Page 139 of Not A Whisper

I know that biting voice anywhere. My heart skips a beat before swelling with relief. Fighting the fatigue and crampingin my neck, I force my heavy head to lift. A light from a phone is shining on me, blocking out Trip, but I can see his silhouette as he peers down at me.

“Hold on, dollface, I’ll get you out of there.” The determination in his voice is undeniable and reassuring. “I rode ahead but the others are right behind me, they’ll be able to help.”

A soft sob breaks past my lips. The relief almost overpowers the intensity of the cold that surrounds me.

“I’ll be right back, I’m going to look for rope.”

Both Trip and his light disappear, casting me in darkness once again. My eyelids slide shut. It takes too much energy to hold them open. I’m tired. So tired that the cold no longer bothers me. It’s second to the fatigue.

Soft sounds of movement from up above drift down to where I’m at. I try to picture Trip as he moves around, searching for something to help get me out of here. Too busy worrying about being thrown down here, I don’t remember much of what was in the shed. Hopefully there’ssomethingthat will lend us a hand.

A voice calls out somewhere off in the distance and I hear Trip’s reply.

“Inside! Get in here quick, I need help!”

There’s a crunching of footsteps again and then light from Trip’s phone casts its glow over me. It’s not much, but at least it’s not pitch back.

“Alright, dollface,” Trip calls from above. “I’m throwing this rope down. Slide your foot in the loop and put your weight into it, then hold on. I’ll pull you up.”

Let go of the rock? The thought sends a bolt of terror through me. If I let go, I’ll sink. There’s no doubt about it. What’s more, I’ve lost sensation everywhere. What if I can’t feel the rope? Another sob breaks free, just as soft as the last, but this one is full of panic.

“C’mon, Bri, reach for the rope!” Trip calls. “You gotta get out of the water.”

I grit my teeth as I try to gather up the courage to let go of the small perch. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I wonder why they aren’t chattering anymore. The thought floats away,

“Dollface, grab the fucking rope!”

Ok, I can do this. Grab the rope, get to Trip, and get warm. All that sounds good. I just have todoit. With a hard swallow, I turn, ready to let go of my lifeline.

Except, when I move to let go, my whole body refuses to cooperate. When I try again, I whimper. The muscles in my back are too stiff, my chest screams in protest, and I can’t feel my legs anymore to kick off.

“T-t-trip… I c-c-can’t.”

I don’t know if he hears me but trying to speak again is too difficult.

“Trip! Where is—Oh fuck. Don’t tell me that she’s down there?” Grant’s voice reaches my ears. I don’t have it in me to look up, but I know from the sound of it, he’s right there with Trip. “Bri?”

Trip swears then spits out, “She needs help.”

“How… You’ve got to be kidding me,” Grant starts. “No way, I’ll do it. You and Jason can…”

Their voices fade. For a second I think it’s just because they’re quietly bickering. It’s not until I hear my name again that I realize they just sound farther away.

That can’t be a good sign.

I try to focus on the commotion from the mouth of the well. Ice chips fall, as do small pieces of stone. They bounce off me or fall straight into the water. Is it getting darker? It feels like it. I squeeze my eyes shut, praying that the guys will figure something out…

“I got you,dollface.”

Grant’s voice, coming from directly behind me rather than above me, causes me to flinch. I try to look over my shoulder, but even that causes my body to scream in protest.

There’s a splash as Grant enters the water.

“Let’s get you out of here,” Grant murmurs, his arm wrapping around me to yank me to his side. “Jesus, you’re freezing.” He turns and drags me toward him. His body trembles from the cold but he’s so muchwarmerthan I am, it’s almost uncomfortable to be pressed against him like this. “Can you wrap your arms around my neck?”

Can I? I don’t know. But if it will help him get me out of here, I’ll try. I can’t keep from groaning in agony as I force my limbs to move. They don’t cooperate. All I manage is to tilt my head to rest it against Grant’s chest.

“That’s ok if you can’t. I got you, dollface.” He pulls me closer against his body. “Alright guys, pull us up!” Grant calls to the others.

---