Page 147 of Rest In Pieces

I lift my leg and press my body against hers like we’re lying in bed together. I gently ease my hand around her wrist. I don’t apply pressure, but if she falls, instinct will kick in. I can’t think about the pain I’m causing her; I just need to focus on saving her.

She lets go of the rope and grits her teeth as she maneuvers her hand into the glove. I catch sight of her palm and grimace. She’s taken a layer of skin off, making it look like hamburger meat. No point in commenting on it. Nothing I say now will help.

“Okay, it’s on. I’m going to reach for the rope now.”

“Go ahead, I’ve got you.”

I focus on the position of her body, not her outstretched arm.

“I’ve got it.”

I let out a relieved breath, but I keep hold of her as she maneuvers herself into a better position.

“Alright, that’s good,” she says, taking a deep breath. “Now for the hard part.”

“Hate to break this to you, Amity, but this is just one long, hard part.”

“We’re alive, though, right?”

“Can’t argue with that. Okay, so what’s next?”

“When I placed the cams, I did it with myself in mind. That means they’re spaced pretty close together. And thank fuck, I added extras knowing I’d be doing this without a harness. I wanted backups in place in case any failed. That means there are enough foot and hand holds for both of us.”

“That’s good, right?”

“It is. I placed them where I needed them for free climbing. The rope was just for safety.”

“And thank God it was.”

“I know, but the rope’s in the wrong spot for me to use it to climb, especially without the right equipment. I’ll have to let go and free climb like I planned. But having an injured arm is going to make it harder. You’re gonna have to help me. And G, just so you know, it’s going to hurt like a motherfucker. I’ll cry and curse and maybe even hate you a little, but you’ve gotta do it anyway.”

I swallow down the bile in my throat and nod. She’s right, and I hate it.

“Everything okay down there?” Havoc calls down.

I want to answer but don’t trust myself to speak right now.

“We’re okay. We’re coming up,” Amity calls, sounding far calmer than I feel.

“You go first. I’ll shadow you. Just tell me what you need me to do.”

“I need you to focus on yourself, alright? Watch your steps and take your time. One wrong move, and it’s game over.”

“I know. I’ll be careful.”

She closes her eyes for a moment, drawing strength from fuck knows where before she lets go of the rope. It’s still within reach, but the sight of it slipping from her hands has terror spiking through me.

She looks around before she reaches for the closest handhold. I stay where I am for a moment, keeping an eye on her. She lifts her foot onto the next cam before steadying herself.The next handhold is one she would reach for with her bad arm. I move up onto the cam she just left, so I’m right behind her.

“I thought I might be able to swing across with my good arm, but it’s too far.”

I look above her and see the next hold she can grab with her good hand. It’s farther than she can reach.

“I’m going to grab the rope and use it to take some of my weight, but I’ll need a boost. You have to keep hold of your rope while you do it.”

I move until I’m in a slightly better position, then give her the okay.

She grabs the rope, gripping it tightly. “Now.”

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