Chapter 3

I watched as the nozzle on the canister clicked open on its own and started spraying in all directions.

I replied coldly, "Celeste, do you have any idea how many times I concentrated that pepper extract?"

Her brow twitched.

Before she could even respond, ten of her bodyguards at the edge of the cliff suddenly collapsed, convulsing on the ground. Two of them even tumbled straight off the edge.

In the video call, Celeste, who was full of arrogance and venom a moment ago, broke into a fit of coughing.

Vincent's smirk vanished as he asked, "Celeste? What's happening? Why are they passed out?"

I seized the chance, dragging Benjamin upward with all my strength.

Ten years of mountaineering experience came in handy. I could still move sufficiently through the sinking sand.

Then, Celeste's furious voice came through the phone, hoarse but sharp. "Finnegan, you really think you're clever, don't you?"

The video feed shook violently. She grabbed a cup of water from her car and poured it over my canister, trying to block the spray.

Then, without warning, she snatched up a military shovel and swung it viciously in our direction.

I could not let go. If I did, Benjamin would fall to his death.

With him strapped to my back, I had no time to dodge. The shovel came down hard, slamming into his arm with a sickening crack.

His scream tore through the canyon as blood splattered across the sand. Then, he fell unconscious.

Celeste spat, "You filthy piece of trash! Still trying to turn Vincent against me? Let's see how many more hits you can take."

She hurled two more strikes. I gritted my teeth, dodging barely in time, pain searing through my hands as I clung to the rock face.

If Benjamin had not tried to stabilize Celeste's company, helping her calm the victims' families, he never would have been trapped in that nightmare.

I shouted into the phone, rage shaking my voice. "Celeste! Keep this up, and your brother's really going to die!"

She took a slow drag from her cigarette, exhaled a perfect smoke ring, and sneered. "You're still lying while at death's door? If you really want to save him, sign the damn papers."

"Fine! I'll sign it! It's my fault!"

Without a second of hesitation, I climbed back down, grabbed the document and pen that had been tossed into the pit, and scrawled my name.

"I signed it! Now let us go!"

Benjamin stirred awake from the jolt. He saw the signature and exploded on the spot.

"You're not even human, Celeste! I'm your brother!"

Celeste examined the document after hauling it up with a string. Then, she whipped out a throwing knife from her belt.

"Oh, still mouthing off? Guess you two need another lesson."

She aimed right at my head and threw it the moment we let our guard down.

Benjamin saw it coming. He lunged forward, blocking it with his injured arm.

The knife sliced clean through.

His arm hit the ground with a dull thud.

"No!"

My mind went blank. I tore into my pack, hands trembling, and yanked out a roll of emergency bandages.

"Hold on... just hold on. It's okay, I've got you..."

Celeste's voice oozed through the phone like poison. "Keep begging, Finnegan. Where was that mercy when Vincent was begging you to save his brother?"

Then, Vincent's face appeared beside hers, twisted in excitement. "Finish them, Celeste! Don't leave any witnesses. Kill them both!"

Benjamin was beyond feeling any pain, staring blankly at the bloody stump where his arm used to be. Not even tears came anymore.

However, Celeste was not done. She and Vincent grabbed their shovels again, dumping sand into the pit like executioners.

I tied Benjamin tightly to my back and started climbing again.

'Not this time,' I told myself.

I was not planning on dying there.

I climbed one step at a time, matching their pace, racing against the rising sand.

Then, Celeste's voice echoed coldly above. "Finnegan, I'm done playing with you."

She pulled out a fistful of throwing knives, raising them toward us with a smirk.

Vincent, panting and sweaty, tossed aside his shovel to massage her shoulders.

"Go on, Celeste. Finish them off. Skewer those two bastards."

Halfway up the pit wall, I spotted a small ledge. There was a slope just wide enough for cover.

If I could reach it, we could wait there for rescue.

Just one more step...

A flash of agony tore through my back.

Gritting my teeth, I shoved Benjamin up onto the ledge with every ounce of strength I had left, then I let go.

As I fell, the loose sand rose to meet me, swallowing me whole.