The rescue team quickly notified Lauren, who arrived almost immediately. Her face turned pale at the sight of my decayed body, and she nearly retched from the stench and horror. Paul, her husband, gently patted her back, trying to shield her from the painful reality.
“Don’t look, honey. She’s gone. Let’s just find a cemetery and lay her to rest,” Paul said softly, though his tone was cold.
Lauren nodded, her face carefully controlled, hiding any hint of guilt. After all, she had been the one who insisted that I join the ill-fated expedition in the first place.
Madilyn and I had been competing for a spot in a physics competition. For me, winning first place meant securing admission to a prestigious university, a dream I had worked tirelessly towards. My academic record, especially in science, was outstanding, while Madilyn’s performance was just above average. Even without me stepping aside, she had no chance of being selected.
But Lauren had other plans. She insisted that I compete under Madilyn’s name to ensure her daughter would get the spot. I firmly refused. This competition was too significant to me.