Whumptober+ Short Stories - Volume 2

Prompt 12 - "Don't move."

The sound of his young companion's fearful scream coming from behind him made Buck stop and spin around. "Xander, what....?" He started to ask, then stopped, as the boy was in no position to answer anyway. Having tripped over one of the larger stones that lay scattered along the thin path, Xander had slid off the top of the ridge they had been using as a trail and landed on a thin ridge that jutted out of the side of the precipice. Had there not been a ravine beneath said ledge, Buck probably wouldn't have panicked.

Not as much, anyway.

"Buck!" Xander screamed frantically, scrambling back from the side of the ledge as his friend ran to the cliff-edge. Buck's alarm increased when he saw the edge of said ledge crumble away from the disruption caused by the boy's shoes. "Xander! Don't move!" He yelled, the warning tone in his voice catching his friend's attention. Xander caught sight of the crumbling shelf-edge and froze instantly, eyes huge. "What... I'm gonna die..." He said fearfully, watching as small chunks of rock continued to break free and tumble down into the ravine. Up above on the clifftop, Buck tried to keep his eyes on his young friend as he tried to find a way to get the boy to safety. "Hey!" He called down after a moment's casting about. "Stay right where you are! I've got an idea!" Turning, he ran over to the nearest tree, knelt beside the trunk, and began fastening his rope around it. A minute later he was back up and at the edge of the cliff, preparing himself for the descent. Once ready, he took a deep breath, then started down.

From his position on the ledge, Xander watched nervously as his friend made his way towards the small outcropping. Every few seconds, Buck would call out something instructive or reassuring, but Xander couldn't focus on his words. At one point, the older boy actually lost his footing. Had he not been holding onto the cliff wall and his rope, he would have fallen for sure. As it was, Xander was practically in hysterics from fear by the time Buck reached him.

"Alright, buddy. Grab on and I'll get us back up in no time." Buck told him as he held out his hand. Determination had helped him overcome his fear of falling, and he was surprised to find himself smiling.

Then the rope snapped.

And suddenly, he was falling.

The ledge broke away completely under the impact caused by his fall, and he heard Xander scream again in terror as he, too, began to fall. Overhead, the cliffedge seemed to rise up over Buck like a massive wave coming up out of the ocean. And still, he kept falling. Falling through empty air.

Falling to his death.