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Alessio’s head bobbed up to look at the hole. He was quiet for just a moment when he let out a laugh. The laugh of a madman. He shook his head and gave a false grin, hate sparked in his eyes as he looked at Nithel. “That’s a joke, right?”

Nithel’s chest burned with pain, and the light in his eyes went away.  He set his jaw, already trying to work up excuses for Alessio.

“Fine.” Alessio spat, shaking off Nithel’s arm. He was up on the wall, climbing like a veritable monkey, sparks flickering on his hands. He was gone. Inside the hole. He’d left Nithel.

Nithel’s stomach tightened, and doubts assail him. The image he’d had of the two of them helping each other up to the crevice vanished. Nithel’s mind continued trying to form an excuse for the boy, and though there were many, none took away the sting. Nithel wouldn’t let the tears that had fallen, just minutes before, touch his eyes.

Nithel tries to breathe, then feels along the large stones for a handhold. He’s just started scaling when he hears Alessio cry out. The sound echoed back.

Nithel swallowed hard and his heart raced. He worked steadily, but with urgency, imagining falling and how much longer it would take to reach Alessio. Several moments passed before Nithel groaned and got a hand over the ledge. He dragged his chest up. The walls brushed both his shoulders and touched his raised head when he was on his chest. Sweat lines his hair, and though he wouldn’t relish the tight space, that wasn’t where his mind was.

He thought he saw a flicker of light. But it was far ahead.

—–

@this-is-not-an-alien (You’re fine!)