M grabbed her phone and immediately called Miranda. They had nned to leave together, and Miranda''s absence was worrying. She had been out of contact, and M was anxious to know what was happening on her end.


    The phone was answered almost instantly.


    "Mira," M began.


    "Is that really you?" Miranda asked, surprised. She usually avoided picking up calls from unfamiliar numbers, but her intuition had urged her to answer this time, and she was relieved to hear her friend''s voice.


    "How are you? That lunatic Lysander didn''t do anything to you, did he?" Miranda''s voice was filled with concern.


    "I''m okay," M replied, her voice trembling slightly as she heard the familiar warmth. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced a smile.


    "What about you? Didn''t you board the ne?" M inquired, knowing that by this time, Miranda was supposed to be mid-flight.


    At the mention of the flight, Miranda''s tone turned frustrated, her voice rising in volume. "Board what ne? Lysander''s gone mad! His men showed up at the airport and took my luggage. They even bundled me back home! My dad chewed me out for hours because of it! I''m so done with this!"


    Guilt washed over M. "I''m sorry, if only I hadn''t involved you..."


    "M!" Miranda interrupted, raising her voice to cut off her friend''s apology. "I''ll figure something out."


    "Remember back in school, we promised to be best friends for life, to travel the world together and see all its wonders? We made that promise."


    "So, trust me. I''ll help you, just like you''ve always been there for me," Miranda assured her.


    M''s tears flowed freely now, her heart swelling with gratitude and relief. Miranda''s words were a lifeline in this moment of chaos, providing a strength she desperately needed.


    "Mira..." M began.


    "Stop it. We''re not strangers," Miranda chuckled. "What are you really trying to say?"


    M wiped her tears away and managed a smile. "I just wanted to say, I think I left my door unlocked. Could you check on it when you get a chance?"


    There was a brief silence on the line.


    "Got it. Call me if you need anything. Are you using this number for now?" Miranda asked.


    "Yeah, for a few days at least."


    They exchanged a few more words offort before ending the call. M felt a bit more at ease, knowing that at least this matter was being handled.


    She had been brought back so quickly, she hadn''t had a chance to use her phone. There was still Rnd, locked up in the basement of the vi at Bamboo Grove. M had nned to unlock his door remotely before boarding the ne, but without her phone, that was impossible.


    She trusted no one else with this task. Only Miranda knew her house''s passcode and the details of the situation. It was best that she handled it.


    Back in the Montgomery household, M couldn''t speak openly about these things. She had to rely on coded messages, but luckily, years of friendship meant Miranda understood perfectly.


    M could only hope that the Lockwood family''s troubles wouldn''t spill over andplicate things further. She prayed that Miranda couldmunicate effectively with Rnd. After all, they had saved him.


    ...


    With the call to Miranda done, M took a few deep breaths to steady herself before dialing her great-aunt Jade, who lived in Verdelune. It was around nine in the morning there, so Jade should be awake.


    Jade picked up quickly, and there was a long pause before her calm voice came through. "Did he hurt you?"


    "Aunt Jade, I''m fine, really. Don''t worry about me. I''ll handle things," M replied, struggling to maintain herposure despite the turmoil inside. She forced herself to speak in a steady voice, determined not to let her emotions take over.