I shone the torch onto the ground, revealing several lines of messy footprints in the thick layer of dust. Scattered on the floor were also yellowed pages, some screws, and even a half-dried cigarette butt.
I picked up a page from the ground, finding the handwriting illegible.
I felt a pang of confusion, wondering if this was another Soviet military base.
Judging by the traces left behind, it seemed the inhabitants had left in a great hurry, too rushed to even pack their belongings. What could have happened?
Just then, Shangguan Yao seemed to have discovered something, pointing at the wall and calling out to us in surprise.
"Quick, look! What's on this wall!"
Hearing her, I directed the torch towards the wall.
The wall was covered in dense black lettering, seemingly having been there for a long time.
The script appeared to be Russian. We exchanged glances, none of us knowing what it said.
Shangguan Yao couldn't help but turn to Luo Yaqin. "Yaqin, didn't you study abroad? Do you recognize any of this writing?"
Luo Yaqin shook her head. "I studied medicine in Germany. This is all Russian. How could I possibly understand it?"
My expression grew solemn as I gazed at the wall. Though I couldn't decipher the meaning, the handwriting suggested the writer was in a state of extreme panic, the strokes were incredibly hurried. At the very end, there were even three exclamation marks drawn in blood!
The writing covered most of the wall, nearly filling the entire surface.
What was the person who wrote on this wall trying to tell those who came after?
Did their sudden evacuation have something to do with the secret of this island?
As I pondered, a small hand tugged at me; it was Shangguan Yao.
She looked somewhat flustered and said, "Lu Ziye, did something happen in this cave before? It feels so eerie. Why don't we find another place?"
I shook my head at Shangguan Yao. "We've finally found such a hidden cave. If we move, who knows how long it'll take to find another."
Suddenly, I noticed Qu Xiangyun's expression seemed unusual, so I asked her, "Xiangyun, what's wrong? Can you understand the writing on the wall?"
Qu Xiangyun shook her head. "Who would bother learning Russian? I was just wondering what happened to the people who were here before."
I didn't comment on Qu Xiangyun's words, merely suppressing my doubts.
Yet, I had a nagging feeling that Qu Xiangyun was hiding something from me.
Not wanting this to affect our mood, I spoke to everyone. "Alright, this all happened decades ago. Once we get through the current crisis, we'll quickly find a way to leave this island."
Just then, we heard Guan Hai'er calling us back, so we all headed back.
During dinner, the issue of the writing cast a somber mood over us.
Guan Hai'er even thought the lunch she'd prepared wasn't to our liking, her face a picture of worry.
I leaned against the wall. I hadn't felt it while working, but now that I was relaxing, my body ached all over.
Guan Hai'er called out to me. "Ye Gege, we're running low on food. We'll need to find more supplies this afternoon."
I lazily agreed, my mind involuntarily drifting to that scoundrel Li Degui, and a surge of unprovoked anger rose within me.
If it weren't for Li Degui, we wouldn't be in such a sorry state now. "Good people die young, but villains live forever!"
Damn it, if I ever see his corpse, I'll tear him limb from limb to quench my hatred!
As I gnashed my teeth, Luo Yaqin suddenly patted my shoulder and leaned in, whispering, "After all this work, I'm covered in dirt. Lu Ziye, let's go take a bath."
I looked Luo Yaqin up and down. Her usual plaid shirt was now grimy, its original color indiscernible.
She was also draped in an animal hide. This blend of savage and civilized had a peculiar charm on Luo Yaqin.
I glanced around at the other women; they all looked equally disheveled.
I thought of the small stream nearby and said, "Since the weather's a bit better outside at noon, let's go wash up in the stream."
Everyone readily agreed, except for Luo Yaqin, who pouted slightly, seemingly unhappy.
As we walked towards the stream, Guan Hai'er suddenly burst into laughter.
"We really look like refugees!"
Hearing Guan Hai'er's words, I looked at everyone’s attire and couldn't help but laugh heartily.
Shangguan Yao's pants were tattered, her once-fine jeans now resembling a sarong. Qu Xiangyun was also smudged with dirt, her leather jacket bearing several new rips.
Seeing me laugh so heartily, Qu Xiangyun playfully pinched my waist.
"Lu Ziye, we're going to bathe. Why are you still standing here?"
I chuckled. "I was just worried you might run into danger. I need to protect you."
Guan Hai'er heard my words and blushed shyly, timidly saying, "Ye Gege, you can stay too if you want."
I truly hadn't doted on Guan Hai'er in vain; she was the one who spoke up for me at a crucial moment.
I subtly made a heart gesture towards Guan Hai'er, causing her to blush and turn away, unable to meet my gaze.
However, I wasn't so shameless as to stand there and openly ogle them as they undressed.
So, as they began to undress, I went to search for food nearby.
While wandering through the woods, I suddenly heard a rustling sound ahead in the undergrowth.
I mused, this sound didn't quite seem like an animal's. It sounded more like someone walking!
So I quietly crept closer to the bushes.
Suddenly, I heard a familiar female voice.
Pushing aside the branches, I saw her. It was indeed her!