Felix Silva: Dirt is in the Air

Chapter 9: The Climb

 There was deep red goop everywhere. The scene looked awful. Then Cotton pulled all four of them into the bush and started covering them with leaves, flowers, and dirt. They stopped Cotton, and Void said, "Cotton, what on Earth are you doing?" With a yawn, Cotton said, "I figured out that the demons are blind. They can't see. Which means that they rely on their other senses to track us down." "That makes sense... But next time warn us!!" Carry said. "Shhh! They'll hear us! Their hearing is quite good, actually," Cotton said.

Cotton noticed Felix eyeing Mt. Olympia and said in a hushed tone, "Go. We'll be here." Felix looked confused and concerned at the same time, then everyone gave him a little nudge and Felix was off. He ran to the stairs, then started running up the stairs. After he was already at the first platform, he sat down and caught his breath. He looked up, and there were so many more stairs to go.

He hadn't climbed up so many stairs before, and he had no training for stairs. And the fact that he didn't have food or water made it more difficult for him to climb, since he would easily get dehydrated.

But he kept going. He didn't want to give up because his friends were counting on him. Then he heard a voice behind him say, "Gosh, you'd think they'd install an elevator by now!" He turned around and saw Umi close behind him. "Umi! What- How?!" Felix said. "What do you mean?" Umi asked. "I mean, how are you able to climb the stairs?!" Felix said. "What do you mean? I saw you climbing up the stairs, so I kinda just... Y'know, followed you?" Umi said. "But... How? I mean, I was told only children of gods and gods could climb the stairs?" Felix said. "Wait, really?!" Umi said. "Yeah... I'll have to ask the gods about it," Felix said.

Then, they heard heavy breathing behind them. They slowly turned around and saw a demon there. "RUN!!" Felix yelled. Umi and Felix then started running up the stairs to get to the top. But the demon was catching up to them. They got to the next platform, then Umi took off her shoes, and chucked one of them at the demon. It sent the demon tumbling backward. "There. I bought us some time. Let's go!" Umi said as she caught her breath. Felix and Umi then kept running up the stairs.

Felix looked behind him and said, "The demon is there!" Umi turned around quickly and threw her other shoe at the demon. The demon went tumbling all the way down the stairs. "I think I bought us lots of time," Umi said. "I think you did, too," Felix said.

They then took their time going up the stairs and taking breaks when needed. They managed to get up to the top at a good amount, thanks to the demon. When it was nighttime, they decided to take shifts. Felix fell asleep first since he pretty much had almost a restless journey. Then a few hours later, when it was Felix's turn, Umi didn't wake him up. She wanted him to get a good night's rest.

The next morning, when Felix saw Umi almost falling asleep, he asked, "Umi, why didn't you wake me up?" She tiredly looked at him and said, "I wanted you to get a good night's rest." Then she got up and started going up the stairs. "Let's go," she said.

Felix and Umi were going up the stairs when Umi suddenly collapsed. Thankfully, Felix caught her. Felix looked at Umi worriedly, and then Umi said, "Leave me here. Keep going." "No, I'm not leaving you behind," Felix said, as he carried Umi in his arms. The next platform wasn't too far away, so when they got there, Felix carefully set Umi down. "Felix, you have to leave me. I'll be fine," Umi said. Felix looked up at the rest of the stairs. "Are you sure?" he asked. Umi sleepily nodded her head. "Okay... Uhm... Here," Felix said, as he took off his jacket and put it around Umi's shoulders. "Thanks," Umi said. "Get plenty of rest. I'll meet you at the top?" Felix said. "Okay, sure," Umi said.

Umi soon fell asleep and Felix waited a few minutes, then ran up the stairs. He needed to get to the top quickly. He didn't want Umi dead before he got to the top. He got to the next platform but didn't take a break. He kept going. By the time he got to the next platform, his legs were shaking from running up the stairs. He didn't care. It was a sacrifice he was willing so Umi would be safe.