10 Arms When I Couldn't Reach

I lost my faith, you gave it back to me. You said no star was out of reach. You stood by me and I stood tall. I had your love I had it all. I'm crazy for each day with you. Baby I don't know that much, but I know this much is true: I was blessed because I was loved by you...

Chandler gasped and raised his voice in shock, "Joey!" He yelled in fear. Joey was lying on a flat rock surface, his arms were stretched out and his hands met behind his head where they were tied. Chandler saw that Joey was in a worse state than before, his shirt and jeans were completely torn to shreds, and he was bleeding freshly from his forehead and side. He was soaked in his own blood on one side, and onto his legs. His eyes were dreary but desperate,

"Chandler..." he could hardly speak anymore. Chandler sat next to him, his hands were shaking and he grabbed Chandler's shirt to still them. "Why are his hands tied up...?" He yelled at the wolf, still looking down at the ground. The wolf blinked a few times to seem as if it was impressed, "Well you see, Chandler..."

The wolf looked down its nose as it spoke, "I still have to show you the other part of the deal." Then, before Chandler had time to think, the wolf leaped onto the ground before him, and stood near the end of Joey's feet, where he let out a long and powerful howl. The howl bellowed through the tunnel chambers and into Chandler's ears like a very expressive migraine. Chandler had to clasp his ears for a moment with his hands. In a split second almost, the ground fell open like a giant trapdoor, exposing a dark and horrifying emptiness below.

Chandler managed to leap out of the way of the destruction, leaving Joey to fall into the depths. of the underworld. His hands were tied still and his fists were caught tightly by the straining rope. Chandler stood at the foot of what seemed like an endless death pit, staring at Joey, hanging from the rope, still extended to the other side. He did not know what was keeping it from hurling off the edge. Joey looked quickly down, and then closed in eyes in terror. His face was nestled stiffly into his right shoulder as he dared not look at all. His legs were waving apart from each other to the certain death scene. He looked suddenly to Chandler, to realize he was still crouching by the edge. Chandler stretched out a shivering arm, "Hang on. I almost gotcha. Do not look down!"

Chandler forced himself not to give in to his emotions; he looked around for a secure foothold so he could get to Joey. Joey felt he was unable to move, or cooperate in helping his friend. He was wimpering pathetically into his shirt now, "Chandler, go quick! This is a trap, get outta here!" Chandler shook his head, "No, I will not leave you now..." He began to whimper a little under his breath. Then the wolf appeared out of the shadows, "Need any help?" It said, in apathy of seeing the two friends become bate for his trap. Chandler tightened up, "You! What the hell do you want from us?" He could feel his throat begin to burn. The wolf remained calm, "I want for you to contribute..." As it said so, it motioned for Chandler to look at the rope. The cliff edge was cutting into the rope, causing it slowly to fray. Chandler watched in horror from the opposite ledge. The wolf was still as unconcerned as before, "You will find for me... the stone." It sniffed the air with its eyes on Chandler, waiting for a reply. "Stone? I'll get a stone, any stone...Just stop this!" Chandler yelled in confusion. The rope continued to fray until one section of it was freed, and the rope dropped a centimetre. Joey yelled, his abused heart was racing.

Chandler tried quickly to reason with the wolf, "It's a deal, help him!" The wolf did not move, "Well what are you doing? Pull him out!" Chandler urged. Then the rope cut through, completely. Joey felt the gravity cling to his stomach, and his hands, still tied, dropped after him. Chandler immediately lunged at the rope, and managed to grip it with both hands, his body thrown to the ground. He struggled to keep hold of the rope but could feel the weight of Joey pulling him down into the darkness below. Joey was stunned to notice he had been caught from falling any farther, he whimpered under his breath, "Chandler, let go...I'm gonna pull you down with me." He grimaced as his mind tortured him to speak these words. Chandler pulled as hard as he could; it was obvious in his mind, that if Joey were to go down, he would go with him. "No! I've gotcha."

He forced his legs back up and fixed his feet firmly on the ground. He took one mighty heave at the rope. Joey felt the strain on his arms as they were being levered up, and the rope digging tightly into his wrists. He tried with will power as hard as he could to get back onto the ground. He dug with his feet onto the wall behind him, to lessen the strain of the rope and to get himself out of there quicker. Joey was pulled far enough out that his legs were still hanging over the edge. Chandler then pulled his legs up manually; he leant forward to regain his breath for a moment, while he untied Joey's wrists. The cave seemed unsettlingly quiet, as the wolf watched in apathy at the two. It then perked its ears unnervingly and sniffed the air. Chandler saw its odd behaviour,

"What's up with you?"He was still angry at the creature. The wolf did not answer but began to move away, glancing in their direction nervously. Chandler, who thought the wolf was a wacko anyway, thought there was nothing happening for a moment, until he too began to feel a strange sensation in the ground. He was suddenly reminded of the apartment, and the way it shook before the walls caved in. The whole place was soon a disaster area, it was not long until there came the thundering of falling rocks. The ground broke up into brittle sections, spreading quickly out from the gap near Chandler and Joey. "Joey, get up!" Chandler grabbed Joey and seized him under his arm. Joey pulled himself to his feet and forced his legs to move with Chandler's. They both ran under the falling rocks, some as big as their heads. Chandler was looking up as he ran, dodging them as best he could. Several rocks about the size of his fist rained down onto his shoulders and onto Joey, but he kept moving constantly, until they reached the familiar heart of the cave.

Chandler thought quickly about which route to take back, but had got disorientated in the hurry. With no time to waste, he dragged Joey quickly through the tunnel entrance nearest to him. He could see light on the other side. Chandler could feel the weight of Joey becoming heavier on his shoulder, forcing him to slow his pace. Joey struggled to keep up with Chandler, the pain from his injuries was seething and becoming harder to cope with. The rocks and boulders crashed ferociously behind them, building a blockage through the tunnel, and chasing them to the light ahead. When Chandler was within reach of the light, he stretched out an arm in front as he ran, touching its celestial shimmer. The setting sun was shedding its last beam of light for the day.

Chandler took one last acceleration, the full weight of Joey with him, and took a leap for freedom. The rocks behind crashed to the ground and rolled into one another. The entrance to the tunnel cave broke into clusters and collapsed, leaving a cloud of angry smoke behind. Chandler was still moving, there was a steep downhill slope at his feet. He secured his hold of Chandler and took a step down the rock-exposed hill. Then his hands slipped as the weight of Joey gained on him. He almost dropped him, but managed to get a hold under his shoulders and began to pull him down the hill. Chandler's arms were burning at the effort. His sweat-covered head was pulsating and his legs were begging him for a rest. A nearby acacia tree provided a little shelter, and Chandler had stopped for a rest once they were there. They were lucky enough to have gotten here before nightfall, and could still vaguely see what was in front of them.

Chandler looked around restlessly beside the tree; there was a small water hole a few feet away from the shaded area. He suddenly jumped up in excitement and leaped for the water. He threw his face into the cool liquid and splashed with his hands in pleasure. He drank several gallons of it, then took a scoop on his hands and brought it to Joey who was lying still. His mouth was open, gulping air like a freshly caught fish. Chandler showered Joey's hot face with the water, and laughed at the opportunity. Joey laughed in surprise at the relief of the cooling water, "Water! Where is it?" He sat up to lean on the tree. Chandler broke into laughter as he went for more water, and this time Joey edged himself to the waterhole for a drink. He submerged his face into the water fully, and took it out; shaking his dripping wet hair onto Chandler who was cracking up in amusement. Chandler took off his shoes to relieve his aching feet, and cooled them in the water. Joey let himself fall back into the grass, inhaling the sweet pleasurable air. Chandler put on his shoes to join him.

In the distance the rumbling of the rocks had died down and they were left with the stillness of the surrounding trees.

Occasionally a bird would skate across the sky accompanied by a peaceful song. Chandler let the cooling breeze stroke his face and hair, as he closed his eyes in thought. Joey tried to ignore the seething pain in his side and forehead, "Thanks for saving me Chandler." He said quietly. Chandler smiled and took a deep breath; he opened his mouth to say something, but broke into laughter. He stared at Joey for a moment, and then grinned, "This is a crazy world, huh?" He said in the height of the moment. Chandler calmed down and stared again at the endless sky, "That's true..." He thought out loud. Then they both took a deep breath and thought for a long time as the sun disappeared off the horizon.