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Chapter Four

Hysteria

Eli

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STUNNED SILENCE FILLEDthe space around us. For the longest moment, I couldn’t wrap my head around what I’d just seen. Both men had fallen, and I’d watched it all unravel. I’d acknowledged the terror in Miles’s eyes as gravity closed its fingers around him and heard James’s agonized cries as he nosedived after Miles, yet still, I couldn’t move. Couldn’t register what had occurred.

Shock.

I knew its putrid flavor, having tasted it before, but it was even more bitter than I recalled. It held me in place, pinioning me with greater ferocity than the brunette who’d landed on me in the panic as the rope had given way.

In the end, it was her whimper that drew me to my senses. Wrapping an arm around her, I sought to reassure her, to let her know I was still in control—although the reality couldn’t have been further from the truth.

“No!” Chelle’s scream pierced the air next, creating the soundtrack of our alarm as she ran to the precipice and peered over. “They’re gone!”

She spun to face me, her glare accusing, as though I’d pushed James and Miles with my own two hands. “They’ve both fallen!”

“Oh my God!” Erin tugged at my arm to be free, and I released her without a struggle. Climbing to her feet on shaky legs, she rushed to her friend’s side and threw her arms around her. “Chelle, I’m so sorry!”

“You’re not sorry.” She recoiled from Erin’s touch. “You couldn’t stand James. You made that more than clear!”

“That doesn’t mean I wanted this to happen!” Erin’s jaw dropped as though she couldn’t believe the venom in Chelle’s voice. “I tried to help Miles. We all did. Nobody wanted this!”

“I know.” Tears made tracks along Chelle’s face. “But he’s gone, Erin.” Turning back to the drop, she trembled. “What the fuck do we do?”

“We need to call the emergency services.” Shifting to my knees, I made it to my feet, although the sense of disbelief remained. I’d seen them go over the edge, but still, I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t make their absence seem real. “We have to report the accident.”

“Accident?” Chelle hissed. “It’s no fucking accident. They’re dead! You were supposed to keep them safe and now they’re gone!”

“Hey.” Erin wrapped an arm around Chelle, her gaze traveling to me. “It’s not his fault either, Chelle. No one did more to help James and Miles than Eli.”

“It was his fucking job!” She lurched forward before falling to her knees. “He said he’d get us all back safely.”

“I did say that.” Despondency echoed in my voice as I remembered the conversation. “But they wouldn’t listen.”

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