On The Verge

Chapter 31- Taking Chances

——————Maddie——————

⠀⠀"Paige, listen." I started to say, taking a step towards her.

⠀⠀She took a step backwards in response to my step, her heels on the very edge of the cliff. One more step and she would be gone. I knew that if I were to take another step towards Paige, I could grab her arm and stop her from falling off the edge.

⠀⠀I decided to take my chances.

⠀⠀In one swift motion I lunged forwards, wrapping my hand around Paige's elbow. Before I could pull her away from the edge, fear flashed through her eyes and she pulled herself from my gasp, stumbling backwards.

⠀⠀As she stumbled, her feet lost their footing on the ground and her body fell backwards off the edge of the cliff.

⠀⠀"Paige!" I screamed, lurching forward and extending my arm in an attempt to stop her from falling. Falling; off the roof of the sanitarium, off the edge of the cliff.

⠀⠀But I was too late to save her.

⠀⠀I fell to my knees, holding onto the edge with my shaking hands, I peered over. Horrified, I watched Paige's body slam into the rocks at the bottom of the ravine. Bile rose in my throat, tears streamed down my face.

⠀⠀She may not have been dead before, but could she be now?

——————Kenzie——————
♛Flashback♛
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀I sat on my couch after school, Maddie was not home yet. I was scrolling through Instagram when I suddenly received a text message.
The number was not familiar but I opened it anyways.

⠀⠀'Hey kenz, it's Maddie. I'm texting you from Nia's phone. We're hanging out in the clearing at the park. Wanna come?'

⠀⠀Deciding that there was nothing better to do, I took her up on her offer to meet at the park. Throwing my sneakers on, I exited the house. My sneakers squeaked along the concrete as I walked the few short blocks to the park. Turning down the path that led to the clearing, I hummed happily to myself, pleased to be able to spend some time with my sister, who had been distant lately. Turning into the clearing, I glanced around just to find myself alone.

⠀⠀Where was Maddie and the others?

⠀⠀I was just about to turn to leave angrily, assuming this was some sort of joke. Maddie was probably crouched in the woods, laughing at my gullibility. As I turned to leave, I noticed something peculiar. Curious, I walked slowly to the centre of the clearing where there was a deep rectangular hole the size of a small grave. I walked up to it, and cautiously peered in. Who would have put this here? And for what? As I did so, shooting pain suddenly spread throughout my body. The back of my head ached from the impact of a heavy objects as I fell forwards, into the hole. Blackness consumed me before I even hit the bottom.

♛End of Flashback♛

———————Chloe———————

⠀⠀I opened my eyes and looked around me. The last thing I remembered was passing out with my hand on Kendall's knee.

⠀⠀"She's awake." A voice stated.

⠀⠀I was seated in the back of a ambulance, a nurse sat next to me, checking my vitals.

⠀⠀"Where's Kendall?" I asked, the sound of the gunshot echoing through my mind.

⠀⠀"She's in another ambulance." the nurse answered kindly.

⠀⠀I then sat up, my head spinning but otherwise I felt fine. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and slowly made my way out of the ambulance.

⠀⠀As I walked towards a second ambulance parked a few feet in front of mine, I noted that the ambulances were parked on the street outside the park. The back of the second ambulance was open, and I immediately saw Kendall; asleep on a bed much like the one I had waken up in. Her knee was heavily bandaged, her vitals being monitored.