Sonia chimed in playfully, “Dr. Chadwick was quite on edge. Upon hearing about your condition, he rushed over, still clad in his
lab coat. Those hospital interns were so daunted to see him that they maintained impeccable posture throughout.”
The presence of Ariana’s awakened form instantly brightened the atmosphere.
Following a round of jests, Rodney shifted the conversation to more serious matters.
“The two human traffickers have been apprehended, and both children are now safe and having a rest.”
Relieved, Ariana inquired about her rescuer.
“Who saved me?”
Rodney shook his head and replied, “I’m uncertain. The hospital staff reported that a man brought you here and then departed.
Likely someone from the farm.”
Ariana came to realize that the figure she had glimpsed before slipping into unconsciousness had been nothing more than a
hallucination. A wry smile touched her lips; the depth of her yearning had taken its toll.
After a brief exchange, the group departed, leaving Ariana in solitude within her hospital bed.
Exhaustion enveloped her, and she soon drifted into slumber. The room descended into silence.
At that moment, the hospital room’s door eased open, and Holden quietly entered. He took his place by Ariana’s bedside,
watching over her in silence.
Outside the hospital room, a sudden stir of activity beckoned Holden to investigate. Stepping into the corridor, he confronted a
disconcerting figure-a man with a face with wounds, accompanied by a young boy.
Upon laying eyes on Holden, Remy hesitated, wondering if Holden might be one of Ariana’s acquaintances. Extending a
tentative introduction, he said, “Hi, I’m Remy. I came to inquire about Ariana and express my heartfelt gratitude. Without her, my
child might not have been saved.”
“She’s resting and still asleep. You can come back later,” replied Holden, subtly signaling his reluctance to permit them entry for
the time being.
“Alright,” Remy glanced at Holden and nodded, choosing to leave with his son.
Initially intending to resume his vigil over Ariana within the hospital room, Holden’s plans abruptly shifted when he received a
photo on his phone. It was a meticulously restored image sent by the technical department, the same one Sadie had given him.
“They had to perform extensive edits, so this is the best restoration possible,” read the accompanying message from the
technical department.
Holden opened the photo.
As he studied the photo, he realized that the person in the image wasn’t Sadie. Even the hair color appeared different.
Holden scrutinized the picture with growing intensity, experiencing an eerie familiarity as if he had encountered this silhouette
before.