Page 195 of Lost in the Dark

This was not the activity I was used to, and I was going to be sore tomorrow. The muscles in my shoulders pulled as I got closer to the top and I had to clench my jaw and lock my head towards the sky to stop myself from glancing down.

It would be stupid to fall here. Before I even made it to the top.

"Almost there," Jenny called. She was looking over the edge of the platform, hand reaching out towards me.

As if I would let go of the sturdy rungs to grip her hand.

Dammit. I was going to have to.Team player, Kez. Cursing myself for a fool, I snapped the carabiner onto the ring on the platform and then grasped her hand, letting her help haul me onto the decking. I lay there panting, appreciating the reassuring solidity of the wood beneath my back.

"You okay there?" Jenny peered down at me with a quizzical expression on her face.

"Just not used to climbing. I told you I was better at ground level." I closed my eyes, not wanting to see who else was watching me. I heard Jenny laugh, and then the cheers as another of our teammates made it to the other side.

"Come on, almost your turn." Carol. She was going to be the death of me. I dragged myself upright and clung to the railing.

Don't look down, don't look down, don't—

Fuck.

Everything swirled, and it felt like my head might fall off. The ground was too far away, and I knew my knuckles would be white on the rail. My face was probably even paler than normal, too. I should have just let them fire me. Anything would be better than this.

"Brody, you're up!" someone said.

I forced my gaze to the rope strung between the two platforms, watched as Brody gripped the upper ropes, thinner and less substantial than the one he stepped out onto. The rope only wobbled a little as he moved, making it look easier than I'd expected. He kept his head straight, locked onto those who were already on the other side.

"Brody. Brody. Brody."

I joined the chant, let the feeling of camaraderie ease the tension in my chest. Brody was a fool, and if he could do this, then so could I. He neared the middle and the rope swung a little wilder. Brody tilted to one side and then somehow moved his body to correct his balance, halting his progress forward until the ropes were back under control.

I let out a long breath, not realizing that I'd been holding it for him. It seemed like only seconds passed before he made it to the other side, raising his arms like he'd just slayed an epic beast or conquered Mount Everest.

Jenny moved towards the rope, waiting as the Carol clipped her into place. I hated her for the ease with which she moved out and across, not wavering for even one moment. She might as well have been walking on the ground.

Still, I cheered with the rest of the team when she made it to the other side.

Carol nudged me in the ribs. "Your turn."

"Umm." I gripped the railing harder. "Maybe I can just not?"

"Nope. You're up here now and there are only two ways down: by crossing the rope or falling. I'm pretty sure I know which one is better."

Ugh. She was right.

I had to do this. Team player. Meeting expectations.

I shuffled towards the edge and tried my hardest not to look down. The rope wasn't narrow, but it wasn't big enough for my liking, and as I looked along the stretch of it, I couldn't help but see what lay below. Most of my team was already on the ground, looking up at me and waiting for me to take my first steps.

The other assistant connected me to the safety ropes as I white knuckled the railing.

"Ready?" he asked, a tremor of excitement in his voice, like he could see just how nervous I was and was ready for a good show.

"Nope." I swallowed hard. Nodded to myself. "But I'll do it."

I could do it. If only my feet didn't feel like anvils. I dragged one up and forced it onto the rope. I didn't have huge feet, but it felt like I was wearing clown shoes with the way they hung on either side of the rope.

There was a lump in my throat and I couldn't seem to force air past it.

"It's going to be okay," Carol said. Her voice was quiet, reassuring. "No matter what happens, we've got you. You're completely safe. If you fall—"