The terrain at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains was rugged, the weather harsh. The authorized guide had one thing he emphasized repeatedly: "Don't take your eyes off me."
For just a moment... For just one moment, Shaun thought about going back, and before he could even take a step, he vanished.
The weather in the Kunlun Mountains was changeable. The team had set out on many expeditions before. They had been forced to turn back midway repeatedly due to bad weather.
For Shaun, further failure was unacceptable. His agency was constantly pressuring him. They demanded that the filming be finished quickly and sent for editing. Not only did he have to deal with them, but he also had to handle the problems of the filming crew. The crew constantly complained about fatigue and the cold. Because of this, even when they did set out, they couldn't make much progress.
Yet, Shaun was climbing the mountain, simultaneously trying to please his superiors and appease his subordinates. He rushed to address even the smallest problems to try and push further. But in the end, they would turn back for reasons beyond his control. And with each time, the complaints kept increasing. As if he had wanted it to be this way!!
As if they knew how costly each ascent and descent was! As if the budget allocated to him was infinite! He was draining his own wallet to cover the shortfalls.
Despite all this, he didn't complain. How could he, anyway? He had willingly taken on all the responsibility. That's why, no matter what, he had to continue. He couldn't allow all the time and money he'd invested to go to waste.
Today, they were finally going to reach the filming location. He wouldn't be lenient with anyone. He wouldn't allow excuses.
"Sprained your ankle? You won't be able to walk? Wait here, we'll come back for you later."
"You're hungry? There's still a long way to go until the scheduled break. Drink some water to settle your stomach."
"Tired? Then walk slowly at the back of the line. Don't be a hindrance."
Finally, after Shaun had relentlessly pushed everyone to their limits, they reached the planned destination. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. There was no longer any reason for the team leader to get on their case. All the fatigue accumulated since morning suddenly washed over them. Some collapsed right where they stood.
While resting, they finally had a chance to look at the path they had taken. Beneath their feet lay endless earth, above them, a sky encompassing the entire mountain range. This was a place believed to be where the home of the gods once stood, separating their realm from the lands of mortals. And here they were, standing where the whole world lay at their feet. The feeling it gave was mesmerizing, making them forget all their weariness.
Accompanied by the stunning view, they started chatting, even laughing and having fun. They had time to appreciate the mountain's beauty.
Meanwhile, the guide, who for various reasons hadn't had a moment's rest, dragged himself over to Shaun. He had something he needed to say, but he was afraid of triggering his employer's uncontrollable temper. His employer had violated multiple safety rules in the last few hours, threatening anyone who didn't comply.
Even if he did speak up, this man probably wouldn't listen anyway, as stubborn as a mule, he'd do things his own way. But what choice did he have but to hope that this time he would be reasonable?
"A storm warning has been issued. We need to descend as soon as possible."
"Absolutely not!"
As expected, Shaun refused him with a harsh tone. But now, the guide couldn't give up; as the guide, he was responsible for the group's safety. How could he back down now?
"This could be really dangerous. We have to go down immediately for the safety of the people."
Shaun hadn't expected a second objection from the guide. Normally, the guide wouldn't stand up to him. So Shaun was quite surprised. But he had no intention of backing down.
"We're not going anywhere. This footage has to be completed today."
"I'm telling you, a storm is coming! Do you realize how serious this is!? Regardless, I am the authorized guide. You have to listen to me now."
"I don't pay you to give me orders. We're not going down! No one takes another step until the filming is done!"
***
And then, after the whole group gathered, they began to descend, led by the guide. During this, the recklessness of the decisions Shaun had made throughout the day had finally crossed the line. The team finally erupted in major protest against Shaun. Within a short time, he was pushed to the very back of the group. Now Shaun had no choice but to follow them.
Left at the rear of the group, Shaun was furious.
How could they abandon him like that, after all the effort he had put in for them? They couldn't hold out for another hour, and they had failed again. A bunch of white eyed wolves! He shouldn't have been nice to them from the start. He had been too soft on them. They took advantage of his goodwill. Lazy, sluggish, and ungrateful. Why had he even been nice to them? He should have handled it himself from the beginning and not trusted anyone else!
Just then, Shaun had a thought. He really should handle it himself, shouldn't he? He had an amateur camera in his hand. So maybe he could get a few shots, at least as proof of work done to send to his agency.
"Just 15 minutes. If I disappear for just 15 minutes, no one would even notice."
After getting the footage, he could rejoin the group. No major problem would occur.
Shaun turned his head and looked back.
"Let's do this."
And Shaun couldn't even take a single step. He was swallowed by the storm.