The past 14 days had been incredibly exhausting for Alan. Despite the inviting comfort of the luxurious cruise room and its soft bed, he had other priorities. He made his way over to the side table and picked up the telephone.
A robotic voice chimed in, its tone unwaveringly neutral.
[Please state the name and number of the person you wish to talk with]
"Arria D'Angelo, Bellevue Hospital, Room 2603"
As the phone initiated the call, seconds stretched into eternity. Alan's heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing loudly in the silence of the room. Then, finally, the answer came.
[The person you were looking for is unavailable]
It was perplexing. Arria should have been right next to the phone, but she hadn't picked up. Alan tried calling two more times, but the result was the same. The situation was becoming more unnerving by the minute, overshadowing the encounters with mutants.
