Chapter 344

Claire felt someone gently remove her earphones. Still groggy, she blinked awake and glanced out the window—mountaintops. Lush green ridges stretched out as far as the eye could see. So, this was Smokefall. Outside the plane, a man and woman were already waiting by the roadside. They looked to be in their forties, dressed plainly but neatly. As they stepped off the plane, Brandon carefully helped the two sleepy “ladies” down the stairs to avoid any mishaps. The woman stepped up quickly to assist, sharp and attentive. The man silently went to collect the luggage. “Right this way, you three.” The woman spoke warmly, waving them toward a nearby van. She opened the door for them to get in. Once they were all seated, she hopped into the front passenger seat. The man, having loaded the baggage, got behind the wheel. The van moved off calmly from the airstrip, turning onto a wide, well-paved mountain road. Towering trees lined each side, their dense branches arching overhead like a natural tu