“You traitorous little shit!” Auntie had come out of nowhere and was standing in front of James, hatred blazing in her eyes. Brandon took the chance and ran at auntie but has he lept up to take her down the old woman swung around and they fought madly for control.
“You won’t pull that trick on me little boy!” With a jolt, Audrey realized that, somehow, Brandon had lost the grapple and the old woman flung him off her. Brandon hit the ground and lay there for a moment, the breath knocked out of him. James swiped Auntie’s feet smoothly out from under her and the old woman crashed to the ground. James took the opportunity to pin her to the ground but the old woman fought hard. Audrey tore her eyes away from the fight and saw Brandon struggling to his feet.
“Brandon! Get up!” She called to him. Her voice must have reached his ears because suddenly he was on his feet, shaking his head.
“Oof!” That was James. Auntie had kicked with her legs and threw him off of her, his body hitting the ground at the base of an old pine. There were two claw marks across his right cheek and arm but he didn’t bother with either. Blood trickled down his forearm and neck as he stood back up, getting into position once more. How difficult it must be to fight when you're blind. Auntie was back on her feet, too, her once neat braid now loose and falling out, long black strands of hair blowing in the wind as she panted. Nobody moved, nobody dared breath. The clouds overhead grew darker and more saturated with rain. Shadows crawled across the forest floor, and the wind became cold as ice. In a single breath everything went to hell. A bright, blinding light illuminated the dark forest, white and hot. There was a loud rattling boom that exploded around the four of them and the earth was violently pounded by a single claw of lightning. Everybody jumped back and in that instant something grabbed Audrey by her hair. She shrieked in pain as her head was violently yanked back and forced to her knees. She clawed at the fingers that held tightly to her but she couldn’t get them to let go. For an old woman, Auntie was shockingly fast, and strong. Fear sliced into Audrey as she knelt there in the dirt. James slowly took a step forward, arms out and head tilted to one side. He was listening, waiting for a chance to get strike.
"Let the girl go Baba." Auntie looked to James, a dark fire burning in her eyes.
"I'll deal with you next you little traitor. I hold your very soul in my hands. You can't betray me like this!" James took another step forward. Audrey's heart pounded erratically. He was so close. If only she could reach his outstretched hands. The fear was overwhelming and tears threatened to fall as she watched. I won't let anything happen to you… he promised her. She had to trust him. He wasn't going to let her die here. Auntie took a violent step back, yanking Audrey's head again. The girl let out a whimper and Auntie hissed.
"Stupid boy. You fell for her. You let the brat cast her own spells on you. But I know how to fix that." A wicked grin crossed Aunties face as she dragged the young girl to the edge of the gorge grunting with effort as Audrey fought her the whole time. The fire in her eyes seemed to blaze like hellfire. She was completely and utterly engulfed by the dark magic that burned through her. The shadows of the coven wrapped themselves tightly around the witch, whispering evil into her ears and driving her to the very limits of her sanity. Audrey wondered if Auntie even knew who she was or what she was doing anymore. Her own soul was lost to the oblivion of dark magic, never to see light again.
“No stop! Let go!” she dug her heels into the dirt but the more she resisted the more her scalp screamed in pain. Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she gasped in pain. Audrey could feel the ground starting to vanish under her feet, fear clutched her heart as she let out a terrified scream. The crazy old lady planned to throw her into the washout. Both boys jerked forward but the old lady was faster.
“James!” Audrey wailed as Auntie's hand released her. The whole world seemed to slow down as the sensation of freefall made Audrey's stomach clench painfully. Her eyes wide with shock, she looked up to see the tops of the trees swaying gently in a soft summer breeze. Was this going to be the last thing she saw? With a painful realization she thought to herself that nobody could save her now. Her fate was left to her creator. She saw James running towards her, his eyes stretched wide in terror, he was holding a hand out towards her in a desperate attempt to grab her before she vanished over the edge. He was screaming something to her but she couldn’t hear it, the only sound she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears. Suddenly, as if someone hit play on a remote, her body began it’s plummet to the ground below.
“Audrey!” That was James. His voice sounded panicked and far away. But Brandon’s didn’t. it sounded like it was right beside her as he shouted her name as well. Tree roots whipped her body and left stinging marks all over her. Something looped around her waist and when she realized it was Brandon’s arm her blood turned to ice. Suddenly the air was forced from her lungs as the two of them hit a large root. Their fall was stopped. The wind rushing past her came to an abrupt stop and her vision popped. She struggled to suck in air as pain shot through her chest and tears stung her eyes. She let out a choked sob as everything slowly came into view. When she finally got her bearings, Audrey carefully and painfully moved closer to the large wall of the washout. Every muscle in her body felt torn and all her ribs felt broken, yet she was thankful to be alive
“These trees are ancient! I’ve never seen roots this big before in my life!” Brandon called to Audrey as the two of them clung to the large rock wall. Audrey glanced around nervously, terrified that she’d fall again, and tried to think of a way to get back to safety. Something didn’t feel right though and with a rather painful jolt, she realized the root was bending under their weight.
James sat on his hands and knees at the edge of the washout, his heart aching as he replayed the terrified screams of Audrey falling to her death. She had called for him to save her as she was thrown off the cliff. She had screamed his name and he let her down. For the first time in years James could feel hot tears burning behind his eyes, threatening to escape. But his heart hurt so much and he couldn’t hold them back for much longer. Only when his ankle was grabbed tightly did he wipe his eyes and turn back at the witch. He kicked her hand away and stood up. He got into a defensive position and waited for the old woman to make a move.
“You knew it was going to happen. We’ve had it planned for five days James. Why do you look so upset? Did you really let that girl wrap you so tight around her finger?” James refused to speak to her. He had nothing he wanted to say, she was as good as dead to him now. And in a few moments she would join Audrey and Brandon at the bottom of the washout.
Audrey tried desperately to climb the side of the washout, the root under her feet slowly dipping downwards. Her whole body screamed in pain, but she refused to listen. She had to find a way up first. An ear splitting scream tore into the air and both her and Brandon froze. Suddenly something plummeted past them . Audrey felt dirt rain down on her and she looked up to see James, his shoulders squared and his eyes clouded with emotion.
“James! James help us please!” She could see his gaze snap down to her, clearly stunned to hear her and Brandon still alive. James quickly dropped to his stomach and reached down to grab her but Audrey was too short, there was five feet between her and James.
“It’s no use. I’m too short!” Without hesitating Brandon carefully crouched down and scooped her onto his shoulders. Very slowly he stood up, holding tightly to the dirt. As Audrey held her hands up to James, the root under Brandon’s feet bent further and panic started to rise in her throat. She couldn’t help but let out a sob as she desperately reached out to grab his hand.
“Don’t drop her this time!” Brandon yelled up to James before throwing Audrey over his head and vanishing from under her. Determined to never make the same mistake again, James snatched the young girl out of the air and pulled her back to safety. His arms ached from the dead lift but he gladly bore it if it meant keeping Audrey alive. When he finally hauled her onto solid ground they both collapsed. At first she lay still in his arms, clutching tightly to him as if she was scared he would throw her over the edge with the old woman. For a moment he marveled at the fact that he could see again. Audrey had beautiful Auburn hair that fell in waves around her face, tear stains streaked her cheeks as she cowered in his chest. She was gorgeous. But now wasn't the time for that. He let out a soft breath then she suddenly sat up and crawled over to the side of the washout. For a long time she stared down at the bottom of the washout. Her whole body started shaking violently and she cried loudly, screaming down to Brandon in hopes that he would hear her.
“Brandon get up! Please get up. You can’t leave me!” James felt his heart break in a new way and he bit his lip as he walked over to the edge. Below them, The old woman lay still on the ground, covered by her dress and shawl so her form was impossible to make out. But Brandon was plain to see. He lay on his back, arms and legs bent at unnatural angles as he stared blankly up at the shrouded sky. When he looked up Audrey was gone, He quickly spun around, trying to scope her out and saw that she had run to a less steeper part of the gorge and was sliding down the side. He dove after her and when he caught up she was panicking.
“Oh my god. The vision. This is what I saw in my vision. It came true. Auntie said it wouldn’t happen but it did! Oh Brandon no, please, no.” With shaking hands she pulled out her phone and called the police and when she hung up James spun her around.
“What are you going to tell them?” Audrey stared at him with large, red eyes. She seemed petrified for a moment then slowly she began to talk.
“I’ll tell them that Brandon and I were going for a walk in the woods when Auntie showed up and threw herself over the edge, dragging Brandon with her. I won’t mention you but you can’t be here when the police arrive. You have to go.” James soothingly stroked her hair, thinking of how much he wanted to fix everything.
"They'll never believe that Audrey." Then what am I supposed to say, huh?" Her voice broke as she shuddered, holding back fresh tears."
"Tell them they fell when going for a walk. Ok? It was all an accident." Audrey nodded, wiping her tears away.
“I’ll meet you at the hospital, alright?” Audrey's eyes widened in surprise.
“The hospital? You mean he’s still alive?” James nodded once.
“How do you know that?” He smiled softly at her and started to jog away, leaving the girl alone in the washout.
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