“This will be a very interesting show. He’ll have to choose between saving his wife or the woman he loves.”

Something flashed before me and everything went dark.

[Countdown: 1 day]

The connection between me and Gale’s team was severed. In the dense, perilous rainforest, every step became a struggle for survival.

“Damn it!” Gale cursed, his frustration palpable. “How the hell did they find Daisy?”

I had always kept my identity shrouded in secrecy. No one knew—not even Gale. The thought that I’d been caught was almost laughable if it weren’t terrifying.

When I regained consciousness, my head throbbed and my thoughts were a jumbled mess. Through the suffocating fabric of the burlap sack over my head, I could hear muffled sobs.

“Let me go! If you hurt me, Gale will come for you! You’ll regret doing this!”

The voice was unmistakably Flossie’s. The woman who had insisted on tagging along for the mission now found herself in the same predicament as me.

Then, I felt the effects of the sedative they had injected into me. I couldn’t speak. But they hadn’t even bothered to gag Flossie.

I watched the time on the system display move quickly; I guessed the moment was near.

And sure enough, a few seconds later, Gale burst in.

“Snakeback!” he shouted. From the sound of his footsteps, I could tell he was badly injured.

“You finally came, Gale. Welcome! I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment.” A hand gripped my shoulder as Snakeback laughed evilly.

“It’s time for the ultimate choice.”  His smile twisted into something even more grotesque. “Your tear-streaked little lover…” He gestured to Flossie, who was sobbing uncontrollably on the floor.

“Or your steadfast partner, Daisy.”

I could see Gale’s eyes darken, the red fury blazing beneath the surface. Snakeback’s men had the room surrounded, leaving no gaps for escape.

Flossie whimpered pitifully, calling out for Gale with desperation.

Meanwhile, the pressure on my shoulder intensified, sending sharp jolts of pain radiating through me. My body ached, but I couldn’t make a sound.

Gale’s grip on his weapon tightened, his knuckles white. He was paralyzed, unable to make the impossible choice.

Snakeback cackled, clearly enjoying the torment he inflicted. To heighten the stakes, his men tore at Flossie’s clothing, exposing her to the cool air. Gale’s mark was still visible on her skin—a detail that seemed to enrage him.

“Stop!” Gale bellowed.