Hell on Earth Chapter 2

Authors' Notes:  If you haven't read my earlier posts then look to the bottom one.

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As the day began and the sun came out we, no longer, were facing signs of fire but were noticing cracks and holes in the earth instead.  "Marcus, I need to stop.  I can't go on much longer."

Marcus began to slow down and suddenly his panting increased as he told me, "Ok.  We can walk instead.  I think the woRST...!"

"MARCUS!"

Marcus had fallen into a crooked hole in the ground that had earlier, been hidden by  leaves covering the forest floor.  "Eve, my foots caught on something and I don't think I can get it out.  Help!"  I grabbed his upper arms and began to try to pull him up.  "Shit," Marcus cursed and winced as his hidden leg was pulled.  "I think its broken, we can't get it out."

"NO! come on, don't leave me." I began to sob while my worry and heart rate started to increase.  "I need you.  I can't survive without your help.  Don't be such a baby!"

Marcus nodded and braced himself for the next pull  I grabbed his arms again and pulled as hard as I could.  He screamed and I began to cry out of remorse.  After a few horrifying seconds, we were able to pull him free.  Once his food became visible I noticed that it was twisted in an alarming angle and covered in a dark bruise that had already spread across half his ankle.

"Marcus, what a we going to do now?  I don't know what to do!"  I freaked and began to sob in despair and renewed terror.

"Eve, calm down.  Everything will be alright.  Its not as bad as it seems."

"Don't tell me its not as bad as it seems!"  I tell him, exasperatedly.  "You obviously can't walk on that foot and we can't stay here, we need to find help."

"Eve.  It's alright.  Now calm down and listen."  I began to try to calm myself and he continued.  "Now, can you please help me by getting something to wrap around my foot and a long piece of wood that I can use as a crutch or a cane."  I nodded and immediately open one of the bags I had been carrying.  I pull out a shirt and bring it to him.  "alright.  Now, find a twig so that I can keep my foot straight."  I soon find a pretty straight stick and he makes a makeshift brace.  "Next, lets try to find a sufficient stick that I can use to help myself walk.  After countless minutes of searching threw forest under growth and weak or crooked brambles, I find a perfect one without to much foliage.  I, then, walk back to him.

"Marcus, Marcus.  I found one, I found one!"

"About time, I was starting to think that you had gotten lost."  He says while sending his, number one, teasing smile in my direction.  I role my eyes and toss him the branch.  Marcus slowly begins to stand and with my help, is able to get to his feet and start walking.

***

A few minutes later, I start to wonder about the crack Marcus had fallen into and the many others that I had continue to notice.  "Marcus."

"Hm?" He mumbles while staring, focused, at the ground.

"What do you think is causing all these cracks?"

"What cracks?"  He looks at me, curiously.  "there was only one hole and I was lucky enough to find it with my feet."

"Uh?  All the cracks around here."  I point out a thin scar in the earth that was about two feet long.

"Oh.  Didn't even see that, "Marcus says, surprised.

I role my eyes and sigh audibly while I say, loud enough for him to hear, "Men."

***

To be continued…

Please comment and give me your thoughts.  If you have any ideas of what can happen next let me know.  If anyone finds this before the next one is written I will probably write chapter 3 in the next couple of weeks.