Before Finn or Soren could say anything, Theresa stepped forward and wrapped Evangeline in a hug.


    Her own eyes were red.


    Theresa understood Evangeline''s pain all too well.


    She felt it, too.


    These few days with Evangeline had been a joy, like stepping back in time to their youth, before everything went wrong.


    When she and Evangeline would burst outughing in their room, she half-expected Julian to walk in, just like he used to, and ask with a smile, "What''s so funny?"


    Kearney hadn''t allowed her to get too close to any men, so Theresa had often used "visiting Evangeline" as an excuse to meet Julian. He would take them to newly opened cafes and charming French restaurants.


    Even though Victor always found some excuse to tag along, those happy, carefree moments were still something she often reminisced about over the years.


    But after the memories faded, Julian would not appear.


    Just as they, too, had drifted further and further apart.


    Theresa reluctantly let her go. "Evangeline, you and I are different."


    "You have a much brighter future ahead of you, and a career you haven''t finished building. If you stay here, you''ll regret leaving all that behind."


    "You do, too," Evangeline replied.


    She wanted to tell Theresa to move forward, to find her own faith in the future again. But thinking of the long years of pain Theresa had endured, she swallowed the words.


    Kearney was a pragmatist who would try to exploit Theresa''s value the moment she returned. And Victor was a master maniptor who would use every trick in the book to keep her there. After her first escape, getting away a second time would be even harder.


    She couldn''t go back to Serenity City.


    As reason returned, Evangeline dug her nails into her palm, choking back sobs. Theresa took her hand and said earnestly, “Evangeline, I wille back.”


    She lowered her voice so only they could hear. "I''m just running away for now, not forever."


    "When I''ve thought things through and found the courage to stand up to them, I wille back for good."


    "So, you have to go back and live well."


    Thest two sentences were spoken with a newfound strength.


    Evangeline looked up and saw the seriousness in her friend''s eyes. The anxiety and unease in her heart finally settled.


    After a tearful farewell, Leo led Evangeline and the others away.


    On the way back, Soren realized he had left behind the satellite phone from their fall and had to double back to get it.


    While they waited, Evangeline


    noticed they were in a less rugged area of the mountains that seemed more suitable for a rescue operation. Worried that a rescue team might get lost, they decided to leave marks on the trees and along the path, pointing the way out. That way, even if the rescue failed, the team wouldn''t lose their way.


    Once Soren returned, the four of them pressed on.


    With Leo leading, they moved much faster than before. It was a good thing he was there; the deeper they went, the harder it became to get their bearings.


    At one point, even Leo almost got lost. After walking in a circle, he stopped, closed


    his eyes, and led them out based on pure instinct.


    “It''s often hard to find your direction at sea, too," he said proudly. "When that happens, I rely on my gut. And my gut is right nine times out of ten."


    They chatted idly as they walked.


    After nearly a full day of travel, they finally ran into the rescue party.


    Before they even saw anyone, the four of them heard faint shouts echoing through


    the forest, calling the names of the three missing people.


    Leo held up a hand, gesturing


    toward a tree. "Follow the line of this tree straight ahead, and you''ll get


    out you can walk then the


    way on your own. I''m heading back now."


    The three thanked him and didn''t try to make him stay. They all knew, without saying


    it, that Leo''s disappearance was the best way to protect Theresa and avoid anyplications.


    After watching Leo walk away, they finally called out in response to the rescue team.


    The forest they were being rescued from was muchrger and moreplex than they had imagined. Arabe Lockridge had been leading the rescue team for nearly a week straight, and she was starting to feel dazed from exhaustion.