Beyond the limits of camp 4, with depleted oxygen level, a long zone extended until the summit - The Death Zone. One step out of where they were, would put them in that hazardous area. Peter was positive that he saw Arjun at the entrance of the death zone when they had last parted.

Mia wished Arjun didn't get trapped there. Unlike Khumbu icefall, even a right step might push anyone into a deep, dark abyss, skilled or not. With the raging storm, it wouldn't be easy for anyone to survive for almost ten days.

The group of eight, set out of Camp 1 the day before and been roaming around, continuously carrying out the bestowed task. Mia stopped for a moment. Removing her scarf laid over her face, she breathed in the cool air and coughed.

"The wind changed again. Can you feel that?" The one with the stick in his lips, Zachary, questioned, respiting for a few seconds.

Except for natural calls and investing sugar into their systems for later expenditure, and a bit of rest, they didn't stop for the past eighteen hours.

"Maybe we should get a bunk. Something's coming!!!" Another one named Nazeer shouted to others, above the roaring storm. 

Sherpa Norbu was the lead, as always. His experienced legs found the way anywhere on the mountain.

"It's gonna rain..." It was Kathleen's turn to show the power of her voice.

The summer rain dreaded mountaineers, unlike the happy farmers. Even with the lowest precipitation rate, it would still freeze anything it touched. There were no exceptions for humans.

Goosebumps started to raise in Mia's body in spite of the four layers of heavy clothing wrapped around her like armor, fighting against the 'cold' villain with ice needles.

"Hurry!" Sherpa Norbu's thundering command pierced the wind, meeting its different destinations.

Even without mentioning the fact, everyone on the crew knew it was going to be bad. The seasonal change had always been the same, unpredictable shifts happened even in the plains. Should the highest mountain be any different? It was much worse.

A hunch turned on a light bulb in Mia's brain. Though she wouldn't recommend the path, she knew there was no other choice. The risk was sky-high, even higher than the mountain itself. However, they had to do it.

Mia was right about Norbu's mental target. The deviated trail ended at the foot of a small hill. On either side, two others stood as a guardian to the Queen who held a big tummy for shelter. A rock stood in the middle of a thin ice frame, like a child that sprawled in the water.

Crack icefall would be the risk factor they had to face. Six years ago, Arjun and Mia explored the caves and published a study on 'Living fauna at greater heights'. The two-year research on the wildlife gave them insights on the dugouts and crevice shelters. With further details, they were going to write a book about surviving the calamity when the disaster took away what was precious to her and she stopped responding for the mountain calls.

The Queen hill - the little crew was focusing on, was excluded from the Arjun-Mia list as it was the most dangerous to reach. A pond that was struck between two states of matter - neither the condensed solid nor the flowing liquid - laid in front of the shelter as natural rampart as if guarding King Solomon's mine.

The crew formed a half-circle around the thin ground, contemplating their survival rate. The weakness of the frozen water bodies was on the shore, everybody knew. However, jumping to the middle, dodging the brim was a desire humanly impossible. And there was no time to ponder more on the risk. Mia swiftly shifted to Norbu's side, Peter on her heels. The crampons came off with Norbu's touch, it then moved to the carabiner along with the ice axe.

"Sherpa..."

"You've got any better idea? I'm all ears." But in reality, he was nowhere near to listen to anything at that point. Seven other souls were dangling in his hands, to be saved at that moment. For someone who was always confident in his decision making skill, there was no turning back once it was decided. "Get off the cramps. I'll mother feed you everything, you fuckers," Norbu yelled, before taking his first step over.

Ice strength and integrity were tested, his hard legs stomping a little more forceful every time it touched the ground. On deriving the conclusion, he turned back, "Two at a time!" 

Only that time, he didn't lead the crew but stood to guard the entrance. Zachary volunteered to make the opening, along with Kathleen. Her tiny frame might compensate for his massive weight. The beginning few feet was a solo task, Zachary took upon insisting that it should be him. They couldn't afford time on argument and the grunting from the Sherpa was even more unpleasant, they moved as they spoke.

A scanty cautious step later, Zachary was confident that the ice was strong enough to hold them. He made quick wide steps to reach and clear the stage for others, instead, his desperate heart made a mistake in measurement. The ice cracked under his weight.

" Careful Zach!" Peter called out and murmurs broke from the others.

Nazeer sent a little prayer. Sherpa Norbu gritted his teeth, the noise loud in Mia's ears.

"Fine... This bloody land is thin here, mate. Wouldn't hold my puny weight," he joked. Everyone could breathe after hearing him, a quiet laugh escaped from them.

"You better keep moving or the wolf will bite you..." It was Peter's turn to comment, side glancing at Norbu.

"Ahh, Pete... Won't you ever grow up?" Mia sighed.

"You expect a man to grow up, my dear?" She joined him. The weight should be lifted to release the extreme pressure building in the vessel. The guys were trained to be perfect in that part.

The beeline expanded on the supposed to be a dangerous skating rink - as they kept rambling back and forth - carefully avoiding the cracked surface. The thunder roared over the already deafening storm, knocking straight on the eardrum, agonizing the unconscious listeners.

Mia was paired with Peter to cross over. As the pair succeeded, the final turn stood open for Sherpa Norbu and the kid, Vikash, one of Arjun's worshipers. The first drop touched Mia's cheek just before she entered the cave. Signaling the last two of the herd to make it quick, she watched over them, not joining others in their little gathering inside the cave.

Nervousness didn't touch her while she walked over the ice but anxiety settled in her mind as she watched the last two persons walking down the icy lane.

"Now you're so close to me, my dear... Come and find me!" The voice was loud as if an electronic speaker blared in her ears. She felt its presence on her side. The laughter behind reached her as a muffled noise. Suddenly, everything halted for a moment.

"Why are you here? Come on..." Peter touched her shaking shoulder. He must have felt the tremor. "What's wrong?" he was concerned that was displayed in his voice and face.

Norbu and Vikash had passed half the way. It started to drizzle, an improvement from one or two drops from earlier. The rapid change might soak the two in seconds or might abandon them without even touching them. The unpredictability danced as it wished.

"Mia?" He shook her.

"Oh my God!" she cried.

One moment Vikash stopped moving, his eyes betraying his inner fear, and the next he was gone. The sleeping frozen demon swallowed his posterior parts. His hands were on the brim. The panic-stricken kid started to move in every direction, in an attempt to escape the devil.

The fear of extinguishing would do this to any living being. The survival instincts blindfolded the sense. That was what had happened to Mia when she was in the middle of an avalanche a few years ago and the things she lost, the trauma later played on her mind screen like it had happened yesterday.

"Vikash... Stop moving..." Mia ran to the shore, shouting as much as she could, her throat drying out in the cold weather. Peter followed suit so did the others, a little behind him. "Rope!"

"Give me that..." Peter extended his hands but it was left empty until the end.

"I should do this, " she mumbled.

It was passed to her and she set out again in the same way she took before. Others held the free end of the cord while she walked warily on the ice. It cracked under her weight as it did before. The vulnerability of the lanky surface could have increased as there was a dent now.

"What the hell are you doing now? Aren't you going to get me out? Come, my dear. Find me... If you want your son to live. You should find me, " The apparition appeared out of nowhere, chanting its needs in her ears.

"Fuck off!" she muttered under her breath. In determination to handle the situation laid before her, she braced herself for the worst, including the voice. She couldn't let it handle her anymore. Dangerous would be the understatement if she had named the illusion with it. Gambling with the rescue team's life would be the betrayal their kind and brave hearts didn't deserve.

The proximity aided her hearing, "You fucking bastard. I said stop moving... Stop! STOP!!!" Norbu's words rang over the storm.

"Help me, Sherpa. I don't want to die. I can't die." Vikash wailed.

The kid didn't seem to listen to what was dictated. His hand paddling wouldn't stop. A labored breath huffed and puffed her chest. Her eyes widened in horror as she heard the most heartbreaking sound.