Castleside Academy

Chapter Thirteen: Lexi

“Lexi,” Luther whispers in my ear, “please wake up. Please.”

He sounds close to tears, and I keep forgetting why. The world doesn’t seem real at all and I’m not sure if any of this really happened.

Right. I remember some. When we first woke up, we started moving through the gorge at a semi fast pace. I started to grow weak, though. Since I don’t eat or drink water that much, I was even weaker than I should’ve been. We have nothing down here, so we had to keep going.

But then I collapsed again. Passed out. Fainted. Luther was able to wake me up, but only for a few more steps. I was able to tell him what’s wrong with me, but then I fainted again.

Eventually, he started to carry me. It was surprisingly easy for him, considering that we’re close to the same height. But he started to grow weak, too. He had to put me down.

And apparently, I wouldn’t wake up until now.

“Mm…”

“Lexi!” he gasps. I feel his fingers gently brush my cheek. “Please, please..,” he whispers. “I need you.”

My eyes open up to slits, and I see tears falling from his eyes. He notices my consciousness and lifts my upper body in his arms. “We need to get you water. It’s too cold down here for either of us. What if—?”

“Well, hello there,” says an old, cracked voice.

Luther looks over his shoulder in shock. “Who-who’re you?”

“Ralf!” says the voice in a happy, upbeat tone. “What can I do for you?”

“Do you have any water?” Luther asks desperately. “She hasn’t had anything to drink longer than me and she’s having a hard time keeping consciousness.”

“You bet I do. Here, have this. I have another for myself, so it’s no problem. I always find some strays out here in the gorge. Mighty fine day for travelling, ain’t it?”

“Uh, sure.”

I feel something press against my lips. “Drink this,” Luther whispers.

I open my eyes wider and look up at Luther as I swallow the water that runs down my throat. It hurts my numb throat a little because it’s already cold enough, but it gives me more energy.

I rest in Luther’s arms for a moment. The man still hasn’t left. “Is there anything else you need?”

“Uh, how far until we get out of the gorge? Or to an exit of some sort?”

 I finally see the man, but to me, he’s a shadow. I see him point the direction where we’re going. “That way, about half a mile. This way I’m going, twenty miles. You better hurry, though. An earthquake will push these two sides together, crushing you. Does the girl need anything else?”

Luther looks at me worriedly. “Probably food, but it’s yours.”

The man keeps pointing the way we’re going. “There’s an incline that leads out of this gorge. Believe it or not, it’s slowly sloping upwards. But when you get out, there’s a small forest village. My sister lives in the cottage nearest the gorge on the right side of the road. Tell her you know me and that I helped you. If you tell her what’s wrong, she could house you for the night. At the rate you’re going, you’ll be there by nightfall.”

“Thank you,” says Luther gratefully.

I try to stand up, and I finally do. Luther gives me more water, and I lean against him uneasily as my vision blurs and becomes clear again.