Moon Angel

Chapter 5: On the Edge of the Cliff

Chapter 5: On the Edge of the Cliff

The next morning, I got up feeling better. For having been out all night, I was surprised I wasn't feeling at all tired. The tugging sensation had ceased but I was afraid it would start again. I slipped the black wristband back around my wrist. According to my tracker, I had never left my cabin.

That day was different to the other days we had spent at camp. In the previous days we had completed activities around the camp within our team. That day we were going off site and completing a competition against the other team. We left the campsite early and walked for an hour down a small bush track to a mountain lake. The site of the lake, as we emerged from the trees, was beautiful. The morning sun hit the water, making the light dance and sparkle across the surface. I was instantly reminded of the lake I had been at a few years earlier, the lake at which I had been found and introduced into the human world.

Like the other lake, this one was surrounded by forest. An empty wharf ran from the shingle covered beach and out into the vast area of water.

The rest of the day was just like the other days we had been at camp. We did water activities and races against the other team. It was fast-paced and fun and we got very wet in the process. In the end we tied, coming up side by side with points. At the end of the day we were allowed some free time. Jay, Em and I decided to walk up to a lookout point over the lake to see the view. It was meant to be spectacular. The climb to the lookout was quite hard, a steep winding slope through the trees. It took us a while to reach it but the view from the top was worth the climb. The lookout had a view of the whole lake. The rippling, sparkling blue surrounded by the mountainous green. Em went right to the edge of the cliff and looked over.

"You shouldn't walk so close to the edge," I told her.

"I'll be fine," she answered. "You worry too much."

Jay was about to say something when the section of cliff, that Em was standing on, gave way beneath her feet.

One minute Em was there; the next she had disappeared over the side with a scream.

We rushed to the edge to see Em hanging from a branch jutting out of the cliff two metres down. It was too far for either Jay or me to reach.

"Ellie? Jay?" Em called. "A little help here?"

I looked at Jay. "What do we do?"

"I'll go get help," Jay said. "We can't reach her from here." He ran to the edge of the trees and disappeared.

"Ellie?" Em called again.

"Jay's gone to get help. They'll be here soon. Just hold on," I answered.

A creak was heard from down the side of the cliff. I watched the branch give way slightly. Em's hands slipped. She screamed.

I knew I could save her. I knew what I had to do, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

"Help!" she shouted. Her hand slipped again. "Hurry up!"

I felt like I was up against a brick wall. I couldn't make myself do it. I couldn't reveal myself and yet it was the only way to save Em. I looked past Em, to the water below, to the rocks that sat around the edge of the water, the rocks Em would fall onto.

Em screamed again.

I didn't delay any longer. I tossed my jacket onto the ground beside me and ran off the edge of the cliff, leaping into the air. I caught the wind and flew down to where Em hung off the branch.

"Grab hold of my arms," I said to her as she turned to face me.

She looked me up in down, shocked as anyone would be seeing a girl with large wings flying beside them.