb down to help her up, but Elias stopped her.


    “This is the steepest, barest face of the mountain, Ms. Alice! The rock might give way at any moment


    under this rain! Let me go in your stead!”


    The hiker suddenly screamed, “Ah! Help me!”


    Alyssa watched as the rock under the hiker’s feet crumbled, making her slip further toward the ledge.


    Things were critical right now.


    “The ledge can’t support any more weight right now!” another ranger cried.