Lark's End

by Christina Leigh Pritchard

  “It’s not safe,” Andy mumbled. “I’m going back.”

  “No!” Tahmi reached back, too late. Andy stumbled, swaying the bridge. A smelly white fog hit her in the face.

  Don’t look down. Don’t look down.

  Don’t look.

  Don’t look. Don’t look.

  “I don’t know what to do!” Andy shouted.

  “Get up and come back over to me.”

  “I can’t,” he cried. “I’m afraid I’ll look down.”

  She couldn’t turn around or look over her shoulder at him. If she did she might see what was below them. They’d both be dead for sure then.

  “Please, help me, Tahmi!”

  Tahmi held onto the rope. She stepped backwards, feeling for each plank with her feet.

  “I have to take my shoes off.”

  “Why?”

  “Cause, I can’t feel my footing that well. I dunno. Who cares?”

  “I do,” Andy cried now. “The boards are bending under me really bad.”

  The bridge swayed like a swing. It just wasn’t a very fun swing.

  “Okay, I’m right here. All you gotta do is use my body to climb up.”

  Andy shook his head. “I’m not moving.”

  “Are you serious? You’re gonna die, then.”

  “What’dya mean?”

  “I’m not gonna stand here all day while you cry about being scared. Just do it or else I’m outta here. I’ll leave you and tell your dad and mom that you’re a wuss.”

  “Shut up,” Andy grumbled, gripping her shirt with both hands. She could feel him tremble. “I’m no wuss.”

  “Prove it.”

  The bridge swayed higher and faster as he climbed. It was as if he were filled with lead. “Hurry up, Andy.”

  “I’m trying. It’s not as easy as it looks.”

  “The bridge is getting worse. We need to cross.”

  The ground beneath them rumbled, shaking them. The boards jiggled and their feet lifted off the planks.

  “Concentrate, Andy.”

  “Stop talking to me like I’m some baby.”

  “If you didn’t act like one then maybe I wouldn’t have to—”

  “Tahmi!”

  The planks split and like quicksand, Tahmi’s leg sunk in between. She fell over on top of Andy and the bridge rocked.

  Their bodies rolled to the edge. They screamed, looking down. There was nothing but miles of fog.

  The ground below gyrated; sending up even more fog.

  “Help me get my leg out!” Tahmi screamed. She tugged on the rope. Splintered wood gnashed into her calves. She winced with pain. “Andy!”

  Andy’s face reddened. A rush of adrenaline flowed through him. He pulled her leg with all his might. She could see the veins in his neck popping.

  Wooden planks up ahead began to disappear.

  “The rope is weakening.” Tahmi pointed to the shards of thread in her hands.

  “Okay, go,” Andy commanded. He grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her up.

  The ground shook fiercely and they couldn’t steady themselves on the remaining boards.

  “I never was good at crossing those bouncy bridges at the playground, was I?”

  “Now would be an excellent time to become a pro at it.”

  “More planks are disappearing.”

  “Run!”

  Their feet pounded against every remaining board hearing the sound of splitting wood beneath them. Up ahead just a few more feet sat a strip of land; if they could just reach it.

  “We’re gonna have to jump!”

  Andy and Tahmi screamed. The rope bridge snapped in two. She watched as it fell; disappearing beneath them. This was it.

  Their bodies flew through the air. The land was only a few feet away. Andy’s body smacked hard into the side of the earth. He stretched his hands out feeling his fingernails hit hardened dirt. He held on as his body skidded down the mound of deep, brown soil. His fingers grabbed a hold of something hard. Was it a branch? He didn’t have time to think about it because his body jerked back nearly dislocating his shoulder. Don’t look down. The urge was strong, nearly overpowering him. Where was Tahmi?

  Tahmi’s body soared through the air, her arms and legs flailing with a mind of their own. She focused on the ground below her. It was inches away. All she had to do was hit it. Her feet slammed into the dirt. She’d made it! Her body swayed. Tahmi looked down. She was on the edge—barely balancing. She swung her arms trying to keep from falling.

  The ground shifted and slipped from its place. She fell backwards. Gray and white smoke hit her in the face with great force. She was going to fall head first into the emptiness below. She could see Andy hanging onto a branch stuck in the hillside. At least he was safe.

  Tahmi’s back collided into the side of the tor. Sharp stones cut into her back and she cried out. Her body slipped passed Andy.

  “Tahmi!” He tried to catch her but missed.

  “Andy!”

  Dirt fell hitting her in the face. She swallowed some filth, gagging.

  “That’s disgusting.”

  “Hold on!”

  A voice boomed all around her. Suddenly, her body wrenched upwards. Something firm held her by the ankle. “Stop moving around already!”

  How could she stop? She was upside down leaning against a wall of dirt. Her brain beat against her skull.

  “Stop!”

  “I’m trying!”

  “I don’t want to drop you.”

  “Drop me?”

  She squirmed more.

  “Calm down!”

  “I can’t,” she cried. “I just can’t, okay?” Tears threatened to leak out onto her face.

  The voice was a him and he pulled Tahmi up slowly trying his best not to allow her body to smack into the sides of the knoll.

  Tahmi was parallel to Andy. His fingers were red and barely wrapped around the branch. She could see the veins in his face protruding. He wouldn’t fall, would he? “Grab my hand.”

  Andy shook his head. “I can’t.”

  “Take my hand, please.”

  “I don’t have enough strength to.”

  Tahmi stretched her arm out as far as she could. “Please, Andy. You’re gonna fall.”

  “Stop moving!”

  “My friend is gonna fall!”

  “Where’d you guys come from?”

  A rope fell in between Tahmi and Andy. It was thick and red. The rope was made of what looked to be cherry licorice. Was that even possible?

  “Have your friend grab onto that!”

  “Andy, do what the guy says.”

  “How do you know that he’s safe?”

  She watched two fingers slip from the branch. “Does it matter? It’s your only chance. Take it, you wuss!”

  “I can’t do it.”

  His hand slipped and his body loomed over the grayness. He accidently peeked. White gases sprayed him in the eyes—burning him. “I’m gonna die!”

  “No, you’re not!” Tahmi, still hanging upside down, swung her body left and right trying to build momentum. She grabbed Andy’s shirt, pulling herself up against him. “Grab onto me!”

  He did. He put his whole body around hers like a monkey.

  “What’s going on?” The voice hollered. “The rope can’t hold the weight of two people!”

  Tahmi reached out and grabbed the second rope. She held on, upside down. “Pull us up! I can’t hold on like this much longer!”

  Andy shook fiercely. His bottom was inches from Tahmi’s face.

  “You better not fart.”

  “What?” Andy exclaimed. “How could you think of something so dumb at a moment like this?”

  “You better not or I’ll drop you.”

  “Stop moving around. This isn’t easy for me up here!”

  “Stop shaking.”

  “My arms feel like jello.”

  “Don’t make me gag.”

  The voice pulled them up nearly to the top. “Gr
ab my hand, boy.”

  Andy raised his arm, letting the voice pull him up.

  Tahmi still hung by her leg. She kept her eyes closed—fearful of what was beneath her.

  “Okay, girl, you gotta take my hand.”

  “How am I supposed to do that?”

  “Lift your body up and grab a hold of me.”

  Tahmi couldn’t feel her leg anymore. It was numb, the circulation cut off. She tried to lift her head but a jolt of pain sliced through her stomach. There wasn’t any strength left inside her.

  “I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can! You just saved your friend’s life. This is easy. Come on, now, just lift your head up and look at me.”

  Tahmi obeyed. Her eyes opened onto light green eyes. The voice was a boy with tan skin and light brown hair that fell in his face. “I won’t let you fall.”

  She took a deep breath and with all her remaining might crunched up.

  The boy grabbed her wrist. He pulled her up, falling onto his back. She lay across him, breathless. She felt his chest heave up and down. Her hands rested on his arms. They were solid and didn’t seem like they should be on his body. He looked maybe fifteen.

  “You okay?” He smiled.

  “Oh, sorry.” Tahmi scrambled off him and then sat with her knees tucked under her chin. She caught her breath, hiding her face behind her long hair.

  “I’m Jerry.”

  She couldn’t stare at him.

  “Are you, all right?” Jerry leaned over, pushing her bangs out of her eyes. “Do you know where you are?”

  Finally, Tahmi looked.

  JERRY LANDERS

  She lifted her head and gasped.

  Pink liquid trickled down the rock above her. It fell into a stream that turned into a heart shaped lake. She’d never seen anything like it.

  Jerry followed Tahmi’s gaze. “The water tastes like pink lemonade.”

  Tahmi peered into the boy’s eyes again. They were glassy and full of life. She opened her mouth but couldn’t speak. It was as if she’d forgotten the words.

  Andy rubbed his head. He still lay flat on his back. “Where are we?”

  “This is Gadaie,” Jerry said. “You’re far from home, aren’t you?”

  Tahmi studied her surroundings. “That’s what Trusty called it.” There were funky looking fish in the lake.

  “You met Trusty?”

  She squinted, trying to get a better look at them. “Yeah, out in the orange guck.”

  “What was he doing out there? He knows better. No one is allowed to remember.”

  Tahmi glanced up. “Remember?”

  “The orange helps us remember the bad. Our crops were covered in it one day and now only fruit grows.”

  “Remember the bad?”

  “The bad memories that most of us have forgotten,” Jerry leaned in closer, inches from her face, “You look familiar. Do I know you?”

  “No.” Tahmi turned away, focusing her attention on the lake. She could see clearer now. “What’s in the lake?”

  “Merloonies,” Jerry said. He sat next to her, leaning his shoulder against hers. Her skin itched.

  “Mer what?”

  “They’re fish, I guess.”

  Andy stood over them. “What kinda place is this? It looks like something a five-year-old would dream up.”

  “This is my home,” Jerry said.

  “Andy, don’t insult him. He saved our lives.”

  “Fine, whatever; thank you, Jerry,” He folded his arms and looked away.

  “We need to find the Silver Palace. Could you take us there or show us the way?”

  “What’dya wanna go there for? The only people who live in the castle are the Queen and her daughter Teri.”

  “Trusty told us to find her,” Andy answered.

  Tahmi trembled. Jerry hadn’t sounded too happy when he mentioned the Queen. She also didn’t like the way he said daughter either. Partly because it made her wonder if this Teri was her sister and if she was—what sort of person was she?

  Jerry, still unsure who these people were, scratched his head. His eyes lit up, “Did you meet my Uncle? You can’t miss him. He always wears a sailor’s suit.”

  “Yes!” Andy hollered. “We met that creep all right.”

  “My uncle is not a creep!” Jerry retorted. “He’s the most loved person here.”

  “He tried to snatch us in the woods by my house!” Tahmi yelled. She stood on her feet. “Then he sent some pink vortex that your people call the death cloud after us.”

  “Still think he’s not a creep?” Andy sneered, taking a stand next to Tahmi.

  Jerry’s face burned and he inched closer. He knew when he was being challenged.

  “Where is your uncle anyway?” Tahmi asked.

  Jerry turned his attention to her. “Who knows, I can never find that old guy.” Jerry said. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to your Queen.”

  “She’s not my queen,” Andy muttered under his breath. “This ain’t my world either.”

  “How do we get there, anyway?”

  Jerry pointed down at his feet. They were on a purple path. It went straight ahead and in the very far distance ended at the most exquisite Silver Palace.

  “This is like in that old, old book—”

  “Yeah, the one we read when we were five.”

  “Or that you read to me.” Andy blushed.

  “Are you ready?” Jerry stood in the middle of the path, “I need to get some things done today.”

  Tahmi swallowed. He was going to leave them?

  They walked past egg-shaped houses and trees made of pencils and green construction paper. Creatures with robot heads and human arms came out of the houses. Some were jumping up from the pink water and they had fish tails instead of legs. Those Tahmi figured were the Merloonies. Others seemed to be riding a unicycle, a couple had bird feet and some tails like a snake and they hung upside down from the pencil trees.

  “Those are the Loonies.” Jerry smiled at their confused looks. “There’re all sorts of them.” Jerry pointed at a street sign. “You’re in Loonyville. You’re about to see Candy Lane. It’s pretty cool.”

  The trees changed from pencils to licorice trucks and paper to green gumdrop leaves. Every house, fence, road, etc. was made out of candy. The chocolate graham cracker roads had some potholes but instead of muddy water it was filled with chocolate syrup. The egg-shaped homes looked like malt balls and the fences—well, they were definitely candy canes.

  “What in the world?” Andy exclaimed. “This place is different.”

  The loonies in Candy Lane had pretty blond hair and rosy cheeks but instead of two hands they had one. The other arm had a cooking tool in the place of a hand.

  “You still haven’t told me your names.” Jerry fixed his eyes on Tahmi. “Or told me where you’re from; must be from Earth. That’s the only place my uncle can go at will.”

  Tahmi swallowed.

  Up ahead she saw something that made her skin crawl.

  CANDY LANE

  “What are you looking at?” Andy waved his hand in Tahmi’s face. It was as if his friend was in a trance.

  Andy and Jerry followed Tahmi’s gaze.

  That’s when they saw her.

  She was a tall, white cat in a pink sundress. She stood on a chocolate bar pulling what looked like taffy.

  “Stupid crap,” she grumbled. She lost her grip and fell backwards. Her furry paws dripped chocolate. “Now I’ve got chocolate all over my new dress!”

  “The cat!” Tahmi, finally able to speak, “Look, Andy, it’s the cat!”

  “Impossible,” Andy said. He shook his head. “I gotta be dreaming.”

  Jerry shifted his gaze from the freckle faced boy having what looked to be a nervous breakdown and then back to the girl with glassy eyes.

  Tahmi ran through the cat’s yard of green sprinkles and skidded into the chocolate bar.

  What would she say? Would this cat remember her? She was just a baby a
fter all.

  Something about the cat took away all her nervousness. She had soft eyes; familiar eyes.

  “Hi, I’m Tahmi. I had a dream, well actually, it was a horrible nightmare, but that’s beside the point. I dreamed and you were in it!” She took a deep breath.

  The cat’s yellow eyes grew wide. “Tahmi?” She whispered. Her chocolaty paw touched the girl’s face. The cat searched her face, trying to remember something. “Oh, honey! It is you!”

  The cat jumped on Tahmi squeezing her tight. Her fur was so soft and it buried Tahmi. “I can’t breathe.” She mumbled.

  The cat purred and tossed the girl over her back. “I have to tell Mr. Owl. He’ll totally blow up with jealousy when he finds out that I, Missy Angelou Baker, met Tahmelia Andrews first before him. Ha ha ha old geezer,” Missy babbled on.

  “Tahmelia?” Jerry stammered, “You’re the princess!”

  “I’m not!” Tahmi protested bouncing against the cat’s back. “Put me down!”

  Missy carried Tahmi across a field of twizzlers and over a cookie bridge. Andy and Jerry chased after them.

  “Stop!”

  “Wait!”

  “Oh, I’m so excited!” Missy giggled. Tahmi’s body vibrated. The cat purred. “Happy day; happy, happy day!”

  “Missy, I think the princess can walk,” Jerry decided. He ran up besides the cat breathless and red. He tugged on Tahmi’s arms. This only slowed the cat some. “She’s not a little baby anymore.”

  “Yes, she is.” Andy goofed. “She still sleeps with her parents sometimes.”

  Tahmi rolled her eyes at him.

  Her body banged against the cat’s back making her nauseous. Even though she felt like she was going to throw up it didn’t bother her. Her mind raced. Everyone kept calling her a princess. She was just an ordinary girl from Florida, right?

  “Why did you call me Princess Tahmelia?”

  She brushed chocolate off her blue shirt. It was a designer brand too. Her mother was going to flip when she saw what happened to it. Donna. Her mother. “How do I get home?”

  Missy stopped in the middle of a confetti field. She let the girl slip from her shoulders. Tahmi fell into paper pieces. They flew around her creating a rainbow of colorful specks. Some landed in her hair and she thought of her father; Charles. Last month he threw her a surprise party because she aced all her classes. He’d tossed sparkly confetti shaped liked graduation hats at her.