Escape Along a Cliff's Edge

Jocelyn could feel the pain creeping up her arm. Maybe I should have stayed in that fire. Asphyxiation has to be less painful than this. The flames still danced out over the cliff’s edge, drawing sweat through every inch of clothing she wore. Looking toward the vines dangling off the cliff just a few feet away, she wished she’d thought to kick off her boots before she swung over the lip. The weight was pulling on her, forcing her attention back to the gash in her arm.

Just a little bit farther. Bracing herself against the rock face, she inched her injured arm across loose gravel until it found her healthier arm. Then, she slid her healthier arm out. She’d probably been crawling along for no more than five minutes, but the burning in her arm made it feel like hours. If she reached out her leg, she’d be able to touch the nearest clump of vines. Grunting, she pushed herself to keep going.

Shouts above encouraged her. If they see me, I’m hosed. She had no delusions about just how lucky she, a sixteen-year-old girl, was to get away from half a dozen mercenaries. She picked up her pace as much as her arm would allow, but the exertion was wearing her down quickly.

Finally, the first vines were within reach. As she reached out, she realized she hadn’t thought her plan through. Most vines wouldn’t support her weight, and it was long way down. Maybe if I can find a sturdy bundle… She grasped at a few of the closest vines, realizing most of them were too thin to be of any hope. The shouts from the edge were coming closer. Come on. Help me out. She found some vines that were too thick for her to get her hand around before finally finding one she thought she could get a good hold on. Gun fire started raining around her as she shimmied into the vines and started lowering herself.

Between the dew and her sweat, though, the vine proved too slick, and she kept losing traction, sliding several feet in stops and starts. The guns were still going, but she was out of their range before too long. If they’d hit me, this would have been over. Her arm was starting to feel numb, making it harder to get anywhere.

And then the vine snapped. Jocelyn looked up. The gunfire had been turned on the vines themselves, and hers had been severed. She tried to relax as she fell through the air, hugging her arm against her chest as if that would do any good when she hit the ground way too fast.

But the ground was closer than she thought, and landing knocked the wind out of her. She heard a sickening snap, and lay there trying to catch her breath.