The abrupt movement exacerbated Bennett's wound, eliciting a sharp wince from him.

He nearly rebuked her, but a glimpse of her sorrowful expression under the moonlight softened his demeanor. He sighed, holding back any harsh words, and followed her toward the remains of the car.

Bennett decided to cooperate for the time being.

The last thing he wanted was to make her cry again; he would not want to comfort her again.

After checking the car remnants, Bennett and Ariana ventured deeper into the dense bushes.

Bennett had scarcely glanced at the dilapidated car before pressing forward, Ariana following with visible reluctance. Her wariness of his motives was clear, yet she saw no alternative path other than to follow him.

Navigating through towering thickets, they reached a narrow path that descended sharply. Though challenging, this route was less daunting than the precipitous cliffs they had previously encountered.

As they progressed down the path, they saw a grim tableau of car wreckage, everything from shredded seats to shattered mirrors.

"We must be close," Bennett declared, stopping to face Ariana. “But I'm not sure where. You'll need to search on your own."

Without a moment's delay, Ariana turned to start her search, her voice trailing behind her. "Come on; let's search together."

"You could be a bit nicer when asking for a favor," Bennett replied, remaining stationary. "Searching isn't easy with my injury."

"Then I might as well kill you now. You're of no use as it is."

Ariana gave him a piercing glance.

"Fine." Bennett sighed, beginning to search reluctantly while murmuring, “I must have been deeply indebted to you in another life. Here I am, injured because of your lover, and yet I'm dragged into this search."

Ariana, typically quick to retort, ignored him this time, her focus solely on the search.

Eventually, Ariana discovered a sapphire cufflink among the withering grass-a cherished item of Holden's.

It was a disheartening discovery; she had a clue at last but no reassurance of his well-being. Her search for Holden had been relentless, and while the cufflink was a small victory, it brought no solace regarding Holden's state or Adrian's.

With the cufflink providing little comfort, Ariana continued her exhaustive search into the evening, stopping only when her flashlight expired.

She called Bennett back, secured him to a tree to thwart any attempt at escape, and sat down beside him to consume her meager rations, waiting for the night to pass to search again.

Knowing she needed sustenance yet plagued by worries about Holden and Adrian, she forced herself to eat, her thoughts darting ahead to the next day's efforts.