Abel held his breath and looked to his sides, realizing they were closed in. He looked behind him, seeing his brother beginning to catch up. He took a deep breath as the hole grew wider.
"Hold on!" He yelled, preparing for a rough landing. Everyone behind him gripped tight to the best of their ability as they approached the only thing standing between them and survival. Once they reached the edge, Abel grunted loudly as he tugged firmly on Hyde's scruff. Hyde kicked off the edge with his hind legs and soared through the sky across to the other side. Miles wasn't far behind; he pulled back on Thicket's antlers before leaping from the edge as well. The two of them landed almost at the same time as the riders practically prayed they'd make it.
As Hyde landed, his hind legs slipped and caused his rear end to bounce. Ace tried to grab anything he could, but it was no use; he smashed his ribs against Hyde's spine before falling and crashing to the ground on the edge of the pit.
"Ace!" Ari yelled, attempting to jump off after him.
"No, you can't!" Art said, pulling her back before she could. Miles looked behind at Ace's motionless body. He knew he had to help him, but had to get everyone away from the hole. He thought for a moment before making a decision.
"Scott, go!" he shouted, anxiously. Scott looked behind as Ace lay in the dirt, crawling for dear life while the earth below him cracked. He looked back at Miles and nodded in agreement before leaping from Thicket's back and sprinting to Ace's side. He watched as the beasts disappeared into the trees, still hearing Ari's chilling screams.
"S...Scott? Please hurry, I t-think my leg is broken," Ace said, his voice weak from the air he lost.
"God, how pathetic," Scott said, leaning down to pick him up. As he reached down, the ground beneath them trembled and cracked open more. He leaped back as it opened beneath Ace's weak body, before he could drag himself any further, the ground opened and attempted to swallow him. He dug his fingers into the grass and dirt, using what was left of his strength to hold himself up. He looked down, seeing the darkness that awaited him below. Vines slithered the walls of the pit as chunks of forest tumbled down.
"Scott, help me!" He pleaded, attempting to pull himself up unsuccessfully.
"I'm gonna fall, Scott, please!" He continued, attempting to adjust his grip. Scott inched forward and stared down at him as he clung to the edge helplessly.
"You're weak," Scott whispered, kneeling beside Ace.
"W...what are you talking about? Please, Scott, I'm not ready to die," He pleaded again.
"You were never ready to live, Tracey," Scott said, rising swiftly to his feet and raising his knee before stomping the heel of his foot onto the top of his head. A look of confusion washed across his distorted face as blood pooled from his eyes and ears, likely a consequence of his caved-in skull. He tried to speak, but all he could manage were gurgling noises as blood filled his mouth, throat, and nose.
"A-ri," he gurgled as his grip loosened.
"I refuse to save those who don't deserve to be saved," Scott scoffed, driving his boot's heel into Ace's face once more. His eye bulged from his skull, and blood pooled from his mouth as he attempted to plead once more. His grip loosened, and Scott kicked him from the dirt patch he had clung to. He peeked over the edge, watching as his lifeless body fell gracefully into the abyss. His arms and legs extended out above him. Before long, he was no longer visible as he was swallowed by the chasm along with his hometown. The pit seemed to have stopped just in front of Scott's bloodied boots. He scoffed and wiped the blood from his shoes before running in the direction the group went.
He could hear mumbles and cries in the distance. He stopped and looked around before leaning down and grabbing dirt in his hands. He rubbed it in his eyes, making them swell with the tears he needed to sell his story to the rest of them. Ari sobbed silently as she watched the tree line from the clearing they stopped in. Then she saw a shadow, her eyes widened, and her ears perked up, Scott stepped forward...alone.
"I...I couldn't hold him I had him, but he let go. Said he'd just slow us down," He said, fake tears rolling down his face. The group stared in shock, not having the words to speak. Ari's face turned quickly as she belted out a horrified scream. She fell into Art's arms and sobbed loudly. Miles' eyes filled with tears, wondering where he'd be if Ace hadn't found him at the lake. Scott just stared at the floor, dripping with his dirt-filled tears.
"Ari, he said he'd always find you," He said, falling to his knees to sell the sorrow. Her cries intensified, plunging her deeper into her despair. The silence around her was overwhelming; nobody knew what to say, and nobody had a new plan. They were out of the city, but far from safe.
"W...we have to keep moving," Miles said, wiping the tears from his face.
"He'd want us to keep moving," He continued.
"We have to go get him...we can't leave him there," Ari said, sobbing.
"He was taken by the hole he's gone, Ari," Scott said apologetically. She trembled and stared into space as her dripping tears twinkled in the light. She nodded hesitantly as Scott climbed his way back onto Thicket.
"Hiyah!" Miles yelled, driving Thicket further into the woods.