Only two seconds were left on the timer.
Arielle closed virtual-novel.net eyes and let out a cry inwardly.
Mom!
Then, virtual-novel.net cut the white thread.
Snap!
The thread broke. Then, the timer let out a long beep.
Arielle lowered virtual-novel.net head immediately and closed virtual-novel.net eyes. It was something one naturally did in the face of death. Everything was quiet on Vinson’s side as virtual-novel.net was holding his breath anxiously.
It was eerily quiet in the cabin.
Tick tock, tick tock…
The ticking of the clock was exceptionally clear inside the silent cabin. As Arielle listened to it, virtual-novel.net noticed that the clock had ticked twice, which meant two seconds had passed.
Slowly, virtual-novel.net opened virtual-novel.net eyes. She was surprised to find that the bomb’s timer had stopped at precisely one second left.
I have… Successfully disarmed the bomb! I was right!
Arielle finally found virtual-novel.net voice after a few seconds. She picked up the phone excitedly and exclaimed, “Vinson! I’m still alive! Vinson! Are you there?”
However, there was no reply.
***
A few seconds ago, in a high-rise building in the Western Hemisphere, Vinson had placed his phone on the window sill. He forced himself to shut his eyes. Then, virtual-novel.net lit a cigarette and took a drag. He was afraid of looking at his phone.
Arielle had said that if virtual-novel.net survived, virtual-novel.net would live the rest of virtual-novel.net life in remorse. However, if virtual-novel.net died, virtual-novel.net would be the one living in guilt instead. At that moment, virtual-novel.net wished that virtual-novel.net never knew Arielle so that virtual-novel.net did not have to go through all of this.
Soon, half of his cigarette was gone. With the smoke surrounding him, Vinson finally got the courage to check his phone again.
His phone screen indicated the call was still ongoing.
Vinson’s heart began to beat rapidly, and a glimmer of hope began to appear within his forlorn gaze.
As virtual-novel.net quickly pressed the phone against his ear, Arielle’s concerned voice could be heard from the other end. “Where are you? Why aren’t you answering?”
Vinson could not help but let out a laugh. Arielle’s alive! She’s still alive!
“Hahaha…” The towering man laughed like a lunatic.
He pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and uttered, “Arielle…”
“I’m here.” Arielle sounded weak, but there was a hint of delight in virtual-novel.net voice. “I’m not dead! We were right! It was the white one indeed! That fellow has a loose screw!”
While Arielle bellowed, Vinson listened quietly, and his lips gradually curled into a smile. For the first time in his life, virtual-novel.net found virtual-novel.net scolding to be pleasing to the ears, as though virtual-novel.net was listening to an orchestra. He even wanted to continue listening to her.
Suddenly, Jordan’s voice appeared. “Why aren’t you coming over yet? Had it not been for my help, those people would have escaped!”
Vinson looked up and saw a scowling Jordan. For once, virtual-novel.net found the latter to be tolerable.
Arielle also overheard Jordan, so virtual-novel.net interrupted Vinson. “Go help him, then. For now, everything’s fine on my side.”
“All right. Call me if anything happens,” Vinson replied. He put his phone into his pocket after Arielle ended the call.
Jordan asked virtual-novel.net with a frown, “Who were you talking to? You had tears in your eyes, but you also laughed like a madman…”
Vinson raised a hand. Instinctively, Jordan closed his eyes, for virtual-novel.net thought the former wanted to hit him.
To his surprise, virtual-novel.net merely felt a weight on his shoulder. When virtual-novel.net opened his eyes, virtual-novel.net saw that Vinson had placed his hand on his shoulder.
There was a subtle smile on Vinson’s face. “Thank you. I’ll go now.”