The doorknob turned smoothly, yet the metal door presented a formidable challenge; it was incredibly heavy.
Ariana strained to pry it open, and upon succeeding, she found herself facing a maze of thick, heavy chains dangling from the ceiling.
In the heart of the room, a figure was suspended from the chains, and as Ariana drew nearer, the silhouette grew distressingly familiar.
A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach upon realizing it was Adrian.
Ariana gasped and hastened to his side.
His eyes were closed, and he appeared unconscious.
Ariana shook him in an attempt to rouse him, but he remained unresponsive, making her more anxious.
Knowing that Adrian and Holden had vanished together, Ariana knew that discovering Adrian here suggested Holden might be nearby as well.
With this thought, Ariana ceased her attempts to awaken Adrian and commenced her search for Holden.
Despite her extensive search of the room, she found no sign of Holden or anyone else.
Afraid that the mad scientist might return at any moment, Ariana frantically sought something to sever
the chains but to no avail.
Just as despair began to set in, she recalled the lab on the first floor might contain something of use.
She hurried to the elevator and ascended, but her search for tools like a power saw proved fruitless.
Eventually, she retrieved several bottles of strong sulfuric acid from a cabinet and descended again.
With utmost caution, she poured the acid over the chain, careful to avoid Adrianâs body, though some droplets still splattered onto him, causing burns.
The moment the chain snapped, Adrian awoke with a jolt from the pain of the acid.
âOuch!â Adrian cried out, instinctively reaching for his burns.
âDonât touch it!â Ariana quickly grasped his hand to stop him.
Adrian paused, squinting at Ariana, thinking he was hallucinating.
âAriana? I thought you had left.
Why are you here?â he asked.
Seeing Adrian fully awake brought a sense of relief to Ariana.
âI couldnât stop worrying about you guys.
After I woke up, I heard an explosion and went back to find you.
I ran into Bennett near a cliff.
He said heâd help me find you, but then, we were attacked by wolves.
I managed to escape them, but a strange man grabbed me.
Next thing I knew, I ended up here.
â
Then, she added, âWhereâs Holden? Werenât you two together?â
Adrianâs expression darkened.
âThat Bennett is too lucky.
Why isnât he dead? I donât know where Holden is.
We got separated after the crash.
I tried to find him when I regained consciousness but had no luck.
Then, I ended up here, captured by that same strange man.
â
âYou couldnât escape? Even with your skills?â Arianaâs worry deepened.
If that man could overpower Adrian, they were indeed in serious danger now.
âI was hurt initially and couldnât confront him.
Then, he drugged me and tied me up.
Iâve been unconscious until you arrived.
If it werenât for you, I wouldnât even know I was in here,â Adrian explained, his frustration evident.
âI swear, if I get my hands on him, heâs going to regret it!â