Project Holiday

Chapter Twelve

The bridge had collapsed. I quickly grabbed Lara and held onto her tightly as we fell into the canyon below. The impact was brutal but i didnt feel any pain. I still had Kiba in my arms, it seemed as if he wasnt hurt. Had I protected him? I looked around, trying to find out what happened. Jack and Leo were unconsess, one of the horses was dead, another was badly injured. The bridge, it was just gone."Jack?" I called out, trying to see if he was okay. He didn't respond. I turned to Lara, who was starting to regain consciousness. "Lara, your a doctor, go help them!" She bulted up, running to Jack. "He's breathing." Then she jumped up and checked Leo pulce. Her face went white and her eyes grew wide. "He's dead."

"What?" I ran over to Leo. His legs were broken, blood was coming out of his mouth and nose. Lara screamed and fell to her knees, her face covered in tears. "He was all I had!" She yelled, shaking. "Why cant I have anything in this fucked up world." She cried softly. There was nothing I could do. The horse was still alive, but badly injured. I didn't know what to do. The bridge was gone, and we were stranded in this godforsaken canyon.I looked up at Lara, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so sorry." I said, my voice cracking. "I don't know what to do. I can bring him back." She stood up and helped jack, leaving me in front of Leo. Kiba lay down next to me, his tail between his legs. I felt tear roll down my face. We were still two days away from settlement Rose, and I didnt know the code to get in. If Jack died we would all die, we would never make it out. I held my head in my hands crying , wishing I could take it all back, wishing I had never tried to cross that bridge. After a while, Lara came back."The horses need help, I think they will die soon. We should do something." I nodded, feeling numb. I stood up, my legs shaky. Kiba got up as well, nudging me gently with his muzzle. Together, we went to tend to the horses. We found a flat spot near the water and tried to make them comfortable. I gave them some water, but it didn't seem to help much. They were in too much pain. Only Jacks horse was able to stand, the other was lying down, unable to move.After a while, Lara came over, her eyes red from crying. I looked at her, she seemed hart broken, "I'm sorry I know you and Leo were close.""He was actually my fiancée, we were going to be married."I didn't know what to say, so I just held her hand and let her cry. I felt terrible for everything that had happened, for not being able to save them.The sun began to rise, its light casting a harsh glow over the carnage that lay before us. The horse that was alive nuzzled us, trying to get us to move. "We are going to die if we say here. Put Jack on the back of the horse I will walk." I said, my voice breaking. Kiba whined, but he understood what I meant. We carefully placed Jack on the horse, it's movements painful to watch. The horse looked at her owners on her back, unconsess, dyeing.We had no choice but to leave the horses and Leo. Lara's hovercar was broken but was still useable for short distances. "Wouldnt it be a better idea to put Jack on the car.""Yes, but he may be to heavy for the car to carry long distance. But we could try." She said, her eyes still red from crying. I nodded and we carefully lifted Jack onto the car. It creaked under his weight, but it held. I got on the car and Kiba walk beside us, his paws careful not to step on Jack.The canyon floor was rough and uneven, making it hard for Kiba and the horse to walk. "How did Kiba survie the fall?" Lara asked."I was holding when we fell."We continued on, the sun beating down on us. I kept my eyes on Jack, his face pale and covered in sweat. His breathing was shallow, and I couldn't help but think that every breath might be his last. The horse seemed to move without any problem, but I knew it must be in pain. Kiba trotted beside us, occasionally glancing up at me with worried eyes.The canyon floor began to level out, and a plain came into view. I hoped that meant we were getting closer to civilization. Kiba seemed to sense it too, his pace picking up slightly. I glanced over at Lara, her face still pale and drawn from crying. "Thank you Lara.""What?""For everything you've done. For sticking with me, even when it was dangerous." The hope that they might be part of settlement Rose made my heart ache. We continued on, the horse's hooves thudding against the hard ground. Kiba walked beside me, occasionally sniffing the air and glancing back at Jack. His labored breathing was getting worse, and I knew we didn't have much time left."I have a question for you.""What is it?" I asked, not taking my eyes off Jack."Do you ever get a little bit tried to life, like not really happy but you dont want to die. Like you just want to be somewhere else, but you dont know where.""I dont feel a single thing anymore. Im just exhausted. Im tired of running, tired of hiding. Im tired of losing everyone I care about." I said, my voice breaking.The horizon began to blur, and I couldn't tell if it was just my vision getting blurry from exhaustion or if something else was happening. The air seemed to shift, and I could feel the heat of the sun intensify. The landscape around us seemed to change, becoming less rocky and more sandy. I looked over at Lara, her face still pale and drawn from crying. "We're getting close," I said, more to myself than to her.Kiba whined, his ears pricked forward. He glanced back at Jack, then ahead at me, as if asking for instructions. The horse stumbled slightly, but kept moving. I reached over and patted its neck, trying to reassure it. We walked on, the sound of our footsteps the only noise that broke the silence.As we continued, I realized that something was different about the sky. It seemed brighter, more vibrant. I squinted, trying to make out what it could be. "I think we should reach Rose by tomorrow at noon."Lara looked up at me, surprise registering on her face. "Really?""Yes. The way it's going, we should be able to make it."Kiba perked up at this, his ears pricking forward. He glanced between me and Lara, then back at the horizon. The horse seemed to sense the change in atmosphere as well, picking up its pace slightly. The landscape around us shifted, becoming more lush and green. I could smell the freshness in the air, the sweet scent of flowers and the tang of salt from the nearby ocean.The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. We found a place to rest for the night, setting up a makeshift camp. I carefully laid Jack down on a blanket, trying to make him as comfortable as possible. His breathing was labored, but it seemed slightly less shallow. Lara tended to the horse, giving it water and food. Kiba curled up beside Jack, keeping him warm throughout the night.As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder if we would make it to Rose in time. But for now, all I could do was trust in the journey and hope for the best.The next morning, we awoke before the sun. Lara and I took turns tending to Jack and the horse, trying to keep their spirits up. Kiba watched over us all, his eyes never leaving Jack. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the air was cool and crisp. It was hard to believe that just yesterday we were in the depths of the canyon, surrounded by death and despair.As we continued on our journey, the landscape began to change again. The sandy dunes gave way to rolling hills dry and dead, the only sign of life a lone cactus struggling for survival in the harsh conditions. The air grew hotter and dust swirled around us, making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. But despite the hardship, Kiba never wavered in his loyalty to Jack, refusing to leave his side.Lara and I traded stories of our time in the settlements, sharing laughter and tears as we tried to forget the horrors we had left behind. The hours passed slowly, but with each step we took closer to Rose, I felt a new sense of determination growing inside me. We were going to make it. We had to make it.Almost before noon Jack stured and he blinked open his eyes. He looked around, confused for a moment, then focused on me. "Your awake!" I smiled and stoped my horse, jumping down to help him up. He groaned a little as I supported him. "How are you feeling?" He looked at me, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Like I feel down a canyon. But I'm getting better."Lara smiled, "Thats good news."Kiba whined softly, nudging Jack with his nose. The old man ruffled the dog's fur, "You've been a good boy, Kiba. A very good boy."The wind picked up, sending clouds scudding across the sky. The air grew colder, and a distant rumble of thunder echoed across the plain. "We are almost at Rose.""Were is Leo and the other two horses?" Jack asked, rubbing his arms."Dead. They died in the fall." Lara's words hung heavy in the air. Jack looked downcast, and Kiba whined softly. "I'm sorry, Jack."The old man took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. "We'll manage. We've come this far, and we'll keep going. Together." He glanced at Kiba, then back at me. "We'll make it."As the storm rolled closer, the sky darkened, and the wind grew stronger. Kiba pressed closer to Jack, protecting him from the elements. I looked at Lara, and she met my gaze with a determined expression.