Arabella stumbled through the narrow gap and landed on a damp, uneven surface. Her heart was still racing with fear, but now the panic was accompanied by a deep despair. She felt lost, completely alone and helpless in this unfamiliar environment. The darkness surrounded her like a suffocating prison, and she could barely see her own paws before her eyes.

"How will I ever find my way out of here?" Tears of helplessness came to her eyes. Her whole body was shaking, her muscles protesting with each additional step, her arms felt heavy as a ton, her paws were burning, even her lungs were finding it harder and harder to hold enough breath. She wanted out, just out of the darkness and home. Stumbling, she put one aching foot in front of the other until they failed. Powerless, she sank down, the adrenaline that had flooded her veins and driven her body to its peak performance, was spent. She was alone, almost feeling as if the darkness was trying to swallow her. Arabella wrapped her arms around herself. As she did so, she realized for the first time that she was still wearing the costume. A wry smile came to her face. She probably looked even worse now than when she had escaped from the wedding. At least she hadn't peed herself to escape then. Lex probably wouldn't even wrinkle his nose at her, but would hug her, howling, that it crushed her internal organs. Had she just called him Lex instead of roommate? Involuntarily, she furrowed her brow. Had she really gotten so used to him already? Every moment of her escape from marriage was so filled with events that she had never thought about it all until now. Without Lex, she would probably be dead by now. He was one of the good guys, if plenty weird. What normal man watched hamster movies on the sly or bought hamster costumes? Her father appeared in her mind's eye, the old codger collecting embroidered handkerchiefs behind her strict mother's back. I wonder if her parents missed her. Were they upset and worried that their daughter had suddenly disappeared? Arabella couldn't imagine either of them with those emotions. At best, the two of them were embarrassed by the gossip she had caused with her escape. Perhaps she was mistaken and she was wanted without knowing it? Her little heart hoped so. Would Lex be looking for her? Yes, she was an extremely cute hamster, but to him she was just that, a hamster. He could get a new magical hamster from any magician. Why look for her? They had known each other barely three days, and if she was honest, she hadn't even been very nice to him in that time. Sniffling, Arabella looked down at the torn fabric. She wanted to go home.

But what home was hers anyway? Was it with her parents, in the cozy nest she had known all her life? Or was it at the tea store where she had Lex.

"Maybe no one is even looking for me," she whispered softly to herself. The idea of being forgotten and abandoned made the tears roll for good. The darkness seemed to tighten around her, smothering the last sparks of hope.