“****!” curses Aaron. He tumbles down the mountain, dirt and fallen leaves entangle themselves onto Aaron as he rolls down the mountain like a rolling log. Before he’s launched off the cliff into the protruding rocks, he manages to grab on to a ledge. His legs are hanging off the mountain. Below is a deep drop to the spear-like rocks that protrude from the bottom of Thanatos Mountain. Aaron has fought his hardest to climb Thanatos Mountain for both me and Charlotte. But because of the climb, he’s too exhausted to pull himself up. A hundred-foot drop awaits him if he’s unable to hold on.

The rustling of the leaves from the bushes catches my eye. Emerging from the shadows, right on time is none other than Jaylen.

“Jaylen!” cries Aaron. “You must have come to cheer me on! I almost made it! Help me up so I can help out Charlotte and Mallory! Let’s do this together, like old times!”

Jaylen’s face darkens, full of rage. Jaylen stomps up to Aaron and puts his foot onto Aaron’s hand.

“Why haven’t you died yet?!” screams Jaylen.

With a shocked and confused look on Aaron’s face, he replies, “Huh?” Tension continues to build up as Jaylen pushes Aaron’s hand slightly closer to the edge of the ledge.

“I spent five years!” starts Jaylen between his teeth. “FIVE YEARS planning this. It would have been better if you had just blown off with the wind or died of hypothermia like every other climber who has ever attempted to climbed Thanatos Mountain. Give it back…” Jaylen digs his foot into Aaron’s hand. Aaron winces in pain. “Give back what you have stolen from me!”

“Easy, easy,” Aaron says with the straightest face he can muster in this situation. “What did I st—”

“I’ve loved her ever since I met her,” Jaylen cuts in. “The only reason I ever hung out with you and Mal is because of her. She was my everything and you, YOU took her away from me! Charlotte is mine and mine alone!”

“Jaylen, stop this!” I try to throw him off Aaron’s hand but just go right through him.

“I-I never knew,” Aaron squeaks. “You’ve never shown any real interest.”

“Well now you do,” Jaylen says. “I’ve loved her way longer than you. So just die and let us live together like it should have been.”

“Jaylen, listen—” starts Aaron

“No Jaylen-listen-to-me bit!” Jaylen screams. “I didn’t want to kill you myself out of Charlotte’s feelings, but if you won’t die then I have no choice!”

“NO!” I scream, trying once again to stop Jaylen, but before I can, Jaylen uses his foot to kick off Aaron’s hands.

Aaron falls, tears running down his face. I try to grab Aaron’s hand as he falls, but even with my fast legs, I’m too late. He falls straight down onto the protruded rocks below. The rocks pierce through his body as if he was only paper. His blood splatters everywhere, painting the side of the mountain red. This is truly the mountain climber’s cemetery.

I bet Aaron never expected to be betrayed by one of his best friends. Neither did I. I thought that Jaylen was my friend too, but maybe it was all just to get close to Charlotte. The days we spent together as friends; did they really mean nothing to you, Jaylen?

After I was diagnosed with an abnormal heart condition, Jaylen was always the first to rush to the hospital to see me. He would often see me off before I went into surgery and the first person I saw when I would wake up afterward. Even when Charlotte wasn’t around, I never noticed Jaylen ever act differently towards me nor Aaron. He respected both of us in our own quirky ways and we did the same. I just can’t believe the words coming from his mouth are what he truly feels.

Seconds tick by before Jaylen falls to his knees. Tears are rolling down his cheeks out of his own control.

“I-I did it…I did it…” Jaylen starts. He stops for a moment and looks up to the setting sun. “Then why do I feel so bad?”