Chapter 18
The door vanished as soon as they entered, leaving Jenny and Dee on what felt like a flat plain covered in thick mist. The mist stretched into the distance and surrounded Jenny, obscuring her vision. It was very cold. Jenny could see her breath in front of her. It was an odd feeling not knowing what they were walking on and where they were heading, but slowly Jenny and Dee inched forwards, holding each other hands. About a 100 yards ahead the mist thinned and Jenny could finally see what they were standing on.
Her head reeled. They were on a high cliff that dropped sharply on either side into a never ending abyss. The path that Dee and Jenny were on narrowed as it went forward, leaving space ahead for two people to walk side by side only. It was a miracle that her and Dee hadn't fallen of the sides already, but something, instinct probably, had made them walk straight, close to each other. Right now the only thing that kept Jenny from stumbling was Dee's strong arm supporting her. "Okay Jenny" Dee said calmly, this part is definitely your fear. But look, it gets broader over the far side, so we just have to make it across this bit and we'll be fine okay." "Okay Jenny said trembling. She was so cold her teeth were chattering. But she gripped Dee's arms firmly and put one foot forward. "Okay now the other one" Dee said gently, but commandingly.
Slowly they inched their way forwards stopping at intervals to catch their breath. They were so high up that the altitude made it hard to breathe and Jenny's lungs ached with the effort. They were nearing what looked like the halfway point when the ground lurched- just slightly. Jenny almost thought she had imagined it till she looked around, and then her head reeled. The centre of the cliff had split away from the edges, breaking into small islands, about 3 feet by 3 feet in size. Each had separated from each other so that they looked like tiny stepping stones set in a sea of mist. The mist obscured how far the drop was, but Jenny's imagination made up for it. The fall could go on and on forever, plunging into infinity.
She could feel her legs go weak, like jelly, and would have given up there and then if Dee hadn't been with her, supporting her up. She was encouraging Jenny while simultaneously cursing Julian and Jenny smiled despite herself. Only Dee could remain so focused and antagonistic in situations like these, and Jenny was overwhelmingly glad she had Dee with her.
"Okay its bad" Dee was saying, "But the gaps are small enough for us to leap over" Jenny just looked at her, as if she were mad. They were 2 islands away from the other side and she knew there was no way she could make that jump twice. "Come on Jenny!" Dee said wickedly, "make it happen, we have to do it anyway" "No we don't" Jenny said desperately, still resisting. "We don't have to do it at all." Large waves of panic were engulfing her and Jenny had the strongest urge to look down. But she couldn't, because if she did, she would lose her head completely and then there was no telling what she would do.
"Yes we do Jenny" Dee was saying, "Look we're near the end, we just have two islands to jump over before we reach the other side so-" Dee stopped abruptly, looking behind her. Jenny looked too. There had been a low growling sound and, in the thick mist on the far side of the cliff, where Jenny and Dee had come in, there was a brief flicker of movement. Jenny squinted her eyes, trying to make out what it was. It looked like an animal. What else would be crawling on the floor like that.
She peered again as the shape slowly came into view, out of the thick mist and then Jenny felt her eyes go wide. Like a deer. It was a large snow leopard. Its fur was pure white and gleaming, so it looked almost silver in the hazy mist. Its eyes glowed amber, with a ferocity that Jenny could see even from where she was. it didn't look like it had any mercy to appeal too. As Jenny looked on, more shapes appeared in the mist and 2 more leopards emerged, coming to a stand alongside the first. One of them, Jenny noticed, had bright blue eyes.
"I think" Dee said, her voice taut, "That this is where my nightmare comes in." Jenny looked at her. Dee was breathing hard, her sculpted face set in what looked like steely determination. "You're scared of leopards" Jenny asked her, "not as such" Dee muttered back, voice still tight with control, "they are the perfect hunters though. Once they set their sights on you – " Dee broke off. "They're unmatched in speed and no amount of training can beat it. They're natural athletes. That's what worries me about them. I can't beat them on my own." "Oh" Jenny said weakly, "Which means…" "We're going to have to run and fast" Dee said swiftly. Jenny looked back at the leopards. They were staring malevolently at Dee and herself, tails flicking lazily back and forth, as if sizing up their prey. Suddenly, without warning, the one with blue eyes leapt forwards onto the first island, the other 2 following swiftly behind with cat-like agility. There was deadly intent in their eyes and Jenny felt a stab of pure fear.
Galvanized into action, Dee looked straight at Jenny and said , "Okay I'm going to jump over first, then you follow so I can help you okay?" She looked Jenny in the eyes earnestly, "It means I'm going to leave you Jenny, you have to jump when I say so okay? Jenny nodded wildly. Dee let go of her then and moving to the edge of the island, bent her left leg and propelled herself onto the other island, landing squarely in the middle. Without stopping to steady herself Dee turned around and yelled, "okay now you jump Jenny." Obediently Jenny moved and copied the same position as Dee. She tried to focus on Dee's form but all she could think of was the long drop on either side. No don't think about it she told herself firmly, think of Dee and think of Tom. Tom, Jenny braced herself, and ignored the verbal war in her mind that was telling her she was going to fall.
There was a deep growl behind her and Jenny jumped, landing sprawled on the island beside Dee. Dee helped her up and Jenny risked a look behind her, the leopards were on the move, jumping quickly to the second island with ease. There were just four islands separating them from the leopards now, and even as they watched, the leopards closed the distance. Their movements full of purpose. "Ready?" Dee said as she let go of Jenny and prepared to jump to the last island. "Ok" Jenny said and before she knew it, she was on her again. She had to move quick, the leopards were swiftly gaining; Jenny could hear their low snarling as they stalked her and Dee.
Bracing herself she moved into the jumping position again. She had an overwhelming urge to look down and her heart thumped along with the drumming in her head. Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down. "Jenny come on" Dee yelled urgently, "They're catching up" Frightened Jenny looked behind her, they were on the island she had just jumped from, the one with blue eyes staring at her predatorily. Panicked Jenny jumped. She had overshot, she realised too late, and she barrelled into Dee pushing her over the edge, and landed on the island sprawled on her front. "NO" Jenny cried, quickly realising what she had done. She moved to the edge and looked down.
Dee had caught the edge of the island in time and was now hanging on by her arms, her legs dangling in thin air. "Dee" Jenny cried, shocked and clasping her around the wrists Jenny tried to pull her up. It was pointless. Dee's legs swung uselessly in the air and Jenny didn't have the strength to pull her up on her own. The cold had seeped into her muscles making them stiff. "Jenny let go off me and Jump to the end" Dee said urgently. "No I'm pulling you up first" Jenny said crying, "Jenny there's nothing for me to push up against, just go, you need to make it through GO" "No" Jenny said, still trying to pull Dee up. One of her tears dropped and landed on Dee's cheek. She saw a flicker in Dee's eyes, an internal conflict, then "Jenny please" Dee said softly, "you have to win this game – kick Julian's Ass for me" And with that Dee let go of the edge, her wrists slipping out of Jenny's hands as gravity pulled her down into the swirling mist.
For a moment Jenny stared disbelievingly at her empty hands. A loud snarling right behind her bought her swiftly back to the present. Slowly she looked around. The blue-eyed leopard was watching her, preparing itself to jump towards her. Just then Jenny knew she had a decision to make. She could stay here and forfeit the game, automatically losing the others in the process – or she could get up and win. She had to win this- for Dee. Jumping up swiftly, Jenny drew on all the strength she had and made the final leap across to the other side.
Jenny hit the ground on her hands and knees and scrambling up quickly she whirled around to face her pursuers. The leopards had gone. As she watched the mist slowly faded revealing a sky of pure blue. Jenny could now see the blue ocean that surrounded the cliff, its waves breaking leisurely against the bottoms of the islands. It was beautiful and Jenny felt strangely – elated. She had won this nightmare. Two more to go and then she would have everybody back and safe. And as for Julian… Taking a deep breath Jenny turned to find the door.
The blue eyed leopard was right behind her.