by Tiffany Tay
“Stella! How--- Are you okay?” David’s petrified voice howls down. I feel the beam of torchlight playing directly onto me. Sucking in a breath, I force myself to look up. “I’m okay. I just landed. I’ll try to get Niko up now.” I called, trying as best as I could to hide the growing tremor in my voice.
By my side, Niko grunted. “How? I can’t score up that wall in this condition, rope or no rope.” He demanded.
“I need more rope.” I announced. As if predicted, two long coils of rope were simultaneously thrown over the edge. I reach out to grab one, trying not to unbalance myself. Niko caught the other. “What now?”
I look at him. He strains to stand, looking as if every muscle holding him up is about to give way beneath him. His ragged face shines with sweat, and fresh blood keeps trickling down the sides of his head, staining his green shirt. He’s still holding the scarf to his head, now completely bloodied and soaked to all corners. Standing here, seeing him like this… I hesitate. What was I thinking, climbing freestyle down the dangerous cave down to nowhere? Even now, I’d managed, miracuously, to reach Niko. But given his injuries, his exhaustion… how was I going to manage to haul him up there?
He looks at me expectantly, as if daring me to find an answer. He knows as well as I do that there is no way for him to hang onto those ropes for more than two seconds before pain and exhaustion forces him to give…
I bite my lip, fighting off wave after wave of frustrated exasperation. Forcing myself to give my brain a squeeze, I toss each and every possible situation over and over in my mind. How was I going to get on with this impossible situation?
“Ropes… four ropes…” I frown, mulling over my plan. My original plan. Of course, I had come down here with a plan in mind, but I’d expected at least a little cooperation from Niko.
“I need a rope ladder.” I request to David and all gathered above.
There was a flurry of movements from above. I took the delay to explain my plan to Niko. I talk slowly, as to make sure he gets the whole plan drawn out in his head. I finish, watching the colour drain rapidly from his face. “So can you do that?” I glance worriedly at him as the rope ladder comes crashing down. Staggering under its weight, I fasten the ends to firm crevices and holds in the ledge.
I threw another concerned glance at Niko, who’s staggering, now clearly unstable. But I had to get this over and done with. There’s no other possible way.
He nods, in agony. I grit my teeth and remind myself that I had to carry on with this. In order to get him safely out, I had to do this, no matter how arduous the process.
Hands shaking, I fumble for the first two ropes, winding the around Niko’s waist, intertwining them in a two-strand braid, twisting it around his waist, then looping them from the waist up to his arms, circling each arm, like suspenders. In the end, I was still left with a considerable length all the way up the sloped cave, to where the beginning’s rooted up above. With the last two ropes, I wind them tightly around his ankles, up his thighs, around his hips, then winding them around his back and chest in an X shape, finally tying them to his wrists.
I step back, a tad bit unsure about the whole thing. “How do you feel?” I quip.
He grunts and wheezed. “Like a trussed up turkey.” I feel a smile tug at the corners of my mouth. “Well… I hope you stay secured enough like that the whole way up.” Hopefully, your blood circulatory system won’t be completely cut off before you successfully reach the top. But I kept that nauseating thought to myself.
“What are you going to do?” David calls down from above, his voice shaking so much the echoes bounced up and around the void, sending little tremors of anxiety down my spine. I try to shrug it off.
Instead, I edge my way to the edge of the narrow ledge, holding onto the rope ladder.
“David--- Niko’s going to crawl up the ladder, and you guys up there has to haul him up slowly and carefully by the four ropes. Got that?”
I wait for his answer. For a moment, all was silent up above, causing little ripples of doubt to crash onto me. Finally, I hear his voice, “Ok… I hope it’ll work.” He pauses. “How about you? How are you getting up? The ladder might not---“
I cut him off. “It has to. I’ll follow once he’s safely to the top. Don’t worry about me, I’ll make it.” I tried to feel as confident as I sound, but in reality, I’m crushed by conflicting emotions. Would it work? Would I be able to make it? Would the rope hold Niko?
I feel an arm brush against my shoulder, warm and soft, somehow comforting. ”I’m ready. Don’t worry, I have a feeling this plan might just work. It’s the best we’ve got.”
Niko’s confidence doesn’t waver as he smiles assuringly at me. I return with a shaky nod. “Yeah, we’ll succeed, go over the top.”
I reach out and take the scarf. Even though it’s damp with blood, I still use it to bandage his head wound. “You’ll be fine s’long as you don’t look down.” I joke. “Don’t give up.”
“Yeah. Promise me---“ He attempts to stand, but in his trussed up state, he ends up almost tripping into me. I hold out my arms and steady him. “Promise me you’ll save Skye.” He whispers.
As I look into his tear-filled eyes, noting his concern over his friend--- my friend, his words, like his worry’s eating up a hole in his heart…
I know what I had to do. “Of course.” I promised, and I meant it with all my heart.
Then I set him down onto the lower rungs of the rope ladder, and the rescue mission to haul the boy up began.
A/N: Hiii!!! So, what do you think of this chapter? Please comment and vote! It’s my first time writing an action sort of scene involving dangerous ventures… and stuff. I know there are some flaws, but I hope I at least satistied some of you! Don’t hesitate to drop a line… let me know you are reading this and are enjoying it! I love to hear from readers! So don’t stay behind a curtain, do let me know you! ;p
School just started and I feel totally, utterly, depressed. Urghhh. Come save me from this miserable mess!!! Most probs I’ll be too busy to sneak in an update, but I hope to catch up soon!
Till the next update: Stay tuned! ^^
~Tiffany
Chapter Twenty// Stella
Stella’s POV
I watch in grim fascination at Niko, bound up, unable to wriggle more than two inches at a time, bloodsoaked bandage around his head, being pulled up little by little. As soon as Niko reached the tenth rung, I allow myself to score the rope, searching for the agility I’d once possessed.
Don’t panic, don’t look down. I repeat the instructions silently in my head. Put one hand on the rung above, pull myself up, place my foot on the next rung, pause to keep a watchout for Niko’s progression.
He looks about as comfortable as a cow being forced to take a swim in a lake. He knows he has to do it… it’s this or nothing. And yet he has to set back his fears, his injuries, just to concentrate on being hauled to firm ground.
Under the bright beam of light, I see his facial expression. He’s determined, straining to pull free, push away his injuries, just concentrating on being tugged up the edge is draining what little that’s left of his strength.
Gripping the sides of the rope ladder tighter, I cheer him on. “Come on, Niko! Just ten more rungs!” “You’ll get there soon!” Pretty soon, all the curious spectators started up an encouraging chant. Between movements, Niko looked down and threw me a slight smile. His veins strained around where the rope eats at his flesh. Blood drains from his face at an alarming rate, his translucent skin tight around the rope.
I nod and shout more words of encouragement. Sweat attacked me, leaving me sticky and glum, but I keep on and on, until at last, Niko arrives at the edge, and ready hands reach out to pull him to safety. Cheers erupted from above, letting me know that Niko’s in safe hands.
Exhaling a relieved breath, I shout, “I’m coming up now!”
As I nearer the opening, I spy David’s dark hair, his worried face sticking over the edg
e. I look up and wave, steadying myself against the now wobbling rope ladder. David points downwards… at me? And I see his mouth moving rapidly. He screams, and my mind just freezes over. What’s happening?
Fear gripped me, dragging me into a murky darkness of dread. Something’s gone wrong. Daring another upwards step, I feel the ladder teather dangerously.
David utters a long, horrifed scream, points in my direction, and this time, as if some sort of irony, I hear every word:
“The rope’s breaking!”
*****
Sweat tricked down my neck, soaking my blouse. “What?” I yell, hardly daring to take a look below. My hands tremble as I grip the swaying sides of the ladder, now hanging suspended from above. I scream as I feel something give way below me, and the ladder takes a dangerous twist to the left.
Terrified, I swing my shaky legs up and haul up the ladder. “Help me!” I scream wildly. I squeeze my eyes shut as the rope ladder dangles in midair, no longer secured from both ends. With tremendous effort, I push my body upwards, daring myself to climb the last ten or so rungs.
Good thing I’m not afraid of heights, or I’ll possibly be down there.
Shuddering, I swing myself up, one step at a time, trying not to relish the fact that the rope is now shaking so violently, one false move from me might send me crashing straight into the wall opposite.
“David!” I screech. I couldn’t keep the tears from overflowing. As I stretch out a hand to reach the next rung, the ladder sways sharply to the right with a sudden jerk. I scream, calling out for help. Tears spilled from my eyes, blurring my vision. I’m dimly aware of urgent shouts from above, as some other force grips the ladder from above.
I whimper weakly tears entering my mouth. Oh, why had I volunteered on such a suicide mission? Sure, in the end, I’d succeeded in rescuing Niko. But now, it’s my life which is treatened at the moment.
High pitched shrieks from above did nothing to calm my panic. Gathering up my strength, I let go of one hand, just as the ladder began to move upwards. I scream as I almost lose my balance.
Faster and faster, I’m hoisted up by the top ends of the rope ladder. Sobbing in relief at the beautiful prospect of salvation, I just let myself hang limply onto the ropes as the strong people on the top haul me slowly up the inclined walls.
Thank goodness I’m safe! I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of climbling down on a rope ladder…
I tune into the muffled noises from above, their voices clearing in my mind. I’m faintly aware of David yelling at the guys to pull harder. Harder, stronger, faster…
My mind is blurry. I couldn’t see more than two feet in front of me. Tears sting my eyes, but now they’re tears of relief. Gasping for breath, I feel myself nearing the edge of the opening. I hear David shout a warning to me, but in my groggy state, I feel a slight doubt wrapping around my mind, squeezing my senses shut.
What is there to look out for? I’m not going to plunge to my death, my friends won’t let me. I’m absolutely safe---
I lift my head to shout something, and that’s when I banged my head against a jagged rock. Hard. It happened in a swift movement, leaving me temporarily blinded to my surroundings, as giddying stars swarm my mind. Voices shrieked out in alarm as the ladder was pulled, with one last ounce of combined strength, I hit rock ground.
Willing hands gathered me up. Panicked voices called out my name. By this time, most of me is lost, floating away from reality. I can’t feel my surroundings. That blow to my head had knocked me senseless. I almost blacked out.
Trembling fingers brushed the tears from my eyes, and my vision cleared, but the world still continued to spin around and around my personal axis, like I’m the anchor to the Earth’s core.
At the back of my mind, I hear frightened yells, orders to send for more medics. Someone pulls me into a cradle position. It’s David? It has to be him. Drowsy, I giggle, quite girlishly, inhaling his scent on his shirt. He smelled of sweat and a faint trace of citrus. “Davy.” I sigh.
I feel him stiffen. “Hold still. Keep yourself steady, Stella.” I hear the panic in his voice he tried to hide. I heard it through the put on bravery, through my fogge state.
Wriggling for comfort, I feel him stagger under my weight.“I can’t see.” I announce with a nervous giggle. I don’t know why I giggled. It just escaped from my lips. I’m going bonkers. That blow must’ve been one hell of a knockout, my vision is dimming, black spot taking over my sight, blocking out my surroundings.
“Stella…” David chokes up. I feel his body shaking. “Put me down.” I whisper.
“You promised.” He clutches me tighter.
I must’ve been conscious enough to appear confused, because I hear David whisper, his voice tight with emotion.
“You promised to live.”
Did I? Will I?
Rushed calles and squeaky noises echoed in the back of my mind. I feel myself being lowered gingerly until my head strucks a downy pillow. My head sinks into the softness, threatening to lull me into a dark sleep.
Wheels moved as I feel myself being cartered away to a destination unknown to me. I struggle against the droop of my eyes, threatening to meet and never part. Fear grabbed my heart. Feelings lost and thoroughly frighenend, I reach out a hand. “D-David?” I call out, uncertain.
For a terrible moment, I heard nothing but the squeaks the wheels made, the orders the medics shouted out about my condition. Struggling to push it away, to push everything else away, I stretch both arms out, feeling into space. “DAVID?!” I howl, fresh tears spilling down my cheeks.
Finally, I feel a comforting hand grasp my own, masculine pants as he ran to catch up pace with me.
“Stella, don’t worry… you’ll be safe…” He reassures me.
Satisfied that my friend hadn’t abandoned me, I smile, almost comfortable on the moving bed. Sinking deeper, I could already feel the effect begin to kick in. For his sake, I try to fight it awhile longer, hold out… stay in the conscious realm…
“I’ll live.” The words barely escaped my lips before I feel the whole world slowing to a mushy spinning stop. Then I fall back into a fitful blackout.
Chapter Twenty-One// Skye
Skye’s POV
I an in my happy place… I am in my happy place…
I curl myself up against the rocky wall, eyes peeled apart so long that they turned drier by the second. I wrap my arms around my legs, taking special comfort for my injuries, and shivered as the long chills struck my body as time slowly consumed my sanity.
I am in my happy place…
Shakily, I pull myself in tighter, hudling against the wall to block half my body from the cold I only just began to feel. Suddenly, my good old pair of jeans don’t seem so comfy any more.
It’s been hours since the last doughnut fell from the sky.
The last message had been short and curt, yet, it left me settled with the dreadfull feeling of abandonment like a tonne of bricks conking me on the head…
Wait. Sry.
Balling up my fists, I fight back the tears threatening to leak from my dry eyes. So this is what complete isolation feels like. So cut off, so abandoned, so lonely, so terrified of your outcome…
The hours drifted by, no more food fell, no drink to quench my ever growing thirst. The cool air blows away what little was left of my hydration, seeping off the saliva from my tongue, leaving me raw and dried like a prune.
I couldn’t even think about Niko. How is he? What condition is he in? Is he safe now? I just flick the bugging irritating little nickers of doubtful thoughts installed on my brain built-in to cause me a whole lot of pain and misery…
Whatever the chances of my survival are at the moment… it’s as low as the chance of a pool of clear water appearing in the middle of the floor, complete with exotic insects and birds, with little tricking jets of water spurting into the air…
My stomach rumbles and I press into it with my fist until I feel that one good punch would do
me over. I never felt so vulnerable before, in my life.
I push my head back against the wall and surpress a moan. When will be my rescue?
The coldness intensifies, the parched patch on my skins and tongue leaves me light-headed. My stomach does funny things, like I’d just jumped off a cliff and swum across the ocean, Olympic style.
The hope that had been illuminated when the first doughnut descended is now put out. Extinguished. The flicker of hope that had pushed away the doubt is now defeated, as the wave of misery crowds into what empty space my soul has to offer…
I force myself to pass out.
*****
I turn over on the cold hard ground, a piteous groaning escapes from deep within me, but I only force myself to turn over and roll closer to the wall. Pressing my body tightly, I grip onto my searing leg, trembling as each slow move sends jolts of pain flaring through my entire body.
Sweat beaded down my forehead. Still, I hug myself harder, holding onto the only piece of warmth, of humanity, in this place.
I force myself to keep my eyes pressed closed. Don’t look. Don’t open them…
I know that one look could trigger the fears. They hang in the air, drifting around me, threatening to break past the barriers of, whatever, and seep deep, deep into my soul. Terror keeps gawning at my heart, begging me to open the door and receive it, let it sink in…
But I can’t. Somehow, I know that if I open my eyes and gaze at the miserable rocky walls and it’s unsettling terror-filled silence…
I’ll go crazy. I know I will.
I will myself not to look… not to look…
*****
I’m jolted awake from my stupor-like sleep. Fire flares down my leg, and I spring up from the ground, gasping. Wildly, I grasp my leg, eyes wide in shock.
Don’t look at my internal wound… nausea digs up the roots of panic, disgust, from my inner self, dragging me down, rising up in my throat as a load of bile is just beginning to form…
The area is badly bruised up. Patches of blue from the average bruise is replaced by a horrible black patch, spreading up my thigh like some disgusting black dye.