Chapter 4

Angie's face turned pale with anger at the news, but before she could make a scene, the hospital security firmly escorted her out. With Angie gone, I finally had a few hours of peace. However, around noon, Ronald called me again via video chat.

"Nalani, you may not be a professional explorer, but you know many people in the field and rescue teams. I'm pleading with you—for the sake of family—to help Melvin!" Ronald's face was flushed and his lips were dry and cracked. Behind him stretched an endless desert, the scorched earth and his sunburned skin betraying the extreme…