Chapter 46: Just One More
CRACK! BOOM! KRNCH! BOOM!
"Falc! Where are you?!" screams Forest as he stops climbing, his hands restlessly shaking as an opaque cloud of dust draws near, swallowing everything in its path.
CHICK! CHICK! CHICK!
"Forest, grab on!!" orders Hunter, outstretching his right hand again as he hears another arrow being locked and loaded.
Quickly glancing at Hunter and then at the open compartment across the wall, Forest ensures his feet are securely in place before lunging up toward me. However, since Forest had just stopped his momentum from climbing, he made himself an easy target, and his speed and reaction time were lethargic.
Too lethargic.
SCHOOM!
As an arrow shoots out, it quickly covers the short distance across the path before striking Forest's stationary left hand. He lets out a shrill cry in agony as he grabs onto Hunter’s slick wrist. Adrenaline violently pumps through both their bodies. Forest ignores the arrow that just struck his left hand as the two solidify their grasp on one another.
Bellowing out roars as they worked off one another, Forest was using his legs to climb up the rest of the wall. At the same time, Hunter channeled all his strength into his arms and core, ensuring he wouldn't lose his balance and send them both crashing down. It didn't take too long before Forest was heaved over the top of the wall, the recoil of the pull throwing Hunter backward as a wave of dust, acting almost like a geyser, shot straight up into the sky. The dust quickly fanned out above us before disappearing into thin air.
After rolling shoulder first onto the top, Forest immediately ripped the steel arrowhead out of his left hand and tossed it behind him. While the arrow clattered away, Forest didn’t hear it at all, nor did he feel the excruciating pain in his left hand as his attention was solely focused on helping Falcon.
As Hunter stabilizes himself again on the edge, Forest frantically crawls beside him, peering down over the wall to try and locate Falcon. The dust was gone, and fortunately, Falcon was still there, his clothes filthy and covered with dirt.
Hunter reaches out his hand, sweat dripping off his face, "Come on, Falcon!! Just a little more!!"
SCHOOM!
Another arrow is sent whizzing out of the compartment and lands in between two of Hunter's fingers. Hunter's eyes wavered briefly before his resolve was reaffirmed, and he readjusted the position of his hand.
So, it seems the arrows can only shoot at what's below the ledge or target anything on the wall's surface. This means we are safe up here, but if we let any body part of ours fall over the side of the wall, it can be targeted. This is why Hunter's hand has been shot at twice now, as he purposely placed it on that side of the wall in the line of fire. So, when the three of us were all climbing, the compartment had more trouble scanning and determining which one of us should be targeted, as there were multiple in-motion targets. But now, there's only Falcon. He's the only target left.
This means that when we reach our hands out… yes, it's dangerous, especially with the compartment directly across from us... but it's actually helping Falcon.
"Falc!! Come on!!" yells Hunter as Forest places both his hands out next to Hunter’s, blood oozing out of his left hand.
Without taking his eyes off Falcon, who's still slowly climbing up, Hunter asks, "What are you doing?! Your left hand is already hurt! What if it gets shot again?!"
"That's a risk I'm willing to take. No time to explain everything, but the more targets this thing has, the better it is for Falcon. I will risk a little pain if it saves Falcon's life. Now put out your other hand!" orders Forest, and Hunter swiftly listens.
Quickly glancing up, a drop of blood splatters onto Falcon’s cheek as he sees the four hands of his friends stretched out for him. Directing his attention back to where he’s placing his feet, Falcon ensures that he won’t slip or fall with each new stride, continuing to ascend.
I'm so close… almost there. Just a few more…
SCHOOM!
Quickly flashing a look back up, an arrow had struck the center of Hunter's palm, and he let out a few swears before pulling himself back together. After tearing out the arrow and tossing it behind him, he holds both hands back out, drops of blood now dripping from his right hand, just like with Forest's left. As blood begins to dye his hair and face red, Falcon can't help but smile.
You guys…
Pushing himself up another step, Forest and Hunter shower Falcon with desperate words of encouragement. Pushing himself up another step, Falcon’s right foot slips off, causing searing pain to travel up his entire leg, but Falcon grits his teeth and quickly regains his footing.
One more…
Heaving up his entire body, Falcon reaches his right arm out to the group of hands gathered above, and he can feel our fingers fumble around each other. Using his injured right calf, an excruciating amount of pain is sent through Falcon’s entire body, causing him to scream as he pushes his body up just a little more. With his fingers locking around somebody else's, Falcon’s eyes flashed open. With the additional support, Falcon heaved himself up once more to acquire a new foothold.
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As Falcon looks up, Hunter starts laughing.
"You son of a bitch! You did it!"
As Forest repositions himself on the other side of Hunter to offer a closer reach for Falcon, Falcon’s grip on Hunter suddenly loosens, and their hands slip for a moment as he tries to pull Falcon up.
"Shit! Forest! The blood!" yells Hunter as Forest quickly lays himself back down and reaches both hands out.
"Falcon! Grab my hand! We'll lift you!"
Lunging upward and latching onto Forest's injured left hand, Falcon grimaces, but he returns Forest’s grip with one just as strong. Grabbing onto Falcon’s arm with his right hand, Forest helps lift Falcon a little more to where Hunter can safely grab on with his uninjured hand as well.
"On three, we pull with all our might," commands Forest, and Hunter nods.
"Three…" Forest starts counting as both guys get themselves in a position to lean back and pull Falcon up.
"Two,” grunts Forest as Falcon prepares himself, placing the toes of his left foot against the wall in a position where he can use his leg to push himself up.
SCHOOM!
"One!” shouts Forest as an arrow whizzes into Falcon's left forearm, causing him to scream out in pain and immediately lose his grip on Forest.
His injured arm falls back to his side, and the injured Hunter tries to haul Falcon up with all his might alone. However, he fails to do so because he no longer has Forest's additional help and strength.
SCHOOM! SCHOOM!
"Falc!!" cries Forest as two more arrows rifle into Falcon's upper back, his screaming body sent flying forward into the wall as a reaction to the arrows puncturing him.
Blood instead begins to gush out of Falcon's forehead, but his hold on Hunter's hand never wavers. Hunter, who had already used up almost every ounce of strength he had left, grimaced as his grip began to slip even more.
Forest then leans over, moving Hunter over a bit as he grabs onto Falcon's wrist with his bloody left hand, "You're not dying, Falc! We got you now!"
Coughing up blood, Falcon chuckles and looks back up, "You're right… I'm not… dying… not yet."
Placing both feet against the wall, Falcon roars with determination, battling through the extreme torment radiating in his lower body, using his feet to climb up the rest of the wall.
Hunter coaches, "That's it, Falc!! Keep going! Keep going!! Don’t stop!!"
Screaming out in agony, Falcon takes another step with his right leg while Hunter and Forest continue to hold on with every ounce of strength they can muster up.
"Just a little bit more!! Come on, Falc!! Just a few more steps!!" cries Forest, Falcon's arm covered with crimson.
"Pull harder, you bastards!" hollers Falcon, blood from his forehead flowing down his face.
Going beyond their current physical capabilities, Forest and Hunter heave Falcon up a bit more. Realizing how close Falcon was to the top, Forest continued to pull.
Just one more push, and he's at the top!
Forest keeps repeating to himself a cycle of the following, each word giving him more strength.
He's gonna make it, just one more step! One more push! Just one more!
SCHOOM!
An arrow buries itself into the bicep on Falcon's right arm.
"Shit!" mutters Hunter as he gnashes his teeth, Falcon's grip losing a significant amount of strength.
Forest glances over at the compartment.
Damn it! Falcon's a stationary target now! And everything that can be shot at is now located in one specific area! We're all just one massive target!
SCHOOM!
An arrow strikes Falcon in the back of the left thigh, and Falcon instantly loses whatever little strength he is utilizing in his lower body as he once more yells out from the excruciating pain. Forest's eyes widen as he hears multiple clicks and understands one thing… there's nothing that can be done about what's about to happen.
SCHOOM! SCHOOM! SCHOOM!
Three more arrows bury themselves into Falcon's lower back, and he immediately loses his grip with Hunter. Now, the only thing keeping Falcon from falling to his death is Forest's grasp, desperately holding onto Falcon's wrist. Forest closes his eyes for a brief moment, but his determination doesn't falter. He knows he must save Falcon. He repeatedly tells himself that there is no other option; he will save Falcon. He will save his friend.
"Don’t go down!! One more push! I know you got it in you, Falc! One more!” screams Forest, his hold slipping.
Feeling two arms wrapped around his chest, Forest immediately understands that Hunter has positioned himself behind him, ready to help by using his entire body to pull both him and Falcon up.
"We’re not letting you die, Falc!!” Hunter yells.
SCHOOM! SCHOOM! SCHOOM!
Eight arrows. That's how many there were in Falcon's back alone, not including the one in his right calf, left thigh, left forearm, and right bicep. Time at that moment then slowed, everything occurring almost as if reality itself was in slow motion.
CHICK!
Alerted by the sound, Forest notices the compartment is preparing for another series of arrows. He refocuses on Falcon, whose eyes are rolling back into his head.
CHICK!
Pushing himself beyond what should be physically possible in his fatigued state, Forest bends his elbow as he reels Falcon up just a little more, just enough to where he can be pulled up by sheer might alone. During Forest's breakthrough moment, Hunter continues to pull on Forest's chest and stomach with all of his might... and little by little, inch by inch, they are doing it. Falcon was nearly at the top.
SCHOOM!
Another arrow shoots out from the compartment, its speed far faster than what the human eye can track, but based on pure intuition, Forest could already tell where it is headed.
Implanting itself into Forest's left forearm, all strength Forest had vanished, and the grip between friends ceased to exist as Falcon is sent plunging below. Due to the force of their grasp being so quickly dissolved, Forest is sent tumbling back, rolling overtop of Hunter and almost falling over the other side of the ledge.
Not losing focus, Hunter quickly recovers from his uncomfortable position and lunges toward Forest. Snagging onto the back of Forest's shirt, it slightly tears as Hunter manages to slow Forest's momentum and save him from certain death. Without haste, both men quickly move back over toward the ledge and gape over it, where they see their friend falling toward a certain death.
"Falcon!" they both yell in unison as Falcon descends through the air, watching his friends get smaller and smaller.
BOOM! CRACK! BOOM!
The boulder's thunderous roaring below grew louder as Forest and Hunter's continuous cries got quieter.
"Forest… Hunter…" weakly utters Falcon.
As he felt wind brushing across his ravaged body, Falcon was only thinking of them. His two friends. And then, his lips curled into a genuine, heartfelt smile.
"It meant everything that you thought of me as a friend… thank you," quietly says Falcon, hoping they somehow understood or heard him.
Falcon then felt a sharp pain strike the back of his head, and everything vanished.