Chapter 160: Chapter 160: "Evelyn Hollis, I am Renee Jennings.
Auntie Mayer stared at the Viper, not daring to move a muscle.
Her voice trembled as she said, "Bobby, hurry! Go get a doctor!"
"What is it, Ma?" Bobby, who was on top of Evelyn Hollis, lifted his head.
Auntie Mayerās voice was tinged with tears. "A snake bit me!"
"Ah!" Bobby jumped in fright and quickly got off Evelyn Hollis. "Iāll go get the doctor right now!"
He leaned on his crutch and limped out of the room.
Evelyn Hollis slowly opened her eyes and saw Auntie Mayer standing at the foot of the bed, her body trembling slightly.
She looked down, a look of astonishment on her face.
A solid green snake was wrapped around Auntie Mayerās leg.
Inky watched the scene and quickly pieced things together. "Oh beautiful Viper, may I ask if Renee sent you?"
The Viper heard the voice and glanced lazily at Inky. "You must be that little Robin she mentioned?"
"Inky," Inky said, overjoyed. "Thank you for helping Renee!"
"I donāt need your thanks," the Viper said coolly. "She can thank me herself."
"Right, right!" Inky looked at Evelyn Hollisās bound hands. "Ash, do you think we can peck through that rope?"
"Forget it," Ash said. "Thatās too difficult."
Evelyn Hollisās gaze shifted to the birds in midair, and an incredible thought suddenly flashed through her mind.
āCould these two birds and the snake on Auntie Mayer be here to save me?ā
But she quickly dismissed the idea.
āThis isnāt some kind of fairy tale!ā
Evelyn Hollis pushed her thoughts aside and struggled to break free from the rope on her wrists.
āThis is my chance to escape. I have to take it!ā
Her wrists were rubbed raw and bloody, but she finally broke free of the rope.
Evelyn Hollis quickly pulled her pants on and dragged her weakened body out of the room.
Auntie Mayer roared at her retreating back, "Youāre not going anywhere! Stop right there!"
Barefoot, Evelyn Hollis stumbled out of Auntie Mayerās house.
Inky and Ash immediately flew out after her.
The night was as dark as ink. Evelyn Hollis looked around blankly, unsure of which way to go.
"This way, this way!" Inky flapped its wings in front of her. "Go this way!"
Evelyn Hollis noticed this. Recalling what had just happened, she gritted her teeth and decided to take a gamble.
After all, no one in this village could be trusted.
She followed the two birds.
Ash scouted ahead while Inky led Evelyn Hollis, and they didnāt encounter any villagers along the way.
Gradually, Evelyn Hollis realized she was far from the village center. The only building around was a two-story house with lights on both floors.
Inky, still flying, noticed that Evelyn Hollis wasnāt following anymore.
It flew back to get her, chirping, "Hurry, follow the Robin!"
Evelyn Hollis was crouched in the bushes, trying to hide.
Inky hesitated for a moment, then called out to Ash up ahead, "Ash, go find Renee! Tell her Evelyn Hollis is here!"
"Okay!" Ash agreed, rapidly beating its wings as it flew toward the house.
ćFirst-floor living room.ć
Sawyer was hugging the newel post, standing on the steps, too scared to go any further.
She counted a total of five snakes in the living room. One of them, a green one, was coiled around Renee Jenningsās arm.
"Arenāt you scared?" Sawyer asked, her voice trembling.
"I used to be," Renee Jennings looked at her and said slowly. "But now that I can communicate with them and know they wonāt bite without reason, Iām not afraid anymore."
"Renee, you smell so good," the Viper clung to her, unwilling to let go. "So nice!"
This wasnāt the first time Renee had heard an animal say she smelled good.
āHow strange.ā
āIām not even wearing perfume.ā
System 009, which hadnāt appeared for a while, finally spoke up.
[System 009: Miss Jennings, as your Level increases, so does your animal affinity. When animals sense your affinity, it manifests as them feeling comfortable around you or finding your scent very pleasant, and so on.]
āSo thatās why.ā
Renee took out her phone to check the time and murmured, "I wonder how things are going on Cyanās end."
"Donāt worry, donāt worry. Cyan is very smart," said Jade, the snake coiled on her arm, flicking her tongue. "Sheās very reliable."
Renee lowered her gaze and smiled at her. "Youāre her sister, so doesnāt that make you even smarter?"
"Oh, Iām alright," Jade said humbly.
Just then, Ash flew rapidly toward Renee. "Danger, danger!"
It was flying too fast to stop and crashed right into Reneeās arms, its little head feeling dizzy.
"Ash, are you okay?" Renee placed it in her palm and asked with concern, "Did you get hurt?"
"Hurt! It hurts so much! I need to eat some yummy wheat to stop the pain!" Ash seized the opportunity to beg for food.
Renee stood up. "Iāll get you some painkillers right away."
"No rush, no rush!" Ash hadnāt forgotten Inkyās instructions. "Renee, Evelyn Hollis is outside, but sheās too scared to come in! Inky sent me to tell you!"
"She escaped?" A glimmer of light flashed in Reneeās eyes.
"Yes!" Ash nodded its head as if pecking at food. "That green snake tied up the old human lady, so she got away."
Renee was a little emotional. "Take us to her."
Ash flew a circle in midair. "No problem!"
Renee turned to the others and said in a low voice, "Evelyn Hollis is nearby. Iām going to bring her here. Whoās coming with me?"
Henry Stark spoke softly, "Kian and I will."
One was playing her boyfriend, the other her brother. If they ran into any villagers, it would make for a more reasonable explanation.
"Then letās go." Renee was the first one out the door, with Jade still coiled around her arm, refusing to leave.
The wild grass around them was half a person tall. The three of them followed Ash, walking cautiously.
Evelyn Hollis hid in the tall grass, crawling without any sense of direction, occasionally peeking her head out to look toward the house.
She had moved even farther from the house and the village center.
Inky watched Evelyn Hollis crawl in the opposite direction of the house. It tried several times to tell her she was going the wrong way, but she couldnāt understand it.
It could only sigh.
Thankfully, Ash arrived with Renee and the others.
"Over here, over here!" Inky flew up to greet them.
Reneeās group got closer and closer to Evelyn Hollis.
She heard footsteps, and her heart leaped into her throat. Her whole body began to tremble, she didnāt even dare to breathe, and that feeling of despair engulfed her once more.
The footsteps grew clearer. Evelyn Hollisās eyes widened as she stared warily at her surroundings. Just as she was about to break down, she suddenly heard someone call her name.
"Evelyn Hollis."
She bit her lip hard, not daring to make the slightest sound.
āIt must be Shane Leeās men, coming to capture me!ā
The gentle voice spoke again. "Evelyn Hollis, donāt be afraid. Weāre here to save you. Iām Renee Jennings. Weāve met before."
At that moment, Evelyn Hollis didnāt trust anyone at all.
The only thing she could do was try to make herself as small as possible.
"Evelyn Hollis, Iām Renee Jennings." Renee came to stand in front of her.
Terrified, Evelyn Hollis let out a panicked scream. "AHHHā"