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Chapter 162
While Marina was deep in thought, she glanced up and noticed there was a gap between her and Daron.
She was about to step forward to catch up when the barrier ahead suddenly started moving.
Marina called out, “Mr. Zamora…”
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Daron turned around to look at Marina, and when he saw the barrier was about to separate them, he rushed back toward her.
Marina hurried toward Daron, but she was just a second too late
The barrier snapped shut, separating them.
Marina pounded on the barrier.
“Mr. Zamora! Mr. Zamora, can you hear me?” she called out.
There was no response.
Marina ran her hands over the barrier, searching for anything that might open it.
Sure enough, she found a hidden door.
She opened the secret door, expecting to see Daron on the other side, but he was nowhere to be found.
Marina paused, her eyes widening in surprise.
She was certain Daron wouldn’t just leave her behind like that.
The whole place was shrouded in a creepy atmosphere, and the unsettling background music made her feel like something was watching her.
‘When Daron was with me, I could stay calm. But now that we’re apart, I can feel my hair standing on end, Marina thought, shivering.
‘No way there’s only one secret door here, Marina thought to herself.
Marina took a deep breath and started running her hands along the other walls, searching for another way out.
Her fingers finally brushed against another hidden door.
She pushed it open and stepped into another mysterious chamber.
The place was lined with mirrors. As Marina stepped inside, her own reflection startled her, making her jump. She tried to go back the way she came, only to find the secret door behind her was now firmly shut. There was now no way out.
Marina groaned and rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
With no other choice, she steeled herself and ventured deeper into the room.
She reminded herself again and again that it was just a game and that there was nothing to be scared of, just to calm her
nerves.
But the more anxious she got, the more her mind was flooded with random images and flashes of those crime dramas she’d watched before with murders and stuff like that.
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Chapter 162
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She took a deep breath, shook off those disturbing thoughts, and forced herself to focus on observing her surroundings.
There were only a few mirrors in the room, which meant the key to getting out had to be with them.
Steeling herself, she walked up to the mirrors. When she reached out to touch one, her hand passed right through it.
These mirrors weren’t real at all.
Marina lifted her gaze to the ceiling.
Spotlights were aimed right at the mirrors overhead.
Marina raised an eyebrow.
From what she could tell, only one of these mirrors was the real deal. That one had to be tucked away somewhere among all these fakes.
While Marina was still searching for a way out, out of nowhere, a figure showed up in one of the mirrors.
Panic flashed in her eyes when she realized it was the same guy who’d chatted her up at the door. Her heart skipped a beat and she was instantly on guard.
The guy saw Marina too, and he sounded surprised, even a little thrilled.
“Hey, you’re here too?” he called out.
Marina drew in a deep breath, forced herself to stay calm, and gave him a polite, distant smile.
“I accidentally wandered in here,” Marina replied, keeping her tone distant.
The guy let out an “oh” and glanced at her side. “Did you lose track of Mr. Zamora?”
“No, he should be in one of the rooms nearby, ” Marina answered.
The guy smiled and asked, “How do you know? What if Mr. Zamora had already cleared the level and left?”
Marina replied coolly, “He won’t. He’ll wait for me, and we’ll clear it together.”
Her confidence made the guy’s smile falter.
“So, you like Mr. Zamora, huh?” he pressed.
Marina didn’t respond. She just kept searching for an exit, keeping a safe distance from him.
If her instincts were right, this guy probably knew Daron. She had no idea what his intentions were, so she just kept her guard up.
Seeing Marina wasn’t going to answer, the guy stopped prying into her personal life and started looking for hidden mechanisms, making small talk while he searched.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” he asked.
Marina replied coolly, “I only believe in lust at first sight.”
The guy let out a quiet laugh.
‘Uh–oh, major red flag, Marina thought, suddenly on edge. ‘Is this guy a little crazy or something?”
Luckily, her fingers brushed against the real mirror. She spotted a tiny imperfection, pressed it, and waited.
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In an instant, the wall slid aside, revealing a door right in front of her.
The guy blurted out, “Whoa, you’re really something!”
Marina made a beeline for the door.
The guy followed close behind.
Marina stepped out, expecting to see Daron, but there wasn’t a soul in sight.
The guy remarked, “Seems Mr. Zamora didn’t wait for you.”
Marina replied with composure, “This isn’t the same hallway I entered from.”
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The guy paused for a few seconds, then smiled and said, “You’re really observant, you know? Most girls playing this level would be bawling their eyes out if they got separated from their teammate.”
Marina gave him a quick glance but kept quiet. She noticed an envelope–shaped object stuck to the wall, walked over, and opened it up.
Inside was a hint.
He leaned in to take a look, and Marina frowned, not liking how close he was getting. She handed the envelope over to him, keeping her guard up.
Just then, her phone started ringing.
Marina glanced at the caller ID. It was Daron. Her finger hovered over the answer button, but the guy snatched her wrist before she could answer.
“Hey, you’re not allowed to use phones or any devices in this game. The moment you answer, you lose, and the staff will show up to kick you out,” he said urgently.
Marina hadn’t known about that rule. She pulled her wrist free from his grip.
“What about the person calling?” she asked.
The guy grinned and replied, “That counts as an automatic forfeit. You’d be out of the game.”
Marina didn’t hesitate. She answered Daron’s call right away.
The guy just stood there quietly beside her, saying nothing.
Daron’s voice came through the phone.
“Still able to answer? Looks like you didn’t get scared senseless,” Daron said.
Marina pouted. “I was just about to figure out how to meet up with you, and then you just gave up.”
Daron replied in a calm voice, “Honestly, I wasn’t sure you’d figure it out.”
Marina stayed silent.
Daron said, “Someone from the staff will come get you soon. If you want to keep playing, we can start over together.”
Marina murmured, feeling warmth bloom in her chest, “Okay.”
Daron must’ve been really worried something might happen to me. He actually gave up the game just to call and check on me. Marina thought, her heart warming at his protectiveness.
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Once he got her answer, Daron hung up.
Soon, a staff member came out from another door and politely escorted Marina away.
She didn’t spare the guy behind her a single glance.
The guy stood there, a smile on his face, but deep in his eyes, a burning desire to win had been ignited.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
