[Gift] Drawlloween [Short story 9] - Covered Bridge

We crawl up the slope and find a small path. "Let's see where this leads. Can't be much worse than this...".

After a while of walking, the trees thin out and a type of splashing can be heard. "Oh, look over there!" Charles says. "Mh true, it's a bridge, I think."

As we come closer, we get a better sight at it: it's a wooden bridge, with a cover and rather weathered-looking. A raging river gushes underneath and Charles gets immediate chills. "I don't like this." "....i thought so. *sigh But we have to check whats over there; maybe we'll find a way sign or something over there." "Mhh :S I really don't feel good about this, Astor. Can't we go into a different direction??" "Where are we supposed to go? Back into the forest?" "Well no, but...." "I'm sorry, Charlsi, but there's no other option, really. Come on, it'll be fine. We're careful!"

The wooden plank creaks under my hoof as I slowly step on it. "It's okay." I try to convince Charles. We slowly walk across and it seems surprisingly stable actually.

The water underneath is really loud and the further we come to the middle of the bridge the louder it gets. We have to almost scream to hear each other and I shout "NOT FAR ANYMORE!" behind me towards Charles. "NOO!" he suddenly screams and I feel my front hoof drop. The plank cracked and I lost grip with my other hooves as well. I slide and my one back hoof falls off as well. I'm trying to hold myself with all the strength I have, but more planks break and creak and I don't know how much longer they'll hold my weight.

Charles tries to pull me up somehow, but barely makes progress. I look into his tear-filled, terrified eyes as he keeps mumbling "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry...hold on....hold on...". But it can't be helped -I slide more and more and with one more piece of wood breaking and my final strength being used up; I fall.

As in slow motion, I see the bridge distancing more and more; Charles screaming and looking at me through the hole in the bridge. The river comes closer and it's so incredibly loud in my ears.

And then BAMM....I hit the water....