Chapter 17: A Good Time in Hell

Although I can’t look back, the scuffling of Blue’s footsteps is enough to reassure me that he’s keeping up. I can’t stop. I learned yesterday that if I waste even a moment, I might not get there in time to save somebody.

Hearing leaves rustling, I quickly halt and put my hand up. Blue lightly bumps into me, and I look back at him, bringing a finger to my lips. Not daring to utter a word, we make absolutely no noise. And then, the slightest of sounds comes from beyond the bushes to our right.

Rstle, Rstle, Rstle.

Examining the bushes, I notice a narrow space we can crawl under. I gesture toward it and go down on all fours to minimize the noise I make as I crawl up to it. Working my way around these thick, bulky stems as I inch forward, dirt and mud smear onto my legs. Only breathing in and out through my nose, I pick up on muffled shrieking ahead of us as I reach the other side.

Quickly pressing the back of my hand against my mouth, I sit up a little to gain a better viewing angle of what’s ahead of us. And that’s when I see her… Grace is gagged and firmly bound against a tree with rope. Noticing that one of her shoes is missing, there's also blood trickling down from her knee. However, besides being tied up and having that cut, it looks like Grace hasn’t been harmed severely yet by whatever captured her.

As Blue crawls up next to me, I tilt my head toward the shoe, and he nods a few times.

I whisper, "It looks like the same thing… the same thing I saw with Flora…"

Feverishly thrashing her body back and forth, Grace struggles to break free. But her efforts are for naught; the ropes don’t budge even an inch.

"We have to go help her… now…" says Blue.

"Wait. Not yet."

Blue angrily whispers back as he puts his hand out in front of him, directed toward Grace, "What do you mean not yet? She's right there! Let's untie her and get the hell out of here!"

I quickly cover Blue's mouth and whisper, "Firstly, shut up, you're being too loud. Secondly... who do you think tied those ropes around her to begin with?!"

Blue shakes his head as if to say, 'I don't know.'

"Third and most importantly…we still have a bit of time. For now, at least, she’s okay, so we can't rush in without a plan. Just be quiet, stay hidden, and listen."

Blue glares at me, but his eyes express that he understands. Lowering my hand off Blue’s mouth, I fix my attention on Grace, who struggles to free herself. After a few more seconds, she stops, grimacing as tears travel down her cheek.

Catching her breath and mustering more energy, Grace is about to try wiggling herself free again as she hears rustling bushes. Terrified, her eyes lock on toward where she heard the rustling.

And that’s when she sees Blue running right toward her. Grace starts violently shaking her head as he draws near, wielding a sword in one arm. As Blue slows down, he carefully approaches her, looking around to make sure he’s in the clear.

"Don't worry, you'll be okay, just stay calm,” says Blue. “I'm going to cut through the ropes so you can break free. Then we run."

Blue ungags Grace, and she instantly starts gasping for air. With saliva spilling out the side of her mouth, she hastily warns Blue as soon as she can speak.

"Get out of here! Run! Now! Don't worry about me! Just get as far away as you can before–"

Confused, Blue tries to cut the ropes around Grace with his sword, "What are you talking about? Come on, we have to get you out of here."

CRACKKKK.

Hearing that sound while Blue cuts through the ropes, I’m on high alert.

What was that? That idiot, what has he done? Think, look, there has to be something.

Still residing idly by in the bushes, a wave of fear washes over me as I struggle to locate the source of the sound. After a few more seconds, I notice a slight glimmer in the air. And then I see a nearly invisible wire that has been broken. My eyes widen as I look back toward Blue and Grace.

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It is a trap!

Shifting my attention back to the wire, I follow the thread to try and find where it originates. That’s when I notice that it wraps around the base of a tree trunk, which connects to a chain on the very back of it. The chain then flows up the back of a tree before eventually flattening itself out on the underside of a tree branch, a gear and trigger now in place. The chain spiraled around the branch, connecting to a giant net stuffed with boulders suspended in the air. This concoction is so high that we could have never noticed it without following the wire.

And just below this large contraption stands Blue as he continues his lamentable effort at freeing Grace. Without thinking, I bolt out of my safe spot and sprint toward Blue and Grace.

Damn it!

Blue glances over at me, "Ace, I'm almost done! What's wrong–"

I throw my arm out to the side, "Blue! Get out of there!"

TICK!

As Blue looks up, he sees a shower of boulders falling toward him, the sky no longer there. His legs shaking with fear, he’s unable to move.

Diving toward Blue, I push him out of the way with one hand to save him. I grit my teeth and feel a sweaty hand grab onto one of my wrists. Blue bellows as he pulls my body toward him. As I fly overtop Blue, I rotate my body upward to see a monsoon of boulders just seconds away from impact.

We aren't going to make it! Damn it! All we need is just a few more seconds!

I then feel two hands grab onto my stomach and throw me out of danger.

Blue…!

As my body tumbles onto the ground, I shift the impact force to my calves and bounce back upward. Gaping at the devastating sight before me, Blue seems to be floating just a few inches off the ground as the first boulder strikes the ground.

What the hell were you thinking?! You won't be able to get out of there in time now!!

The boulders shower like hail, crashing down one after the other, and one strikes Blue in the ankle.

As Blue screams out in pain, I snap out of my momentary lapse and lunge toward him.

"Blue! Grab my hand!!"

Blue grimaces as he stares at me, forgetting about his injured ankle due to adrenaline. He tries to grab my hand, but we are just barely out of reach of one another.

Just a little more…

As our fingers graze for a split second, I use that opportunity to latch my index finger around his and pull him toward me. Not wasting even a second, I quickly adjust my hands to grab Blue's arms. Now latching onto his wrists, I hurl him over my head and out of danger as my sword falls to the ground.

As Blue is about to land face-first into the ground, he can bear the brunt of the impact by shielding himself with his arms. He tumbles a few times before he rolls to a stop, lying on his back with his face to the sky.

After checking on Blue, I see fewer boulders falling and dust quickly spreading around the premises. The ground rumbles, and it sounds like fireworks are going off as the boulders still falling collide with those already on the ground. They form a large pile, and the final boulders soon trickle out of the net and get deflected off the very top, tumbling down the sides. Fortunately, none bounce in our direction, and as the pile of boulders slowly ceases their rumbling, I stare at them as they level out, gradually dragging themselves toward us before stopping just a few feet away.

Exhausted, I drop my head, panting. Sitting there for a few seconds, I catch my breath as my mind tries to relax after the chaos that just ensued. But then, my ears pick up on a quieter sound, similar to the muffled screaming from earlier. I look up to see a boulder spilling off the top of the pile, bouncing directly toward me.

Move! You have to move Ace!

With adrenaline still coursing through my veins, I muster the strength to roll myself out of the way just in the nick of time. I hear the boulder bounce away behind me, my muscles completely worn out.

That better have been the last one…

After a few more seconds, I get a better look at Blue and can immediately tell he is seriously injured. Besides his breathing, his entire body seems paralyzed, probably shutting down on itself. One arm in front of the other, I start inching my way over.

"Blue, are you okay…? Blue… respond… I need to know if you're still with me."

Grimacing from the pain in his ankle, Blue turns his body away from me and clutches it.

He gasps, "I'm– I'm here, what… about you? Are you okay?"

Glancing toward the pile of boulders, I reply, "By some miracle, I'm okay too."

Turning back toward Blue, I realize he's clutching his ankle.

"Blue, were you hit?! What happened to your ankle?!" I ask, crawling over.

Blue starts chuckling through the wheezing pain, "You dumbass, what does it look like?"

Dropping my gaze to the ground with a quick laugh, sweat drips off my face as I exhale in relief. He got hurt, but at least he's okay enough to crack a joke. Collapsing, I roll over onto my back, both of us puffing in erratic rhythms.

CAW!

Opening my eyes and seeing three crows circling above us, I recall Flora’s last words, and my brows raise. Glancing over at Blue, who hasn’t stopped moaning for the last minute, I click my tongue in annoyance.

I don't think Blue will be able to run with that ankle…

The sound of footsteps then heightens my alertness, each step booming into my eardrums like cannons as a single thought arises.

Something is coming.

Lifting my head, I spot a shadowy figure walking toward us through the dusty smoke. A deep voice then utters, his tone striking fear into the depths of my being.

"Well kiddos… you having a good time in hell?"