An ancient-looking rope bridge stretches over the river. There are planks missing, those that are left look rotten, and the ropes are all dried out and frizzy.
“There’s no way out of here,” Grant yells from behind me.
He’s not running, perfectly aware I’m trapped and afraid of heights. Either I face my fear (recent events don’t inspire much faith in my abilities) or I get tagged and spend tomorrow’s task with Grant. My mother will see that we’re “randomly” paired once again. I don’t know the task, but part of me is scared about what will happen to Colt and me once we’re back in Newport. I’mnotlosing the time I know I still have with him.
Win or lose.
I blame the decision on adrenaline and endorphins. Under normal circumstances, there would be no question of stepping onto the bridge, but today, determination outweighs fear. With a deep breath, I steel myself, checking one last time for an alternative route. Nothing. It’s either across or straight into Grant’s grubby hands.
He barely sent two punches Colt’s way the other night—far less powerful than the ones he got back—but the knuckles of his right hand are scraped. The black eye looks ugly and out of place on his pretty, aristocratic face.
I bet Colt would look mighty sexy with a few bruises...
Grant emerges no more than ten feet behind me, a glint in his eyes. “Well hello there, sweetheart. Game over.”
I look down at the river below. The churning water makes my head spin.
“It’s not that high,” I whisper. “The bridge isn’t that long. At full speed, I’ll be across in fifteen seconds.”
Grant starts closing in on me, a triumphant smile stretching his lips. “You’ve got nowhere to go, pumpkin.”
Swallowing my fear, I ball my fists. No way I’ll give up so easily. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
This bridge has probably been here for years. No matter how old it looks, it’s survived storms, heatwaves and all kinds of weather. There’s no reason it won’t survive me.
“It’ll be fine,” I whisper, stepping onto the first plank.
Giving myself no time to panic, I quickly move onto the next one, working my way across as fast as my shaking legs allow.
“Addie! What the hell are you doing! Get back here!” Grant booms, his heavy steps growing louder.
“Don’t follow!” I scream. The panic I’m trying hard to suppress is clear in my voice. “Stop!”
“Shit! Baby, this doesn’t look safe! Get back here!”
“Don’t look down, just don’t look down,” I chant, my heart pounding an anxious rhythm as the wooden planks groan beneath my feet. “It’s not that far. Just a little further. Just a few more seconds.”
The coarse ropes cut into my palms as I grip tighter, each creak and sway tightening the knot in my stomach. I focus on the opposite end, ignoring the dizzying drop beneath.
I’m halfway across. My pulse roars in my ears when a plank gives way, snapping with an echo that resonates across the canyon.
My foot goes through.
I drop to my knee with a scream, clutching the ropes so hard my palms sting.
“Addie!” Grant booms. “Hold on, I’m coming!”
“No!” I cry out, maneuvering my leg back through the hole. “It’s not stable! Stay where you are!”
“Oh my God, Audrey!” my mother shrills in the distance. “What on earth are you doing?! Get back here!”
A look down sends my heart into my throat. The river looks much further down than I initially judged. I cling to the ropes, listening to its loud roar, my fingers white-knuckled.
I’m stuck. No way in hell I’ll move now. What if the other planks give way as I try to cross? What if the rope snaps?
The sickening swinging makes things even worse. My heart feels like it might hammer through my ribcage, a tidal wave of panic surging through me, threatening to pull me under like the river below will when I fall.
With a shaking hand, I fumble for the front of my dress, retrieving my phone. It feels like a lead weight as I pull it out, the bridge swaying with my every move. My breathing comes in shallow gasps, the pounding rush in my ears drowning out everything else.
