Chapter 76

Cedrick continues going down the narrow, dimly lit stairs behind the old bookshelf. Each step creaked softly beneath his weight, echoing in the tight space. He held his breath, hoping no one above could hear him. The air grew colder as he went further down. He felt relieved that he had managed to send Ronnie a message and hoped he would also start informing the others.

At the bottom, Cedrick pushed open a heavy wooden door and stepped into a room that made him pause. The place had been transformed into something that looked like a hospital room. The center has white walls, medical equipment, and a single hospital bed. On that bed lay Ember, unconscious and pale. He walked slowly to her side, his heart pounding. He reached out a hand to check her pulse, but a voice stopped him. "Who are you?" The voice was shaky, full of fear.

Cedrick turned quickly to see a man in his white polo and black pants standing near a table covered in medical tools. The man's eyes were wide with panic, and he