❛ IT IS KILL OR BE KILLED
- and the destroyer isn't planning
on being the lamb ; not when
she's a lioness.
*✧･ﾟ:* book one of the destroyer series
pre seventy-fourth / oc...
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═════ fourteen. 「 INTO THE WOODS 」
As much as she protested it, Nereida had informed them of a thin rope bridge that would lead them across to the other island. Staring at the chasm beneath her, Dalia looks up from the pointy rocks to the swinging bridge. It's not that wide, barely more than half a foot of swinging boards that look like they'll break if she steps on them. She takes in the ominous aura of the entire area; from the wetness on the rocking boards to the strong, stone entrance that awaits them on the opposite side – her interest is piqued.
"Shit," Hurley murmurs, catching up to Dalia finally. "Should've done more obstacle courses, huh?"
She looks over to him, a teasing smile on her lips. "Come on, if Romi made it over there, we can too, right?" She hunches her shoulders momentarily, shrugging the backpack into position as she takes in a quick breath. "I'll go first."
She reaches down to wipe the bottom of her shoes quickly, hoping to make them as gripping as possible. Tightening her grip on her spear, she slowly approaches the bridge and steps one foot on it tentatively. Instantly, she can feel how wobbly and unstable it really is. Technically though, it's nothing she hasn't trained for. Once again, she thinks about her time at the academy – the years of scenarios that have prepared her for this exact moment. There's still a part of her that hopes her class is watching her right now and cheering her on, but she remembers that they're probably going overtime into training – especially since someone else has to take her place.
Another deep breath and she looks over her shoulder one more time to give a final nod to her two allies. Hurley nods back encouragingly and though Hibby doesn't say anything to give away her fear, her small hands are balled into tight fists by her side as she stares intently at the bridge. Looking back to the unstable bridge, Dalia estimates it's only a little over seven feet long. She's run on longer balance beams at the academy, she can do it.
The journey across feels like seconds, but she can feel every board tip and turn underneath her feet as she dashes across gracefully. Her stomach feels like it's been twisted and flipped by the time she reaches the archway of black stone on the other side. The darkness on the other side calls out to her and if it's not for her allies that she's waiting for, she would walk right in – and at that realization, the intrigue in her stomach is instantly replaced with nerve numbing fear. It crawls up her spine so suddenly she blacks out for a second, turning back around just in time to see Hibby slipping on the last wooden panel.
She reaches out quickly, gripping Hibby's forearm roughly and pulling her up before she can get acquainted with the rocky terrain poking through the soles of her shoes. As she's pulling Hibby into her side, Hurley comes over the bridge swiftly and runs a hand through his messy hair in such a way that reminds her of Eros. There's something about the smile of content that crosses his lips when he looks behind him in disbelief that reminds her of the boy that gave her her necklace, and she looks away from him when he meets her eyes.
