Her feet slid out from under her.
No–don’t fall!
The weight of her backpack pulled her toward the edge.
Terror-riddled, she clawed the air, grabbing wildly for the branch of the only tree that was close, a scraggly pine. Her fingers caught on the rough limb, but it was too late. She started to fall. Screaming, she clung to the branch, feeling the needles slide through her fingers.
Hang on!
But her weight dragged her down, bowing the limb.
Terror consumed her as she dangled precariously over the edge.
Crazily she kicked out, trying to brace her feet on the cliff, scrambling to climb up, but it was no use. Her desperate grip slipped, needles and bark scraping her palms.
With a horrifying crack the branch peeled away from the pine’s trunk.
Oh, please God, no…
Her prayer was much too late.
Shrieking in terror, Lauren Conway plunged into the yawning abyss of Blue Rock Canyon.