As I stand watching good ole Bill cross the gorge I can’t help myself to thinking about the fifty foot drop and how terrible of a death it’d be. The bridge itself is just god awful; it’s made of age old ropes and planks with about 6 inch gaps between all of them, with exception to where there were missing planks. Most of the boards look so unbelievably rotten if they are still there. Crossing this gorge is a terrible idea, but there’s really no other way to stay on track in the forest and on the path to our goal. The forest seems almost 100% un-trodden and it isn’t a good time.



As I wait for Bill to finish crossing the death trap, I look around at my surroundings. The forest is actually a spectacular site and is so dense. There are no paths with exception to wildlife trails and it’s hard to see ahead with all the vegetation. The sounds of wild animals occasionally go off and on but the forest is otherwise quiet. The worst part is how humid the air is and how you can just smell and feel it. It’s almost like sitting in a hot tub with the jets on high mixed with a sauna. Man, for once I’d like to be out going on a journey that has a perfect temperature and perfect air quality. About now Bill had called out to me.



“See? I made it you little cry baby. Now come on over and let’s hurry up and get outta here, it’s too friggin hot and humid out for this c---,” Bill yells from across the other side of the gorge.



“Alright, gimme a little bit you jackass,” I retort to him with a smirk on my face.
Bill and I have always been friends and partners. He’s always been there for me despite our differences and we’ve always managed to make out alright on our ever-so-classy endeavours.

“Seriously, hurry it up over there. I’m sweating like a h----- in church over here,” Bill had jokingly yells over to me.

As I begin walking across the bridge, I finally grip what he just said and reply, “You brought a h----- to church?”

Bill starts to chuckle a little and looks down and says, “I may have been a little drunk.”

I started to laugh and wonder why he hadn’t told me before, but I continue across the bridge when I suddenly trip on a gap and fall face first on some planks. Bill had been startled by this, but he calmed down, looked at me, and scolds, “Hey now take it easy, wouldn’t want to fall down would you?”

As I begin getting up I shoot back, “I wasn’t planning on-“

Suddenly, the ropes snap out from under me and force me to start dropping down. All I’m doing is yelling various expletives, and panicking for a short time before I reach for a bridge plank and hold on. Eventually the newly made ladder end slammed me into the rock face and tries to force me to let go. Luckily I had gotten my arm stuck in between the boards, and y’know I don’t think I’d ever have thought that at any other time. Bill who was worriedly looking down at me now chuckles.

“How’s it hanging,” Bill riddles to me

“Bill, for the love of God why do you ever open your mouth and say anything? You always jinx us!” I yell out while finding myself a way to get unbound and in position to get back up.

Bill had thought for a second, made his face, and replied “Gee, I’m sorry I wasn’t aware I had such a forceful voice.” After a while I had finally climbed my way up and Bill had helped pull me up. My arm was kinda worthless from the collision at this point and you could probably just chop it off and it’d be more useful. I clenched my arm as pain consumed my feelings. There was never a time where I was as beat up as this in all my times adventuring out for these stupid relics. This was my most brutal journey yet.

I had ventured out for artifacts and relics before as it’s kinda how I make my living these days; some adventures more dangerous than others, some relics worth more than the others. Like that one time I walked into a boat that was dangling over the edge of a waterfall, and as I walked through the boat everything started shaking, only for a treasure worth about five grand. It hardly covered my expenses! Anyhoo, this treasure here is what’s gonna make me famous and set me up for life. This relic is from an age old legend and has been proven to be existent, but the way to get there is nothing short of sheer suicide and misery. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience here. Sully and I are normally really happy guys, and we are still a bit jolly, but it’s no secret to him or me that both of us are on edge and very weary. It’s oh-so worth it though, and I can’t just shoot this opportunity down.
“Hey Frankoe,” Bill hesitantly speaks, “maybe we should take our chances in trying to find a way to turn back out of this forest. I mean it’s pretty obvious we can’t just do a nice little spin and be on our merry little way, but bud we can’t just continue on. We’ve already dodged too many bullets, and unless your name is Neo we ain’t gonna keep getting lucky.”

What did he just say? There’s no way he just suggested that. We’ve already put too much effort into making it this far. Not only that, but the entrance to the ruins that hold our fortune are just head and within viewing range! There couldn’t possibly be any more danger in this short distance. I don’t understand what Bill could possibly be thinking.

I confusedly ask, “You can’t be serious can you?”

“Does it look like I’m bluffing right now? I’ve got my cards all laid out in front of you Frankoe,” Bill insisted.

“Bill,” I begin, “you’ve gotta be out of your mind. Look ahead! Do you see that? It’s the ruins we’ve been heading to for days now, and turning back is the most unbelievably stupid move I’ve ever heard you come from you.”

Bill, who became astonished by my words, pauses and breaks in, “What has gotten in your head man? Do you wanna continue this suicide mission and die like everyone else who came looking for this treasure? Don’t you think there’s a reason that this hasn’t come home with another hunter? Do you not realize the fact that we’ve almost bit the friggin dust more times in the past few days than anyone else in there lifetime? Doesn’t any of this mean anything to you?”

“The fact of the matter is that WE are alive, Bill, and on the verge of making history. Bill, come on man you knew that this wasn’t going to be easy before we set off. Now are you going to finish this with me or am I gonna finish this on my own?” I bark back at Bill.

Bill began protesting back, “Now wait a second here. Is that what this stupid recklessness is all about? Your personal fame and riches? I’m sorry, but what good is it gonna do you if you’re dead you idiot?”

I hesitate for a moment before replying, “Fine, you know what? If you aren’t willing to help me then just turn back around because I sure as h--- don’t need you slowing me down in there and I sure as h--- ain’t gonna stand around and listen to this c---. Have fun getting out of the forest without me.”

I start towards the ruins to finish off my journey and after a few steps look back at Bill to see him just staring at me with every ounce of hatred the world could offer. After a few seconds I begin shaking my head and continuing on my path. Bill and I have had our fair share of differences, but this is where I draw the line. If he isn’t willing to go through with this then I don’t want to see him in the near future at anytime. My arm would most likely agree if it could think.

By now I had entered the ruins and found the housing chamber of the relic at the end of a long, dark hallway only illuminated by torchlight. The walls are currently mauled by god knows what; probably just crumbling apart from its thousands of years of existence. The walls all have many small holes that are just pure dark upon viewing them. I couldn’t say what was in there if anything at all. The floor has a noticeable downward slope toward the room containing the relic. They probably just included for dramatic effect or something. The walls, aside from being mauled and full of holes, have noticeable symbols on its face. I’m unable to read what they mean as I have no interest in this culture, but I’m sure their messages are well faded and un-needed by now.

As I walk down the hallway I hear rapid footsteps from far behind me. I turn to see Bill hurry to catch up and just shake my head and keep going. Bill finally came to his senses it seems, and just in time. I can’t carry this torch and the treasure at the same time, and I really need his help getting out of this jungle. I begin walking backwards and yell back to Bill who had more than a mouthful to yell to me.
“Christ man slow down! I ain’t as spry as you!” Bill blurted to me. Bill is continuing to run to me and suddenly the ground randomly shifted downward from underneath me and i fell over. Oh snap! I triggered a pressure plate trap! I haven’t got much before whatever happens, happens.
“Bill hit the deck NOW!” I cry to Bill as the sounds of mechanisms activate all throughout the hall. I duck and cover but to my dismay my only companion took an arrow to his knees and one of his arms before he realized what was happening and heard me. I had no choice but to watch him drop and listen to him scream in agony. At the end of the hall a giant round object slams down and makes it’s presence. What in god’s name have a gotten us into?
“Hold on buddy I’m coming for you!” I bellar out to Bill and get up. Everything begins to stop as my adrenaline overloads my brain and I realize that if I save Bill I’m probably going to be crushed to a pulp with Bill or narrowly escape death, and no matter what that means the relic gets crushed to dust and this trip is all for nothing. Alternatively I can finish this once and for all and grab the relic and avoid any chance of my own gruesome death at the cost of my greatest friend. No, no no no! I’ve gotta get that out of my head now! Bill’s always been there for me and he followed me into this. His blood would be on my hands!
As I sprint towards Bill everything speeds up again and the boulder seems ten times faster than i remember. As I make it to Bill all I can make audible is the sound of a terrified grown man. I throw my torch down and grab him with my good arm before I realize my other arm can’t move. I don’t know what to do! Bill can’t get up on his own the way he is and I can’t get him up!
“Bill hang on buddy I’m not leaving you here to die!” I stammer as I keep thinking of what to do.
“I’m not going to lie you’re doing a pretty piss poor job of making that a true statement” Bill strains to release as he continues to scream. I resort to pulling Bill by his shirt but make no progress and by now I’m running out of time.
“Frankoe just go you won’t get me out of here anyway you’ve got too much ground to cover and not enough strength to outrun the boulder for the love of god one death is better than a pointless two.” Bill says with all terror trying to take control of his words.
“No way, that’s not-” I begin as Bill forcibly cuts me off.
“D--- it listen here we wouldn’t be in this situation if you had just listened to me back there. Now redeem yourself and listen to me now.” Bill protests as he begins to tear up in his eyes. All I can do is sit here and panic from the shock of the situation before Bill eventually crying and continuously tells me to go. This isn’t happening, there’s no way this is real. Bill’s words eventually find a way to settle in on me and I turn around and run away.
“Remember me Frankoe! Keep this memory with you and learn from it!” Bill shouts to me with every once of strength he has. I turn around just in time to see the boulder slowly trample Bill and see his illuminated face tense in pain and see the blood from his mouth. The boulder extinguished the torch and continued on its path. I turn around and run to the treasure and grab it, and sprint off the side where I was safe. As the boulder comes to the room it slams into the ruin wall and knocks a new exit to the forest. I can see a straight line shot to the way back home from here and fortunately it's easy to follow.
As I begin my journey home I gaze at the relic. Bill was right all along; this wasn’t worth dying for. No, I caused Bill’s death and should very well be dead myself but I continue to trust on luck and continue to pull through. My own ambition and claim to fame wasn’t worth this and given any day I’d walk out of the forest if I could do this again. Pride and ambition only leads to self-destruct.