Chapter 1

I never imagined that my final research mission would become the grave that buried me.

Wind and snow poured into my torn protective suit; every breath I took scraped my throat with shards of ice.

With numb, frozen hands, I gripped a road marker and staggered my way to the main heating pipeline.

The moment I arrived, I immediately pointed the camera that was attached to the helmet at the heating pipeline.

"This heating pipeline is the lifeline of the entire base. If this is cut off, the entire building will become an icy grave.

"Now, what do you think is going to happen if I swing my axe right here?"

Luna Stewart's panicked voice was the first to come through the comms.

"Calm down, Sophie! We were just…"

She hadn't finished when my husband, Zachary's mocking voice cut her off. "What are you afraid of? This base is the culmination of a decade of the company's hard work! If she swings that axe, she'll never leave Antarctica alive."

He sneered, urging me on, "Bring the camera closer. Let us see how you break the world record!"

I wasn't provoked by Zachary.

Gasping for breath, I raised the axe over my head and swung down toward the layer of ice and snow protecting the pipeline.

"This axe of mine is for dealing with wild animals at the base, and it can slice through bear hide…

"Do the math. How long do you think it'll take me to dig down to the pipeline?"

As the base's communications officer, Zachary knew better than anyone that once the pipeline ruptured, in the polar night at minus fifty degrees, no one would survive long enough to wait for rescue.

When the first crack split across the ice, his voice finally lost its composure.

"Calm down, Sophie! That was all just a company advertising task. How could I let anything really happen to you?"

Luna's trembling voice followed, "Yeah, Sophie! Once Zachary saw you were in trouble, he already called for rescue, so just go back in the car and conserve your strength!"

An advertising task?

Hearing those words, I almost lost control of the heat behind my eyes. Forcing my tears back, I asked through gritted teeth, "The false weather report. The half-drained fuel tank. Even cutting my thermal suit to shreds…

"Were those all commands from the company?"

Before heading out this morning, I had inspected the vehicle myself.

The fuel tank had been enough for two full round trips.

The thermal suit was designed for emergency survival, and it would even be hard to cut through with a knife.

They didn't want me to challenge my limits, they wanted me dead.

The comms plunged into deafening silence as my fingernails dug into my palms.

Not waiting for them to make up any more excuses, I smashed the ice with all my strength.

"With my stamina, it'll take at most half an hour for me to break through this layer of ice.

"Either call the rescue team now, or wait for me to reach the pipeline and freeze to death together. It's your choice."

After a short moment of silence, Zachary's voice spoke, but only to accuse me.

"Do you know how many researchers are in this base?! If you destroy our research project, you'll be a sinner against all of mankind!"

My axe swung down once more.

Crack!

I cut him off. "I've already broken through the ice."

From the other end of the communicator came frantic curses and the sound of things crashing.

I paid no attention, focusing only on digging at the pipeline.

After a long silence, Zachary's voice came through again, softer this time, "The rescue team's already on their way!

"Be good and fill the snow back in. Stop digging!"

I let out a breath and collapsed weakly onto the ice.

The last trace of warmth in my body seemed to escape with that exhale.

Dragging my frozen, rigid body, I practically crawled back to the vehicle.

But twenty minutes later, all I could hear was the wind and snow battering against the car.

Just as my consciousness began to blur, Zachary's cold commands came through the communication device.

"Honey, the rescue team says your situation is complicated. They need the backup base to activate the special protocol.

"The soonest they can get there is an hour, so start going back yourself.

"Don't worry, I'll be right there with you. I'll wait until you come back with the samples."