C08
In my dream, Aaron and Damien threw me into an ice crevasse for Naomi. I ran, desperate to escape, but no
matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get away.
Then, suddenly, everything shifted.
Damien was kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down his face, crying out to me. “Camille, I was wron
was wrong!”
I jolted awake, heart pounding, breath shallow.
As my vision cleared, I saw a little girl sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at me.
“Who are you?” I asked, still dazed.
She flashed me a smile that was pure sunshine, revealing two adorable dimples. “Aunt Camille, my dad told me
to come get you for the meeting.”
I couldn’t help but smile back. Her bright, sparkling eyes had a way of making everything seem a little lighter.
I reached out and pinched her chubby little cheek. “Thanks, sweetie. I’ll be there right away.”
Left at the Altar, Chased by Lies
She giggled and skipped away, the sound of her laughter making everything feel a little more normal. It was a
small moment, but in that brief exchange, the weight of everything seemed to ease, if only for a second.
Living in Antarctica meant there was only one sunrise and one sunset a year, which made keeping track of time impossible.
I glanced at my watch.
I’d slept for a full day.
With a deep breath, I quickly washed my face, changed into some fresh clothes, and made my way to the door. Time was moving on, and so was I.
As soon as I stepped into the conference room, I saw Dr. Adams ending a call.
He looked up at me, quickly hanging up the satellite phone with a slight frown. “Camille, you’re here!”
I narrowed my eyes, sensing something off.
“Director, did something happen?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
“Oh, no, nothing serious. Let’s talk about the cave first.”
He switched on the projector, displaying several images on the screen.
“This cave appeared after the avalanche you and your team triggered three years ago. It wasn’t discovered until six months ago by Team B.”
I stared at the image of the dark, bottomless cave entrance. A chill crept up my spine.
“And what about the ancient ruins?” I asked, suddenly feeling the weight of the situation.
Dr. Adams hesitated for a brief moment, then switched to another image.
It was a stone carving. The lines were rough, and primitive, depicting strange humanoid creatures running and jumping, encircling a glowing, circular object. It looked like some kind of ancient ritual.
“This stone was found at the entrance of the cave,” Dr. Adams explained, tapping his finger on the screen.
His expression was serious now. “Preliminary analysis suggests it’s far older than we initially thought–possibly
prehistoric. Based on the unique geological formations and traces around the site, we suspect this cave might be
the entrance to an ancient ruin.”
The mystery of it all captivated me. I felt excitement bubbling inside, curiosity pulling me in.
“When can I go in?” I asked, barely able to contain myself.
Dr. Adams‘ face shifted, a flash of concern crossing his features.
“Camille, I won’t lie to you. I’ve asked a lot of people to go in, but no one was willing. You’re the only one who
agreed.”
It was human nature to be afraid of the unknown.
After all, no one knew what lay inside that cave.
But I didn’t hesitate. I looked him in the eye and said firmly, “I’ll go.
“I
He sighed but there was pride in his gaze as he patted my shoulder and gestured for me to step outside.
I followed his gaze, confused at first, then froze in my tracks.
There, kneeling in the snow, was Damien.
My heart stopped.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, disbelief washing over me.
Dr. Adams shifted awkwardly beside me. “You two are still technically married. When he asked me to speak with
you, I couldn’t lie to him. You should settle this yourselves.”
With that, he walked away, leaving us alone.
I turned back to Damien
10:31 AM
Left at the Altar, Chased by Lies
I turned back to Damien.
He was crawling forward, his body shaking, dragging himself toward me.
His voice trembled as he choked out, “Camille, I was wrong. It’s all my fault. I lied to you.”
His entire body was shaking, his shoulders hunched under the weight of the moment.
Snowflakes dusted his shoulders, his figure a shadow of the man I once knew. The pride he had once carried so
confidently seemed to have melted away.
