Suddenly, a voice called out from above. Amara froze instantly.


    She looked up, squinting at the light streaming through the hole above her. Peering down was a head she couldn''t discern in the darkness but recognized by its voice and hairstyle-it was Finnian.


    Could it really be him? Amara wobbled to her feet, feeling dazed. She opened her mouth and softly called Finnian''s name.


    She hadn''t expected to see someone she knew, fearing her mind might be ying tricks on her out of sheer desperation.


    "It''s me, Amara. Don''t be scared. I''ming down to get you."


    That familiar voice echoed down to her, and before she knew it, someone jumped through the dark opening. The mannded with a soft thud, sending a mild vibration through the ground.


    He was standing right in front of her now, his warm breath mixing with hers, blocking the light and making him all the more real.


    In disbelief, Amara reached out and touched his wrist, the normal body temperature. Her eyes widened. "You came?"


    "Yeah, I''m here. Don''t be afraid."


    Tears clung to Amara''sshes as she looked at him, seemingly hard to process the situation; her usually steady voice trembled with emotion, tugging people''s heart.


    Finnian watched her for a moment, and then suddenly pulled her into a hug, repeating, "Don''t be afraid."


    In that moment, Amara didn''t register how unusual this gesture was. She was simply too frightened.


    Just a minute ago, she had been gripped by the terrifying thought that she might die here, alone and unnoticed. But in the next moment, this man appeared like a guardian angel.


    She wasn''t even thinking about how


    he was thest person she''d expected to see; she just felt immense relief. She cried softly on Finnian''s shoulder for a moment, and then lifted her head to wipe her tears, murmuring repeatedly, "Thank you, thank you so much." swnovel


    Finnian patted her shoulder andforted her once more, "Don''t be afraid," as he switched on his phone''s shlight to illuminate their surroundings.


    It was only then that Amara realized they were in a small underground chamber, maybe four or five square meters, surrounded by loose dirt. No wonder dust kept tickling her nose.


    She sneezed a couple of times in a row, looked up, and estimated the height of the hole. It seemed around two or three meters high-just low enough to jump down without


    getting deadly hurt. ''swnovel


    As she regained herposure, a thought struck her, and she asked, "Mr. Everly,


    I''m really grateful, but why did you jump down here?"


    She appreciated Finnianing to her aid, but shouldn''t he have stayed up there


    to call for help while waiting for her? Why did hee down?


    Now, there were two of them needing rescue. It seemed a bit absurd.


    Finnian nced at her, sidestepping the question. "Don''t worry. I''m calling Will. He''ll help us out."


    With that, he turned on his phone screen and dialed Will''s number, exining the situation in a few words. Then he hung up, saying matter-of-factly, "Will''s on his way to get us."


    Amara was at a loss for words.


    There really hadn''t been a need for all this. Even if Will was the one to eventually help her, Finnian could''ve stayed up there. Why did he jump down too?


    The more she thought about it, the strangert seemed. But regardless, Finnian was the one who''d saved her. She wasn''t going to criticize him. She forced a smile and said, "Thank you, really, I''m very grateful."  swnovel