Scarlett froze for a few seconds, then quickly directed her companions to lift me onto the stretcher.
She hastily performed an initial check of my physical condition, her brow furrowing more and more, her tone becoming stern.
"With injuries this severe, didn't you explain the situation to the rescue team? Their headquarters isn't far from here, they could have arrived within the golden hour!"
"In such low temperatures, this leg might not even be salvageable due to severe frostbite."
The expressions on the faces of the surrounding volunteers were also very grave.
If they hadn't routinely come to patrol, I probably would have died here already.
The ambulance arrived at the foot of the mountain, with volunteers carrying the stretcher all the way.
Scarlett, beside me, looked at my injuries with pity in her eyes.
She and Susan were best friends, and she had disliked me from before, always believing I wasn't good enough for Susan compared to Carter and couldn't make her happy.
"Susan's rescue team isn't far from here, didn't you tell her you were injured?"
At the thought of Susan, my blood ran ice cold.
Seeing my silence, Scarlett turned and dialed Susan's number.Compared to how quickly I could reach her, Susan answered her best friend's call with remarkable speed.
"Susan, Asher just got caught in an avalanche. The rescue team didn't arrive in time, and now he's injured and might face amputation..."
Scarlett explained my current condition to Susan.
But in the next second, Susan's sharp, caustic voice came through the phone.
"Scarlett, what kind of love potion did Asher give you? You know full well how many lies he's told in the past to get my attention, and now you're speaking up for him too!"
"Carter's rideshare got rear-ended, and I'm still in the middle of rescue efforts. The entire rescue team is deployed – we don't have anyone to spare for him! Can you and Asher stop trying to fool me?"
Scarlett's eyes widened in disbelief, seemingly unable to comprehend what her best friend was doing.
"I'm not lying to you. Asher is really hurt, and it's serious. I'm sending you the location now. Please come quickly."
There was a moment of silence on Susan's end, then she let out a cold laugh as if something had just occurred to her.
"Fine. So you're not treating me as a friend anymore, is that it, Scarlett?"You're getting so close to Asher, aren't you just trying to take advantage and climb the social ladder?"
As soon as those words were spoken, Scarlett's face quickly darkened, and she spoke at lightning speed.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Asher is always so good to you, how can you say such things......"
Before Scarlett could finish, the other person abruptly hung up the phone. Scarlett glanced at me somewhat awkwardly, sympathy in her eyes.
Not only that, but the volunteers around who heard these words all had expressions of dismay.
Even those who used to despise me could now show sympathy.
Why wouldn't Susan believe me?
The frostbite wound began to worsen as time passed.
Excruciating pain spread throughout my entire body.
I tightly closed my eyes, not letting the tears fall.
But the pain in my chest was impossible to ignore.