These were private memories from when she had taken care of Melon alone.
No one else could know these details.
Now, she was sure that the young manâs voice belonged to her son.
âMelon? How did your voice become like this?â Ariana asked, her voice filled with surprise.
Through his tears, Melon told her what had happened.
Then, he added, âI found a telephone in the lab, so I called you secretly when the bad guy was not around.
â
âTell me, do you see any landmarks or anything familiar that can help us locate you?â Holden asked hurriedly.
The phone crackled with noise as if Melon was moving or pulling something.
âDad, the windows are covered by heavy curtains, so I canât see outside.
I also canât get out through the door,â Melon said, glancing up at the drapes and then around at the lab equipment cluttering the room.
âThe room looks like a lab set up in a hotel room.
â
Holden quickly absorbed this information.
âOkay, stay on the Line.
Iâll have someone trace the landlineâs location.
Iâll be there soon to save-â
Before he could finish, the call ended abruptly.
âWhat happened?â Ariana asked urgently, seeing the call had ended.
Why had Melon hung up?
Had Melonâs action been discovered by Moss?
Ariana and Holden exchanged worried looks, both thinking the same thing.
.
.
Library
âRest here in the ward.
Iâll check the nearby hotels myself,â Holden said gently.
âOur son is important, but so are you,â Ariana said, gripping Holdenâs hand tightly.
âTake care of yourself and stay safe.
â
Hearing this, Holden smiled, leaned in, and kissed Ariana.
Then, he quickly turned and left the ward.
Ariana sat on the bed, her fists clenched as she silently prayed for Melonâs safety.
On Melonâs end.
Melon, alert to the approaching footsteps, had quickly hung up the phone.
He carefully slid it under the table, making sure it was well hidden, before crawling to a different spot to hide.
Moss entered the room, a bag of fresh strawberries in hand.
Yet, as he pushed open the door, Melon was nowhere to be seen.
Moss stepped inside and scanned the room with a poker face.
The space was so small that he had combed every nook and cranny within two minutes, but Melon was still nowhere in sight.
Had Melon managed to escape?