Bennett was a bastard. Ever since capturing her, his malevolent actions had piled up, and now, he dared ask for her trust?

Impossible!

"You're just saying that because you don't want me to leave you here, right? You think you can fool me?" Ariana said, looking Bennett squarely in the eyes. "Stay here and face your fate; it might just offset some of the terrible things you've done."

Having spoken her mind, Ariana resumed her descent. Her strength had largely returned. Armed with her prior experience in climbing and fueled by the hope that Holden might still be alive, she soon got to the bottom of the cliff.

Upon reaching the ground, she turned on her flashlight, startled to discover a dense forest at the cliff's base.