Chapter 2

The wind was too loud, and my head felt too foggy. I did not catch what he said at all.

All I could hear were hurried footsteps behind me, getting closer and closer.

I ran to the edge of the cliff. Loose rocks crumbled under my feet and tumbled down into a bottomless darkness below.

Behind me came the stench of those wolf jaws. Several shadows already lowered their bodies, ready to pounce.

I glanced back once and saw the entire pack closing in, but by then, Mom was already safe.

I hurled the burning branch at them, shut my eyes, and jumped.

The moment my body lost all weight, there was nothing left but the sound of the wind in my ears.

The last thought that flashed through my mind was that Mom was finally safe, and as long as she lived, the fall was worth it.

…

When I opened my eyes again, my body felt light as a feather.

I looked down and saw another me lying twisted among the rocks, one leg bent at a horrible angle, my school uniform torn to shreds by branches. Blood stained the stream beneath me, only to fade as the water carried it away.

Was I dead?

Was that what came after death?

Before I could even process it, a massive roar suddenly came from the top of the cliff.

Blinding beams of light snapped on, turning the mountaintop as bright as day.

I drifted upward to get a better look, then froze as a helicopter descended, its rotor blades whipping up violent gusts of wind that bent the trees in every direction.

A group of staff in camouflage uniforms rushed out. The wolves that were just trying to tear me apart were having their heads removed.

They were people. Crew members in special effects suits. A few well-trained wolfdogs, then lying obediently on the ground, wagging their tails.

"Cut! Perfect!"

Harriet Lawson stepped out from between the rocks, brushing dirt off her clothes and smoothing out her expensive coat.

There was no trace of the panic or madness from before.

The director hurried over with a flattering smile, handing her a glass of champagne.

"Ms. Lawson, that performance was unbelievable. The livestream has just passed three hundred million viewers. Everyone online is calling this the best family drama of the year."

Harriet took the champagne, turned to the camera, and took a graceful sip. That familiar smile spread across her face, the one that always meant she had everything under control.

"That kid acted really well.

"I almost believed it myself. Especially that final jump. The emotion was spot on."

She called out toward the edge of the cliff, her voice clear and casual.

"Alright, Elliot, stop hiding. The props team has already cleared out, and the holograms are off. Get up here. I had them prepare your favorite tomahawk steak."

I hovered in midair, staring at the smile on her face, and the whole thing felt absurd, so absurd it hardly seemed real.

There were no police, no bankruptcy, no killers, and even the wolves were not real.

The crew started packing up, loading all the so-called dangerous props onto the helicopter.

Someone asked quietly, "Why hasn't Mr. Lawson come back yet? I saw him jump just now. Could it be?"

Harriet waved her hand, cutting him off with complete confidence.

"Relax. There are safety nets and air cushions down there. I saw the staff go down earlier.

"That kid is probably waiting for me to praise him. That's his little trick. He just wants me to feel bad for him."

She turned back to the camera, speaking to the countless viewers watching the livestream.

"Kids these days are too soft. If you don't teach them a real lesson, they'll never grow up. See? This time we pushed him, and look at the potential he showed."

Cheers and applause broke out all around.

Everyone was celebrating the perfect success of this so-called survival challenge.