No, she refused to succumb to such despair.

She cast aside the grim thoughts, drank more water, and ate some bread to quickly restore her energy.

Perhaps her rising panic had been clouding her judgment and obscuring the path. Once refreshed, she resolved to venture back into the forest, this time taking the opposite direction.

She knew Holden and Adrian were not the type to passively await rescue. Perhaps they had assessed their situation and moved deeper into the forest seeking an exit.

Regardless of the obstacles, Ariana was determined not to give up.

Even if she didn't locate them on this attempt, she vowed to continue the search.

She was resolute in finding them.

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 driver's body she had left under a tree was gone.

Feeling disheartened, she recalled Bennett's words. It appeared he hadn't 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 wasn't 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 couldn't 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.

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 better than helplessly waiting here.