CORRUPTED FILE [Lumina Chronicles Past Drafts]

Level Seven: Chicken

*Maggie's POV*

"You know," I said as I made my way closer to the wall, craning my neck back in an attempt to see the top, "it would have been nice to know about this ahead of time."

"In my defense, I've never actually seen the wall before this." Carlyle stood next to me with crossed arms, his head tipped just as far back as mine. "And in all honesty I didn't expect it to be standing."

"Okay, well, how do we get past it?" I looked in both directions down the wall. Mostly, the thing was intact. Whoever built it did an impressive job.

"Well, it would be easy if it were only me." Carlyle shrugged, still staring up at the top of the wall. He had his hand up to block the sun, though I had no idea why. The sun went right through him anyway; he didn't even cast a shadow. "I could just materialize on the other side. You, unfortunately, don't have that option."

"No big deal, we'll figure something out." I shrugged, remaining positive. I walked alongside the wall, looking for any sort of hole, or maybe even a gate. "The people had to get in here someway, didn't they?"

"Yeah," Carlyle agreed, "flight."

"Oh yeah, right." I frowned, dragons. "I'm going to continue down this way. You check the other direction?"

"Yes ma'am," Carlyle saluted, smiling, and then vanished before my eyes.

With a heavy sigh, I started down the rocky path in my chosen direction. I walked on for an uncertain amount of time, my positivity sinking with each step and each passing second. Maybe this trip was a waste after all. What helpful items could there really be in an empty and mostly-destroyed castle? I was just so desperate to be helpful that I was letting my imagination get the best of me. Maybe Inari was right and I really was no use to the group.

Just as I gave up all hope and was about to turn around and find Carlyle to head back to the camp, I noticed a collapsed section of the wall further ahead. From the top of the wall to about seven feet off the ground, a jagged "V" was blown out. The edges were scorched, as if it had been hit with some sort of blast— like a cannon or a bomb.

I ran to it as fast as I could in order to get a better look. It was still quite a stretch, but if I found something to use as a stool, I could boost myself high enough to climb over and jump down to the other side. I smiled to myself, a tiny bit of hope starting to edge its way back into my mind.

Turning on my heel, I scanned the area for anything I could use to stand on. Large chunks of crumbled stone littered the ground, probably pieces of the wall itself. I stooped down and scooped up as much of the debris as I could. I threw it at the base of the wall, then repeated the same action over again. I shoved at larger rocks with my feet and pushed mounds of rubble together until I had a good-sized pile formed.

I looked it over once in order to make sure it was sturdy enough to stand on and then I climbed up. I still had to jump a bit to reach the bottom of the hole, but I was able to get a firm enough hold on it to pull myself up. Grunting, I heaved myself all the way up. I balanced on the wall for only a moment before the wall crumbled out from underneath me. With a shriek I tumbled over the side, landing hard on my hands and knees in a cloud of dust.

"Ow..." I muttered as I slid myself into a sitting position. I brushed the gravel off my palms, wincing slightly. My hands were skinned and they stung, but they weren't bleeding. Thank god Faye had packed jeans in the clothing she brought for me from the Abandoned Order's castle. If I had been in a dress, my knees would have been a bloody, dirty mess.

I glanced over my shoulder at the wall. Well, there was definitely an opening now. The wall must have been weak where I climbed because the whole thing had crumbled away. Now there was a split in the wall about three feet wide. At least I wouldn't have a problem getting back out.