He couldn't make sense of it. Just moments ago, he and Ariana had been texting. But now, she was missing.

It didn't make any sense.

Holden's hands were shaking, but he didn't even notice it. He kept staring at the scene, ignoring Mitchel, who was trying to hold him back. He stumbled forward.

There was blood and broken glass everywhere, blurring into each other.

Holden's eyes were glued to the mess, his brain frozen. But then, he heard a distant crying, and it snapped him out of his daze.

He turned toward the sound. Melon and Adele stood there.

The kids had just woken up, and they were a mess, sobbing and looking around for Ariana.

When Holden got closer, he saw they had some scratches on their faces and heads, but they were mostly fine. The medics had already checked them out. Clearly, they had been protected well.

Seeing the kids, Holden had this flash of Ariana, fighting like crazy to keep the kids safe during the car accident. His throat tightened, and he didn't realize his eyes were getting redder.

Melon ran up to him, crying. “Daddy, Mommy's missing. Did she get thrown out? We can't find her. You have to find her, please!"

Adele was so scared that she couldn't speak. Her wide eyes were filled with tears, and she just cried without making a sound.

Holden wanted to comfort them, but the words wouldn't come. It felt like the cold air was slicing his throat with every breath he took, each one sharper than the last.

He felt totally powerless and overwhelmed by the thought that Ariana might be dead.

Seeing this, Shawn quickly calmed the kids down and got them settled, then started organizing a broader search.

But by the time the sun was coming up, there was still no sign of Ariana.

Everyone stayed by the wrecked car, including Rodney, who hadn't bothered going back to rest.

They made a temporary camp and stayed up all night.

The mood was grim, and everyone felt weighed down by it. Extra search teams combed through the nearby hills and woods, their flashlights cutting through the dark, but they found nothing. Then, it started to rain, which just made things worse, adding to the heavy feeling that weighed down on everyone.

As the sky began to lighten, someone shouted from nearby.

A breathless person from Holden's team came out of the woods, saying, “We found one of Miss Edwards’ shoes and her bag by the lake down the cliff."