They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 316: Unforgiving River Torrent

Chapter 316: Unforgiving River Torrent

“River Torrent? That’s not one of the commercial lines to Truns. There’s nothing docked there.”

“Then prep one!” the guard screamed, watching helplessly as the fugitives grew smaller and smaller down the winding current.

“That’ll take at least thirty minutes!” came the reply.

“We’ll lose them by then DAMN IT!”

At the riverside, boots kicked the earth, curses filled the air. The squad stationed there had been sparse, placed more for surveillance than combat.

All the muscle, all the boats, all the focus had been sent to River Dunk, the busy trade artery that was the logical escape route.

And that is exactly why Ruth chose otherwise.

Back in the boat, Abuchi turned to Nnenna, breathing hard but smiling.

“They’re not following.”

“Because they can’t.” she replied, not breaking her rhythm. “This river’s not for business, it’s wild. Too unpredictable for trade.”

Karen, gripping her paddle, smirked. “That’s why they never thought we would pick it. Smart play.”

John wiped water from his brow, eyes scanning the narrowing walls of foliage that bordered the river.

“Let’s just hope it gets us all the way to Truns.”

The boat continued to glide, a narrow arrow splitting through the torrent’s rage. Around them, the sounds of pursuit faded into the rustling of wind and the thunder of water.

They had gambled, on instinct, misdirection, and the underestimated fury of nature.

And for now, they were winning.

The crew of five gripped their paddles tightly, their hands blistering from the effort as they rowed in unison. The boat surged forward, each stroke a desperate push against the powerful current of River Torrent.

True to its name, the river was relentless. Waves slammed against the wooden sides of their handcrafted boat, soaking them repeatedly. The water churned like an angry beast, tossing the boat from side to side.

“Keep it steady!” Abuchi shouted, struggling to keep his paddle in rhythm.

“I’m trying!” Ekene grunted, every muscle in his body burning. Nnenna, seated at the front, had her eyes locked ahead, analyzing every bend and swell of the river like she had been born on the water.

Her earlier confidence in boat building seemed almost prophetic now, without her, they wouldn’t have made it this far.

John and Karen remained silent, focused and determined, letting the rhythm of survival dictate their movements.

But the river had other plans.

A massive wave rose like a wall before them. “Brace!” Nnenna screamed, but it was too late.

The boat flipped.

Chaos followed. Cold water swallowed them whole, churning and spinning their bodies like dolls in a storm. For a terrifying moment, it was unclear who was above and who was below. But one by one, they surfaced, coughing, gasping, but alive.

“Swim! Trunns isn’t far!” Abuchi yelled between gulps of water. His voice was hoarse but firm.

They kicked and pulled through the water with every bit of strength they had left. The current, though harsh, carried them in the right direction. The shimmering outlines of buildings and industry smoke appeared on the horizon, Trunns.

Relief mixed with exhaustion as they finally touched the muddy shore, collapsing in a breathless heap, wet and bruised but safe.

Their clothes were soaked, their shoes heavy, and every single supply they carried was drenched, including their ID cards and emergency gear.

No one said a word at first. The only sounds were heavy breaths and the distant rush of the unforgiving River Torrent.

Karen groaned and flopped onto her back. “Everything’s soaked. Even my soul.”

John sat up slowly, wiping water from his eyes. “We can’t stay out here. What’s the next move?”

They all knew what he meant. The guards could still be on their trail. It was not safe to rest too long, not out in the open.

“We need to get to Jupe as soon as possible,” Abuchi replied, scanning the dark cityscape not far ahead.

“But we can’t travel now. It’s night,” Karen reminded him, her voice tired but clear.

“She’s right,” Nnenna added. “The roads will be monitored. Let’s lay low till morning.”

“Fine,” Abuchi said with a nod. “First, we find a place to sleep.”

Ekene stood up with a grunt. “Let’s go, before my legs give out.”

They moved slowly toward the city, still dripping wet, attracting a few stares. Luckily, it was dark, and the streets were quiet.

Eventually, they found a hotel tucked between two old shops. It was not anything fancy, actually, it looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years, but it had one thing they desperately needed: no ID checks.

The hotel owner eyed them suspiciously at first but quickly smiled when Abuchi paid him in a foreign currency, with a generous bonus. “Welcome,” he said, slipping the cash into his pocket. “Two rooms?”

“One for the ladies, one for the guys,” Abuchi confirmed.

The moment they entered their rooms, everyone moved like robots. Clothes were changed, whatever that was in the lost and found, and makeshift baths were taken.

But sleep? That was harder.

Even with soft beds beneath them and shelter around them, their minds were alert. The thrill of escape hadn’t left their bodies yet. Every creak in the hallway, every whisper of wind outside, made them twitch.

They had made it to Trunns… but Jupe was still far away.

And they were still being hunted.

The next morning, they left the hotel just as the sun began to rise, the sky painted in streaks of orange and pink. After a quick, modest breakfast, they set their sights on Jupe then Lumna, the city that promised their next chance at safety.

They successfully crossed Jupe and entered into Lumna.

In Lumna.

Abuchi led the group toward the cargo area, where goods were usually loaded onto trucks and ferries headed to Lumna, a route that would help them bypass standard travel checks.

“I’ll handle this,” Abuchi said, motioning for the others to stay hidden.

He approached one of the cargo drivers, a stout man chewing lazily on a toothpick while leaning against his truck.

“Morning,” Abuchi greeted casually.