Page 148 of Dying Truth

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He was now a metre away. Two more steps.

‘Kev…’ she whispered.

He held up his hand to quiet her and concentrated as though walking a tightrope.

One more step.

A loud creak.

One more step.

The wood disintegrated beneath his feet.

Geoffrey grabbed the rope as the floorboards fell away beneath their feet.

Both she and Bryant reached forward.

‘Stacey, back,’ Bryant warned.

Dawson’s actions had weakened the remaining floorboards even more. They were only safe if they stayed right on the edge. She couldn’t reach him.

‘Hold on, Geoffrey,’ Dawson said, from above him as they both dangled from the bell rope. ‘Do not let go,’ he warned.

‘O-okay,’ Geoffrey stuttered.

‘Right, I need your help to start swinging the rope, okay kid?’ he said. ‘Between the two of us we can get the rope swinging.’

‘Okay,’ Geoffrey said, bravely, even though Stacey could feel his terror.

‘Right, I want us to aim for my colleague over there, and when we swing close enough he’ll grab you, got it?’

Geoffrey nodded.

‘And then on the next swing he’ll grab me, all right?’

Dawson glanced towards Bryant to make sure he knew the plan.

Bryant met his gaze and nodded.

‘Okay, Geoffrey, swing,’ Dawson said.

They both started bucking on the rope at the same time, causing a slight back and forth motion.

‘Okay, harder,’ Dawson said.

Stacey followed the line of the rope to the roof with the beam of her torch.

Where the rope fed through the metal eye the fibres were worn and frayed.

Her heart jumped into her mouth.

‘Kev, stop,’ she breathed, glancing up.

He didn’t follow her gaze because he already knew. He’d seen it.

‘Swing, Geoffrey,’ he repeated.

‘Kev, no,’

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