In Love, Never Say Never

In love, never say never chapter 741

Now that no one was around to talk to me, the pin-drop silence in the pit intensified the crippling terror within me.

The boggy soil reminded me of the night I had the miscarriage. My body couldn’t help trembling like a leaf.

I couldn’t afford to let fear overtake me, or else I would probably kick the bucket here. There were so many things left undone. I had yet to raise Summer up and achieve my dreams.

“Scarlett, can you hear me? I found some branches. Be careful, I’m dropping them now.” Laurel’s voice came from the opening of the pit.

“Okay, do it,” I replied.

In the next second, some branches fell from above, and she asked, “Scarlett, why did you ask for the branches?”

I felt for the branches on the ground. Holding it in my hand, I knocked against the ground and found that soil around me was pretty solid.

I took a few steps forward hesitantly. “I’m using them to check my surrounding, because I’m afraid that I might fall into another deeper pit.”

“I see, you’re really smart. Hold on, I’m going to find a vine now.”

Then, I could no longer hear her voice. I continued to scan my surrounding with the branch in my hand. After a few steps, I noticed that something was wrong. The soil beneath my feet was too marshy. To my dismay, I found myself sinking gradually.

My heart grew heavy, and I broke out in a cold sweat. At once, I knew that I had stepped into a swamp in the pit.

I raised my head and shouted, “Laurel, are you there?”

Fortunately, she was nearby and rushed over when she heard me. “I’m here.”

“I’m in trouble.” Deep down, I felt a little despondent. “I think I accidentally stepped into a swamp.”

“Ah!” she shrieked all of a sudden. “What should we do now?”

Feeling hopeless, my body sank gradually into the bottomless swamp.

“Don’t sweat it, Laurel. Quickly look for a vine or seek help. I can still hang on for a little longer. Don’t panic!” Trying my very best to keep calm, I racked my brain for a solution, recalling that before the ground I was standing at earlier was solid.

Grateful that I’m still holding the branch, I poked the ground around the swamp. Sure enough, the soil was much harder. Breathing a sigh of relief, I got on my hands and knees to reduce the weight on my feet.

As a result, I would sink at a slower speed.

Boom! Boom! A clap of deafening thunder roared, following by the sound of raindrops pitter-pattered on the ground.

I felt disheartened. Even if I got out of the swamp, I would never be able to climb out of here. Once the rain became heavier, water would accumulate in the pit, and I would get injured or even killed. To make the matter worse, a landslide might happen, and Laurel would be in trouble too.

“Scarlett, are you okay? It’s raining already. What should we do now? Why is Tessa taking so long?”

Outside the pit, Laurel paced up and down in distress. Yet, she had no idea what to do.

The rainwater fell and slowly flowed into the swamp, making it even soggier.

My heart sank. I could only take a gamble now. It would be just my luck if the ground in front of me was still swampy. If it wasn’t, I might pull through this.

Taking a deep breath, I clenched my fists. With all my might, I leaped out of the swamp.

Before I knew it, my feet landed on the area ahead of the swamp. Still, I felt like a cat on a hot tin roof. The moment I noticed I was no longer sinking, but standing on solid ground, my anxiety ceased.

The thunder was ear-splitting that I could barely hear Laurel’s voice. Listening to the sound of rainwater gushing in, I guess that the swamp formed over time due to the stagnant water in the pit.

The marshy ground was originally a flatland. The huge pit came about because the ground was hollow.

A City was in the southwest, where it was mainly covered by forests. After tens of thousands of years of plate motion, there were many coal mines in this area.

Over the past few years, there was no regulation, so the locals were free to do coal mining, leaving behind quite a number of underground mines. Even though the professionals came over for maintenance, the existence of these mines made the ground boggy and unstable.

The prevalence of landslides was caused by the cave-ins of the mines. Rainfall sped up the soil erosion. Hence, with this ten-meter-deep underground pit, the surrounding land could collapse anytime.

I would’ve seen it if I had come during the day, but that wasn’t the case at night when I was as blind as a bat. Once I fell inside, I could only ask for help to get out of it.

“Scarlett, can you hear me? Are you still alright? Don’t be afraid, someone’s coming down to get you.” Laurel’s voice sounded from above.

I lifted my head and answered, “Okay, be careful!”

I was worried about that the person who was coming down might fall into the swamp, so I warned, “Bring a torch when you come down. There’s a swamp down here. Be careful!”

In love, never say never chapter 742

“Got it!” came the voice from above.

Soon, the dark pit was lit up by a beam of light. I remained still, not daring to move a muscle. I squinted against the brightness to see a figure looking down from above, seemingly belonging to a man.

Assuming that it was Armond, I called out in warning, “Armond, be careful. There’s a swamp here and the ground is soft. I’m worried that this area might sink at any moment. Please be careful!”

He didn’t respond, but tied a rope around his waist instead. With the flashlight in one hand, he used the light to find his footing while the other hand groped the soft walls of the pit as he walked in my direction.

The flashlight’s beam was aimed directly at me, so I couldn’t make out Armond’s features. Casting my gaze around, I spotted two slightly deeper pits a short distance away, probably left by my feet earlier.

There was also some muddied undergrowth all around the area, all of which were tea trees, which proved that my guess was right—the ground here had given way not too long ago.

The rain was getting heavier and my clothes were completely soaked by then. I wasn’t sure if the ground beneath my feet could hold my weight, but I had to try making my way forward. When Armond closed in on me, I called out again, “Be careful. Some of the areas are sinkholes!”

“Mm,” he responded just when he reached my side and I was taken aback to hear the familiar voice.

My head whipped up in surprise. “Ashton? What are you doing here?” For some reason, my nerves instantly loosened the moment I saw him and I breathed out an inaudible sigh of relief.

With his lips pressed into a straight line, he raised his brows in provocation. “What? Are you disappointed that it’s me?”

I froze for a split second, but ignored his sarcastic remark and urged, “Let’s get out of here now. This place could sink at any time!”

Needing no further explanation, he grabbed my hand and looked up at the entrance of the pit. “I’ve found her. Tie the rope to a tree and make a dead knot.”

Laurel answered from above, “Okay, got it. Be careful, guys!”

the other end of the rope on his body

he reached out to hold my hand, but I instinctively drew away from

unreadable eyes,

to eight meters above us and with the heavy

entrance from collapsing, the people above had to stand a distance away from it and could only assist by

wanted to pull myself up the rope, but my arms weren’t strong enough. When I

I felt miserable. Ashton had a good physique, so he could have easily climbed up on his

were completely drenched with rainwater and a layer of mud coated his skin. Even his usually neat and proper

on, neither of us is getting out of here. The rain’s too heavy.

hard stare. “Would you

sighed softly. “It’s not what you think it is. Our priority right now is to minimize the loss. We’re both going to end up getting injured if

fine by me!” he retorted. Disregarding my struggles, he pulled me

it was no easy feat and

climb up?”

ordered before shifting his gaze to me. “Don’t worry. I won’t

he had already broken all of the branches Laurel

the broken branches into the pit’s wall. Soon, more

Rock climbing!

understood what Ashton was trying to do, so I began snapping the branches with him. He found a rock on the ground and used it to knock

not once complain as he scaled the wall and knocked

no longer pass more stakes to him. Hence, I could only

idea. Hence, instead of throwing whole branches down, they broke them off and put them in a bag before lowering it down

everyone working together, a large section of the pit’s wall was impaled with stakes. Ashton looked down

nodded, naturally feeling more secure with the stakes to support my weight. Even though I had never learned rock climbing, my survival instincts had kicked in and I wasted no

never say never

through like everyone else, peered

sinkholes, especially on rainy days. C’mon, let’s leave first!”

though on cue, lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder. Everyone couldn’t care

that area just collapsed!”

as one and sure enough, a large area of the

no one has been managing this area in years. On rainy days, accidents are

terror. “I saw many tea trees on the mountain. Isn’t it dangerous for the tea farmers

you guys go off to? If we weren’t looking

gaze at them, but remained otherwise calm. In a polite and sophisticated manner, he expressed his regret. “What happened today was an oversight on my part. To show my sincere apology, I’ll treat everyone

pursed her lips. “We’re not blaming you. It’s not exactly your fault,

was pumping with adrenaline, but now that I escaped from that precarious situation, exhaustion hit me like

I listened to their conversation, my knees suddenly gave out

in and he caught me before I hit the

you hurt? Let me take a look at you.” Anxiously, Nora squatted beside me to inspect my body

blocked her and contradicted in an authoritative voice, “She’s not injured. She’s just tired after the stress her body was put through.

to my feet, but Ashton hugged me close

close proximity, I could feel his body temperature radiating

face flushed a

I would catch a cold, Nora gave me the clothes she had brought that day and told me get changed

was worried I wouldn’t be able to change my

me, I cleared my throat awkwardly. “You really don’t need to watch me like that.

help was loud enough to travel through

looked at her in perplexity. “Didn’t you guys search for me because

forest, but then returned to camp when we didn’t find Ashton. He came back with Rachel later on. It turns out that she sprained her ankle and couldn’t walk back. Ashton was

blurted out, “Then, has Tessa

all about her if you didn’t mention her. We haven’t seen

When it started to rain, we got worried, so we hiked toward the mountain. That’s when we heard Laurel calling for help and found out that you

my lips and fell

brief moment, Nora’s gasp broke the silence. “Did you guys tell

I nodded solemnly. “Yeah.”

is seriously vile. She talks about virtue and kindness every chance she gets,

kept mum and resumed changing my clothes. Suddenly, I felt all the energy drain

rest in our tents for the

to accompany me in my tent, but she was taken away by Armond after

about the rest of them, I lay in my tent and fell

never say never

the night, and I jolted awake when thunder

I turned on my side, I realized with a start that

I could release a scream, a hand shot out to grab mine and then came

I tried to recover from my shock. “Ashton, what are

unexpected presence had brought scared the daylights out of me, but gradually, I regained my

uttered icily, “What

boomed overhead, and I flinched closer

a while, I merely

he hugged me and coaxed me to sleep

sleepy, to begin with, I gradually dozed off

the next day, and the morning air was slightly humid due to the heavy rain from the

to my side, I felt slightly incredulous when

I would’ve thought I hallucinated everything if not for the earplugs still stuck in my

those thoughts, I registered the headache pulsing behind my temples. Hence, even after waking up for a while, I remained in the same position. When Nora

parted my lips to answer. “My head… hurts.”

I think I may

brows knitted together upon hearing my scratchy voice. Upon touching my forehead with

out in a haste and spoke to someone. “We should pack our things right now and go back to

wanted to say something, but

the tent and scanned my face with his ominous eyes. Then, a frown appeared between his brows when he

should take her to the base

was buzzing with a pounding headache. I knew that nothing I said would make a difference, so I simply went along with their

me straight to the base while the others

again after getting into the car. My body felt light, as

I was plagued by an unending stream of nightmares, unable to break

came into view, I reached out to

the verge of breaking down after several failed attempts. As my

Then, the muffled sound of his voice reached my ears, but I couldn’t figure

not being able to communicate with the outside world was horrible. After a few tries, I realized that I couldn’t open my mouth, let alone speak. Hence, I chose