The Falling

Chapter Three- HAM-IS-NOT-BACON & The Feather

The air in my lungs evaporates like a bubble bursting. My body deflates like popped bubble wrap. This new found fear is a piano falling from the sky. It lands on my shoulders and threatens to crush me underneath.

‘Graysen what do I-.’

‘Don’t move,’ Graysen instructs like a director.

Mia’s body rumbles with rage, she releases a demonic moan and thrashes her body against the ground in protest. Gabriel ignores her useless movements, staring deep into the heart of the playground. At me.

“Oh come on, I know you’re in there somewhere, I’m not devoid of my senses,” Gabriel scoffs like he’s insulted, “And Graysen, you too.”

I squeeze Graysen’s arm like I’m a heart rate monitor sucking at his blood pressure.

‘Graysen?’

I peer up at Graysen’s inanimate face sutured into a frozen state; up this close I can see the miniature stubble, the fine features such as the wild rule of his eyebrows, the glossy appeal of his gelled hair, the sharp line of his jawbones.

‘Let’s go,’ he nods towards the menacing red slide to my left smashing my illusion of calm like a hammer against a weak piece of glass.

‘OK.’

I waddle towards the slide like I’m wading through mud, silently climbing onto my backside as I prepare to fall down the creepy hole.

I can hear the music, the dun-dun, dun-dun, dun-dun, DUN-DUN-DUN! That plays as danger approaches or as I approach it.

Graysen’s cold talons latch on my shoulder like he’s an eagle and I’m his prey.

‘If anything happens-.’

‘Don’t be stupid, Graysen. We’re going to be fine,’ I reassure falsely.

Without looking back I escape Graysen’s tense grasp. I slip down the twisted tunnel, the plastic clings to my clothing and sticks to my skin like it’s lined with glue. I tumble out onto a piece of black foam like a cat trying to land on its feet, my hands slap onto the mat, metres from Mia’s slumped body. 

Mia’s head flips from side-to-side until her blue eyes manage to glimpse through her mop of brown hair at me. Her eyes radiate a sense of security in knowing I’m here.

I attempt to look back at her with the same security and an extension of kindness but all I see is another fallen angel. A girl who lied to me. A girl who pretended to be my friend.

This is all your fault, I frown accusingly, you dragged both Graysen and I into this.

Mia’s hand smudges blood across the floor like a paint brush.

Gabriel’s voice is booms jovially over the deafly silent room, “Ali. I’ve been expecting you. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

I look up, realizing I'm kneeling to the king of the fallen.

He offers his heavily gold-ringed hand towards me, palm upwards. My hand unreliably and against my will lowers into his hand, his rough lips scrape over my knuckles. He absorbs a deep breathe, inhaling my scent.

He leans back, lifting me to my feet but refuses to release his grip.

Thump-thud! Thump-thud!

Graysen spills out the bottom of the tunnel, flipping ridiculously onto the padding.

“Ah, it seems you’ve decided to join the party. But before we break out the cake I must ask; what are you two doing here eavesdropping on my dealings?” Gabriel questions his eyebrows fusing together to form a single brow.