Fallen (MCSM Fanfic)

Chapter 10: The Truth

Soren's fortress looked just as magnificent as Petra remembered it to be. Everybody 'oohed' and 'awed' as they walked down the elaborate hallway.

Jesse was at the front, her green eyes narrowed in a scowl. Her foul mood was visible from miles off. Fists clenched at her sides.

Petra was uncertain whether it was because of what happened earlier, or something else... She couldn't even remember what happened next after they reached the fortress, her mind was that hazy.

She lifted her head as everybody's step slowed, voices beginning to murmur. She was at the back of the group, her vision thus slightly blocked by everybody else. But a few words immediately sparked Petra's memory of where they were.

"Yeah, and I'm really not feeling those columns..."

Petra gulped slightly, wiping her sweaty palms on her pants. Yes, she was agile and quite the athlete. Normally this wasn't something she would be worried about. After all, she was able to get across this ditch quite easily the first time...

But Petra very well knew this wasn't like the first time. She was anything but agile at that moment, even as she was standing still, the landscape in front of her would sway lightly.

"Come on, it's fine, look!" Magnus bellowed as he leaped over the first gap and onto one of the columns.

Everybody followed suite, even Jesse – who hung back until last the first time. Reuben stood at the edge, quivering, not understanding why his owner didn't even acknowledge the fact that it was a big gap for somebody with as tiny legs as him. He whimpered slightly, taking a few steps away from the edge.

"You and me both, boy." Petra mumbled under her breath, causing the piglet to look up at her.

She was the last one left, other than Reuben. Petra took a deep breath, shutting her eyes for a few seconds before opening them again. She backed up slightly, before taking a running start.

Petra felt herself soaring through midair for a few seconds, the distance between her and the first platform becoming less and less.

Petra's boots met the gravel surface, momentum propelling her forwards. The warrior put out her hands on instinct, to break her fall as she stumbled forward. She was only just able to keep herself from skidding right off the edge and into the darkness below them, shakily heaving herself upright.

Petra dusted down her hands on her clothes, flinching as she noticed small bits of gravel embedded into her palms.

Petra gritted her teeth as she fingered out the small grains of rock, dabbing her bleeding hands on her T-shirt. She looked up, carefully picking her route. Three more leaps and she'd be safely on the other side...

Petra took another deep breath to steady her vision, before leaping over to the next platform. This time she was prepared to keep herself upright, not falling a second time.

"Two down, two to go..." Petra muttered to herself. Most of the others had reached the other side, not looking back and as a result not noticing that Petra was falling behind.

Another deep breath, another leap. Another agonizing moment in mid air, another thud onto the third platform. Petra's breath was starting to become choppy and laboured, her lungs feeling like they didn't have enough space to move inside her chest. Petra wiped her sweaty face on her long sleeve, taking a deep breath and then a fourth leap.

Her legs only just managed to not buckle beneath Petra as she landed on the final platform. She leaned down, resting with her hands on her knees. Her legs were burning, pulsing with pain. Her heartbeat hammering inside her chest, stomach churning with unease. Would she be able to make the last jump?