Endless

Chapter 10

Grayson and I are on a roll. We've gotten past many more levels and it's only noon. We have now come to level three-hundred and twenty-one. Both Grayson and I take no time in beginning.

This level is more complex. I've noticed that the difficulty has increased in the levels the father we get. This level proves my theory. There are around eight large, bright green spinning circles ahead. The circles are spaced apart so the competitor must hop from one to the other while the circles are spinning. Though they seem to be turning rather slowly.

I jump onto the first bright green circle and almost lose my balance as I begin to slowly spin around. I quickly raise my arms to my sides to gain steadiness.

I impatiently wait for the circle to make a full spin before jumping onto the next one. I land unevenly causing me to teeter backward. I freeze in a bent-over-backward position and am unable to pull myself back up. The spot I am in is keeping me from tumbling backward. My breathing becomes shallow. Stay still. Don't fall.

The seconds go by as hours as my weight is slowly getting heavier and heavier and I lean back farther and farther. My pounding heart is up in my throat. I don't dare make a noise because it could result in moving even the slightest bit and I'd descend backward.

Suddenly, one of my back muscles pulls and my body feels like it's snapped in half. A short scream escapes my mouth. I flail my arms aggressively to keep from completely falling off the spinning circle backward. I am swaying desperately up and down and shrieks are escaping my throat. I hear Grayson's uneven breaths from close behind me. He doesn't dare intervene in case he makes it worse. I feel him watching me from behind.

Grayson's simple presence gives me strength and I quickly pull myself back up to a straight, standing position. I let out a deep sigh and realize that whole time I was holding my breath. My knees are trembling and my breathing is shaky. I silently thank Grayson because if I said it out loud he wouldn't understand what he did.

I continue to hop from circle to circle and start to gain confidence when seeing that I am nearing the end.

I reach the last circle which spins much faster than the last few. It is also farther apart from the previous circle and the base ahead. You have to take a huge leap of faith.

I begin to feel dizzy. This circle is spinning me too fast. I develop a bit of indigestion as I try to maneuver off the circle. Every time I get ready to jump, I've already missed my chance and I'm spinning around again.

This time, I'm going to jump.

Missed it.

I wait for the circle to spin me around again to be able to attempt my jump again.

Okay ... and ... missed it.

Aggravated, I wait for the circle to make full rotation before I try again.

Missed it.

Becoming more irritated by the second, I lose faith in being able to complete the level. So suddenly with a push from deep inside me, I leap forward without waiting for the circle to make a full spin. I outstretch my arms to prevent myself from falling too hard on the base.

I land to the right of the base because of the angle I jumped at with a loud thump on my side and forcefully roll over hunched up in a ball. I'm covering my face with my hands for protection while rolling as my back gets bruised and banged up. Finally I come to a stop right in front of the square pad.

I take a moment to breathe and stretch out of the curled up ball I had formed myself into. My back aches with pain as I stand up. The soreness shoots from the right side of my neck down to bottom of my back. My right arm - the arm I landed on - is throbbing from my wrist to my shoulder.

Once I'm standing I try to shake off the pain. I loosen my arms, wiggle myself and try to stay calm. Then all of a sudden Grayson's husky voice calls out, "Taya - Taya!"

I whip around and see Grayson on the last circle leaning forward and flapping his arms. He's bobbing up and down and he's getting closer to completely losing his balance and falling forward and off the spinning circle.

I instantly clamour over to the edge of the base and extend my arm. I order, "Grab on!" Grayson's arms are flailing insanely and he isn't able to reach out. I lean farther off the edge. Grayson yells, "I can't! I'm slipping! Help me!"

I reach out both arms and grab his hands myself. He leans forward even more because of my pulling. I scream, "Now, jump! Go on, jump!" Grayson obeys my instruction and launches himself forward. We both fly backward and land on our backs on the base.

I lose my breath from hitting so hard. I wheeze uncontrollably and lie on my back. The pain in my back increases and throbs even more. I can barely get up.

Grayson croaks, "I think I was winded."

I squeak, "Me too."

Grayson mumbles, "Thanks."

I let Grayson's words hang in the air as I sit up and attempt to steady my breathing. I try not to think about the pounding pain taking over my lower back, my neck and my arm. Grayson sits up too as he rubs his shoulder blade.

He doesn't say anything except for a low groan as he clutches his shoulder to stand up. I follow his lead holding my forearm.

We both continue to the next level without saying anything. We don't have to, we're both sharing the same unexplainable feeling - pain.