My toes curl at the edge of a towering cliff as I gaze at the beautiful scene around me; ancient stone pillars stand as all that’s left between me and the crackling orange lava below. It sizzles and pops, and I scowl at it.
Sailing through the scorching air is my brother as he easily lands on the next safe spot. Come on, he says, Hurry up! I follow in suit, my bare feet disconnect from the unstable platform behind me and I’m able to join him on a secure surface.
The sweltering heat makes my hair stick against the back of my neck, my heart pounds, punching my ribcage with every beat. We don’t usually go on adventures like these, but if Jorge said it was okay…
My jaw drops at the next destination, it’s small and bent away from me. It’s too far, I sputter. A shove behind me encourages my legs to propel me forward. I crash-land on the rock, foot slipping and almost becoming part of a fiery barbeque.
You fell in!
I did not!
You did too!
You just can’t make this jump!
At my audacious challenge, he fails to hesitate, and I’m left to scramble to a nearby rock, shrieking in glee as he almost crushes me. Adrenaline slithers through my veins much like the sweat does down my back.
The emotion evaporates with a hand clamped over my mouth. We stay still, crouched and panting, Jorge shooting me a cautious look at my slip-up. Any louder and the witch might’ve awakened, and our comrades wouldn’t thank us for it.
Scrambling past me, he ducks and rolls onto a nearer platform, using my lingering unease to get a head start. Before my outrage can settle in, a roar of waves makes Jorge stumble and almost plunge to what would have been an undoubtedly agonizing death.
Retreat!
Not bothering to keep quiet anymore, nor giving me a chance to process the upcoming danger, he plows straight into me.
Limbs squishing and twisting, my hand is caught between my supposed ally and the sharp rock; scathing lava splatters onto my knee and I howl, wounded. Jorge hesitates, there’s no way I’m making it now, not as the Waves grow closer.
He turns sharply and leaps in a last-ditch effort for freedom.
If I win, we both win!
Waves crash into the valley, swallowing the pillars and consuming the lava, impressively extinguishing the flames. We too are inevitably soaked, swept away by the tide, which oddly soothes my injuries. As overwhelming as the flood remains, it soon leaves behind the same silence that so often stifled us; no cracking of fire, just watching the quiet ripples in the water.
Hands on her hips, flowing turquoise pajamas hanging off her tired frame, mom whispers,
What were you thinking? Mrs. Kane will hear you!
Right then, the sound of methodic steps bring silence even to her lips. We hold our breath.
A baby’s muffled wail rings below us and I see mom wince.
Two sharp knocks at the door make her straighten. Jorge and I huddle as she tips her chin up and marches forward to drench the witch.
Sabrina Parra Díaz 