by Gwynn White
Cullen paused, glanced back.
Ehli followed his gaze, realizing too late that in her concentration on the tree, she'd let go of the people behind her.
Maras fled the forest as though escaping a fire. Six, eight, nine! Ehli almost pissed herself. Holding it in, she had a flippant second of assessing which one to try and stop first, feared it wouldn't matter, knew it wouldn't, and didn't have a better plan than to jump backwards to a less painful death than teeth and claw.
The mara headed for her closed to within two strides. It tugged on the rock with the strength of a falling boulder daring anything to stop it.
A flash of memories surged through Ehli, of the failed snake attempt, when she'd succeeded, of when she parted the ants, and when she took over the reject. Too much information. One stride left. The mara lowered for the final pounce.
Then Ehli thought of Emmit and how he'd hurt Cullen before he'd been anywhere near him, of how they couldn't touch each other. The conclusion drove strength into her legs as she clenched her fists.
The mara kneaded its front paws, then leapt.
Ehli screamed and stared into the tiger's blue eyes, wishing fire to spew from her lungs and lightning to erupt. Bright blue light rose from inside the mara's throat. In the half second between lift off and its swiping claw reaching Ehli's face, the mara's white and black striped coat became a sun of blue rays.
And exploded in her face.
Ehli flew off her feet like a flicked bug, her body light as air and floating backward too quickly for the heat on her face to touch the rest of her body. She rotated, and saw that she was soaring too far to hope for a landing this side of the chasm. She wasn't even on a trajectory to hit the tree. She'd played with fire and lost. Her speed overwhelmed her ability to think of anything other than the fall.
Cullen!
Ehli's cry made his brain cringe and he shot high, the blue laser beam soaring into the forest instead of hitting and stopping the mara. Cullen held the trigger down, lowered his aim and fired blind as he turned to see Ehli.
The sight of her sprawling arms and body flying over the edge of the chasm almost froze him in his steps. The idea that came to mind hatched a few seconds too late, but he tried anyway. He clipped off his rifle, dropping it beneath his feet as he lowered his shoulder and rammed the tree in a crook between branch and trunk. His charging legs pushed the tree in a sweep left, pulling every bit of burn his thighs had to give to get the tree top to intercept Ehli's fall.
A claw dug into his chest from behind, and ripped him off the tree in a roll that sent him on his back with a mara sliding underneath him. The claw cut through his suit, and warm blood soaked the shirt underneath. It's grip, and the seizing of muscles around it, made the mara's hold too great to break from.
The tree jerked forward, and something snapped near its top.
Cullen saw the second paw swing at his face, claws extended. He ducked left, and the razor-sharp claws scraped over his head. The pain made him bleed in his soul, melting him down to a child or a bowl of soup or a puddle of piss. In his delirium, he somehow found the hilt of his knife, unsheathed it and swung the blade upward. It buried in something, and the furry mass of muscle under him snapped and whipped out, hard and fast enough that it knocked him free and flipped him side over side.
"Cullen! Help."
He smashed his forehead into a rock. He slid on his stomach as the blow rocked his head back. Ehli wanted his help when he hardly knew where he was? He slid to a halt. Every centimeter of movement stretched pain down his chest and over his scalp. Blood wet his ear. But he made it up.
Four maras growled in a half circle around him, hunched down with their front legs lowered, their back ends high, and their tails charging electric blue in bright bulbs at their tips.
Crack!
Cullen turned to see the tree slide closer to the edge. Its top end had snapped and held on by rope-like tendrils. He ran to the cliff edge, dug in his heel, and pushed back against the tree's progress over the edge, slowing it only a little. Ehli held on to a branch as thin as her arm. That she hadn't fallen into the dark pit below astonished him. The tree kept sinking, forcing him to let go and choose a better groove in the wood to push against. His chest and head wounds screamed at the exertion. He needed more weight to stop the tree. His rifle lay on the ground, but shooting another tree wasn't a quick enough solution, even if he could pull it over without the snarling maras in his way.
Four heavy maras. Ehli, can you get them to jump on the tree?
"It's taking all I have keeping them from killing you. If I don't make it—"
No. Keep your focus. Don't give up. Cullen lifted his hand as a snapped branch scratched down his palm and wrist as the tree slid farther over the edge. Actually, its end point, where the top half hung, was a little more than halfway across the chasm. An idea spawned.
He dropped his backpack, retreated to his rifle, twisted it around and fired through a branch about twice his length. The smell of burning wood coursed through his nostrils, making the streams of blood dripping off his brows itch. He leapt over the tree and picked up the branch. The tree slid forward. Not more than one or two meters, and its balance would tip over the edge.
He hefted the branch over his shoulders, screaming as the gash in his chest lit like fire. He took the base of the branch in his right palm, ran toward the edge, and cast it as high and far as his strength could manage.
The branch wobbled, then spun under a sudden gust of wind, but clacked and scraped over the rock on the other side. Next, he picked up the backpack with the serums for Schaefer and whipped that clear to the other side. It's hard landing made him cringe, but he'd had no other choice. Hopefully the vials were still intact.
Now it's my turn. Hold on Ehli.
"Hurry."
Cullen climbed onto the tree and let out a weak laugh at the ridiculous odds in front of him. Steeling himself, he ran with careful steps along the ridges and over the branches. As he neared the edge of the cliff, one high step over a branch caused his balance to sway. He stretched and caught a branch to right his steps, the pain in his chest fueling him forward with a grunt. Two quick steps later, the tree tipping forward, he leapt for the impossible.
He rose over the chasm and its endless reach down into shadow. Unfortunately, the distance between himself and the other side surpassed his trajectory and momentum. Well, that was dumb. His stomach clenched into his spine as, with silent prayers, he forced his eyes forward. A gust of wind flew up his face, carrying dust and debris that made him squint.
Then a hot thermal lifted his backside, throwing his feet over his head as it cast him toward the ledge. He'd make it! As his body rotated, he forced a twist to get his feet under him right before he hit the ledge. His landing sacrificed grace for survival, and with another friendly reminder from his chest and head wounds, he rounded up the strength to hustle to the branch, wiping his eyes clear as he did so.
"Cullen?" Ehli cried out.
Coming! He exerted everything he had to get the branch lifted and headed toward the cliff, growling as the wood's weight forced him to use his left arm. His head spun, and the blood dripping over his ear was now a constant dribble on his neck.
He half fell, half dropped to his knees once he reached the cliff. As he dangled the branch down to Ehli, who hung with both hands clasped around a groove between trunk and branch, the weight of the branch he extended created serious doubt that her full weight wouldn't pull them both over into a death too embarrassing to keep his eyes open for. I apologize in advance if this plan's ripped.
"Just lower it. I have a plan too."
32
Ehli's arms and fingers begged for her to relax and let the inevitable have its way. The maras and rejects pulsing anger into her restraint only added to her fatigue.
Cullen's branch edged closer, and she located a hook in the wood to which she could switch her grasp.
Okay, when I grab ahold, I need you to pull back. Don't think about p
ain, only progress and getting me up over the ledge.
"All right. Let's do—"
Ehli released her sweaty grip on one branch and swung over in complete faith to hang on to Cullen's. The branch dropped a meter as she landed, convincing her that he was coming over the ledge with her, but in the adrenaline of the moment, she found his mind, his muscle and his will. And bolstered it.
She put her will and strength into his and took on the pain that tore at his chest and stretched agony across his skull. She screamed, but in her scream, she fed further strength into his muscles.
And she rose.
By the time she scraped her knees on the ledge above and let her body collapse, her head hurt as bad as if it were under the mountain she rested on.
"Mom, don't let go."
Emmit.
"The maras, the rejects. I can't."
Rubber slid on rock. Cullen's boot. His hand. She reached and he grabbed, helping her to her feet. Using his strength, she moved them both away from the cliff edge. The large boulder blocking the path to their left had a small gap between it and the ground. Cullen stumbled as he led her to it. His hand in hers helped her to bolster the wall Emmit held up to keep the maras and rejects on the other side.
"It's too far," said one reject, followed by, "We'll catch you," and, "I'm going straight for your son."
Like Void you will, Ehli responded.
Cullen eased her low enough to crawl, and she went through the hole first. As she did, she felt his hand fall and saw him collapse onto his hip, stopping his head from hitting the boulder, but just barely. She grabbed his arm and pulled.
"Agh."
She stopped. His bad arm. Beyond him, on the edge of the far cliff, a mara charged its tail. She pushed into that direction, but her abilities couldn't stretch that far. The mara was outside of her control. "Come on."
Cullen's eyes rolled toward her, but didn't lock on anything. Blood stained the right side of his face as a new stream dribbled over the old.
She fed her strength and will into him, but had to release the wall. As she forced him to twist and crawl into the hole, several mara tails brightened and rose.
The first bright shot of blue flung her way. She grabbed hold of Cullen's belt and shoved him through the hole, his backpack scraping on the rock ceiling. A loud boom shook the ground as dust and rock chips exploded through the hole. Ehli fought through vertigo as she stood, and Cullen managed own legs to ease the burden on her.
The blue bird was waiting on one of the trees at the entrance to the jungle on their right.
"Mom, hurry. They're too much for me."
Where are you?
"With Dad and Sara. Getting ready to leave. I told him I'm not going without you."
Schaefer! What are you doing? She and Cullen ran hand in hand into the jungle. The slight incline made her cringe. Her mouth was as dry as a cotton bud, but she didn't have time to stop or let go of Cullen.
"We're waiting, but I'm getting the boy ready. I'm sorry I don't have the time or manpower to come get you."
His reputation of time selfishness made her doubt that. She'd survived thus far no thanks to him.
Ehli had to slow to climb over a fallen tree. Getting him ready for what? Cullen was in worse shape than she, so when she got over, she helped him. You know the maras and rejects are free? If we have to go much farther, and they find a way over the chasm, we won't make it.
"I'm doing everything I can, Ehli. Fel Or'an was laid under siege. I only have a few soldiers left, and they're busy holding off our west entrance. I showed you the back-way in. You're not far, but we don't have much time before they break through."
"We'll make it," Cullen said, and looking at Ehli, said out loud, "Keep your strength for holding back those behind us. There's nothing he can say now that can help us."
The bird soared through the space between trees. This section of the jungle, cut off from the rest of the jungle by the rock wall behind them, was thinner and easier to navigate. Still, she hoped it wasn't far.
Emmit waited in the command center his dad had shown him in the neuronet. He sat at one of the chairs in front of black screens and action screens his dad had told him not to touch. "I'll be back in a few minutes," he'd told Emmit at least fifteen minutes ago. "Don't reach out to your mom," he'd added from the doorway. "Trust me. She made it across. She'll be fine making it in. Plus, you'll need your strength."
Emmit took a drink from the vitamin C juice his father had left him, and ate a bite from a peanut butter-flavored energy bar. The chair squeaked as he fidgeted. Dy took its trademark slow steps on the counter of the action screen in front of him. One of his friends had made it this far. The ache of Adi's loss felt like it would hang from his bones for as long as his spirit held them up. How did I crack up so bad that I lost you, Adi? I'm so sorry.
"Is this where you've been hiding?" Adi's voice sounded so real, it was as if he'd never died.
Something tapped on stone behind him. Emmit spun his chair so quickly he had to drag his foot to bring it back to face Adi in the doorway.
Adi ran in as Emmit stumbled out of the chair. The punch of their hug rocked Emmit in the ribs, but he didn't care, and squeezed his friend tight enough to make them one. "How's this possible?" Sobs shook Emmit. He pushed Adi back to look him in the eyes, then held his face, shocked that the flesh was real. Dad!
Adi cringed, stepped back, and put a hand to his head. "Ouch, Emmit. Not so loud."
"I saw you die." Emmit fought between ecstasy and anger. Someone had lied to him, but in the presence of his living best friend, it was hard to stay mad.
"I'm the one to blame." Sara walked into the doorway, contrite as she folded her hands at her waist.
"You? How?"
His mind shared a new memory of the woods in that moment when the reject he'd killed did not die. He handed Emmit the spear while Adi stood beside him.
"Emmit," Sara had called, and then tossed him the injection stick.
He saw the scene move on from her vantage, with him running for her while the reject helping Adi jogged a different way.
The scene ended, and left Emmit feeling alone and bewildered.
What? "Why would you do that? How did you do that?"
"Well," she began, lifting a grin that exposed her charm. "I kept a few secrets of my own," she parted her hands and walked toward Emmit. "Including one that no one else knew, including your father."
She raised a slow hand to rest on his face.
He wanted to move, swipe it away, but the will to move failed to reach his body. Her touch landed on his temple like the kiss they'd never share, soothing him with a gentle direction of how their relationship would be. She was stronger, though not an enemy, and any feelings he had for her were not reciprocated.
"I too am an ultra." Her lips moved only in a smile, one that reminded them of their friendship. "I had to get Adi to safety, but you had to stay."
So you let me think he died? His anger pushed against the bond of their friendship.
"It was both of our ideas," his dad said as he walked in, a handheld device shining from his palm. He wore a sad expression, and lowered the device to his side as he approached Emmit. "The lies are over from here on, I promise."
The betrayal hammered Emmit from every direction, as if they'd each shoved swords into his gut. "And how am I supposed to believe that?"
His dad shrugged. "Because now that you're here, and have seen the power you're capable of... that could only have happened by following exactly the plan that I—we," he said, glancing at Sara with a smile, "—prepared. Sara surprised me with the news that she'd given herself ultra-treatment for the last two years, and that it had worked. In telling me that, she shared that she had a reject on the inside of Willo's gang. Willo's real name is Oniz, but it doesn't matter. I knew who you were talking to. Sara's man on the inside offered us a chance to save Adi's life while we needed you to hone your skills."
Emmit thought of how he'd grown since Adi's "de
ath." He'd fought maras, found the bird that led them here, and helped the three of them, Sprinkles included, cross the chasm.
"Exactly," Sara said.
Adi looked sad, but didn't say anything as Emmit glanced his way. He'd played a part in this lie too, but again, they'd all made it here. His dad had been right.
"This is only the beginning of our journey, Son." He lifted the handheld, and showed Emmit a picture of his statue. He tapped the base and zoomed to a paragraph of Versteg symbols carved into the stone. They translated in his mind:
"When son unites with father, together they will carry their people into the new era, one of ultras, and the discovery that will bridge the generations to burn away the infestation. In that time, the old will meet the new."
Emmit looked up at his father in wonder. "How…"
"The Father of the Ancients guides those who follow." His father shrugged and lowered the device. "This is only one discovery of many that have bolstered my faith since I had the pleasure of seeing you last. It's helped me keep going. Gave me hope I might see you again. And now we're together. Your mom and the captain are almost here. I only need to press one button to link up with Adi's father. But we need to do that from our ship, and we have to leave soon after."
"Emmit!" his mom called into his head. He saw through her eyes as they closed in on the stone structure mostly covered in vines and eroded pinnacles. She followed the bird into one of the dark entryways, stepping over loose stone steps. "We're here. Cullen's injured."
Emmit relayed the info to the group, but they were already moving for the door, Adi following their lead. Emmit went back for Dy, hustling to catch back up as they jogged down the hall.
"She's right," Sara said. "His head injury is bad. Getting his memory may be difficult."
Emmit thought about that, and what role Cullen played if they were going to "get" his memory.