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Chapter Twenty

LACIE

Opening my eyes, I find my body barely balancing on a ledge that was exposed when the rocks fell from above.

Screaming , I scramble back against the rock face, my sudden movements making more of the loose dirt fall all around me.

Shaking all over, I have no idea how long I’ve been out.

Slowly , I try to push myself up against the rock wall so that I can see around me, only to bend over in agony when I realize my wrist is bent the wrong way and, of course, my comm unit is busted.

Grasping it tightly with my other hand, I take a moment to assess the rest of my body.

Right away, I notice a huge gash running down my leg, which has caused the lower part of my jumpsuit to be completely covered in blood.

With one hand, I slowly pull out the inner belt of this outfit, only to quickly realize that every move I make is loosening more dirt around me.

Closing my eyes, I try to push away the pain that seems to be radiating from every part of my body.

My arms are covered in deep scratches, my wrist …

I know it’s broken, my right leg doesn’t want to respond, and I’m missing a toenail.

Not to mention, I have dirt all over me.

It takes me several tries to tighten the belt around my leg with one hand, but I finally get it.

Leaning back, I look up, trying to see if there’s any way I can climb out of here, but even if I had both hands, the cliff is straight up and down.

Leaning over a little, I look for Eric …

Jeffrey , whoever the hell he is …was body, but I can’t see the bottom of the ravine.

Something warm running down my cheek has me reaching up, only for my fingers to come away with blood on them.

Disoriented and hurting all over, I barely turn my head before I vomit all over myself.

My vision dims as my head throbs. Knowing all the signs are ominous, I make myself take deep breaths as I settle back down on my butt.

Eric’s words echo through my thoughts, and I know he was right.

No one will even think to look for me, not for a while anyway.

Pushing myself up against the wall further, I do my best to straighten out my injured leg, hoping to stop the throbbing. “ Papaw , I’ve sure done it now,” I whisper out into the wind. Closing my eyes, I try to focus on the sounds around me.

I must have dozed off at some point because an extreme burst of air suddenly surrounds me, right before I hear one of the ships engage their thrusters. Looking up, I see a shuttle rising through the atmosphere, and it takes me a moment to recognize it.

It’s MeK’s ! ‘ He’s leaving me here … didn’t even try to find me … simply washed his hands of the human after he got what he wanted. I wonder if it will even bother him when they don’t find my body.’

The tears filling my eyes make it hard for me to see his ship disappearing through the atmosphere, but just as it does, a burst of pain explodes on my hip, making me grab my leg, and I grit my teeth together before screaming out,

“ HELP ME ! Please , … GOD , someone, hear me!”

A short time later, a couple of rocks fall from above me, sending my heart into my throat. “ HELLLLLOOOO , I’m here!” But peering over the side, looking down at me, is the kitten. He meows pitifully and then lays down, simply staring at me.

“ Oh , baby don’t stay here with me. One of us has to make it or all of this is for nothing.

” His pitiful little meow breaks what is left of my heart, and I literally fall apart as sobs wrack my torn and beaten body.

The only good thing is that when my time finally comes, I’ll be with Mamaw and Papaw , and I’ll never be alone again.

The hours creep by as there’s no real way of knowing how long I’ve been here or gone. Thankfully , my leg seems to have stopped bleeding, but I’m a mess. I’ve heard nothing from below me, so I have no idea if Eric / Jeffrey is alive or not, and to be honest, I don’t care either way.

Looking up, I can see my little buddy is still watching from above. “ Save yourself baby, go find some other little Suet’s to play with, but remember to never become too trusting, or you will end up like me. Hanging on a cliff wall, praying someone will come but doubting they will make it in time.”

I wonder how long it will take me to die here?

Should I take the belt off my leg and just let my body empty itself?

No , Papaw would never forgive me, so I’ll hang on as long as I can.

Every time I get depressed, I tell myself that I’m alone, but really, I’m not.

Briar won’t stop looking and she’ll tear this place apart piece by piece when she realizes I’m gone.

They’re coming, you just have to be strong a little longer, Lace …

I hear those words just as darkness claims me once again .