“Stay behind me,” Smith said to Joanne, who was frozen in fear.The three of them turned around, trying to locate the creature lurking inside the cave. But they saw nothing.“Maybe it was just our imagination,” Jackson said, beginning to relax.“Really? But I swear something was hiding in the darkness. Think about it—why did Smith’s torch suddenly go out?” Joanne asked, still uneasy.“There’s nothing here,” Jackson replied.Suddenly, the cave plunged into darkness. All three turned at once—and froze in shock. A massive six-legged creature stood at the exit, busy weaving its web.“A-a giant spider…” Joanne’s eyes widened. Other than geese, spiders were her worst fear. She hated them ever since a traumatic childhood experience.“It’s sealing off our exit!” Smith exclaimed, realizing what was happening.Jackson didn’t hesitate. He drew his bow and fired a flaming arrow at the spider.The creature turned, enraged, as the arrow struck its body.“O-oh no, it looks angry,” Joanne said, her f

Jackson was dragged, struggling to restrain the dagger as he gripped it tightly, but the weapon fought back harder against his grasp.“Stay still!” Jackson shouted in frustration. The dagger slipped free from his grip and soared high into the air. Jackson and Joanne could only stare upward in silence as it floated around the cave.“Damn it! That dagger is completely uncontrollable,” Jackson muttered angrily.“Do something!”“How?!” Jackson shot back, glaring at Joanne, who seemed to only bark orders without lifting a finger.“Chase it down and catch it! That dagger is the only way we can escape.”“Ah… if only Smith were awake and using his sword to help us. Instead, he’s passed out and completely useless. And on top of that, where’s his sword?” Jackson scanned the cave for Smith’s weapon, but it was nowhere to be found.“There’s no time left, hurry!” Joanne yelled.“Fine, I’ll get it!” Jackson sprinted after the dagger, finally managing to seize it. He calmed it down by stroking it ge

“Our journey is still a long one before we can reach the happiness we’re searching for,” Smith muttered. Joanne and Jackson turned to him at the same time, then fell silent, quietly agreeing with his words.“You’re right,” Joanne said.The three of them suddenly went quiet, the atmosphere turning awkward and heavy. Each became lost in their own thoughts while resting there. Without realizing it, the sun slowly descended from its throne, moving toward the western horizon to hand over its role to the moon.Night began to fall, and their journey was still far from over. Suddenly, Joanne’s stomach growled, drawing the attention of her two companions. She chuckled softly at the sound, breaking the silence that had surrounded them.“I’m hungry, hehe…” Joanne said, flashing her row of white teeth.“We know you’re hungry—we feel the same way,” Jackson replied.“It’s getting dark. We should hurry and find a place to rest. Let’s set up a tent and light a campfire, then find food so we’ll have e

The night grew late, and the forest grew still. Only the sound of flowing water could be heard. Joanne slept in a tent separate from Jackson and Smith, while the two men shared one. As silence deepened, Smith stirred awake, driven by a sudden urge to relieve himself. He sat up for a moment, gathering his full consciousness until he was completely alert. Once steady, he stepped out of the tent and walked along the riverbank, moving a little farther from their campsite to find some privacy. But before he could fulfill his purpose, his attention was caught by the sight of a figure bathing in the river—completely unclothed. “Joanne?” Smith whispered softly when he realized it was a woman. Her long hair flowed down her back, and her fair skin seemed to glow under the moonlight. The waterfall behind her drenched her body, making her hair shimmer. The woman was facing away from Smith, half of her body submerged in the water, leaving only her upper form visible. “Why would she bathe

The woman pressed her body against Jackson, her hands cupping his cheeks, ready to land a kiss on his lips. But Jackson stopped her first, gripping both her wrists tightly and staring straight into her eyes.“Where did you take my partner?” he demanded. The woman’s eyes widened in shock when she realized Jackson wasn’t affected by her charm.“Jackson, watch out!” Joanne shouted. Both of them turned instinctively, but a laser beam shot toward them first. Jackson dodged, yet the woman pushed him into the water before it could strike.The laser from Joanne’s pistol grazed the woman’s hair, cutting a few strands.SPLASH!Jackson plunged into the water. Joanne sprinted toward them and fired at the woman, who now swam below the surface. Unfortunately, every shot missed.She dove in after them, but the dark night made it impossible to see clearly.Clutching her laser pistol tightly, Joanne scanned the waters for any sign of Jac