Deus Ex Diluvium (Ryden)

The Trial

The hole had been covered with branches and bracken, though it was likely not deliberate subterfuge. Probably the result of the elements.

How the hole's camouflage got there, however, did not effect how quickly Ryan fell down it.

One second he was walking on solid ground, chatting casually to Brendon, and the next he was plummeting downwards, the branches he'd broken scratching at his skin as he passed them. These minor wounds would have been nothing compared to the pain bursting through him when he hit the bottom.

It was lucky then, that he did not hit the bottom.

It's purpose was unclear. All Ryan was sure of was that he couldn't see how deep it was, that the ledge he'd landed on was very thin and that he was too far down to climb up easily.

Clumps of soil began to break away and drop into the abyss and he scrambled away. Destruction only seemed to follow him as he shifted his weight, dislodging more dirt.

Brendon's face appeared above him, looking pale and panicked as he squinted down. Relief flashed over him for a second as he saw that Ryan was uninjured, but it didn't last long.

"Can you get back up?"

"I don't know. I don't think so." He stood, unsteady, to find that his head didn't reach the top. He lifted an arm and felt Brendon's hand grab his.

"It's ok. I've got you."

Ryan braced himself against the wall as Brendon tugged his arm, trying to pull him to safety. They made little progress and eventually Ryan collapsed back down, head snapping back as he landed with his shoulders hanging over the edge.

He winced, both at the pain in his neck and the way his refuge seemed to decrease in size every time he moved.

"So that's not working. I'm gonna climb down and give you a leg up."

"No! How will you get up?"

"I'll think of something." Brendon swung his legs over the gap, ignoring Ryan's feeble attempts to bat them away and landed beside him. "Hi. Oh wow, this does not feel safe."

"Why the hell did you do that?"

"How else were you gonna get out?"

"Don't try that. I can't just leave you down here. Look, I'll help you get back up."

"Absolutely not." Brendon's back was pressed against the wall, his arms stubbornly folded. He knelt down, hands forming a cup. "Stop wasting time."

Ryan stared at him, pleading with his eyes, though he didn't know what for. All he wanted was for both of them to be safe, or at least for Brendon to be, but now that was difficult to achieve.

Beneath his feet, the earth was starting to slide. Without really thinking, he stepped onto Brendon's hand, leaning heavily against the wall so as not to topple over in the wrong direction.

Sunlight streamed onto his face and his hands were searching, grasping, grabbing hold of roots or grass or whatever he could find, until he was lying on his back on solid ground and he was safe, safe, safe-

His mind snapped back to reality and he twisted until he could see Brendon's face, stark against the shadowy background, looking vulnerable and afraid.

They stared at each other, neither knowing what exactly to say. Ryan wanted to scream at him for being so stupid, but if he got him out they'd have plenty of time to argue then. If he still wanted to.

"So um," Brendon broke the silence. "I haven't thought of anything yet."

"You want me to come back down and help you out?"