<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Richard raised an eyebrow and followed Tiffany’s gaze to Garry, who was choking and tearing up. With a t tone, he said. “Let him learn his lesson”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Even knowing that pressing the button would trigger a mechanism, Garry, acting impulsively, still went ahead.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Fortunately, it was only some smoke. If it had been a deadlier trap, Garry’s reckless move could have endangered everyone.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Richard.” Garry wheezed, his voice full of guilt. “I know I messed up.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">He had acted carelessly, relying on Richard’s presence to fix anything dangerous. Now, Garry regretted it deeply, vowing not to repeat such a mistake.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Richard shot him a cold nce but said nothing.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">A sudden gust of wind swept through the room, clearing the smoke in moments. The air became breathable again, and the group rxed, coughing and catching their breath.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Garry let out a relieved sigh. “That wind came just in time!”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Then he froze, realizing something strange. ‘We’re indoors. There are no windows or openings. So, where had the winde from?‘ Garry thought.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Slowly, he turned to look at Richard, who remained calm and unmoved. Before Garry could question Richard, the floor beneath them began to shake.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The vibrations grew stronger, and someone asked nervously, “Is it an earthquake?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">June, always sharp, crouched to examine the ground. “No, this isn’t an earthquake. It’s a mechanism activating.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As she spoke, the floor cracked open a few feet away. The gap widened, revealing a hidden doorway leading to a deep tunnel.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Garry’s jaw dropped. “No wonder we couldn’t find the entrance!”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">They had thoroughly searched the building earlier, finding no signs of the person Tiffany was supposed to meet or any hidden chambers. The underground entrance, activated by the building itself shifting, had been impossible to detect.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany stared at the opening, her unease growing stronger. Something beyond that doorway was pulling at her, an invisible force stirring her emotions and heightening her anxiety.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Without hesitation, she moved toward the tunnel. Richard, holding her hand, followed closely, his steady presence calming her.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The tunnel’s steep staircase descended for what felt like forever, spiraling deep into the earth. The walls were narrow, the air heavy, and the only sounds were their footsteps and quiet breaths.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany noticed the faint glow of candles along the walls. Strangely, they appeared fresh, barely burned. Someone had been here recently.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">At the bottom of the stairs, the tunnel opened into a vast, empty chamber. Unlike the grandeur above, this space was stark and unadorned. Thick stone pirs lined the path to a single structure ahead. Beneath the pirs, the floor shimmered like polished ss, reflecting everything like a mirror.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany stepped onto the first pir, releasing Richard’s hand. She was about to move forward when he gently pulled her back.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“I’ll go first,” Richard said firmly. His usual rxed demeanor gave way to a sharper, more serious tone.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany nodded. “Alright.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">With Richard leading the way, the group followed cautiously, stepping from pir to pir. Despite their earlier worries, no traps or dangers emerged.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As they approached the building, Tiffany began to rx, until a faint voice echoed in her mind.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“There you are.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany froze mid–step. The voice was soft but unmistakable. June identally stepped on Tiffany’s foot, leaving a small ck scuff on Tiffany’s shoe.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany asked, “June, did you hear that?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">June shook her head. “Ms. Kelley, are you okay?” June asked, noticing Tiffany’s pale expression.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany forced a small smile. “I’m fine. Probably just imagining things.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">But as they continued, the voice returned, clearer and more distinct.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“You’re finally here.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The words carried a strange weight, as though charged with deep emotion. Tiffany’s panic red.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Who are you?” she whispered softly, unsure if the voice could hear her.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The response was immediate. “I’m your mother.”</font></font>N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany’s heart skipped a beat.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The voice continued, “Go straight to the right. Come to me. Let me see you onest time. Bute alone.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As the voice faded, Tiffany noticed two doors ahead, one on each side of the tunnel.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Richard, unaware of her inner turmoil, tugged her hand gently. This way,” he said, heading towards the left door.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany flinched which didn’t go unnoticed by Richard. He asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Tiffany moved to follow Richard, then she hesitated, ncing back toward the right path. In the dim light, a shadow flitted by. Though brief, its silhouette resembled her own.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">‘Is that really my mother?‘ Tiffany thought.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As the group entered the dark corridor, Tiffany took her chance. Slipping away silently, she ran toward the right corridor, hoping to catch the fleeting figure.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">But just as Tiffany reached the end, sharp pain shot through her foot. Silver needles had sprung from the ground, piercing her acupoints. Before she could react, a hidden mechanism triggered, and the floor beneath her copsed. Her vision went ck.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Back at the left door Richard pushed it open effortlessly. Turning back, he nced over his shoulder to check on Tiffany, only to find the space behind him empty.</font></font>