She looked around the room but didn't 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.

Ariana's 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, 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, Ariana's energy was waning. She hadn't 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, I've got to keep going!" she muttered to herself, clenching her teeth and pressing on. She murmured, “Ariana, you can't give up here. Melon needs his mom, and he's waiting for you. Holden must be worried sick. You've 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.

With her candle almost completely melted, Ariana inhaled deeply and pushed the heavy door open, only for a gust of wind to immediately extinguish the remaining flame, casting her back into pitch darkness.

Gripping the spent candle, Ariana proceeded, her mind racing with questions.