Odyssey Of Survival-Chapter 138 - Alice’s Theory

Ryder stood motionless, his frame casting a long shadow against the cave's rough walls as Ray's voice filled his ears, low and deliberate, carrying a weight that made Ryder's muscles tense involuntarily. The faint glow from a torch flickered between them, illuminating Ray's ever-calm expression, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in Ryder's mind.

Ray spoke in hushed tones, his words calculated and sharp, as if testing Ryder's reaction with every syllable. The more he spoke, the more Ryder's brows furrowed, his jaw tightening as he struggled to contain the anger bubbling beneath his skin.

"What the hell are you saying, Ray?" Ryder finally snapped, his voice barely restrained, laced with frustration. "Are you trying to start another problem? You think throwing accusations around will help us?"

Ray's expression didn't change. His lips curled into a knowing smile, one that only deepened Ryder's irritation. The way he stood, hands in his pockets, exuding an air of untouchable confidence, made Ryder's hands itch to grab him by the collar and demand a straight answer.

But before Ryder could say anything else, Ray stepped backward, his figure dissolving into the darkness.

Ryder was left standing alone, his fists clenched, his mind a battlefield of thoughts that he desperately wanted to shake off. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm, yet the weight of Ray's words lingered, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts.

It couldn't be true. It was too ridiculous to even consider.

And yet, something about the way Ray spoke—so sure, so unwavering—unsettled him.

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Meanwhile, on the other side of the cave…

Alice burst into Bella's room without warning, her grip tight around Madison's wrist as she practically dragged her inside.

"Alice, what the hell?" Madison groaned, rolling her eyes as she yanked her arm free. "What is it this time? You better have a good reason for pulling me in here like this."

Bella, who had been seated on her bed, crossed her arms and tilted her head in mild curiosity. "Yeah, Alice. What's going on?"

Without answering, Alice took a step forward and turned back toward the door, locking it behind her. The sound of the lock clicking into place made both Madison and Bella straighten slightly, sensing the seriousness in Alice's demeanor.

"I've found something," Alice finally said, her voice quiet but firm.

Bella's brows raised. "Found what?"

Instead of replying immediately, Alice lowered herself to the floor, pressing her palm against the cold stone. Ice spread beneath her fingertips, forming into precise drawings—lines, markings, and points that quickly took shape into a detailed map.

Madison and Bella leaned forward, their eyes tracing the icy sketch.

Alice marked a spot near the center, tapping it with her finger. "This is where we are right now," she said, her voice calm and methodical.

She then moved her hand to a second point, outlining a rough area. "This is where the portal was opened."

Her hand slid once more, marking a third point a bit farther away. "And this… this is where they most likely created the first portal."

Madison and Bella exchanged glances.

Alice leaned back slightly, exhaling. "I talked to Jack about the portal mystery, and he explained something interesting to me."

Bella narrowed her eyes. "Which is?"

"Something that huge… a portal that big… it couldn't have been opened from far away." Alice's gaze flickered between the two girls, letting that realization sink in before continuing. "Which means that Zoro had to be nearby when he did it. And not just that—he needed an area with enough cover to hold all the beasts before sending them through."

Madison's eyes sharpened as she processed the information. Then, after a moment, she frowned. "But if he was so close, why go through the trouble of opening a short-distance portal? Wouldn't it have been easier to just release them directly?"

Alice gave a small, approving nod. "Good question."

Then, with a wave of her hand, another layer of markings formed across the map—lines encircling certain areas, forming a rough perimeter.

"This," Alice said, tapping on the newly drawn lines, "is the range that Ray's devices cover. He set them up to detect any movement that passes through."

Bella's eyes slowly widened. "Wait…"

Madison's expression shifted instantly, realization hitting her at the same time. "Zoro must've been standing outside the detection range."

Alice nodded, her gaze steady. "Exactly. He was smart enough to avoid triggering Ray's devices. Instead of bringing the beasts directly inside, he opened a portal from the outside that led straight into the cave, bypassing our defenses completely. He wanted to catch us off guard."

Madison let out a slow breath, shaking her head. "We were lucky we were prepared."

Alice exhaled through her nose. "Yeah. But here's the real problem."

Both Madison and Bella looked at her expectantly.

Alice's expression darkened slightly as she crossed her arms, her ice slowly fading from the floor.

"Ray hid the devices too well. Nobody was supposed to know about them." She lifted her gaze to meet theirs. "So how the hell did Zoro find out?"

A heavy silence filled the room.

Bella's fingers twitched against her arm, her mind racing through possibilities.

Madison's expression hardened. "That's… concerning."

"I want to go to where the portal was first opened."

Madison, who had been absentmindedly adjusting the straps on her arm, froze mid-motion. Slowly, she turned her head toward Alice, her expression hardening, her brows furrowing in a mixture of disbelief and frustration.

"Are you crazy?" Madison snapped, her voice sharp. "It's not safe out there. You know what's crawling around."

Alice, however, didn't waver. Her icy-blue eyes gleamed with quiet resolve as she took a step forward, folding her arms across her chest.

"Not if you two are with me," she countered, her tone calm but firm.

Madison let out a short, dry laugh—the kind that wasn't amused in the slightest. She ran a hand through her hair, her fingers gripping the strands as if trying to contain the growing frustration inside her.

"That's it," she said, throwing her arms up. "You're crazy. There's no way I'm following you on a suicide mission. That's a straight-up death wish, Alice. Do you even hear yourself?"

But before Madison could continue ranting, Bella, who had been leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, finally spoke up. Unlike Madison, she didn't look frustrated or exasperated. Instead, her gaze was calculating, her expression thoughtful.

"It wouldn't be the worst idea to scout the area," Bella said, tilting her head slightly. "If Zoro left something behind, it could give us answers. Maybe even something useful."

Alice nodded, sensing an ally in Bella's reasoning. "Exactly."

Madison groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose as if she was developing a migraine.

---

Minutes Later

The cold breeze bit at Madison's exposed arms as she pulled the strings of her outer shirt tighter, securing it in place while grumbling under her breath. Her mood was as cloudy as the sky above them, irritation practically radiating off of her.

"I still can't believe you two dragged me into this suicide trip," she muttered, glaring at Alice, who was adjusting the fit of her own clothing.

Bella, ever the peacemaker, gave Madison a reassuring pat on the back, a small smirk playing on her lips as she said, "Come on, don't be so dramatic. You know nobody gets us out of trouble faster than you do."

Madison exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't expect me to save your butts when things go south."

Alice gave her a knowing smile. "You say that, but we all know you will."

With their gear tightened and their weapons strapped, they finally set off, moving through the desolate remains of the area with careful but purposeful strides. They had no idea what awaited them, but they knew they had to be prepared for anything.

What they didn't know, however, was that they were being watched.

Not far from where they had started, a pair of eyes followed their every move, unblinking, focused, predatory. Claire stood hidden in the shadows, her lips curling into a slow, knowing smile as she observed the three girls disappear into the distance.

There was something about the way she watched them—as if she already knew how this was going to end.

And that smile on her lips? It wasn't just amusement.

It was anticipation.

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