Chapter 1

"Finnegan Lindt, you'll say anything to save your skin now, won't you? My brother's at the amusement park with his girlfriend today. I just helped him plan their trip last night. The next time you want to lie, at least come up with a better story."

Vincent Jameson's voice crackled through the walkie-talkie.

"Finnegan, you're getting what you deserve! Now, you can die the same way you killed my brother back then!"

I stepped back from Benjamin Fallow, my brother-in-law, so my wife, Celeste Fallow, could get a clear view of his face.

However, his face was torn up, and after being trapped there for a whole day and night, he was barely recognizable.

"Celeste, you'll regret this!"

As soon as I said that, I cut off the walkie-talkie.

We were running out of time. If we did not climb up soon, the sand would reach our lungs and we would suffocate.

Benjamin was gasping for breath, clutching my hand so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"Finnegan, what's wrong with my sister? Does she really want to kill me? I'm her brother!"

As the words left his mouth, tears finally spilled down his dirt-streaked face.

My heart ached for him, but it was not the time for sympathy.

If I did not act then… If I hesitated for even a second, the both of us would be dead.

The sand kept rising, swallowing our ankles inch by inch.

"Hold on to me. Don't let go!"

I tied a rope around the both of us, grabbed the small shovel I always carried, and started digging footholds into the pit wall.

A split second later, a rock the size of a sandbag whizzed past my ear.

Benjamin rasped, shouting upward, "Celeste! Are you crazy? Why are you trying to hit him?"

I pressed my palm against my bleeding ear, trying to stop the flow.

Celeste's voice thundered down through a loudspeaker, cold and commanding. "Still talking back when you're about to die? You must have a death wish!"

Stones rained down like bullets. I had to stop digging and huddle close to Benjamin as we shielded ourselves.

Meanwhile, the sand kept piling higher. By then, our calves were completely buried.

Suddenly, the guards above stopped shoveling, and a package dropped down beside us.

I tore it open and found a phone and document inside. The phone was already in the middle of a video call with Celeste.

She spoke calmly and cruelly, "It's not too late to surrender. Sign that document, and I'll have them pull you both up immediately."

I flipped open the file, wanting to see what could possibly make her go to such lengths to kill me.

However, the moment I saw it, my mind went blank.