Stella saw nothing but blinding white. She also seemed not to hear a single word that Weston said.
As her vision blurred, her senses of the surrounding deteriorated.
Weston moved the snow away and found where she had fallen. When he pulled her up, he realized something was wrong with her. âWhatâs wrong with your eyes?â
Stellaâs eyes were blank. She was looking ahead with an unfocused gaze. After a short silence, she shook her head again.
âIâm fine. Letâs keep going.â
>>
Weston frowned at her. When he was about to say something, he heard a sharp voice from the other side.
âSis!â
Stella turned in the direction of the voice incredulously, but she could not see anything but white. It was not until a tall shadow appeared in front of her that she felt a familiar feeling come over her.
âRoger, is that you?â
Roger could not be bothered with his former identity as Miguel. He grabbed Stellaâs hand at once. âItâs me⦠Are you alright?â
His anxiousness was all over his face. It was as if the cold war between them that had broken out for a few days never existed.
Weston stood aside and looked at the two with cold eyes. He asked plainly, âHow did you get here?â
Roger finally returned to his senses and looked at the man ahead. âSheâs in trouble. Of course, I had to come over. Why are you here?â
Seeing that the two were about to argue, Stella could only interrupt them. âStop arguing in this situation.
Letâs find a way to get out first.â
Weston calmed down and held her hand. âDo you remember the original way? Itâs safest if you return the same way you came in.â
Roger, however, grabbed Stellaâs hand and would not let go. âI think we should wait for help to come.â
Weston frowned and interrupted him, âWith the situation now, staying here is the same as waiting for death. Weâll lose heat rapidly. Besides, the snow hasnât stopped. If we stay in place, weâll end up buried in snow.â
Stella agreed with Weston. When she just fell earlier, the snow had covered her immediately. Waiting in place would be a greater danger.
Roger disagreed. âContinue to walk will only consume our energy. When I came over, I saw the rescue team heading this way. They should be able to find us soon.â
Weston paused and looked at him with impatience in his eyes. âYouâre looking down the hill from here in a straight line. Itâll take them much longer to find us. We canât just sit here and wait for death.â
He did not bother to give Roger another look. He told Stella directly, âCome with me.â
Roger insisted on his suggestion. Stella had no choice but to tell him, âLetâs keep going down. We may meet the rescue team on the way. Itâs snowing so heavily now. Even if we keep going, we may not be able to see clearly.â
Roger said to her sternly, âIâve checked before coming over. The snow will stop in another half hour or so.
By then, theyâll be able to find usâ¦â
âItâs still snowing now. Weâll end up buried under the snow within half an hour. Then, weâll suffocate.â
While they were arguing, there was a sudden clicking sound from the top of the branch.
Weston reacted quickly by hugging Stella and rolling over on the ground. A massive ball of snow had crushed the place they had stood earlier.
It turned out that they had stood beneath a pine tree. With the snow pile that grew heavier, it crushed the tree.