Chapter 438 - Venturing On A New Path
"How did you know the path to this place?
" Roman asked with confusion and even slight suspicion apparent in his tone.
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Earlier, when the four children and the etcher had headed towards their next destination, Knox disclosed that he would be taking them to his secret hideout spot.
The woods behind the mansion were thick and held many secrets in them and one of them was this spot that Knox had spoken about.
The mischievous twin received a glare from his stern elder brother for that path was jagged and dangerous for them to travel.
However, Howard and Yvonne insisted on going along with Knox's plan as they wished to see his secret hideout.
As they stepped ahead, Knox shot an apologetic look towards Yvonne as they would have to climb on a rocky boulder which meant that Demon could not accompany them.
Not willing to part with his Master, Demon grunted and shook his head as he refused to be left behind.
Yvonne's eyes scanned the area and frowned.
Ahead of them was the boulder which Knox had already climbed on top of and was waiting for them to follow.
Roman and Howard were on the ground with her as they knew that she would need help to climb this boulder.
Her etcher was dissatisfied with being left behind and for some reason, Yvonne too did not wish to leave him alone here.
Therefore, she shook her head at Knox and said that she would not follow him.
"Can we not follow another path?
" She muttered with a sullen face as her horse could not climb the boulder as they could.
Knox shook his head as this was the only way to his hideout spot.
The twins had lived here all their lives and had often ventured into this part of the woods.
Thus, when the little girl posed this query, they shook their heads as that was not possible.
However, Yvonne continued to frown as she glanced around the area.
The first was the path that they had taken to reach this location and on the opposite side was the boulder on which Knox was standing.
Turning to her right, she found three small paths which seemed to have never been used, and on her left was another path which seemed to be ventured often as the grass had been trodden on and the ground cleared.
While her brothers and etcher watched on, the little girl's feet rose and she began walking ahead.
The boys frowned when she turned to her right and chose the farthest path which they had never ventured before.
Demon was the first to snap out of his daze as he quickly followed his master as she walked away without uttering a single word.
Howard was next as he yelled out Yvonne's name but she never turned back and only kept heading further onto that path.
Roman and Knox were worried that they would get lost in this dense part of the woods and ran to chase after them.
"Where do you think that you are going?
" Roman yelled as they reached the siblings but found no answer.
The little girl began walking in a path which even Knox had never tread and he was someone who likes to wander in these woods.
The brothers frowned but did not question her any further as she continued to make turns and kept moving ahead.
Demon was right behind his master as though he was guarding her while Howard with the twins were behind him.
The further they stepped along that path, the sounds of rushing water could be heard which made Knox and Roman share a glance of surprise.
As the thick trees began to part and the path cleared a little, the boys were once again stunned as the glimpses of what laid ahead became visible to them.
The little girl leading them kept walking until the trees were no longer surrounding them and a clearing in the midst of the woods appeared.
Yvonne's feet stopped when the cold breeze blew over her face and the sun shone down on her as there were no trees to give them any shade.
The sight before her was mesmerizing and the boys felt the same way.
Her eyes remained fixed on the clear blue water which was flowing down from a beautiful and high waterfall at a distance away from them.
The sight of the rainbow forming in the sky next to the waterfall was entrancing and the children could not take their eyes away from it.
Water cascading down the waterfall pooled into a mid-sized pool of sorts and at the opposite end of that pool was where the four children and the etcher stood right now.
"How did you know the path to this place?
" Roman's stern and suspicious voice brought the others out of their daze as they looked in his direction.
The little girl had never been to this place so how did she so easily guide them through a maze of paths and managed to lead them straight to this location to witness this beautiful sight?
Not only Roman but also Knox had the same thought in his head.
Looking up at the large boulders through which the waterfall began, his eyes turned in a certain direction where the stones appeared to be safer and leveled.
"That was the spot which I wanted to show you.
" He muttered to himself but they had heard him.
Yvonne finally snapped out of her daze as she looked around and then at the spot that his eyes were fixed.
The hideout that Knox had mentioned gave him the view from the top of the waterfall whereas the spot where they were standing right now was at the bottom of the waterfall where the water collected into the shallow pool.
However, none of that mattered because this spot had a better view than his but the question still remained the same.
How did Yvonne, a little girl who had visited this estate for the first time know of this path when the twins who had been living here for sixteen years did not know about it?
The answer to that question was that even she did not know how she had led them to this place.
'My feet moved and before I knew it, we were here.' She frowned as this was not something she had done intentionally.
She was sad that her etcher could not follow them and hoped that there was another path that she could take to reach the spot.
Though she did not know what exactly was at Knox's hideout, her feet began to move in a certain path as though they were moving on instinct.
Before she knew it, she was standing before this spectacular sight of the waterfall and the water collecting in this shallow pool below.
"I do not know.
" She answered Roman's question truthfully as she was just as confused as they were.
Her brows were furrowed and her cheeks paled as tiny droplets of sweat began to form on her forehead.
She was sure that neither she nor the Yvonne before she entered this body had ever been here so why was it that she knew this path when even the twins did not?
Noticing her pale countenance, Roman handed her his handkerchief which she accepted with a strained smile.
Howard was worried that the heat might have affected her and suggested that they take a seat under the shade of a nearby tree.
The twins placed aside their doubts and agreed as they sat under one tree while Howard was with Yvonne under another.
Demon stood next to his Master and looked down at her with troubled eyes.
Yvonne was neither affected by the heat nor was she tired after making this journey into the woods but her eyes remained fixed on the clear waters as they sloshed around.
Before she knew it, she was entranced by the calming sounds of the flowing water and the sight of the gently cascading water.
While the three boys watched the sight of the serene waters before them, the sight before the little girl was different from theirs.
With open eyes, Yvonne right now was beholding the mirage of a different time as what was before her most certainly could not be that of the present.
She was sure of this speculation as the image became clearer before her eyes.