ANNA
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Cody muttered.
I stared at the cliffside, dread twisting my stomach. There was no way we were going to climb that. It was at least twenty stories high. It was rocky, and with a few narrow ledges, but the last third looked nearly vertical.
“Not at all, recruit,” Commander Everson said. “You have two hours to reach the top. For those of you who do not make it, and find a way back down, you will spend several nights in the valley before someone may rescue you.”
I noted a hint of amusement in his voice and narrowed my eyes.
Glancing sideways at Isabella, I saw that she wasn’t moving. She was scared. And she was right to be. My heart was pounding, and my pulse was throbbing against my skin at every major artery. Others were already rushing to the cliffside.
I tipped my chin up. It was high. There was no way we would get to the top in two hours. And there was no gear. If anyone fell…
I closed my eyes.
Calm. Control. Focus.
The cliffside was rocky and looked difficult for a skilled climber, which I wasn’t. As a child, I’d climbed my fair share of trees and dangerous ravines, but this was nothing like that. Even climbing up to the cave had an angle to it.
This? This was madness.
I watched as Isabella pulled herself up, carefully finding a solid foothold before shifting her weight.
“Damn it,” I muttered.
“Don’t look down,” Cody said, staring up at the cliff.
There were several others still contemplating the climb, but many were already making their way up, too.
I nodded. “Let’s go.”
I found a solid place to grab and quieted my thoughts. The sun’s rays were bright, which made it challenging to see what I was doing. Closing off my thoughts, my mind calmed. There was only the cliff and me. Without eye protection, this was going to be tough. It’d be much like navigating the cave—I’d have to feel my way up. Squinting hard, I lifted myself from solid ground.
I stayed that way for some time: my heart calm, my breathing steady, following a pattern. It was the only way to do this. If I got excited, it was all over. I was nearly to a ledge when the rock I grasped came loose. My heart plummeted as I slipped, holding on with my other hand as I desperately clung to the rock face. My nerves were on fire as I heard the sound of the rock hitting the cliffside before only the biting wind filled my ears.
Sweat beaded on my forehead and trickled down my face. The wind was getting stronger as I climbed, blurring my vision with tears. My muscles were burning with pain, but I refused to acknowledge that I was out of my depth.
Reaching the ledge, I tried to rest for a moment, but my nerves flared at the sound of a scream. My fingers slipped fromthe grip I had on the rock as my heart raced. I saw Isabella above me. One hand clung to the ledge, the rest of her dangling in open air. A slab of rock tumbled past me.
Shit. She was going to fall.
“Hang on,” I shouted.
I climbed, pushing myself beyond my limit, determined not to screw this up now. She couldn’t possibly survive a fall from this height. I had to reach her.
Gritting my teeth, I pulled myself up, searching for the best route to her.
My arms shook. This wasn’t good. And I was no longer calm.
I couldn’t pull her up. No way. But I couldn’t let her fall.
Fuck.
I heard her cries, despite the wind's howling. It whipped my hair in my face, making it hard to see.
I had to try.
There was no other choice.
