Power of Love

Chapter 5: Walking

"So how do you like Iceridge so far?'

"Well, it's way different than New York because NY is all busy and crowded while Iceridge is peaceful and happy."

Martin and I walk down the sidewalk side by side next to the forest. 

"Oh. I'm glad your happy here. Ok, next to us is Ridge Forest. Here let's cross the road and go to the trail to walk in the forest."

"Oh, great! I didn't know there was a trail."

"Well now you know. Come on!"

I cross the road with Martin and start leading up the trail.

"So, Maddie how you getting up in your grades?"

"Just A's really. Nothing exciting."

"Great! Me too."

I see we've gotten further into the trail. It seems that we went off it and went further into the forest. I keep walking and try to avoid going into the bushes because the trail is so thin. I hear a grunt which I assume is Martin's and some rustling. I think that is just how he walks. Very noisily.

"Hey Martin, why don't you tell me what you did in school in New York?"

All I get is silence. I turn around when I see nobody is behind me. I start to panic.

"Martin!" I yell.

I decide to backtrack, and see if he went  on some other trail. When I go a couple of steps back, I gasp. There is a big hole, that has a bush on the side of it. It must have been covered by that bush. I hope he didn't fall down it because I think it's very deep since I can't see the bottom even with the light from the sun shining through the trees.

"Martin! Are you down there?"

"Maddie! Is that you?" His voice sounds hoarse.

"Yeah it's me. Are you okay?"

"I don't think so. My arm hurts. A lot, and I think I'm bleeding in a few places. I don't know if they're scratches or not."

"Ok, just hang in there, I'm going to go get help."

"No! Wait! How are you going to find me again? We went off the trail."

My voice starts shaking.

"Um, I can remember."

"You don't know that. Maddie please. Just try to find something around here."

"Ok. I'll try."

I start searching around, but all I see are leaves and trees. Then I see something brown and long on the forest floor. I decide to investigate. I hope it's not an animal. As I get closer, I see it's not moving. I look closer, and I see it's just a branch. Well that was stupid. Then I realize, I can use it to save Martin! I grab it and race to the hole. My heart is pounding against my chest. I just hope that the branch is long enough, or that I'm actually strong enough to lift a boy that's heavier than me with just a dead branch. It's worth a try I guess.

"Martin!!!!!" I yell.

Silence is my only response. I start panicking. What if the bleeding kept going and he got a lot of blood loss. I can't check him because I have no way of getting down there except falling, but that wouldn't be good for both of us.

"Martin! Please tell me you're okay?" I yell in desperation. I still get silence.

I fall down to the ground feeling confused. I hear all the sounds in the forest. Leaves rustling. Birds calling to each other and flying. The howl of the wind. I start wondering what I could have done more. Suddenly, I hear something that sounds like dragging something in the dirt. I feel a spurge of hope in my heart. I decide to see one more time.