Chapter 1146

This was the first time Quincy had spoken so much at once.
He was usually the type to keep his words to a minimum. “Stop crying. We’re still here, safe and sound. Isn’t that proof enough that we’ve been really lucky?”
He tried to smile, hoping to lift Lydia’s spirits. Lydia wiped her eyes with her sleeve and nodded, “You’re right.”
The night air was bitterly cold, and a chill swept through the cave, causing Lydia to shiver involuntarily.
Quincy noticed her discomfort and hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat. He then suggested a bit awkwardly, “If we stay closer, it might help us stay warm.”
His suggestion was subtle, but Lydia immediately understood. Her face flushed, but her body acted on instinct, moving closer to him without hesitation.
Quincy, after all, was a strong man, and his body radiated warmth like a small furnace. Lydia instantly felt a wave of comfort and safety wash over her. Without thinking, she gently wrapped her arms around his waist. Quincy tensed up in surprise, clearly not expecting such an intimate gesture from Lydia. With her head resting on his shoulder, Lydia whispered, “Quincy, meeting you is the best luck I’ve had.”
At that moment, something shifted between them. Quincy was momentarily stunned but managed to respond, “Meeting you is my luck too.”
At that moment, the once-annoying buzz of cicadas in the surrounding forest seemed to fade into the background. Quincy spoke softly, “When we get back, I’ll make sure to take you somewhere nice to unwind.” Hearing this, Lydia chose not to dampen the mood with doubt. She found herself hoping for the best, thinking that as long as they made it through the night, they would surely find their way out the next morning. “When that time comes, I’ll treat. No arguing,” Lydia responded with a faint smile.
“Deal,” Quincy agreed with a smile.
Exhausted, the two soon drifted off to sleep. When the first rays of sunlight filtered into the cave, Lydia awoke with a sense that something was off. She realized she was holding onto what felt like a giant heater. Quincy had slumped against her, his skin flushed with an unnatural redness.
Panic surged through her as she quickly shook him, her voice laced with worry, “Quincy, Quincy, what’s wrong with you?”
She hadn’t expected that Quincy who had been so optimistic and lively just yesterday would fall ill so suddenly. In their current situation, this was the worst possible scenario.
Quincy was barely conscious, feverish, and disoriented. “Stop yelling, just let me sleep a little longer,” he mumbled.
Fear gripped Lydia. She couldn’t let him fall into a deep sleep. What if he never woke up?
She began frantically slapping his face, desperate to keep him awake. “Wake up, Quincy! You can sleep all you want when we’re out of here, but not now!”
Quincy, spurred by her words, managed to regain a small amount of clarity. “Lydia, we have to go… we need to move,” he muttered.
But as soon as he tried to stand, his body gave out, and he collapsed with a pained groan.
Lydia was out of options, but she told herself she had to stay calm. There had to be a way to solve this. She forced herself to take a deep breath, trying to push down the rising panic.
After a moment, she looked at Quincy, determination hardening in her eyes. Biting her lip, she mustered all her strength and began to drag him out of the cave.