Chapter 14 #5
The platform remained level for the first few seconds as I ran on it, but it soon began to slowly tilt downward while the other end lifted up.
Theoretically, once I reached the center of the platform, it should start to level out again, but I had to actually get there before the platform got too steep to move along.
Not to mention, the aliens very well could’ve rigged it so it just kept tipping.
God, I hoped that wasn’t the case.
I ran as quickly as I could, and for a while I made quick progress, but that progress quickly slowed as the platform grew steeper. I was so close to the center now, but if it didn’t level out once I reached it, there was no way I’d actually make it.
I pumped my legs as hard as I could, and the backs of my thighs and calves burned thanks to the steadily growing incline.
I finally reached the center of the platform, and sure enough, it began to slowly level out.
I was relieved, but my relief was very short-lived because I realized if the platform really was balanced, then the other side would begin tipping downward as well, and if I didn’t reach the platform in time…
I couldn’t let that happen.
I pumped my arms as I ran, and beneath my feet, the platform had finally leveled out and began to tip down in the opposite direction.
I threw every ounce of energy I had into running, and my speed was intensified by the downhill slope. If I wasn’t careful, I could lose my balance and stumble right off the platform.
By the time I reached the final platform, I was low enough that it was at the height of my chest, so I threw my arms out and hoisted myself up onto the platform.
I’d made it.
But I couldn’t feel relieved yet, because Sadie and Parker still needed to get across safely, and there was no way for me to help them without making the situation worse.
The platform leveled itself back into position, and I gave a little nod to signal it was time for the next person to cross.
Parker went next, and she used the same tactic I had and backed up to the edge of the platform to allow herself time to build momentum.
Then she ran.
Parker was fast, and because she weighed less than me, the platform didn’t lower nearly as quickly as when I’d been on it. Parker raced across with relative ease, and by the time she finally reached me, the platform was about at her waist.
I quickly grabbed her outstretched arms and helped her up onto my platform, and then we waited for everything to level out again.
Sadie didn’t look nearly as confident as Parker had, and I knew it was because she was more used to being indoors, and she was less sporty. I watched nervously as she carefully backed up the same way we had.
Then she took a deep breath and ran.
Sadie was fast for someone who didn’t spend much time outdoors, but she didn’t quite match Parker’s speed, and the platform began to steadily rise.
I held my breath as I watched Sadie’s progress slow down the steeper the platform became, and I worried she wouldn’t make it to the center in time.
The ground beneath her feet continued its steady tilt, and right when it looked like she wouldn’t be able to run any further without sliding backward, she reached the center of the platform, and the tilting stopped.
I released a heavy sigh of relief as the platform slowly began to level back into place, and Sadie continued the last half of her sprint. She wasn’t even quite halfway across when the platform fully leveled out and began to tilt downward.
Now, it was a race to reach our platform before the pathway dropped too low.
I moved closer to the edge and clenched my fists tightly at my side as I watched. Sadie pumped her arms as she raced across the platform, but it was dipping far too quickly now.
Similar to the previous obstacle, this one was becoming more difficult the longer we remained on it.
Shit.
At the rate the pathway was dipping, our platform would be far out of Sadie’s reach by the time she actually got to us.
Sadie got a few feet away from the edge of our platform, and the dip was so steep she lost her balance and slid. The platform was above her head, but she reached her arms up and grabbed desperately to keep herself from falling.
I lunged forward and grabbed her hands tightly before she got out of reach completely. Then I tensed my muscles and hoisted her up onto the platform next to me.
Her hair was wild, and her breathing was rapid, but other than that, she seemed alright. I helped her stand up, and then I turned and glanced around. This was the final platform, and there wasn’t any other obstacle in sight.
We did it.
Across from us, Tyler and Claire were both safely on their platform, and I was so relieved to see that they’d both made it.
Kyle was also over on his own platform, safe and sound.
Of course he was.
I glanced up at the timer to see that we’d finished with about seven minutes to spare. That had been incredibly close.
A few moments after we all finished the obstacle course, there was a loud announcement that echoed around us.
“Congratulations, you have successfully completed this round of the games.”