Oddly enough Bridge to Terabithia was on TV today. Strange, how you can watch a movie or read a story that you already now and still somehow hope for a different ending. Guess that is the hallmark of a good story.

Chapter 10

The shock of the icy water nearly took his breath away. It was like thousands of needles plunging into every part of his body. Instinctively he kept his mouth closed as he felt himself go under. The jolt of freezing cold was almost incapacitating. Water swirled all around him as he fought to find his way to the surface. Bursting through to the surface Kyle gasped for air. He furiously treaded water but felt himself hyperventilating. He had to get out of the water. The current was weak but the water was deeper than he expected. He just needed to swim to the bank. Kyle furiously swam for the nearest side but as soon as he stretched out his arm a searing pain shot through his shoulder and back. He screamed in pain and instantly took a mouthful of icy water. He plunged beneath the water, his body shaking involuntarily. His shoulder felt like it was on fire. For the briefest of moments Kyle focused his thoughts then shot for the surface. He coughed violently while clearing the water from his lungs. His left side was useless and his breathing labored; he had to get out of the water. Kicking with all his might Kyle stretched out his right arm and grabbed a tangle of branches caught up against a rock.

"Pull you bastard pull!" he screamed to himself. The pain was tearing into his side like a hot fire poker jabbing him repeatedly. He cried out as he pulled himself closer to the edge. Exhaustion was taking over and Kyle could feel the energy draining from his body. It would be so easy to let go, just let it all end. That's why he came here right? For God's sake just let go. There was no need for this to continue. He prepared for this; it was his time to die. Yet, everything inside him screamed to fight. He survived the hardest recruit training in the U.S. military, the school of infantry and a combat tour in a most unforgiving part of the world. He watched fellow Marines die, they were not given a choice but he was. Damned if he was going to die now. Kyle yanked himself as close to the shore as he could and wrapped his good arm to a strong, stable root sticking out of the water. Gasping for air Kyle looked up and saw that his troubles were only beginning. Getting up the bank was not going to be easy especially given the pain shooting through his body. The freezing temperature was sapping what little strength he had. Kyle knew his first priority was getting out of the water.

He took several deep breaths while clutching the root. The shivering grew uncontrollable as he felt his teeth grind together. The tangle of branches he clung to were unfortunately attached to a very steep side of the bank. Kyle would have to literally pull himself up a vertical wall of dirt. That wasn't going to happen. He looked downstream and saw a more favorable position. It offered a slope and just a sliver of a sandbar that would make getting out of the creek a bit easier. If he hugged the bank Kyle figured he could walk his way to the sandbar. The water was shallow enough along the edge. Immediately Kyle unlocked his grip on the branches and began to wade through the water towards his target. His clothing felt as though it weighed a ton but trying to shed it now would only waste time. Each step was a fight, each breath agony.

"Marines…survived the frozen Chosin…you can survive this." Kyle ignored the pain and surged forward, collapsing on the bank. He lay motionless trying desperately to catch his breath. The urge to close his eyes and just fall asleep was overpowering. Never in his life had he wanted to sleep so badly. A surge of pain raced through his ribs jolting him awake. His shoulder felt like it was on fire. Kyle groaned as he pulled the wool knit cap off his head. Rubbing his hand through his hair Kyle noticed there was more than just water dripping from his head. The blood on his hand was a bad sign. He quickly put the cap back on. It was all he could do to slow the bleeding. His thoughts were growing cloudy as a pounding sensation in his head joined the chorus of pain. He closed his eyes just for a moment. He needed to rest, get his strength then tackle the next obstacle.

"I know, I know" he muttered. "I got to keep moving." Slowly, Kyle sat up and rested on his knees. He peered at the slope in front of him. He could have climbed it easy when he was a kid. Of course he could have climbed it easy ten minutes ago. Now, with only one good arm, a searing pain in his ribs and a gash on his head it wasn't going to be so easy. However, to his advantage Mother Nature seemed to have carved out a few natural steps that would offer stable footing. One leg at a time he stood up and faced the challenge ahead of him. He carefully slid off his backpack and dropped it to the ground. It was too heavy in his weakened condition and he needed every advantage he could get." Kyle placed one foot into a step then the other on a conveniently placed rock. Using his good arm he grabbed firmly onto a sturdy root that snaked its way up the slope. Like a mountain climber he moved slowly, hugging tightly to the wall of dirt while carefully searching for a new position. He pulled with all his strength to gain another inch of ground as he found a new position. The sweat poured down his face and back which Kyle knew was only going to make his situation worse. Cold weather and sweat were a bad combination. If he didn't find his way out of this mess soon hypothermia would set in and the game would be over.

"Can't help but appreciate the irony," he laughed to himself. If he managed to survive this explaining the letters he left his family and friends not to mention the journal would prove interesting. "Sorry guys I changed my mind," he laughed again. "God I'm messed up." Kyle continued to climb but felt his good arm giving way. He clung to the dirt to give his arm a chance to rest. In the back of his mind he could hear the words of his drill instructor "encouraging" him. "Get mean Travis, get mean! Get nasty and beat that damn thing!" The words were real though Kyle couldn't remember at what point during recruit training they were said. In any case they were more effective this time. With a surge of anger Kyle pushed all pain and fear aside and surged upward. He climbed with a fury until he his head peeked above the top edge and he could see freedom. A few more feet and he would be out of the creek. Reaching over the edge he latched onto a fallen branch. With a primal scream he wrenched himself up and let his legs do the rest. Finally, he felt the comfort of solid ground beneath him.

Kyle rolled onto his back trying hard to catch his breath. His body, wracked with pain, cold and fatigue was shutting down.

"Just need to rest for a moment," he said closing his eyes. "Just for a moment."

"Leslie, why are we going to Terabithia?" Jess asked as he tried to keep up with her. "I mean it's not that I mind but now doesn't seem the best time."

"I told you I want to get something from the tree house. If it's still there that is."

"Well, what is it?"

"You'll see now keep moving. You're getting awfully slow Aarons. I'm going to give you a pair of running shoes for Christmas."

"That's good, they can keep the other two pair I have company." Leslie continued to pick up her pace. She knew Jess was irritated with the sudden change in plans. She couldn't really explain it but knew that if they could find what she was thinking of he would understand; well maybe he would. Either way time was not on their side. With a blizzard headed their way Leslie preferred to be nice and warm inside her parent's house and not caught outside once it arrived. They continued weaving their way through the familiar path to their childhood sanctuary. Leslie couldn't help notice the irony of returning to Terabithia for the second time in twenty-four hours after a near ten year absence. She never imagined that she would be trekking through these old woods with the closest friend she ever had. After years away in Los Angeles and traveling through Europe Lark Creek was all but gone save her family. Yet, now she couldn't imagine not having them all in her life.

"Leslie?" Jess asked curiously.

"Yeah?" she responded without stopping.

"Where exactly are you going?" Leslie stopped, turned and gave her boyfriend an irritated look.

"Jess, where do you think we're going?" she asked wondering what he was playing at.

"I know where we're going what I mean is why are you heading towards the rope?" Leslie stopped and looked around. Instinctively she naturally headed towards what used to be the only proper entrance into Terabithia. The bridge they discovered the day before never occurred to her.

"Sorry Jess, old habit I guess." She thought for a moment of all the time they spent running through these woods, swinging across the creek on their enchanted rope; there were virtually no pictures of their cherished hideaway. Other than their memories which were subject to forgetfulness she couldn't remember a single picture of their kingdom. "Let's get a picture of the rope" she said pulling out her phone. Leslie quickly headed towards the familiar site with Jess following a bit slowly.

"A picture?" he asked as he began to search for his own phone. "Just a picture of the rope by itself?"

"We can be in the picture as well" Leslie countered. "The camera on my phone has a timer."

"Really?" Jess was genuinely amazed at this information.

"What kind of phone do you have?" Leslie turned with an odd look.

"The kind that dials numbers and allows people to call me, you know a phone."

"Funny, Jess." Truth was Jess didn't really know all the features on his cell phone. The camera may very well have a timer but he didn't know. He rarely used the features he considered excessive. While he began to search through his mobile device to see just what it was capable of he failed to notice Leslie had stopped.

"Whoa sorry Leslie" he said bumping into her. "What's the hold up?" Leslie didn't reply. She was staring across the creek. Her eyes were locked on something. "Leslie what is it?"

"Jess, the rope…look." she said pointing. Jess turned and finally realized what transfixed his girlfriend. The rope, a crucial foundation of their early friendship, the only true way into their magical kingdom was broke. The torn and tattered piece that remained swayed eerily with the wind. The rope had always been there. From that initial discovery on that wonderful day through all the adventures of their childhood the rope was a symbol of their friendship. Just yesterday Leslie was prepared to swing across it again. She wanted to take that plunge and remember what it felt like to be a kid. If she had would the rope have snapped? What would have happened to her? She could have died.

"Somebody swung across, there's no other way it could have snapped apart like that." Jess said as he walked slowly towards the edge. Leslie followed her heart beating faster. She didn't want to think of what could be in the creek.

"Jess, what if some kids found the rope just like we did. What if they were swinging across?" Jess looked back at her and motioned for her to take his hand.

"Let's keep positive okay. Maybe nothing bad happened." He knew it was a foolish thing to say. A fall off the rope while swinging across could easily injure a person not to mention kill. "See if you have any reception on your phone out here." They both peered over the edge and looked into the frigid water. A feeling of relief and fear swept over them.

"They could've been swept downstream we have to look. Somebody went into the water Jess." Jess nodded in agreement and they skirted along the edge following the current. They looked for any signs of a person. There had to be something. Weaving through the trees they scanned the creek and saw a disturbing sight.

"Look, there's the rope" Jess said as he directed Leslies gaze toward a tangle of branches sticking out of the water. The rope was caught up in a mess of vines and seemed incapable of freeing itself. There was something sad about it. It was confirmation that a part of their lives was forever gone. For the briefest of moments Jess thought of trying to free the rope and at least get it out of the water. He didn't want to let it simply vanish from their lives. Looking at the water, feeling the cold breeze he quickly dismissed the thought.

"Oh no" Leslie said as she quickly darted off along the edge.

"Leslie?" Jess called chasing after her.

"A backpack" she said solemnly. It was obvious from the disturbed nature of the sandbar somebody had been there. "They must have climbed out but why did they leave the backpack?"

"I don't know, maybe they couldn't carry it or just didn't care. The problem is we don't know when this happened. They could be gone by now."

"I don't know Jess, soaking wet in this cold. I don't know how far they would get."

"We need to call 911 Leslie. If there is somebody out here they're going to need help. I don't know how much good we can do them by ourselves."

"Well go ahead and call I'm going to keep looking. The sooner we find this person the better." Leslie said as she continued moving through the brush.

"Leslie, wait," Jess called out as he chased after her. Pulling out his phone not only did he not have any clear reception his battery was dead. "Well, my phone is dead. I hope your phone is working."

"Jess" Leslie almost whispered. "There he is." Only a few hundred feet in front of them was a lone figure walking slowly. He seemed to be talking to himself though they were not sure.

"Is he talking to somebody?" Jess asked.

"He could have a head injury. Come on we have to help him." Leslie started to run towards the man with Jess following. "Sir, are you okay?" Leslie called out. The man came to an abrupt stop and Leslie and Jess did the same.

"What do you mean they're here?" the man seemed to question an invisible visitor. "Who are they?"

Jess and Leslie looked at one another in shock. They knew that voice as well as they knew each other. It couldn't be him. What would he be doing out here?

"Kyle?" Leslie called out running to him. The man slowly turned and that familiar face came into view. "Oh my God!" Their friend, their childhood companion was the victim of the very rope that gave them countless hours of adventures. He was pale, blood dripping down one side of his face and shivering uncontrollably.

"Flores… said you guys were here" Kyle said smiling. "I thought he was just… bullshitting me again," Leslie and Jess gave each other a look before focusing back on their friend. Clearly hypothermia was already setting in.

"Kyle how long have you been out here?" Jess asked.

"I…I don't know. I uh…I fell asleep I think…after I got out of the creek. Where did Flores go?"

"Kyle I need to look at the wound to your head okay?" Leslie spoke slowly. She gently removed his knit cap and given his high and tight haircut the wound was easy to see. The cut wasn't deep but bled nonetheless. Leslie quickly removed her scarf and made a makeshift bandage out of it. When she looked into his eyes he seemed to be seeing something else. Clearly confused but it was as though he was halfway in one world and halfway in another.

"Careful of my arm" Kyle said motioning to his left side. "I tore the hell out of my shoulder. Probably broke a rib or two." He seemed more lucid now. The glaze in his eyes faded somewhat.

"Okay, we're going to take off that coat real slow okay" Jess said as he pulled one side and Leslie the other. Kyle winced in pain but urged them to continue. His shirt, however, posed another problem. Drenched in icy water it clung to his body like a wetsuit. There was no way they could remove it without causing him incredible pain. Unless…

"Don't suppose you have a pocket knife?" Leslie asked Jess as she wiped blood off Kyle's face.

"Sorry, I don't."

"No worries," Kyle said reaching into his pocket. "You can use mine." Noting the surprise in his friends face Kyle nonchalantly commented, "I'm a Marine, we're like the boy scouts, you know always prepared. We just happen to kill people." Leslie couldn't suppress a smile as she took the knife. She carefully started cutting the shirt starting at the collar. It was evident Kyle kept the knife very sharp as it sliced through his shirt with little effort. Kyle was shivering so badly Leslie feared she was going to cut him. Once the shirt was cut they peeled it off like a banana peel. Though he didn't say a word Kyle was clearly in pain. His shoulder was swollen. When he fell it was obvious his shoulder and side took the brunt of the hit. However, the blow to his head worried Leslie and Jess more.

"Kyle, were going to wrap my coat around you," Jess said removing his heavy coat. "It should warm you up." As they wrapped the garment around their friend Leslie noticed several scars across his good arm. They looked like little craters spread across the skin. Each crater had the undeniable scar of having been stitched up. She didn't want to begin thinking about how those wounds came about. Right now they had to get their friend medical attention.

"Dammit!" Leslie cursed. "I've got no signal on my phone out here."

"Let's just get moving we can call for help once we get back to the main road," Jess said taking Kyle's good arm and hoisting it around his shoulder.

"No, one of us needs to run back and get help" Leslie interjected. "The other can stay and help get Kyle back to the road."

"My legs are fine Les." Kyle said trying to summon up all his strength.

"Yeah, but the rest of you isn't. You can't move fast Kyle and you can't afford to wait much longer for help. You know that better than us." Neither Jess nor Leslie wanted to split up but it was clearly the rational decision. "Jess, I'm a better runner and you're physically stronger. You can help Kyle better by staying with him and I'll do better running for help." Leslie was clearly in charge and Jess knew there was no point in arguing with her; besides she was right.

"You're officer material Les," Kyle said managing a smile. Leslie blushed and Jess laughed. It was a reminder of their high school days. Countless times the trio lounged around on a Saturday debating what they were going to do; generally Leslie proved the decision maker. Jess and Kyle could sit in front of a TV all day deciding on what to do without ever actually thinking about what to do. Leslie had little patience for that. In a situation as critical as this there was no time for debate and Leslie knew it. Kyle and Jess watched as she sped off through the trees moving like a gazelle until finally out of sight. "Don't worry Jess she'll be fine."

"I know," Jess replied. He couldn't help but worry though. What if she tripped and broke her ankle? What if she fell and hit her head? He wouldn't be there to help here. Obviously he was being overly concerned. Besides, Kyle was right. Of the three Leslie was the angel without fear. She would have help on the scene before they even made it out of the woods. "Come on let's get moving."

Leslie pushed herself up the hill as she emerged from the woods. Her legs were burning as she fought her way uphill in far too much winter clothing. To add to the challenge the boots she wore were not exactly ideal for running. Truth be told Leslie did far less running in the last year or so. With a hectic schedule she found herself making less time for the activity she loved so much. However, that didn't mean her fitness suffered. She simply found a new outlet for physical exertion, kickboxing and surfing. She couldn't wait to get Jess on a surf board. Of course that would have to wait. Trudging up an ever increasingly slippery slope was taxing her but she didn't stop. Leslie noticed before taking off that Kyle stopped shivering, a bad sign. His body was no longer fighting to stay warm, it was shutting down. Combined with the disorientation Kyle was showing obvious signs of hypothermia. She couldn't imagine her friend surviving a war only to be killed by a rope she and Jess swung on hundreds of times. Why was Kyle even out here? He knew nothing of Terabithia and the trio never went to the woods together. From the look of things he was out and about quite early. Though she had her suspicion she pushed it aside and focused on getting help.

It wasn't long before the broken gate was in site. Leslie felt the sweat trickling down her back as she fought to keep her footing. Breathing heavily she flew through the gate and directly onto a small sheet of ice expertly camouflaged by Mother Nature. Leslie's feet slipped out from under her and she slammed into the frozen ground back first. A loud involuntary groan escaped her mouth along with the air in her lungs. Suddenly she was fighting for air. A wave of panic overcame her before she realized the fall knocked the wind out of her. Leslie knew it would pass but that didn't make it any easier. She rolled onto her side, calmed herself for a moment then struggled to her feet. After several minutes her breathing returned to normal though she had a nasty pain in her back. Slowly walking again Leslie reached into her pocket for her cell phone.

"You've got to be kidding me," she said in disbelief. "Please, tell me this isn't happening." The formerly smooth, glossy screen of her phone was shattered. Off all the times she had dropped the thing it chooses now to break? Though it still had power the touch screen didn't work. The fall did more than knock the air out of her it destroyed her lifeline to secure help. Her fear was quickly being replaced by anger. Kyle was literally facing death if he didn't get medical attention; all the result of falling from a rope she herself nearly used the day before. It seemed the weather and her own clumsiness were somehow part of fates plan to prevent help from arriving. "Well I can still run." Leslie started jogging still fighting the pain in her back. "Faster Leslie faster," she growled breaking out into a full sprint. Her lungs were burning, her legs ached but she pushed harder. The road back to her parent's house seemed oddly much longer than it did only an hour earlier. That was the pain taking over. Leslie knew she was almost there. The old spot where she and Jess ditched their backpacks on their way to Terabithia was in sight. Just around the corner Leslie saw her parent's car and Jess's pick-up truck. She was home.