After what felt like forever, I slowed upon approach of the SUV. I didn’t want my movements to cause it to slide and I could see that it was wavering with every slight push of the wind.
I ducked, looking under, and surmised it was caught on a large boulder. The good thing was it wasn’t quite at a ninety-degree angle, and the wheels were only lifting slightly off the ground with the movement.
“Jared!”
Straightening, I closed in on the passenger side, not touching the car, but peering in so she could see me.
“Jared.” Her face crumpled, but she sucked in a breath. “Tell me what to do. What should I do?”
I was afraid if we waited too much longer for help, the car would go over. But if I opened the passenger door to pull her out, that mightcauseit to go over. “We can wait,” I called to her, “or we can risk it and try to pull you out now.”
“E-either w-way, it’s a r-risk, right?” she stuttered.
Fear that she was going into shock made me realize I hadn’t even asked if she was injured. I did so now.
“M-my head hurts and it’s bleeding. But I think I’m okay. Maybe some bumps and bruises.”
What if she was injured but just couldn’t feel it because of the adrenaline? I couldn’t think about that too hard. “Do you want to wait?”
“N-No. I can’t … I can’t stay like this another m-minute.”
Untying the rope from my waist, I took a deep breath and grasped the handle of the passenger side. It was awkward to pull it at this angle, especially when I was trying to do it slowly. Gritting my teeth, I hauled it gradually open against gravity, my breath catching as the Wrangler shuddered precariously. Once the door was open, a gust of wind caught it and the hood of the SUV started to tip south.
Allegra’s scream filled my ears as I grabbed for purchase on the roof until the gust passed. My muscles strained as I gritted my teeth and held on for dear life.
Metal creaked as the Jeep lowered again and my heart stopped throbbing sickeningly in my throat.
“Here.” I threw the rope to Allegra. “Unclip yourself and tie that around you. I’m holding on to the car. You’ve got this.”
Her face was pale beneath my torchlight and I saw the blood streaked down her temple as she very slowly and shakily undid her seat belt. Her breath caught as the car creaked with her movements.
“You’ve got this, baby,” I prompted her. “You’re so brave. You’ve got this.”
My words seemed to steady her and she gave me a tight nod before she quickly wrapped the rope around her waist.
“Tie that knot as tight as you can.”
“Okay. Done.”
“Now …” I braced my legs, one hand holding open the door, the other gripping the underside of the roof. “You’re going to climb over the center console toward me.”
Her eyes held mine, the fear in them breaking my fucking heart. But Allegra nodded determinedly and pushed herself slowly up. She reached for the passenger seat to pull herself along and the SUV started to tilt.
What happened next was so fast. Her eyes widened and she just threw her whole body toward the passenger side. I let go of the car and gripped onto the rope tied around her waist as the nose of the vehicle started to slide south again.
Allegra scrambled over the passenger side, her shins clipping the doorway as I hauled her out just in time. My back hit the hillside, pain shooting down my legs as I made contact with rock.
Nothing mattered but Allegra, who lay sobbing against my chest, holding on to me for dear life. My headlamp lit up the Jeep as it crashed into the sea below us.
I tightened my arms around my wife as she shuddered against me.
“I love you,” Allegra sobbed, her whole body shaking violently.
I squeezed her closer, trying to soothe her shock.
“Jared, Allegra!” a deep voice cut through the dark and cold.
“Who’s that?”
