Left to Die in the Quicksand

Our research team set out for the Sunstone Desert, known as the Sea of Death.

While crouching down to measure the sand temperature, the ground beneath my feet gave way.

I sank into quicksand. Struggling only made me sink deeper.

When I realized what was happening, I immediately shouted to my boyfriend, Ethan:

"Quick! Throw me the rescue rope!"

Ethan stood on the sand slope but turned to look at our junior teammate, Aria.

"What's she saying? I didn't hear her."

Aria raised her hand to brush back her hair. She moved closer to him, whining coquettishly:

"Ethan, look at my facedid I get any darker from the sun?"

By now I'd sunk up to my chest. Breathing was becoming difficult.

Ethan stared at her face, examining it carefully.

"No, you're not darker. Actually, you look even more fair."

He glanced back at me and said to Aria with a smile:

"Look at Quinn, still over there playing in the sand."

Aria followed his gaze toward me.

"Ethan, she's being so reckless. She needs to be careful or she'll really sink in."

The moment Aria finished speaking, Ethan put away his phone, his brow furrowed as he looked at me.

"Quinn, what are you doing fooling around in the desert?"

His voice was laced with impatience.

"Don't scare Aria. This is her first time in the desert."

I shook my head desperately, forcing out a hoarse gasp from my throat. I raised my hand, pointing to the sky, making gestures for the helicopter rescue call.

I'd sunk too deep nowonly a professional rescue team could save me.

Ethan misunderstood my gesture, his expression darkening.

"What the hell are you trying to do? You're stuck in the sand and still won't stay still, just waving your arms around."

A few team members close to Ethan gradually gathered around, pointing and whispering about me.

"Look, what's wrong with Quinn?"

"She's sinking deeper and deeper. We might need to call in a helicopter!"

"Only a professional rescue team in the desert can bring equipment to save someone!"

Amid the murmuring, Aria suddenly burst into tears. She threw herself into Ethan's arms, her shoulders shaking.

"Ethan, did I do something wrong? Am I relying on you too much? Is that why Quinn is upset? Does she think I deliberately didn't save her when she first sank in?"

Ethan immediately held her tightly, patting her back.

"This has nothing to do with you, Aria. You didn't do anything wrong."

He turned his head, glaring at me with reproachful eyes.

"She's just wild, not at all stable, trying to waste resources to get attention. Ignore her. We won't bother with her."

My vision began to darken in waves, consciousness rapidly slipping away. I used my last bit of strength to struggle and point toward the sky again.

Just as my arm was about to give out, a hiking boot covered in sand stomped hard on the back of my hand. Pain shot through my hand, but I couldn't even scream.

He looked down at me from above.

"Quinn, haven't you had enough? Do you need the whole team to call in a helicopter so everyone revolves around you before you're satisfied?"

Aria peeked out from behind him, tears on her face but triumph and malice in her eyes. She leaned in closer, speaking in a voice only we could hear, soft and gentle.

"Quinn, how does the quicksand feel? I discovered that area was dangerous yesterday. I didn't report itI led you there on purpose today."

My pupils contracted sharply. I used all my strength to raise my other hand, pointing at the innocent-looking Aria, trying to tell Ethan the truth.

Seeing my movement, Ethan's face darkened, and instead he pushed me away forcefully.

"You want to hit her now? Quinn, don't you dare bully Aria! She's timid, this is her first time in the desertshe can't handle being scared!"

The few team members who sucked up to Ethan immediately chimed in, condemning me.

"Yeah, Quinn, that's way too much."

"Calling a helicopter is such a hassle. If you can save yourself, don't waste resources."

"Ethan, your girlfriend is way too demanding. You really need to control her."

My breathing grew weaker and weaker, my vision completely blurring.

I'd been with Ethan for three years. He'd always thought I was just an ordinary research team member. This desert expedition was supposed to be my final test before deciding to marry him.

In the last fragments of light and shadow, I saw Ethan supporting the tearful Aria, gently wiping the sand from her cheeks.

Finally, someone in the crowd noticed something was wrong.

"She's sunk to her chest! Her face is turning blue! We have to call a helicopter!"

"Quick! Activate the emergency satellite phone! Contact the rescue helicopter!"

In the chaos, someone finally thought to dial the rescue hotline.

I sank down heavily another level, my body beginning to shake uncontrollably.

While everyone's attention was on me, Aria quietly circled around to the communications equipment. She discreetly unplugged the satellite phone connection cable and shoved it into a pile of sand.

No one noticed this detail.

Ethan crouched down, making a show of reaching out his hand, his tone impatient.

"Quinn, stop pretending, enough already. Everyone's already calling the helicopter for you. What more do you want?"

My consciousness sank into endless darkness.

Around me, the team members' anxious shouts gradually blurred.

Ethan was still talking to Aria in his arms, his voice full of indulgence.

"Don't be scared. She's fine, she just likes to make a big deal out of everything."

"She's been in the quicksand too longsevere dehydration and oxygen deprivation! If the helicopter doesn't come soon, it'll be too late!"

"Quick! Check the communications equipment! Make contact again! We need the helicopter here as soon as possible!"

"Who's coordinating with the rescue team when they arrive?"

Team members' shouts rang in my ears.

I felt multiple hands trying to pull me up, but my body sank even deeper instead.

Ethan raised his hand.

"I'm her boyfriend and the expedition team leader. I'll sign when the rescue team gets here."

But as soon as he walked into the temporary tent, he immediately sat down next to Aria, not even bothering to spare me a glance. He pulled the still-sobbing Aria into his arms, letting her lean against his chest.

Aria trembled in his embrace.

"Ethan, I'm so scared. Quinn... will she make it until the helicopter arrives? If something happens to her, will it be my fault? Will the team punish me?"

Ethan patted her back sympathetically, brow furrowed.

"Don't talk nonsense. This has nothing to do with you. It's her own carelessness. She knows the desert is dangerous but runs around everywhere, always trying to show off."

A team member, while fitting me with a simple oxygen mask, turned to ask Ethan:

"Does she have any medical history? Can she hold on until the helicopter arrives?"

Ethan didn't even look up, his eyes still fixed on Aria in his arms.

"I don't know, I'm not really sure. She's usually perfectly healthy. She never had problems like this on previous polar expeditions."

I desperately tried to open my mouth to tell the team member that Aria did it on purpose. He'd always known I had trauma about soft sand. That year on our first expedition together, I accidentally sank into shallow quicksand. He'd used all his strength to pull me out, holding me and saying: "From now on, I'll always watch over you. I'll never let you face this kind of danger again."

A careful team member finally discovered the communications anomaly and dug out the connection cable from the sand pile.

"Something's wrong! Someone unplugged the satellite phone!"

He looked up, questioning Ethan and Aria.

"Who was near the communications equipment just now? Who did this?"

Only then did Ethan look over, his face blank and innocent.

"What cable? I don't know. We didn't go near there."

Aria immediately lifted her head from his arms, jumping to explain.

"I was with Ethan the whole time. I didn't go over there. Could it have been blown loose by the wind? The weather in the desert is so harsh."

As she spoke, tears fell from her eyes again.

"It's all my fault. If I'd paid more attention earlier, maybe I would have noticed in time."

Ethan immediately defended her.

"How could this be your fault? This kind of thing is common in the desert. Stop crying, Aria, or your face will get all blotchy."

The team members urgently repaired communications and dialed the rescue number again.

I felt my life slipping away.

And my boyfriend was less than two meters away from me. He pulled out his phone, browsing through desert landscape photos he'd taken earlier, showing them to Aria.

"Look at this one I just took of the sand dunes. Isn't it beautiful?"

A team member was administering saline and monitoring my breathing and pulse.

And my boyfriend was fussing over another woman.

Just then, Aria suddenly sat up straight, gently tugging on Ethan's sleeve.

"Ethan, the desert sun is so intense. My arms are getting sunburned."

She pulled out sunscreen from her bag and held it out to Ethan.

"Can you help me apply it? I can't spread it evenly by myself."

Ethan immediately took the sunscreen, expertly squeezing an appropriate amount into his palm.

"Sure, I'll help you. I guarantee it'll be even and you won't get burned."

He carefully applied it to Aria's neck, his tone so gentle it could drip honey.

"Is this enough? Should I put on a thicker layer?"

Aria smiled and leaned on his shoulder.

"Ethan, you apply it so well. It feels so good."

Several team members who were close to me clenched their fists in anger at his attitude but could only glare at them fiercely before turning back to care for me.

"Could you show some consideration for others? Quinn isn't out of danger yet!"

Ethan looked up indifferently.

"We're not interfering with you saving her. What's wrong with applying sunscreen?"

In the distance, the roar of helicopter rotors finally sounded, rapidly approaching.

Team members quickly sent out signals, waiting for the helicopter to land.

The rotor wash kicked up a sandstorm, and I heard Aria say sweetly to Ethan:

"Ethan, the helicopter is blowing sand everywhere. Can you shield me from it?"

Ethan immediately nodded in agreement.

"Sure, no problem. I'll shield you the whole time, won't let any sand blow on you. Don't worry."

"The quicksand has reached her neck! We must initiate professional rescue immediately!"

"Ten more minutes and she'll suffocate to death! Family member, sign quickly!"

The rescue team leader, holding the rescue agreement and payment form, shouted urgently at Ethan.

Ethan slowly took the documents but refused to sign. He looked through the paperwork repeatedly, then raised his head to ask the leader:

"Excuse me, can we get a discount on this rescue? Is there a reimbursement process afterward?"

The leader looked at him in disbelief.

"Sir! She's hanging by a thread right now! Saving her life is what matters! You're still worried about costs and reimbursement? If we delay any longer, it'll be too late!"

Aria, standing nearby, tugged on Ethan's sleeve and said quietly:

"Ethan, this rescue fee looks pretty expensive. What if we spend the money and still can't save her? Wouldn't that be a waste? It might even affect our future expedition budget."

Ethan's expression immediately became even more hesitant. He kept turning the documents in his hands, just wouldn't sign.

"So... isn't there a cheaper option? Like, using simple tools to pull her out, or we rescue her ourselves? Don't jump straight to professional rescue. It's too expensive."

The rescue leader's temples throbbed with anger.

"You think this is haggling at a farmers market? Bargaining back and forth! I'm telling you, every second is counting down right now! Every second wasted means less chance of survival! Hurry up and sign!"

The rescue team had already deployed the rescue airbag, preparing to release the traction equipment.

I could see Ethan's hesitant figure, unable to make a sound from my throat.

Several accompanying team members couldn't stand it anymore and surrounded him, condemning him:

"What's wrong with you? Have you no conscience? Your girlfriend is about to be swallowed by quicksand and you're calculating costs?"

"Exactly! Which is more importanta human life or money? Can't you tell?"

Faced with everyone's accusations, Aria spread her arms to shield Ethan. With red-rimmed eyes, she said to the team members:

"Please don't blame Ethan anymore, I'm begging you. He's just being responsible for our research project by asking a few more questions. He just doesn't want to affect our future project expeditions."

She turned to look at Ethan, tears in her eyes.

"Ethan, I believe all your decisions are for the good of the project. Don't worry about what they say. Just do what you think is right."

These words gave Ethan enormous validation and strength. He immediately straightened his back. Then he said firmly to the rescue leader:

"I need to think about it more. You have to guarantee the rescue will succeed, and the cost can be paid in installments! Otherwise, I absolutely won't sign!"

The rescue leader was too angry to waste another word on him. He directly shouted to his team members:

"No more time! Activate emergency rescue protocol! We'll deal with costs later! Quick! Quick! Quick!"

The rescue team immediately activated equipment, rapidly deploying ropes toward me.

Ethan loudly defended himself from the side:

"I'm thinking about the future! I'm being financially responsible!"

Aria patted his back, soothing him:

"Ethan, don't be angry. They don't understand your careful budgeting, but I do. You're the most considerate person for the expedition team."

Ethan nodded, deeply moved.

"You're the only one who understands me."

He took out his phone and set it up, adjusting the lens to capture the desert scenery.

"Let's film a vlog to document this. We might gain followers."

"Patient's breathing is getting weaker! The quicksand is still sinking!"

"Rope is secured! Prepare to pull upward!"

"Everyone pull! Maintain balance!"

The rescue team's shouts echoed across the desert.

I could feel the rope wrapped tightly around my body, slowly being pulled upward.

On the sand nearby, Aria leaned against Ethan, acting cute for the camera:

"Ethan, make sure you film me looking good. Adjust the filter to something soft. Add a desert adventure background musicit'll definitely go viral."

Ethan didn't hesitate. He immediately adjusted the phone settings, specifically choosing sand dunes as the background.

"Don't worry, I guarantee you'll look like a desert princess. The views will be amazing."

While the rescue was underway, he even had the mind to discuss video captions with Aria. They were planning how to describe their "expedition adventure" to attract more likes.

A rescue team member saw this scene, frowned, and walked over to remind them:

"Sir, there's an emergency rescue happening here. Please keep quiet. The patient isn't out of danger yet. Please be mindful of the situation."

Ethan looked up with displeasure.

"What's wrong with filming a video? We're not interfering with your rescue!"

The team member was left speechless and could only shake his head and walk away.

The rescue made quick progress. I was successfully pulled from the quicksand and lifted onto a rescue stretcher.

Aria made a heart gesture at the camera, then pouted:

"Ethan, the rescue fee is so expensive. I don't think it should come from our research budget. Shouldn't she pay for it herself? I don't want to spend extra money for no reason."

Ethan immediately turned off the camera and held her hand.

"You're right. It has nothing to do with us. She's the one who carelessly sank in. If anyone should split the cost, it should be her. We're not paying."

Aria smiled and leaned on his shoulder.

"Ethan thinks of everything!"

This scene was witnessed clearly by Director Zimmerman from the Research Institute, who had rushed over after receiving the satellite call.

Several core researchers and medical personnel hurriedly descended from the helicopter he'd arrived on.

His presence made the noisy desert instantly quiet.

Director Zimmerman walked straight up to Ethan. He stopped, his voice ice-cold:

"You're Quinn's boyfriend?"

Ethan was editing vlog footage, looking up in confusion:

"Yeah, why?"

Director Zimmerman glanced at me lying weak on the stretcher, his face livid. Without a word, he signaled to the security personnel behind him.

Several guards immediately stepped forward and grabbed Ethan by the collar.

Ethan's face turned pale with fright as he struggled and shouted:

"What are you doing? Trying to assault someone in broad daylight?"

Director Zimmerman's eyes were practically shooting flames.

"Quinn is a national key postdoctoral researcher! She holds core data for a national-level desert ecology research project! Her safety directly impacts the project's success, yet when her life hung by a thread, you haggled over prices and focused on filming vlogs for followers?"

"I've already had the institute pay the full rescue fee and deployed a professional medical team! And you, as her boyfriend and the expedition team leader, sabotaged a national key research project out of selfish interests?"

He kicked Ethan's leg with all his strength. Ethan stumbled and fell to the ground, his phone flying out of his hand.

Aria screamed, trying to dodge, but was blocked by another guard.

Director Zimmerman pointed at Ethan and roared:

"Restrain this man! Immediately file a case for sabotaging a national key research project! All project losses and data risks caused by his delayed rescue will be legally compensated! I'm telling you, his life is over!"