Ariana felt somewhat down but quickly recovered, turning her attention to exploring the metal house.
She diligently searched and eventually discovered an elevator cleverly hidden behind several containers.
The elevator showed signs of extensive use, its button labels worn and faded.
Ariana pressed a button, prompting the slow opening of the doors. She stepped inside, hopeful for an escape route, yet was surprised to find the elevator could only go down.
Could the exit be underground?
Driven by curiosity, she pressed the button for the basement.
When the elevator reached its destination, the doors parted to reveal an area resembling a well-kept apartment, complete with three bedrooms, a study, and a nursery. The kitchens open-plan Layout was impeccably tidy, suggesting its owner was meticulous.
Feeling momentarily overwhelmed about where to begin her search, Ariana decided to start with the study, considering it as a likely place for crucial information.
The study was orderly, equipped with a desk and shelves stocked with ordinary books, but nothing stood out as unusual.
After a thorough search yielded no results, she moved on to the bedroom.
The bedroom was even more minimalistic, furnished only with a bed and a wardrobe. Despite checking every drawer, Ariana found nothing of significance.
She then proceeded to the nursery, which was filled with typical baby gear. Her attention was drawn to a photograph on the wall, showing a woman holding a baby.
The baby slept soundly on the womans shoulder, but it was the womans flawless, striking beauty that halted Ariana.
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The longer Ariana gazed at the photograph, the more the womans face resonated with familiarity, evoking a peculiar sense of intimacy as though they had shared a pivotal moment together.
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She contemplated for a while, wondering whether this woman might be the spouse of the man she had seen earlier.
Considering his striking appearance, they would indeed make a fitting couple.
Ariana dismissed these thoughts, reminding herself that escaping was her priority now.
With nothing of note found on this floor, she proceeded to the second basement level, where she was confronted by two robust metal doors.
Despite her adventures before, the prospect of what lay behind these enigmatic doors unnerved her. Since she was in the house of a mad scientist, anything horrifying could be waiting.
However, after only a moments pause, she grasped the doorknob firmly.
Confronting her fears was essential for escape.
Although the mad scientist had not detained her today, there was no assurance of his leniency tomorrow. She should escape as soon as possible, especially since Holden was still somewhere out there, waiting to reunite with her.
With a firm grip, Ariana turned the knob, half expecting resistance.
To her astonishment, the doorknob turned smoothly.