Moon Prophecy

Chapter 5- The edge.

The cliff stretched wide beneath the moonlight. Jagged rocks glistened far below, barely visible through the swirling darkness of the gorge. Wind surged upwards, tugging at Mia’s clothes and hair. She stood frozen at the very edge. One more step and there would be nothing beneath her feet.

Nick and the warriors approached slowly; they looked relaxed now. Satisfied. The hunt was over. Mia’s chest rose and fell rapidly, and her body trembled with exhaustion, and she could barely feel her legs. Nick stopped a few feet away.

“Well,” he said calmly.

“That was entertaining.”

The warriors laughed. Mia shook her head weakly.

“Please… don’t do this.”

Nick tilted his head. “Do what.” Nicks smile faded slightly.

“You think you deserve mercy.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

Nick’s eyes hardened. “You were born.”

The words cut deeper than anything else. Mia felt tears slip down her cheeks. The warriors began to spread out again, Trapping her between them and the cliff. She glanced behind her. The drop was endless. Her stomach twisted violently. Nick stepped closer.

“You should thank me,” he said.

“For what.”

“For ending your misery.”

Mia’s heart pounded violently, she thought of the pack house, of the cold floors, of the endless work and cruelty, and of loneliness. Maybe… maybe Nick was right, maybe this would finally end it. But then something else surfaced in her mind. A strange feeling. Not fear. Not sadness. Something deeper. A quiet refusal. She didn’t want to die, not like this. Nick grabbed her arm suddenly.

“Look at you,” he sneered.

“Pathetic.”

He shoved her toward the edge. Her heel slipped on the loose gravel; pebbles tumbled into the darkness below. The wind roared louder. Mia stared down at the abyss, her mind raced. There was no escape. Nick would never let her go. Even if she ran again…

They would just hunt her again. And again. And again. Until she broke, until she begged. Nick leaned close.

“Jump.”

Mia blinked. “What.”

“You heard me.”

The warriors chuckled behind him.

“Jump,” Nick repeated.

“Or we throw you.” He said.

Mia’s heart pounded violently; she looked down again. The fall would kill her instantly. Nick stepped closer.

“You’re useless to this pack.”

The wind whipped harder now, roaring like the voice of the forest itself. Mia closed her eyes and for the first time in her life… She made her own choice.

“I won’t give you the satisfaction,” she whispered.

Nick frowned. “What.”

Mia stepped backward, the ground vanishing beneath her heels. Nick’s eyes widened slightly.

“Mia…”

But it was too late, she stepped into the darkness and fell.