In that icy chamber, memories from her childhood hit Aubree like a tidal wave a time when she'd been trapped underground, consumed by fear. Panic surged through her, and she pounded desperately on the door.

"Is anyone there?!"

"Please, someone let me out!"

But the thick walls of the walk-in freezer were soundproof, swallowing her cries for help.

Meanwhile, Matthew was on a frantic quest to find Aubree, but she was nowhere to be found. Her phone lay abandoned on the couch, a silent clue to her mysterious disappearance.

Matthew's instincts kicked into overdrive. He didn't waste a second wondering if she'd just left her phone behind to chat with someone else. If Aubree wasn't right in front of him, it was a crisis, plain and simple.

He immediately reached out to the event organizers, insisting they check the security footage. Nothing was too much when it came to keeping Aubree safe.

His quick thinking paid off. The surveillance video showed Aubree inside the freezer, her condition deteriorating, looking like she was about to pass out from the cold.

Matthew dashed to the freezer like a man possessed, flinging the door open and rushing to her side. The cold was biting, the temperature well below freezing. Aubree, dressed in just a dress and gripped by panic, was suffering from the frigid air.

her mind teetering between past nightmares and

hesitating, Matthew ran outside,

Andrew, realized that Matthew was searching for Aubree. As Matthew emerged, holding Aubree close, Andrew was there to

he asked, concern etched on

he tried to push past, Aubree, in

word stopped Matthew in his tracks, disbelief washing over him. It felt

with emotion,

the other

with hope.

a time long ago rushed back-when he had found her in a similanstate, carrying her to safety as she clung to him, crying and calling

melt. He reached out eagerly to take Aubree from Matthew, feeling a deep sense of

a different story-heartbreakingly so. He felt his heart shatter. Even as Andrew moved to

him, he would have pushed Andrew aside without hesitation. But now, it seemed she needed someone else, not

of anger and sorrow threatening to bring

then that Aubree

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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