“Aida…”
Forcing a smile. “If you die, I’ll die anyway,” I say lightly. “The tribe would never forgive me.”
He nods stiffly but his brow is furrowed, worry in his eyes. He turns to the bridge and grips the handles, white-knuckled like my sister. “You’ll be right behind,” he calls to me.
“Yes.” I hold the ties.
Leith nods again and makes his way across, stopping whenever a gust shakes the bridge. When he makes it to the other side, I sigh in relief.
My turn.
Grabbing the rope for myself now, I hear snapping as a single fierce gust swings the bridge. Taking a step onto it, I’m immediately thrown to the side.
I hear a scream but don’t look up, trying to remain calm. Holding strong, I ride out the shift, focusing. When it levels, I move forward, one step at a time.
Another crack slices the air, joined by thunder. I halt, waiting.
Glancing outward, my mouth dries up. I’m midway. Only midway. The bridge sways side to side. My feet shift and part.
Lightning fills the sky in vibrant flashes. A spark of heat whips through the wind when a terrible erupting boom fills my ears. I see one of the trees in the village sizzling, split in two. Milaye covers both Delina and Leith with her body, forcing them to the ground.
Screams ring in the air.
They look at me with wide, horror-filled eyes.
“Go!” I shout, “Get to the lift. I’ll be right behind! I promise.”
Milaye nods resolutely and I’m thankful. Delina starts fighting but Ola grabs her and forces her away. Leith lingers another moment, catching my gaze, and I take another step forward. He turns away and runs after Delina.
Only Milaye remains to hold the bridge for me. Now, swinging back and forth, I’m practically hanging on, using my feet as leverage as my arms do all the work.
I see some of the tribe staring up at me from below on the beach.
“Aida! Don’t stop,” someone yells, and I drive forward, pain ripping my shoulders, jerking my arms this way and that to get to the end.
I miss my final step, but Milaye grabs me, pulling me into her arms, and we tumble to the ground together in relief. But we have no time to celebrate.
In the next instant, we’re running to the lift. Delina and the others are below. We begin cranking it back up as Ola and Panyia run with Leith and Delina down the beach, under the gape where the bridge swings, and toward the caves.
As we wrench the lever, I realize Milaye and I are the last ones left in the village. The rest have already fled to safety. The underlying scent of burnt wood floods my nose.
And then I hear it, a different sort of roar. Not like the screeching one from before…
It’s so loud, so much closer than any other, so terrible it nearly stops my thrumming heart. My hands stop cranking, and Milaye takes over as I peer out to the east, down the coast, over the turbulent waves where the sound resonates from.
In the direction of Shell Rock and Issa’s home.
But it’s so much closer than that,my thoughts tangle, fearful.It’s right there.
Right there.
Coming through the veil of rain.
It goes on and on, over the thunder, joining with flashes of lightning, pounding my eardrums, taking me over, solidifying me to the spot. I can’t tear my eyes from the horizon, knowing it’s growing ever closer. My heart lodges in my throat. My fingers twitch.
“Aida! We must go!”
Milaye says something and grabs my arm, pulling me onto the lift. My eyes tear away from the horizon. The roar continues.
