Books were neatly stacked on large shelves, and the room was well-kept; it was obvious someone came here often.
Something about the room suggested it might hold a clue.
Entering, Ariana started her search. On the desk inside the room lay an open book and several documents, among them a paper titled Organ Trade Agreement.
Could this be linked to the man on the phone? It was unusual for such a sensitive document to be so exposed. Could this study be his?
He was clearly dealing with something shady.
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A cold shiver ran down Arianas spine as she realized she needed to escape before things took a worse turn.
She looked around the room but didnt notice anything amiss.
She was about to exit when the bookshelves caught her eye, reminding her of puzzles in escape room games.
Often, the escape mechanism was hidden in plain sight. And if this room belonged to that man, it was unlikely he would leave it unprotected. Perhaps there was a secret passage or a hidden door?
With this in mind, Ariana inspected every item on the bookshelves.
Her hand eventually moved a statue, which activated a mechanism. A loud rumble followed as a secret passage opened behind the bookshelves.
Arianas eyes sparkled with a flicker of hope when she discovered the secret passage.
However, the path ahead was engulfed in darkness, and its destination was uncertain. After a brief hesitation, Ariana resolved to venture into it.
But before that, she needed to find a Light source. She turned around, returned to the study,
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and after a brief search, found a small candle in a cabinet in the corner.
Using a lighter on the desk, she lit the candle and cautiously stepped into the dark passageway.
By this point, Arianas energy was waning. She hadnt eaten anything for a while, and the chilly air within the passage compelled her to wrap her arms around herself for warmth.
As she progressed, the silence was broken by the growl of her hungry stomach. She rubbed her belly, feeling slightly dizzy.
No, Ive got to keep going! she muttered to herself, clenching her teeth and pressing on. She murmured, Ariana, you cant give up here. Melon needs his mom, and hes waiting for you. Holden must be worried sick. Youve got to make it.
Then, she thought of Zayden, the architect of her troubles. She silently vowed retribution once she escaped.
After a while, she arrived at a fork in the passageway.
Holding the candle, Ariana noticed small flowers of various colors at each junction.
Without any signs to guide her decision, Ariana opted for the pathway adorned with blue flowers since blue was her favorite color.
She walked a few dozen steps and arrived at a door set within an intricately carved stucco arch, decorated with tiny angels interspersed among the blossoms.
The door bore a plaque labeled Path of Dawn, stirring a sense of unease in Ariana about what awaited beyond it.