I was slowly sinking into the darkness, no longer able to see anything clearly. All the pain coursing through me had also gone numb, and it felt as though I was falling into an abyss.

Madison's voice, dripping with fake concern, reached my ears. It sounded muffled, as though coming through a wall of dense fog.

"Sam! What's happening to you?"

By then, I was unable to respond anymore.

She continued worriedly, "She left a lot of blood here. What if the wild animals smell it and attack us? Even though Sam doesn't like me, I still can't bear to watch her die.

"How about this? Let's dig a hole and bury Sam along with the bloodied sand. That should cover up the scent of blood."

Everyone instantly agreed with her suggestion. Hence, they grabbed shovels from the SUV and dug out a hole beside me in no time. Following that, they kicked me into the hole.

Sand filled my nose and mouth, causing me to suffocate.

Madison wasn't trying to cover the smell of blood—she wanted to bury me alive.

Mustering up as much strength as I could, I seized the hem of her pants.

Madison's response was quite aggressive as she viciously stomped on my wrist, breaking it. Then, she backed away while screaming, "I think Sam's still trying to kill me!"

An enraged Jonathan started dumping shovel after shovel of sand on me.

"Maddy was just trying to help you, yet instead of being grateful, you turn on her? I truly wonder what must have blinded me back then for me to not see just how heartless of a person you are! I want a divorce!"

It didn't take long before I was mostly buried. My breathing grew faint while my heartbeat slowed.

Meanwhile, Jonathan was comforting Madison. "Why bother being worried for her? It's normal for accidents to happen when coming to such places. Stop blaming yourself for this."

The last bit of my will to survive was snuffed out, and I allowed myself to embrace the darkness at last.

However, while they were still busy burying me completely, the thrumming of helicopter blades sounded from above them. The strong currents caused sand and dust to fly everywhere.

Instinctively tossing down their shovels, they clamped their hands over their mouths and noses before running for the SUV.

Subsequently, I was dug out of the hole. The suffocating pressure surrounding me vanished, allowing air to once again reach me.

Several voices were talking all around me. It seemed the rescue team the higher-ups had sent had arrived.

The rescue team's leader was frowning as he checked me, his movements swift and professional. Then, he started barking out orders, "Her mouth and nose are obstructed by sand—she's suffocating. This needs to be cleared out immediately! She's also suffering from critical dehydration. Give her an intravenous infusion of Lactated Ringer's solution right away!"

Eyes narrowing, Jonathan approached the team leader and grabbed his arm.

"Are you really a medical professional? What do you mean she's suffering from critical dehydration? She's clearly just pretending!"

Unwilling to waste energy arguing with him, the team leader handed him a satellite phone.

"You can direct any questions you have to your superior. I'm only responsible for saving lives, not giving explanations."

The moment all the sand blocking my mouth and nose was removed, the rescue team hooked me up to a respirator. The intravenous solution had also eased the worst of my extreme dehydration.

At that moment, I heard the head of the Natural Resources Department's voice coming through the satellite phone, sounding stern and cold.

"Jonathan Anders, except for Samantha, every single one of your expedition members is fired, pending investigation. All of you will also be bearing the losses incurred for this failed expedition!"