(Ford x Reader) Hickory Pines

CH. 21 Abyss

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey! I think you may appreciate it if I had song links to what I'd listened to whilst writing; to heighten the atmosphere. Tell me if you want this continued.

https://youtu.be/qxLv4gruN0E?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/T_V76Dm42bY?feature=shared (It was mostly these two on loop lol)

----

Fiddleford POV

My hands ache as I descend, silently cursing myself for letting this happen. With a trembling breath, I glance upward, only to see how the light above has shrunk. It's now a small pinpoint, casting a faint beam, yet it's the only thing concealing my movements. A shriek pierces my ears just before I fall. My heart races to a dangerous rhythm, then abruptly halts as I come to a sudden stop. I barely manage to hold on, the sharp sting of my fists gripping the rope cutting through my senses.

I try to call out, but it seems they can't hear me... What on earth is happening up there? All I know is that I'm still falling, though I'm not making any effort to descend. I huddle closer to my one lifeline, staring upward, only to realize... I'm not being held anymore.

We're plummeting-fast-and I'm going to hit the ground first. I gasp, bracing for impact. I slam my eyes shut, the rush of wind my only companion.

.

.

.

The next thing I know, I'm waking up. Every part of me aches, and my head throbs with an unearthly migraine. I squint into the darkness, trying to get a sense of my surroundings. "Hello...?" I croak, my voice weak and strained.

"You're alive!" someone exclaims, before hands reach out, grasping for me. I stagger back, on alert-whoever this is, I'm ready to defend myself if I have to.

"Whoa! Excuse me-but just exactly do-" As I push away, the person sighs softly and steadies my shoulders. "Fiddleford-Fiddleford, it's me. We're alive. I can't believe we're alive."

Their voice trembles, and it hits me-their familiarity. A dry laugh escapes my throat. "Y/N?" I ask, barely believing it.

"Are you okay? I landed on you. I can only imagine I did some damage."

Hands move up my arms, searching for signs of injury. Suddenly, I feel exposed-vulnerable. No matter how hard I squint, my surroundings remain a blur; no matter where I look, there's no sign of an exit. We're injured, we're alone, and we're lost. And even though we survived the impact, I can't shake the feeling that we'll soon wish we hadn't.

A sharp hiss escapes my throat as Y/N prods a sensitive spot on my arm. It feels wet and jagged, and I can only imagine the shattered disarray.
"Sorry!" they squeak, quickly pulling their hand away, making me groan again. The adrenaline from the initial shock is starting to fade.

"Maybe if we look around, we can find a light..." they suggest, their nervous laugh trailing off.

"Or we'll get further lost." I counter. I raise my less injured arm to feel my face, and of course, my glasses are nowhere to be seen. "Even if we got a light I'd be no help." I scoff and Y/N's whispering grows closer in vicinity. "Yea... Your glasses are shattered. Cut the hell out of my arm-"

A nervous whistle escapes them, followed by the rustling of fabric- "but that's okay! I'll be your eyes, got it?" They explain quickly, as if searching for a solution. Through the heavy silence, I can feel the fear in their breath. "We have to try something... We can't-"

They hiccup and sniffle suddenly, their hands on my shoulders trembling, tightening, then releasing. More fabric rustles. I reach out, trying to find them, to comfort them, but it's in vain-I only grasp the emptiness. "We won't die 'ere." I assure them, even though I'm holding nothing. They hiccup again, whimpering, and gasp for another breath.