With a newfound strength surging through her muscles, Lorelai leaped again, her trembling hands stretching desperately to find something—anything—inside the passage to hold onto and pull herself up.
Scratching the rough floor of the passage, her nails were grinding down painfully, but the burning pain was the last of her concerns.
The violent barking grew louder, closer, more menacing. Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized the truth: the dogs were now near her, salivating at her scent. They had already spotted her, their heavy paws thundering against the marble floor as they raced to drag her back to Kai.
Finally, it seemed that her desperate prayers were answered. Her bleeding fingers latched onto a cold metal handle jutting from the floor of the hidden passage. Relief flooded her mind as she clung to it with all her might. Someone—perhaps long ago and for whatever reason—had placed it there for moments like this, and she silently thanked their foresight.
