I was consumed by an overwhelming sense of urgency, my voice trembling as I cried out into the phone, "You... wait! The money can be arranged! I'll give you whatever you ask!"
The other side seemed pleased with my reaction, his tone laced with a hint of satisfaction, "Good. I won't waste time. Once the money's here, we'll release her..."
"Listen to me!" I urgently interrupted, "I know my daughter isn't with you! I understand this is a scam!"
I took a deep breath and continued, my words coming faster, more frantic, "My daughter has been kidnapped by my best friend. Time is running out, she could harm her at any moment!"
The panic in my voice escalated as I rushed on, "The thing is, I'm trapped in a coffin near a military camp, I can't get out!"
"Only you can save my daughter now! Do you understand?!" I nearly screamed, "Are you in China or Myanmar? No, it doesn't matter—just call the Myanmar Embassy, the Myanmar police—call them all! Get them to rescue us! I'll give you all the money I've earned these years, over ten million, if you can save her!"
I gasped for breath, but there was silence on the other end of the line.
"Please..." I pleaded, my voice breaking with desperation.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with confusion, "Wait... you've been buried alive, and your daughter is kidnapped..."
"Yes!" I answered quickly.
"And it's your best friend who did it..." He seemed to be confirming.
"Yes, that's right! I'm not lying, it's all true!" My voice cracked, hoarse with the strain of my tears.
He sighed deeply, doubt lacing his words, "You're really good at making up stories... are you in the same line of work?"
I shook my head violently, though he couldn't see, and choked out, "You can check, my name is Lin Shihan. You must be able to find my information if you're in this line of work, please… just give me the Myanmar police number…"
But in the next instant, the sound of the call disconnecting rang in my ears.
The coffin fell into a suffocating silence once again, and in my despair, I began banging my head against the wood.
The air grew more oppressive, the oxygen growing thin, but at that moment, I couldn't care less.
Then, the shrill ring of a phone shattered the stillness, the sound of it now like a death knell.
My heart skipped a beat—it was my best friend calling.