Chapter 223:
The car door slammed into the vehicle with a terrifying bang, drawing the men's attention. They quickly released Monica and fled. Caden, jumping from the wrecked car, brandished a pistol and opened fire, catching the men by surprise. They scattered in panic, but none escaped. Within moments, all lay on the ground, riddled with needles—tranquilizer darts, Joshua realized.
He swiftly moved, pressing a knife to Alicia's neck. Caden, gun drawn, confronted him. The icy wind howled, but Caden's steely gaze was more intimidating than his weapon. Alicia, now a human shield, stepped forward. The knife pressed against her neck; the slightest movement could be fatal. Yet, seeing Caden, her previously vacant expression softened into a faint smile, fear replaced by relief.
Caden advanced deliberately, his eyes fixed on Joshua. "If this knife harms her, I will kill you," he stated. Joshua, unafraid and desperate, screamed, his eyes blazing with rage, "Caden, take one step closer, and I'll slit her throat!" He tightened his grip, a thin line of blood appearing on Alicia's pale neck. Caden halted, his eyes darkening. Alicia noticed Joshua's trembling hands. They needed to understand each other.
Caden flexed his thumb, about to fire, when Alicia threw her head back, striking Joshua hard on the skull. Simultaneously, a tranquilizer dart hit Joshua's hand, causing him to drop the knife. Alicia quickly kicked it away and ran to Caden. He opened his arms, embracing her. His heart, though calm, remained steady and cold. He fired several more darts at the now partially paralyzed Joshua, their supply nearly depleted.
Alicia leaned weakly on Caden, clinging to him as if to life itself. "Monica…" he whispered, his voice trembling with fear. "Save Monica." He scooped her up, wrapped her in his cloak, and carried her into a nearby room. Monica’s clothes were torn, but she was unharmed. He covered her with a cloth and left.
By then, Cliff arrived with reinforcements, assuming responsibility for Joshua. Caden placed Monica in the car and then turned to Alicia, still shaking from residual fear and exhaustion. Seeing her vulnerability, he comforted her with unusual tenderness, a novel experience for him. She leaned on him, moaning softly; her name, though barely audible, resonated deeply with him. Her true longing only surfaced in her distress. He felt an urge to kiss her, but then saw Joshua, somehow, in the crashed car.
Through the window, he saw Joshua’s malevolent smile; he was determined to take Alicia. With Monica secured, Caden needed to distract Joshua. He quickly led Alicia to open ground, knowing legs were faster than a car. Joshua, driven by madness, charged, but Caden, unfamiliar with the terrain, fell into a snow-hidden hole. Joshua’s erratic, tranquilizer-impaired driving led to his car hitting a pile of debris, which then tumbled toward Caden. He escaped the falling debris, but the snow collapsed beneath him, sending him and Alicia tumbling down the slope.
Joshua watched, believing the fall or the snow would kill them, laughing wildly. His joy was short-lived; Cliff arrived, subduing Joshua and handing him over to authorities. A thorough search for Caden and Alicia yielded nothing. Cliff discovered the edge of the mountaintop and the daunting drop into the darkness below, immediately ordering a large-scale search and rescue operation.