Chapter 45: Head Start

THUMP! BOOM! THUMP! BOOM!

As daunting oval-shaped shadows drew nearer, Falcon couldn't help but enter a frenzied panic at their terrifying circumstances.

“What do we do, Forest?!”

“Shit! Like I’d know! Just don’t stop running!”

Their hearts pounding, their bodies racing, the three guys are mere seconds away from meeting on the valley floor. Time is running out, but Hunter recalls something crucial as he shifts his course despite their inability to think clearly.

“The walls! We need to climb the vines up the wall!”

As if he was given an order, Falcon immediately pushes himself off to the side to go meet Hunter. Forest follows suit but can’t help but question the possibility of survival with the tremendously difficult task ahead of them.

Climb this?! I know Falcon won’t have any issues, but Hunter and I are average at best. We will manage for at least a short while, but our situation is drastically different than when Falc climbed up before. The wall looks almost double the height, and that’s not even considering all of the shifted pathways and the valley we are trapped in now. Our adrenaline will push us beyond our normal capabilities, but the worst part is that we-

“Forest, what the hell are you doing taking your sweet ass time?! Get your ass over here! It’s the only way, or you’re dead! I’m not waiting any longer!” screams Hunter.

Heaving a grunt, Forest catches back up to Falcon, who’s unable to move at his top speed due to his injuries.

TICK! TICK! TICK!

Damn it! The compartments have already fully opened?!

Another three arrows fire.

“Hug the wall! Hug the wall now, Falc!”

Lunging himself to the wall, Forest narrowly dodges two arrows that whistle by.

Those were faster than before! Is it possible for them to increase their projectile speed? Damn it, we will be sitting ducks before long. Wait, where’s Falc? He was just by my side, did he…?

The first two things Forest noticed were the blood spilling onto the ground and the back end of an arrow sticking out of Falcon’s right calf.

What- was I hit? Oh… it was an arrow. An arrow…

“Falc! Come on!! You can make it!!” yells Forest

Groaning in pain as he put one foot in front of the other, each step was an agonizing tremor of searing pain as Falcon pressed on, fighting the urge to pass out.

I- I must live… for them…

His body giving out, Falcon falls to his knees before timbering to the ground.

“Falcon!!!” screams Forest, his voice cracking.

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Immediately turning back, Forest picks Falcon up.

RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE.

The boulders are almost on top of us! What a sick joke! Is seeing us scramble with all our might to avoid death entertaining for you?!

Hunter then calls out, “Get over here! We need to start climbing!!”

Carrying Falcon in his arms, Forest’s legs begin quivering as he shuffles toward Hunter. Another arrow fizzes by just inches in front of him.

That arrow was just as fast, but because we’re moving so much slower, it seems he hasn’t had the chance to adjust his accuracy. This might be our only chance.

Recognizing that Forest is clearly struggling, Hunter grits his teeth as he decides to go help. Falcon’s eyes flutter as he groans, his willpower keeping him conscious. After meeting them, Hunter slaps Falcon across the face.

“Wake up, Falcon! You can crumble in pain later! Right now, you need to climb! I’m sure you already know this, but we can’t help you up the wall! So if you want to live, climb!”

Nodding weakly, Falcon slightly opens his eyes as Forest sets him down on the ground.

Forest grinned, his chin dripping with some blood, “You chalk yourself to being a quick climber, but I’m not convinced. Let’s race. The winner gets the others’ food rations for the next two days.”

Falcon smirked confidently as he coughed up blood, “You’re on. Don’t come complaining when you get hungry, though.”

While Forest and Falcon challenge one another, Hunter has already begun to shimmy up the wall. The tip of the sword pokes out at the top of the backpack he’s carrying, but its movement has been restricted by the tightly closed zipper on either side.

After testing the strength of a vine, Forest began his ascent, “No clue how you do this so easily, but it looks like it’ll be fun. Remember our deal, you owe me some food if I beat you to the top!”

Falcon laughs and then grimaces, reaching for a vine, “You’re just lucky… I’m nice enough… to give you a head start.”

Even injured, Falcon’s natural expertise allowed him to keep a steady pace and even slowly gain on Forest.

“You two alright down there?!” asks Hunter.

“Both of us are climbing now if that's what you want to know!”

Not daring to look down or stop, Hunter smiles in relief.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

As alert and responsive as always, Forest catches sight of the boulders that were once rolling down either side of the valley, now striking one another, some breaking on impact.

Wow. We managed to start climbing in the nick of time.

Lifting himself up again, Forest’s foot slips on the new foothold he attempted to rest on. His upper body strength is tested as he clutches to the vines, biceps flexing as he pulls himself back to the wall with all his might to save himself from certain death.

After Forest finds new footholds, Falcon advises, “Relax your muscles, your breathing, your mind. It’s just you and these vines. Nothing else.”

With a reassuring tone coming from just a few feet below him, Forest smiles, gathers himself, and then resumes mounting the colossal wall. And that’s when he noticed they had already climbed halfway to the top.

With the skin on his hand starting to break apart, Hunter slaps an arm down at the very top of the wall, groaning as he hauls himself up and over.

“I… I made… it.”

Panting, he rolls back and looks over the edge to check on the others.

Forest is almost to the top, and it looks like Falc isn’t too far behind. Even with that arrow in his leg, he's still doing it. What a badass.

Checking how much further there is to go, Forest’s eyes meet Hunter’s. Offering his hand to Forest to help him up, an arrow suddenly rifles itself in between their two hands, making them both pull away. The sweltering emotions of shock and fear resurface on both faces, snapping them out of their momentary trance.

And then, another arrow whizzes into the wall on Forest’s right, marginally missing him.

How could I forget about the arrows?! I was so focused on climbing that I wasn’t paying attention to the sounds! The compartment on the wall directly behind us must’ve opened up as we were climbing, and the nonstop collisions of the boulders beneath must’ve drowned out the sound! This isn’t good… Falc! Is he okay?!

BOOM! CRACK! BOOM! CNCHH!

As sounds comparable to fireworks echoed throughout the maze during their climb, the dust that had once settled had expanded into the sky. As Forest glanced down to check on Falcon, his eyes only met a wave of dust, and he saw no sign of his friend.