Not A Small-Town Girl

----

Xavier wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and

said with difficulty, "I’m fine." The blow almost killed him.

Danielle, who was standing on the other side, rushed

towards the giant serpent with her dagger and stabbed it

directly into the snake’s head.

The giant serpent let out a roar, and its huge body

struggled violently. Danielle was almost thrown to the side.

She immediately took out her pistol and fired several shots

at the serpent’s head.

Its blood splattered all over Danielle, and the giant serpent

crashed to the ground with a thud.

"Dad, Mom, Xavier, are you alright?" Danielle hurriedly

asked with concern.

Howard replied, "We’re fine. We barely made any progress

before this big snake attacked us. It’s only going to get

more dangerous the deeper we venture."

Howard looked around vigilantly. Without Danielle around,

they would have been swallowed by that snake just now.

----

Danielle suggested, "Dad, Mom,

Xavier, why t I send you out first

and you waittfor me at the entrance I

of the cave?" She didn’t know what

terrible things awaited them next;

but sKe supposed danger lurkéd all

ind here for this place tobe

nailed the forbidden area by the

villagers of Blackpool Village.

----

Xavier said earnestly, "Danielle, the

three of us aten’t skilled fighters. If

we go with.you, we might slow you~

down. But’we can’t let you face S

dangenalone in order to find ©

Matfttew. I can at least be yaur meat

shield at a critical moment

Vivian chimed in, "That’s right, Danielle. Mom and Dad

won’t let you explore such a dangerous place alone. Let’s

all be careful."

----

Seeing that her parents and Xavier had made up their

minds, Danielle didn’t say anything more. She would just

have to protect them carefully.

She said, "Okay."

They advanced cautiously in the cave. The further they

went, the colder it got. Occasionally, they could hear the

sound of dripping water.

Danielle held out her hand, signaling them to stop.

Howard asked, "What’s wrong, Danielle?"

----

"Something feels off here. Stay close to me," Danielle said.

She held the flashlight in her left hand and the dagger in

her right, her beautiful eyes full of vigilance.

Xavier was walking at the back, clutching his chest and

slowly following them. Just then, he felt someone pat him

on the back.

Fear surged through him. He was the last one in line.

There was no way any of his family members could have

patted him on the back. Xavier kept convincing himself that

he was just imagining things.

He moved another two steps forward before he felt

le, he

could no longer convince himself he was imagining things.

someone patting him on the back again. Thi:

Xavier shouted, "Oh lord! There’s someone. Someone’s

patting me on the back. Help me."

----

Xavier rushed to the front while screaming, his face pale

with fright.

“What’s wrong, Xavier?" Danielle quickly shone her

flashlight behind her.

“Danielle, someone just patted me on the back." Xavier

was on the verge of crying due to fear.

Danielle looked around vigilantly, but found nothing.

However, Xavier had no reason to lie. With the torchlight in

her hand, Danielle approached Xavier and said, "It’s okay.

Calm down."

Vivian was also startled by Xavier’s shouts. She thought,

‘Only four of us came in. Who could have patted Xavier on

the back?"

“Xavier, you walk in the middle. I’ll take the back," Howard

said, glancing at his son’s pale face. He was clearly

worried Xavier might lose his nerve.

----

“Forget it, DadN’ll handle the rear,"

Xavier said voice wavering. His

legs wereshaking so bad he thought

they might give out, but he wasn’

aboutto let his dad take the risk.

Swaflowing hard, he forced himself

torfove back.

“Xavier,” Danielle cut in, "if anything happens, use the

powder I gave you. Just toss it, grab onto Dad’s shirt, and

seriously, don’t wander off."

Her eyes darted between them, wishing she could shield

them both at once.