Ariana continued her search deep into the dense woods, and about ten minutes later, she was surprised to find herself back where she had started.
Not only was there no sign of Holden and Adrian but also the drivers body she had left under a tree was gone.
Feeling disheartened, she recalled Bennetts words. It appeared he hadnt lied; walking out of here without him seemed impossible. But could she really swallow her pride and return to Bennett? That would be humiliating.
But embarrassment was the least of her concerns now. She was more worried about Bennett deceiving her again.
After all, he had tricked her before, and she felt haunted by the repeated deceit.
Ariana wasnt ready to give up now. She marked the spot and decided to try the opposite direction. Unsurprisingly, after another ten minutes, she ended up right back where she had started.
Now, she had to accept the reality. She was genuinely stuck in this eerie place and couldnt find her way out alone. But if she returned to Bennett, would he really help her?
As she weighed her options, she noticed a glimmer of light through the bushes not far away.
She hesitated for only a moment before moving towards it with her flashlight.
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Hidden behind a cluster of bushes, she discovered the remains of a car wreck.
Ariana felt both relief and concern-relieved to have found some sort of clue, but concerned because the car was badly damaged with blood stains on the door. She had no idea whose blood it was.
She silently prayed that Holden and Adrian were alright. Glancing back at the daunting woods, she finally made up her mind.
She decided to return and find Bennett, despite the risk of being tricked by him again. It seemed
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.
better than helplessly waiting here.
She searched the wreckage, hoping to find something useful, and only found a part of a rope.
It probably belonged to Bennett and his team; after all, who else would keep ropes in their car?
Yet, a rope might prove useful, certainly better than nothing.
With the rope in hand, Ariana made her way back to where she had left Bennett.
She found Bennett just as she had left him, lying down with his eyes closed, appearing completely at ease.
I told you that you wouldnt make it out without me. ALL that effort for nothing, Bennett said in a smug tone as Ariana approached him.
Ariana felt her irritation surge at the sight of Bennett, yet she kept her anger in check.
Without a word, she pulled the rope from her bag and deftly tied his hands. She then crafted a loop around his neck, much like a leash.
Once everything was securely fastened, Ariana tugged at the rope, signaling Bennett to move.
Bennett was stubborn at first, refusing to move.
Ariana used more strength in her pulls, which clearly caused Bennett discomfort. Eventually, his resistance weakened, and he started to move under her lead. It really felt like she was walking a dog.