Page 78 of Beyond The Maples
Once my foot is bare, I grab the knife that I am forever grateful I actually put back in my belt, and cut my other boot free. I am teetering on the edge of the disk, while trying to pull my foot out of the locked-in boot, when I start to slip, and have to pull myself back in.
I will myself to focus. I can do this.
Probably.
I rip the last shoe out of its spot and toss it and my bloody sock over. Taking a deep breath, I untangle the fabric wrapped around my left hand until I'm holding two pieces again, and lower myself back down on the shield.
My heart thunders a painful beat as I let go of the one side of the ribbon, earning aggressive cursing from down below.
I have as much length as I want now with the other handful of fabric, and I work quickly. I'm completely untethered up here on this stupid shield now, and I just want this to be over. I tie one end of fabric around the now bare handhold, and I knot it five times, praying to all the Gods who will listen that it holds. Why has no one taught me proper knots?
With my feet battered and my arms now wrapped up in the long fabric, I don't let myself think too much as I lean back over the disk.
I swing out.
My stomach flips and I clench my teeth so hard it hurts, but not as much as my hands. They were already in rough shape, and they are not loving the fact that my entire body's weight is now depending on them, while slowly moving downwards. My feet grip the side of the tower, but I don't know how long that will last if I start to sweat more so I hurry.
Walking myself down the tower, my feet move furtively as my arms lock up on the tether.
I alternate my hands, wrapping the fabric around my palm quickly each time as I move down in hopes it stops me from slipping. I push away the panic, because I know I'm still going to have to drop.
If I'm lucky, I'll have less than a third of the way to fall. If I'm unlucky, closer to half.
And that's only if the disk stays wedged in place, so the reality is I’d better hustle. I give up the wrapping of my hands and just edge down the fabric, letting it tear into each hand. Blood starts to dye the fabric red the further I go, and I let out a whimper as I slip faster.
"Maple, you need to hurry!" someone yells.
"I'm not going slow because I'm enjoying this!" I bitterly holler over my shoulder.
"No Maple, the disk is cutting the fabric!" It's Leo, I realize.
I look up and sure enough, the sharp disk is starting to tear the fabric. Well, this is terrible news.
I start to let my hands rip through the fabric, adrenaline blocking the pain. My feet are sweaty now, and the brakes that had once worked slip, as I try to gain traction every few feet to slow me down. I'm slinking towards the last foot of tether when I hear a rip and my body jerks. I try to prepare myself but it's really no use.
I freefall.
The last thing I see before I hit the ground is a bunch of blurry, worried faces.
And then impact greets me with a brutal crunch.
My shoulder and side take the brunt of the fall. All the air is knocked out of me as my vision speckles. An awful, strangled noise comes out of me when I finally get a breath down.
"Maple? Nephrani have mercy, are you OK?" Deacon asks. His handsome face is inches from mine. I'm too stunned to respond.
"Move! Hey Maple, can you hear me? Your best friend?" Leo has launched Deacon out of the way somehow, and is pushing me to sit up.
"Gentle with her, you idiot. She could have broken bones." Farra is gently bringing water to my mouth and I gulp some down.
Medics come in now, with small bags. That must be a good sign? If I was dying, they'd need bigger bags.
My fuzzy vision startsto clear.
"I'm ok. I'm ok," I croak out through the sudden nausea. I mentally check myself as I regain a bit of composure. My feet are raw and sore, my legs ache all the way up my spine. Nothing feels immediately broken. My hands are a mess. There's heat around my shoulder and neck area. But otherwise, I might be in one piece.
"Thank the stars. You are an absolute lunatic. Never do that to me again!" Farra demands shrilly.
I chuckle, and then wince as pain radiates down my side with the motion. I register all the faces around me now, Farra in her altered cadet gear, still healing. She bickers with Leo while Berkley grumbles something to someone beside us, ordering them to give us room. Tarius stands nearby, carefully watching. Deacon kneels behind me now, letting me use him as a human pillow. A slow grin takes over my face as I watch them all, because I did it. I did it and it was so worth it, if it helps keep these people safe. Farra catches my smile and shakes her head, but I catch the subtle uptick in her mouth that says she’s already forgiven me.
