But what greeted her was the impersonal chill of a mechanized voice.

“The number you have dialed is currently switched off. Please press 1 to leave a message."

The automated message bore into Ariana's heart like a drill, its relentless repetition echoing in her ears.

Her phone slipped from her grasp, its screen continuing to glow ominously as it Lay discarded. Ariana curled up, her head buried in her knees, her body wracked with sobs.

She had braced herself for this outcome, yet the reality still stung, sparking an uncomfortable frisson of fear.