Chapter 5

Halfway up, my leg started throbbing with a dull, burning pain.

"I'm stopping."

Chloe gave me an annoyed look, said nothing, and kept climbing.

Julian’s patience was wearing thin.

"Didn't I already carry your bag for you?"

Someone else in the group rolled their eyes as they passed me.

"Sighing after just a few steps? Why did a newbie even come along?"

I threw my hiking pole aside and started walking back down.

Julian blocked me, clearly irritated.

"It's dangerous to go down alone. Just keep going up, the cable car station is right ahead."

We walked for what felt like hours. The sky turned pitch black, but there was still no sign of the cable car.

My leg was shaking from the pain. I asked again, "Where is the cable car?"

This time, the entire group fell silent.

Chloe’s voice trembled.

"We took the wrong trail."

I looked at Julian in disbelief.

He pressed his lips together, silent.

Someone called search and rescue.

But since our location was unclear, they couldn't give us an estimated arrival time.

Fear began to spread. I whispered, "Julian, my leg really hurts."

Before he could speak, someone snapped.

"Can you stop complaining? If you're sick, why did you even join our project? You just wanted to hitch a ride on Julian's coattails for credits, didn't you?"

Others chimed in.

"His actual girlfriend is right here, how is she not embarrassed?"

Looking at Chloe's shifting gaze, I finally understood.

In their eyes, Julian and Chloe were the couple, and I was just the shameless third wheel.

Sweating from the sheer agony in my leg, I slid to the ground, too exhausted to explain.

Julian finally barked at them, "Everyone calm down! Don't take your anger out on her."

After handing me an emergency painkiller, Julian knelt in front of me.

"I'll carry you back down the way we came."

But Chloe suddenly whimpered, "Julian, I'm scared of the dark."

Julian froze.

"We have flashlights."

She clutched his sleeve. "I'm still scared without you."

Someone spoke up. "Julian, you should take Chloe down first. She's fragile."

Others agreed. "Yeah, and Chloe's project is really important."

In the pitch black, every sound was amplified.

I could hear my own racing heartbeat, the mockery in their voices, and Julian’s heavy sigh as he stood up after a moment of hesitation.

"Wait here for the rescue team. I'll take Chloe down first and then come back for you."

I reached out, my hand trembling as I grabbed his wrist.

"Don't go, Julian. I really can't wait."

But Julian coldly peeled my fingers off.

"Your leg isn't that bad, Avery. The painkiller will kick in soon."

The sound of Julian’s footsteps fading as he carried Chloe down the mountain echoed in the dark.

I sat on the cold dirt, completely hollowed out.

The mountain wind was freezing, biting against my tear-stained face.

I don't know how long I waited, but right before I passed out, the rescue team finally reached me.

When Julian finally arrived at the hospital, he was met with the tense, awkward faces of his teammates.

The bright red "IN SURGERY" light above the door made his chest tighten.

What was happening?

Why was Avery in surgery?