The reduced visibility from the rain made it risky to drive fast since the car could easily skid or roll.

This situation gave Nicole her opportunity. While she seemed to be looking aimlessly forward, she was stealing glances at the LCD, checking the car's speed.

When the speedometer dropped to about seventy kilometers per hour, seizing a moment when the driver was slightly distracted, Nicole stealthily pressed the door unlock button. The door clicked open.

Before the driver could react, Nicole flung the back door open and leaped out.

“Hey, you bitch..." The noise of the rain and the car's engine muffled the driver's voice as he sped away.

“Thud!" Nicole hit the ground and rolled several times. Pain surged through her right shoulder, likely dislocated. She winced under the intense pain.

Nicole clenched her teeth and forced herself to stand, each movement agonizing.

The car had turned around and was now speeding back toward Nicole.

She made for the open desert, but the heavy rain made it hard to conceal her tracks.

The driver quickly caught up to her. His fitness was apparent as he closed the distance much faster than Nicole could manage.

Nicole halted and grabbed a wooden stick. She concealed herself in the grass, remaining utterly silent.

The driver approached, his footsteps splashing loudly with each step.

"Little girl, just come out. It'll be easier on you if I don't have to come find you. Once I do, I might just break your legs. And then they might just dig up your body to turn you into some kind of creepy doll.”

Nicole's heart raced as fear gripped her. It seemed they planned to sell her. Who could be behind such cruelty? Several names flickered through her mind. Vicki, Doreen, and the Watts family...

“Listen up, young lady. I'll let you keep both your legs. That way, you won't suffer as much once we get there. What do you say? There's no point in hiding. My people run this whole area. There's no way out for you."

Nicole was mentally tough and remained still despite the driver's threats.

As the driver got within two meters of her, Nicole suddenly sprang up and swung a wooden stick with all her strength, striking the driver on the head.

Caught off guard, the driver clutched his head in pain. Nicole took advantage of his confusion and struck him several more times, knocking him to the ground. She then kicked him twice to ensure he couldn't chase after her.

Once she was certain the driver wouldn't be getting up anytime soon, she grabbed the stick and leaned on it to hobble out of the grass.

Reaching the road, she found the car locked and the keys gone.