The group erupted into whispers when they discovered pink frothy fluid slowly seeping out from beneath the tent as its walls snapped violently in the wind. On the bitterly cold ice, the fluid froze almost at once, dark-red ice crystals forming along its edges.
Ethan's expression darkened, but he didn't explode. He simply strode to the tent, stared at the pink froth on the ground, and frowned.
"Sophie, are you done yet?" Impatience edged his voice. "Stop pulling this cheap, disgusting stunt. Do you really think this will make me feel sorry for you?"
There was no answer from inside the tent.
Ethan gave a cold laugh and kicked the tent's doorpost. The impact sent a violent shudder through the entire structure.
Floating above, I watched my corpse, which had been propped against the doorpost, tip sideways. My frozen body toppled rigidly to the ground with a dull thud.
My head slammed into the hard, frozen equipment case behind the door. The impact made an awful, bone-chilling sound that carried through the canvas.
Ethan heard it. Instead of realizing something was wrong, he burst out laughing.
"Hear that? She still has enough energy to throw things around." He turned toward Madeline and the rest of the class. "Apparently it isn't cold enough in there. Looks like that spoiled-princess act of hers isn't going anywhere." He pointed at several boys assigned to logistics. "Go get the spare weatherproof tarps from the storage tent."
The boys froze and exchanged uneasy looks. No one moved.
"Didn't you hear me?"
Ethan's voice turned colder, and his glare made the boys flinch. Afraid to disobey the expedition leader, they reluctantly ran to the storage tent and soon returned carrying several heavy tarps.
"Seal the vent at the top of the tent."
Ethan pointed to the only opening that allowed air inside.
The boys gritted their teeth. Standing on a nearby mound of ice, they draped the heavy tarps over the vent and secured them with ice screws.
The air stopped circulating entirely. The oxygen level inside the tent plunged, and the pink froth froze into solid clumps.
I flailed my transparent arms in midair, trying desperately to rip away the tarps. No matter how hard I tried, my hands passed straight through them.
Outside, Ethan inspected the completely sealed vent and brushed the ice from his gloves with satisfaction. Then he arched an eyebrow at the others, visibly pleased with himself.
"Doesn't she want to hide in there and take it easy? Fine. Let her stay nice and quiet until she learns to stop acting so spoiled."
"What are all of you doing? Is the practicum over?"
A stern voice cut across the glacier.
Marcus Cole, the team doctor, fought his way through the blizzard with a portable oxygen cylinder and a first-aid kit. He took in the scattered group, the vent sealed beneath the tarp, and the frozen pink stain on the ground. His brow furrowed deeply.
"Mr. Hale, what is going on? Where's Sophie?"
Dr. Cole adjusted his snow goggles, his gaze settling on the tent entrance secured by ice axes and climbing rope.
Aksara