In the pouring rain, Dylan followed the trail of footprints. He was completely drenched, his feet caked in mud from running through the forest terrain. Never in his life had he been in such a disheveled state. But the thought of the girl's peril—partly due to his carelessness—kept him pressing forward.
Meanwhile, Adam, the agile leopard, moved effortlessly through the forest, quickly catching up to Dylan.
Despite having a general sense of direction, the dense woods made it difficult to pinpoint Hank Hahn's exact location. Dylan was unable to determine where the vampire was hiding. Fortunately, the search area had narrowed, and the relentless downpour was beginning to ease. If the rain stopped, his senses and heightened perception would return to their peak, significantly improving his chances of finding the girl.
"Hmm…"
Anran let out a faint sound, only to feel a cold hand clamp around her neck. Her eyes fluttered open, and what she saw filled her with shock and terror.
In the darkness, she could only make out a pair of blood-red eyes staring back at her.
The owner of those eyes spoke in a chilling voice, "Don't make a sound, or I'll snap your neck in the next second."
Anran's eyes widened in recognition—that voice, that nightmare-inducing voice! It was him. The vampire from the Hahn family who had lured her out of the house that fateful night and tried to abduct her!
Now fully awake, Anran shivered uncontrollably. It could have been the damp, clinging dress she was still wearing, the icy chill of the cave, the freezing grip on her neck, or the bone-deep fear coursing through her. She had no idea where she was or how she had ended up in the hands of the Hahn vampire. Her last memory was of falling from the stage into the lake.
What had happened after that? And where was Richard?
The cave was deep and well-hidden. In this weather, as long as no loud noises were made, Hank wasn't worried about Dylan Morris finding them.
Human eyes couldn't see in the dark, so Anran couldn't make out Hank's expression. But Hank could see her clearly, and her unmistakable fear delighted him. Satisfied that she wouldn't scream, he released her neck.
Anran gasped for air, her throat itching from the tight grip. Remembering Hank's warning, she stifled her coughs, though her body felt unbearably cold, and her head spun with dizziness.
Her fearful expression and the way she covered her mouth didn't escape Hank's sharp, crimson eyes.
"You must be wondering how you ended up in my hands," Hank said, his tone dripping with smug satisfaction.
Before she could respond, he launched into a detailed account of his plan, as if this entire scheme was his life's greatest masterpiece. He was utterly absorbed in his own brilliance, failing to notice that Anran's initial shock had faded into a calm resolve.
After all, this wasn't the first time Anran had faced such danger. Her past brushes with death had toughened her mentally. Seizing the moment while Hank was lost in his self-admiration, she slipped her hand into her boot.
When her fingers touched the object hidden inside, her heart skipped a beat.