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Chapter 6

The Other Side

The morning sun beamed brightly against Virginia's closed lids as she felt the dreamless slumber begin to wane. It was becoming quite the nuisance to fall asleep against the hard ground with only her violet vest to serve as a cushion. But with such hectic days lately, even jagged rocks couldn't keep her from seeking rest, so she didn't fuss about it.

Sitting up and stretching her slightly aching arms towards the sky, the young leader admired the clear horizon. The azure sky washed over her head like an endless ocean of bliss. From the desert of the rugged land to the seas of sand, Filgaia would always be her home. But the voice that had haunted her thoughts the day before, it sent chills up her spine. It was peculiar; she was beginning to wonder if even happened.

Perhaps she had a concussion from the incident the day before; yes, that must certainly be why.

Virginia shook the dust from her crumpled vest as she stood, scrutinized over the wrinkles. Gallows was sitting on the same rock when he noticed her stir.

"Mornin'," He greeted cheerfully with a wave.

Clive was seated on the ground next to him, engrossed by a map. He seemed intrigued, but Virginia had reason to believe that piece of paper wasn't of any use anymore.

"Good morning," Virginia replied with a smile before searching the empty area nearby, relieved to see Jet was standing about ten feet away with his back to her. He was his usual cynical self of course, but at least he was there.

"I suppose we must find our own way," Clive stated, tucking the map away and standing, "There was another tremor early this morning, perhaps we will find a town if we're fortunate"

"I see," Virginia murmured in contemplation; it appeared that things wouldn't return to normal anytime soon. They had to find the gentleman who sent them on the disastrous trip to Gemstone Cave; perhaps he would have a few answers to all these occurrences. It was a start at least.

Bending to tighten her loose boot, Virginia announced with a terribly optimistic tone, "Well, without our horses, I guess were going to get quite a workout today, everyone"

Moments elapsed and the group advanced in an unknown direction. The morning sun ascended into midday, where it beat down most insufferably, yet they pressed on. An hour after noontime, they passed by large crevices in the earth. Colossal, empty fractures in the ground that descended far into the ground left Virginia in awe. Never had she seen such a sight in all her travels.

What was happening?

"Damn, what the hell is this?" Gallows inquired as he rubbed away the beads of sweat from his forehead. His booming voice echoed against the steep, jagged walls of the cleft, stirring pebbles.

"Something bad," Virginia muttered, rubbing her arms as she felt the incisive gaze of another a small distance next to her. The amethyst orbs burned like cinders against her skin, they'd been watching a lot lately. Jet hadn't uttered a word to her or anyone for that matter since the night before; it would be odd surprise if that little chat had sunk in his mind. And a first.

But she evaded his watch, the terrifying sight before her troubled her thoughts still.

"What should we do?" Clive asked, glancing towards Virginia he wavered with her reply.

They couldn't proceed in this direction and she hoped that if there were a town ahead that it wasn't in ruins at the bottom of this precipice. She decided on the only other alternative she could devise; go around.

"Let's follow the edge," Virginia said, indicating the endless path following the snaking crag. It tore through the earth like a ravenous serpent, ravaging the already ravaged terrain, "Hopefully, we'll find something before nightfa—"

Suddenly, the planet shuddered. The din was thunderous, earsplitting and it rumbled the walls of the cleft, breaking massive fragments that ripped into the bulwark, setting a chain of rockslides. Then with a sickening grumble, the ground under their unsteady feet began to split like glass. Thick fissures ripped into the ground and the quavering walls fell into the crag, as if swallowed by an unseen fiend.

It happened so quickly.

"Get away!" Someone shouted; Virginia wasn't certain which one of them it was. She felt a taut grasp around her right arm just as the ground under her own feet collapsed and began to topple. She knew she was screaming when she kneaded her nails into Jet's waist. The loose fragment crumpled and they both slid a numerous feet into the steep wall of the precipice.

Her breath hitched and only the android's grasp kept her from falling head first into the bulwark of the crag. Yet the ground still rumbled, stirring a storm of dust and sand into the sky. It stung her eyes and face, blurring her already unclear fate.

"Ginny!" That was Gallows and his voice sounded far off from wherever she stood. Horrified, Virginia grasped Jet's shoulder with her remaining shoulder, feeling her feet slide rapidly forward with the tumbling splinters of stone. With stinging eyes, she searched for Jet's face and finding it etched with ambiguity. It was evident that he struggled with all his might to keep both of them from being swept into the gorge.

She prayed for him to do something, anything. He had saved her quite a few times within the past few days, but what now? They were both in grave danger, and he seemed astonished.

Then, the bulwark shook again, splitting away from they side and toppling like blocks into the empty air. Shaking against the gravity that sent them slipping forward, Jet drew Virginia into a firm embrace, grounding digits into her back. Her scream was partially muffled as the stone beneath her feet peeled completely from the cliff-side. She could feel the sickening rush as they fell and she wasn't certain when the end would come.

Suddenly, she lost all distinction what was up and what was down until her back crashed in the jagged earth. Virginia cried out in both shock and agony as the descending rockslide ravaged her backside. Gravel pounded her face and dust filled her lungs.

Death was drawing near, prolonged by anguish and the endless depth of the crag.

Then Virginia was facedown and the sharp slicing of the rocks vanished, but she could hear Jet hissing in agony next to her ear. Muddled tears stained her cheeks as they struggled against the violent rage of nature. Jet dredged his hands into her back, perhaps to keep from losing her or in excruciating resistance against the pain. Likewise, Virginia had both hands wrapped around the back of his neck.

Then, as quickly as it began, it was over.

Moments passed into minutes and the booming cry of the splitting earth became painfully silent. The rocks ceased falling with the exception of a few pebbles that tumbled and covered her like a blanket. Her hindered breaths now came in long surges of apprehension. There wasn't a spot on her body that didn't ache especially when struggled onto her knees.

Instinctively she placed a hand on either side of Jet's placid face. With the exception of a few bloodless scratches and marks, he appeared unscathed, in fact with his calm expression and closed eyes, he seemed peaceful. Once again, he'd protected her.

Virginia peered up at the heavens; the azure sky was smothered in a cloud of dust and sand. Gallows and Clive were up there somewhere and she imagined them, Gallows at least, in a frantic terror.

Her heart pounding like a drum in her chest as she searched the crag around her; through the wall of dust, massive shards of stone were wedged into the ground. Kneeling at one side of the fissure, she could only vaguely see the opposing bulwark. Finally, she stood and gazed up the colossal wall of crumpled rock and called, "Gallows! Clive!"

Her shrill voice bounced off the looming walls like a rubber ball, yet there was no reply. Virginia jaw trembled, the fear there may not be an escape from this trap had already sank into her thoughts. Then, to her relief, she heard stirring of gravel as Jet roused, with a quiet groan. The young leader went to his side and knelt with wide, vigilant orbs.

"Are you alright?" She inquired, brushing a hand across his cold cheek.

He glanced at her with an impromptu expression; amethyst eyes examining her like a stranger. After a moment, he placed his own hand over hers and squeezed tightly.

"Jet?"

Abruptly, as if he hadn't heard her, Jet leaned in and pressed the side of his face against her chest. Virginia's heart skipped a beat and she remained frozen for a moment.

"Is it over?" He asked in a tone she had never heard him use; fear. Like the fear of a child.

"O-over?"

"I'm afraid," Jet added in very small voice.

Virginia felt her spine quiver as he snaked both arms around her waist, clinging to her as if he would fall. She didn't what was going on, but she wanted it to stop. Her face was felt as if it was on fire and her trembling hands were helpless at her sides. Did he hit his head in the fall? What was he talking to her in this way?

"Jet," She murmured breathlessly.

But Jet didn't respond, being too engrossed in her presence.

"Jet," She said again before grasping his shoulders and pushing him away, "Jet!"

She grasped his vivid eyes again, but they weren't at all wide with fear anymore. With knitted brows, he gazed at her with astonishment before squirming away and bounding to his feet, distancing himself. He glared at her impertinently as if he'd been violated in some way.

"What the hell was that?" He snapped in offense.

"Excellent question," Virginia stood, matching his scowl, "Why were you acting like that?"

"Like what?" Jet retorted viciously.

Virginia's eyes widened in disbelief and then narrowed in offense, "Nevermind"

Jet turned away and stomped a few steps away with crossed arms. He didn't experience a very wide range of human emotions, but the one he felt when he woke so close to her was the most awful. What would a human call it? Aversion or maybe embarrassment? No matter, she didn't need to know.

"Then let's find a way out of here," Virginia said, trudging heavily passed him with a turbulent expression. That was perhaps the most peculiar feeling she had ever experienced. And it was Jet, of all people! Whatever happened to him that made him behave that way, well, she feared that it was one of many things that made these days stranger and stranger.

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Let's see how they get out of this one lol Sorry for the wait!