The Knife Thrower

Chapter 26

I skid along the edge of the step, hands outstretched. I scream his name, willing him to grab onto my hands. He looks up at me with terrified eyes and tries to grab onto me. I lean over the step, hooking my legs into a crack in the wall. Jay grabs onto a small handhold in the wall with one hand.

I stretch my arms out again and try to grab his hand. "Jay! Reach for my hand!" I cry out, voice strained from the angry tears threatening to fall. I will not let him die. Never. His knuckles turn white and sweat pours of his brow.

"I can't!" He cries back. I reach down further, trying to grasp his hand. My fingers brush his. We are so close. His hand holding onto the wall starts to slip and he cries out again. I have to save him.

Someone grabs my legs and holds them tight. Izzy. She has come to help. With her holding my legs I slip forward until my waist is hanging of the edge. I stretch my hand out, grasping for his fingers. He pulls his hand up to mine and I can almost touch it.

Jays hand slips from the hold in the rock and he screams. I lunge forward and grab his flalling wrist. My strong hand wraps around his small wrist. I pull him up and wriggle backward with Izzys help. We calapse on the steps and I pull him into a bear hug.

"Don't ever, ever, do anything like that again!" I cry out, panting, heart pounding from relief. He tries to laugh but it comes out as a sob and he wraps his arms around me tighter.

"Thank you, thank you for saving me." He whispers into my hair.

"Always." I whisper back. He's alive. He's alive!

"Come on, we should get going. It is almost 11:00." Izzy says, breaking up our embrace. I give Jay a light squeeze and let go, helping him up. This time I lift him over the step, then jump myself. We continue climbing, but more carefully now. None of us want that to happen again. We may not be as lucky.

We reach the last step and find ourselves in a forest. I catch my breath. I cannot remember ever seeing so many trees in one place. Thick, old oak trees tower above me, partially blocking out the sun. The sunlight that does shine through though casts a green glow on everything. Lush, soft grass lies under my feet and I rip of my shoes, sinking my feet into the ankle deep grass. Moss line the trunks of trees and vines hang from their branches.

Birds sing high in the treetops and cute possums run along the branches. I take a step forward, absorbing this beautiful site. It is like I have entered a fairytale. I take another step forward to the closet tree. I reach out a hand and place it against the strong, curving wood. I touch a green leaf connected to a low branch. It is velvety and delicate, like it will tear in two at the slightest movement.

I turn around, wondering what Izzy and Jay think of such an unreal place. They are staring around in awe, trying to take in everything at once. I grin. There is no sand anywhere, no uneven rocks. It's magical. We weave our way through the magnificent old trees, using the compass Ryan gave me. Groups of red and grey mushrooms pop up all over the ground and beautiful flowers lie everywhere. Flowers of sky-blue, baby pink, crayon yellow, soft white and vivid purples. Izzy collects them on the way, making a bunch of rainbow flowers. Jay skips around the trees, chasing after animals that scurry by in haste.

We walk for a good half an hour, but I wish it would not end. The trees start to thin out and more sunlight appears between the tree leaves. We reach the last line of trees and I am reluctant to let them go. Stepping back onto the sunbaked sand with the heat beating above us, I instantly miss the trees shade and beauty. I walk towards the centre of the barren area, in plain sight of the helicopter. Izzy and Jay follow.

I hear a chopping, buzzing sound and I look up into the glare of the sun and make out an approaching helicopter, coming closer with each passing secand. The sound becomes louder, so loud it is deafening. I block my ears as it lands down in front of us. The choppers eventually slows and two men hop out of the front. They are wearing black suits with sunshades and walky talky's. Professional.

They walk closer and the first one looks us up and down. I hold my head high and so do Izzy and Jay. "Are you the passengers booked by Mr Avedel?" He asks, doubt showing in his voice.

"Yes. Were you not told that his two children were to be on this helicopter? He was told it would not to be an issue..." I raise an eyebrow, daring him to argue differently. His partner shrugs and tells them to get in. At the last moment they turn back to me.

I love you. They mouth and get in the helicopter. I give a small smile and mouth it back. I watch the men hop in and switch the metal beast back on. It rises noisily and flies away. I watch it dissapear into the horizon, relief and sadness running through me. I did it. I really did it! They are safe, they will have the future they deserve. Finally.

The woods behind me are quiet and I absorb the peaceful moment. I turn around to go back into the wonderful woods when I freeze. The sound of running footsteps reach my ears. Someone's coming.

The footsteps become louder, closer. I take two steps back, preparing myself for a one on one or two on one fight. But instead of one or two people emerging through the dense woods, twenty appear. They are all dressed in navy blue... Rats. One of the Rats spots me and yells out. I turn around quickly, running to the edge if The Divider. They have found me. Somehow they found out. But it is too late, Izzy and Jay are safe. A smile of triumph comes over my face and my heart beats with new found hope.

I stop at the edge of the cliff and size up my options. Surrender to the Rats, or jump. I look over the edge of the cliff and look down. The new-found hope is replaced by dread and defeat. This is it. Today I am going to die, one way or the other. I take a deep breath, decision already made. I can hear them approaching behind me but it does not matter. The wind pushes against my hair and clothes, like a weak barrier.

I look out over the horizon, taking in the sight before me. My world. The only world I have ever known. A silent tear slips down my right cheek and I let it fall. I take one step closer to the edge, focousing only on what lies before me. I am a butterfly. I am making my own decision, making my own choice. It is my turn to fly away. I take a deep breath and shut my eyes. I stretch out my arms wide, feeling the wind against my hot skin.

And I fall.