Fight, Flight, or Freeze: The Healer's Story
Chapter 232: Never Meet Again

Chapter 232: Never Meet Again

It was a different feeling walking back to the cages, knowing that they were going to be opened and the people let out. I had never experienced what it was like to be freed back in Camp Hell. Maybe that was why the memories continued to cling to me like they did. I never had that closure, knowing it was over and done with.

Instead, it was like a dark spot in the back of my mind, reminding me that it would be easy to be taken back there. And if I was, I would never walk away a second time.

I shuddered, even though I was still in Rip’s arms. Something told me I would have to face that demon at some point in time, but today was not that day.

Cheng Bo Jing touched each cage with our teammates inside of them, and I watched as the metal crawled up his skin, burrowing down until it created yet another tattoo.

I hadn’t thought about where his tattoos had come from, but this was much more interesting than ink beneath the skin. The metal acted as if it was alive, sometimes moving to create a new design.

While I stared at his arms as more and more metal joined its friends on his body, I missed Chang Guo Zi approaching.

"You are the Healer, aren’t you?" he asked softly. I turned to look at him, only to have Rip pull me out of arms reach as the rest of my guys quickly surrounded us.

Behind Chang Guo Zi, the rest of the men formed a line, staring at me and mine.

I guess without the Princess Teams, new lines in the sand were being drawn. It hurt, knowing that my eyes were once again causing conflict in my life, but I held my head up high and looked down on the man.

"You can say thank you any time now," I said, my voice calm and steady. I couldn’t sense any hatred or anger, only confusion coming from everyone as they were trying to figure out everything in their heads, so at least that was something.

"And why would we? You are the one who hid your identity from us," smiled Zhong Yong Zheng, the head of Betrayed Intent. I wonder if he saw betrayal everywhere, and that was why he always seemed to have a chip on his shoulder.

After all, you always found whatever it was that you were looking for.

"And no wonder," said Huang Xiao Wen as he and Wu Ying Tai came up behind me and my men. Everyone turned their attention away from me and to him. Some even took a step back, seemingly worried that he would Void their powers if they got too close.

Silly men, just being in the same camp as him, made their powers null and void.

"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Fang Ting Guang, taking a step forward until he stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhong Yong Zheng.

"It means that you are an ungrateful idiot," laughed Wu Ying Tai.

It had only been a few minutes since I had last seen her, and she was looking so much better already. She was even walking as if she had never been sick a day in her life.

"Men, they never think things through," she continued, sending me a wink. Unhooking her arm from Huang Xiao Wen, she approached with a pair of sunglasses in her hand. "I thought you might want these."

"Thanks," I smiled, gratefully taking them and putting them on.

"If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t be freed. And we need hostages to hand over to the Reavers now that ours mysteriously died," shrugged Huang Xiao Wen, and I felt more than a bit bad about that.

A part of me wanted to ask just how many people I had drained dry, but I don’t think either Wu Ying Tai or I could deal with that answer.

"Oh, I forgot," interrupted Rip as he looked over his shoulder at the other men. "Those Reavers mysteriously died too. There are none left to look for tribute."

Both Huang Xiao Wen and Wu Ying Tai paused for a moment, shocked. "They are dead?"

"Yup," nodded Rip, and I could feel him looking down at me purposefully. Catching on quickly, Huang Xiao Wen nodded his head.

"There won’t be any more coming back. I left a message for any newcomers at the camp. They’ll avoid anything to do with Black Mountain Syndicate from now on," continued Rip. I almost wanted to know what he left for them, but I figured I was better off knowing.

Ignorance was bliss in times like this.

"Thank you for agreeing to free us," said Cheng Guo Zi as he quickly changed the topic. He bowed slightly to the other man. He was well aware that in this day and age, hostages almost never made it out of their cages.

"Like I said, you’ll have to thank her," replied Huang Xiao Wen, tilting his head toward me.

"I won’t forget," agreed Cheng Guo Zi. Now, if only he would get over the fact that I was the Healer just as fast, life would be just fine.

"We should get going. It is going to be dark. Soon, and we’ll need to set up a camp on the road somewhere before it does," grumbled Jia Yu Sheng. He stretched his hands high over his head and bent to the side as if his body had become stiff from the few hours he had spent in the cage.

Huang Xiao Wen and I looked at each other, and he rolled his eyes, knowing exactly where my thoughts were.

He had a lot more space in that cage, even trapped with ten other men, than even Huang Xiao Wen had back in Camp Hell, let alone me.

"Your accommodations could use some work," smiled Jia Yu Seng as he went forward to shake the other man’s hand.

"I’ll keep that in mind the next time someone trespasses into my territory," returned Huang Xiao Wen.

"Completely understandable. And for that reason, we are going to be getting out of your hair right now. Have a pleasant life. You’ll understand when I say I hope we never meet again," shot back the other man as he raised his head and started walking back the way we came.

I didn’t share that sentiment at all. I like Military Dude and his girlfriend. I hoped that they lived long, happy lives no matter where they were.

And hopefully, we’ll see each other in City D.