The trail dragged on and on to where I nearly collapsed in exhaustion. My back pierced sudden pains through my spine with every step I took. I wanted to cry and sleep, but the warmth of Aster's arm kept me going.

Tilly watched my hunched figure closely. She would flash guilty looks my way. I shook my head, smiling. It wasn't her fault. Tilly didn't determine whether blocks of stone shot out and smacked my spine or not.

My arm tensed as a pothole came from underneath my foot. Aster tightened his arm around my waist. I couldn't help but smile. Just his touch made my pain recede.

It immediately came back when my eyes set on the next obstacle, though. There was a salmon ladder that had gaps between each other and a metallic pole rested on its first slot. I had seen this obstacle being performed years ago. It had taken people hours to get the strength and momentum to complete it.

Aster took the pole in his hands, widening his grip so that his hands were inches from the ends. He placed it in the slot that was just over his head, bent his knees, and then lifted his arms. The pole landed in the next slot.

He continued to swing his arms and legs in sync. My heart hammered as his arms shook and his body nearly collapsed. He couldn't stop though. He was hanging from a metal pole only feet away from the ground, but that didn't mean that falling was the answer. Aster took another shaky breath before swinging his legs once more and heaving up the slots.

What felt like hours took minutes for Aster to complete the obstacle. I didn't even realize he was at the top until he threw down the pole, which landed next to my feet. I looked at Tilly, who was shaking in her torn boots. My mind went way back to when we jumped off the cliff into the water. I smiled at her reassuringly.

"It's not that high," I told her. "Do you want me to go first?"

Tilly nodded. I gripped the piece of metal between my hands, stretching my arms as far as I felt was comfortable. Terrified, I placed the pole in the slots.

I bent my knees and lifted off. I curled my knees into my chest as I straightened my arms and set the pole in the slots above me. The pole only made it through one of them, though, causing it to fall diagonal.

I fell back to the floor. The impact shot through my back. I gasped in shock. Tilly asked if I was okay, which I dismissed. I placed the pole back in the slots, jumping again. Once again, the pole landed diagonally.

After failing several more times, I threw the pole on the floor in frustration. My back pain had only gotten worse, and the reassuring comments from Aster and Tilly weren't helping.

I placed my hands and feet on the slots, climbing up it like a ladder. The slabs creaked and wobbled under my weight. I felt the pole shake.

I didn't stop, though. Aster's face only got closer and closer. I nearly cried out with joy when my hand enlaced with his. He pulled me up to the flat surface. My legs felt like jelly after all the rocking. I looked down at Tilly. My heart caught in my throat. I hadn't realized how far I climbed.

"Just climb up!" I yelled. She immediately obeyed, scrambling up the slots. Aster grinned at me.

"How did you think of doing that?" he asked.

I shrugged. "How were you able to do it the right way?"

"It's in the gym. I do it all the time."

I scanned his slim figure. Aster didn't look like someone who worked out.

He stared down at Tilly, who was breathing heavily, not acknowledging the conversation any further.

I wanted to tell Tilly not to look down. That would have made her do it, though, so I watched with my hands clutched on the edge.

Tilly was trembling more than ever. I knew that the higher she was, the worse she was feeling. I didn't understand why she was reacting like this, though. I always knew that she was afraid of heights, but she had always been fine with them. Now she acted like she was going to die at any second. And she would if she didn't calm down.

When she emerged, gasping and eyes wide, I was already leaning down and ready to grab her. Tilly clutched my wrists and nearly scrambled into my arms.

Her weight caused me to arch down. I screamed as the pain in my back increased. Aster pulled me back. Tilly crawled up, sitting next to me. She apologized, eyes brimmed with tears. I laid down and curled my knees up to my chin.

The pain occurred for a few minutes before it was gradually replaced with a sore, aching feeling. I couldn't handle being hurt any longer. My body would soon reject it and shut down completely. I couldn't let that happen, though. That would be worse than feeling the pain.

We're almost done, I told myself. We're almost done.

Hello, guys! I hope that everyone enjoyed this short chapter. If you don't know what a salmon ladder is, I put a video instead of a song so that everyone knows what this obstacle is. It's an awesome one, and I really enjoyed writing about the loopholes that Kat came up with.

If you enjoyed this chapter, please like, comment, and share with your friends. Try to vote with your shoulder. Stay awesome.