palm. Jak took it, dropping it into his pocket fast. His heart was thumping so hard it felt like it might jump right from his chest, but that feeling of being underwater stayed. His mind grabbed for something to hold his thoughts still.
I can’t think. I can’t think. Why can’t I think? His baka had told him he was a “smart monkey too big for little britches,” and she had said it with a frown on her face, but in the way that made him think she was happy with him anyway. But he didn’t feel smart now. He felt . . . scared out of his mind.
Jak gave a quick look over the cliff and saw that even though it wasn’t a straight drop, it was far down to the bottom. Really, really far down. He didn’t know how to describe it in numbers, but he was smart enough to know that if he jumped to get away, he would die. The only rule is to survive. Or die.
Why? Whywhywhy? This can’t be real. This can’t be real.
A cracking sound exploded around them, making Jak cry out in shock and terror. But before he could question where the noise was coming from, he felt a gust of cold air and then the ground started to move. Slide. The snow went out from under his feet and he slid forward, grabbing at the empty air for something to hold on to. But there was nothing.
He heard the bad man yell something and then he yelled too, along with the screams of the other boys as they all slid over the edge in an explosion of white powder.
His thoughts were still slow. Everything was slow . . . but then he was awake suddenly. He could hear every fast beat of his heart. He could feel the stinging of the wind as it hit his face, and he could smell something green that he couldn’t name any better than that.
Someone grabbed his hand. The small boy next to him. Their eyes met for one quick second, the dark-haired boy’s gaze filled with the same fear that must be in his own. With a grunt of strength, he turned his body as the world dropped out from under them, putting his hand on the other boy’s wrist and holding on tight, so they were falling together.
They whirled and tumbled and hit something solid—a piece of ground—with a loud grunt and a short scream. Pain exploded through Jak’s body. He felt the other boy’s hold loosen, so he gripped harder, and they kept going down, down, still holding on to each other.
Tumble, roll, fall, hit. Pain.
So fast. They were flying so fast. He couldn’t catch hold of anything, his empty hand reaching, grabbing, slipping.
Smack. They both yelled as they landed on a small ledge, immediately flipping off, their empty hands shooting out and catching hold of the edge.
Do you have a will to survive?
Yes!
We can do this. We can do this.
They stared, tears streaking down the smaller boy’s cheeks, their breath coming out in sharp pants. The other two boys raced past them, their screams echoing into the dark nothingness below.
Jak’s lungs hurt with every breath and his body screamed in pain. Terror grabbed him. All his feelings were suddenly real. He felt real, not underwater anymore, not half-asleep, and it was an awful, terrifying wake up.
Still gripping the other boy’s hand, he raised them both, grabbing the side of the ledge so they were each holding on with both hands. In a quick glance, he saw that the ledge was too small for two boys, but there was a skinny tree root next to it that looked like it might lead to stronger ground. A chance. A small, small chance.
From the low light of the moon, Jak saw that the boy’s large eyes were starting to close, blood streamed from his nose, his face was bruised and bloody, and his head was rolling on his neck like he might fall asleep. His arms were shaking, his fingertips dark with holding on. Oh God.
Don’t use the Lord’s name in vain. Where you hear that expression? That fat, stinky mailman?
His baka’s voice in his head gave him a small burst of strength and he gripped tighter, knowing he could pull himself up if he tried. The ledge though, it was only big enough for one. The boy’s half-closed eyes met his, his mouth opening a little, blood trailing.