Predator

37

Amelia had heard of poachers' methods before. Kenya's most notorious poacher, K, was not only bloodthirsty but also enjoyed torturing his prey. In research on capturing him, it was mentioned that elephants under his control were often shot with spears through half their heads, left barely alive, forced to kneel on their front legs, and then had their skulls sawed open while still alive, their hollow eye sockets silently watching as their tusks were taken.

A plundering filled with hatred, aiming to make these giants kneel and bow.

Connecting this with Liam's current state, she had a rough guess—

"Did he think that shot was too merciful?"

"Amelia." The man, enduring his pain, didn't blink, but his tone changed with warning, "Don't speculate wildly."

"To survive here, you have two choices. Either cover your ears, eyes, and mouth, and be a deaf, blind, dumb fool. Or be a smart person of value." Liam endured the muscle-tearing pain, "The latter's cost is too high for you. Sometimes, whether a person is stupid or not doesn't matter. What's important is... not to make others wary of you."

"And what about you?" The girl countered, "What role are you playing? The latter?"

"I'm not playing any role." The man's lips twitched stiffly, "I'm just a pure evil person. The killings you see are life and money to me."

Amelia said nothing more. She picked up the medicinal powder, applying it heavily to the wounds on his abdomen. The man's expression didn't change, but his face turned slightly pale.

In the moment she withdrew her hand, her palm brushed against a hard object in his pants pocket, revealing its secret—a hidden, cold, elongated item.

She suddenly twisted her wrist back, aiming directly for that spot.

Inside Liam's pocket was the knife he had given her.

It gleamed coldly in the night, and as he raised an eyebrow, it was already against his Adam's apple.

He could feel the sharp blade cutting his skin with each swallow, yet he didn't dodge, instead, his words were encouraging, "Not bad, you've learned to take advantage."

The boiling blood surged in the confined space, tension instantly filling the air.

"Do it."

His voice was hoarse, "Kill me, and you'll be free."

Amelia saw the dark turbulence in his eyes, reflecting a small version of herself, hands trembling on the knife handle, "You think I won't dare?!"

She closed her eyes, determined to push the blade forward, but quickly withdrew it when warm blood splashed on her fingers, dropping the knife with a clear sound.

"Give me the key."

"What key?"

Liam didn't move, so she rummaged through him herself, half her body pressing against his on the ground, searching fruitlessly, her eyes turning red with frustration.

"The key to Mike's cage."

He laughed, slightly parting his lips, revealing a silver glint under his tongue.

"If you want it, come and get it yourself."

As she hesitated and reached out her hand, Liam's bloodstained hand suddenly grabbed her neck, pulling her into a fierce kiss.

The key was exchanged in the kiss, and he reluctantly transferred it to Amelia's mouth.

Silver threads broke between their lips, "Now, it's yours."

Now, it's your turn to be my prisoner.