Chapter 1
The whole family was bustling around, preparing for Great-Grandma Irene Carter's 92nd birthday celebration.
All the relatives and friends had gathered, but both Irene and Tyler Carter, my good-for-nothing cousin, were nowhere to be found.
On the table, only a note remained. [Took Great-Grandma to the deep woods for some fresh air. Don't worry.]
My heart sank. Before I could say anything, my cousin Megan Davis, her face ashen, shoved her phone in front of me.
The screen showed a dense, endless forest with howling winds.
In an attempt to become an outdoor influencer, Tyler had actually taken Irene into the wilderness for a "survival challenge".
My mom fainted on the spot.
That scumbag, Tyler, for fame, was putting Irene's life at risk.
*****
The birthday party hall was thrown into utter chaos.
My mom slumped into a chair, desperately pressing under her nose to keep from passing out, while my dad was so furious his hands were shaking as he dialed 911.
"Help. It's a kidnapping. They're in the woods on West Ridge," he yelled into the phone.
The police said it was hard to locate them, and the rescue would take time.
I glued my eyes to Megan's phone. My jaw clenched so tight I thought I might crack a tooth.
On the livestream, Tyler's face filled half the screen, all lit up and grinning like a maniac.
"Thank you for the gifts, Top Donor. You're so generous," Tyler hollered.
"Guys, check it out. Today's challenge is my ninety-two-year-old Great-Grandma."
The camera whipped around, landing on the old lady standing behind him.
Irene was hunched, her thick puffer was gone, and she was stuck wearing just some ratty old jacket she must've found somewhere.
With the zipper busted, it just flapped open.
The mountain wind sent her silver hair flying, and her freezing hands gripped the collar for dear life.
Tyler, on the other hand, was wrapped up in a fancy, high-end parka and plush gloves, snug as could be.
[Streamer, isn't the old lady gonna freeze to death dressed like that?]
A comment flashed across the livestream.
Tyler saw it, snorted, and waved it off like it was no big deal.
"Y'all don't get it. This is cold therapy.
"City people are so dramatic. Great-Grandma spent her whole life in a poor village. She's tough as nails.
"Besides, you gotta feel the real chill to unlock your body's full potential. I'm doing this for her own good," Tyler said.
As he spoke, he tugged Irene's collar open so the wind could hit her even harder.
Irene swayed, nearly losing her balance.
She shakily reached out, trying to grab her cane propped up against a tree.
That cane was her legs. Without it, she couldn't move an inch.
Tyler was quick as lightning, snatching up the polished wooden cane before she could even touch it.
"Hey, Great-Grandma, that's no fun," he teased.
He weighed the cane in his hand, grinning like a joker, but spitting out downright cruel words.
"We're here for wilderness survival, not a stroll in a nursing home.
"How are you supposed to survive if you rely on tools? This is your comfort zone, and I'm here to break you out of it," he sneered.
With that, Tyler swung his arm and hurled the cane as hard as he could.
The cane flew in a wild arc and vanished into the bushes dozens of feet away.
"If you want it, then crawl over there and get it," Tyler barked at Irene.
Irene stared at where her cane had vanished, her lips quivering as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.
She bent over, gripping her knees with both hands, trying to steady her shaky frame.
Watching this, I felt my nails digging into my palms, almost breaking the skin.
[Tyler, you bastard.]
I hammered out message after message, my hands shaking so badly I could barely type.
[That's Great-Grandma. Make sure she's dressed warm and get her cane back, now.]
Since I was a mod, my message showed up big and bold, highlighted for everyone to see.
Tyler spotted it instantly.
Instead of looking guilty, he just pulled a stupid face at the camera, practically asking to get punched.
Tyler snickered, "Hey, isn't that my spoiled little cousin?
"What's wrong? Getting all worked up?
"You guys are just a bunch of pampered brats. You've spoiled Great-Grandma rotten. Look at her now. She is full of life, right?"
On the screen, Irene was shivering so hard her nose was running, her face all purple from the cold.
This was what he called full of life.
The livestream was blowing up, with over a hundred thousand viewers tuning in.
Some people were flaming Tyler, but most were just here for the spectacle, egging him on and hoping for more chaos.
[Streamer, you're a total badass. This is hardcore.]
[The old lady looks kinda weak. Maybe some exercise will do her good.]
[I'd send a rocket. Make the old lady run a few steps.]
When Tyler saw the gifts rolling in, he was grinning from ear to ear.
"Thanks, my dude. Did you hear that, Great-Grandma? The chat wants to see you run.
"Stop dawdling. Get moving, and you won't feel cold," he shouted.
Then he reached out and shoved Irene hard in the back.
Irenea was caught off guard, stumbled forward a few steps, and fell to her knees on the rocky ground with a sickening thud.
That was a ninety-two-year-old woman.
One fall like that and her knees could've been crushed to pieces.
My mom snapped awake just in time to see it and nearly fainted all over again.
My dad, eyes blazing red, grabbed the car keys in a flash.
"Let's go. To West Ridge.
"If I don't beat the crap out of that bastard today, I'm not a Carter," he roared.
The car roared out of the garage, tires screeching.
I stared at the screen, watching Irene struggle to push herself up, her hands trembling as she slowly got to her feet.
She didn't cry out or make a fuss.
She just lifted her head, squinting with those eyes that could barely see anymore, looking around, trying to make sense of her surroundings.
Her wrinkled hand gently touched the bark of an old pine tree beside her.
Her movements were slow and gentle.
She didn't look scared at all.
But instead, there was this weird sense of familiarity, like she'd been here before.
Tyler was still making a racket beside her, hounding Irene to keep moving.