Brady Tyson's Walk Along the Precipice

The Things That Humans Cannot Bear - 8

The grim cave stretches out before me. I take a step into it, the handcuff dangling from my wrist clinking against the head of the ax in my hand. Even though it's just a faint sound, it echoes out, ricocheting against the rocky structures.

Tarrance walks out, stopping at my right. His fingernails scrape absentmindedly against the shining white sword in his hand. Akil stops a bit behind me to the left. From the corner of my eye I can see him clutching his book.

I turn back to see Eight step out of the doorway with rope in his hands, finally catching back up to us. He slings it over his shoulder and opens his mouth. Whatever he was going to say, he decides against it, and just runs his fingers through his bushy mustache as he nods at me to move forward.

So I move forward.

The three men follow me.

Even though it's probably just in my head (we're deep underground, after all) the air in the cave almost feels a bit more crisp now that it's morning. However, even the morning air still doesn't stand up to the mass of malevolence that awaits us in the center of the cavern. Soon enough I can feel reality being distorted around me, the fresh workout clothes I pulled from home seeming almost to pulse and breathe against my skin.

I stop, and my companions shuffle to a halt behind me. I turn back to Eight who addresses us.

"Well, you know the plan." The first words he's spoken to us all morning. "Any questions?"

There are no questions.

"Well then." Eight takes a deep breath, holding it for a moment before breathing out again. "Operation: Eien Extermination, Kansas Leg, officially commencing. Get to it, ladies."

"Here." I gesture for him to hand me the rope. He obliges. "Tarrance, Akil, if it's alright with you, I figured it might be a good idea if I'm the only one tethered back to reality. The two of you would just be tied to me. That way one of us won't be able to just bail from the operation immediately, but if two of us decide to call it off then it'll be easy enough."

Akil gulps; "If you think it's a good idea."

"I do. Plus, this is Tarrance's first time in this place. I reckon It'd be best to not just let him do his own thing."

"I am actually right next to you, believe it or not." The boy says.

I ignore him, instead choosing to begin the process of fastening the rope to the three of us. A few minutes later and with the help of other people's arms, we're all tied up. The rope around my waist splits off in three directions, two of which connect to Akil and Tarrance, the third leading back to a soldier who gives it a tug in confirmation. I nod at her, and she steps back.

"Okay." I grip the handle of my ax tighter. "Let's do this."

Ignoring the knotting of my stomach, I take a step forward. My companions follow, and we fall through the ground.

Tarrance's screams fill reality around me, and my face scrunches up as I hurtle downwards. My legs shake as they slow to a halt, once again finding the thing akin to ground in this space. Grayness looms up around me.

Turning to my left, I follow the rope attached to me for what feels like miles. But then, within seconds, I'm next to Akil. He's curled up on the 'ground.'

"Akil." I don't know what else to say.

Thankfully, he looks up; "Brady. I was waiting for so long."

"Well, I'm here now. Can you get up?"

"I think so."

I squeeze my ax under my left armpit and help the trembling man to his feet. He bends down to pick up his massive book. Realizing that he's about to fall forward, I reach out, grabbing him around his waist.