You guys, just go ahead. I'll wait here. Besides, he said, "This is the final assessment."
"No, Gem, we can't. You cannot stay on one tile for more than ten seconds," Zain spoke until a thought drifted him to a question.
"Wait a minute! How long have we been standing on this tile?"
*Crack* *crack* *crack*
"Damn, we've been standing here for m...
*CRASH*
Before Zain could complete his yelling, the brittle sounds of shattering glass were heard, the tile shattered into countless fragments, and they all fell right into the pit below.
But just at the right moment, Zain quickly grabbed the rod where the glass once lied. Before the Dem tile could shatter, he quickly hopped, grabbing Zain's legs. As for Gem... Well.
"Haaaa!"
He was caught off guard.
He quickly stretched his hands while holding the wooden hand gloves in his palm and grabbed the rod, which stopped him from falling. As for Dem...Well.
Zain gave them all their hand gloves after he had already worn his. But due to their conversation, Gem and Dem were too distracted to wear theirs during the earlier discussion.
Gem's eyes were wide open in shock as the glass tiles he was standing on broke into pieces, and he fell into the endless pit below.
"Quickly stretching his hands, he grabbed the electrifying rod with just two fingers luckily at the last moment."
"I'm scared," Gem admitted. "I just don't know why, but I'm scared," his fingers slowly slipped.
This is not the kind of emotion that boosts Gem's adrenaline. Fear is not the type of emotion that gives him strength.
"Gem!" Zain called out. "Brace yourself as much as you can and don't look down for any reason, please. I will make sure nothing happens to you, just give me a moment." Zain panicked as the urgency of the situation became clear to him.
He was trying not to make Gem realize it, but there was nothing that could be done. Even Zain couldn't tell how to free himself from his own situation, let alone someone else. But still, he just didn't want to lose hope. He and Dem were stuck, and as for Gem, it was only a matter of time before he slipped and fell into the endless dark pit below. And due to Zain's change in attitude, Gem realized it.
Gem's heart dropped as he realized the gravity of the situation. He looked down into the abyss below, calmly. He knew that if he didn't act quickly, he would be lost forever. But still, he wasn't panicking.
Gem looked at Zain, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you for not giving up on me, thank you for always being there for me, thank you Zain, thank you brother."
Creaking sounds could be heard from the wooden hand gloves by which Gem used to brace himself all this while, signaling that Gem was losing his grip on the rod.
"Hey, come on, don't tell us that. You are making me nervous, Gem. Haven't Zain already assured you everything will be alright? So brace yourself and wait for us," Dem spoke in a shaking voice.
"No, no guys, everything is not going to be alright. I'm not that dumb to not know the kind of situation I am in," Gem spoke calmly then chuckled. "But it's kinda funny; this is something I only see in fantasy novels. I never expected to be experiencing it, not being the subject of the tragic moment.
"Look at you, Dem. You always refuse to read fantasy novels, and now you're experiencing a moment that does happen in it first-hand in reality. What a pain, but still, I'm grateful I'm the one who will be lost and not you."
"Ain't I right, Zain?" Gem asked still with his unwavering smile at Zain who couldn't say anything with his fidgeting lips.
"Too bad, I don't have much time left with you guys." He added with a sad smile, and the creaking sound increased, shaking him from where he was nearly out of balance.
Zain smiled through his tears, squeezing the rod. "No, no, you're not right because we're a team," he said. "We stick together, no matter what. You still have time to spend with us, so quit saying those negative things."
"Gem, please brace yourself, please. I came here with the intention of going back with you all, so brace yourself. We'll figure out something," Dem screamed, with tears running down his face. "Please, Gem, for our sakes, for my sake."
"Gem, please listen," Zain pleaded, his voice trembling. "Don't give up hope. We'll find a way to save you. Just hold on."
Gem peeked a b... Dem couldn't even complete his statement because sobs consumed him. Tears streamed down his face like a running tap.
"Guys, please, can you promise me something?" Gem requested with a smile, a calm, sweet smile this time around.
Without waiting for their response, he continued. "No matter what happens to me, you guys shouldn't slack behind, don't stop moving. We have all been traveling through this path, and my struggle resides in the journey. This is one adventure we gave ourselves, so don't make it be in vain.
"Don't let my struggle be for nothing. If I cannot complete my dream, then it deserves to be given to someone else who needs it. It deserves to be given to you, Zain, and you too, Dem."
"Zain! Dem! Don't give up because I won't give up on you. Don't stop moving, and I'll be by your side no matter what."
*Creak*
The creaking sounds increased as the wooden gloves slowly slipped off the rod. Zain's and Dem's eyes curiously followed the gloves, hoping that a miracle would occur and save Gem or that he would suddenly use his adrenaline. But it never came, not this time.
Right in front of their eyes, it completely slipped, and straight into the endless pit was where Gem fell, bearing a sad smile containing a pang of regret.
"Nooooooo!"
As he fell deeper into the dark pit, Zain tried to reach out and grab Gem's hand, but it was too far away. Gem reached out desperately, but their hands couldn't quite touch. Zain's heart sank as he watched Gem disappear into the darkness below in silence.
"Nooooooo!!!" Zain screamed again for the second time as tears could be seen gushing down his face.
"Nooooooo!!!"
"Gem!"