The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 186

The three men scrambled and crawled into the remaining tent. Professor Harrison came in last, using every ounce of his strength to yank the zipper shut.

"Professor! Diego! Josh! Are you guys okay?" Sloane rushed forward, her eyes scanning their battered, snow-covered faces with deep anxiety.

"We're fine. The other tent just blew away," Josh panted.

Right as he spoke, the tent above them shuddered violently. The wind pressed the canvas so hard it caved inward, nearly brushing the tops of their heads before snapping back into place, only to bow inward again.

Creak. Creak. It sounded as though heavy boots were pacing back and forth across the roof.

"Is this tent... going to blow away too?" Diego asked, on the verge of tears.

"Don't worry. I secured the anchors."

Hearing Josh's reassurance made Diego want to crawl into a hole and disappear.

Just an hour ago, when they were setting up camp, Professor Harrison had specifically warned them to double-check their lines because of an incoming storm. But Diego had been so exhausted he had completely brushed off the warning...

"Diego, Professor, drink some hot water to warm up." Sloane poured two cups from her thermos and handed them over.

"Thanks."

The tent was meant for two people. With four of them crammed inside alongside several massive backpacks, the space was suffocatingly tight.

Diego huddled in the furthest corner, hugging his knees to his chest and curling into a tight ball. His headlamp had died—whether it was broken from the fall or simply out of battery, no one knew. His face was swallowed by the shadows, but his violently shaking shoulders were unmistakable.

"Diego," Professor Harrison's voice cut through the darkness.

"Yeah."

"Are you cold?"

"...No."

A heavy silence settled over them. The wind shrieked again, shaking the tent frame. A heavy sheet of snow slid off the canvas with a loud scrape, sounding like someone dragging a shovel across the roof.

"Professor," Diego whispered, his voice so fragile it seemed he was afraid to be heard.

"Yes."

"Our supplies... they're gone."

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