BEYOND The SUMMIT

Chapter 18 - Unearthed

Chantel

My body's numb. I can't feel it. At least, I don't think I feel it. I feel...... like a vibration running through my body.

What happened?

I'm breathing, and I'm talking to myself so I must be alive.

I hear moaning. I think it's Chris, but I can't talk. Not yet.

"Holy Fuck!" I heard Rico, "GUYS!  GUYS!  Where are you!!"

"Here!" Chris moans, "What the fuck happened?" 

"The ground gave in," Rico answers, " We fell down the hill. Chris, are you hurt?"

"I'm in pain. Muscle pain, but I don't think I broke any bones." I hear Chris say.

"NICOLE!  CHANTEL! CODY!"  Rico shouted.

"I'm here." I hear Nicole's breathless voice yelp.

"I got you!" I hear Chris say in a panic. I'm guessing he's talking to Nicole.

"Hey Chantel."  I open my eyes. The sun's bright rays  surround Rico's head as he looks over me, "Hey. I got you."  Rico says, looking me over.

I smile, " So you're my knight and shining armor."

Rico glances at me with a smile then back down to my legs. His expression changes, "oh." 

I lift my head wanting to see what Rico found.

"Chantel, your right ankle is really swollen." Rico said, "does it hurt?"

I look at Rico, scared, "I don't know yet. I'm still in shock, I think. I'm not feeling too much right now."

Rico gently lifts my leg and moves it around.

"Eow!!!!!," I scream in pain,  " God. That hurt!!!!" I yell. It hurts like a bitch now.

"Oh shit!" Rico explained,

"What does that mean?" Chris said coming to sit by Rico looking at my leg.

Rico's body deflates, "maybe a broken bone or a sprain. Either way, we're fucked."

"She'll live." I heard Cody's voice coming from the right side of me.

Cody was climbing up the ruble. " She's alive right?"

"YOU UNGRATEFUL ASSHOLE!!!" I scream, " What the fuck do you mean? You'd rather me dead?"

Cody looks at me, " for all the yapping you did up there...."

"WHAT, CODY!!" I want him to finish his sentence.

Chris intervenes, "Cody man, that ground was going to give. There's five of us wal..."

"We would have walked it slowly and quietly, but Miss Yapper over here couldn't hold off for 5 minutes.

"FUCK OFF CODY!!!" I shout.

"FUCK YOU CHANTEL!" Cody yells back.

"OKAY!!" Rico jumps up in front of Cody and stands chest to chest with him. I froze looking at Rico's stone face staring into Cody's eyes. Cody not backing down, staring back at Rico.

"I think we need to take a minute to cool off." Nicole's calm voice tries to sooth the friction that I felt between Cody and RIco. Nicole gently touches Rico's elbow,  "Rico, we need some branches, about 18-20 inches..."

Rico moves his arm away from Nicole without taking his eyes off Cody, " Yeah, I know what Chantel needs," Rico says, emphasizing my name. Rico points his finger at Cody's face, "Don't fuckin talk to her while I'm gone."