The ladder seemed to stretch longer, and her stamina was fading fast.
In a daze, Rosie thought she heard someone calling her name.
“Lin…”
“Lin Yu…”
“Lin Yu! Lin Yu! Lin Yu!!!”
The calls grew clearer, more urgent with each shout.
Who’s calling me?
Rosie, muddled, was about to turn back when another voice rang out.
“Rosie!”
She snapped back to reality.
No—Lin Yu was her original name. How could anyone in this world know it?
Her mind flashed to Donahue Bobby’s earlier words: on his way home, he heard someone calling his name!
She gritted her teeth, mustered her strength, ignored the strange sensations around her, and climbed with all her might, finally reaching the top.
Hannah pulled her up.
Hannah looked at her friend’s unnaturally pale face, concerned with clouding her gentle features.
“Rosie, what happened? You froze halfway up the ladder, completely still.”
Completely still?
In Rosie’s memory, she’d been climbing the whole time.
Rosie looked up at the girl, genuinely grateful. If Hannah hadn’t called out, who knows what would’ve happened if she’d turned back.
With this thought, she frowned, not answering immediately.
Instead, she rushed to Dennis Sandek’s side and, under his surprised gaze, bent down, lifted the wooden trapdoor, and slammed it shut, sealing the passage below.
After doing this, Rosie exhaled in relief.
Under the candlelight, she glanced at the group, paused, and decided not to hide the truth.
“While climbing, I heard someone calling my name.”
“Someone called you?”
Donahue reacted most strongly, anxiously pressing, “Was it… was it a man’s voice?”
“No.”
Rosie shook her head.
Dennis frowned.
“We didn’t hear any voices from below.”
“Maybe no one was calling me. It could’ve been a feeling, a trick to lure me to turn back.”
The three reacted differently: Hannah hesitated, Dennis looked thoughtful, Donahue trembled.
It seemed this four-person team wasn’t as ordinary as it appeared.
Everyone was hiding their own secrets.
“Truth above.”
Donahue Bobby made the prayer gesture again.
Hannah took on the role of calming the group.
“Don’t worry, everyone.”
“It’s been some time since we went missing. Our families have likely noticed and reported it to the police.”
“Even if we can’t find a way out, as long as we find a safe place and stick together, we can hold out until rescue arrives.”
“Truth above, may the God of Fate protect us.”
These people sure love to pray at the drop of a hat.
Rosie mimicked the gesture while muttering inwardly.
After a round of faith-fueled encouragement, the group rallied their spirits and continued exploring.
Unlike the underground corridor, the lighting here was an issue, but the architectural style was far more refined.
Artistic stone carvings and vintage metal lamps were scattered throughout.
As they ventured deeper, signs of life grew stronger.
Smooth floors, intricate carpets, deer head decorations on the walls, dark-stained wooden furniture—everything was present except the owners.
This was a castle, and a massive one at that.
Donahue Bobby’s face grew grim.
The further they went, the more uneasy he became, until he couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Moulton, Miss Carter, are there any nobles near Glenn City who own a castle or manor this large?”
Hannah paused, then shook her head.
“To my knowledge, there’s no castle or manor of this scale near Glenn City.”
“So… we’re no longer in Glenn City?”
Donahue murmured, his tone bitter.
Rosie’s focus differed.
As a soul from another world, lacking most of the original owner’s memories, she felt no attachment to this land.
She had little faith in police or church rescues.
Her instinct was to rely on herself to escape this predicament, so she paid closer attention to details others might overlook.
For instance, from the room where she woke up, through the underground corridor, up the ladder to this castle hall—not once had she seen an exposed window!
That was highly unusual, and anomalies often held the key to breaking a dilemma.
If there was no other way, should she risk returning to that room, flip the table, and shoot the glass behind the curtain?
As she pondered, a man’s voice cut through.
“Stop.”
Rosie snapped back, seeing an arm extended in front of them.
It was Dennis, the bodyguard, his weathered face stern under the candlelight.
“Someone’s approaching.”
Dennis moved closer to his employer, speaking softly.
Donahue, already shaken from the ladder incident, forgot all gentlemanly manners and nervously sidled up to Hannah.
Look at this guy, so cowardly.
Rosie shook her head, then quietly stepped back, hiding behind Donahue and Hannah.
Her eyes stayed fixed on the deep darkness ahead, ready to crouch and draw her gun at any sign of trouble.
Was someone really approaching?
How did he notice?
But a professional was a professional.
Ten seconds after Dennis’s warning, footsteps echoed through the empty hall, distinct from their own.
“Stop!”
“Whoever you are, stop, or I’ll shoot!”
Dennis gripped his baton-like weapon, his face unwavering as he threatened.
“Sir, please don’t get agitated. We mean no harm.”
A sincere male voice came from the darkness, sounding young.
Scritch.
A small orange flame sparked in the dark, growing brighter.
The outline of a candelabra became clear, followed by a hand holding it aloft.
Gradually, the pale yellow candlelight revealed a man’s face.
He had black hair, brown eyes, and soft features, with slightly upturned lips, giving a relaxed, easygoing vibe.
He raised his other hand, palm forward, showing he was unarmed.
“Even the wildest animals don’t entirely abandon communication.”
“Let alone such refined people as yourselves.”
“Perhaps we’re all just unlucky souls lost when the God of Fate dozed off?”