Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Chapter 2005

Estelle had hoped that the side effects of the medication would diminish over time, but now it seemed that was not the case.

"Don't, it's my fault you're going through this," Lambert said, his eyes flashing with pain and guilt as he gazed at her before pulling open the door and leaving.

After he left, Estelle tried to recall the dream she had the previous night, but she couldn't remember anything.

Yet she had definitely dreamed something.

That sense of wandering and sorrow lingered in her mind, a pervasive negativity occupying her thoughts.

She suddenly wondered why Raiden had let her off so easily.

Was it really just because of Lambert and Alvis?

Was he still in control of her?

Estelle lay back down, curling up under the weight of an inexplicable sadness that seemed to shatter her will to wake up.

She felt so heartbroken!

The grief was even destroying her desire to escape it!

She wanted to stay in the dream, as if the dream world was where she truly belonged.

Her phone lay beside her, buzzing with a barrage of messages. The first one that caught her eye was a birthday wish from Jonathan sent in the wee hours. [Honey, happy birthday!] it read.

Just a few words, but they were like a beam of light piercing through the darkness, chasing away her anxiety and sorrow.

Tears, long absent, filled her eyes. For the first time in a while, she felt the urge to cry.

She had to get better!

As long as he was with her, she could overcome anything!

She took out the necklace he had given her and put it on.

Jonathan quickly texted her back, [Just waking up? I didn't tire you out last night, did I? Why are you up so late?]

Estelle replied with a smile, [It's my birthday today. Can't I be a little self-indulgent?]

[Of course.]

[Even when it's not your birthday, my love, you can be as self-indulgent as you want.] Her beautiful eyes crinkled with a smile as she read his message, her resolve strengthening.

She needed to complete her mission here as soon as possible and get away from Raiden!

Once she left, her mind would no longer be controlled, and maybe the constant dreams would heal on their own. Estelle closed her eyes, trying to think calmly.

Myra was still locked in Zack's room, and since Zack had died, no one had entered that room again.

Disguised as Myra, she had visited the mysterious twelfth level beneath the ground once more, but still found nothing.

She had a photographic memory, and now she painstakingly reviewed everything she had seen on the twelfth level, looking for a clue.

She had not found the documents, and Bernard could not die!

Raiden wouldn't let any harm come to Bernard, so the documents had to be extremely well-hidden.

Where could they be?

Why was the entire room's alarm system triggered by a mouse?

What was so special about that mouse?

Estelle sprang from the bed, determined to revisit the twelfth level beneath the ground.

She drew back the curtains to a world bathed in beautiful sunlight, but she couldn't shake the feeling of an impending storm.

Turning, she went to shower, ready for another venture into the depths.

When she emerged from the bathroom, her phone was flooded with new messages. Magdalen had sent a birthday video, showing off a pile of gifts she had bought for her.

Emily had also messaged; she and Charlie were still abroad, dining at a riverside restaurant by the East River and had picked out a birthday present for her. They knew it was already the 29th back home and wished her a happy birthday!

After she replied to Emily and the other messages, a video call came through. Estelle picked up her phone; it was her grandfather.